Valkyrie's Shadow

Chapter 27

In the silence that followed the Sorcerer King’s statement, His Majesty casually rose from his seat. Ludmila hadn’t noticed his entry; none of the Elder Liches had shown any reaction to his presence, either. He must have silently flown in from another entrance out of her field of view. Elder Liches could see through Invisibility, so he also must have entered with the aid of a more advanced concealment spell.

With a purposeful, yet unhurried stride, His Majesty made his way to the grand dais. The magnificence of the Sorcerer King dominated the stage, and the four Elder Liches in the air landed to kneel before him. Lady Shalltear remained in the air above, carefully scanning the auditorium.

“Are you alright, Lady Zahradnik?” The Sorcerer King asked.

Ludmila’s cheeks grew heated at his concern, and she lowered her head.

“I am unharmed, Your Majesty,” she answered solemnly. “Thank you for your assistance…how did you find us?”

“Pure chance,” His Majesty said. “Well, perhaps not. The major thoroughfares of Lagaš all lead to this dome, and its distinct appearance begged investigation. Shalltear and I entered from the observation deck encircling the building. The Wraiths I sent to scout the interior spotted the Elder Liches inside, and we arrived just in time to secure front-row seats to the show.”

“…I see.”

“It seems that you were committed to fighting these Elder Liches. Did you believe you stood any chance?”

“I only sought ways by which I might prevail,” Ludmila replied, “but the ultimate outcome was obscured in too many unknowns.”

The Sorcerer King chuckled at her response.

“So even when confronted with what would drive even an Adamantite-rank Adventurer to despair, you – a Platinum-rank – instead sought a path to victory.”

“Simply giving up and dying was not an option,” Ludmila said. “Even if death lay at the end of my struggle, I’d still be able to inflict some harm and learn about my opponents. After that opening attack, however, I was fairly certain that I could at least escape.”

“Umu,” His Majesty nodded. “You darted off quite quickly there. Those who employ flight magic are often overly reliant on it as their sole motive force. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen someone use it to carry their momentum like that. You’ve figured out an annoying trick against adversaries that rely on ranged attacks – it’s also convenient for getting around when one doesn’t have access to teleportation.”

“I have these Elder Liches to thank for that: I noticed that they physically launched themselves into the air instead of slowly accelerating with their flight magic.”

Out of the Elder Liches present, only Captain Iškur reacted to their discussion. The others only continued to kneel with their heads bowed.

“What happened to them?” Ludmila asked.

“Just the usual Undead Domination Skill,” His Majesty shrugged as if there was no difference between a Skeleton Warrior and a set of powerful Elder Liches. “After seeing the head of their cabal blown up, I believe that the value of basic courtesy has risen in their estimation.”

Ludmila looked over at where the remains of the Eldest had fallen. No trace of the Undead mage remained – not even its tattered brown robe. To the side, Captain Iškur had been charred black by the Eldest’s Fireball, but his borrowed garments remained as clean and undamaged as when he was first dressed in them. The Elder Lich wrung his hands, trepidation filling his voice as he spoke.

“What…what is to become of us, Your Majesty?” He asked, “The head of our cabal acted in such an insulting manner…”

“The ignorance born of isolation certainly showed,” the Sorcerer King said, “and the price for that ignorance has been paid in full. Did the head of your cabal truly believe that Ninth-tier magic was the pinnacle of power?”

“Our members were still developing Fourth and Fifth-tier magic,” the captain said. “The Eldest was on the verge of grasping Sixth-tier spells and evolving into a Night Lich. Only a handful of beings possess Eighth-tier Magic, to our knowledge.”

“Such as this Guphandera Argoros…Shalltear, heal the good captain.”

“「Greater Lethal」!”

A colossal torrent of negative energy washed over Captain Iškur, and his blackened bones returned to their undamaged condition. The Elder Lich marvelled at the effects of the spell.

“T-thank you, Lady Shalltear,” Captain Iškur bobbed his head three times before addressing His Majesty once again. “Guphandera Argoros is the owner of the Undead merchant company that comes by every few years. I’ve heard that it was founded to secure the flow of research materials required for his forays into Ninth-tier magic.”

“I see. So this is what inspired you to make your own attempts at trade?”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” the captain nodded again, “but I don’t seem to be any good at it.”

“If that is the case, why have you not entered under this Night Lich’s employ to earn an income while gaining experience?”

“His representatives are all under his domination,” the Elder Lich’s gaze shifted to his four dominated colleagues momentarily. “I would rather remain independent. I thought about joining Corpus of the Abyss – the Undead association that Guphandera Argoros became a member of in recent centuries – at one point, but I still would have probably been seen by Guphandera Argoros as unwelcome competition and quietly disposed of.”

The Sorcerer King turned to look at Ludmila. She shook her head slightly.

“The first I’ve heard of this organisation was from Captain Iškur,” she said. “They’re a group that has grown in prominence recently, according to him.”

“They’ve been around for centuries, Your Majesty,” the captain offered, “but they were apparently nothing more than a rumour amongst the living until about a hundred years ago. Something made them change their clandestine ways and now they’re reaching out to intelligent Undead all around the world.”

“Have you any idea of this organisation’s size?” The Sorcerer King asked.

“When they made themselves known to us,” Captain Iškur replied, “it was just under a hundred years ago. They had around 120 members in their outer circle back then. The last I heard, that number’s grown to around 300 in the last few years. There’s an unspecified number of powerful individuals in their inner circle, made up of long-standing members from before their shift in policy.”

Elder Liches were not extraordinarily rare, but unless one lived in the Sorcerous Kingdom, a regular individual probably wouldn’t see one in their lifetime. Not that one of the living would wish to encounter a wild Elder Lich, as death would probably follow shortly after. The number in Corpus of the Abyss indicated that the organisation probably spanned a good portion of the world.

“What is the purpose of Corpus of the Abyss?” The Sorcerer King continued with his questions, “So many intelligent Undead would surely draw attention from their neighbours.”

“Originally, they were sort of a…grand cabal?” Captain Iškur replied, “A loose association of Undead casters who decided it was better to work for mutual benefit and avoid conflicts over knowledge.”

“And the collective will of the cabal ensures the compliance of its members,” the Sorcerer King stroked his chin.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” the captain nodded. “According to the merchants, it’s still much the same, but non-casters have become members recently. Death Knights, Vampires, Banshees, Mummies…all sorts of cognizant Undead are joining, really.”

Ludmila wondered what had happened to spur the growth of Corpus of the Abyss. They now seemed substantial enough that nations of multiple races would likely set aside their differences to wage a war of annihilation against what they considered to be the enemies of life.

“Does Corpus of the Abyss have a base of operations?” His Majesty asked.

“That part hasn’t changed much from the old days,” Captain Iškur replied. “Members usually stay where they’ve been for hundreds of years – minding their own business, much like us. I don’t know if they count as ‘bases’ or not, but there are a number of city-states and small nations ruled by powerful Undead. They even interact with the living. One of these days, I’d like to go and visit those places, but they’re all far away from here.”

What he described existed as details in tales that Ludmila had heard recited in the past. They all seemed mere works of fiction at the time, but apparently, they were based in truth. That these tales all had some connection to one another was not something anyone considered.

“Not a bad idea,” His Majesty said. “Once the Sorcerous Kingdom firmly establishes itself in the immediate region, seeing what lies further abroad is the logical next step. Perhaps the world will not be as hostile to our existence as I had initially thought.”

“Just one look is all it will take, Your Majesty,” Captain Iškur said. “I don’t think any Undead being can deny your supreme existence.”

The Sorcerer King looked down at the four Elder Liches still genuflecting before him. After a moment, they jerked slightly before going down to their knees, pressing their foreheads to the stone.

“Forgive us, oh Supreme Overlord of Death,” one intoned. “We have displayed great disrespect to your herald, and thus your most esteemed personage! How might we atone for this grave sin?”

“What was that about inane prattling again?” Captain Iškur muttered.

His Majesty remained silent in the wake of their plea, and four pairs of shoulders draped in tattered cloth trembled. The Sorcerer King floated over to land on one of the daises, perusing the stone tablets neatly organised upon it.

“Count yourselves fortunate that the Baroness has a measure of temperance,” he told them. “Many of my vassals would have instantly destroyed the lot of you for your conduct. Well, considering the interesting things Lady Zahradnik always seems to come up with, immediate destruction might actually be a mercy. Now, what shall I do with you…Captain Iškur.”

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

“I am designating you as the official leader of this cabal. I believe you were next in line, anyway. Any new Elder Liches that manifest in the region will be sent to work under you.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” the Elder Lich said. “What…what about my trading company?”

“My subjects have a great appetite for magics that will improve industry and their everyday lives,” the Sorcerer King told him. “Your cabal is effectively a research institute that can come up with new spells and magic items for those purposes. My nation will benefit from your work, and you will advance your magical knowledge. The profits from your industry can go towards personal projects. This is a mutually beneficial arrangement, is it not?”

Captain Iškur lowered his head, his tall skeletal frame bending nearly perpendicular at the waist.

“Your wisdom and generosity know no bounds, Your Majesty,” he said. “May the Sorcerous Kingdom forever prosper under your guidance!”

“Umu,” the Sorcerer King nodded.

His Majesty continued looking through the Katze Cabal’s research. Ludmila frowned at the quivering forms of the Elder Liches. Was it really alright to leave it at that? She understood the broad effect that the Sorcerer King had on the Undead, but they had still gone from attempting to incinerate someone to their current state.

Ludmila’s gaze ran over the Elder Liches as she activated a Skill. Her eyes narrowed when they fell upon the third Undead mage. She slowly walked up to it, the heels of her boots tapping over the stone.

“What have you done?” She asked.

The Elder Lich stirred slightly, but said nothing.

“Is something the matter, Lady Zahradnik?” His Majesty asked.

“This one has acted against your will,” she answered.

As the words left Ludmila’s mouth, Lady Shalltear flew down to hover protectively over her liege. The Sorcerer King looked over from his platform.

“Against my will…”

“Your existence was unconfirmed at that juncture,” the Elder Lich spoke in his own defence. “Had I known of your magnificence, I would not have acted as I did.”

“And precisely what is it that you’ve done?”

“While we were examining Lady Zahradnik,” it said, “I contacted an acquaintance in Corpus of the Abyss via Message, relaying information until Your Majesty dominated me.”

“Did they say anything?”

“No,” the Elder Lich shook its head, “they only listened. There have been no attempts to re-establish contact on their end. Shall I attempt to do so?”

His Majesty appeared to ponder the question for several moments.

“How do you believe they will react to your information?”

“Caution. Many of the more wary members will most likely go into hiding until they believe they have discerned Your Majesty’s motives. Any attempts at investigation that they make will most likely be limited to unobtrusive, long-range divination. Considering our location, mindless Undead infiltrators used in conjunction with certain spells may also be used with minimal risk.”

Ludmila’s lips drew into a thin line. Message spells were one of the major magic-related problems that they had no answer for. As it was a ‘harmless’ spell, its use was not illegal and it could not be prevented by defensive magics. Even the powerful magical barriers protecting E-Rantel’s central district could not stop a Message spell from reaching its recipient.

Since it was a Second-tier spell, not only was it used for everyday communication by magic casters, but the spell could be scribed on scrolls. Those scrolls could, in turn, be used by Rogues and Bards who acted as spies and infiltrators. When she looked into potential countermeasures, the researchers in her territory speculated that it would require some unknown form of abjuration to block. If such a spell already existed, it was almost certainly a well-kept national secret to those who possessed it.

“I suppose we’ll have to see where this leads us,” the Sorcerer King said. “I don’t particularly relish the idea that information about us is spreading faster than it should, but the existence of the Sorcerous Kingdom is hardly a secret. Our defences should prevent divination against anything trying to poke their noses where they shouldn’t, but infiltrators should also be expected. Well, we do allow spies in the Sorcerous Kingdom, but having Wraiths flying around looking at things might be disruptive for our citizens.”

His Majesty set down the stone tablet in his hand and returned to the main level of the stage.

“Now that things are tentatively settled,” he said, “we should continue with our investigation. Captain Iškur, I assume you’ve already explored this city thoroughly – were there any locations with vaults or similarly inaccessible areas?”

“A few, Your Majesty,” he replied. “Shall I guide you to them?”

“That would save us a lot of meandering,” the Sorcerer King said. “Lead the way, captain.”

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