The edge of reality, the horror of it. I panted, Harbinger hanging loosely by my side, my limp hand grasping it desperately. A demon stood before me, horns and spikes protruding from every orifice. Flames dancing around us, filling the air with septic heat. I stared at this creature, the malice projected on me by its piercing eyes. This was it, the moment I would die. It lunged spikes rippling outward to pierce my chest.

  I launched myself forward, rolling on the ground and resummoning harbinger. No, that wasn’t right. I looked at the forest, blood rushing in my ears. A forest.

  My body, suddenly devoid of energy, fell to the ground, my knees racking against sharp stones. I coughed and stared at the ground, inhaling the scent of dirt and exhaling onto the grass. Closing my eyes I counted.

  “One, two, three,” I exhaled, “Four, five, six,“ I pushed myself up to my knees, “Seven, eight, nine.” I gazed around lazily.

  “It was just a dream,” I muttered, watching Elden and Myer watch me.

  No one said anything while I stood and brushed myself off.

  “How far out are we now?” I asked Myer.

  “A fog wall is visible but we won’t reach it for another few days,” He reported dutifully, “But there are plenty of camps between us and it, might even find a few non-hostiles.”

  I nodded, “Not that it really helps us. There’s nowhere to take them if they’re just surviving.”

  “You wouldn’t send them to Riverrun?”

  “No, I wouldn’t. Not until we decide what to do moving forward.”

  What we had discovered during the march was interesting, and relatively uncreative. There was a literal fog wall in the distance that was likely to be blocking us off from the rest of the world. However large that turned out to be. Our current plan was to reach it and investigate it, hopefully there’ll be some answers from the System to make that easier.

  We continued marching throughout the next few days, but despite our need for urgency we were unable to avoid all combat. Though we did discover that most of the monster population was just the Gnolls, there were of course other animals roaming around that would certainly qualify as monsters by my old world's standards. But apparently the System classed it differently.

  They were nothing as grandiose as say a manticore or griffins but normal animals with strange alterations to their biology. Like the Deor, a carnivorous variation of a deer. There were squirrels with razor sharp claws and spine like fur on their tails. A boar the size of a horse, though not much was done to change its basic functions.

  It was during the following days that we encountered our first organized resistance to our passage. A day from the Fog Wall itself.

  I grimaced at the shield wall, haphazard as it was, in front of us. The whining yipping howls of the Gnolls shredding my ears.

  “It would appear that they’ve been training,” Elden mused aloud, “Though not in their traditional ways of war.”

  “What are their traditional ways of war?” I inquired.

  “Traditionally they’re skirmishers, small bands harassing travelers and wanderers. Ordinarily they operate in small tribes, not massive armies.”

  “Is someone influencing them? Or is it the System?” I asked.

  “Could be either, no way to know without further investigation,” Elden answered while cocking his head to the side analyzing the Gnolls, “But they’re a group of mid level enemies, the highest one is level sixteen.”

  I frowned, “How can you tell?”

  “I used a skill I acquired when you returned from your Trial,” He explained, “It allows me to analyze enemies or items to determine their levels and attributes. At its current rank I can only see the levels of enemies.”

  “Why wasn’t I offered that? That sounds incredibly useful for someone in my circumstance.”

  “Likely it’s because of our class difference.”

  “What class do you have? And when did you get a class?” I blinked at him, distracted from the threat in front of us.

  “Myer, Grigori, and I all received class options when you returned,” He looked aside at me, “It was assumed you knew since we only gained the option by being bound to you. Myer and Grigori will tell you theirs later but mine is Sage.”

  “Sage? I thought you practiced Necromancy in life.”

  Elden shook his head, “I studied it to fight it, it was never my specialty.”

  “What was your specialty?”

  “Holy magic,” He turned to face me, “We’ll speak more on it later, just know that when you have a need for it I’ll be able to teach you that too.”

  While I was flummoxed he had a point, we needed to deal with the Gnolls in front of us before they decided to take the initiative.

  “Grigori, take your ghouls and get ready to flank. The Aria undead will meet them in the front and give them the fight they’re expecting.”

  My shade growled in my shadow, I could feel its desire to fight. Its time would come.

  The Aria Undead marched forward, synchronized in their movements. It was eerily satisfying to watch their movements. The Gnolls howled and fortified their position and I watched their backline open briefly, allowing slings to launch blobs of fire into the field.

  They slammed into the ground spreading into puddles of liquid flame. It did wonders to my undead. The fire spread crunching and sparking against the unholy magic fueling my minions.

  I held out my hands and Mark of the Grave invaded the bodies of one here and one there in the shield wall. It spelled the end of their lives and those around them but it would take time. The undead were falling one by one far too quickly for my liking.

  The shield wall marched forward, planting itself again. Another barrage of fire flying forward and slamming into the wall of undead marching towards them.

  The undead were expendable but they did take time to raise and that would be time wasted when we could be marching.

  Ghostfire dripped from my hands, I’d return the gesture.

  I took a breath and remembered how Death Bolt felt when I cast it. I pulled back with one hand and made a throwing motion. A bolt of Ghostfire leapt forward and crashed into the shield wall. Igniting the shield of one Gnoll while hoarfrost grew to cover it.

  I focused on it and willed it to spread, the fire grew brighter and began to envelop more and more of the shield wall. I grinned behind my mask, Ghostfire was turning out to be a highly flexible skill.

  My reverie was interrupted by a sudden and sharp electric shock of pain. An arrow blossomed in my left shoulder, just above where my heart was. I stepped back instinctively, blinking away the onslaught of tears in my eyes.

  I looked pointedly in the direction the arrow had come from and saw an archer perched on the branches of a tree, another arrow nocked to the bow. It wasn’t a Gnoll. It was another person. They gazed grimly at me before snapping their fingers, my shoulder exploded. I was sent back tumbling, my arm flying off in another direction entirely, what was left of it at least.

  The Aria undead halted their advance, turning as one towards the archer while the Winter Bound surrounded me, Syndra bending down and scooping me up.

  I groaned in pain, my ears ringing sharply and my sight blurry.

  “Syndra, get our Lord to safety, we’ll handle things here.”

  Liam looked for the kill notification in his System Window but none came, “How is that thing still alive?” He asked aloud.

  “What? Did you flub your shot?” Another voice asked from below the branches.

  “Shut it Lucius,” Liam growled, “I’ll just shoot it again.” He looked for the horned thing, a Leshen if he had to guess but was startled to see a group of Elves surrounding it, one of them carrying It off into the trees. “Dammit. It’s getting away!” He called down to his companions.

  Below were four more humans, a man dressed in chainmail and a heavy surcoat looked up at him, “What do you mean It’s getting away? I thought you blew it apart?”

  “It’s still alive,” Liam scowled, “And it has Elves.”

  “What about the Gnolls and the Undead?” A woman asked.

  “Ignore them Alicia,” Liam answered briskly, “The Leshen is a bigger threat, we can mop up the cannon fodder later.”

  She nodded displeased.

  “Lucius, flank around and finish off the Leshen,” The man in the surcoat ordered, “The rest of you with me, and Liam keep providing cover fire.”

  The group nodded their assent, Lucius disappearing into the shadows.

  Myer frowned at his retreating Lord, it couldn’t be helped. He would need time to recover but as far as he was aware he didn’t think Crowley had a skill to stitch his arm back on. Maybe Elden would or one of the Elves. In the meantime he knew what needed to be done, the Gnolls needed to be slaughtered and the human who had attacked them subjugated. Humans, he mentally corrected himself, his eyes catching three more moving into the field to engage with the Winter Bound. He reached back, pulling a greatsword from his shoulder. None of those special sheaths or inconsiderate limb restrictions bothered him as it slid free from its fixed position. There were some pros to being dead, or undead in his case. Not the future he would’ve predicted in life but Crowley was a decent sort and not a half bad lord to serve. Afterall, he had served worse in his lifetime.

  Alicia grimaced at the undead, they would need to be purged sooner rather than later. A blight like that could not be tolerated in these lands, especially wild undead like those. She raised her staff and slammed it down. “May this land be consecrated to burn away the unclean.”

  A golden light spread from her in a circle, igniting the ground briefly with holy fire. She smiled, expecting the kill notifications any moment now. But none came. She looked over at the Undead and saw nothing, they were still fighting the Gnolls like nothing had happened. There was some damage from what she could tell but it wasn’t substantial, either they were higher level than her or there was some kind of interference. No matter, they would be dealt with in time. She turned her attention back to her group; they would need her healing, like always. She watched their squad leader, Keer, engaged with the lead Elf. She wouldn’t have known it was an Elf if not for the glimpse of his pointed ears in the shrouded hood they all wore. Actually, their attire was quite strange for their kind. Shrouded in dark robes and deep cowls, were they Dark Elves or some variation from the Nether Realms? It would explain their allegiance to that Leshen.

  She threw out a healing bolt, a golden glow covering Keer’s body momentarily before he engaged with the Elf once more.

  Healing Expertise gained. Class [Cleric of Sucenmor] has reached level 20.

  She held in her excitement, she was finally caught up to the others in her party. Healing had been such a chore but no one else was willing to take the experience cut from killing monsters.

  “Impressive healing magic,” A gruff but solid voice applauded behind her, “Unfortunately I don’t believe we have much use for it in the present circumstances.”

  Liam watched on, knowing he would not be needed for the fight ahead. Keer and the others almost never needed his cover fire. He only opened or finished fights when their opponents inevitably tried to run away. Such was the way of an archer. Though maybe things would be different if he hunted alone. He’d likely have great success if he prepared properly and learned how to fight in melee better. While he was musing he saw something appear behind Alicia, a large man in armor with a greatsword held loosely at his side.

  “What the hell?” He gasped, hurriedly pulling an arrow from his quiver and nocking the arrow. Missing the bowstring on the first attempt he cursed and did it the second. Pulling back the string, taking aim and hesitation gripped his heart.

  A low growl emitted from above him, saliva dropping in thick goblets onto his shoulder. He slowly looked up and saw, well he could only describe it as a monster.

  It reached its clawed hands down and clamped them into his shoulders and lifted him up further into the branches of the tree. A cut off shriek of terror echoed briefly in the forest, his arrow flying wide and striking a neighboring tree, exploding and toppling the colossus into the crowds below.

  Keer looked back at the sudden shriek, his eyes catching the headless corpse of Liam crunching into the ground below the tree he was posted in. Blood spewing from the neck and painting the bark. He shouted towards the others but was interrupted by a visceral spray covering his body and coating his mouth. The top half of Alicia splattering into his torso, knocking him off balance.

  “There we are,” An armored man said, “I believe you’ll have a fair fight from here on out Castien. Please, enjoy yourself.”

  “Thank you General,” The Elf standing to Keer’s side replied, “Healing magic can be a chore to deal with.”

  “Relim,” Keer began, “Guard my back.”

  The other man, dressed in a similar manner as Keer, nodded his assent and they stood not back to back but enough that they could cover the other as needed.

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Lucius moved nimbly through the underbrush, his eyes tracking not blood but a slight trail of frost covering the tips of the plants and grass. He didn’t know what was causing it but it obviously led to their prey. He stopped hurriedly and crouched low, hiding the bulk of his body behind the trunk of a tree. His eyes watching the scene before him unfold.

  Syndra laid Crowley down gently, uttering a soothing sound while holding her hands over his gushing wound. Frost began to cover the wound and the bleeding began to slow.

  His breathing was ragged but stabilizing. Syndra frowned in concentration, she could freeze the wound shut but that would only be a temporary measure, what they needed was a healer. There were Winter Bound who knew it but they rarely came when summoned and likely wouldn’t until her lord was ready to lead the hunt. She had seen it time and time again, would be heralds and lords. But she believed that this one, Crowley, would be their Horned King. But only if she didn’t fail in her duty and let him die.

  They should’ve been more vigilant, she should’ve seen the archer hiding in the trees. Next time, there would be no such mistake.

  She stood and turned suddenly, a man dressed in dark clothing stood before her, a scarf wrapping around his neck and lower face. A blade made of shadow in his right hand.

  He blinked in surprise but dropped into a fighting position, “I’m surprised you noticed me, I usually get the drop on just about anything.”

  Her lips set in a grim line, an axe of ice manifesting in her hand, “There will be no such mistakes again.”

  They launched themselves at each other, their weapons clashing. Syndra scored a glancing blow, hoarfrost forming where she made contact but the masked man scored two. He was fast but they were only surface wounds.

  You have inflicted Encroaching Void on [Winter Bound]

  You have inflicted an additional stack of Encroaching Void on [Winter Bound]

  Lucius grinned underneath his mask, knowing she wouldn’t notice until it was too late.

  The pair circled each other, exchanging blows in bleak repetition. Neither seemed to be able to land a decisive blow against the other. Hoarfrost clung to our attacker but there was also something wrong with Syndra, she was getting slower as time dragged on.

  I blinked, moved my arm, blinked again and moved my other arm. I couldn’t do much to help in my state but I could even the odds a bit.

  You have been inflicted with [Mark of the Grave]

  Lucius frowned and looked over at the figure lying prone on the ground, their arm dropping down to the earth once more. He knew afflictions better than most, even if he killed the Leshen it wouldn’t cure him. He needed to finish this and get back to Alicia. Ignoring his Elven foe he disappeared and reappeared in the shadow of a neighboring tree, plunging his blade down towards the Leshen. Only for it to pierce a being of solid shadow, a Gnoll of all things. It clamped its jaw around his throat and brought him to the ground. He struggled viciously against the beast, his sword turning into a dagger as he stabbed the beast in the side repeatedly.

  You have defeated Lucius Fairgallow, level 21 [Lurker]. Experience has been gained. Additional Experience has been earned for defeating an enemy above your level.

  I coughed and struggled to sit up, Syndra coming to my aid.

  “My lord, you shouldn’t move yet.”

  I shook my head, pulling in death energy to heal my wound once more. The Hoarfrost melted slightly from the heat of the action but remained in place.

  “We have things to do.”

  I looked at the corpse of Lucius Fairgallow and then at my minion count.

  Current Minions: 37 of 202

  I raised my hand and focused on the corpse, Create Shade coming to my mind. I began to forge an artificial soul but was interrupted by an opposing force. The soul of Lucius Fairgallow, it beat back my attempt at forging the soul core, wedging itself into my spell. Before I could stop it the raising was complete and my newest shade stood before me. A figure of shadow, dressed similarly to the Winter Bound but more form fitting. The scarf still tied around its face.

  It gave me a small bow and while he could not speak yet I was given his answer to his intrusion through our mental connection. If anyone was going to use his body after death, they were damn well going to use his soul too. He wasn’t done in this new world yet.

  “You’re going to be a problem,” I muttered at the shade while it disappeared into my shadow.

  I could’ve beaten him back in hindsight but in my state using his soul had been easier and I had let it happen. I was careless. A part of my mind bickered at me for using a soul but in the end it had been what he wanted so was it really different from making a deal with a specter? Shaking my head I leaned on Syndra, making our way back to the fight at hand.

  I arrived at a gory mess, bodies were strewn everywhere and not in complete pieces either. I shook my head and began the process of acknowledging the kills made in my absence.

  You have defeated Alicia Howard, level 20 [Cleric of Sucenmor] Experience points have been earned.

  You have defeated Relim Torrents, level 21 [Knight] Experience points have been earned. Additional experience points have been earned for defeating an enemy above your level.

  You have defeated Liam Jors, level 22 [Archer] Experience points have been earned. Additional experience points have been earned for defeating an enemy above your level.

  You have defeated Gnoll, times 7, level 16. Experience points have been earned.

  You have defeated Gnoll, times 5, level 14. Experience points have been earned.

  You have defeated Gnoll, times 8, level 12. Experience points have been earned.

  Class [Necromancer] has reached level 23. Stat points allocated, 15 free points remaining.

  I grimaced and shook at the sudden influx of power, but I did feel slightly better. Physically at least. I looked over the notifications, a total of four humans had attacked us. No five, Castien was still fighting a man in chainmail and surcoat. I was impressed, the human was injured severely but Castien had also taken some substantial wounds. I stepped forward but my path was interrupted by Myer.

  “My lord, the woman was a healer, you should raise what’s left and use that to your advantage while Castien and the undead finish up.”

  He gestured towards the bisected corpse lying nearby and I frowned, surely there wasn’t enough of her to even consider raising. But if all we needed was healing magic, then I guess all we needed was part of the corpse.

  I nodded my agreement and hobbled forward, extending my hand forward and allowing the power to flow from me. What to make her, a Shade or an Aria undead?

  Ghostfire fell from my fingers and I watched it encompass her, the magic began to take hold and halted. There was something pushing back against me.

  I felt for the interference and what I felt was real divinity, she truly had a connection to a deity of some kind. Its power fought back against mine and we entered a stalemate. I felt something look upon me and before I knew what was happening my conscious mind was whisked away.

  I stood in a home, a real home. It was constructed with care and deliberation, torches burning with a holy light. I pressed my feet lightly against the wooden floors, enjoying the stability and odd comfort they gave in return.

  A woman stood before me with her head tilted to the side, analyzing me.

  “So you’re the one trying to raise my followers' corpse?” She questioned.

  I blinked a bit, “I am, I’m in need of her healing magic.”

  “I’d smite you on the spot if I knew where you were,” She inhaled, “Or if you weren’t of the same blood.”

  “Same blood?” I asked.

  “You have a Celestial Bloodline, do you not?” She inquired, drawing air forcefully into her nose, “Ah but it’s not yet awakened.”

  “You’re on Hanastin too?”

  She nodded, “I am, and I’d assume we’re in roughly the same area if you ran into poor Alicia.”

  “Huh, well my apologies for the death of your follower. A minion of mine killed her in my defense.”

  “Such is the way of things,” She sighed, “They likely mistook you for a monster yourself, dressed like that.”

  “Probably,” I admitted.

  “Let’s make a deal,” She continued, “I will allow you to raise her corpse, in exchange you allow her soul to make its way home to me.”

  I tilted my head in thought, “That works for me, I can make use of the residual memory left behind.”

  She nodded, “Very well then, I, Sucenmor, the Lady of Light, will allow this transgression to pass unanswered.”

  I bowed my head, “And I, Crowley, am grateful for the Lady’s benevolence in my time of need.”

  Notice: Divine deal struck. The Lady of Light has allowed The Horned King to animate the corpse of one of her devout followers in exchange for the release of [Alicia Howard]’s soul.

  I was back in the clearing and watched the Ghostfire continue its work on Alicia’s corpse, animating the upper half of it. It groaned and turned towards me, spectral energy knitting itself together to create a lower torso. Much as it had for the Gnolls I had first raised.

  I watched what I assumed to be the soul of Alicia suddenly wrap itself in golden light and simply disappear.

  The man Castien was fighting looked over at the scene and shouted, “No!” Before charging towards me. He was met by Myer’s sword in the front, Castien in the back, and Syndra ramming the blade of her ax into his chest. He spat blood towards me before crumpling to the ground.

  You have defeated Keer Howard, level 23 [Knight]. Experience points have been earned. Additional experience points have been earned for defeating an enemy above your level.

  I frowned, a strand of tension stretching in my chest. This would be the first time I had killed and raised human corpses. Shaking my head I held out my hand, there was nothing for it. They had attacked and attempted to kill me, they had failed. Now they would serve, just as the monsters do.

  The Aria undead moved forward, dragging the corpses of the fallen into neat piles. Gnolls to the side for more Aria, and the three remaining human corpses to the side. The question was what to do with them? But first things first, I was missing an arm and I had gained the tool to fix that.

  Syndra walked the ground searching for my limb but there was nothing left. The explosion had decimated it, pulverized into non-existence. I sat roughly on a nearby log, bracing myself as Alicia began to channel the latent death energy. Looking at the corpse I frowned, I would need to stop calling it that. A new name for a new minion. But what to call it?

  I fumbled at my waist, releasing my waterskin from its holdings and stared at the container. The lid vexed me.

  Placing it between my knees I pulled the top off and held it to my lips, drinking slowly. Craving the refreshing coolness after the ordeal of combat. The stagnant leathery taste instead filled my mouth. I grimaced, shifting slightly and sliding from my perch. Unable to catch myself properly I landed heavily in the grass just inches below. I blinked, panic suddenly rising in my throat. An iron grip squeezing my chest.

  I opened my mouth instinctively, a scream that had been locked away for several years bubbling outwards. I sat bolt up, throwing my back into the log and frantically kicking at the dirt, trying to get up. No, this wasn’t happening. No, no, no.

  The breeze invaded my nostrils, bringing with it the stagnant air of spent herbs and dried rosemary.

  A hand gripped my shoulder, squeezing down until pain flooded my remaining arm. The shock drew me back to stare at Castien.

  “My Lord,” He whispered, “Breathe.”

  I did as he instructed, “One, two, three,” I muttered, “Four, five, six,” I inhaled deeply and coughed.

  He continued to stare at me, the look in his eyes oh so familiar.

  “I’m fine,” I growled.

  Nodding he reached down to pluck up my discarded water skin, I wanted to slap his hand away. I wanted to do it myself. But I didn’t, he placed the cap back onto the container and positioned it back onto my belt.

  I hauled myself up and looked towards the corpses. I needed to do something, I needed control. Castien stayed a respectful distance behind but followed me to the Gnoll pile where I mentally commanded the Aria to cease their sorting and stand in formation.

  Raising my hand I willed the liquid fire to flow, encasing the corpses one by one and animating them.

  Notice: Standard Aria Undead, times 20 have been raised.

  Current Minion Count: 57 of 215

  The undead shuffled from their respective piles and fell into line behind the Revenants. I sighed and moved to the human corpses. Lucius’s Shade coming unbidden from my shadow and crouching beside them.

  “What would you have me do?” I thought aloud.

  Lucius looked up towards me and then back down to his former comrades, before slipping back into my shadow.

  I didn’t expect an answer, nor do I think I really wanted one. It had felt appropriate to ask and that was it.

  The Ghostfire spread along the ground and began to seep into their bodies, carving the runes necessary for the Shade ritual. But I added, or rather performed the ritual properly for the first time. I extended the spell towards their wandering souls, not to dominate, but to offer.

  Lucius had made me realize that using artificial soul cores every single time would ultimately lead to a less than useful force. So why not do the same as the Specters? Why not offer the souls of the dead a different purpose, not as incorporeal beings but as physical ones? The only other option was oblivion, wasn’t it? There were no divines coming to save these souls.

  There was a sharp crack in my being at the conclusion of my thoughts and I remembered the question posed to me by Sirus, the question locking away my bloodline. I hadn’t answered it, not yet, but I was close. But was the answer I was getting close to the right one?

  The souls of the dead humans stood before me, standing at the head of their respective bodies. They stared at me, not in hatred, but in confusion. They saw my face, the face behind the mask. The man they had tried to kill. Was there regret in their gaze?

  “I’ll make the three of you an offer,” I began, my voice weak, “I will allow you to inhabit your bodies once more to serve me as Shades. To walk in my shadow and in the shadows of my enemies,” My voice grew stronger, “The alternative is the unknown.”

  Contemplation stretched across their features, and to my surprise, one of them spoke.

  “You’re human?” He asked, I think that one was Liam.

  “I am not,” I replied.

  “What are you?” He furrowed his brow.

  “I am something between life and death.” I answered, my fingers tracing along the horns of the mask at my side.

  “How were you able to raise my sister? And did you take her soul?” I assumed Keer asked hotly.

  “Her goddess allowed me to and no, her soul went back to be with her matron.”

  “She allowed you to?” Keer frowned.

  “Are you also Divine?” The third man asked, Relim I believe.

  “Not as yet.”

  I felt the connection solidify for Relim and his soul became one with his corpses once more. Shadows overtaking his physical form as he stood and stepped into my shadow.

  I raised an eyebrow at the other two, “Will you take your chances with the unknown then?”

  Liam repeated as Relim did moments later and I was left with the soul of Keer. He seemed to hesitate but in the end, he accepted too. What other choice did he have really?

  With five shades now in my shadow, I felt more secure, but time would tell if they would be enough to avoid what had happened today happening again.

  I gazed around at the horde of undead, this would work, for now at least. I approached Myer and gave the order to move out, we were running out of time before the next monster release and I for one did not want to be caught out in the wilderness when it happened. The undead lined up and began marching, the Winter Bound forming a tight circle around me, and the Shades slid from my shadow into the shadows of the forest.

  We continued on. We had lost time because of that fight and we wouldn’t arrive for another half day, but I hoped we had enough time. Camp was set later that night and my intelligent undead took more care and urgency in securing the area, nothing was left alive that could even potentially harm me.

  The sentiment was, appreciated. But when I sat down at night in my little tent, all I could feel was the hard straw of the bed that had been my prison and home for many years.

  We arrived at our destination halfway through our second day of travel, and it was a sight to behold. A massive wall of fog, rippling in an unknown gale. I could only stare at the object stopping me from my plans.

  I approached it cautiously, Elden on my right, and Myer at my left.

  “I don’t get any information from scanning the wall,” Elden mused.

  “And that means what exactly?” I questioned.

  “It is likely something the System put into place, rather than a natural phenomenon.”

  I nodded my understanding and reached a hand out to it, hoping the System would allow me some insight. It did, and it was not what I was expecting.

  [Notice] You have reached the edge of the tutorial zone.

  Global Merge will initiate in two years and forty eight weeks.

  Individual travel will be available in three months. [Note that the arrival destination will be random but will be contained to nearby zones locked by the Fog of War]

  Three months, I could potentially leave in three months. But there was no guarantee of taking anyone else with me to the same place.

  I stepped back, considering the wall and the message. If I truly wanted to leave, I could, but what about anyone else? Who else would trade this for the unknown? For all I knew I would land in an even worse situation. But it was only a matter of time before things escalated.

  There was nothing for it, all I could do was make myself as difficult to get rid of as possible while waiting out this timer. Hopefully whatever I found on the other side would be better, if not, well I’d cross that bridge when I got there.

  Or I could become strong enough to make a stand. I think that’s what Robin and Eustace would want, to make a stand against Harald. But what do we have besides ideological disagreements and moral clashing? It’s not like he’s done anything to truly stand against.

  Maybe I could just leave Riverrun and stay in this area? Go somewhere where I wouldn’t constantly worry about being stabbed in the back or undermined at every turn. Sucenmor was evidence that other settlements existed, maybe I could join someone else?

  I shook my head and looked back to the fog. I had three months to decide what to do. But no matter what I would need to be stronger.