The angle of the steps that led to Melaine's castle was a comfortable incline, not too steep, but also not too shallow.
The land on which Funerary stood was entirely isolated from the rest of the world – save for the single land bridge – its edges plunging into the crashing waves below. The capital of the Undead Kingdom appeared to have once been a mighty mountain, reshaped over time into a vast, sprawling city, its towering structures and winding streets clinging to the remnants of its former peak.
As the path snaked to the left, Leander looked down at the city that lay below. It was now late into the day, and Leander could see bodies moving about in the streets, the undead going about their daily lives. As he looked on the steadily filling streets, Leander had two thoughts on his mind.
His first thought pertained to the undead.
'I wonder… what do these undead do every day? The undead I met living near the mountain range spend their days toiling within the mines, gathering resources to arm their armies, and for what other uses they may have. But the people here, Kenju runs a bookstore. I wonder what other stores this place has.'
"Leander! How much further? I am starving!"
Interrupting his train of thought, Narina smacked her fists against Leander's back as she made her grievances known.
Leander responded without looking back.
"Not much farther. We're almost at the courtyard."
Returning to his thoughts, Leander's brow furrowed as he looked at the weathered stone steps beneath his feet.
'What if… what if the Undead Kingdom's state of disrepair isn't just because of the aura of decay they seem to emit? It can't just be a coincidence that every location is rotten, broken, and decayed. What if these ruins existed before the undead made them home?'
As they neared the end of the path, the sounds of chanting could be heard from the castle's courtyard. With nothing else to do, they continued reaching the courtyard.
The last time Leander had visited Melaine's castle, robed undead had been drawing runes and lines in black chalk across the courtyard's grounds.
Now, as Leander and Narina stood at the threshold of the courtyard.
Leander wasn't sure what to make of what he was seeing.
Dozens of undead, all in robes, were knelt in the tapestry that had been drawn on the cobbles. Each undead was murmuring a chant, although, to Leander's ears, their words were vague, nondescript.
As he listened to it, Leander felt something strange.
Like fingertips on the surface of his mind.
"Welcome back, Hero."
A chirping drew Leander's focus from the chant, the voice was very familiar.
Turning around, Leander looked at the bird perched on the wall that encircled the courtyard, Narina following his gaze.
"Hello, Ravenmother. I was expecting to see you sooner than this."
Ravenmother giggled her response.
"Ah, yes, many apologies. I had seen you enter Funerary. But my lady had asked me to aid with the settling of some newly awakened dead. I see you have also been busy. A new friend; only you would be able to convince – what is she, a Beast-Kin? – to travel with you."
Leander sighed.
"She's not… This is Narina."
Looking up at Ravenmother, Narina's eyes widened.
"Your presence is like nothing I've ever felt… Bird, what kind of beast are you?"
Ravenmother's glowing purple eyes narrowed as a faint laugh escaped her beak. With a flap of her wings, Ravenmother flew down, landing in Narina's unkempt hair.
"Not one you've ever met. A pleasure to meet you, Narina. I am Ravenmother."
Narina watched Ravenmother with a guarded expression.
"I'm… Narina."
As Narina and Ravenmother made their introductions, Leander gave the chanting robed figures one more glance – trying not to focus on their words too much – for a moment before nodding.
"Where is Melaine? I would have thought she would be here orchestrating… whatever this is."
Ravenmother shook her head.
"Melaine is currently relaxing in the solar – that being the place where my lady spends her time when she is taking a break from her official duties if she has not moved to the garden, of course. Come, let me guide you both."
----
Taking time to herself after a busy day settling new members of the Undead Kingdom, Melaine lay on a velvet couch, her body relaxed in quiet response. She wore a deep red dress, its fabric soft and flowing, pooling slightly around her legs. The delicate lace trim at her sleeve cuffs shimmered in the fire's glow, accentuating the haunting contrast of her pale, dusky skin.
Melanin's fingers moved down the page of her tome; on its surface, the ink glowed with an otherworldly cyan glow. In the centre of the right page, a drawing depicted a figure shrouded in robes that cascaded past its feet, pooling in tattered folds around it.
The figure's face remained obscured beneath the deep hood of its robes, its only discernible feature: a long, spindly skeletal hand emerging from one sleeve, outstretched and pointing directly at the reader.
The sunlight was weak in the room – large curtains blocked the majority of the light – the only other source of light in the room was the light coming from the fireplace. Its flames flickered, making shadows dance across the room.
Her other hand clutched a glass of wine. As she moved it to her lips in a relaxed manner, Melaine spoke aloud.
"Umbrasis, don't you dare."
Melaine didn't turn to look as she spoke the name of the being hiding within her shadow.
Melaine's own shadow stretched in a rather unnatural fashion – despite the light given off by the fire, Melaine's shadow slowly crept towards it, morphing from the figure of a beautiful woman into a dark shape as it reached towards the fireplace. Abruptly stopping, Umbrasis' eyes opened like two pinpricks of starlight within the darkness of the shadow.
Umbrasis huffed.
"But it's so bright, it's not like you need the light to read anyway."
Licking the wine from her lips, Melaine placed the glass aside, giving her shadow a bothered glare.
"I went through the effort of making the fire, so it's going to run its course without you sucking the light out of it."
Her shadow slowly shrinking back from the fireplace, Melaine's head slightly tilted towards the door as she felt something, somethings, approaching the door to the solar. Three sensations touched her mind.
The first was powerful, iridescent and broken.
The second was small, burgeoning and untamed.
The third was broad, colossal and dark.
After a moment, the door opened. Leander, Narina and – perched stop Narina's head – Ravenmother all entered the room.
Her lips parting into a broad smile, Melaine rested her arm on the couch she had been lying on, calling towards the new arrivals.
"Ah, Leander, gone for so long. I was starting to worry that you might never return."
Melaine's brow rose as she observed Narina.
"And you have found… a new friend?"
"She's…"
Deeply sighing, Leander gestured from Narina to Melaine.
"Narina, this is Melaine. Queen of the Undead Kingdom."
"Lich Queen."
Melaine added with a smile as she gestured to the other seats around the fireplace.
"Please, take a seat, you two. I'm sure your feet are sore from all the travelling. Ilia told me about your request for a horse. I can look into that the next time we get one."
Awkwardly settling himself down into an armchair, Leander looked at Narina as she dropped with a subtle thud onto another couch.
"I actually don't think I will be needing a horse anymore. Narina's a beast."
Melaine leant her head on her arm as she watched Narina
"A beast, you say? I suppose that explains the untamed feeling of her soul. What are you, Narina?"
Without further prompt, Narina leapt out of her seat, putting her hand on her chest she exclaimed – her tail wagging behind her.
"I am the last of the dragon clan!"
With her exclamation, Melaine clapped her hands.
"The last of the dragons, I had heard they had all…"
Her words trailing off, Melaine decided it would be best to not bring up what could be a painful subject.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Narina. How did you two meet?"
As Leander was about to answer, Narina cut in front of him.
"Leander beat me up without even needing to use his weapon and then left me unconscious."
Melaine's face quickly grew shocked.
Putting his hand up, Leander added context to Narina's outlandish statement.
"She attacked me from behind with the intention of eating me, I let her live because I felt bad for her – might I add, when she attacked me, she was big and scaly. And now she wants me to become some kind of mentor to help her grow stronger."
Stomping her feet, Narina's mouth was filled with teeth as she smiled.
"And he said he would!"
Slamming his palm down onto the arm of the armchair, Leander rebutted this.
"I said no such thing."
"You never said no!"
Leander's face contorted into a pained expression of annoyance.
"Wh- yes I did, I told you no a dozen times!"
Melaine's smile slowly grew lighter and broader as she covered her mouth. Watching Leander and Narina's dramatic interactions brought out something within her.
A small giggle escaped Melaine's lips, this giggle slowly turned into a laugh Melaine couldn't quite control.