by Hyougetsu
“Since Kite’s gone, it falls to me to do the investigating, correct? I’ll handle it.”
I really was blessed to have such a perceptive friend.
Necromancers were the mages most suited to war. Soldiers died in droves on the battlefield, leaving plenty of material for necromancers to work with. Today, I had my werewolves covertly carry the assassins’ corpses over to a deserted section of the nearby forest. Once they were gathered, Parker and I stared down at the pile of bodies.
“They’ve got nothing on them that’d hint at where they’re from, or who they are. Hell, they weren’t even carrying wallets.”
Parker nodded at my explanation.
“Then I suppose you do need me after all,” he said. “The recently departed are like the babies of the underworld. Bending their spirits to my will won’t be difficult. However, before I revive them, there’s two things I need you to promise me, Veight.”
The skeleton necromancer brought his face inches from mine. His expression was dead serious.
“First, I want you to trust my judgment and my methods. I’m the specialist here.”
“You got it.”
“That’s all.”
Wait, what about the second thing? Just as I was about to ask, Parker added, “The second thing is related to the first. The dead are not like the living. You cannot afford them the same sympathy, Veight. I know you’re too kind for your own good, but kindness will only backfire here.”
“A-Alright.”
So he did have two conditions after all. He just did that lame joke to help me relax.
“Don’t worry, Parker. I know that’s the main reason I wasn’t able to become a necromancer. I’m aware of my shortcomings.”
Parker scrutinized my expression for a few seconds, then nodded.
“Personally I quite like that side of you, so I wouldn’t call it a shortcoming. But it’s certainly true you’re not suited to be a necromancer.”
You didn’t have to add that last bit.
“Very well. Now that that’s out of the way, I can begin.”
Parker thrust a bony finger out in front of him and started motioning a complex symbol in the air. By crafting a rhythm that appealed to the spirits of the dead, he was drawing them to him.
“My voice is a silent thunder that reverberates across the underworld. My eyes are empty sockets that pierce through the veil of darkness with radiant light. Answer my call, spirits of the dead.”
Parker sure is serious today. It had been a long time since I’d last seen him chant an incantation when performing necromancy. Spirits that had just died often retained the personalities and memories of their previous life, meaning people who’d been hostile to you in life would also be hostile to you as a spirit. The reason Parker was using an incantation was because he wanted to be doubly sure his control over the spirits was perfect.
Soon enough, translucent ghosts began to rise above the bodies. As they’d just died, their spirits still retained human form. Though there were over twenty corpses, Parker had only summoned a few spirits. No one was completely sure where spirits went after death, but all necromancers knew that calling forth specific ones was difficult. Parker curled his bony fingers into a fist and said coldly, “Kneel before me.”
The moment those words left his mouth, the spirits fell to the ground as if they were being pressured by some invisible force. Waves of mana thick enough to be palpable pulsed from Parker. It seemed he was going straight to using force. His voice still as cold as ice, Parker added, “Your souls are in my grasp. Newly born spirits, heed my command.”
The spirits writhed in pain as Parker’s overwhelming wave of mana pushed down on them. He bound them to this plane using necromancy, preventing them from escaping. He seemed completely unfazed by their silent cries of pain.
“Tell me what your last thoughts were as you died. Your master demands it.”
A faint smile played about Parker’s lips. The fact that he was enjoying this spectacle was kinda scary. Parker beckoned to me, and I walked closer to him. As I did so, I could suddenly hear the voices of the dead. As they had no vocal cords, they could only speak by vibrating the mana around them at varying frequencies. I perked my ears and deciphered the vibrations.
“Ryuunie... Ryuunie... Prince... Prince...”
“Barnack... Sword Saint... Barnack...”
“Capture... Capture... Kill...”
Parker shook his head and said coolly, “The lord of the dead requires more information than that. Now speak!”
Parker shook his fist, and the spirits danced like marionettes on strings. To the spirits of the dead, skilled necromancers were both absolute monarchs and merciless torturers. Once caught within a necromancer’s spell, they were helpless to resist.
“Doneiks... Kinjarl Castle...”
“Petoka...”
Parker raised his fist like a tyrant and swung it down through the air.
“Stop withholding information! Spit out what you know, or perish!”
The spirits crumpled to the ground. Though it looked like a horrifying sight, the rules for the dead were different from the rules for the living. And necromancers were well-versed in the rules for the dead. Which was why I knew it wasn’t my place to butt in.
“B-Bol...she...”
“Bol...she...”
“vik...”
Bolshevik? You mean that noble family that’s related to the Doneiks by marriage? The second most influential family in North Rolmund? The same family that surrendered to Eleora, which was the deciding factor in bringing this rebellion to an end? Before I could stop myself I asked, “How’re the Bolsheviks related to this? Are you assassins sent by the Bolshevik family?”
But the spirits said nothing, and Parker shook his head.
“I can’t get any more out of them. This is as far down their memories as I can go, and I won’t be able to bind them for much longer.”
Parker waved his hand horizontally with a flourish. The spirits dissipated, like chunks of mist being blown away by the wind. All of them had mentioned Bolshevik. It was obvious the Bolshevik family was involved in this plot somehow. From the beginning, I thought it suspicious that the Bolshevik family, which had served the Doneiks for generations, had surrendered so easily. Now, it was clear I needed to investigate further.
But first, I needed to look after Parker. He was standing still, his empty eye sockets covered by dark shadows. Had I not known what he’d just been through, I would have been terrified by the expression on his face. I lightly patted my fellow disciple on the shoulder.
“Thank you, Parker. You did well.”
After a brief pause, he nodded.
“O-Oh...yes. I-It was nothing.”
He spoke in an awkward stutter. After losing his flesh, Parker had gradually begun to forget what it felt like to be alive. That slow lapse had of course been accelerated by all the time he spent peering into the world of the dead. Parker himself had been terrified of completely losing himself to the ghastly realm, so I’d done my best to make sure he didn’t have to use necromancy too much. But I asked him to help me with my investigation by using necromancy, and now it was my fault he was looking so despondent.
Now then, how should I cheer him up? I guess there’s only one good way. I sucked in a deep breath, then said tentatively, “You really helped me out back there. You’re a true friend and a true brother, Parker.”
Parker’s skull swiveled to face me.
“Wait, what did you just call me?”
“A true brother...”
Please stop making me repeat myself. It’s embarrassing. Parker’s expression suddenly brightened, and all of his bones began to shiver.
“What’s with the sudden change of heart? No matter how much I begged you to, you never called me your brother before. Actually, don’t bother answering. Regardless of the reason, the fact is, you’ve finally admitted it!”
It feels like it’s been a long time since he last annoyed me.
&nb
sp; “You finally recognize me as your brother! Feel free to rely on me for anything else you need. That’s my job as your big brother, after all! Oh, and there’s no need to stop at just true brother. Why not call me ‘O exalted brother from on high?’”
Seeing how carried away Parker was getting, I regretted giving him even this much.
“Well it looks like you’ve cheered up,” I said. “So that’s enough coddling. Let’s go back, Parker.”
“Wait! Please just call me brother dearest one more time! Just once more is fine!”
“I never called you ‘brother dearest!’”
“Oh yes, you said true brother, didn’t you?”
I definitely screwed up. Still, if it got Parker to cheer up, it was worth it. Despite my griping, I knew I’d be lonely if he was gone. Just a little though. Like, a microscopic amount.
I finished burying the dead assassins, then took my troops and left the village. There was no reason to remain any longer than necessary. I sat across from Prince Ryuunie inside a carriage flying the colors of the Meraldian army, and guarded by a squad of werewolves. In an attempt to cheer the depressed prince up, I said in as bright a voice as I could muster, “I don’t know what the people of Rolmund will think of him, but if you ask me, your father was an amazing man.”
“Thank you, Lord Veight.”
Considering Prince Ivan had started a rebellion and then lost, both his allies and his enemies probably didn’t think too highly of him. Worse, because of the crimes of his father, Prince Ryuunie wouldn’t be accepted by Rolmundian high society either. In fact, most nobles probably wanted him dead. He was in a very precarious position. But despite how hopeless his situation was, Prince Ryuunie resolutely met my gaze.
“Why did you choose to protect me, Lord Veight? Grandfather always taught me to be wary of people who show kindness without asking for anything in return. Because there’s always something they want from you.”
Prince Ryuunie had a point. It was wise to be wary of people you didn’t know. I debated how best to answer. Prince Ryuunie was technically an adult, according to the laws of Rolmund. Meaning he was owed an honest answer.
“Lord Doneiks taught you well. There are three reasons why I saved you, Your Highness.” Prince Ryuunie looked nervously up at me and I continued, “First, because Prince Woroy asked me to rescue you as one of his conditions for cooperating with me.”
“Uncle did!? Wait, does that mean he...” Ryuunie blinked in surprise, looking for a moment like the child he was.
“Fear not, Prince Woroy is alive. I’m sheltering him, just like I am you.”
“Truly!?”
Prince Ryuunie smiled happily, momentarily forgetting how dire his situation was. It was only natural though. After all, now he knew at least one of his relatives was still alive. Guessing what was likely going through his mind, I added, “Woroy has a lot of influence not just over the Doneiks army, but also over the other nobles and citizens of North Rolmund. He will prove a valuable ally, especially because of how honorable he is.”
Ryuunie mulled over my words for a few seconds, then looked timidly up at me.
“So you wanted to put Uncle...in your debt?”
“That’s right.” I smiled at the prince. “The second reason I saved you is this.”
I brought out the wooden knight statue that Prince Ivan had given me.
“Ah, that’s...”
Ryuunie’s eyes widened in surprise.
“I was able to meet Prince Ivan in secret before Kinjarl Castle fell. The prince told me that if I passed this on to you, it would be of great benefit to me.”
As I said that, I suddenly realized it would fall to me to tell the young prince of his father’s death.
“After entrusting this to me, your father passed away. I’m sorry, it was beyond my ability to save him.”
I’m really sorry, Ryuunie. I didn’t mean to get your hopes up. As expected, Ryuunie fell silent, his expression twisting in anguish. Even if I could save everyone else, there was no way I’d be able to rescue the instigator of this rebellion. Prince Ivan had no choice but to bear the responsibility for what he’d wrought.
“Ryuunie, your father was someone worthy of respect. Regardless of what the rest of Rolmund says, Prince Ivan was a man with wisdom and foresight. He took his responsibility as a leader seriously, and fought with bravery.”
Though history would only remember him as such thousands of years down the line, if ever. There was no doubt that he would be painted as a villain for the next few decades, though. Ryuunie looked down sadly, absorbing my words. He probably hadn’t expected me to praise his dad. A few seconds later, his shoulders started to tremble as he desperately tried to hold back his sobs.
“I-I’m sorry... I-I know it’s unseemly for...a man of the Doneiks family to...to shed tears in public, but... F-Father... He...”
Tears dripped from his cheeks, staining his pants. Though I felt sorry for him, I had no idea how to console a prince. All I could do was look away and say, “Don’t worry. I’m looking outside the window right now, so I bear witness to nothing.”
Even though no one would have thought less of Ryuunie for crying his heart out, he nevertheless cried as silently as possible. As I stared out at the snowy landscape, I thought back to Prince Ivan. If nothing else, his son loved and respected him. I had no idea if he’d been a good commander of men, but I did know he’d been a good father. I’d be happy if I could become even half the man Prince Ivan had been.
Sensing that Prince Ryuunie had finally finished crying, I turned away from the window. I then handed him the wooden knight.
“Here you go, Ryuunie.”
“Thank you very much.” Rubbing his puffy red eyes, Ryuunie stared down at the knight I’d given him. “Umm, Lord Veight. This knight is a special knight that my grandfather...I mean Lord Doneiks made.”
“Special how?”
“I’ll show you. If you do this here, then...”
Ryuunie pushed a section of the wooden paneling on the pedestal the knight stood on. The section smoothly fell inward. Ryuunie then turned the knight upside down and pushed another section on the underside of the pedestal. Again, the wooden section smoothly fell inward. He kept going, pressing and pulling random points on the knight as if he was solving some mysterious 3D puzzle.
“And then... I think you do this next...”
Ryuunie kept at it for a good few minutes. I’d thought the wooden parquetry hadn’t left any open space to hide something in, but once Ryuunie slid the last panel in place—a section of the knight’s leg—the entire pedestal the knight was standing on came apart.
“Awawawawa!?” Ryuunie cried out in surprise.
Blocks of disassembled wood fell onto his knees. Among the falling pieces was a single metallic object. A silver earring, inlaid with multiple blue gemstones. Upon closer inspection, I realized the earring was shaped like a lily. The gemstones had been cut in the shape of flower petals, while the earring itself made up the stem.
“Father gave these earrings as a gift to Mother before they got married,” Ryunnie said, picking up the earring and staring at it. “He buried one of them with Mother when she died, and kept the other with him.”
So it’s a memento... It seemed this little wooden knight was actually a secret safe. I’d seen similar objects back in my old life. The safe was disguised as the pedestal the knight stood on, making the whole thing look perfectly unassuming. Ryuunie scrutinized the earring in his hands.
“This earring was really important to Father, but he said it’s not that valuable.”
Meaning the earring itself wasn’t what Prince Ivan had been referring to when he said this knight would prove valuable to me.
“In that case, Ryuunie, this earring is likely some manner of clue. Can you tell me everything you know about it?”
Ryuunie nodded solemnly and started sifting through his memories.
“Umm...the earring is shaped like a Knight Lily, which was Mother’s favo
rite flower.”
“A Knight Lily, you say? I haven’t heard of that flower name before. We must not have them in Meraldia.”
“It’s a red lily that often gets adopted into knights’ crests here, which is why it’s called the Knight Lily.”
If the Knight Lily’s a red flower, how come blue gemstones have been used for the petals then? Though I was curious, I remained silent so as not to interrupt Ryuunie’s story. Seeing as he was still a kid, it was important to show that I was taking him seriously.
“Father knew how much Mother treasured the flower, and when she died he put an entire bed of Knight Lilies around her grave.”
Maybe this is the hint Prince Ivan was alluding to.
“Where is your mother’s grave?” I asked.
“There’s a villa near Kinjarl Castle. Mother was buried there.”
Alright, looks like it’s time for a grave visit. Considering how unlikely it was that Ryuunie would be allowed to remain in Rolmund, this might also end up being the last time he’d get to see his mother’s grave.
Ryuunie continued telling me stories about his parents. None of them sounded especially significant, but they did bring my thoughts back to the late Prince Ivan. Ryuunie’s stories often featured Lord Doneiks as well, and at some point he said, “I really liked this wooden knight, so Grandpa told me he’d make me something like it for my next birthday.”
Ryuunie started reassembling the wooden knight.
“And even though Father was really busy once the war started, he always told me he’d find time to make one for me in Grandpa’s place.”
In an attempt to console Ryuunie, I forced a smile onto my face and said, “Well, it seems Prince Ivan and Lord Doneiks kept their promises after all.”
“Yes. But I would have preferred to have them alive than have this knight...”
The pedestal fell apart again inside Ryuunie’s small hands.
“Ah...I’m sorry...”
His expression fell as he looked at the wooden blocks that had fallen to the ground. I got off my seat, knelt down, and picked one of the pieces off the floor. I then offered it to Ryuunie.