Maid with Necromancy

“Scoot over. Too bad you can’t shrink and give us more space, Tony.” Alex complained.

Harmony could, but she’d rather be uncomfortable as the six of them squeezed into the shadows under the Mordin memorial bridge than have her clothes fall off her. Objections to all of them joining her on this tour had been squashed the moment Becca enthusiastically agreed to take them all.

“Don’t worry, exiting is easier than entering. Perhaps you could have your partner help rather than hinder you this time, Harmony? It has been a while since I’ve brought this many people on the gloom paths.“ Becca asked.

Hyacinth? Harmony inquired.

Why help? Fracklings chew slime, he sent back.

Harmony sent a growl at him until she felt him concede the point. “All ready.”

A good thing, too, because Xera was squeezing in tightly around Harmony’s waist. Tun-Knee was tall enough that his fur tickled everyone, and Tasha was vibrating with so much excitement it seemed like the whole group might collapse at any moment.

The gloom paths spilled out in front of them as they were dragged into the shadows, tumbling onto the paved path, each of them with enough agility not to fall down completely.

“Rusted metal, this is amazing. And you can do this too?” Tasha asked Harmony.

“It’s unlikely she can bring much more than herself at this point. Shadow travel is also extremely difficult in a dungeon-controlled area, so her familiar would have a hard time moving further than a few feet.” Becca informed her, saving Harmony from the need to reply.

Hyacinth inwardly stewed at the insult to his abilities. [Familiar Bond] made his opinion clear, [Familiar Bond], that technically, he could put the whole group in his mouth and jump if needed.

We’re not riding in your mouth.

All they have to do is get in my belly.

Mentally, she shushed him.

And so began the tour.

Twelve new shadows learned. Becca talked about the locations they arrived at unless Alex interjected to hear his own voice to tell the stories he ‘d learned from his grandfather.

Becca was always there to correct  him for misstating a fact. “Um, actually, he names her Moonchild.” She corrected him when talking about the school statue of Bastian and the beast lord’s many pets.

Their talk of the evolved beast tamer pulled Harmony’s thoughts toward Ambrosia and the burning city she’d left behind. There was a woman who deserved a statue. Might as well include her band, otherwise she’d be cross. Who knows when she’ll see her next?  [Poise and Bearing] kept those homesick thoughts away from prying eyes.

No mention of secrets.  No attempted oaths despite being looked at by Xera like a Hyacinth would a tasty kitten. No extra drama. As the sun was starting to set, with long shadows everywhere for easy access around departures and arrivals, they stepped off the gloom path one last time for the night. The nearly soundless path switched to music and the constant thrum of excited conversations.

Ahead, a large sign magically projected with light and illusion sat suspended in the sky. Welcome, First-Years, to The Academy carnival!

“Fun and games, with the perfect chance to show off your strengths and skills in front of your friends. Nearly every student will be here. I have things to do back at Hunter Dorm. I hope to see you all later!”  Becca finished with an excited wave before stepping into the shadows again.

Let no one know you’re a Necromancer!  Von Trell’s warning came back without having [Recall] pull it up. A demonstration of skills and strengths without a planned story seemed like an easy place to make a mistake. There were also sure to be people obsessed with the top nine, looking to gather information or exploit weaknesses. Showing off made no sense when there was value in keeping what you could do hidden. Enough people had tried to kill her that Harmony couldn’t let go and relax like the carefree students excited about using a mallet to see who was the strongest, using rings to demonstrate agility, or magic to destroy targets.

“I thought she’d never leave. The fair is fun and all, but I have a better place we can get into tonight!” Alex bragged.

“Lead the way,” Harmony said enthusiastically, leaning into her social skills and snatching the opportunity to lead a consensus or have those who wanted to stay peel off the group.

The unusual quietness of Alex as he excitedly led the way had Tasha, who knew him best, letting out a low groan. Was this trouble? If it was, this wasn’t something his old classmate felt like pointing out to the group, but they all knew they were walking into some surprise as they left campus and into the city, where more unusual houses had their metal work decorated with patterns and designs.

Harmony had gone through some of the city of Ricort on the way to her dorm after teleporting in, but she had been exhausted, and it was dark. Metal dominated the city’s construction methods, with houses molded out of the polished silver metal. Rust clawed up some, but most were well-maintained. It was easy to imagine the city’s slums were a jagged, rusted mess. Another place to add to her list to visit, if you needed supplies on the cheap, forming the right connections there could be valuable.    

Letting those thoughts distract her from the unknown they were walking into, Harmony stepped through an invisible threshold and felt her heart stop.  Chronostasis kicked in while [Recall] pulled up details she’d left tucked away.  A marker at the edge of the smooth stone street they were walking on. Nearby, the guild-controlled booth for delvers sat with a line of waiting teams, ready to go down into the Tomb of Orty.  When she crossed that marker, the weight hit.

She’d been in only two other dungeons. Old Bones, where she had to claw against the undeath of the environment with her personal necromantic power. Nae’s Garden, where life felt like an affront to her existence so much that the bloodthirsty desire to kill helped power her through that tower.  What was the Tomb of Orty? It pressed in against her personal space, that area where she felt the most control around her body. The dungeons were always so bloody powerful. Tt looked at her with millions of eyes, [Eternal Fable’s Heart] stilled under that gaze. That is why it froze as she crossed the threshold into the dungeon’s domain. As those eyes turned away, a cold static force in the dungeon reached out while no one was looking, and Harmony’s still skill cranked into overtime.  

Stamina flooded her system. This was no time for a skill-induced panic attack. [Cold Touch] merged with [Renew Spirit], and [Final Silence] shut that reaction down. The intense focus faded, as she’d either passed a test or her defenses adjusted.

“You alright?” Xera asked, still under chronostasis, the words came out deep and slow to Harmony’s ears.  

Always a defender, the newest member of their group’s eyes scanned as she asked. Competent beyond her youth. A person she could work with, this team would do.

Harmony’s chest hurt. That [Heart] was a problem. “I will be fine. A little notice before going to a dungeon club would be better, though.”

“Cracked levels, you ruined the surprise. You have [Dungeon Sense], don’t you?” Alex asked.

How could someone not notice that attention when crossing that threshold? Harmony huffed. “I’m merely sensitive to such changes. I’ve only been to my local club. What are the rules to this one?”

 “The standard sovereign space outside the laws and taxes of the city under the guild charters. A library as required, this one only has the minimum of ten books.” That made it immediately less interesting. “It’ll be an experience. Grandfather told me about this.” Alex started.

It was Tun-Knee that stepped forward. “Let’s see this club. But you’re buying me a drink.” He told Alex.

“Yes, I’ll buy everyone drinks. We just have to get in.” The young man insisted.

The way her chest ached, Harmony could use a drink. There was no signalling Bates to bring her one. And until she figured out her financial situation, she’d have to rely on the kindness of others. “Let’s go.”

The Group waited before two guards in black metal armor stood outside a set of stairs that led underground. “What is your business at Warden’s Rest?” One asked/

Far less friendly than The Down in Hazeldown.

“Um, ah, I was told that The Nine meet here with their teams on the first day of The Academy.” Alex started a bit tongue-tied.

“You don’t look like one of the top students.” The man pressed,Harmony, could feel the social skill seeping off of him as he had fun with the boy. Like most adults, she’d seen locally, he’d passed his second evolution.

It was time to intervene. Harmony stepped up and focused on using the authority he had, with a touch of thorough civility from her eraser profession. “I am the Tertiary, and this is my team. If the event is not tonight, I understand. Otherwise, I see no problem.” A touch of deathly violence leaked in the end, hinting at how she handled problems.

The guard’s spine straightened a little, like someone had scraped sharp nails up it.  It helped that even though he was past the second evolution, he was weaker than some of what she’d face in The Ascendant Games while sealed, even if she did concede the point to that master mimic.

Hyacinth, from their spot in the tiny pocket, added the feeling of being watched by a predator in the shadows through [Familiar Bond] to the effect. A skill she’d yet to see him use. In part, to show that he’s better than Becca’s fracking.

“Ah, yes, Tertiary. The Secondus, Quartus, Sextus, Septus,and Nunus are here. The primus Quintary and Octavity have yet to arrive. Runners have been sent with invitations. I know you haven’t received yours yet, but we are ready to welcome you.” The Guard answered.

Alex broke out into an eager grin like he was ready to say, “I told you so.”

A brief glance from Harmony stopped him. No need to let the boy's lack of decorum ruin this statement piece. Bad enough that the golden kid’s crew arrived first, and they had to face him.  

“Then I’ll look forward to enjoying your hospitality. Come along.” Harmony called to the others as she stepped onto the stairs to Warden’s Rest.

  Harmony heard Xera whisper, “That was blighting amazing,” breaking the girls' normal silence. Couldn’t she see there weren't that many numbers between them?

As for what lay ahead, there was no escaping social politics even if you were now half the world away from him. If you had to play, you might as well win.

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