Your highness, Gale said, I have returned. Forgive for my failures. He was kneeling on the floor in front of the king who sat on his throne. He wore a white robe and his silver cross necklace was missing.
Rise, Gale, the king said, dont worry about the failure. Im just glad youre unhard.
Gale stood up. Ive made a few important discoveries in the ti of my captivity, Gales said as he pulled out a book from his robes newly sewn on pocket.
He opened the book and cleared his throat. The leader of the new undead kingdom is the corrupted one who guards the fountain of youth. The reasons for founding the kingdom are unknown, but she intends on maintaining a close relationship with the demons. In my ti as a captive, I was forced to teach a human boy manners, Gale said, I suspect shes raising the boy as her child.
Hmm, the king said as he rubbed his chin, was there anything unusual about the boy?
Gale nodded. His eyes were golden and his pupils were slit. He was most likely imprinted by a snake or a lizard. He also regularly ate raw at and he didnt behave like a human child, Gale said, it seed like the corrupted one wanted to establish a relationship between the demon princess and the boy.
Are the reports about the undead true? the king asked, they really dont kill?
From what Ive seen, yes its true. The corrupted one doesnt want to establish hostilities with any of the nations, Gale said, Ive also seen many human and demon villagers migrating to the undead kingdom. The border villages that I passed through are devoid of people and livestock.
The king frowned. That is unacceptable, the king said, simply unacceptable.
Gale lowered his head. Forgive for my impudence, Gale said, but I think a few policies need to be changed in order to keep our people from leaving. The undead are offering food and shelter to the people at the cost of mana. The people no longer need to work for gold or food. A few low ranking adventurers have defected because of this.
The kings eyebrows knit together. Our policy has worked for hundreds of years. Even when the villagers and serfs rose up in rebellion, we were able to continue without changing anything, the king said, well just have to post guards at the borders and prevent the undead from coming in and the people from leaving.
Gale continued to stare at the floor. Tis are changing, your highness, he said, the undead are a new faction that have the power to support a rebellion. Posting guards wont work against an enemy that doesnt need to sleep or eat.
The king glared at Gale. Are you questioning my ability, Gale? he asked.
No, your highness, Gale said, I am only speaking from my experience. Forgive .
The king nodded. Very well. Ill stay my hand, he said, tomorrow, the court will convene and we will discuss the best thod to deal with this.
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We should crush them, your highness, a man said, overwhelm them with military force. He was the leader of the reinforcents that got stripped by the undead army. He sat at a round table with a dozen other n, including the king and Gale. He was bald and had a black goatee. His armor was made of mithril.
I disagree, Gale said, recklessly attacking them wont benefit us in anyway.
What do you know? the man said as he slamd his fist against the table and stood up, youre just a turncoat who lived with those damned skeletons.
Geralt, the king said, calm down.
Geralt glared at Gale and sat back in his chair. A thin man with a white beard and blue wizard robes cleared his throat.
Gales right you know, he said, if we attack the undead, whats stopping the demons from attacking us? Were in the sa situation as before, but this ti the undead and demons are colluding against us.
Oh? Then what do you suggest? Geralt said as he turned to look at the man.
The man smiled. Its simple. We beco allies with the undead also, he said, not only do we remove the threat of invasion, we also benefit from trade. A three way trade can definitely be prosperous for our nation. Think of all the items that we had to send adventures into the wilderness for that we can now obtain through trade. Magical beasts, rare herbs, water from the fountain of youth, maybe even phoenix downs. The mans eyes twinkled. He sighed. Its a sha that the tree of knowledge no longer exists.
But what can we offer them? the king asked, I imagine they dont need any of our resources.
The wizard laughed. Knowledge, he said, everybody loves knowledge.
Geralt snorted. You think they need your stinking knowledge, old man? he said, theyre over hundreds of years old.
The wizards mouth dropped open. Youre right! he said and turned to the king, quickly establish an alliance with them. Think of everything we could learn! Just throw gold and silver at them. Its useless anyway.
If you think its going to be that easy, then go do it yourself, Geralt said, I still say we annihilate every last one of them.
The wizard turned to the king. Can I? he asked.
The kings eyebrows knit together. I an if you think you can-
Thank you, your highness, the wizard said, leave it to ! He stood up and spread his arms open. Wind rushed through the windows and circled around him causing his robes to flutter. A second later, a white light flashed and he disappeared, leaving behind a blue robe.
The remaining n stared at the space he occupied and shook their heads.
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A skeleton stared at the naked man on the floor in front of it. It was patrolling the fields outside of the undead kingdom when a naked man fell out of the sky and landed in front of it. It took a few steps forward and prodded him with its axe handle. There was no response. It shrugged and stepped around the body.
Wait! the wizard said as he crawled onto his knees, take to your leader!
The skeleton paused and looked at the man. You are seeking the aning of life? the skeleton asked, co with . Ill enlighten you.
The wizard stared at the skeleton and jumped to his feet while grabbing the skeletons skull. You can really speak?! Just what level of necromancy has your master achieved? Whats one plus one? he asked as he peered at its throat and body.
The skeleton coughed. Its rude to grab my head, you know? it said, and one plus one is two. Hey! What are you doing?
The wizard poke his fingers through the skeletons eye sockets and pulled out a piece of paper. Whats this? Is this the source? he asked as he opened it.
No, thats-
Five ways to achieve immortality through daily prayers? the wizard asked as he mumbled to himself, Ive never heard of these thods before. Coming here was definitely the right choice. He nodded and looked at the skeleton.
Tell your master that the human kingdom sent an envoy to discuss our future alliance, he said.
Oh? Will the envoy be arriving soon? the skeleton asked.
Im the envoy. ! the wizard said and stuck his chest out.
Okay, Ill let her know, the skeleton said and nodded, definitely. How about you co with for a walk first as I tell you about our lord?
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Lindyss looked out her window, looking for any signs of Tafels arrival.
Rest assured, the undead leader said, that was one of our best n sent to retrieve Tafel. He wouldnt fail.
Lindyss sighed and nodded. Alright, let know when she arrives. Ill accompany Vur until then, she said as her eyes passed over the wizard and skeleton in the distance, and stop stripping people naked. Youll scare away potential inhabitants.
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