It followed me!
The black-robed skeleton from the Mysterious Tower actually followed me out!
Ian hadn't even checked if the Black Sand and other items he brought were "confiscated" by the Misty Illusion Realm, and his stiff neck turned to see the being that made him feel a chill down his spine.
The mysterious skeleton in a black robe was calmly standing behind him, as quiet as a ghost, with eye sockets burning deep red Soul Fire, emitting an eerie, penetrating glow in the darkness.
Although the peculiar Magic Rune covering its whole skeleton had extinguished, making its bones appear much normal, the intense pressure emanating from it had only increased, perhaps due to leaving the Misty Illusion Realm or because all its chains were broken.
"Expelliarmus!"
Ian instinctively wanted to blast the black-robed skeleton away, but the red light from his Magic Wand inexplicably shattered upon contact with it.
Just like stardust.
Gradually fading away.
The black-robed skeleton was unaffected by the Disarming Spell, nor did the spell cause its robe to explode or its arms to fall off—Ian's increasingly skilled Disarming Spell failed to work.
"I don't believe it! Split-tongue cut-throat! Bah! It's useless!"
"Sectemsempra!"
"Cruciatus!"
"Imperio!"
"Front teeth pipeline!"
…
Refusing to give up, Ian swung his Magic Wand like it was automated, shooting four spells per second, yet none had any effect on the black-robed skeleton.
It's as if a mysterious force dissipated them right before they could reach their target, only causing the black robe of the skeleton to flutter amidst the fading light like fireflies.
"Hmm?"
The mysterious skeleton, its ribs somewhat hidden by the fluttering robe, even reflexively pulled its robe tighter.
"Is my magic failing because of the clothes?" Ian first looked at the black robe of the mysterious skeleton, evidently a Magic Robe.
Even after everything else in the tower had decayed, this robe remained nearly intact, clearly not ordinary, with unfamiliar Magic Runes Ian couldn't decipher.
Upon closer inspection, Ian felt the structure resembled the Death Magic Rune, but only in structure; he couldn't tell if it contained some deity-representing rule.
"No, it's not the clothes."
Though Ian couldn't decipher the Magic Runes' effect, he could discern if they were active. He quickly turned his gaze to the chains in the black-robed skeleton's hands.
Though it had broken out of "imprisonment" and restraint in the tower, remnants of chains still clung to the black-robed skeleton.
Ian could feel it.
These rusted chains still carried magical power.
They protruded from the robe's seams, like ancient shackles, still binding this extraordinary being.
"Is this a form of Forbidden Magic?"
The curious Little Wizard felt a research impulse, but having retreated dozens of steps, he dared not approach the black-robed skeleton so rashly; its origins and intentions were unknown.
"Don't know, no brain." The black-robed skeleton raised its chain-rattling hand, pointing to its empty skull, possibly misunderstanding Ian's mutterings as questions.
"We're so far apart, I'm speaking so quietly, and you can still hear it?" Ian felt surprised, deliberately whispering in a mosquito-like voice.
"I was born to hear the voices of all things."
It's unclear what else the black-robed skeleton remembers, but with a mouth devoid of flesh, it opened and solemnly boasted to Ian.
"…"
Ian typically disliked boastful people, but under these circumstances, his principles relaxed; what could he do against something magic couldn't harm?
He couldn't even reach this skeleton's head if he jumped!
"Why are you following me... This is no longer your world." Ian still hadn't figured out why the black-robed skeleton followed him, crossing the boundary between life and death.
Did it possess such ability inherently, or did it hitch a ride with Ian? The latter was understandable, but the former was daunting.
Deeply unsettling.
Luckily, the black-robed skeleton hadn't shown aggression, seemed calm, and didn't appear to want to attack or ambush the Little Wizard despite being repeatedly spell-cast.
"I need affection."
Seeing Ian inquire, the black-robed skeleton no longer repeated itself like a robotic parrot but expressed its need in a hoarse, low voice.
"…"
Ian was speechless again.
He had no idea how to respond. If only the Wizarding World had a magical version of Zhihu, he'd post for advice on handling such a situation.
A six-foot affectionate skeleton latched onto him?
"Isn't it possible I'm just a minor Little Wizard, unable to give you the love you seek?" Ian merely emphasized his age rather than his gender.