A deep feeling of wrongness filled the cabin. Closing his eyes, he concentrated on the it. It felt different and unknown like a cloud of chemicals was hanging over the area. He could feel the sensation with something beyond the normal human senses. His heart hammered in his chest. A shot of adrenaline chased any latent sleepiness from his body and mind. Whatever desire to leave vanished, as Fritz wrestled with the sensation. His mind ran through possibilities as he tried to figure out what was wrong. Ada was stirring.

"Fritz. Where'd you go?" She mumbled sleepily.

"Here." Fritz said. He shifted in the dark cottage moving towards the window. Peering outside, he looked for the offending sensation. Falken was quiet, yet his anxiety and nerves screamed 'danger'.

"What's wrong. What are you doing?" The sleepy wolfkin said. She sat up in bed, and looked over towards his dark shape. Fritz created a small match in his hand. He struck the match, and found the candle above her fireplace lighting it.

"I don't know. Something feels off. I can't describe it. Something's wrong."

"What's wrong?" Ada asked. She moved out of bed, closer to the door as if to block it off.

"I don't know. Something just feels really off right now. I can't really place it. It feels bad. It feels dangerous. " Fritz sat down at the small circular table as he bounced his right leg.

"Fritz. Everything's fine." Ada said with a yawn as she joined him at the table. She hiked up her loose white nightgown as she sat down with Fritz. "You should go back to bed."

"Can you not feel it?"

"Feel what?" Ada asked sleepily.

"It's like the air is full of electricity. Yet, that's not quite right."

A sudden scream in the middle of the night alerted Fritz and Ada. A high feminine wail shot through the stillness of the night like a knife. The scream was soon stifled. Fritz and Ada were immediately alerted. Ada jumped into action, moving quickly to get dressed.

"Shit." Fritz said underneath his breath. He got up and grabbed his conjured survival knife. Ada's boots were already on. She reached into the corner of her cottage to grab her shortsword. The initial scream was met with another. Sounds of chaos were erupting outside of the cottage.

"Fritz, stay here. I'll take a look." Ada said as she slung her door open and exited out into the night. Fritz cursed to himself, before running outside after her.

The town was dark. Fritz could see vague humanoid shapes up ahead, with Ada standing on guard before them. Thinking quickly he conjured up a set of three road flares scattering them along the ground. The area was instantly illuminated. Ada shot a glance back towards Fritz. Dark robes obscured men standing dead still in the road. They were blocking the way out of town. In their hands, Fritz could see a makeshift assortment of swords, maces, and spears. Their hooded faces fixated on Fritz and Ada.

"You don't look like you're from here!" Fritz shouted at the five figures. The hooded figures were silent. Fritz edged closer to Ada. As if on cue, the robed assailants came to life edging closer. Their weapons were held high aimed at Fritz and Ada. Sensing the hostility, Fritz readied his knife, holding it ready to throw. With a grunt, he sent the dagger flying outwards. The dagger flew high, hitting one of the assailants holding a spear. Its head tilted back and the cowl fell to its shoulders.

No flesh, or muscle was to be found on its head. Its eyes were missing, yet it focused back immediately on Fritz. A small twinkling energy within its eye sockets, fixated on Fritz. As they approached closer, Fritz could see their boney hands sticking out from their sleeves.

"Skeletons!" Ada shouted. "We're under attack. There is a necromancer nearby! Stay alert! To arms, Falken! To arms!"

Fritz's mind shifted modes, as he tried to focus on an advantage. Without eyes they would be immune to blinding. Without lungs chemicals were out of the question. With little options, Fritz focused on sheer brute force. Focusing on some archaic knowledge, Fritz concentrated on his mana. With adrenaline surging through him, he found fixating on the flow of his mana was more difficult. With a steadying breath he found his center, and drew upon it.

A iron ball split down the middle and connected via a central chain was conjured. Fritz hefted the weight. He had calculated correctly, with the proper throw, he could at least launch it safely at his opponent.

"Ada! Watch out!" Fritz shouted as he spun in a circle. He would need to time it just right to hit his target. Pushing with his legs, he built momentum. With a final spin, he pulled the ball forward with his arm muscles, aiming for the center mass of the skeletons. The ball and chain spun through the air. Fritz came to a stop, his back facing the enemy. He turned around to catch the spinning arc of the ball hitting a skeleton. The skeleton collapsed to the ground as the ball hit it. The chain wrapped around its spine, wrenching the torso of the skeleton. It collapsed inanimate on the ground.

"Good thinking! Hand me one!" Ada shouted. Fritz breathed deeply, and conjured another for Ada. The skeletons were marching forward oblivious to their comrades' demise. Fritz tossed the chain shot towards Ada. She spun the five pound ball like a sling. Releasing it with a twist to keep the balls somewhat horizontal. The rotating cannonballs hit two skeletons. Instantly, their ribs shattered like glass as they collapsed to the ground. The balls continued forward, until Fritz heard the sound of splintering wood somewhere in the dark.

"Ada two more!" Fritz said. Focusing his mind, he focused on creating a weapon for himself. If his assailants couldn't bleed, the most optimal weapon would be for crushing. Within an instant, Fritz hefted a spiked mace in his hands. At the edge of the road flares, more zombies and skeletons were approaching. Groans, cries, screams, and the clinking of steel resounded within the town. The smell of blood, smoke and rotting flesh permeated the air. Fleeing townsfolk could be heard moving closer to the center of town.

"We have to stop them! The townspeople need us! We must protect them!" Ada shouted.

"How?" Fritz yelled back.

"Kill the necromancer. Once we do, the skeletons and zombies will collapse. They're the key, without them the dead will stop!"

"She could be anywhere!" A zombie leading far above the other's reached Ada. She quickly dispatched the slow corpse with a simple flick of her sword. The zombie's head sloughed off. Its body fell limp on the ground. Fritz could feel a small thread of energy disappearing from the new corpse. It drifted upwards into the night's sky.

"Can we sense her?" Fritz asked Ada.

"Maybe, if I could sense mana." Ada grumbled. "We'd need a mage for that."

"Maybe not." Fritz said. Closing his eyes, he focused his senses outwards as he struggled to master the feeling of unease. The shifting mass of zombies and skeletons before him made this risky, yet he trusted Ada. A swirling mass of mana was all around him. Suddenly, a small tendril from the zombie touched him. Following his instincts, he reached out with his senses and touched it. A foreign sensation suffused his hand, before pulling outwards to the center of Falken.

"I think I know where the necromancer might be!" Fritz shouted.

"Where?"

"Behind us! Close to Neva's home!"

"Let's go."

Running from the shambling wall of the dead, their boots sunk into the mud roads of Falken. Ada was able to dispatch isolated undead. Her raw strength and sword arm made quick work of the slow undead. Corpses flew by on the short trip down towards Neva's home. The area around Neva's home was dark. The gray haired wolfkin stood defiantly ushering in fleeing beastkin into her home. She wielded a torch in one hand and a sword in the other. Waving her torch, she beckoned them forward.

"Ada! Fritz! Glad you're alive." Neva said as the two approached. The mayor pointed her torch towards a fleeing black haired beastkin. "Into the basement! Keep your head down!"

"It should be around here." Fritz said. His instincts had led him here. Here before the mayor's home, he could feel the energy condensing. Where could the necromancer be? His head swiveled around as he searched the area. Panic and fear surrounded Fritz. His eyes scanned for the threat.

"Fritz!" Ada said. Her tone was serious. The scent of long rotted bodies mixed with burning wood, as Fritz turned around towards the blonde wolfkin.

A pale woman approached. Behind her was a line of skeletons wielding spears and jingling chain armor. She wore long black robes etched with purple runes. Her form blended in with the dark shadows. Fritz tensed up, as he felt her focus on him. Upon sensing her, Ada shifted in front of Fritz with her sword at the ready.

"Well, well, well, if it's not the man of the hour!" The woman shouted out. "Come to join my horde, just like the rest."

"Fritz, stand back." Neva said as she moved beside Ada. "Ada, I can handle the skeletons, can you deal with the necromancer?" Ada nodded. She gripped her sword tighter, as she eyed the pale woman. "Good. Her minions protect her. Without them, she's vulnerable. Still dangerous, but vulnerable. If you see an opportunity, take it."

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"You dare resist me?!" The robed woman grimaced as if insulted. "You disgusting insects will die alongside him." The woman was closing in. In the torchlight, Fritz could make out more details. Her robe was inlaid with purple thread that glittered with magical power. The woman's hands were heavily tattooed with intricate swirling black ink. The skeleton warriors behind her were different from the others. Their eye sockets emanated a condensed deadly energy. Their movements were more fluid and precise. Their grip on their weapons was clearly stronger.

Ada tensed up. Her sword was ready to thrust into her opponent's heart. Neva dropped her torch on the ground. The flickering flames danced. She wielded her sword with one hand keeping the other free. Fritz's legs felt like jelly as he watched the necromancer. Every instinct in his body was telling him to run and seek refuge with the others. Fears of pain and death were before him. The desire to flee was about to overwhelm him.

"Stand aside, insects. The boy dies tonight." A sudden burst of anger filtered through Fritz. He felt his fear momentarily subside as anger at his situation surfaced.

"Me? What the hell did I do?" Fritz yelled out.

"You don't belong here. I will rid this world of your presence!"

The necromancer pulled her hand back. With a wave of her hand, she sent a crescent of dark force towards the three of them. Ada and Neva hit the deck. Fritz was slow to follow, just barely letting the dark energy pass overhead. Neva sprung forward. Her left hand flickered with fire, as she charged the group of skeletons. Her left hand shot out, as a conjured whip of pure fire struck one of the skeletons. It was knocked back slightly, but quickly regained its footing. The group of skeletal spearmen descended upon her. Their spears thrust forward, eager to pierce flesh. Crowding around her, they swarmed the graying mayor.

Fixing her sights on the necromancer, Ada charged forward. Her legs carried her faster than anyone Fritz had ever seen. Her sword was fixated on the necromancer's heart. The necromancer pointed at Ada.

"Die!" She screeched, as bolts of dark energy coiling with purple lightning erupted from her fingertips. Ada was quick to dodge. The impact of the bolts left small craters in the road. Fritz stood back up, just in time to move out of the way. A blast of energy exploded nearby, sending plumes of dirt into the air.

"Fritz!" Ada shouted.

"I'm okay!" Fritz responded. He gripped the mace tightly in his hands. His legs felt stiff, as he debated on what to do.

Ada pressed forward. Her long, quick legs carried her quickly towards the enemy. She weaved through arcs of dark energy. The town was being destroyed, as the necromancer continued her rampage. Mana destroyed windows, blasted holes through walls, and sent mud flying into the air as the she weaved magic to keep the blonde beastkin at bay. Ada's long legs carried her with agile ease. She jumped, ducked and dived through the barrage, as she made her way closer. Fritz stared in dumbstruck silence as he watched, occasionally jumping out of the way of certain death.

Ada was closing in. Another second, and she would be able to attack. The necromancer slashed the air with her hand. A wave of dark force shot through the air. Fritz watched as Ada jumped. Sailing through the air, she vaulted over the attack. She pulled her sword back, as she descended towards the necromancer. The flash of her steel blade flew across her enemy's stomach. Fritz saw the sword connect, as bone white armor grew instantly to protect the robed woman. The clang of Ada's sword struck the exposed bone. Ringing steel reverberated through the street.

Ada blinked in confusion. Her opponent wasted no time, she aimed dark magic at Ada. A blast of force hit Ada, throwing her into the side of a wooden building. Fritz heard the crash, as her ribs crushed inwards. Air wrenched itself from her lungs, as she collapsed into the dirt.

"Ada!" Fritz yelled. Forgetting everything else, he rushed over towards the downed wolfkin. He dropped his mace, as he cradled the wolfgirl. Blood was pouring out of her mouth at a frightening rate. She wheezed in pain, as her disorientated eyes looked up towards Fritz.

"Fritz! Get her out of here! Dammit it all!" Neva yelled back. She was forced away, as several spears blocked her movement. The immobile corpse of a skeleton lay before her. Fritz looked back towards Neva. At that moment, he saw the necromancer approaching.

"Oh, poor little outworlder. Meddling in affairs he shouldn't! Summoned just to die. Boohoo." The woman let out a cackling laugh. Fritz stood up, as she approached. His heart hammered in his chest. His legs quivered with fear. Yet despite everything he stood his ground.

She brandished a curving runed dagger, as she approached. "Let me shove this dagger through your heart. Be a good boy. Don't struggle. I'll make it quick and easy if you give up. Your life essence will leave quickly. You'll slip into the void, before you can even blink. "

Fighting seemed entirely out of the question. What could he even summon to defend himself? He doubted his skill in close combat. Running clearly made more sense. But he couldn't leave Ada to die. He couldn't leave her knowing he could have helped. He needed to think. Winning was all that mattered. He needed to save Ada. He needed to make a difference. Focusing on his core, Fritz could feel the thrum of his mana as his adrenaline coursed like wildfire through his veins.

A small black egg appeared in his palm. Shaking it slightly he could feel the glass shards hitting against the thin outer casing. Fritz held it out in front of himself. The necromancer laughed. She tilted her head back and shook with mirth.

"Oh, what do you plan on doing with that? Gonna make me eat it? There's hardly any magic there. Quite an impressive parlor trick, weakling." The necromancer was staring at him. Her eyes were wide with a crazed energy. Fritz took a few wooden steps forward until he was within distance.

"No, I'm just gonna show you a magic trick." Fritz said confidently. The necromancer sneered at him. "I'm gonna make this egg disappear."

Suddenly he brought his other hand over the egg. Closing his eyes, he opened up his palms and threw the mixture towards the necromancer. Small sands of sharpened glass flew out towards the necromancer. Her reaction time was slow, as the glass particles hit her large crazed eyes. She screeched in pain, clutching her face.

Fritz shook his palms removing any remaining glass. Blood pooled within his palms, as he started moving.

"Bastard! Bastard! I'll kill you! I'll rip your soul apart!" The woman screeched, she pointed to Fritz's last known position. Magic erupted forward, but Fritz was already on the move. Thinking quickly he summoned a dagger and threw it at the woman. Before it could even hit, the necromancer summoned plates of bone to protect her body. The dagger bounced uselessly off of her. Cursing to himself, Fritz devised another plan.

A jar of napalm appeared in his hand. He threw it at the necromancer. The mixture splattered all over her legs and feet. Screaming in pain and rage, the necromancer threw her magic around wildly. Waves of dark magical energy forced Fritz to duck. Behind him he could hear the splintering of wood, as the magical energy destroyed the town. The necromancer summoned another wave of force. Fritz dodged back onto the ground. Through her half-blinded bloody eyes, she readied a blast at his location. Fritz scrambled to his feet as a force of magical energy impacted nearby. Dodging around was tiring him. He was moving slower. He needed to catch his breath and summon the next part of his trick.

A thin bottle of gasoline appeared within his hand, alongside a match. The napkin came next. While running, Fritz stuffed the napkin down the bottle. He did his best to put as much agent on the napkin. While distracted, a wave of force hit him square in the chest. By some miracle, he held onto the bottle as his body ragdolled down the street. The match had been discarded somewhere in the muddy streets of Falken.

"Got you, you filthy rat!" The necromancer cackled. "How dare you throw filth at me! You're nothing more than an animal!" She screeched.

Fritz tried to focus inwards. His mind felt hazy. His sense of self was distant as pain coursed through him. He needed a moment to focus on his magic, yet pain consumed him.

"Stay still and die!" The necromancer sneered. She aimed a blast at Fritz's general location. The ground erupted in a nearby shower of mud. Flecks of filth hit Fritz's face. He looked up towards the approaching necromancer. She moved her aim to the left. The ground erupted again. She aimed a little bit more to the right. The force of the impact was getting closer. Fritz could feel the magic threatening to tear him apart.

Concentrating on his hand, he focused on the object he needed. A simple match with a phosphorous tip. The kind that you might find anywhere. Fritz held onto the image in his mind. Throbbing pain within his head threatened to stop him. An explosion of magic hit the ground next to him. Fritz could feel the force rip his filthy clothes.

"Finally! Stay still wretched outlander!" The necromancer barked. Fritz felt the pull of his magic emanating from his center. The match appeared in his hand as he bent down towards his shoe to strike it. He looked up to see a blast of darkness, spiraling with lightning coming towards his face. On instinct, he pulled away. The latent energy kissed his face as it passed him. The ground behind him erupted. His body rocked forward, as he bounced slightly. Despite all the odds, he dodged.

Fritz brought the lit match to the napkin. Without waiting to see if it caught fire, he threw the bottle towards the necromancer. His whole body joined his arm, as match and molotov cocktail sailed towards his enemy. As it sailed through the air, Fritz thought a quiet prayer.

The bottle spun through the air. Fritz watched its trajectory, as the woman lined up another attack. In his stupor, he was sure he could hear Neva screaming. Yet her voice seemed so far away. The glass shattered, orange fire spread across the ground. Yet the bottle had gone wide. The necromancer stood before him. Blood streamed from her eyes. The folds of her smiling face ran red pooled blood into her yellow teeth. A tattooed finger, brimming with magic, pointed directly at him. A sadistic cackle shook her body. The woman took another step forward, assured of her victory. Her foot stepped on something. Despite everything, the match still burned.

The napalm took hold, and like electricity running through a Christmas tree the napalm caught. Fire erupted upon her. Time seemed to slow, as her body convulsed. Her finger drew back, as magic blasted out into the sky above. Fritz raised his hands to his face, to shield his eyes from the bright light.

The smell of burning flesh reached Fritz's nose. The necromancer flailed about, as she rolled screaming on the ground. Yet her movements only caused the mixture to spread. From her legs to her arms, to her chest, to her face her frantic panicked movements transferred the substance everywhere. Her limbs spasmed in agony, as she let out a horrifying final wail of agony. His stomach started convulsing, as the necromancer went still. Her burnt corpse pulled inward. The napalm mixture burned, bright and hot. Her body was like a bonfire in the center of Falken.

Seconds later, the zombies and skeletons within Falken collapsed. Neva rushed over to help Fritz.

"Ada. We got to help her." Fritz mumbled as he tried to stand up.

"Slow down, Fritz. Good work. I didn't think you had it in you. But you did it anyway. We'll help her. Don't worry. You need to stay put, you've just been hit with a lot of dark magic. You need to take it easy. Let me help her." Neva pushed him back down to the ground. His head rested against the muddy road.

"You'll help her?"

"Of course." Neva answered. "Take it easy. Calm down. She'll be fine. Frann can work miracles."

"Okay." Fritz mumbled to himself. Fritz could feel his strength fading. His fatigue was catching up quickly to him. He snuck a peek towards Ada. Neva was standing above her, hoisting the blonde wolfkin up and over her shoulder. Neva walked towards her home. The town was now quiet. He listened to the crackle of a nearby fire.

Fritz wanted to rest, he wanted to call it a night, yet something wouldn't let him. He pulled himself up, and went over toward to help Neva.

Awkwardly, they made it through the door and up the set of stairs behind the dining room table. Ada was placed on a soft fluffy bed. Blood was pooling in her lungs as she breathed. A horrid, gurgling sound reached his ears with every inhale and exhale. Fritz collapsed into a chair, and sat with her.

"Fritz, I'll get Fran, as soon as I can." Neva said as made her way towards the door. "She's a tough girl. I know she will make it."

Fritz held Ada's hands. His body was slumped forward on the uncomfortable wooden chair. He fell asleep, sitting down, clutching her hand.