Riot walked on the ruins of what was once a lively and bustling street. Charred bones and ash where everywhere.
Picking up some ashes on the ground, he let them sip through his fingers. He guessed the place must have been packed full with people seeking protection, but where all killed when the dragon arrived.
He wasn't unfamiliar to such a scene though. Galactic warfare allowed him to see scenes like this a lot, as a single shot from the main cannon of a Void battleship could cause such damage.
He himself had caused even more destruction and death than this. Even though he could argue that he was just following orders, the fact still remained.
Normally, he wouldn't bat an eye at such a scene, but for some reason he felt a strong sense of grief. His eyes even became watery.
He felt strange.
Could it be because of the memories of this place and it's people? Memories of the happy smiles of children as they ran across what were once streets?
In the distance he could see the castle. Half of it had crumbled. The parts that remained standing had a large gash on the side, it looked like it was grazed by a huge tail.
He soon found a large foot print he could only assume belonged to the dragon. Standing within he tried to estimate the size of the creature through it's print.
The sight made him chuckle a bit. "I'd probably be an ant compared to the behemoth."
He then noticed that Nemesis was awfully quiet. Nemesis wasn't with him so he tried to locate him through the psychic connection they had. Riot sensed his general direction and went towards him.
Standing above a collapsed house he saw Nemesis looking at a highly burnt patch of land. Even the rubble had melted to the point it looked like harden wax. Nemesis stared silently at a partly burnt piece of cloth on the ground, the embroidery on it looked like a golden tree with intricate wordings below.
[Wasn't this where the church was located? For it to be so damaged. It seems like the high priest annoyed the dragon quite a bit.] Nemesis smirked.
'I'm more surprised that there's a piece of clothing still left lying around. I probably underestimated how much the church valued a high priest. For even their garment to be made of such high quality material.' Riot walked forward and picked the cloth up, rubbing it between his fingers.
[It must have had an expensive enchantment on it also.] Nemesis mused.
'Well, it's ruined now.' He said as he turned around. 'Let"s go.'
Riot arrived at the castle and the place was an absolute mess.
He first decided to climb the part of the castle still standing. He walked through halls, jumped over broken holes on the floors, many parts of the castle even had new 'windows'.
The wind was so strong Riot had to be careful. At this point he wished he could float around like Nemesis.
He planned to head to the king's chamber to try his luck at finding the King's seal and also his spatial ring. The previous 'Riot' left his precious ring with his father as a promise that he would come back to get it.
He needed that spatial ring if he didn't want to look like santa while carrying the treasure he might find.
When he got to the King's chamber, he walked over one of the large door that had fallen as his gaze swept throughout the room. The roof was gone. A large part of it had fallen on the meeting table tearing it to splinters. He could see some dried blood and organs on the floor and walls. He believed what happened here must have been gruesome.
The throne was empty and the gory scene around it gave off a feeling of futility.
He walked over wreckage trying to find the ring. Suddenly a white glow flew out from his chest and landed next to the throne. It then transformed into a humanoid semi-transparent ghost.
Riot was shocked. He touched his chest in fright and looked at Nemesis beside him.
Nemesis had a strange expression. [I noticed the white glow within you, but i didn't know what it was, so i ignored it, thinking it was normal.]
Riot wanted to say something but saw the ghost move, so he turned his attention back. The ghost knelt in front of the blood stained throne. A deeply sad ethereal voice echoed out. "Father... I'm back."
They waited a little, but there was no reply.
The ghost signed and slowly stood up. It then turned around looking curiously at Riot.
"I don't know what you are or how you can use my body after my death... But i must thank you for helping me, though unintentionally. I still have to say it." He gave a noble bow. "Thank you."
Riot felt a little sorry for it. But his face revealed nothing.
He then erected himself and said."If things were different, i would have rested in peace. But as things currently are..." He glanced around and signed. "I have a request."
"No." Riot refused. Nemesis nodded in approval.
"I wou—what?." The ghost was at a loss.
I haven't even said my request yet, and i've already been refused?!
Just because he felt sorry didn't mean he was going to do the impossible. At least he was still rational enough to know what he could and could not do.
Riot blandly said. "Look, i know how this goes, a young adventurer finds a ruined castle and encounters a ghost, who then makes a request that would ends up with the adventurer getting either maimed or dead and joining ghostville."
"But–" The ghost looked flustered.
"You want me to avenge your people by hunting the dragon, right?" He asked with a deadpan expression.
"...Well, yes." It looked awkward.
"I refuse, bye!" Riot turned around and began leaving. Maybe he could find a spatial ring amongst the treasure.
"Wait! Wouldn't you listen to what i have to offer." The ghost hurriedly said.
Riot stopped and turned slightly with an interested expression. "And what could you possibly give me that is worth hunting such a creature?"
He wasn't really planning to hunt the dragon, he was just interested in what the ghost was going to say.
"I will give you my soul dust. That's all... I can give anyway."
"Soul dust!? Isn't that only valuable to necromancers?" Riot was puzzled, even a lich wouldn't hunt a dragon for soul dust!
Soul dust was an important material necromancers used to nourish their spectres, turning them into high level evil spirits for their bidding. He didn't know much of the details as all he knew came from story books.
"When i was in my... Well, your body. I felt a force trying to consume me like it had a need for my soul dust in particular. I don't really understand it, but i believe it would be valuable to you."
Tilting his head doubtfully. "Besides how can you feel or give away soul dust anyway?"
Wandering ghosts were always dumb. Occasionally whispering some gibberish about some misfortune in their lives. They could never hold a conversation, yet, here was one floating before him. Requesting he became a snack to the dragon. Though, it wasn't explicitly what he said, it didn't make much of a difference.
It smiled helplessly. "I can just feel it. It's seems to be a ghost thing. I also feel my consciousness becoming more and more faint the longer i converse with you. I don't think i have much time left before i begin losing my rationality." He couldn't hide the worry in his tone.
Glancing at him he nodded. Normally necromancers had to destroy a wandering ghost using a special method in order to obtain soul dust. Usually they could destroy up to twenty wandering ghost to raise a normal spectre to an evil spirit which were strong enough to take on a grade D- combatant.
Wandering ghosts formed randomly after death, usually at places they had deep emotional ties to. Still they couldn't easily be predicted if they would form at all, hence finding them wasn't easy.. That was why meeting a ghost that still had it's rationality was rare.
Riot considered the ghost's situation. He believed it just wanted to rest in peace now after experiencing such a sad event. Furthermore, if it hadn't charged foolishly into the arms of monsters Zain might not have been reincarnated into such a fine body. So he had to thank him for his 'bravery'.
After some consideration he finally said. "I can't make any promises though. But if i become strong enough i might try. Even if all i could do was harass it a little. It's better than nothing, right?"
The ghost looked relieved."It's fine, just knowing that my will might be carried out is enough. I can somewhat rest in peace now instead of wandering."
It then smiled as numerous particles of tiny blue light, dazzling like tiny stars flew out of it towards Riot. As more went out of him he grew more transparent. Riot could see his pained but grateful expression as he disappeared.
"Thank you." These were it's last words that echoed out.
The particles floated around Riot. Although it felt new and magical he was really wierded out right now.
According to what he knew, soul dust didn't act this way, instead as soon as the dust was extracted from the wandering ghost it would pile up on the floor looking grey and lifeless. It also needed to be extracted into a unique container. If not they'd disappeared in minutes. Getting soul dust through other means and being able to control them this way was unheard of.
So from the start he wasn't even planning to get anything as he really didn't see a need for it. After all, he wasn't a necromancer.
But these danced around him willing. He could even feel their happiness and subservient attitude towards him.
Nemesis just watched by the side his face was expressionless.
Riot felt like the particles were under his control, like they had willingly submitted to him. With a thought the particles stopped moving, the view looked like a movie scene that was suddenly paused.
He suddenly felt their desire to come closer to him.
Riot grew cautious. He looked at Nemesis whom nodded in approval.
Riot didn't sense any threat, and Nemesis was some kind of ghost himself, so he let them in. Bracing himself, he released the control he had on them and they flew hurriedly into his chest.
"Hihi!"
A sound escaped Riot's mouth.
Nemesis was startled and grew close abruptly, preparing to push out the particles.
"Pff! Haha! That tickles."
[??! What going on?] Nemesis could only see the particles hanging around Riot's soul flame like moths, he didn't notice any harm being done.
'It's fine Nemesis.' Riot calmed down.
He felt refreshed like a part of him which wasn't there finally returned. He breathed in and even the air felt better. He was in a good mood.
'It seems like i made the right choice, and i don't necessarily have to hunt the dragon, i made a profit. Haha!' Riot stopped.
But this can't be all, right?
He felt like he could control the particles, he made one come out and it hovered above his finger. Apart from bringing a bit of light and making his mood better it did nothing else.
He tilted his head. 'Maybe it had other functions i haven't discovered yet?'
[I found something.] Nemesis said as he pointed at a ring on the floor.
Riot looked over. "Hm? The royal seal?" He picked it and examined it.
It was a silver looking ring with intricate patterns on it. He was told that it was given by the imperial counsel in the presence of the Pope of the church of lumen as a confirmation of them being a pure royal family and a sign of approval by them, that the silver family could form their kingdom in the northern lands.
It was a ring enchanted so that only the king could activate, only if the king was dead or retired could the next heir to the throne use it. If you weren't the king or next heir of Somer it would be no different from an ordinary ring in your hand.
It is used as a key to the kingdom's treasury, as it was nigh impossible to copy for they were made by the best enchanters and alchemists the imperial counsel had to offer.
Although, it was made from a rare metal found in a tier 5 dungeon, it didn't have much value as it was loaded with anti-forgery enchantments which had taken the space for other more useful enchantment types. Furthermore, the kingdom was gone and the treasury was likely opened. Other than to serve as proof of being part of the silver royal family it had no other value.
He shelved his thoughts and wore the ring before making way towards the treasury. He had searched the chamber but couldn't find the spatial ring, so he decided to improvise when he got there. He didn't think he should spend more time in this place, he was already getting a bad feeling.
He struggled getting down for a while. Getting to a hall at the side of the castle, he looked down as small rocks fell..'
As his gaze wondered he looked at the side, diagonally below and saw pieces of gold and other valuables glittering objects on the ground. Like a robot his eyes zoomed and scanned the place.
Ting! The sound of a coin falling from the side of the castle into the pile rang out. "Confirmed. Target spotted!" You could see gold coins in his eyes.
'Hm?' He suddenly saw two people coming from a distance below.
Survivors? No. It can't be, right?
High level dragons were very sensitive to life force. So if it was the legendary evil black dragon who attacked this place, then it would surely leave nothing alive.
'Outsiders then?' Riot mused seeing that they looked clean without any signs of exhaustion.
He rubbed his chin. 'What to do? What to do?'
[Do you even have to think about it, just kill them.] Nemesis didn't seem to like people very much.
'Come on, they're humans not mindless beasts! We could always talk things out. They might even have kids and who knows if I could take them on.' Riot said as he search for a way towards the treasure room.
Nemesis could only sign in resignation.
After some effort Riot arrived before the treasure room.
The magical runes on the walls and doors that always glowed menacingly currently weren't showing any glimpse of light.
From the right side the walls were cracked open and the metal doors standing there seemed useless. Riot could see the piles of valuables scattered around through the gaping wall. The wind blowing around expensive magic scroll making papers.
Riot smiled. "Luxury here I come."
Suddenly he felt something that made his smile stiffen.