The next day Mark gathered his few belongings and left the inn before the sun had finished rising.
As always, Ely traveled inside his shadow in silence.
The plan was simple: put as much distance as possible between themselves and Millbrook, find a place where he could operate without being watched, and keep leveling up until he was strong enough that he no longer had to hide.
The main road was nearly empty at that hour, though a few early-rising rchants and a couple of adventurers passed him without paying any attention.
Mark walked for several hours, leaving the cultivated fields behind and pushing into wild territory.
"Master," Ely’s voice resonated in his mind. "There is a city roughly half a day’s travel from here. It’s called Thornhaven. It’s larger than Millbrook and has a more active adventurers’ guild."
’Larger ans more opportunities... or more problems?’
"Probably both."
But it also ant more anonymity.
In a large city, a Rank F necromancer wouldn’t draw nearly as much attention.
"Then it’s Thornhaven."
Mark kept walking, his mind cycling between plans and worries.
The encounter with the Council had left him paranoid, seeing threats in every shadow — which was ironic, considering his greatest ally literally lived in the shadows.
That was when Mark heard a scream.
Sharp, desperate, unmistakably human. Mark stopped.
Every survival instinct he had scread at him to ignore it and keep walking.
’It’s not my problem. I don’t have to get involved.’
A second scream rang out between the trees.
Weaker this ti.
’Damn it.’
"Master," Ely asked, "would you like to investigate?"
"No. I’ll go. You stay hidden unless it’s absolutely necessary."
"But—"
"That’s an order, Ely."
Mark left the road and pushed into the forest toward the sound.
The trees grew denser, the light thinner, until he reached a clearing and took in the scene.
Three n — bandits, judging by their ragged appearance and the rusty weapons they carried.
And cornered against a tree in front of them, a young girl. She was small, probably a teenager, with brown hair pulled back in a ponytail and green eyes filled with terror. She wore simple traveling clothes, now torn and dirty.
"Please," she begged. "I don’t have anything valuable... just let go."
"Oh, but you do have sothing valuable," said one of the bandits — the largest of the three — stepping closer with a smile that turned Mark’s stomach. "Sothing very valuable."
’Damn it. Damn it, damn it, damn it.’
Mark assessed the situation.
Three bandits. Probably Rank E or D, judging by their gear.
He was level 15, but most of his skills were support-based.
In a direct fight he would lose without question.
But he couldn’t just turn around and walk away either.
He wasn’t a hero.
But he also wasn’t cold-blooded enough to witness that and keep walking like nothing had happened.
"...Ely," Mark murmured. "Get ready to step in, but only if I give the order or if my life is in imdiate danger."
"Understood, Master."
Mark stepped out of the trees making as much noise as possible to announce his presence.
"Good afternoon, gentlen."
All three bandits spun around, startled.
The largest one narrowed his eyes.
"Who the hell are you?"
"Nobody important," Mark answered in a casual tone he didn’t feel at all. "Just a traveler passing through. But I couldn’t help noticing that you’re... bothering this young lady."
"And what if we are?" The bandit took a step toward him. "What are you going to do about it?"
Mark simply smiled.
It was a smile he had practiced in front of a mirror.
Designed to look confident and mildly threatening.
"That depends. Are you going to let her go?"
The bandits looked at each other.
And burst out laughing.
"Did you hear that, boys? The skinny kid wants to play hero."
"How adorable."
"Let’s show him what happens to heroes around here."
The leader drew his sword and advanced on Mark with obvious murderous intent.
’Now or never.’
Mark activated his most recent skill — one he had unlocked at level 12 but hadn’t had the chance to use yet.
[Death Aura – Level 1]
Type: Area Necromancy
Effect: Emits an aura of terror affecting all living beings within a 10-ter radius. Targets with weak willpower may be paralyzed.
The effect was imdiate. A wave of unnatural cold radiated from Mark, accompanied by a primal sense of dread that crashed over the bandits like a wave.
The bandits stopped dead in their tracks. Their faces went pale as their bodies began to tremble.
"W-what the hell...?" the leader stamred, backing away as his sword shook in his hand.
Mark took a step forward, keeping the aura active.
For every step he took, the bandits took two back.
"I gave you a chance," he said — and his voice ca out deeper, heavier, as if it were coming from sothing dark and ancient. "You wasted it."
"He’s a monster!" one of the smaller bandits scread. "The guy’s a damn monster!"
"Run," Mark said calmly. "Run and don’t look back... because if I see you again..."
He left the threat unfinished.
All three bandits fled as if the devil himself were on their heels, tripping over roots and crashing into trees in their desperate escape.
Once they were far enough away, Mark deactivated the aura and allowed himself a mont of quiet satisfaction.
’It worked. It actually worked.’
"Impressive, Master," Ely said, genuinely impressed. "I didn’t know you could be so... intimidating."
’Neither did I, to be honest.’
Mark turned toward the girl, who was still huddled against the tree, staring at him with a mixture of relief and fear.
"Are you alright?" Mark asked, trying to sound as unthreatening as possible.
"I... yes... thank you..." she stamred. "But... what... what was that?"
"Magic," Mark answered simply. "Can you walk?"
She nodded and got to her feet on shaking legs.
"Where are you headed?"
"To Thornhaven. My... my family lives there."
’Convenient.’
"I’m also heading to Thornhaven," said Mark. "We can walk together, if you want. To make sure you get there safely."
She looked at him, clearly torn between fear of what she had just witnessed and fear of traveling alone.
"I... yes. Thank you. My na is Lily."
"Mark," he replied. "Nice to et you, Lily. Though I wish it had been under better circumstances."
Lily let out a nervous laugh, and so of the tension left her shoulders.
"Yeah... too."
They started walking back toward the main road, leaving the clearing — and the mory of what had almost happened — behind.
"Master," Ely asked, "why did you help her? It could have been a trap."
"I know."
"Then why?"
Mark thought about the question as he walked, searching for an answer that made sense.
"Because... if I can’t do sothing good every now and then, what’s the point of any of this?"
Ely was quiet for a mont.
"...I understand," she said at last. "That is why I love you, Master. Because despite everything... you are still a good person."
Mark didn’t answer — he didn’t know if what Ely said was true.
Or if it had ever been.
But as he walked toward Thornhaven, with a rescued girl at his side and a zombie warrior in his shadow, Mark let himself believe that maybe... just maybe... he could beco one.
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