Spectral tales

Innate Affinity and skills

In the Undead City - Altraud:

Outside the City Walls, in an Open Field

Arthur glanced down at his foot as a dry chuckle escaped from his skull. Around him, the field stretched into the distance, bathed in the cold, silver light of the moon. The air was still, thick with a metallic tang, and the ground beneath was uneven, covered with brittle, withered grass that crunched underfoot. The ancient trees bordering the clearing swayed slightly in the wind, their twisted branches casting flickering shadows across the field. Arthur sighed, clapping his bony hands together, the sound breaking the oppressive silence.

‘Such good teamwork, yet they don’t want to be a part of the team,’ he thought, watching with mild amusement as the noise attracted their attention, causing them to turn their gaze toward him.

“Hey, old bones, I can get the measurements now, right?” Maya inquired with a mischievous grin, her eyes gleaming. She was ignored as Arthur’s attention lingered on Arya and Ervin. Ervin stepped out from his hiding spot, his bow clenched in satisfaction, while Arya’s thin smile betrayed her focus on Arthur’s hands, ever observant.

“Good job. As promised, I will fulfill your requests,” Arthur said, his voice carrying effortlessly across the stillness of the field.

“Can we change our requests?” Arya asked, her gaze still locked on his bony fingers, as though she were already considering her next move. Arthur thought for a moment, his hollow eye sockets flickering with faint light before he responded with a nod.

“You can, but they have to be reasonable,” he said, his tone emphasizing the last word as his gaze flicked briefly toward Maya, who scoffed and turned away with a huff.

“Anyway, let’s start with Ervin.”

Ervin nodded, his eyes narrowing as he thought carefully about his request. Finally, he spoke, gesturing to his bow, its worn wood visibly aged and cracked from use. “These are weak. I need new ones.”

Arthur analyzed the state of the weapon and took out a red crystal from his robes. The crystal glowed faintly, its light casting eerie shadows across his skeletal fingers.

“There is a weapon storage chamber left of my grave. It has a red roof. Use this crystal to enter and pick any bow and arrows you like,” Arthur said, presenting the crystal to Ervin, who took it promptly.

“You’re strong. Let’s meet again,” Ervin muttered as he scurried away, leaving Arya bewildered and Maya giggling behind him.

Arthur chuckled at the boy’s hasty departure before turning his attention to Maya, who had a gleam in her eyes. She didn’t wait long to voice her request.

“I’d love to take her measurements, but not now. Can I have a book about dungeon monsters and their behavior?”

Arthur watched her for a moment before retrieving a blue crystal from his robe. “Find the grave with a blue roof, near the center of the city, south of my own. Use this to enter and get the book you want,” he said, handing the crystal to her.

With a quick farewell to Arya, Maya skipped away, leaving the field shrouded in silence once more.

Arya, now alone with Arthur, stared at him before making her request. “Can you teach me about affinity and skills?”

Arthur’s hollow eyes focused on her. “You want to be my student?”

“Yes, is it unreasonable?” Arya asked, her tone calm but her eyes betraying a sliver of hesitation.

Arthur let out a laugh, his voice echoing across the quiet field. “It’s not unreasonable, but to be my student, you need to trust me. Will you?”

Arya remained silent. Trust was a rare commodity for her, something foreign in a life filled with betrayal and loneliness. The wind rustled the branches of the ancient trees around them, the soft groan of wood adding to the tension in the air.

Arthur, sensing her hesitation, sat on a nearby rock and spoke. “I will teach you, but in return, once I’m done teaching, you need to tell me about your life. Undead are curious creatures, and a lich like me is no exception. I will share my research, and you share your story.”

Taking a deep breath, Arya sighed, the weight of his offer hanging heavily in the air. She nodded in agreement.

“Do I need to sign a contract?” she asked.

“I don’t have trust issues, kid. Follow me,” Arthur replied as he stood from the rock. Arya remained rooted in place for a moment, a thin smile tugging at her lips. She touched her mouth in surprise, as though even the act of smiling was unfamiliar, before hurrying to catch up with him.

Inside the Vampire Palace

The vampire palace stood in all its cold, gothic grandeur, a towering testament to the empire’s strength and ancient lineage. In a lavishly decorated room, Veld stood alone, his gaze fixed on a large portrait that dominated the wall. The woman depicted in the portrait had deep blue hair, dark red eyes, and a doll-like face that bore a striking resemblance to Arya. Her expression was serene, captured in a moment of eternal grace.

The air in the room was cool and still, heavy with the scent of polished wood and the faint metallic tang of old blood. The walls were lined with rich, burgundy tapestries depicting scenes of past conquests, their once-vibrant colors faded with age. Veld’s fingers reached out toward the portrait, his eyes filled with longing as he recalled memories of the woman—Victoria, a war hero who had fought alongside him, earning his father’s recognition.

His reverie was shattered as the door to the room burst open. Sirius barged in, his face twisted in frustration. “Veld, have you gone mad? Why did you start a war with humans?”

Veld glanced sidelong at him, his expression calm. “Are you talking about Edinburg Fort? I haven’t started any war. Not yet. I’ve just increased surveillance and sent a few more troops than usual.”

Sirius gritted his teeth, struggling to contain his anger. “Why? Why are you increasing the troops?”

Veld took a deep breath, his fingers curling into fists at his sides. “I want my people to die on a battlefield, to die in the enemy’s hands. I don’t want to kill them myself.” His voice was neutral, but the weight of his words hung heavily in the air.

Sirius exhaled sharply, the revelation sinking in. “Is the country’s internal situation really that bad?”

Veld’s eyes darkened as he turned to face Sirius fully. “Yes. It’s bad. So bad that I had to exile my daughter to protect her. So bad that I have to start a war just to prevent my people from killing each other.”

Sirius sat down heavily in a nearby chair, staring up at the portrait of Victoria. “Guess we are monsters after all,” he muttered. “How do you want my death to be?”

Veld grinned faintly, though his eyes remained somber. “I want to die by her daughter’s hand.”

Sirius shook his head, standing to leave. “Stop trying to reminisce about dead people and do your work.”

Veld turned back toward the portrait, his fingers brushing the edge of the frame. “I don’t need reminding,” he murmured as Sirius left him alone in the silent room.

Undead City - Altraud: Inside the Central White Grave

After the challenge, Arya and Arthur returned to the central white grave. The chamber inside was vast and cold, the air thick with the scent of age and decay. Floating crystals embedded in the ceiling bathed the room in a pale, ghostly light, casting long shadows on the smooth marble floor. Scrolls lay scattered around Arthur’s grotesque throne, fashioned from bones and skulls that seemed to watch Arya as she made herself comfortable on a nearby chair.

Arthur leaned forward, his hollow eyes fixed on Arya. “Do you know what innate affinities are?”

“Affinities that are present at birth,” Arya responded, her voice steady as she recounted the knowledge she had learned. She knew each species had an ability they were born with and explained it as such, earning a nod of approval from Arthur.

“Correct. Blood magic is the innate affinity for vampires. Drain magic is innate to the undead. Mist to humans, wood to elves, magma to dwarfs.”

As he spoke, Arthur demonstrated his power, extending his arm toward Arya and muttering . A faint green hue shot from his hand, wrapping around her as her movements slowed. The effect vanished after a minute, but the sensation of weakness lingered in Arya’s mind.

“Each living being produces an internal energy called Hue. Depending on the affinity, the hue’s color changes—red for blood magic, green for drain magic, and so on,” Arthur continued, watching her carefully as she absorbed the information.

He handed her a red-glowing scroll, the faint light reflecting off its surface as she scanned its contents. “That scroll contains the magic circle to learn ” Arthur explained. “Your skill is weak. Replace it with this.”

Arya looked confused. “Why replace it? Can’t I have both?”

Arthur shook his head. “You can, but any living being can only afford four skills at a time. If you want to learn a new skill, you must replace one of the existing ones. I have four myself:

and one more, which is a secret.”

Arya was about to nod in understanding when a thought struck her. didn't feel like a drain-related magic skill…