Skill: Bone Shaping [basic] lvl 1 → Skill: Bone Shaping [basic] lvl 5

It’s done! Bones stopped in his tracks, looking down at his hand. Once again, he tried to use bone shaping and it didn’t feel as strained. He couldn’t, however, bend the bones as he wished to. No bladed arms I guess. *sigh* No, it’s too early to give up!

Not wanting to give in to another failure, he drew more mana into the ability and he could feel his bones vibrating under pressure. For a fraction of a second, bones bent until a crack appeared. Bones was startled as the bone he tried to change the shape of, splintered and he let out a shriek as it exploded into splinters.

His hand dropped down on the ground, now missing a part of the bone beneath the elbow. The pain came and was gone in a flash. He kneeled down and reached out to pick up his fallen arm but recoiled, feeling the pain again coming from somewhere deep within. Not even a second later, a soft ding echoed in his head.

Warning!

Attempting to shape the structure of bones

Failed!

Insufficient level of skill: Bone Shaping

Skeleton arm bone integrity damaged

The first notification was a warning of his failure. The second one was that of experience gained and a level up in bone shaping. This time, using bone manipulation, he picked up his hand and with bone mending working overtime, repaired the damage done. A minute later, his hand was reconnected to his now whole arm. Success is found in failure I guess.

Having found no success in shaping his bones, Bones thought of something else! He searched through his inventory and found makeshift bone spears he still had since before Westbrook, but never used. He summoned one in his hand and focused on shaping it, trying to make it slender and sharper. Using manipulation, he made it levitate atop of his hands. Then slowly, it began changing shape. While the bone reduced in thickness, it gained in length, but Bones felt the strain at some point and with a small push, the bone splintered. I see. So this is my limit for now.

Having come to a conclusion, he continued walking with a small piece of bone in his hand, finding more success as it shaped and bended, finally breaking and splintering when reaching impossible angles. Regardless, Bones felt it was adequate. A minor success, finally reached.

Getting closer to the city, open fields replaced the forest on both sides of the road. The capital was now visible in the distance. He walked downhill on a narrow road towards flat ground that led through the countryside to a large lake. In the distance, he could make out houses along the coast, continuing all the way to the city.

Bones remembered these parts, they felt familiar. He remembered the lake being distinctly smaller. Wasn’t there a mountain near the lake too? Strangely, he didn't see any.

Sweeping a look at the landscape surrounding the capital, he could see woods stretching in the distance and open fields all around them. Animals were grazing and he recognized a bulking mass that was used to pull carriages. All in all, it seemed peaceful, but he knew the inside of the city walls were anything but.

The road Bones' walked on led directly towards the south gates of the city, but he changed direction at the intersection and took the longer route towards the houses on the lake. He wasn't in a rush to reach the city and traveling one or two hours more wouldn't make a difference.

On both sides of the road, fields of something he didn’t recognise grew and in the distance, he spotted workers, farmers perhaps, harvesting the crops. Every now and then, there would be a side road leading off the main road and toward farmhouses. They weren't how they used to be, a couple of chickens, pigs and cows. Now? The properties encompass acres of land and once again he could see the machines, this time taking part in harvesting and processing of the crops. The machines…

Bones' pleasant stroll through the countryside was interrupted when he saw the patrol walking in his direction. When they got closer, he saw them focusing their attention on him. He pulled back his hood, showing his milky white skull and raised both arms above his head in a surrender gesture. The encounter could go either way and before Bones could speak up, the man at the front of the patrol beat him to it. With his hand on the sheath of the sword at his waist, the man stopped in front of him and asked him if he was Bones?

Bones was taken aback. “Yes…” How did he know my name? They seem to be here for me? He thought back for a moment and before the man could answer back, he asked: “Has the word from the Northpoint watchpost already reached the city?”

“Yes, the messenger reached the city a few hours ago. My superior thought it was a joke."

"What changed?", Bones asked.

"His orders changed. I was ordered to meet you and assess your...disposition.”

“Lots of orders seem to be going around. You mention my disposition?”

“Yes, with everything going on, it was necessary.”

“Ah yes, the undead assault on Westbrook?”

The man nodded his head and introduced himself. “I’m captain of the guard, Duneth and an adventurer, like yourself. Also the reason I was sent and not someone else.

“Greetings Duneth, I’m Bones. Someone else you say? Like who?”

“Never mind that, come with us.” The captain ignored the question and motioned for Bones to follow.

Unfortunately, Bones couldn’t take his time exploring the lakeside as he and his entourage went straight to the city gates. People were turning his way, nothing he wasn’t used to. Perks of being an undead. A brief talk Duneth had with the guard at the gates, let them through without having to wait in line.

Bones was astounded at the grandness of the city. The most captivating was the central tower that stood over everything else. “Is that…?” Bones muthered. Duneth turned to Bones and saw he was intently staring at the tower in the distance.

*smirks* “Yes, that is The Tower.”

“Come, you’ll have time to explore the city later. First, we need to update your ID card at the guild.”

Bones was puzzled, “Update my ID card?”

“Yes, updating your ID card with a new rank and personal information about your race so you wouldn’t have problems proving your identity in the future.”

*snort* “And while I'm there to also assess whether I am a threat to the people or not.” Bones added in derision.

Duneth turned to him with a grin. “Of course, that too.”

The adventurers guild wasn’t the biggest building in the capital but still looked like a royal palace to Bones, until he saw the actual royal palace at a later date. It was a massive complex consisting of an academy, numerous training grounds, restaurants and bars, reception and of course, administration offices on the upper floors.

Duneth and Bones entered the main hall of the guild and headed towards the reception desk, the patrol leaving them after they entered the city. A few adventurers stopped what they were doing and glanced at the two.

“Duneth reporting, I’ve brought adventurer Bones for the analysis process and updating of his ID card.”

A man in his forties behind the desk, looked at Duneth and Bones with indifferent expression and nodded his head.

“Follow me.”

He led the two through the restricted area behind the reception desk and into the waiting area where Duneth said his goodbyes and Bones, as instructed, sat down and waited for someone to come get him. Roughly twenty minutes later, a man with distinct sleek blue hair approached.

“Greetings, my name is Rayne.” The ex-guild leader of the Westbrook branch of the adventurer guild introduced himself.

Familiar name…”Greetings, I'm Bones. Have we met before?”

“I wouldn’t say so, we might have crossed paths in Westbrook though.”

At the mention of Westbrook, Bones winced a bit. “Ah yes, the tragedy of Westbrook.”

Rayne didn’t comment. “Lose your mask?”

“No, just tired of hiding behind it.”

“You may come to regret that. Follow me.” Rayne said and turned around, expecting for Bones to follow. What Rayne said sounded like a threat but was a matter-of-fact.

The two went down the many hallways and entered a desolate room without windows, a single desk and two shabby looking chairs situated across each other. On one side of the wall there was a dubious sleek looking tinted window through which Belle was watching an interrogation that was about to take place.

Bones entered and observed the room. “Interrogation room?”

“Don’t worry about it, it's just a procedure, a mandatory one.”

“Right.” Bones approached the chair and sat down. “So, what can I do for you, Mr. Rayne.”

Rayne didn’t respond. He circled Bones once, then sat in the chair across. “Tell me Mr. Bones, are you a monster?”

*thump*

Both turned to look in the direction of the tinted window. On the other side was Belle staring daggers at Rayne. “What.The.Fuck. Rayne!”

Bones turned to Rayne and answered him. “I don’t believe I am.”

“How so?”

“If I was a monster, I doubt I would get this far.”

Rayne chuckled. “True. You aren’t identified as a monster but the timing of your arrival and that you kept the fact that you’re a skeleton hidden, doesn’t play out in your favor...”

“What was I supposed to do under the circumstances? I arrived in Westbrook with a group of adventurers and immediately upon my arrival, I registered with the guild.”

“As a contractor?” added Rayne.

“Yes. Given my circumstances, as a contractor.”

“I see. Then tell me…when two guild scouts encountered a person wearing the same mask that you wore, in the clearing southeast of Westbrook where it was believed that a summoning of an undead army took place…was that person you?

“Of course it was me. After completing my subjugation quests, I went further into the forest hoping to find some clues about said army of the undead.”

“You’re telling me, you went out of your way to help find clues about the undead army?” The shuffling of papers grew louder as Rayne was searching through the file he had on Bones.

“Why wouldn’t I? That same morning, a new contract was issued in the guild to find a culprit for the killings of adventurers and any information about the necromancer and the army of the undead.”

Rayne didn’t respond. He wrote something on the paper in front of him and continued his interrogation. "Are you in cahoots with the necromancer that attacked Westbrook?”

*thump thump*

Both turned their heads at the tinted window again, Rayne looking displeasing.

“No, I have never met the necromancer and had no idea about the attack. First time I heard about the attack was on the day it happened. I was just coming back from completing quests.”

“Right, see? The scouts you encountered reported back to me about the ritual site, three days before the attack. How come it took you three days to come back to town? Care to explain what you were doing three days prior to the attack?”

Bones hesitated for a second, appearing like he wasn’t sure if he should say something or not.

“Why aren't you answering my question, Mr. Bones?

“I was recuperating.”

“What?”

“Not long after those two guild scouts left, I was attacked by a person named Horus.”

*thump thump thump*

Rayne looked at the tinted window with a frown. Horus was a scout working for Guntar. That much they knew and some of the reports said there was a lot of movement from those under the three crime bosses. Rayne wasn’t sure what to think about all of this. Was Horus the one killing the adventurers? It’s possible, but why?

“...I tried my best to fight back but the man was higher level than me. The only reason I survived the attack was because I WAS who I was. I had broken bones and it took a while to heal. When I was capable of moving, I headed toward town.” Bones explained his encounter with his assailant Horus.

Crap, I wasn’t listening! *cough* “That’s enough of an explanation. Do you think a man named Horus was the one killing the adventurers, Mr. Bones?”

Bones thought it over before replying. “I don’t know why he came after me, but I hope not! Maybe he knew what I was. Could it be a hate crime? Is he going to keep coming after me?”

Rayne wasn't convinced by the act but he had no evidence to prove otherwise. “No, Mr. Bones, Horus was found dead after the attack on Westbrook.”

“Oh? Has the killing stopped after the attack?” Bones asked, knowing the answer.

“There were no reports mentioning adventurer killings after the attack.” Rayne replied and concluded the interrogation. “That would be all Mr. Bones, thank you for your time. You can pick up your new ID card and adventurer badge at the desk”

“Don’t mention it and tha...wait, adventurer badge? I'm not an adventurer.”

“We would be at ease if you were to become a full-fledged member of the adventurers guild.”

“Ah, I would prefer to work just as a contractor.” Bones stated but had a feeling it didn't matter what he wanted.

“That’s non-negotiable Mr. Bones. You either work for the guild or you don’t work at all.”

Bones sensed that he couldn’t refuse this one. “Full-fledged member? With all the perks?” He asked, just to be sure.

Rayne nodded his head, left the room and headed straight for the room next door.