Chapter 23 New Opportunities
Elias felt the cold grip of night settle around him as he surveyed the battlefield. The remnants of the magical wolf beast lay sprawled across the forest floor, its once-mighty form now a trophy of his hard-fought battle. Half of his small group of undead lay scattered among the trees, their bodies twisted and broken, victims of the fierce skirmish. Yet, despite the losses, he felt a thrill of victory coursing through him.
He had defeated not only the wolf beast but also a rival mage, claiming their corpses as potential new minions. The prospect of reanimating both bodies stirred a sense of excitement within him. He could turn the wolf into a powerful guardian and use the mage's knowledge—albeit diminished—to strengthen his growing army of the undead.
Elias ordered his remaining undead to gather the corpses. With their minds hollowed by death, they moved with a purpose, albeit a soulless one. The wolf's massive body was heavy, but Elias's ambition outweighed the burden.
Claiming the Corpses
As they worked, Elias took a moment to gather his thoughts. The wolf beast had exhibited formidable strength and speed during the fight. It would surely make a powerful addition to his ranks, while the mage—despite being rendered unintelligent—could serve as a source of raw power.
Once the last of his undead was assembled, Elias turned his attention to the Ember, the artifact he had claimed from the ruins. He could feel its latent power pulsing beneath the surface, waiting to be harnessed. But as he reached for it, he felt a flicker of something else—a warmth, a hint of life.
"Stay close to me," he whispered, looking down at the artifact, as if it could hear him. He felt a surge of energy flowing from Ember into him, enhancing his own magic. The prospect of wielding this power filled him with determination.
Testing Ember's Power
As he marched onward, he couldn't resist the urge to test Ember's capabilities. He focused on the fire magic within him, channeling it through the artifact. A fireball ignited in his palm, shimmering with a newfound intensity. "I have to be careful with this," he thought, feeling the heat radiating off the flame.
It was powerful but consuming. He noticed that this fireball felt heavier than before, as if Ember was drawing on his mana at an alarming rate. Elias decided he would have to be judicious in how he used this newfound power, reserving it for when he truly needed it.
Naming the Artifact
As Elias pondered the intricacies of Ember, he felt a shift in the air. "You have a strong aura," came a small voice from within the artifact, startling him. "Who are you?"
Elias halted, looking down at Ember. "What was that?" he muttered, half-convinced he was imagining things.
"I'm Cinder," the voice replied, brimming with childlike curiosity. "What do you want from me?"
Taken aback by the sudden consciousness emerging from Ember, Elias realized he had unknowingly awakened something sentient. "Cinder… I like that name," he said thoughtfully. "But what are you?"
"I'm part of the artifact! I can help you!" Cinder chimed, its enthusiasm infectious yet naïve. "I want to learn about the world, and you can teach me."
Elias hesitated. This development could be beneficial, but he needed to proceed cautiously. "What do you know?" he asked, testing the limits of Cinder's knowledge.
"Not much! Just… fire!" Cinder replied, almost bouncing in excitement. The voice lacked any real experience of the world, embodying a sense of wonder that was both endearing and potentially troublesome.
A Surprising Revelation
Elias resumed his trek back to camp, carrying the wolf's hefty corpse across his back. As he walked, he focused on the bond forming between him and Cinder. Suddenly, the little voice piped up again, "I can carry that for you if you want!"
He paused, glancing around. "You can carry things?"
"Yeah! I have a storage area in my magical core! I can help!"
Curiosity piqued, Elias decided to test this claim. "Okay, show me." He carefully placed the wolf's corpse in Cinder's storage, and to his astonishment, the massive body vanished with a faint shimmer.
"That was… incredible!" he exclaimed, a grin creeping onto his face. This ability could save him considerable effort in the future.
Elias then looked at the body of the rival mage sprawled on the ground, his mind racing with the possibilities. "What about this one?" he asked, gesturing toward the mage.
"I can store that too!" Cinder responded eagerly. Elias nodded and watched as Cinder absorbed the mage's corpse into its storage, the body disappearing as if it had never existed.
A Mental Connection
As they walked, Elias felt a warm presence in his mind—a gentle nudging of thoughts and feelings that flowed between him and Cinder. It was as if they were linked by an invisible thread, allowing them to share thoughts seamlessly.
"I can feel your power," Cinder said, almost in awe. "What's that?"
Elias hesitated, considering how much to share. "That's magic. It's what I use to control the undead," he explained, carefully omitting the darker aspects of his craft.
"Can I learn magic?" Cinder asked, full of hope.
"Maybe, but you need to be careful. Magic is powerful, and it can be dangerous," Elias cautioned. He was unsure how much power Cinder would be able to handle, especially if it lacked the maturity to understand the consequences.
The Journey Back
With Cinder's assistance lightening the load, Elias soon arrived at camp. The flickering flames of the fire illuminated the area, casting shadows that danced along the trees. His remaining undead stood silently, waiting for his next command.
Elias took a moment to gather himself before addressing his undead minions. "You've done well today. We lost some of our own, but we will grow stronger together." The undead showed no reaction, but Elias could feel the weight of his words hanging in the air.
He turned to Cinder, who was observing the surroundings with wide, curious eyes. "Stay close, Cinder. We have a lot to discuss."
Keeping the Ruin a Secret
Once settled, Elias began contemplating how to handle the information regarding the ruins. He had discovered something extraordinary, but revealing it could invite danger from rival mages and necromancers looking to exploit its secrets.
He made a silent vow to keep the ruins and Ember's true potential hidden, at least until he could fully harness its power. For now, he would focus on his goals, utilizing what he had acquired to strengthen himself and his undead.
Turning in the Bandit Ears
The next morning, Elias ventured to the guild, clutching a pouch filled with the 38 bandit ears he had collected from his previous quests. As he approached the receptionist, he felt a mix of excitement and anxiety.
"I'd like to turn these in for a reward," he stated confidently, placing the pouch on the desk.
The receptionist's eyes widened as she counted the ears. "You've been busy! That's quite an impressive haul," she said, impressed. "You'll receive 114 silver coins for these."
As she counted, Elias felt a surge of satisfaction. The money would be a valuable resource for future endeavors.
"Also, I have a quest for you," she said, handing him a promotion exam sheet. "Completing this will earn you a chance for a higher rank in the guild. It involves retrieving a lost artifact from a nearby forest. Are you interested?"
Elias took a deep breath, considering the opportunity. A higher rank would grant him access to stronger spells and better resources. "Yes, I want to take the exam," he replied, determination hardening his resolve.
Cinder's Transformation
As Elias left the guild, his pouch heavy with silver coins and thoughts racing through his mind, he felt a sense of purpose wash over him. This quest could change everything.
Beside him, Cinder floated, its form shimmering with excitement. "What are we going to do next?"
"Before we move on, I think it's time to make you more… useful," Elias said, pondering the best way to solidify their bond.
"What do you mean?" Cinder asked, genuinely curious.
Elias closed his eyes, focusing on the connection they shared. "You're not just a voice in a gem. You can be more. How about we make you into something that will allow us to work together more closely?"
"I want to help!" Cinder exclaimed.
With a flick of his wrist, Elias directed his magic toward Cinder, channeling his thoughts and intentions into the transformation. The energy swirled around the artifact, enveloping it in a warm light. As the light faded, the form of Cinder shifted, condensing into a ring adorned with intricate flame-like designs.
"Now you're a ring!" Elias declared, admiring the new form.
Cinder's voice echoed in his mind, filled with delight. "I love it! This way, I can stay close to you!"
Elias slipped the ring onto his finger, feeling a surge of warmth and connection. This bond would allow him to access Cinder's power more easily, and he could feel the potential for growth within it