Spectral tales

New team

Inside the undead city - Altraud

The next day, Arya woke up feeling refreshed, her eyes adjusting to the dim, soft glow that bathed the underground chamber. The light came from several white scrolls scattered around her bed, their faint illumination casting long shadows across the smooth stone walls. The cold, marble-like surface of the grave radiated a quiet stillness, and the air smelled faintly of damp earth, carrying the sensation of having slept in the deep underground. Arya stretched, picking up one of the glowing scrolls.

The words were etched neatly at the top of the scroll, and upon opening it, she found a magic circle, meticulously drawn with concentric rings and complex symbols. Among the markings, the familiar symbol caught her eye, but the rest of the intricate design remained foreign to her. She glanced at the other scrolls, noting their names—

,

,

and

.

Unable to decipher them, Arya carefully placed the scrolls back where she found them.

After locking the grave behind her with the obsidian black crystal, she stepped outside and began her journey toward the centre of the city. The cold air hit her skin, and as she walked, her footsteps echoed lightly in the misty, deserted graveyard. Soon, after navigating through the rows of tombstones, she came upon a massive white marble grave. It gleamed with an unnatural light, its smooth, polished surface catching the faint shimmer of the mist that hovered around it. Delicate carvings decorated the edges, and Arya’s fingers traced the swirling symbols as she curiously knocked on the roof.

A moment later, the roof split open with a faint rumble, and a skeleton, about 165 cm tall, flew out from the grave. It wore robes identical to Arthur’s, and its eyes glowed with a vivid purple light as it scanned Arya from head to toe. Startled, Arya instinctively tried to summon her, but before she could, the undead grabbed her by the shoulder and began twirling her around as if appraising her like an object.

“Hmm, a shortie, black hair, blood-red eyes, tiny underdeveloped body,” the skeleton muttered, producing a notebook from seemingly nowhere and scribbling down Arya’s features.

Dizzy from all the twirling, Arya glared menacingly at the skeleton, her arm glowing with a red hue, ready to release an attack. But just as the energy began to form into an arrow, Arthur’s deep, irritated voice echoed from inside the grave.

“Maya, waste any more of my time, and I will rip that book to shreds.”

The skeleton immediately froze, her bony form stiffening at the threat. “Keep your hands off my book, you perverted skeleton!” she yelled, quickly hiding the notebook under her robe. She turned to Arya and, with a gleeful smile, extended her arms. “Hello, I’m Maya! I want to know your measurements.”

Arya recoiled, taking two steps back in disgust. “I’ll come back later,” she muttered, trying to retreat. But before she could escape, Maya grabbed her and dragged her into the grave. “We’re going to be good friends!” Maya chimed as they descended the steps into the white marble tomb.

Inside, Arya’s eyes widened at the sight. The chamber was vast, with walls and floors made entirely of gleaming white marble. Crystal lamps adorned the walls, casting a soft, bluish glow that reflected off the polished surfaces, making the room look more like a palace than a grave. At the far end of the chamber sat Arthur, perched on a throne made of bones and skulls. The grotesque seat was fashioned from the remains of various creatures, their hollow eye sockets and twisted fingers giving the room a macabre edge. Nearby, a tiny skeleton carrying a bow and arrows stood on a podium.

As Arya approached Maya, the small undead stared at her with obvious disdain. It stood about 160 cm tall, and golden-yellow flames flickered in its eyes, blazing with animosity. Arya ignored the glare, focusing instead on Arthur.

Irritated at being overlooked, the small skeleton drew an arrow and aimed it straight at Arya’s heart. Just as it was about to release, Arthur cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Let’s introduce ourselves, shall we?” he said, looking directly at the tiny undead.

The skeleton scowled but nodded reluctantly. “I am Erwin, archer. I hate weak people,” he spat, casting a pointed glance at Arya.

Arya simply nodded. “Arya,” she said curtly.

“I’m Maya!” the cheerful skeleton chimed in again. “You already know me. I like collecting information about people and imitating them. Right now, I’m imitating Mr. Old Bones!” She grinned, casting a glance at Arthur, who sighed in resignation.

“You three will be teammates from here on,” Arthur declared. Arya and Erwin frowned at the announcement, while Maya jumped up and down in excitement.

“I work alone,” Arya and Erwin said in unison, while Maya blurted out, “Can I take her measurements now?”

Arthur rubbed his forehead in exasperation. “Follow me,” he ordered, rising from his throne and leading them out of the chamber. The three glanced at one another before quickly falling in line behind him.

They passed through the city’s outer walls and entered the dense expanse of the f*******n Forest. The towering trees stretched into the sky, their gnarled branches twisted into strange shapes, casting long shadows on the ground below. A heavy mist clung to the forest floor, swirling lazily around their feet. The air was thick with the scent of damp moss and decaying leaves, and the faint sound of rustling branches echoed through the eerie stillness. The forest felt alive, with unseen creatures watching them from the depths, their presence palpable in the dense, mystical atmosphere.

Arthur led them to a small clearing, where the trees parted just enough to let thin beams of light filter through the canopy above. The ground was soft and spongy beneath their feet, covered in a layer of moss. Arthur drew a circle, 2 meters in diameter, into the ground, its outline glowing faintly with magic. He stepped into the centre and faced the group.

“Do you want to work alone?” he asked. Arya and Erwin nodded immediately.

Maya, however, wasn’t having it. “Hey, old bones! What about me? I need measurements!” she complained.

Ignoring Maya, Arthur continued, “If you want to work alone, prove to me that you’re strong enough. Make me step out of this circle using any method, and I’ll agree to your requests. I won’t retaliate.”

Arya and Erwin’s faces grew serious. They knew Arthur’s power well, and both realized this would be no easy task. After exchanging a glance, they turned and ran into the depths of the forest. Maya, unfazed, stayed behind.

“Old bones, if we win, can I take her measurements?” she asked with a deadly serious expression. Arthur stared at her in disbelief, stumbling slightly at her persistence.

Before he could reply, a dagger came flying toward his skull. Arthur raised his hand and muttered, “,” sending the dagger spiralling harmlessly into a nearby tree.

He then swiped his hand to his left, splitting an incoming arrow in half, and then ducked avoiding a kick from Maya.

"Hey old bones, do you want the Death Knights measurements?"

Hearing the question Arthur's complexion momentarily changed, his feet moved towards Maya involuntarily but stopped just before his feet crossed the circle. Frustrated at her antics he then glared at the snake-tongued skeleton, incredibly annoyed.

"Boo, you are a wimp old bones, you need to protect your girlfriend's dignity" she spoke in an unimpressed tone, trying to grab his attention, but Arthur knew about it.

Turning back he swiped his hand horizontally, splitting the arrow that was aimed at his skull.

“Your words are getting craftier, but you’re still too weak,” Arthur remarked while avoiding her next punch.

Meanwhile, Arya observed from the shadows, impressed by the synchronized attacks from Maya and Erwin. They moved with surprising coordination, their styles complementing one another. But Arya’s attention drifted toward something else—Arthur’s use of . A plan began to form in her mind.

“Hey, I need some help!” Maya’s loud voice snapped Arya out of her thoughts. She bit her thumb, releasing a red hue from her hand as she fired a at Arthur. As expected, Arthur deflected it with ease, using once again. Realizing that long-distance attacks were ineffective, Arya decided to change tactics.

Moving cautiously through the underbrush, she crept closer to Arthur’s position, her heart racing as the forest whispered around her. When she was near enough, she whispered , forming a blood dagger attached to her thumb by a thin strand of blood. She threw the dagger, aiming for Arthur’s skull. He deflected it, and the dagger landed a few meters away.

“Attack with everything you’ve got!” Arya commanded, her voice cutting through the forest. Maya and Erwin, surprised by her sudden directive, complied, launching a barrage of attacks at Arthur. Slowly, they began to corner him.

Arthur remained calm, deflecting each strike with precision. But just as he was about to declare victory, the blood dagger Arya had thrown earlier shot toward him from the ground. He ducked to avoid it, but in doing so, his foot crossed the edge of the circle.