10 Years ago...
Yowan sometimes peeks at classes from middle-class kids and he tries to learn math and a bit of writing. For someone who has never education, he was the only one in his group that can count to ten.
However, one day. He tried to know more about counting and took another peek but this time, the teacher was story-telling about the "Reign of Chaos" — an era that happened 200-100 years ago.
It was when a monster called the Dyth the "King of the Diseased", who was said to be the originator of diseases and sickness. He was a monster that rose underground and created beings called the "undead"
The Undead are the creatures that were once dead and were given a second time to fight for Dyth.
This caused all of the tribes to go an all-out war: The Humans, Orcs, Elves, Dwarves, Spirits, and others.
Not only was their target the Undead but also each other. They seemed money and territory and so they waged war upon themselves. This was the start of the "Reign of Chaos" — only one is safe when they are dead.
After the destruction of the undead, no one has ever reported having killed the King of Disease, yet the tribe called out to each other in the agreement of the war's end — That was a hundred years ago.
Although even now, there is still conflict between tribes. Like the rivalry of the Human and Orc — but there are also those who have agreed to coexist like the Elves and the Spirits.
Yowan entered the entrance as it leads him to a tunnel of withered and cracked stones, primitively lit by torches that instantly lit up the moment Yowan opened the boulder.
[Come and heed me, human.]
Yowan eyes turned serious as he can hear the voice getting closer and closer.
It finally took him to a huge room, with a red but ripped carpet that led straight to a throne made of what looks like gold. There sits a corpse that wore a brown robe, peacefully sitting with no flesh to be intact — more like a skeleton.
"Is it the one that called me?"
[Correct!]
Yowan panicked as he turned a fighting stance. He grabbed his waist to remember that he no longer has his sword. He looked back at the skeleton to see something in it.
The two holes in the skull, where the eyes are placed, appeared a glowed freezing blue dot. It looked like eyes as it moved towards Yowan.
Of course, Yowan was in full alert. He does not know what may happen to him and he may have healed Yowan so he could be eaten or something. Nothing beats clean meat to eat.
[Don't be wary, human.]
The voice became clearer. A deep voice of a man, to be exact.
The skull turned towards him as the whole body started shaking. The legs moved as its upper body followed and soon was his head. Not taking a minute, the boy stood still.
[Human, dost thy want strength?]
Yowan was still wary and he was ready to attack at any moment. Yet, what the skeleton said filled him with curiosity. He thought that if he is powerful, he could serve the kingdom with a higher position, thus living comfortably.
"Why should I trust you, Corpse?"
[I know thou have been attacked by thy Orcs. Does it not anger thou?]
"..."
[I will give you thy power, but in exchange, you will heed my requests.]
"And what if I don't?"
[Then tho will be unable to save George and soldiers. I will give you thy strength to do exactly that! I will give you thy power worthy for Yushrald!]
Yowan was doubting the skeleton's request. He is wary about his conditions and the request he needed to obey no matter what. Yet. He wants to kill those Orcs for his friend and kingdom.
"What request do I need to obey so I can have that so-called "powers" of yours?"
The skeleton moved but he didn't walk. He was floating as if he has was friends with the winds that can carry his body.
Yowan was more than ready to attack. He was still doubting the corpse's words.
[This one is simple]
"Waah!"
The skeleton instantly appeared in front of Yowan, causing him to be frightened and backed down a distance.
[My first request will be thy destruction of the Orcish Settlement]
"Huh?"
[I want thou to massacre those filthy swines.]
Yowan was surprised by the request the skeleton wants to be completed. It was exactly the thing Yowan wants to do but he was still powerless in front of a single orc. Just like last time. Their nails are enough to split a man in half.
"I can't even kill one, do you expect me to massacre them alone?!"
[Ah yes. As long as you vow to be my child and messenger, I will give you these powers]
The skeleton answered back as his left hand made a simple wave upwards as something from the ground moved. Even though it was a ground made of stone, they started to crack as hands of skeletons burst from within the stone floor.
Skeletons climbed from below the ground as their bead-sized eyes glowed blue. A total of six of them, five holding a sword and shield and one holding a bow with a quiver on its back.
"Isn't that... undead?"
[Yes, I will give you thy ability to raise thy dead but in return, thou must vow loyalty upon me!]
"Hell no!"
Yowan straightly refused, with anger filling his body. He tried to fight back as he turned back into a fighting position.
"You are evil incarnate! I will not pledge my loyalty to a devil!"
The skeleton that summoned the others just stood as his hand pointed towards him.
[Then it is either thou freeze in the barren wasteland or pledging yourself to me, having power in return.]
"I will die with the side of humanity on my side, I will not side with you!"