A skeletal figure halted before a curtain of vines. Fumbling blindly, it eventually located the secret entrance and ventured forth. Wild vines slid over its decaying flesh without causing it concern; their potent paralyzing poison had little effect on the undead. A few ters ahead, a second curtain impeded its progress.
Seth stood before it, both ashad and miserable. Swelling his chest, he attempted to draw courage with a breath, but his pierced lungs failed to take in air. The battle against the hoplite had been intense.
[Necromancy and biomancy are two sides of the sa coin. Too bad you're such a lousy mage.]
Seth shivered upon hearing the voice in his head. Shut up!
A burst of laughter greeted his order.
[Who are you talking to? You're all alone, Seth.]
Seth gritted his teeth, refusing to respond. He shouldn't feed that... thing. [Death Focus].
The laughter faded, bringing with it his thoughts and doubts. The skeleton's gaze lost all emotion. Without hesitation, Seth pushed aside the curtain covering the entrance to the temple.
Inside, a young boy rubbed his hands before a campfire. Lifting his head, he smiled upon seeing the walking corpse.
"Seth! I was getting worried. Co eat, I caught sothing."
[Death Focus] trembled. In this cold and lifeless world, only the child's joyful expression possessed a spark of life. The epic skill regained dominance, suppressing the necromancer's emotions. The child patted the leafy cushion beside him, and Seth sat. A folded green leaf awaited him.
"I had to make sure I wasn't followed," he said, opening the leaf to reveal a white fish. "These calories are useless to ."
The child vigorously shook his head. "You must maintain living habits if you don't want your soul to change."
Seth remained silent. The silence stretched for about ten seconds before the child sighed. "I hate it when you activate [Dead Focus]. Please stop."
Without hesitation, Seth obeyed. His dark thoughts rushed back, and the necromancer closed his eyes.
[You have].
The voice vanished. A small hand had just settled on his skeletal hand.
"I'm here," the child smiled. "Let your emotions take over; they help anchor your soul."
"..."
As Seth hesitated to respond, he noticed the faint tremor in the child's hands. Seth's skeletal hand closed around the child's head. Slowly, he caressed it.
"Sorry for being a burden."
"You're not a burden!" The child abruptly lifted his head. "You're my brother, and I love you more than anything in the world. I'll find a way to fight the Necromoon's influence."
Seth smiled weakly. He trusted his little brother - if anyone could find a solution, it was him.
However, a sense of sha overwheld him. He should have been a protector and guide. His brother shouldn't have to bear his weakness...
"Have you found other people?" the child asked. "Maybe they could help us find a solution."
Seth opened his mouth but hesitated. What should he say? His brother was too innocent, and their rivals were too dangerous. The hoplite was a brute. The dryad refused to speak to him. The shapeshifter was even more terrified than him, and the assassin was elusive.
Only the Var Elegis remained. Seth was undead, but to think about the homunculus sent shivers down his spine. That monster had already killed him once and could do it again.
The rivals were dangerous. Seth's instincts whispered to protect his brother.
"No..." he replied weakly. It was the first ti he lied to his brother, and the thought made him sick.
"... Alright," the child smiled. "Co on, I've created a new body for you!"
Seth stood up and followed his little brother. I'll protect you, Osiris.
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