"travel safely."

It has been a few days since Fang became a necromancer. The amount of research, experiments, and knowledge to be discovered still fascinates him.

It's the middle of the night. It's been a bit warmer considering how much work Isgram has put in creating fire sources.

Fang gained a new ability that lets him raise the spirit of a person and absorb their mana.

Using the spell several times on the elven patrols who investigate the disappearances of the 2 scouts, he managed to increase his INT stat by a lot.

'open status'

{Name: Fang

class: Mage level 1, necromancer level 1.

Race: elf

age: 16

level: 1

HP: 30

MP:186

STR:4–>6

INT:20–> 31

AGI:3–>4

WIS:5–>8

VIT:2

LUC:2–>4

Passive abilities:

Passive MP regeneration level 1–>3

resistance to magic level 1

swift feet level 1–>2

butchering level 1

swordsmanship level 1–>3

Active abilities:

Soul hunt level 1–>3:

Mana cost: 40 MP minimum.

Scout ghost Summon level 1–>2:

Mana cost: 4.8 MP per meter.

Magic transfer: transfers MP between creatures.

Meditation level 1–>2: Raises intelligence and restores MP: 11 MP per hour.

Double slash: One move, Two hits. 5 MP}

Consumer of Souls level 2: by raising the spirit of the dead, the user can absorb mana and experience

Mana cost: 0 MP.

"I'm back Isgram." carrying a big four-horned deer-looking creature on his right arm and a katana strapped with a leather belt on his left hip, Fang entered the cave and was greeted

by isgram sharpening some of the knives they looted from the several scouts they encountered lately.

"You've been working quite hard. Is it normal?"

"No. I did work hard but I have never been so productive, especially with the hunts. I think that my ghost scout has been doing its job magnificently."

Fang reached into his bag and pulled out some white metal knives and a small bow.

"I see you hunted some more elves... be careful, it could lead to suspicion."

"They already know where we are, but they are underestimating us. I think they know about you hiding here but they are not aware of me."

"How did you figure that out?"

"I heard it from them."

Suddenly Isgram and Fang heard people talk quite close, possibly from the entrance to the cave.

"They sure are really determined."

Fang frowned as he waved his hand at the ground and raised his scout with 150 MP to see 30 meters away from him.

He sent him to the little platform isgram built on top of the cave, with a small peeping hole above the cave's entrance.

It took a few minutes but the talking subsided and two archers reached towards the entrance of the cave.

"I should take care of them, you stay here and ready a fire spell just in case."

"No need to be told what to do, friend."

Isgram growled but he knew fang meant good.

They had each other, nothing more.

Loyalty has blossomed pretty quickly but they still don't trust each other to such an extent.

For all Fang knows, Isgram could be a chosen one imposter or worse: an elf spy serving the elves' crown.

This way or another, he must keep his eyes open.

Fang entered deeper into the cave pretty quickly, tightening his leather belt while he walked confidently.

Suddenly a little fireball made its way towards him but he dodged pretty quickly and unsheathed his katana. So goes his confident steps.

To his surprise, Isgram was the shooter but the bigger surprise was what he actually hit.

A little whimpering sound was heard through the cave. The man behind Fang was a little elf.

"You're lucky I was practicing this spell, Mate. This assassin would have left your head in the royal court before morning."

That was scary, and that's all Fang could have processed now.

"That was way too close! It's the first time I'm really scared."

"That was an assassin, stop being dramatic. Better absorb his mana and stop bitching."

"I need a minute to breathe, get back to what you were doing!"

Fang meditated for some time, then proceeded to absorb the assassin's soul.

{INT +1}

"What do you think we should do to take the archers outside? They will wait for him."

Isgram scratched his mustache, pondering the possibilities. His eyes brightened and it seemed like he had an idea.

"I can shoot a fire arrow to kill one of them, but I'll need another moment to prepare a second spell for the other one. Can you distract the second one for a couple of seconds?"

"Hmm?"

"did you even listen to me?"

" I'm not good at concentrating. you said?"

"dumbass."

"Who the hell did you call a dumbass, shorty?! Little hairy man!"

"Oh, you're gonna regret it!" Isgram began conjuring fireballs the size of a head.

"Focus, we got those assholes outside. We can't fight. At least not right now..." Fang said smiling

Fang and isgram moved slowly to the entrance and using Fang's vision, he made sure isgram was aiming from inside the cave toward the closer archer.

"Tyrion should have taken his head by now, something's wrong..."

"Don't go in, we must wait for his signal. If he was found out, he would use the"

Before he could complete the sentence, A fire arrow hit his robe and blasted him back a couple of meters.

The second archer tried to take aim but he didn't see anything to shoot at so he tried to tactically retreat, taking some steps back.

As he felt he was in a safe enough distance, he saw a purple orb flying towards him with haste.

He shouted and grunted from the headache he felt, his eyes bleeding and the pain caused him to kneel on one knee.

Then the second fire arrow hit him between the eyes.

"Bullseye," Isgram Whispered tiredly.

The night swallowed their existence, but their scream could be heard echoing through the forest.

"Isgram. I want to live and there is a chance right here. It is time I took things more seriously." Fang said to Isgram, eyes still closed as he focused on the scout's perspective.

he sat next to Fang under the edge of the cave, still protected from the rain. "you want to go against the elves?" Isgram asked concerned.

Fang's eyes glowed purple-black, consumed by fear but it cleared after a single moment.

"I want them to fear me. I want them to stay away from me. I want to be stronger. You don't make peace with a weak enemy, you make peace with a strong enemy."

"That is true, but do you think you'll be able to amass enough power? A single high-level guard can kill us both... what is your plan?"

"I don't know. I'm considering recruiting chosen ones since we are all chased. I might relocate far from here and hope there aren't any significant dangers. I might hire mercenaries. I might even assassinate the king."

"I suggest you try being more realistic. Their elven king is a mighty opponent or so I heard. I think we should recruit more chosen ones, it might be wiser since they don't have any choice but to live separated from the kingdoms."

Fang opened his eyes and decided to go out to retrieve the bodies of the scouts.

"Put the bodies in the cave for now. I will take care of it later. Let's see what is our next move."

Isgram smiled. 'There might be hope, after all,' thought isgram.

"I will help you. I have a good feeling about you fang. You can scare me at times but you're strong and dependable. I might even say you have a good heart but hell, life is not a place for the good-hearted. I think you should continue as you are:

The chosen ones are our allies, the others are neutral until said otherwise."

The rain began flooding and cleaning the forest, cleansing the spirits of the dead and the smell of death.

"I won't let anyone hurt me. I will make sure to protect my allies as well, but I won't let anyone take my life. Do you still have any connections in the elf city?"

Isgram pondered, knowing his connections were severed so no one would assist him.

"I don't have anyone who owes me, why do you ask?"

"I need info. fast."

"that I can arrange, there are enough thieves there that would gladly get paid for bringing us news."

"I don't want news. I want to know the locations. Chosen ones, points of interest, treasures, anything that can be useful."

"chosen one's locations... Well I know there is one pretty close by but I'm not sure we can reach her that night. Might be smart to wait for tomorrow, to prepare properly. We can't know how strong she is but I know she is here for at least two months so she is older than us in Chosen One terms."

Fang thought about it but then decided on his next move.

"I need intel on her before I approach her, maybe sending someone who can hide well.

But I guess we'll have to wait for another time."

"It's a dumb idea. And then what? She will know someone is following her and it will only chase her away. Let's leave it for now."

"you're sure she's still there?"

Isgram sighed but Responded after some careful thinking.

"No, I don't. That is just what I heard. You want to set out sometime next week together?"

"No. I'll go alone."

"Are you out of your mind!? She's stronger than you for sure, what chance do you stand?"

"I don't stand a chance. I don't want to fight her.

I will try to go there on my own. Right now. I will try to get her to talk, maybe she'll get convinced."

Isgram was smiling as if the whole situation was crazy, but Fang was dead serious.

"Let's hope you'll return in one piece or at least return."

With that, Fang packed food in a leather backpack He made from the deer hide.

He filled it with roasted meat and some ready-to-munch mushrooms. His trusty katana hanging on his belt, less rusty than before thanks to Isgram's work.

Isgram recently sharpened his katana so now it is much sharper, rivaling a proper sword.

"I'm going to need instructions, Isgram."

Isgram took a piece of skin and carved on it the way.

"Assuming this is the cave, you go up which is north and right that way. See the mountains up in the north? You need to go in that direction for at least 5 kilometers. Then you'll spot a little fort she built. It is very noticeable and there isn't anything else in that area so you can't get it wrong."

"She built a fort all alone?"

"I do not know what element she holds but I guess you'll have to tell me when you get back. Good luck Fang, return safely mate."

Isgram extended his hand to shake Fang's hand.

"Goodbye friend, stay safe. I hope you'll use the time to ward off the elven patrols. Don't get in too much trouble, huh?"

"Travel safely, jackass."

And with that, Fang started dashing through the thunder and the rain. The chill winds of The forest caused him to shake involuntarily but his new leather clothes were warm enough for him.

It seems like it's gonna be a long night.