When I came back to consciousness I couldn't see anything, but I could tell, that I wasn't in the void anymore. I could feel, which was more than enough of a proof. I didn't feel my body, but I felt, like I was inside some kind of a liquid. Very hard and consistent liquid, which was hard to shape, hard, but possible. So I started to shape the liquid into the most comfortable bubble using my feeling to guide me. It wasn't easy, I had to concentrate pretty hard to be able to change its shape. After what seems like straining and exhausting minutes or even hours of willing it to take desirable shape, not too big, where my awareness couldn't reach and not too small, just the right size, I noticed, that liquid seem to become even harder to move. Like it's mass suddenly increased. It was starting to crystallize. When I had it in the perfect shape, the bubble was trying to sometimes get smaller, and sometimes getting bigger. It was even harder to concentrate now, than it was in the start. Using all my awareness and will, I tried to hold the bubble in place, not letting it change in the slightest. I could imagine myself all drained in sweat, although I didn't have a body.

Finally the bubble settled, and at the very moment a flood of information entered my mind, like a huge wave, overwhelming me. It took me some time, but the sensations were all too familiar. I was actually sensing my body. Although nerves and sense of touch wasn't as accute as I remember, it was still there. Then I started hearing some dull noises, it started with a dull sounds, like my ears were full of water, then cleared up bit by bit. After which followed the vision. I could finally see. And even the fact, the all the images were black-and-white couldn't make me less happy. I guess the side effects of being an undead.

I don't have the time to familiarize myself with my new body, I'll have to check on Zenon. Is he still alive? Did he notice me?

I was standing right on top of what seems like Kaster's body. It's actually first time I see his face. The stern and serious face. A couple of seconds ago in the void I was mourning his death, but now it somehow doesn't concern me. Right in front of his body is laying Zenon, a pool of blood under his head, his neck still punctured, although the wound is still there, I can't see neither of their swords, both of their weapons disappeared. And I can see a shattered necklace on his chest. It's in 4 pieces now, but even soaked in blood and shattered it still holds its expensive and pretty looks. Remembering the scene of shattering bracelet on Al's wrist, I am making a really far-fetched assumption, that it's an artifact, that helped him survive Kaster's blow and retaliate. If it's not, than I don't have any clue on what did he use.

Now, how am I supposed to tell is he alive or dead? He is not regenerating like he was before, that I'm sure of. Well, let's think about what options do I have. I would like to take the dead soldier's weapons and search the village for the things I'll need in my travel. They won't be back to their homes anyway right? Will it still be considered a thievery? They abandoned their possession after all. It also seems appropriate to bury Kaster's body, but if imperials later come and discover that his body is buried it can raise questions, it should be better to leave everything as is, Kaster is already dead anyway, he wouldn't mind would he? Besides, if Zenon is still alive, I'd better not risk it and get out of here as fast as I can.

Deciding that it's not worth the risk, I take the two swords each from the fallen soldiers, with their belts, a dagger and Kaster's black robe. Also there is an expensive looking ring in Kaster's finger, after picking it up I can see strange runes engraved inside of it. Is this an artifact as well? How do you even use those? Also I would like to take soldier's armor, but I don't want to risk staying too long here. Even if Zenon is dead, I don't know how fast will more imperials arrive. It will be quite awkward to explain what is a skeleton doing here, near the corpse of the number one criminal and one of empire's royal family's body, I'm not sure yet is he dead or not. Even if he is dead it wouldn't change much, I'd better not take his artifacts and gear, I'm sure any soldier can recognize those.

I equipped everything I took and made my way to the north, where the forest lays. Equipping the belts were more than awkward when you are just a skeleton. Oh right, being so panicked about the Zenon's possible regenerating and considering my options, I didn't have the time to check on my new body. It looks like I'm just sack of bones, literally. No flesh at all, just thick, black bones. I'm a skeleton with black bones. Great.

Walking to the forest and casting occasional glances back, to check on Zenon. It's really tempting to go back and loot all his possesion, but I don't want to risk it. Entering the forest, I make my way deeper into it. I remember being in the forest when I was a kid in my world, but at the time it seemed so much more fun, and beautiful, the birds chirping, the sun shining through the leaves, I remember marveling those scenes. Those were one of my most peaceful and happy memories, in our family trip. But now it's all just annoying black-and-white trees, that stand in my way. Maybe it's because it's night right now?

It's useful to know, that I don't actually feel exhausted after walking for what seems more than an hour, I think I'm quite deep in the forest at this point. One of the useful traits for being an undead I guess.

Now, how should I know if I'm closing in towards the Spirit, I should ask more about it, no point in regretting it now, all I can do is keep walking forward. Maybe while I roam inside the forest in utter boredom I should try to think a name for myself. It seems to be a pretty good idea, and I have to find out what is the ring I picked up used for.

POV change: Uthyr, the village chief

A calamity has befallen onto us again, and I'm still too weak to protect what I swear to protect. I am still useless, like I was at the time city, when milord saved those very citizens I couldn't. I was a soldier in imperial army at the time. Although, it's not my parents homeland, they moved to the previously known human empire as the century of piece came, I was born here, I was raised here. I loved the empire, I loved it's people, I went to serve it and protect its citizens. When I came to protect one of the 'honorable' nobles from the evil corrupter at the time, I was sure in my believe. Then I saw them, with my own eyes I saw what they were doing to the innocent citizens I was supposed to protect. And I was fighting the one, who was truly protecting them. That was when I left the army and moved to the village to protect those unfortunate people. It was easy at first, just some monster attacks from the forest, we were managing without casualties.

Then the imperials came, to 'investigate' and 'bring justice' to the criminals. I wasn't sure what to do, our savior have left a day ago and said that he won't return for weeks. Villagers couldn't fight such a large army, and our pitiful walls wouldn't help us either. I was forced to open the walls and hope for a miracle to occur. And it did. Our savor returned, when we needed him again. He came back and took care of the whole army himself. And then ordered us to leave the village. I wanted to stay, to fight alongside him, but I knew that I would be only a burden, and I knew that I would be a lot more useful staying and protecting villagers. So I gritted my teeth and left our savor alone, to risk his live again, protecting us.

We left the village when sun was just starting to set. We had to move through forest to flee unnoticed, and I arranged for everyone to walk in a thin and very long line. Around a thousand villagers were moving like a snake coiling around trees, only 10 people in a single line, following each other.

Such a big group should be enough to scare away any monsters in the forest, but I still wasn't taking any risks, I ordered some of experienced hunters to scout around the group. I was concerned about moving in the forest at night, even with a large group like ours, I wanted to make a camp and rest for the night, but I was afraid of being too close from the village. So we kept walking for around two hours even after nightfall. It was getting really dangerous, people could go missing in such a dark place, so I judged it save, when we stumbled upon a little clearing. Everyone started to get themselves comfortable. I arranged for the night watch around the whole area with shifts and a huge fire to scare away any beast who was stupid enough to attack such a large group. This was one of the safest forests after all, here only regular beasts lived and occasionally some small monster packs. They feed on mana-creatures, although any creature technically has mana, those with souls or some stronger animals have more of it. And in this forest they don't have enough food, so they don't breed too much and when their population grows too big, they eat each other to not die from hunger. That's why I was sure, that we were pretty safe here.

But I was wrong.