“Well, it’s about time for me to go. See you later brother. I’ll visit often, and you were a great listener. You always were.” Hikari says while walking away. Her steps lighter than when she’d first came.

It’s good you got that off your chest. I’ll share that burden, and learn from your teachings… jeez. You’re the little sister, and I’m the one always relying on you.

I watch her retreating figure for one last time as I feel myself being drawn somewhere.

Show’s over huh? Even though I didn’t get to say everything I’d wanted, I feel a lot better. A weight lifted off my chest.

So.. where do the dead go. Guess I’ll find out the answer to that age old question.

Huh? That’s odd… isn’t this.. the old summer house? I look around at the familiar scene.

The traditional japanese house with its wooden sliding doors, the tiled roof that we ruined on an uncharacteristically adventurous day, the old mailbox I’d wait at day after day hoping for correspondence, and even my cat Honiro.

I lounge around for a while. Blankly looking off into the forest as the sounds of cicadas bring a nostalgic tear to my eye. Honiro walks up and curls on my lap. I absentmindedly pet his orange fur as I lose myself in thought.

I stay like that for a while. Enjoying the warm rays of the sun, and thinking of old times.

But what made this place great were the people I met here. Without them.. it almost feels.. empty.

Wait.. the old mailbox. Rui died too. Maybe she sent one last letter. Is that possible? We’re both in the afterlife now.. maybe it’s not too much of a stretch.

I gently pick up Honiro and place him off to my side. He stretches as he yowls quietly in protest.

“I know, I know.” I mutter walking towards the small red box.

Standing before it, I feel fear start to well up. It feels all too familiar. It’s the same as when I felt as if someone was drawing near. Growing closer to my heart. The fear of rejection, disgust.

I feel hesitant. My hands shaking as I finally begin to place them back at my sides. I make to turn away, but my sister’s voice rings in my ears.

“...and this time, don’t let her go!”

“I won’t… even if it’s one small step at a time, I’ll grow stronger.” I say, fingers brushing against the weathered wood.

With a final nod of determination, I open it in a hurry, as if to dispel my doubts.

I notice that my eyes are closed, but before I can even open them, I feel something grab the hem of my hakama.

Surprised, my eyes bolt open to see a bleached white arm grasping me. It’s devoid of any skin, muscle, or fat.

“I knew it. Heaven was too good for me. Still, this is too cruel! At least put me in hell from the start!!!” I cry out as I’m dragged through the mailbox. Feeling as if my entire body is back in that submarine, being crushed a second time.

“Hell? Mm perhaps.” I hear a hollow voice rattle through my head.

Isn’t… this guy a lot bigger than I thought? He looks to be about the size of a high rise apartment, his hand curled into a bony prison.

A gleaming white skull bears over me, covered by a dark silken robe. The sockets gleaming green, tracing paths of light as his eyes dart around in the dim cavern.

“You’ll be the first. My first step towards claiming that throne as my own. I’ll have you become my right hand. Raise you to be a great vassal.” The voice continues.

I try opening my mouth to get a word in, but I find it impossible.

“Such a grand subordinate requires a grand name, don’t you think?” He says while drawing closer. His skull coming into full view to reveal the small cracks and scratches all across it.

I already have a name! I try to retort, but of course, nothing comes out.

“Hmm, for one who will carve his name into history alongside this great lich Vragska… I grant you the name... Skeleton A.” My vision and senses are warped as I feel myself being dragged into a blender.

That’d make me some sort of grunt! I try to say as it happens, but I’m rewarded by a series of clacks. The dry sound bouncing back to me from the stony walls.

“And you.. you’re skeleton B, you C, and you get the rest.” The Lich says. Despite having an indeterminate age, he sounds like a weary old man. Already having tired from trying to name us.

I observe as the lich goes around to each of the 140 piles and grants them life with his horrible naming sense. Using one number after the letter once he ran out.

Most of the skeletons looked around confused. Mostly red gleaming from their hollow sockets with a few blue ones mixed in.

I wonder what color mine are. I wonder as I get up, stumbling a bit in the unfamiliar body, before trudging over to a puddle. I peer inside to see.. nothing. Or rather, I see a faint outline, but nothing else.

My bones seem to be darker than the rest. Even my eyes gleaming a soft black that I can barely make out after staring for what seems like hours.

“Admiring my work, are you skeleton A? Yes.. truly worth the cost for you...” The lich calls out as he stalks over with a slight hobble in his walk.

“Clack clack clack clack clack.” I respond, causing him to frown.

“Ah,” he sighs as mist seems to seep out from his bones. Winding down and towards me.

New Skill Acquired: Speech Language: Common Mastery: Max A common skill that most intelligent races acquire as they advance into childhood. The skill has many subcategories.

“Well shit.”