### What Are Laws?
Ander was rarely this deep in thought.
Based on his understanding and the vague descriptions in the *Kasnikov Notes*, Ander had begun to grasp a few things. If, in his original world, 1+1=2 was an unshakable law, then in this world of the undead, it was entirely possible that 1+1=3—or, even better, that Ander himself could establish his own rules!
Moreover, the *Kasnikov Notes* indicated that before becoming a King, the great King Kasnikov had responded to the summons of necromancers from the Prime Material Plane many times, embarking on hundreds or even thousands of journeys to that world. Clearly, the laws of the Prime Material Plane painted a wildly different picture—a fantastical world filled with countless nations, thriving magic, and grand magisters capable of reshaping landscapes or obliterating everything within miles. Such power could never be explained by the physical laws of Earth.
Ander's attention wasn't on the grandiosity of it all; rather, he was contemplating how to exploit the discrepancies between the laws of different planes to his own advantage.
The undead realm lacked metals, but the Prime Plane was rich in resources.
The undead realm teemed with endless undead, while necromancers in the Prime Plane desperately summoned them.
Learning new knowledge in the undead world required a pilgrimage to distant temples, while in the Prime Plane, necromancers could freely study necromantic magic.
The more he thought about it, the more excited Ander became. He made up his mind: he had to visit the Prime Material Plane.
---
According to the *Kasnikov Notes*, necromancers from the Prime Plane were constantly sending out requests to summon undead for their tasks or battles. These requests echoed in the dark, cloudy skies of the undead realm, waiting for a response.
However, after half a day of searching, Ander was disappointed.
Necromancers these days—what garbage they were! All they used were those blasted "Forced Summoning Spells." Couldn't they just use a *Dark Pact* like civilized people?
Frustrated, Ander withdrew his projected consciousness and fumed. There was no way he would accept being forcefully summoned just to become expendable cannon fodder, discarded without a second thought.
All Ander wanted was a friendly *Dark Pact*—a mutually beneficial deal that would let him gather resources and learn some life-saving skills. His demands were modest!
"People these days! No loyalty!" Ander bemoaned. Necromancers of Kasnikov's era mostly used *Dark Pacts*, with only fringe practitioners resorting to forced summoning spells. But now, in just two or three thousand years, the fringe had become the mainstream!
Grumbling, Ander reluctantly extended his consciousness again, scanning the skies. There *had* to be at least one reasonable necromancer left!
---
After hours of fruitless searching through countless signals, Ander was about to give up when a faint voice caught his attention.
"Honored spirits of the Undead Realm, is there anyone willing to answer my call? I am Christina Veci, and I seek aid."
It was the voice of a young girl, using—gasp—a *Dark Pact*!
Ander was moved to tears—well, as much as a skeleton mage could cry. His luck—no, his *bone* luck—was impeccable!
He hastily responded to the call. Moments later, a Contract Wraith appeared to mediate their agreement.
But then, Ander froze.
A **Soulbound Pact**?!
**What the hell?!**
As the terms sank in, Ander's flame of consciousness erupted in fury. A Soulbound Pact meant that he and Christina would share the same fate—if one of them perished, so would the other. For a mage like Ander, who had started to embrace his undead eternity, this was a bitter pill to swallow. If this foolish girl died, he would lose his theoretically limitless lifespan!
Raging internally, Ander was still drawn into a shimmering portal etched with skeletal patterns. His first journey to the Prime Material Plane had begun.
---
Ander found himself enveloped in white light. When it faded, he was in a cramped stone room.
The room contained a simple bed, a worn wooden chair, and a small table with a clay jug and a plate holding a piece of black bread. The table faced a narrow window, through which Ander glimpsed a vibrant world outside: a flowering tree, a sparrow grooming itself, and a black cat yawning lazily beneath the tree.
Green trees. Yellow soil.
Ander was stunned. He had never expected to see such colors again.
---
"Um… Excuse me, Mr. Skeleton Mage… Are you the one who answered my summons?"
A timid girl's voice broke Ander's trance as he stared greedily at the world outside the window.