The conference room was in chaos. Dozens of nobles and high-ranking military officials were talking among themselves, trying to understand the reason for their meeting. An hour ago, the king had sent messengers to them with an order for an urgent assembly, but both he and the general had not yet arrived, leaving everyone guessing.
The door swung open, letting two elderly men into the room. The king and his loyal general walked quickly into the silent hall. They looked nervous and thoughtful.
— Thank you for responding so quickly to my words, — the monarch said when he sat down at the head of the table. — The urgency of this matter is due to the fact that the scouts have received particularly important information that cannot be delayed. Gustav, please.
— Yes, Your Majesty, — following the king's order, the general voiced a written report, — Five days ago, on the outskirts of our eastern border, a hunter from among the locals came across a cluster of lower undead. After reporting to the guild, they sent their low-ranking fighters to clean up. However, after destroying the zombies, the adventurers decided to scout the area in search of more such creatures. Three kilometers from that place, the magician felt an increase in necrotic energy, which could mean the presence of a huge burial, or the appearance of a more dangerous undead, such as a lich. At the mention of this monster, some nobles shuddered or swallowed saliva, while the military clenched their fists in rage. The memories of how an army of the undead descended on their home eight years ago were still fresh in their minds. Led by three higher liches: zombies, skeletons, death knights and ordinary liches invaded their kingdom, bringing death and destruction in their wake. It took the priests three more years to cleanse the lands of the necromancer's corruption and curse.
— After delving further into the unknown lands, increasingly powerful undead began to appear on their path. Eventually, the group came across a lonely estate in the middle of the forest, guarded by a dozen death knights.
— Death knights!? — one of the nobles exclaimed, and many present supported him. The hall was filled with whispers, which quickly turned into shouts among themselves.
— Silence! — the king ordered loudly. People immediately fell silent, afraid to disobey him. — Please continue the report.
— Yes! The adventurers decided to stay put to find out the identity of the person living in this house. After two days of observation, they managed to see a woman come out into the street, — the general stopped to take a deep breath, because the next words would explain the reason for his king's nervousness. — Judging by the description and the illusion mage's demonstration, this is Lilia Ports.
As the man expected, the pronunciation of this name was akin to an explosion. The hall was filled with screams. Anger, rage, and despair mixed in a cacophony of voices. Even the presence of the king here could not stop people from such a reaction, because it was Lilia Ports, recognized as the best necromancer in history, who was the cause of the deaths of tens of thousands of residents of the kingdom and the destruction of many cities and villages. More than half of the army perished in an attempt to get rid of the invasion of the dead.
— Calm down! Quiet! — This time the words of the monarch could not calm them down so easily. — SILENCE, I SAID!!! — finally the room fell into silence, only the sounds of heavy breathing were heard here and there. — I understand your reaction perfectly, but we need to deal with this problem immediately, so keep your heads cool.
The man looked around at everyone gathered with a heavy gaze, giving them time to recover before continuing. After two minutes, the king began speaking again.
— In the past, after receiving a severe, I would even say fatal, wound, she managed to escape with the help of a bone horse, using her soldiers as bombs. None of us believed that she would survive, but we were wrong... — the man let out a long and heavy sigh, regretting his premature decision in the past. — However, this time, we will not allow such a blunder. Right now, she does not have even a tenth of the previous troops on her side, so we must strike now to prevent her from rebuilding the army of the dead. Otherwise, our country will not survive another necromancer invasion."
— What are your orders, Your Majesty?
— After the previous tragedy, we have lost too many troops, and we cannot waste any more. The neighboring countries are already waiting for any possible moment to seize our lands, so our main force this time will be adventurers and mercenaries. However, each of you must send fifty of your soldiers, while I will send fifty royal guards and a hundred infantry.
— Wow! Royal guards!
— The country's elite!
Words of admiration rang out among the crowd. One such guard was worth five trained soldiers. It was thanks to them that we managed to defeat the strongest undead Lily Ports in the previous war. Unfortunately, out of five hundred elite warriors, only a hundred remained in the end.
— I will personally see to this, Your Highness, — the general saluted. — In the end, we will have six hundred soldiers on our side, and we will also hire about five hundred mercenaries and adventurers. Although I am not entirely sure that many will want to resist such a danger.
— Damn cowards, — the colonel leading the cavalry could not restrain himself. — They do not care about their own country, the main thing is to keep their own skin safe. Their main duty is to destroy monsters, and they charge through the nose for it.
— Calm down, Colonel. We will promise them a large reward and use them as a vanguard, sending them ahead of our troops. Not many of them will survive, so we will be able to save both money and keep the soldiers.
— Excellent plan! Serves them right! — everyone supported the general's plan.
— I expect your forces to arrive at the nearest large city to the border in seven days. Dismissed.
***
Artos was not a particularly large city, designed for two thousand inhabitants. There was not enough space for the troops arriving to them, so a tent city was set up outside the stone walls. The camp gradually expanded with each new detachment. There was no longer enough free space, but such a problem was not relevant, because they needed to wait for the last groups to appear.
Rest areas were only necessary for those who arrived a day or two earlier than the appointed time, as well as for the duration of the journey to the necromancer's dwelling. For adventurers and soldiers, such accommodation for several days did not cause any particular difficulties, all of them were accustomed to the difficult path of their chosen professions.
All the commanders of the arriving detachments of nobles and the leaders of the adventurers' association gathered in the central tent. General Gustav von Dresd personally led them all.
— According to the messenger's report, the last detachment will arrive in three hours," the general informed those present. — Therefore, I propose that we discuss our formation one last time before departure, but first, — he looked at the two brothers chosen as representatives of the adventurers and soldiers of fortune. — What is the situation in your group? How many adventurers do we have and their approximate levels?
— We have about two hundred ninety to three hundred adventurers at our disposal. Of these, fifty people belong to the highest ranks — these are veterans who have devoted many years to fighting monsters, About one hundred and fifty are experienced adventurers who already have experience in fighting strong opponents. The remaining hundred are capable of dealing with the lower undead, clearing the way for us to their leaders.
— On my side, three hundred and fifty mercenaries are ready to fight anyone at the employer's order.
— Very good, — Gustav nodded to them, hiding his disgust at the "dogs of war", — As previously agreed, the procession will be led by adventurers, as the most experienced monster hunters. Considering our numbers and supplies, it will take four days to reach our destination. Our soldiers and a small group of mercenaries will guard the night camp for backup.
— I heard that someone famous has joined your ranks, — the captain of the guards asked. — Is that so?
— Derek, don't start.
— But General, — the man was indignant, — I want to know who all this noise was about. They celebrated and made a mess all evening and night yesterday.
— We have the right, — the adventurer answered mockingly. — This fight may be the last for many, so we can't forbid the guys from having some fun at the end. And it was not an ordinary adventurer who joined us, but someone who could easily be called a legend. Rain "Basilisk Slayer."
— He joined the guild as a teenager and began his path as a monster slayer, — the second brother enthusiastically picked up the story. — Besides these poisonous lizards, many other dangerous creatures fell at his hands. Goblins, orcs, minotaurs, werewolves and others were all slain by Rain. He even defended many villages from the attacks of the undead eight years ago, but after that he hardly showed up at the guild. Once every few months he would take a job to get money and then disappear again.
— According to him, he got tired of constant fighting and decided to retire from adventurer's affairs to rest and enjoy a peaceful life.
— Rain... Rain... I think I understand who you are talking about, — the man smiled contemptuously. — In the past, there was a famous adventurer who came from the Gargont Empire. Can we really trust a defector? What if he runs away again, changing sides? — the captain continued to mock. — We can't trust a stranger like that.
— Take your words back, bastard, — both brothers drew their blades. — While you were sitting behind the safe walls, he protected dozens of border villages, while all of you simply abandoned them to their fate.
— If it weren't for Rain, then only ashes and bones would remain of our home.
— ENOUGH! — the general shouted. — Sheath your blades. Our enemy is the undead army, not those present here. Derek, - his stern look made the captain shudder, - this concerns you too! Do not insult worthy warriors. I have heard of the deeds of this adventurer. Rain is a worthy citizen of the Kingdom, who has done much for our country.
A few hours after the last soldiers arrived, the march began.
***
The first day of the march was unremarkable. The army continued to move in a relaxed atmosphere until the evening. When the sun began to sink to the horizon, the order was given to halt. While the orange rays were still illuminating the earth, experienced fighters managed to set up camp and light fires.
Only at night, when the disk of the crescent moon dimly shone in the sky, the people began to have problems. From the dense forest, on the edge of which they stopped, a polyphonic howl was heard.
— What's going on? Are these monsters? — the soldiers standing guard were caught off guard. They had not expected the monsters to ignore their instinct for self-preservation and go up against a huge crowd of people.
— Be on guard, — a loud voice rang out, attracting everyone's attention. A tall, large adventurer, looking about thirty years old, was walking towards them with his weapon at the ready. — You heard the howl of hellhounds. Cruel and insidious creatures, often in the service of experienced necromancers and liches as pets.
— What are your suggestions, Rain? — the leader of the adventurers asked him.
— Judging by the sound, there aren't that many creatures, so we can increase the number of sentries, and the rest can go to rest. We still have a long way to go.
— Since you're so smart, how about joining the watch yourself? — the captain asked in a defiant tone. — Or are you only good at talking?
— Ha! No problem, — the man answered Derek with the same smile. — If you, captain, doubt your own people and are afraid, then I will gladly guard your sleep.
Many adventurers and mercenaries laughed. They did not particularly like military commanders, and the captain in front of them had already managed to infuriate many of them.
— How could you...
— Derek, — the general, who had come up to the middle of the conversation, quickly put his hot-tempered subordinate in his place. — We will follow Rain's advice. I want some of the adventurers to join the night watch. Will that not be a problem?
— No, general, — unlike the others, Gustav had high authority and respect among the mercenaries. — It is in our interests too.
— Then distribute the people and go on resting. As the young man said earlier, we will still need strength.
In this way, the problem that had arisen was solved. The number of sentries increased, guaranteeing the safety of the rest, but despite this, most people could not sleep that night due to the incessant howling of monsters near them.
On the second day, the speed of the soldiers' movement slowed down. The narrow road did not allow a large number of people to fit on it, and the trees on the sides and the danger lurking in the forest made the soldiers nervous. Somewhere in the distance, the barking of hounds chasing the army of the Kingdom was still heard.
In the middle of the day, contact was lost with a group of scouts who had gone slightly ahead of the army. They were quickly found. The dead bodies of the detachment lay several hundred meters from the main troops. Around the dead, many tracks of four-legged beasts were visible. Considering that the scouts were torn to pieces, the culprit is obvious - hell hounds. Only the absence of any sounds during the fight worried everyone, because traces of resistance from the adventurers were visible around, which meant they could not help but call for help.
— The Lich was here, — Gustav pronounced his verdict, and many experienced comrades agreed with him. — We need to move even more carefully. They are already ready to fight back. It is unknown what lies ahead.
No one objected, the General of the Kingdom already had a successful experience of storming the lair of the necromancer Lilia Ports, so everyone listened to his commands.
When the news of the death of the reconnaissance detachment spread among the soldiers, the general mood fell to mourning. This is how the second day of the campaign marked itself - the beginning of the hell that awaits all the fighters ahead.
At night, the creatures became so brazen that they began to attack the sentries. The hounds gave their preference to pairs and single soldiers. After losing three warriors in a matter of minutes, they realized their mistakes and changed the formation of the fighters. The death of the guards, naturally, did not bring peace of mind to the vacationers. People anxiously peered into the night darkness of the forest, trying to see their opponents. Until the morning, several more attempts were made by the monsters to attack, but having met fierce resistance, the hounds immediately ran away. With the sunrise, almost everyone had dark circles under their eyes. On the third day, many soldiers felt unwell. The leadership attributed this to poor rest for two days, but by evening about fifty people were bedridden with a fever, and the rest felt weak. Seven of them, including one guard, did not survive until the night. It was then that the headquarters sounded the alarm. After a thorough investigation, to everyone's horror, it became known that most of the available water was undrinkable.
Any large army has a high need for supplies, so they carried several convoys of food and water. And someone managed to get to the guarded supplies by poisoning them. This made them wonder about the presence of a traitor, but Gustov quickly put an end to such a thought. Due to the night's commotion, the undead could easily gain access to provisions by disguising themselves as ordinary soldiers. And theories about betrayal can cause unnecessary unrest and conflict.
It was on the third night that the march first encountered the undead. A couple of hours before dawn, a large group of zombies came out from the southern side of the forest. Due to the darkness, it was impossible to say their exact number, however, given the silhouettes, there were several dozen monsters.
As the undead appeared, the sounds of battle horns rang out throughout the camp, warning the allies of the danger.
— Form up! — shouted one of the commanders. — These are just zombies. Spears at the ready! — the soldiers pointed their weapons at the approaching corpses. — Hit!
— Attack from the rear! — the sound of the horn announced another attack. — These are death knights. There are about a hundred of them. We need help from mages!
In the first minutes, the battlefield was in complete chaos. The tired and sleep-deprived fighters were not immediately able to orient themselves in the resulting confusion, but many years of experience and competent command helped them pull themselves together and fight back the undead.
Everything was going well, the zombies were disposed of quickly and without problems, but there were some difficulties with the death knights.
High-ranking undead were different from ordinary corpses and had high intelligence, due to which they fought in a battle formation.
Close combat against strong monsters with inexhaustible stamina was disadvantageous for people, which is why, while soldiers held back their opponents, mages cast long-range spells. Such tactics were the most effective, but victims still could not be avoided.
— How much more!? — one of the infantrymen exclaimed furiously, beheading another undead. — Where did so many zombies come from? They keep coming and coming.
There were already about forty bodies lying on the ground, but there was no end in sight to the advancing wave.
— What is this? — the man asked uncertainly, noticing a green glow among the trees. — Lich! There is a Lich behind the zombies!
The warning was too late. The dead mage finished his signature spell - "corpse explosion". The zombies' bodies, soaked in necro energy, instantly swelled and exploded. Bone fragments, like shrapnel, pierced the nearest ranks of soldiers, killing or incapacitating them.
— Damn it! — amidst the groans and cries of pain, the commander's voice rang out. — We need help!
— Priests, — Raine shouted as he ran, rushing towards the explosion, — prepare your cleansing spells. They will be very useful later.
— Raine, don't be stupid. You shouldn't draw like that! — one of the mercenaries tried to dissuade him, but failed. — Madman.
He ran at full speed, deftly maneuvering between the soldiers. Having reached the front line, the adventurer did not stop. Despite the approaching dead, the man continued to move forward, straight into the dark forest where the Lich was hiding.
— Don't worry, I'll handle it, — a cheerful voice came from the depths of the thicket, — You'd better deal with the knights quickly.
***
Half an hour later, the battle was over. The wounded were being treated, while the dead soldiers were gathered in one place. After the priests' ritual and prayers for a better afterlife, their bodies were set on fire so that the enemy could not use their former allies for their own interests.
— What is the situation? — the general asked the main question to those gathered in the command tent. — How many dead do we have and why didn't the magic alarms work?
— More than we would like, General, — the adjutant complained tiredly, — in addition to the unexpected appearance of the Lich, the hellhounds took advantage of this confusion. These creatures managed to tear to pieces almost three dozen of our soldiers. In total, during the night we lost one hundred and fifteen fighters killed, and about forty wounded. The majority of the dead occurred due to the explosion of corpses and the subsequent attack of the hounds.
— Bad, very bad, — Gustav muttered, biting his lip. — What losses among the adventurers?
— Death knights are very dangerous creatures, — complained the leader, with a bandaged torso. — Thirty-eight killed, sixty-five disabled, the rest received moderate and light wounds that will not harm in the upcoming battles.
— We were lucky, — said his brother. — Thanks to Rain's recklessness, the Lich was detained and destroyed after one attack. Otherwise, we would have suffered many more losses.
— How is he?
— Alive and practically healthy, — the adventurer said with a smile. — He picked up a bunch of curses and a couple of holes in his body, but the priests were able to dispel the magic in time and heal the wounds. He will be fine by lunchtime.
— It's a pity that there are too few priests, and they cannot heal all the wounded.
— Nothing can be done about it. They have already saved many lives today. They need to regain their strength to continue healing the rest.
— So we will have to make a forced halt, — the general summed up. — But you still haven't answered me about the protective spells. How did they manage to get past them?
— We assume that this is the work of the Lich.
— But you promised me that such a thing would not happen! — the man's fist fell on the table with great force. — That this magic is too complex for the undead.
— Y-yes, that's how it should be, — the magician muttered regretfully. — This has never happened before. Even in the last war, ordinary Liches could not disarm the alarm, and judging by the remains in the forest, this is an ordinary individual.
— And was there really only one Lich there?
— What do you mean, Derek?
— And the fact that no one saw either the Lich himself or the victory over him, — said the captain of the guards. — Only by the words of the "miraculous survivor" who was able to single-handedly defeat the dead magician can we judge anything. This is too suspicious. Also, he was the one guarding the supplies on the first night.
— This is already paranoia, Derek, — Gustav shook his head disapprovingly. — Rain could easily have died. His shield was damaged by the Lich's constant attacks. Many bones are broken, two deep wounds from the magic that pierced him, and I'm not even talking about a bunch of curses that should have killed their target within an hour.
— Stop slandering him! — the leader of the adventurers blurted out angrily. — Today he saved many lives.
— This is probably his plan, — the man did not let up. — He is simply using his reputation to ultimately destroy us from within.
— Enough, Derek. These are all empty accusations, — seeing his brothers losing patience, the general decided to prevent the irreparable. — Your speculations are groundless, so do not bring this topic up again unless you have ironclad evidence.
***
The time that appeared due to the forced rest was used to the maximum. With the help of the mages, they completely restored the water reserves. Although they suffered mana depletion, they were able to calmly recover. The priests managed to heal all severe and moderate injuries, while checking everyone for curses or possession by the necromancer. No traitor or puppet was found.
In the second half of the fourth day, the march continued. Of the original one thousand two hundred and fifty people, less than nine hundred remained. The nightmare they had experienced led to the desertion of some mercenaries and new adventurers. Regardless of the consequences of this decision, they considered their lives more important.
Despite the death of many comrades, the army's morale was high. They were eager to quickly get to the hated necromancer and destroy him, along with his cursed army.
In the evening, the army managed to reach the border. Already from this place, one could feel the influence of necrotic energy - a clear sign of the necromancer's activity. Because night was approaching, the army stopped. No one wanted to conduct military operations in pitch darkness, so it was decided to wait until dawn.
Having learned from bitter experience, the soldiers did not rely only on magical protection. Fires were lit around the camp, illuminating the immediate area. The number of people responsible for night patrols tripled. The general also decided to change the time and number of shifts. Now almost all available soldiers will be involved in security. The sentries are on duty for only one hour, which allowed them to have maximum concentration and rest for a sufficient amount of time.
To everyone's surprise, no one visited their camp during the night. Even the constant howling of the hounds did not bother them today. This greatly alarmed the command, but they came to the conclusion that Ports was preparing her forces for a decisive battle.
— Comrades, — Gustav stood in front of the assembled soldiers, addressing the crowd, — a difficult and fierce battle awaits us. I will not lie - many of us will not survive it. But this sacrifice will not be in vain! — the general's voice gave me goosebumps. — Our enemy is Lily Ports. The damned necromancer who brought rivers of blood and thousands of deaths to our Kingdom in the past. Her undead army, like an epidemic, swept across our lands, leaving destruction and corruption in its wake. We once managed to defeat her army and drive Ports into a corner. Only with the help of a vile trick did she escape the inevitable, but this will not happen again! We will not give her the opportunity to regain her strength and desecrate our Kingdom again. We will protect our loved ones from the lurking threat! Today, we will end her damned existence. Let's kill Lilia Ports. Let's kill the necromancer!
In response to the general's speech, thunderous cries of support rang out. The soldiers vied with each other to chant "Death to the necromancer!", "Death to Lilia Ports!".
***
The inspired fighters marched in formation towards the necromancer's abode. On the approaches to Ports's dwelling, the attackers were met by a wide cut-out clearing, which had recently been a dense forest. All this wood went to build high defensive walls around the estate. On the walls and on the approaches to them, rows of various undead were lined up.
The first rows of the undead army were occupied by numerous zombies, but the general's trained eye could replace them among the crowd of ghouls. These creatures were similar in appearance to zombies, but were much more dangerous. They significantly surpassed their weaker relatives in agility and strength, and could also infect living people. The bites of these creatures over time turned their targets into controlled dolls, no different from zombies.
Behind them towered the death knights, clad in their dark armor, with a shield in one hand and various one-handed weapons in the other. There were about 300 of them. In the back rows, under the protection of their armored comrades, fifty Liches were hiding. About the same number of mages were on the wooden wall, towering over the battlefield.
Although the Kingdom's army was superior in numbers to the enemy, the presence of Liches on the ground, saturated with necrotic energy, leveled this.
— Charge! — Gustav commanded, pointing his naked sword forward. — Destroy the creatures of darkness!
With a battle cry, the adventurers and mercenaries rushed at the enemy. The mages prepared their spells to support the vanguard. However, the beginning of the battle was marked not by the magic of the adventurers or the clash of swords and shields, but by a series of loud explosions that resounded in the back rows of the human army. The soldiers of the nobles, ready to enter after the mercenaries were weakened, found themselves in the very epicenter of the trap. The buried corpses of the monsters, having received the signal, fulfilled their purpose - they served as a magical mine.
— Change of plan! — instantly realizing the worsening situation, the general shouted. — Breakthrough and cleanup!
Hearing the order, the royal guards and elite groups of adventurers began to advance towards the center of the troops. The magicians also began to cast their most destructive spells, focusing on one place. Almost simultaneously, a hail of magic struck the foundation of the protective wall, creating a passage inside.
— Breakthrough!
A hundred warriors rushed forward, towards the resulting breach, while the rest tried to make their way easier, blocking or destroying the undead.
Covering themselves with shields and chopping down those standing in their way, they broke through the enemies as quickly as possible. Although with small losses, they managed to penetrate the courtyard. There, on the open area, the elite squad was already met by two dozen death knights led by a high Lich, for some reason dressed in a butler's suit.
— Damn! How did she manage to create a high Lich?
— Never mind! We're following the plan, — Derek did not fall into a stupor. He led fifteen people to break into the estate and kill Lilia Ports. — You need to hold out. After her death, getting rid of the undead will not be difficult.
— Roger, captain. Good luck.
***
With explosions behind them, the group ran into the mansion.
— We have to hurry, — Derek motioned for the five guards to hold the entrance so that no one would come at them from behind. — Otherwise, the guys outside won't last long.
— This house is huge, — one of the adventurers responded, — What are we going to do, split up?
— No way! Let's move together, otherwise we won't be able to deal with Ports. It's not for nothing that she's called the most powerful necromancer in history. Besides, — his gaze pierced Rain's figure, — there may be a traitor among us.
— Oh, come on. Don't start again, — one of the adventurers was indignant. — Now is not the time for your nonsense.
— It's not nonsense! That explosion, it had to be activated from close range, and only a person in the army could do that.
— And what's stopping the Lich from also digging into the ground and launching magic from there? He doesn't need to breathe.
— Do you think we are idiots?! — the captain was furious. — Naturally, the priests were examining the ground for necrotic energy. Whatever it was, it was created without the help of necromancy and was activated with the help of ordinary magic.
— We have no time to talk! — They started to bang on the door. — Let's check the first floor, then the second.
The group slowly examined one room after another. Opening the next doors, they imagined a spacious dining room. On the opposite side of the room, near the wall, two female figures in maid uniforms stood motionless.
— Someone has bad taste in dressing ghouls in servant uniforms.
As soon as the people entered the room, the maids rushed at them with a hiss. The fighters did not take them seriously, preparing to easily deal with the ghouls, when the second door swung open. The hellhounds barked into the dining room and rushed at the intruders.
— It looks like uninvited guests have broken into my house, — two women followed the monsters into the room. One of them, like the two present here, wore a maid's uniform. While the other had an aristocratic appearance. — You know, no one likes it when someone breaks into their house without an invitation. Do you have anything to say in your defense?
— Shut up, creature! — one of the guards shouted, fighting off the ghoul. — Today you will die!
— Not very polite, but it will do for the last words, — the corners of his lips on his pale face lifted slightly. — Although I can offer you a generous offer: kill your comrades and your death will be painless.
— As if anyone would agree to such a thing.
— What? — Many turned around at the cry of pain and found their comrade bleeding on the floor and the one who had attacked him. — Rain, why?
The man didn't answer and rushed at the next adventurer. Trying to defend himself, he forgot about his previous opponent. The hound sank its fangs into the warrior's exposed neck.
— I knew it! I knew you were a traitor, — Derek declared maniacally, rushing to attack Rain. The battle line collapsed and the soldiers' lives were quickly cut short by the monsters. — Ha-ha-ha! Even if we all die here, you will go with us.
Ignoring the wound that appeared on his back from the blow of the ghoul, Derek continued his attack. Not blocking the traitor's attack, the captain of the guard impaled himself on Rain's weapon in order to deliver his own fatal blow. His blade entered right into the heart, instantly cutting off the adventurer's life.
Seeing the revenge that had been accomplished, Derek died with a satisfied smile. The soldier completely forgot that he had passed away in the presence of a necromancer.
— You break into my house, make a mess and think you'll get off that easy? — the girl indignantly asked the corpse. — You can't escape from a necromancer with the help of death. You will suffer until I get tired of it.
Leaning over the dead couple, she whispered a spell. In the process of reading, Lilia cut her wrist to sprinkle the bodies with blood. Having finished the magic, the girl pointed at the men and the maids released the bodies of the swords, standing behind them. A few seconds after that, the dead began to show signs of life.
— Ha-a-a! — the guard inhaled greedily and looked around. — Am I alive?
— Not for long. Take him to the dungeon.
Two ghouls grabbed the disoriented man by the arms and dragged him out of the room.
— How long will you pretend to be dead? — Lily kicked the second body, from which a groan was immediately heard. — Although you followed my suggestion, do you really think that you will get off so easily? — the maid raised Rain to his feet and continued to hold him in a death grip. — Why are you silent? Are you ashamed of your actions?
The hellhounds whined from the angry voice of the mistress and lay down at the man's feet.
— Without warning, he went to the recruiting station and joined the campaign against the necromancer. One among a thousand enemies. Do you even know how worried I was? — the woman pressed herself to his chest, holding back tears. — What would have happened if you had been killed there? I might not have made it in time and your soul would have disappeared forever.
— Forgive me, darling, — embracing her back with trembling hands, he answered his beloved for the first time. — I didn't want to scare you, but it was necessary. Our forces weren't enough to repel the attack, so I had to help from the inside.
— Yes, Lucas told me the details.
— This bag of bones, — the guy cursed. — I couldn't keep quiet.
— He's the perfect butler and can't lie to his mistress. He's probably finished taking out the trash from our house by now.
— I have no doubt. He's a High Lich after all.
— Okay, you need to rest and recover, — at her command, the maid picked up Rain in her arms. — I closed the damage, but no one returned the lost blood. Lie down and sleep, I'll join you soon.
— Where are you going?
— To prepare a surprise for the king. I'll arrange a small epidemic in the palace. Maybe the new ruler won't be so stupid and will leave us alone.
***
— Why am I alive? — this was the first thing Lilia said when she woke up in an unfamiliar bed.
The girl's last memory was of her running away from the attackers with a huge wound. With her last strength, Ports summoned a bone horse and galloped as far away from the human army as she could until she lost consciousness. Judging by the treated wound, someone had to find her and take care of her. However, the girl did not understand the motive of this person. Everyone in the Kingdom knew her appearance and the cruel things she had done. Any sane person would rather kill the hated necromancer than save her.
— Are you awake? — an unfamiliar voice brought Lilia out of her deep thoughts. The man entered the room with a bucket of water and a towel. — How are you feeling? You were unconscious for five days.
— Where are we? And why did you save me?
— If you ask questions so actively, then you are getting better, — he chuckled, sitting down on a stool next to the bed. - Don't you remember me?
— Should you?
— Ha! Indeed, — the man admitted. — It was a long time ago and only twice. I probably would have forgotten too, if it weren't important to me.
— Who are you?
— Rain. And I saved you because I am not acquainted with a cruel and bloodthirsty necromancer, as they say in the Kingdom, but with a diligent, purposeful girl who loves her parents.
— How do you know about them?! — She had not heard about her parents for many years. Only a few knew about her true identity and past.
— About fifteen years ago, one stupid boy imagined himself to be the strongest and most invincible. He was a member of a guild and took on a mission to destroy a dangerous monster, — Rain said with nostalgia. — Naturally, the teenager overestimated his strength. He managed to complete the mission, but in the process he was badly injured. In an attempt to get to the nearest settlement, the boy lost consciousness. If it weren't for a kind herbalist going for plants, the young adventurer would have died from blood loss. The man brought the wounded man to his home and nursed him back to health with his wife. They lived in poverty, but still did not abandon the boy. During the treatment, they told their guest about themselves and their talented daughter, who became a student of the court magician.
— So it was you, — Lilia finally remembered. — The guy who often helped my parents.
— Yeah. I dropped in on them a couple of times while you were visiting home.
— That still doesn't explain why you left me alive despite what happened. Thousands of people were killed by my will.
— And you can't be forgiven for that, but I know that it's not as simple as the authorities describe. Judging by your parents' reservations before their disappearance, and the fact that there's no mention of your apprenticeship with the royal mage, there's only one conclusion that can be drawn - you were betrayed.
— Ha-a-a, — the girl exhaled longingly due to the weight of the memories. — Let's assume you're right, what does that change?
— Nothing. I have no right to judge you. They were close to me too, but you went too far when you dragged innocent people into your revenge. People living in the same villages where you were born are in no way guilty of what happened.
— I thought you weren't going to judge me?
— I said I have no right, — Rain noted with a smile, — not that I won't.
— What next? — Ports asked. — You'll cure me, and then?
— I'll fulfill your parents' last request — I'll take care of you.
— And if I don't need your help? I still want to kill the king, like I did with the court mage.
— You have no choice. If I have to, I'll force you to obey, — for clarity, the man pressed on the girl's forehead, returning her back to a lying position. — I'm very strong, and without catalysts, your magic is not dangerous to me.
— You won't be able to hold me forever. I'll escape.
— Good luck with that. We're currently in a hut that's a fair distance from any human settlements. There are monsters all around and no burials. Without an experienced adventurer like me, you'll never get out of here.
— We'll see about that!
True to her word, as soon as she recovered, Lilia began trying to escape from her peculiar captor. But each time she failed. Rain spent most of the time near her, wanting to talk or simply retelling his own adventures, of which, by the way, there were many. Sometimes he went outside to hunt or thin out the monster population, but about every few months, the adventurer disappeared for a long time, leaving his captive alone. It was these moments that the girl most often used to escape.
A couple of times she managed to get past dangerous monsters and go deeper into the forest, but she was always eventually found and returned. Even a successfully tamed pack of hellhounds did not change the situation. Rain simply beat up the monsters and continued to do so until they recognized his leadership.
A year passed at this pace. Being in the same company for so long in the middle of nowhere, Ports could not contain her boredom and began to maintain a conversation, instead of the usual silence. Although even after a year and a half, she did not give up her attempts to escape from him, however, it was more like a game. A competition from which they both enjoyed.
This went on for about three years. Spending all the time in each other's company, it was inevitable that they would develop mutual sympathy and attraction. Gradually, they became closer and closer until they finally crossed the line.
In the fourth year of their life together, Lilia was no longer restricted in her movements. She could freely walk through the surrounding forest, accompanied by their pets, without fear of attacks from other monsters. She even had the opportunity to take up her beloved necromancy again and leave this wilderness with its help, but she was not going to do this. She had found her family again and did not want to destroy her peace on her own.
It also helped that Rain did not dissuade her from forgetting about revenge, only limiting herself to those who were truly guilty. Therefore, she would postpone punishment until they provoked her.
Lilia had already dealt with her teacher, who encouraged her experiments on the dead and deep study of necromancy. However, in the end, he began to envy what Lilia Ports had achieved with her terrifying talent in this field.
The king, who constantly tried to seduce her, even despite her refusals, is still waiting for his turn. The lustful old man bribed the court magician and he slipped his student a sleeping pill. Then he gave the sleeping girl as a gift. In the morning, when she woke up and realized what had happened, the first thing she did was go to the workshop. There she found her teacher and killed him without delay. But the traitor did not get off with a quick death. It was not in vain that the girl studied her craft. She brought the magician back to life many times, only to kill him again later. When she tried all the methods of killing that came to mind, she ordered the "teacher" to sneak into the chambers of the princess, the king's beloved daughter, and do to her the same thing that the old lustful pig did to her.
The guards came running to the screams of the princess, but they were no longer able to prevent the worst. Having captured the rapist, the guards were shocked to find the dead puppet. By that time, Lilia had left the castle and could not know that the grief-stricken king had ordered the execution of Ports' parents.
A week later, having reached home, the girl learned about the soldiers who had taken her family and the execution that had taken place in the capital. Also, during an attempt to arrest her, and after resisting - to kill her, Lilia learned about her new status as a mad necromancer. At that moment, she decided to demonstrate what a mad necromancer really means, plunging the Kingdom into chaos.
The demonstration was more than impressive. Thousands of people fell victim to the wrath of the embittered necromancer, and the entire kingdom forever remembered both the cataclysm itself and the culprit of this tragedy. Does Lilia regret her actions now? More likely yes than no, but what's done can't be undone, so all she can do is remember this and not allow new innocent victims. Although there was a certain irony in this. It was Rain who convinced her of the people's innocence, but now he himself was killing warriors who were not involved in this. It seemed that they both took more from each other than they initially thought.
One way or another, but soon this whole story will come to an end. There is only one life left, one victim, and revenge will be done.