Thorin groaned as he got up. He had a pounding headache. It felt as if someone had smashed his brains with a mallet. As Thorin tried to stand up, a wave of dizziness had struck him. If not for the tree behind him lending support, he would have fallen flat on his face. It took a while for his dizziness to set, only then was he able to take a look at his surroundings.

He was in a small cluster of trees, next to an expansive field. The trees looked old, almost to the point of ancient. Some of them were withered, others looked like they were about to die.

He stood there leaning against the tree and tried to remember how he got here.

He stumbled falling back to the ground. Attempting to remember caused the pain in his head to flare to the point where he started to see dark spots on his vision.

Thorin closed his eyes and waited for the pain to pass. When it finally did he managed to stand up with the help of the old tree. He stopped a moment to stabilize himself, and left the grove.

[Welcome to Grundar] said a voice as soon as he left the grove.

For some reason this voice sounded very familiar, something about it made him on edge. When Thorin tried to recognise it the pain started to spike again. He instantly stopped, not wanting to collapse again.

“What do you want” grumbled Thorin

[Restoring mind]

As the voice said this, the pain Thorin felt in his head was gone. It had dissipated like the summer's heat with the coming of winter.

[inserting basic knowledge]

His relief only lasted a second before the pain came back. It was different this time. He felt knowledge, a language and survival lessons all got shoved into his mind.

[To open up your status window, just say or think status]

[Due to your circumstances you have been given the materials you need to survive into your dimensional space.]

[Thank you for your patience and have a good life]

“Wait, who am I, what happened to me?” Thorin asked. He now knew his name was Thorin Black and had some knowledge about the surrounding area, but he still felt like things were missing.

There was no response just the sound of small birds, and the wind.

“God damn it, what do I do now?” Thorin shouted, desperate for some sort of guidance. He stood there for sometime, hoping for the voice to come back, but never did.

‘Maybe there is a clue in my status screen’ Thorin thought.

“Status”

Name: Thorin Black Health 100/100 Class: Necromancer Mana 1140/1140 Lv.1 Stats Strength: 8 Vitality: 10 Endurance: 7 Intelligence: 14 Willpower: 25 Dexterity: 8 Stamina: 11 Agility: 9 Luck: 12 Talents Affinity with Death Dimensional Storage Head Start Magic Reserves Strong soul Skills Summon Familiar

'What do these stats mean?' Thorin asked.

[Strenght is the amount of force you can physcialy exert]

[Vitaltiy is the speed in which you heal and the amount of HP or health points you have]

[Endurance is the toughness of your body]

[Intelligence is the amount of mana you have and how powerful your mana based abitlities will be]

[Willpower is the amount of focus and control you have]

[Dexterity is the percision of your movement and the conrtol you have over your body]

[Stamina is the amount of work you can do before resting]

[Agility is the max speed you are capable of moving and your reflexes]

[Luck is the amount of good favor the Universe has for you]

After reading everything over twice Thorin willed the screen away.

‘So I'm some sort of evil necromancer then. At least I my talents fit well for a magic class, I should be somewhat strong too if i ever get any training or skills.’

‘Speaking of skills I can summon a familiar.’

As soon as he activated the skill he started making hand signs and a strange language rolled off his tongue. It felt natural like he had done this hundreds of times before.

This continued for about a minute before the space in front of him opened up and a small creature flew out.

“Hi my name is Claire. What is yours? I am a wood sprite, we can use life and plant magic really well. I hope we can be friends. What’s your class?” She said rapidly, not leaving any time for Thorin to respond.

Thorin could feel his headache getting noticeably worse and cringed at her high pitched voice.Instead of trying to talk with the bothersome sprite he began to read the blue screen that popped up. While he was doing this the sprite continued to drone on.

You have successfully summoned a wood sprite.

Accept this summon as your fammilar?

Eventually Claire notices Thorin's lack of attention.“Why aren’t you talking to me! My mother told me not listening to others while they’re speaking is rude. You sir are a rude person.”

‘This screen is saying I’d have to spend my entire life with this sprite. I don't think I could last another hour before trying to kill it.’ He thought as he selected no.

Just like that the sprite was gone again, off to wherever she came from.

‘Alright let's try this one more time’ Thorin thought hoping to get a better summon.

After finishing the incantation for the spell another rip in space appeared.

This time a red creature came out of the portal instead. It looked like a small, skinny, child with wings. Instead of hair it had horns, which looked quite sharp.

As soon as it saw Thorin the creature hostily glared at him and sat down.

“What are you?” Thorin asked

The creature just sat and continued to try and kill Thorin with his glare.

‘At least it's better than the annoying sprite that didn’t shut up.’ Thought while he started to look over the new blue screen.

You have successfully summoned an Imp.

Accept this summon as your fammilar?

“Oh you're just an Imp” said after reading the blue screen.

After hearing this casual remark the Imp’s eyes turned red and it stood up angrily.

“Yes and if you think for one second that I’ll follow you as a pitiful excuse for a master you are wrong. At the first chance I get I’ll kill you.”

‘God another annoying one’ Thorin thought as he selected no again.

“I am a proud imp that refuses to serve someone so weak, I bet that you-

Before the Imp could finish his insult he was teleported back.

‘Gesh what is up with all of these summons. I hope the next one is reasonable, I don't have enough mana to do this a fourth time if this one is bad also.’ He realised while rubbing his temples.

Once again, Thorin started up the skill this time praying to the gods he got a good summon.

Just like the last two times a hole in space appeared, but the only came out was a mist like substance.

Confused Thorin spoke out.

“Hello?”

The smoke slowly into the upper body of an old man.

“Praised be to the divines!” the old man shouted out. A look of extreme joy could be seen on his face. “Finally a necromancer has come! When I first felt your magic I thought I was mistaken! The second time though I realised there was a chance! That I haven't been wasting my time waiting! By the third time I felt your magic I was ready and followed it!”

“Be quite! I am standing right here, no need to shout so loud.” Thorin yelled at the figure, he head was pounding again and he was feed up with all of this loud creatures.

Instantly the old man stopped his celebration and stated in an even voice. “My apologies, I let my excitement overwhelm me.”

“Thank you just give me a second.” Thorin said while looking over the new blue screen.

You have successfully summoned a Shade.

Accept this summon as your fammilar?

The old man was compliant and waited for him to finish.

“Well then, you're a shade. Not super powerful are you, the most I could use you for is scouting seeing that you cant even touch anything.”

Thorin said blankly. ‘Atleast he is quiet and doesn't want to kill me.’ He thought optimistically.

“You're wrong in that regard Mr…” The shade said while giving him an inquisitive glance.

“Black my name is Thorin Black.”

“Ah well yes good name. You see Mr. Black I am a shade currently I have no real power myself but I am very useful to you. When I was alive I too was a necromancer, one of the finest if i must say. While I won't be able to slay your enemies, I will be able to do something much better. I can teach you.”

“Really, what's to stop me from finding a living teacher instead and having a better familiar.” Thorin said still cautious about accepting this shade as his familiar.

“Good luck trying to find a living teacher Mr. Black. You see, I need you just as much as you need me.” The Shade said matter of factly.

“What do you mean? Will no one teach me?” Thorin asked.

“No” the shade said while trying to contain your laughter. “Let me explain myself first, it will enlighten your situation as well.”

“My name is Cynar Laner, I was more commonly know as the Immortal. I was called the Immortal because I had developed a spell allowing me to turn into a shade. If a necromancer is powerful enough they can take a shade and put it back into a fitting body. So when ever I died I would find a fellow necromancer who would put me back into another body. I would then go and kill my murder earning my title the Immortal.” Cynar explained.

“Alright I get it you were amazing, but what does that have to do with me finding a teacher?” Thorin asked.

“Think for a second, why would I still be a shade then.” Cynar said

“Wait, you mean that there are no more necromancers powerful enough to revive you?” Thorin realised.

“No it’s more than that.” The old man’s eyes glazed over and looked like he was lost in his memories. “There was a war, a war of epic proportions, that the necromancers fought in. It was a long and brutal war. I remember dying so many times I lost count. I wasn’t enough though eventually, they broke our last strong hold and killed us all. I was one of the last ones to go just remade from my last death. I still managed to take out another couple of those inquisitor bastards. He said proudly with a laugh.

“In the end it didn’t matter though right? Now you're here because I am the first necromancer since the war.” Thorin said connecting the dots.

“Sadly yes, so you see you won't be able to find anyone to teach you just people who want to murder you for who you are” the shade said filled with grief.

“Alright you made your point I guess you are actually a gift sent from the heavens then.” Thorin said, while accepting Cynar as his familiar.

[You have sucessfully bonded with the Shade, Cynar Laner.]

“How long has it been since the war?”

“I kept track for the first hundred years or so, before falling into a coma like state. The only thing that woke me up was the pulse of magic you sent out when trying to summon a familiar.” Cynar said.

“So probably a lot of time passed, possibly thousands of years. It could be better now” Thorin said optimistically.

“I wouldn’t be so sure, history is written by the victor. The bastards probably demonized us turning the public favor against us. Your best bet is to avoid other people knowing you're a necromancer till you know more." The Shade said.

"Alright, I wasn't planning on it."

"Good, I can teach you, but right now I've to regain some of my power. I'll be unable to speak with you for a while. I am going use you as a host and siphoning of some of your mana. Wait, I know that sounds bad but now that I am your fammilar I can't do you any harm."

"Wait, can you teach me anything before you go? I dont have anything to protect myself right now."

"Alright I can teach you one basic skill but it will drain me even further, but here we go."

Cynar slowlly turned back into mist and enshrouded Thorin. He shivered as the mist was absorbed into his body. At the same time Thorins head under went another painfull expansion as he learned the skill.

[You have learned the skill Summon Skeleton]