Chapter 92 (1/2)

Vur, Tafel, and Lindyss stood in front of a one-story building. Its walls were smooth and painted white. The door was made of a light-blue metal that reflected the moon in the sky above them. Tombstones were propped up around them, marking the end of a person’s journey.

“Do you have the key?” Lindyss asked.

Vur shook his head. “Keys are unnecessary,” he said and pushed on the door. The wall next to the doorknob cracked and shattered as the mithril-plated door swung open. Tafel sighed as pieces of the wall fell to the ground. The trio stepped inside the dark room. A light flashed and a golden spirit appeared.

“Intruders will be—,” the spirit’s voice trailed off. It opened its mouth and a trembling male voice came out. “What are you doing here, Your Majesty? Only members of the clergy may proceed beyond this point.”

“Says who?” Vur asked and tilted his head. The spirit took a step backwards and gulped.

“It was decreed long ago by us,” the male spirit said. “All the bodies preserved in this mausoleum may not be defiled. Each person entombed here had the qualifications to join us as god.”

“It’s not like you need your bodies anymore,” Lindyss said with a smile. “Is it just your pride speaking? Nothing is eternal. Thinking you can preserve your bodies forever, so naïve.” Lindyss shook her head.

The spirit glared at Lindyss and crossed his arms. “What do you intend on doing here?” he asked and narrowed his eyes. “An elf doesn’t have the qualifications to be in the cemetery, much less the mausoleum.” It turned towards Tafel. “A demon has even less of a right to be here.”

“They’re with me,” Vur said and took a step forward.

“You also do not belong!” the spirit said with a shout. He thumped his arm across his chest and a golden tower shield materialized in his hand. “I, Sir Magnus, am the designated guardian of this place! Do not underestimate me. While I was alive, I was able to deflect the attacks of a phoenix. Now that I’m dead, I’m even stronger with the help of my comrades. The others may call you god eater, but I’m not afraid.” His knees knocked together as he trembled.

Lindyss snorted. “So tell me,” she said as the air around her crackled, “how strong am I compared to a phoenix?”

“Come!” Sir Magnus shouted and slammed his shield against the ground. A web of golden light spread out from the shield and enveloped the room.

Lindyss closed her eyes and spread her arms out to the side. Rumbling sounds filled the air as a vortex of wind surrounded the mausoleum. Red clouds formed in the sky, crackling with black electricity. Dust rained down from the ceiling as the walls shook. Sir Magnus gritted his teeth as goosebumps formed along his body.

Vur tugged on Lindyss’ arm and the vortex stuttered. “I thought the corpses had to be intact,” Vur said. “Why are you trying to destroy them too?”

Lindyss’ eyes opened and the red clouds began to disperse. “Oh. I forgot,” Lindyss said and scratched her head. “I think I’m still a little grumpy since someone interrupted my nap.”

Magnus cleared his throat. “So, you’re leaving?” he asked, still bracing his shield. “Please?”

“Hmm? Of course not,” Lindyss said as she pulled a bat skeleton out of her pocket. “I wonder how strong this minion will be if I use a spirit that was qualified to be a god.” A shadowy tendril shot out of the bat skeleton and wrapped around Sir Magnus.

“What is this?” Magnus said as he tried to grab the tendril. “Necromancy!? You’re the corrupted one!”

Lindyss smiled. “I’ll be using your spirit to reanimate a corpse,” she said as the tendril dragged Magnus towards the bat skeleton.

“This is impossible! I’m a god!” Magnus said as he dug his shield into the ground, attempting to break away from the tendril. “You can’t do this!”

“Sure I can,” Lindyss said as the bat skeleton opened its mouth and sucked Magnus inside, shield and all. “The living will always be stronger than the dead.” The skeleton flew on top of Lindyss’ head and buried itself in her hair.