Chapter 4: The Letter (Part 1)

"Is there really no way at all?" Asa asked.

"Do you have a way to turn a zombie back into a human?" Sandru rolled his eyes in response. He held a steaming cup of tea, sipping it occasionally. When did he develop this tea-drinking habit?

"Isn't there a legendary ultimate forbidden spell in white magic that can resurrect the dead? I thought if it could revive the deceased, then surely..."

"Since you already know it's legendary, why bother asking? It's a theoretically possible spell, but not something achievable by human effort alone. And even if such a spell succeeded, it could only revive a complete human body. No magic can create a human body out of thin air," Sandru said, pausing as if recalling something before giving a bitter smile. "Even if this magic did exist, I fear the outcome wouldn't necessarily be a good thing..."

"But the Empress is still alive, and her body is intact..." Asa said.

"That's a vampire's body. It's entirely different from a human's," Sandru replied impatiently, taking a loud slurp of tea that echoed in the empty library. "How have you been studying magic and meditation all these years? You worked under me for so long and still haven't learned even a fraction of my discernment. The structure of her body and the energy that sustains it are completely different from a human's. How could it possibly be restored? This process is irreversible. It's like a seed growing into a plant—you can cut it down and kill it, but can you turn it back into a seed?"

Asa was silent for a while before sighing deeply and nodding. "Yes, I know it's probably impossible... I just didn't want to believe it."

"Didn't want to believe it? You've been acting more and more like a sissy lately... What's the big deal about vampires? If she can keep it hidden, fine. If not, it's her own problem. Whether she kills or flees is her business. Heck, even for that emperor kid, losing her might not be such a bad thing—out with the old, in with the new..."

"That's not what I mean... She would be devastated if she knew," Asa murmured, staring at the wall. Only he knew the origins of this vampire, the detailed reasons behind it, and the potentially unimaginable impact it would have on her.

"Huh?" Sandru hadn't caught his words.

"Sigh..." Asa sighed again, giving the eccentric old man a slightly reproachful look. "Since you were aware of that guy's schemes all along, why didn't you intervene to stop it? Maybe this could have been avoided..."

"You already asked me this two days ago, you fool. My answer remains the same: what you young people mess around with is none of my business, as long as it doesn't involve me. By the way, a heads-up: that cardinal kid doesn't seem simple. Watch yourself so you don't get killed," Sandru said, downing the rest of his tea.

"You young people can go do whatever you want. Just don't bother this old man," Sandru grumbled, swallowing the tea with a gulp. He sighed with satisfaction. "Good tea, but the water quality could be better. Ah, I forgot to ask you to bring me some snow water from the Saundfest Mountains..."

"You..." Asa shook his head in frustration. It wasn't the first time he'd felt helpless against the old man.

After leaving the Magic Academy, Asa hurried back to the inn where he was staying. Talice and the dark elf were waiting for news. Whether it was because Jessica obeyed his instructions or Talice was genuinely willing to cooperate, the fact that the two hadn't gotten into a fight in his absence was already the best news of the day.

After completing negotiations with the prime minister, Ruya had been sent away from the capital by Asa to the Whispering Forest. The elves' migration couldn't afford delays, and keeping her out of the capital was a prudent choice. Given her skills and abilities, she wouldn't be much help in the coming turmoil and might even become a liability.

Seeing Asa return, Talice immediately stepped forward and asked, "So? Did you find a solution? Didn't you say there's a mysterious expert here who could definitely help us?"

"That expert seems busy drinking tea and has no time to help us," Asa sighed before asking her, "Do you have any good solutions in mind?"

"The best approach is to find a way to expose this whole matter," Talice suggested. "Even if we can't directly reveal Jarvis and the Empress-turned-vampire, we could at least cause trouble for them, making their schemes harder to accomplish. For example, we could write messages on the walls at night with paint..."

"That's not an option... Absolutely not," Asa shook his head firmly. "Remember, you mustn't let any word of this leak out."

"Why not?" Talice glared at him. "Even if it doesn't achieve much, it wouldn't harm us..."

The dark elf sneered. "It would harm his lover, wouldn't it? That poor girl who turned into a vampire is the prime minister's only relative..." She then turned to Asa. "But do you really think this is appropriate? You should know this isn't the time for foolish emotions. The most rational and effective solution is the safest one."

"Of course I know that," Asa nodded, thinking for a moment before his eyes lit up with a cold glint. "Actually, there's a very direct way. I should've thought of this sooner—just grab that Jarvis guy!"

"Do you think he's a three-year-old you can just snatch up? If you could've caught him, you wouldn't have stopped that temple knight that night."

"How about I lure Jarvis out?" Talice suggested. "As a temple knight, he wouldn't suspect me. All we'd need is a proper ambush and trap."

"You probably couldn't pull it off," Asa said with a bitter smile, shaking his head. Indeed, a temple knight could theoretically distract Jarvis, but Talice lacked the cunning, sophistication, and experience for such a task. Moreover, someone who had infiltrated the Celeste Temple for so long had to be incredibly shrewd. Just one odd glance or unnatural expression might arouse his suspicions, and within five sentences, he could see through her intent and turn the tables. Asa had never planned to rely on Talice for this role; her combat skills were the only reason he brought her along.

"If not me, then what's the plan? Do you expect us to storm the Magic Academy and kidnap a bishop?"

"Our advantage is that we know who he is, but he doesn't know us," Asa mused. "I need to think... We need someone else to lure him out—someone more suitable for the job..."

"I hope the person you choose doesn't waste the advantage you mentioned," Talice said reluctantly.

"He won't," Asa said confidently. He trusted his choice, believing this person could match wits with the young necromancer.

Meanwhile, in the meeting hall of Dehya Valley, the necromancers convened once more.

However, this time, the gathering fell far short of the guild's peak glory. In just over a year, three members had died, one was imprisoned, and another was on a mission elsewhere. Of the thirteen seats, less than half were filled—a deeply embarrassing situation for an organization that once stood at the pinnacle of the continent. The faces of the necromancers were clouded with unresolved gloom.

"I believe this is a great opportunity to restore the guild's current standing," said Nopolinot, a chubby necromancer, as he toyed with a massive magic gem on his ring.

 "Restore?" Shante forced out the word amidst his coughing, his hunched body trembling with each spasm. His expression was weak and despondent, resembling an old man on the verge of death. His dull, lifeless eyes flicked briefly over Nopolinot's face, as if without focus. "Do you think our Necromancers' Guild has lost something of great importance?"

Nopolinot's hand twitched nervously before he replied, "Master Shante, isn't that the case? We've lost three esteemed members in just a year. They held positions of great power, capable of influencing national affairs..."

"Dehya Valley has never sought worldly power... nor does it need it... We have no use for such things... Do you think Dehya Valley is like your accounting office?" Shante's words came out weakly between bouts of coughing, but they were enough to make a thin sheen of sweat appear on Nopolinot's forehead.

Inham rose at this moment, politely addressing Shante. "Master Shante, I believe Nopolinot is merely accustomed to thinking in that way. Our shared goal has never wavered from beginning to end..."

Shante continued his gentle coughing, his response ambiguous. After a long pause, he sighed deeply and said, "A heart... The noble heart a necromancer should possess... is it gone?" With that, he closed his eyes and curled up in his chair, saying no more.

Inham gazed at Shante briefly before turning to address the other necromancers. "Everyone, regarding Nopolinot's proposal, what do you think?"

"Those who are not of our kind must harbor different intentions..." Master Aiden said coldly, seated upright in his chair.

"This indeed requires careful consideration. After all, something like this has never happened before in Dehya Valley," agreed the other two necromancers, nodding to each other.

"Perhaps we should first take a look at what Shaman Timmah has to say," Norpolinot suggested, pulling a black crystal out of his robe and placing it on the table. The black crystal, though opaque, had a translucent brilliance unique to the rare resources of Nigen's underground world. Such crystals were rare even in Dehya Valley and could only be used once.

The black crystal, infused with magical power, slowly began to dissolve. A smoky light emanated from it, gradually forming a large image in the center of the table.

"Esteemed necromancers, I, Timmah, Shaman of the Nigen Dark World, extend my greetings to you, the ones who stand at the pinnacle of the world." The figure in the projection bowed respectfully. As the light coalesced and became clearer, the image became almost indistinguishable from reality. His figure was far taller and more robust than a human's, draped in a peculiar yet dignified and eerie robe that made him look like a mythical golem. Even more striking was the massive bull's head on his neck, with ghostly, flame-like eyes. Anyone familiar with minotaurs would immediately recognize him as the Shaman of their tribe.

The strange and mysterious image, resembling a devil from legend, emitted a voice that, though rough, carried a certain softness—like the delicate caress of two finely polished grinding discs running against each other. Its tone was exceptionally respectful and polite. "Honorable Mr. Norpolinot has informed me of the situation, and I am deeply shocked. I never imagined that the envoy of Moriel would leave Nigen and come to the surface to oppose you all. I sincerely apologize for the trouble this has caused you."

One of the necromancers suddenly understood and nodded, saying, "Though I had a faint suspicion when I first saw Theodorus and that guy near Nigen, I never imagined he was actually from the underground world. That guy is clearly a half-elf—how could he has lived underground?"

"If it weren't for Adra bringing us information about that person's connection to the dark elves, we wouldn't have thought to investigate..." another necromancer said.

Adra shook his head with a frown. "Lancelote and the other temple knights who stormed the shrines in Nigen years ago seemed to know this person beforehand. But whether it was His Majesty or Lancelote's intention, they have never spoken a word about the battles in Nigen. Otherwise, I wouldn't have only vaguely realized the connection between that guy and Nigen after arriving there and then had to ask Norpolinot to investigate."

"But if this guy really is an envoy of the legendary dragon Moriel, there may indeed be some ties to us in Dehya Valley..." Master Aiden's face turned slightly pale, his voice losing its usual detached chilliness. "The seal on Moriel was personally crafted by the great Akibard. Could it be that the dragon has made some pact with Theodorus, and thus her envoy has come to the surface to assist him? If that's the case, things might be more troublesome than expected..."

"But the dark elf tribe has made no moves. I have reasons to believe this might not be Moriel's own will—perhaps it's merely a personal relationship between Theodorus and the half-elf," someone suggested.

Norpolinot raised his hand to interject. "In any case, let's listen to what Shaman Timmah has to say."

At this point, the minotaur Shaman in the projection addressed the crux of the matter. Even though it was just an illusory voice, it carried a curse-like presence. "Respected necromancers, out of immense admiration for Dehya Valley, I humbly request to join this most noble and grand organization as one of your members. I guarantee that this will form the most powerful alliance in the world. Together, we can resolve all your troubles with ease..."

A necromancer sighed, shaking his head. "This is the most disgusting application in the history of Dehya Valley. This creature isn't human but manages to be even more disgusting than the vilest person. Its aura of greed could make even zombies retch..."

Master Aiden sneered, "This thing wants us to deal with Moriel for him, so that the entirety of Nigen will fall under his control."

Another necromancer let out a laugh as sharp as knives grinding against each other. "Heh heh... This is the first time I've heard of someone daring to try and use us..."

Norpolinot wiped the cold sweat from his brow. "But at least, as he said, if we join forces with him, all our problems might indeed be solved effortlessly..."

Although there was no explicit agreement, a hint of consideration flickered on the faces of two guild members. After all, if Nigen could fall under Dehya Valley's control, it would be an unprecedented achievement. Besides, when faced with Moriel's envoy, even the almighty guild members seemed somewhat overwhelmed...

Master Aiden turned to look at Inham and asked, "What has the acting guild leader decided?"

Inham swept his gaze across the faces of the guild members, pondered for a moment, and then said, "I think it would be better to postpone this matter for now."

Master Aiden snorted coldly. "If Sandru were still the acting leader, I bet he'd have rushed to Nigen by now and used that shaman's corpse to show every fool in the world what kind of attitude is proper when dealing with the noble Dehya Valley."

Inham remained silent, his expression unchanged.

"This acting guild leader position is really no easy job," the marquis sighed after a long pause.

The radiant glow of white magic illuminated the entire meditation chamber as though it were broad daylight. In the center of the room, five magical gems cast a light that revealed every grotesque detail of the lich's horrific face. Yet, the marquis's gaze toward that face was calm, natural, even tender.