Thorin laid his head down against the desk in front of him.

‘Shit not again.’ He thought as he looked around the classroom. Instead of specters all the students were white skeletons standing at attention staring at the crimson skeleton who replaced the teacher.

‘Odd.’ he thought, as he reached out to touch one of the skeletons. Of all the time he had the dreams this one was different. Either the students were incorporeal or the class was empty.

Also his fingers touched the skeleton sitting next to he felt a shock go through his body. The skeleton he was touching whipped his head around glaring at Thorin and let out an ear splitting screech.

Startled, Thorin stood up, and ended up knocking over his desk. The desk made a loud ruckus as it fell on its side.

At this point all the skeletons turned to stare at Thorin before letting out their own screams. One scream was painful, but the combined might of all of the skeletons drove Thorin to his knees as he clutched his ears. The crimson skeleton while staring at Thorin reached up to the chalkboard and dragged its bony fingers along it adding to the painful sounds assaulting Thorin's ears.

Thorin felt blood start to flow out of his ears and stain his hands as his ear drums ruptured. He gave up and curled up into a ball and closed his eyes. Right before closing his eyes though Thorin saw that the crimson skeleton wrote something on the board with its scratches. It was a name.

Alec

Thorin just ignored the name and wanted the pain to stop. He laid there curled up trying to survive the onslaught of screams. Eventually it became a blur of his head constantly in pain.

After an unknown amount of time the screeches began to fade and were replaced with the sound of weapons clashing. The one thing that remained constant the excruciating pain in his head.

“Thorin! Thorin wake up you imbecile! We have to leave!” Thorin heard a blurred voice whose yelling flared the pain.

Thorin tried to block out the voice and pain as he clutched his head.

He felt a shock of mana flow into his body and the voice screamed out again this time clearer.

“Thorin I imaged you are in a lot of pain right now, but if you don't move you're dead!” Cynar yelled.

Thorin opened his eyes and saw the shade’s concerned face staring back at him.

“They noticed the scouts that went missing, we need leave now!” The shade urged.

Thorin turned his head slightly to see his skeletons doing battle with a large group of goblins. They were holding the best as possible but were being overwhelmed by the sheer number of goblins. They looked like they would collapse any second now.

The sight of the battle shook Thorin back into a clearer state of mind. He struggled to stand, but managed to get upright. Realising that there was no way to win this fight. He was about to call out a full retreat.

“Thorin don't, the Goblins would catch you in your current state.” Cynar said knowing what Thorin was thinking.

Looking at the grim situation in front of him he died the only thing he could. He called out for the crimson skeletons to fall back and retreat with him and the normal skeletons to delay the goblins as long as possible. The skeletons having no self preservation instinct threw themselves at the goblins fighting until they died again. They gave their master a chance of survival.

Together with the three skeletons, Thorin and Cynar began to run in the opposite direction.

Instantly, Thorin noticed that in his injured state was slowing down the group and ordered Roland to care him. The skeleton promptly lifted Thorin and continued to run, his pace only slowing a little. Thorin ordered the other two to protect him while they retreated.

As they ran Thorin used his connection with his skeletons to view their status delaying the goblins. Every second or so Thorin would feel one of them fall to the goblins. It made him feel useless as he felt one by one his skeletons fall. They managed to get a decent distance away before Thorin felt his link with the last remaining skeleton vanish.

He looked back over the shoulder of Roland and saw the goblins begin to run after them. He urged all the skeletons to run faster and had Cynar fly ahead to check for any obstacles or places to hid.

They ran for a while weaving in and out between trees gaining more space between them and the goblins. Alarms went off in Thorin's head when he heard a whistling sound. He scanned his surrounding quickly, and saw a blur moving in his direction. It was moving too fast for him to respond or order his skeletons, before it would hit him. He closed his eyes and braced for the pain.

The pain never came but a cracking sound was heard. He opened his eyes to see the unnamed crimson skeleton standing in front of Roland with a crossbow bolt lodged in its ribcage. Thorin was grateful to the skeleton but didn't have the time to praise him as he looked to where the bolt came from.

Out from in front of him five goblins ran out of a group of bushes with their weapons drawn. He quickly ordered Lauros and the unnamed skeleton to open a hole for Roland to escape. He also ordered them to catch up with him when they could.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Both of them moved to engage the group in front of them while Roland turned to run away angling away from the new group.

Thorin knew that as long as they didn't get caught soon, they'd be able to escape. One of the perks of having skeletons was that they didn't tire. Eventually the Goblins would have to stop and rest. Roland didn't.

Thorin looked back to the other two skeletons fighting and wished them the best luck and hoped they'd make it out. Eventually he lost sight of them as Roland moved farther away. Thorin's initial boost of adrenaline wore off and he was pulled back into sleep by his mana depraved exhaustion.

Pov Change

“Go deal with those goblins, so Roland and I can escape.” My master commanded.

I was compelled to listen and do what he said. I probably would have done it anyway, but I don't know.

I started running towards the group of green creatures that dared to block my generous master's path.

I haven't existed for that long. I remember my time as a normal skeleton. I was masters first skeleton. I have been with him for my entire life. All of those memories are grey and blurry compared to my situation now. Master rewarded me for my loyalty and transformed me into a crimson skeleton. I can see everything so much clear now and feel much more. I understand more. Master even gave me a name. Lauros! Not only is my awareness better now but also my body. I am able to move so much faster and control my body with more precision. Before I felt like I was just jerking my limbs in different directions to move, but now I could do so much more.

I looked at the enemies in front of me and thought about he best way to deal with them. The better I do the more master will be pleased with me. Perhaps he will let me become more powerful again. That is what I crave the most. What would it be like to evolve again. This state of being is already so much better than my first one. I can’t even imagine what the next one could be like. Matter of fact I don't think I can imagine. Perhaps that will be what I gain.

Enough of this I am wasting time. I will finish these creatures then return to my master's side. He was weak after creating another one off my brethren. It shows his kind nature that he would sacrifice himself to create them. I owe him my life.

As I approached the filthy goblins I used my improved speed and agility to roll out of a clumsy attack. I pop back to my feet behind the creature and stab it with my blades. These blades were my prized possession. They were gifted to me by master and even held some of his magic in them. I felt them sink into the goblin’s back and jerk them back out seeing that I caused a fatal wound.

I felt it's blood splash on to me as I pulled them out and my body hastily absorbed it. I felt it strengthen me slightly and realize that I could become stronger by absorbing the blood of my master's enemies.

I look around quickly to gain awareness of the other creatures and my ally. It was one of my brothers. Poor bastard, he didn't have enough time to receive a name from the master or even talk to him.

Right now he was dealing with two goblins, which means I get the other two. He seems to be doing okay, and is fighting in a more defensive manner. If he is fighting two then it looks like these other two are mine. They look more cautious now after seeing me deal with their friend so easily. I feel the urge to just mindlessly rush them, but I suppress the urge and begin to move in slowly.

I had an idea something new. With one of my daggers in my hand I leaned back and wiped my arm forward. The blade flew from my bony hands and sunk into the stomach of a surprise goblin. It was just like how I would throw the daggers into the air when my teacher taught me to do what he called juggling. After seeing the other goblin die, the last one decide to run rather then fight me. Wise choice.

As he ran away I look over to see if my brother need any help. He seemed to be just fine and has both of the goblins corpses at his feet. As expected of one of my brothers.

I look back to see the goblin escaping into the brush of the forest. I want to go and chase it down, but am compelled to return to master due to his command. I resist the command long enough to go retrieve my precious dagger and ran at my top speed to catch back up with master.

I managed to catch up to see master back unconscious being cared by my other big brother Roland. I was jealous of him. He was made into a crimson skeleton before me despite me being with master longer. Even now he gets to carry him.

He turned to me and said in his monotone voice.

“Is it done”

“Yes of course anything for the master.” I reply.

He didn't respond back. He isn't much of a talker. Hopefully my other brother has more conversational skills.

I turn to talk to him, but find that he absent. I guess in my rush to return to master I went to faster than he could keep up. Oh well. guess I just have to wait then.

Name:  Thorin Black      Class: Necromancer Lv 9 65/90 XP Health  130/260 Mana 5/1560 Stats:       Strength: 28 Vitality: 26 Stamina: 16 Endurance: 9 Intelligence: 56 Willpower: 68 Agility: 12 Dexterity: 11

Skills   Summon Familar Rank S Skeletal Fusion Rank C Life Siphon Rank D Summon Skeleton Rank D Blood Lust Rank D

    Talents   Affinity with Death Dimensional Storage Head Start Magic Reserves Strong Soul  Blood Lord

Thorin's Forces   Skeleton 0 Crimson Skeleton 3