The silence in the hall was heavy enough to crush a man. Nobles froze with wine glasses halfway to their lips while guards reached for their swords. Victor stood alone at the front and his face was pale.
"You are dead," Victor said again. His voice shook slightly. "I watched you bleed."
Silas walked forward and the mud from his boots stained the marble floor. Kael followed him and the zombie's leather armor creaked with every step.
"Death is flexible," Silas said. He stopped ten feet from Victor. "Step away from the dais."
Victor looked at the guards surrounding them. There were six men with spears. They looked at Kael's empty eyes and hesitated.
"Kill them," Victor shouted. He pointed at Silas. "They are abominations!"
The guards moved forward but their steps were slow. Fear smelled stronger than courage in the room.
Kael lunged before the first spear could strike. The zombie moved faster than a living man because it did not feel pain. It slammed into the first guard and knocked him into a table.
Silas raised his hand and decay energy coiled around his fingers. He targeted the second guard who was raising a shield.
"Decay," Silas whispered. He released the energy.
The bolt struck the shield and the wood turned gray. It crumbled into dust and the guard stumbled back.
[Skill Used: Decay Bolt.]
[Energy Cost: 2.]
[Current Energy: 6/100.]
Silas felt the drain but he kept his stance steady. He had six points left and Kael drained one per minute. He needed to end this quickly.
"Stop," Silas commanded. He spoke to the room. "Anyone who moves dies."
The remaining guards paused. They looked at their fallen comrades. The first guard was not moving and the second was staring at his ruined shield.
Victor backed away until he hit the wall. He drew his sword but his hand was shaking.
"You cannot win," Victor said. "There are too many."
"I do not need to win," Silas replied. He looked at the nobles hiding behind the tables. "I only need to take you."
Victor's eyes widened. He understood the threat. Silas did not need to kill everyone. He only needed Victor.
"Guards," Victor said. His voice cracked. "Protect me!"
Two guards rushed forward and Kael met them. The zombie caught a spear shaft and snapped it like wood. It punched the second guard in the chest and the man flew backward.
Silas walked past the fight. He ignored the chaos because his focus was on Victor.
"Please," Victor said. He dropped his sword. It clattered on the floor. "We are family."
"Family sells each other," Silas said. He stopped in front of Victor. "You sold me for a title."
"I had to," Victor said. He held up his hands. "Father was going to give you everything. I was nothing."
"You were enough to hire mercenaries," Silas replied. He reached into Victor's tunic. "That costs money."
Victin flinched but he did not move. He knew any sudden motion would bring death.
Silas pulled out a key. It was made of black iron and it hung on a chain around Victor's neck.
"What is that," Victor asked. He looked at the key in Silas's hand. "That is private property."
"It is mine now," Silas said. He pocketed the key. "Do you know what this opens?"
Victor hesitated. He looked at the key and then at Silas.
"The vault," Victor said finally. "But you cannot open it. It requires blood."
"My blood works," Silas said. He touched the key and it warmed against his palm. "Thorne blood."
Victor laughed. It was a nervous sound. "You think you can escape? The city guard will be here in minutes."
Silas looked at the windows. The night was dark and the rain had started again.
"Then I will leave before they arrive," Silas said. He stepped back and signaled Kael. "Come."
Kael disengaged from the guards and returned to Silas. The zombie's armor was dented but it was still functional.
[Undead Damage: Moderate.]
[Repair Cost: 0 Energy.]
[Note: Dead flesh does not heal.]
Silas turned toward the door. The guards parted because they did not want to be the ones to stop him.
"Stop him," Victor shouted. He picked up his sword again. "Do not let him leave!"
No one moved. The guards looked at each other and lowered their weapons. They were paid to protect the estate, not to die for Victor's pride.
"Cowards," Victor spat. He rushed at Silas himself. "I will kill you!"
Silas did not dodge. He let Victor come. When the sword swung down, Silas stepped inside the arc. He grabbed Victor's wrist.
"Decay," Silas said. He touched the skin.
Victor screamed as the flesh turned gray. The sword fell from his hand and he collapsed to his knees.
[Skill Used: Touch of Decay.]
[Energy Cost: 3.]
[Current Energy: 3/100.]
Silas looked at his hand. The energy drain was significant. He had three points left. Kael needed one per minute. He had three minutes before he passed out.
"Do not follow me," Silas said to the room. He looked at the nobles. "This is between Thorne heirs."
He turned and walked out of the hall. Kael followed him and the shadows seemed to lengthen around them.
They reached the courtyard and the rain was heavy now. Silas moved toward the wall where they had entered.
"Throw me," Silas said. He was too weak to climb alone.
Kael lifted him and Silas grabbed the top of the wall. He pulled himself up and dropped the vine rope.
Kael climbed up and they dropped into the forest. The estate lights faded behind them.
Silas leaned against a tree and breathed heavily. His energy was at two points. He needed to rest.
"We stop here," Silas said. He slid down the tree trunk. "Watch the path."
Kael stood guard and faced the estate. It was a silent sentinel in the rain.
Silas closed his eyes and let the natural recovery begin. The System promised ten points per hour during rest. He needed to survive the night.
A System panel flickered in his vision. The text was violet and it pulsed slowly.
[Quest Completed: Return to Estate.]
[Reward: 5 Energy.]
[Current Energy: 7/100.]
[New Quest: Survive the Night.]
Silas exhaled and felt the energy flow into him. The pain in his ribs eased slightly. He had seven points now. It was enough to last the night.
He opened his pouch and looked at the items. The wolf core, the knife, the coins, and the black iron key.
He picked up the key and examined it. The runes were similar to the ones on the seal. They moved slowly under the metal.
[Item Identified: Vault Key.]
[Origin: Thorne Ancestors.]
[Connection: Vault of Whispers.]
Silas frowned. The Vault of Whispers was fifty miles north. Why did Victor have a key to it?
"Victor was working with someone," Silas said. He spoke to the rain. "Someone outside the estate."
The wind whispered through the trees. It sounded like a name.
*Kaal.*
Silas looked up. The shadows around him were shifting. They were not matching the tree branches.
"Show yourself," Silas said. He knew it would not answer. "If you are watching, help me."
The shadows stopped moving. They settled into normal patterns.
[System Notification.]
[Source: Kaal.]
[Content: Assistance Denied.]
[Reason: Trial Integrity.]
Silas put the key away. He understood. The God was testing him. He was a mouse in a maze and the walls were watching.
"Fine," Silas said. He closed his eyes. "I will pass your trial."
He slept for an hour and the energy recovered to seventeen points. It was dawn when he woke up. The rain had stopped and the forest was quiet.
Kael stood in the same spot. The zombie had not moved all night.
"Status," Silas said. He stood up and stretched. His muscles were stiff.
[Status Panel Opened.]
[Name: Silas Thorne.]
[Rank: F (Unranked).]
[Health: 25/100 (Stable).]
[Energy: 17/100.]
[Undead: 1/5.]
[Corruption: 1%.]
Silas noticed the corruption stat. It was at zero yesterday. Now it was one percent.
"Corruption," Silas said. He looked at his hands. The skin was slightly gray. "What causes this?"
[Source: Necromancy.]
[Threshold: 50% (Critical).]
[Effect: Loss of Humanity.]
Silas clenched his fist. The grayness faded slightly. He could control it for now.
"We need to leave the area," Silas said. He looked at the estate. Smoke was rising from the chimneys. "They will hunt us."
Kael nodded and turned toward the north. The Vault was that way.
"Wait," Silas said. He stopped the zombie. "We do not go to the Vault yet."
Kael stopped and waited for instructions.
"We need supplies," Silas said. He touched his empty pouch. "And information. Victor was not acting alone."
Silas started walking away from the estate. He moved deeper into the Blackwood.
"Where are we going," Silas asked himself. He did not expect an answer.
The System panel flickered again. It was a daily update.
[Daily Intelligence Updated.]
[Current Clues: 3/3.]
[Clue 1: The Guild knows about the Key.]
[Clue 2: Riverford has a buyer.]
[Clue 3: Shadows lie.]
Silas stopped. Riverford was a town on the edge of the Wasted Lands. It was neutral ground.
"The Guild," Silas said. He remembered the mercenaries Victor hired. "They talk."
He started walking toward Riverford. The path was dangerous but it was necessary. He needed to know who funded Victor's betrayal.
Kael followed him and the shadows stretched behind them. They were longer than they should be.
Silas looked back and the shadows snapped back to normal. He frowned but he kept walking.
"Do not trust the shadows," Silas whispered. He remembered the clue. "But I have no one else."
The forest opened up and the road appeared. It was muddy and marked with wagon tracks.
Silas stepped onto the road and pulled his hood up. He looked like a traveler. A poor one.
"Act normal," Silas said to Kael. "Do not look like a zombie."
Kael slouched and covered its face with the hood. It looked like a sick man instead of a corpse.
[Undead Disguise: Active.]
[Effect: -50% Detection Risk.]
Silas smiled faintly. The System was useful. He walked down the road and the sun rose behind him.
He was alive. He was hunted. He was powerful.
It was enough.