A black cat, the strongest knight among the wounded team, Roman.
A black light, knocking everyone down.
Garrett's heart sank. The newcomer was incredibly powerful, capable of wiping them all out effortlessly. What was more terrifying were the black light, the black cat, the skeleton soldiers, zombies, stone gargoyles...
It sounded like a scene from a painting. If the owner returned and found their home smashed, the skeleton soldiers destroyed, even the guarding gargoyles taken down...
The consequences couldn't be worse.
Garrett tried to subtly shift, attempting to shrink into a corner, putting on an "it wasn't me, I had nothing to do with this" expression. Before he could move much, a chill swept over him, like a bucket of ice-cold water poured over his head. Glancing around, all the faces of the fallen soldiers expressed shock
Someone approached from behind. The footsteps were peculiar, sounding like they were clunking on the ground, yet also like some small claws scratching and scraping. Stiffening his spine, Garrett slowly turned his head with caution
In his view was a long black robe nearly touching the ground. The material seemed unknown, heavy and non-reflective. All light seemed to be absorbed into the robe; any fashion designer from a previous life would spare no effort to acquire such fabric.
Garrett trembled and looked up. The black-robed figure floated, concealing any human contours, appearing more like a skeleton draped in clothesa skeleton holding a bone-made staff. Before he could see the face, the fallen Roman knight on the ground screamed:
"Necromancer!You're a necromancer!"
The figure in the black robe paused. The long black robe fluttered slightly and silently descended. The Roman knight shrieked, trembling as he raised an arm, pointing shakily at the necromancer, his arm quivering.
In Garrett's eyes, the knight's wrist twisted unnaturally, and even the shape of his fingers seemed oddhis thumb couldn't straighten, perhaps a tendon injury. Garrett silently speculated, watching as the Roman knight shakily extended his index finger, pointing straight at the necromancer's face:
"You, an outsider necromancer, dare to harm the priest of the Spring Goddess! Aren't you afraid of the Temple's retribution!"
"My apologies, I just arrived in the city this afternoon and went to report at the Mage Tower."
The necromancer replied confidently. While speaking, he stepped forward, the black robe billowing violently, akin to an angry roaring sea in a storm:
"It's you who barged into my Mage Tower, smashed my gargoyles. If I hadn't returned early, even my laboratory would've been destroyed. The Temple? If they dare not apologize and compensate, tomorrow, I'll join the Magic Council to dismantle their temple too!"
The Roman knight roared. He pushed against the ground, struggling repeatedly but couldn't get up. With determination, he arched on the ground, charging like a shrimp:
"Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah"
A streak of golden light flashed. The Roman knight was sent flying and crashed into the wall. The wall rumbled, the knight slid down, motionless.
Thump, thump, thump. Footsteps continued, the necromancer pointed at the priest, sneering:
Oh no, it's coming for the priest. Every wrongdoing has consequences. Take a left after leaving the house... that's the Temple of the Spring Goddess. I'm just a minion, forcefully conscripted; I haven't lifted a finger against these skeletons or zombies. The necromancer seems reasonable; maybe he won't hold me accountable?
Garrett breathed a sigh of relief. Feeling safe again, he craned his neck, pondering the Roman knight.
Probably unconscious considering the recent collision, likely a concussion.
Not sure about internal bleeding.
Unable to get up, judging by the scratches from the cat, maybe tendons in wrists and ankles ruptured.
So many scratches, infections are certain, possible tetanus considering it's a domestic pet...
Garrett observed intently, mentally recording each symptom. Once finished, he shifted his gaze towards the necromancer and, whoa! Walking beside the necromancer, radiant and majestic, was a golden skeleton!
And it was alive. No cartilage between the joints, no ligaments connecting. Yet, it moved, it walked!
It had just thrown the Roman knight!
Garrett's eyes gleamed, attention instantly captured. A skeleton that moves! The skeleton they had at the Life Sciences Institute couldn't do that; it had to be placed in a glass case, surrounded by railings. It was treated like a treasure!
Some parts could be touched, all in the Anatomy Building, but they were all in pieces, not complete... for a full-body touchable skeleton, only plastic models were available.
But this one was real!
Compared to the shattered skeleton soldier that he barely saw before it was broken, this golden skeleton was much more refined, much more agile. As Garrett inspected, those bones weren't metallic; fractures on the left shinbone, grooves on the pelvis, they looked like normal human bones, emitting a brilliant golden glow.
Wanted to look closer.
Wanted to examine thoroughly.
Garrett was completely absorbed, forgetting the necromancer's threat. Unbeknownst to him, he had sat up from the ground, leaning forward, desperately wanting to inspect the skeleton entirely.
How does this skeleton move!
No joints, no ligaments, loosely assembled, yet it moves!
The necromancer negotiated compensation with the priest Donald after flinging the Roman knight away, part extortion, part threat. When he turned around, he spotted a young man sitting among the fallen warriors, gazing upwards, fixated on his protective golden skeleton, as if wanting to delve into it.
Necromancer: "...What are you looking at?"
"This skeleton doesn't add up!"
Garrett replied casually without even turning his head. After responding, he jolted, twisting his head to find out who had spoken to him just now?
No, not that he didn't see anything, he saw a pitch-black... black cloth... black robe... a thin face.
The necromancer was quite tall, especially from Garrett's viewpoint while seated, resembling a post supporting a head. Not just tall but skinny, swathed in the black robe, resembling a stick.
When one's that skinny, naturally, the face wouldn't be any better; cheeks tightly pressed against cheekbones, sunken cheeks. It didn't look much different from the golden skeleton nearby.
Garrett was slightly surprised but not particularly afraid. A necromancer being thin was normal, even if it were a skeleton with two glowing phosphorescent points, it matched his recollection of the liches. It was the necromancer who was impatient, stepping forward, pressing urgently:
"What's wrong with this skeleton?"
"The skull and pelvis, they belong to different individuals!"
"Not the same person? How did you figure that out?"
Well... asking me this, and I won't be tired anymore. Garrett pushed himself up from the ground, standing with effort. He was a bit unsteady, and the considerate golden skeleton even lent him a hand:
"The skull is male, the pelvis is female. Clearly, they're two different people!"