"It's been a while since I last saw a human, maybe a thousand years ago? Forgive me, my memory's a bit hazy," the lich said, tilting its head as if contemplating its ancient past. "Please, put down your killing intent. I don't wish to fight someone as blessed as you. Honestly, I'd get blown to pieces before I even tried!"
The lich had a surprising amount of self-awareness for a creature so sinister-looking. Its skeletal face twisted into what could only be described as an apologetic smile — or at least, an attempt at one. The miasma around the area seemed to settle down, if only for a moment, as the lich faced the grand, ominous castle behind it.
"You can relax now," the lich continued. "This is the part of the palace where the miasma doesn't spread, as it's focused at its source deeper inside. And besides, fighting would be pointless."
Josephine cautiously lowered her glowing hand but kept her stance ready. Her eyes remained locked on the lich, who, in an odd twist, appeared more conversational than hostile.
"O Blessed One," the lich began in a low, raspy voice, "would you care to hear the story of this forsaken land?"
The lich paused as though it expected her to say no. When she remained silent, the lich took that as permission and launched into a tale.
"This place was once part of the great Byzan Empire, home to the legendary Four Sages. Among them was Sage Almodey, a mage of great renown. Together with his fellow sages, they ushered in an age of unprecedented prosperity. Their wisdom revolutionized everything—health, wealth, even entertainment. The Empire was a beacon of progress."
The lich sighed dramatically, his bony fingers waving through the air as though he were narrating an epic. Josephine couldn't help but feel like she was listening to a long-winded history teacher.
"But you see," the lich continued, "these sages cared too much for humanity. They wanted to end all suffering and bring about a perfect utopia. To do this, they devised a plan—one that involved opening a portal to another realm, a place where unimaginable power resided. Almodey believed if humanity could harness this power and overcome the mental manifestations of their own suffering, they would transcend their limitations."
Josephine raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like the kind of plan that goes horribly wrong."
"And oh, it did!" The lich chuckled darkly. "When the other sages realized that this portal connected to a realm where humanity had already gone insane from the power, they tried to stop Almodey. But it was too late—the portal opened, and with it, a tear in our world."
The lich's voice grew more somber. "Out of that tear came dark creatures and miasma, and anyone who came into contact with it… well, they went mad, too. The Empire fell in mere hours. The miasma spread, bringing ruin to all. The remaining sages, realizing the magnitude of their mistake, tried to seal the tear. They used their combined might, along with the help of the gods, to lock it within the palace. One of the Four, a hero named Arkant, sacrificed his life to seal it completely."
The lich paused, its hollow eye sockets staring off into the distance, lost in its memories.
"But the miasma still leaks out, and the Empire… the Empire was no more. Almodey… Almodey was driven mad by guilt. He stayed behind to guard the seal. In time, he became what you see before you—me, the No Life King, doomed to protect this cursed place for eternity."
Josephine, who had been surprisingly engrossed in the story, crossed her arms and huffed. "So, what do you want from me? You're not asking me to clean up this mess, are you?"
"No!" the lich exclaimed, shaking its bony head so fast that his helmet rattled.
"Then what do you want?" Josephine snapped.
The lich turned to face her, tears of blood streaming down his skeletal face. "My comrades… they didn't deserve this fate. Even now, their souls are bound to this place, unable to rest. I only wanted to end human suffering… is that too much to ask?"
Josephine rubbed her temples in frustration. "Like hell I'd know!"
The lich clasped his bony hands together. "I'll give you everything I have—anything! At first, I thought I'd test your strength to see if you were worthy, but… you're clearly more than I bargained for."
Josephine snorted at the lich's sudden humility. "Yeah, no thanks. I'm not here to collect some ancient relic. I've got bigger things to deal with."
The lich flinched at the word "relic." His bony fingers twitched nervously. "Relic? You're… already aware?"
Josephine eyed him suspiciously. "What do you mean?"
"Ah, I see… the Seal… you're after it, aren't you?" The lich fumbled with his words, clearly in a panic.
Josephine, who had no idea what the lich was talking about, sighed and placed a hand on her hip. "Listen, I'm not interested in whatever ancient cursed object you've got hidden in here. I just need to get through."
The lich looked relieved, if a skeleton could look relieved. "Ah, well, that's fine, then. The armory where the seal is stored is locked anyway."
She blinked. "Wait, what seal? And how do I get in there?"
The lich's skull seemed to tremble in fear as he pointed toward the main hall. "It's in the armory, but you'll need the mark to enter. Without it, well… you'll probably burn to a crisp. Oh, and… be careful of the miasma in there."
Josephine's eyes gleamed with resolve. "I'll take my chances."
Josephine went past behind the lich.
"You probably came here for a relic stored in there. And besides, this palace won't open until you unseal the lock placed on it."