Jack cultivated from the wee morning hours of the seventh day, until dusk hours of the same day, only then did he rouse from his cultivation.

Like last time, Jack was oblivious to the cultivational pheromone of the pillar of light he caused. As his vision came into view, from where he had turned it off to concentrate on the Light, he noticed light flickering in the Library.

Getting up, Jack wondered why there was more light than usual, and why did it flicker on the walls.

[Is there a fire going on?] Jack scratched his bald skull. He wondered as he looked around. Just out of habit, he looked down at his body. That kind of look to just make sure he was still bones, just to remind him he was still in his situation, as this had become a habit of his.

[....]

Jack wanted to comment but found it difficult. He noticed that the simple robe he was wearing was gone, and he was entirely engulfed in golden flames. He lifted his hands to look at the flames dancing on them that extended to all parts of him.

[I guess I am no longer your average skeletal undead... I've become the legendary super sa-] Jack finally found words to describe his situation, but forcibly stopped himself from completing the thought.

Jack was started to become increasingly worried about himself. Not because he was currently on fire, but because this realization didn't bother him as much as he felt it should. He felt he should be freaking out over this, but found that it didn't really affect him one way or the other.

[Well... How do the undead say it...? 'How in the abyss' am I going to fix this.] Jack felt proud of using the local lingo to describe his situation. He had been trying to speak more in the way that his fellow undead did, as to fit in better with them.

[If this was an anime... Then this fire is due to me cultivating. Why it would make me look like this... Anyway, let's try to control these golden flames, hmmmmmm. I'll call it holy fire. Makes sense to me.]

Jack closed his vision again and moved his mind within his soul space, and along his bones. He imagined the fire being absorbed into his bones. As he did this the flames did, in fact, shrink across him, and in an almost living way, crawled to the golden holy runes etched into all his bones. The holy flames sunk into them and disappeared.

Now with the flames no longer dancing on him, he found that he felt numb again. He didn't notice when he first rose from his cultivating, but he was warm. As Jack was concerned with a possible fire burning his place down, he didn't notice, but now with the absence of the flames, he was again left without.

[Okay... This doesn't make any sense. Holy fire doesn't burn me, but Holy water baths do... I need to report a bug.] Alas, there was no one to hear his complaint, but now Jack found it difficult to leave his library.

While he was here in the library, no one would walk in on him, but he found himself without clothes.

[Did the fire burn all my clothes off...? How do those Z warriors keep their clothes from burning up when they power up...?] Jack wondered while looking down at himself.

[What am I going to do...? It's not like I can just streak back to my room.] Jack pondered over this a moment until he realized he could just call someone to bring him some.

At one point he had thought of just making a run for it, but felt he would have been a real numb skull had it done that, though Jack rubbed his chin. It could of lead to some interesting developments if Leslie, Verruca or even Emily saw him.

Jack shook his head to clear his thoughts... Wishful thinking, he decided to just call Leslie.

[Leslie can you hear me?]

[Mmmmm?] Leslie replied.

[I had a, Ummmm... Cultivation incident, where all my robes have... burned away. Can you bring me a robe to wear to the Library?] Jack found it hard to word exactly what happened, as he could only guess this was the cause; nothing else made sense to him.

[That's funny. Mmmmm... Alright. I'm pretty much finished for the day. I'll be there in a few moments. I'll Message you when I get there.]

[Thanks.]

[There's no need for thanks between us.]

Jack thought this last message over in his mind. He had always been taught to thank someone when they do anything, but... This felt pretty nice.

Jack decided to use his time while he waited to look over a few more tomes. As he shifted about in his library, with his bones on full display, he came again before the tome he disliked the most.

He gazed at it on the bottom shelf where it laid next to the 'Tome of the Heretical Side of the Light.'

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

[Haaaa~ Old H.P... Did you really just make-up gods or did you actually see-]

[Jack, I'm here.] Leslie mentally messaged.

[I'm coming out.]

Jack stepped out of his library, as the false doorway rippled in effect, as his massive skeletal form cleared into the hallway.

Leslie stood there waiting for him. Today she was wearing a very nice black with golden trim Qipao. It came to just below her knee. Jack had left first thing this morning and didn't see her change. He really... really liked this type of dress.

"You look great." Jack couldn't help but say.

"Sure," Leslie said unconvinced.

"...I mean it..." Jack could only say, as Leslie helped him into his robe.

As usual, there was no one in the hallways to see him here, though it could be said that if Jack had really left for his room, he might have encountered Emily, who was being entertained this evening by Lucius. He had thought to get more information on the faith of Neolith, the so-called Church of the Spider, which had been growing the southern city of Salily... It was not really a secret that the Achnida clan of Salily were originally from Neolith. They brought their faith with them, and they were accepted by The Holy Witch King. At the time, he felt that given enough time they would convert to the faithful path of Deagoth. To date, the Church of the Spider only increased in Salily, instead of decrease, for various reasons.

"Alright," Leslie said flatly.

Jack shook his head... He wished she would just take the compliment. He did mean it, after all.

[He's seen my other form... How could I still be considered pretty?] Leslie sighed and forced a smile.

Jack turned to look down at his consort. "Hey now... That's not a good face to make to meet your mother."

"If you say so... You know... We could just go back to your room for another round." Leslie said as she pulled herself closer to Jack.

It would be a lie if Jack didn't feel tempted, but he felt Leslie had another agenda.

"You want to put off meeting your mother... Again?" Jack said probingly.

"Well... That would be a plus for me." Leslie turned her face away but didn't pull away from Jack, partly because she didn't want to leave his embrace, but also because she was being embraced.

"No... We really need to see to her. Also, did you get any information from the Warmarshal Frostgard sent to the Grimnight clan?"

Leslie decided to tell him mentally. [I've got a few handmaidens working there at the moment... They ummmmm.] Leslie made an uneasy expression. Jack tilted his head slightly to see her face, where she had it turned and noticed.

He took the hint of using mental messages, and replied, [They recovered your father?]

[... Yes. He's... It's confirmed. He's gone.] Leslie forced herself to reply.

Jack squeezed Leslie a bit more and hated he couldn't share with her a bit of warmth. Maybe he would try to comfort her, in the same way, she had comforted him. After all... She had just asked for it. Jack had an idea on how to fix this.

Leslie sighed, "Let's just go. I can't put it off forever, just don't tell her I've been putting her off."

Jack chuckled aloud, "I wouldn't sell you out. I still want you to visit me tonight."

Leslie playfully hit him on his rib cage, as she left his embrace. Jack followed her to the guest quarters of the Palace. This wasn't far from the room where Emily resided. Jack looked into that direction as he passed. Leslie took note of his lingering gaze but didn't make comment.

*******

"Honored Guest Mark! It's good you have come again." The King of Jakahn sat on his throne. He had many aides reporting to him this morning. He had just got word that Mark had asked for an audience. The King of Jakahn decided to invite him in, without dismissing his subjects.

"Your Highness honors this one with your praise." Mark came in but did not bow to the king. The king of Jakahn didn't make comment on this non-action, but many of his advisors couldn't help but click their tongues or teeth.

"I've come again for the last resource, and to provide another key piece of information, some would even call it news," Mark said with confidence.

"Good! Good! Very good! Yes!" The King of Jakahn clapped his hands together. "It took considerable resources and manpower to get this last item you needed, but We were able to obtain it."

The King made a motion to his servants. Quickly four servants came in each holding onto a pole that suspended a large red hot glowing box. If one looked closely, they could see the searing of the poles that held the box in place.

"One Lavagrim Geoshark fin! Fresh from the Brimstone ocean. We lost three crews to capture this one." The King said with a tone that was neither happy or otherwise.

Mark could tell that this box held a powerful item, and the Lavagrim Geoshark was a creature made of pure fire and malice, a marriage of fire and darkness. This was exactly what he needed. He didn't need to open the box to know it was inside and knew it was better to save the face of the King than check.

"Perfect, as expected of His Highness." Mark finally bowed to the King, not because of his position as the King, but out of courtesy for the transaction.

Many of the aides, the same that clicked their tongues, nodded their head in approval, this Honored Guest Mark was of character. He showed firm unbreakable will in the face of a monarch, but with an extremely practiced etiquette. He moved subtlety, but with purpose.

"So, what 'news' do you bring to Us?" The King said with interest. At this moment, a purple monochromatic beauty walked into the royal chamber. Violet was also interested in what Mark had to say. He had been feeding Jakahn with plenty of good information. Information that was later verified as authentic. Jakahn had marked many barracks for their purpose of invasion. Yes. Jakahn was preparing for war, even without Mark's assistance.

"A little bat told me that an Ambassador of Neolith has made their way to Deagoth to meet The Holy Witch King," Mark said in a joking voice.

"Yes. Tell Us news We don't know." The King frowned.

"The little Ambassador just so happens to be Princess Emily." Mark again replied, while shifting his gaze to Princess Violet. Violet made no movements, but Mark could tell that the lack of movement was a type of expression.

"So, she is. That's very interesting, but that still doesn't lend itself as being news that We can use."

Mark chuckled a bit, but only in a reserved manner. "Of course, Your Highness. I wouldn't waste your time on this, but the bit I believe you wish to know is her purpose being there. I won't beat around the bush anymore. Princess Emily has been sent there with the mission of betrothal to The Holy Witch King." Mark finished.

The entire royal chamber, right down to the servants that were in the background stood silent and motionless. Betrothal!

This was... This was the tying of two nations into one! This could severely hamper the plans of Jakahn! It was not a good thing for Jakahn to attack Deagoth, for them to be counter-attacked by two sovereign powers!