After we wrapped up our presentations and prepared to leave Nimran, the bus ride back to the Academy provided a welcome reprieve. The rhythmic hum of the mana-powered engine filled the air, a steady companion to the gentle sway of the luxurious vehicle. The seats, as always, were far too comfortable for students. I leaned back beside Rose, who was scrolling lazily through her tablet, her gaze occasionally flicking out the window at the passing, controlled scenery of Nimran's outskirts.
I mulled over the details of the skeleton for the Lich as the bus rumbled forward. The Skull and the Basilisk Heart were high-quality enough to set the bar intimidatingly high. A nine-star Skeleton would match them perfectly, but finding such a thing… well, the word "daunting" didn't even begin to cover it.
"Arthur," Rose suddenly piped up, her brown eyes peeking over her tablet with a knowing smile. "Are you looking for… a skeleton?"
I froze for a moment, my phone still open on a discreet page of necromancy suppliers. "You could tell?"
She chuckled, propping her chin in her hand. "You've been scrolling through supplier websites for the past hour. Subtlety isn't your strong suit today."
"Fair enough," I admitted, sliding my phone into my pocket. "Yeah, I need one for my End of Year project."
Her brows lifted with mild curiosity. "What kind of skeleton are you looking for? Five-star? Maybe six-star?"
Before I could respond, she added with a grin, "Though you'll be disappointed with anything online. They don't sell top-tier material to just anyone."
"Exactly the problem I'm facing," I said, sighing. "It's not like I'm buying furniture."
Her expression shifted to one of thoughtful amusement. "I can probably help you."
Rose tilted her head, looking almost shy, though there was an unmistakable glimmer of pride in her eyes. "I guess you don't know. My father is the owner of Vakrt."
The name hit me like a truck. "Vakrt," I echoed, "the number one supplier of necromancy materials in the Slatemark Empire?"
"The very same," she said, laughing at my stunned expression.
Vakrt wasn't just any company. It was the company when it came to high-quality necromancy materials. Despite the Slatemark Empire not being a hub for dark mages, Vakrt had carved out a reputation so strong it rivaled even the best suppliers in the Western continent. Their exclusive contracts with one of the Twelve Great Guilds ensured they had unparalleled access to rare materials. Even in the West, where dark mana ran rampant, people whispered Vakrt's name with reverence.
"Why didn't you mention this before?" I asked, still reeling.
"You've never asked," she said with a shrug, leaning back. "Besides, it's not like necromancy comes up in casual conversation. Most people think it's creepy."
"Well, it's come up now," I muttered. "How much do you know about necromancy?"
"Not as much as you, obviously," she admitted. "But I had to learn the basics to help manage the company. My dad wants me to inherit it someday."
I nodded, filing that away. It made sense now why she was so knowledgeable about skeleton quality. "So, can Vakrt help me get what I need?"
"Depends on what you're looking for," she said casually, though I didn't miss the sharp glint of curiosity in her gaze. "What's the project?"
"A Lich," I said without hesitation.
She blinked, tilting her head slightly, her smile freezing on her face. Then she laughed nervously. "Sorry, did you say a Mage? I thought you said a Lich for a second there."
I shook my head. "I am making a Lich."
Her laughter stopped abruptly, replaced by a wide-eyed stare. "Arthur, that's… That's insane!"
"Not entirely," I replied. "I already have the Skull and the Source. I just need the Skeleton and the Staff."
Rose stared at me as if I'd sprouted a second head. "You have the Skull and the Source?" she echoed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Arthur, where the hell did you—no, wait, I don't want to know."
Her hands dropped into her lap as she shook her head, clearly trying to process. "You're insane," she muttered. "Absolutely insane."
"Probably," I agreed. "But are you going to help me or not?"
She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "What level of Skeleton are you looking for? Seven-star?"
"Preferably nine-star," I said casually.
That earned me a full-blown gasp. "A nine-star Skeleton?" she hissed, leaning closer as if I'd just confessed to plotting world domination. "Do you have any idea how rare that is? Even if Vakrt had one—and I'm not saying they do—it would cost tens of billions!"
"Yeah, I figured as much," I said, unfazed.
Rose stared at me, her brown eyes searching my face for any flicker of hesitation, any sign that I'd realized just how utterly absurd this entire plan was. But when I offered nothing more than an unflinching, determined gaze, she exhaled sharply. "You're insane," she muttered, though her tone carried an undercurrent of reluctant admiration now.
"So," I said, leaning forward slightly, "can Vakrt provide it?"
She shook her head, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Not nine-star," she admitted, "but we do have something close. An eight-star Skeleton from a Blood Wyvern that was hunted by a Gold-grade guild not too long ago."
"A Blood Wyvern?" I asked, my curiosity piqued. Wyverns were formidable, but a Blood Wyvern? That was something else entirely.
"It's a beast with dark mana affinity," Rose explained, her voice slipping into the polished tone of a businesswoman. "Came from the Western continent into the Central continent. It's about as perfect a match as you're going to get for your project. But, Arthur…" She paused, narrowing her eyes. "How exactly are you planning to control something this powerful? Eight-star materials don't just listen to reason, you know."
"I have a way," I said simply, leaving it at that. Her eyebrows arched, but she didn't press further. Smart girl.
"Alright," she said, sitting back. "I can arrange for you to see the Skeleton in person. You'll need to make sure it aligns with the other materials you have—Skull, Source, all that. And I'll book you an appointment with our best necromancers. They'll handle the magical inscriptions and programming, but you'll have to use your own dark mana for the binding process."
"That's fine," I said, nodding. This was starting to sound promising—until her next words hit me like a brick to the face.
"Of course," she added casually, "it'll cost you at least thirty billion dollars."
I sucked in a sharp breath. Thirty billion? Even for an eight-star Skeleton, that was astronomical. Then again, Vakrt wasn't exactly known for cutting corners or offering discounts. They dealt in premium necromancy materials, and this was as premium as it got.
"Do you… even have that much money?" she asked, her tone careful, like someone trying to confirm whether the person sitting across from them was utterly delusional.
I leaned back, my mind already whirring as I weighed my options. Thirty billion wasn't something I had lying around, but this Skeleton was perfect. I wasn't going to let it slip through my fingers. "How about this," I began, "I put down a three-billion-dollar deposit, then pay the rest in monthly installments of 2.25 billion?"
Rose tilted her head, considering my offer. "That… could work," she said slowly. "But you'll have to sign a contract. And you'll need to put something valuable down as collateral."
"How valuable are we talking?" I asked.
She shrugged. "An Ancient-grade artifact should do."
I nodded, already calculating which of my artifacts I could part with—temporarily, of course. "Deal."
Rose smiled, a touch of amusement dancing on her lips. "You're full of surprises, Arthur. Alright, I'll make the arrangements. But you'd better not screw this up. My reputation's on the line too, you know."
"I don't plan to," I said with a grin, though inside, my thoughts were racing. Thirty billion. Monthly payments. A collateralized Ancient-grade artifact.
No pressure, Arthur. None at all.