Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 886 - 823: Unexpected Guest

"By the way, I would like to organize a war council, to engage in close discussions with the leaders of the various factions involved in the war against the Evil God." The headmaster tapped the table, revealing the true purpose behind his carefully laid plans. "I assure you, all traps, interference rituals, lurking personnel, and experimental accidents in the courtyard—whether they’ve already happened or are yet to happen—have been completely removed."

The headmaster’s earnest words and sincere demeanor caught the scholar slightly off guard.

"Do you wish for me to act as a witness to this council?"

"I hope that you, Scholar, will take on the role of overseer for this war council. Factually speaking, Andrei’s reputation for credibility rivals its association with peril, so you are the perfect mediator. Moreover, you coordinated the previous war against the Evil God, during which the Dragon Priest secured ultimate victory."

Though the Holy Light ended up snatching the glory, and the dragons barely escaped death’s grip. The scholar didn’t voice this thought aloud. Everyone was aware of the sensitive relationship between the headmaster and the Holy Light. The Soul Reaper’s ambiguous attitude toward the undead he resurrected reflected his uncompromising warmongering tendencies. Yet this was a point in Andrei’s favor; the Liches of Andrei seemed to evoke empathy from other races, encouraging unity against a common, loathed adversary. The external image of Andrei’s Liches had slightly improved, which was reason enough to feel gratified. The scholar’s thoughts wandered to the anomaly who had made all this possible: Lyle. Reflecting on his earlier, risky decisions, he now felt both relieved and proud of himself.

"To unite all factions in shared animosity and resolve will be my honor," the scholar accepted the headmaster’s proposal. Andrei Academy would be the ideal meeting place. Though some factions might regard it as the most terrifying den of evil, the idea of chatting with a Demon King in that very den had its own peculiar allure. It would be hard for them to refuse.

"By the way, Headmaster, do you, in your infinite wisdom, have any precious suggestions for this war council? I’m all ears." Increasing the Liches’ involvement in social affairs, the scholar quickly entered a diligent working mode.

The headmaster beamed with delight, setting down his handiwork to clap enthusiastically. "Excellent! I do, in fact, have an audacious request, which I hope might be brought up. If approved, it will undoubtedly improve our odds and augment our combat strength."

The scholar’s eyes gleamed. The headmaster, a polymath of enchantment, Spirit Summoning Studies, and alchemy, possessed a uniquely sharp insight that could very well turn the tide.

"Please, tell me."

"I hope our allies could agree to allow Andrei to reanimate their fallen soldiers as battlefield constructs, enabling the reproduction of troops and ensuring sustainable combat capability. It would be best if they come prepared for this eventuality. I fully understand it’s a demoralizing proposition."

You’re just greedy for their corpses, aren’t you?! Don’t even leave the living alone, let alone the dead!

The headmaster—no, the entirety of Andrei—had made its stance clear. They trusted in their own capabilities far more than they trusted their so-called allies. These undead still carried a certain arrogance and impudence into death, a reminder that true multi-racial harmony was a long way off.

The scholar let out a sigh.

"I’ll consider it. If we are truly pushed to the edge of despair, I think they might come to understand."

The entire planet was being devoured. Scouts from various factions shuddered in fear as they witnessed the expanding black tide. Many races had sent messages to the City of Wandering, reporting retreats back to their Native Planes. It was unsurprising—fear was the most primal, most overwhelming emotion. Even the most loyal Dragon Kin carried a tinge of bittersweet melancholy at this time. Only the undead stood undaunted. Perhaps Lyle’s research had evoked something within them, but having already faced death, what more did they have to fear?

"How fares the Salvation Association?"

"Silent. Either actively cooperating with preparations in these early stages or ignoring the crisis while claiming they’ll provide support. They’ve grown numb to apocalyptic threats."

"And Lyle?" The scholar was deeply concerned about his mental state. "Does he understand that Raymond has chosen the other side? This idolization of power has ingrained itself too deeply into the human intellect. The collapse at the top trickles down like an avalanche."

The headmaster cradled a skull, fingers stroking its polished forehead before tapping on it softly.

"I gave him leave. He’s still young and destined to play a crucial role on the battlefield. I can’t wait for him to return to normal, Scholar. We must keep him distant from us—that’s as far as my capacity allows."

"Perhaps he needs a priest."

"Priests are a scarce resource these days, like grains of gold in sand. Alianna has secluded herself in the chapel, and the Star Spirit has bluntly confessed that she’s overwhelmed by her own troubles. The Holy Light’s corruption has invaded her being. Humanity’s lighthouse has already crumbled."

"Let’s hope that familial bonds can act as a salve."

...

She stepped gently onto the stairs, ascending one step at a time, entering the room as the Specter Maids outside bowed in greeting. Alianna waved them away before quietly pushing open the door. Her first action was to check the bed to see if there were any unusual bulges in the covers.

There was one. A sizable bulge sat in the middle of the covers, occasionally trembling.

Alianna withdrew her hand, cautiously, and slowly sat at the edge of the bed with the utmost care, softly placing her hand atop the lump.

"The alchemical mechanisms your father left in the dense forest are already active. The spreading mist envelops Naranya; they’ll be okay—at least, until we fall. Shall we go visit your uncle? I’ll go with you."

The lump beneath the covers began quivering violently, and soon the blankets were flung aside. Alianna deftly dodged the flying comforter, but what she saw beneath it was smaller than she had anticipated.

"Nia wants to go! Nia’s not sleepy anymore! I want to go with Alianna!"

Alianna chuckled softly, not dodging Nia’s enthusiastic leap. She ruffled the young girl’s face and planted a light kiss on her cheek.

"Where’s Lyle?"

Nia extended a tendril-like appendage and pointed toward the balcony.

"He’s out there, catching the breeze, whispering to Ominous and Phantom."

"Alright, I might be overthinking things. Come on, Nia, let’s not disturb him." The pair—one tall, one small—left the room, quietly shutting the door behind them. The only movement left in the room came from the fluttering curtains. On the balcony, Lyle retracted his gaze from the door, leaning against the railing. A safety harness made of blood and flesh secured him as he overlooked the tranquil, unchanging lakes of Naslan. The water shimmered endlessly under the sunlight, eerily calm.

[We still have a chance. There’s no need to worry.]

"I’m not worried. Those days spent making model figurines for the community workshop projects have just numbed my nerves a bit." Lyle looked down at the shadow under his feet. The dark figure elongated and warped due to the blood and flesh sprouting from his body, looking nothing like him.

[I thought you’d feel more anxious, because... Lyle Butler’s usual methods involve ’calling for backup.’]

"Raymond’s disappearance did catch me off guard, but I’m not limited to being just the Child of the Holy Light."

"But thank you for your reassurance. I’m fine. Really."

[You’re welcome. After all, we are one, aren’t we?]

"..."

"Are you still pretending? The entity parasitizing my mind, sir. You’re not Ominous." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

[I don’t understand what you mean, Lyle.]

"Ominous isn’t as... human as you are. Unless mocking me, he would never use my name—Lyle—to emphasize individual consciousness. Our exchanges are limited to self-deprecation. You, on the other hand, are far too polite."

[Alright. But first, let me assure you—I harbor no ill intent. Well, I might have before, but not anymore. Did you deduce my nature merely from the way I speak?]

"My mind does indeed host many residents—Ominous, Phantom—but they’ve all fused with my consciousness to some extent, like facets of my own personality. I understand what I have within me... and therefore, what I do not."

[So, I was exposed from the start. It seems I was too eager. I thought you might need a psychologist—or perhaps a priest.]

"May I have the honor of knowing your name, priestly sir?"

[Of course, Lyle. We are not strangers; you must’ve heard of me before.]

[I am Gallaron Loshutar.]

Memory kicked into motion. Lyle recalled everything about that blood-red figure—and the moment when Ominous crushed him into nothingness. So it wasn’t the end after all.

"...The Angel of Water?"

[The Blood Angel, Little Butler. We still have a few scores to settle.]