Chapter Seventy-FiveJessica was the st person Harmony expected to approach her after she used dust to cover Len’s Statue’s bits with makeshift pants. “Are you okay, Harmony? That statue was intense.” The sunfire berzerker asked.

  “Probably the spirit's idea of a joke. I am the only necromancer here.” The deflection came out too quickly, naturally filtered through an underlying activity of [Poise and Bearing] and [Style and Grace]. No, her former co-worker didn't deserve that after trying to remake herself. “More likely, it’s reminding me why I’m here after only a glimpse. Being Lady White might seem gmorous, but it has come with a bit of pain.”

  “Well, if you want to talk. I know I haven't been the best in the past, but I’m here for you.” Jessica offered.

  Tyler shuffled over. "I'm, um, here for you too." Making it awkward.

  At least it is just them. Len, Rose, Max, and Adric all had varying understandings of how bad Tyler's timing could be.

  The voice of the spirits echoed again. “You are seen!” Awkward time for a disembodied voice to yell that. The statues crumbled back into the earth. “A real challenge comes.” The spirit voices finished.

  No one needed to be told twice to ready their weapons. After the statue debacle, Harmony wanted to kick something. She’d avoided dying in front of friends to keep them from seeing her like that. Jessica was the kind and tame reaction she'd at least accept. The boys might try to keep her in a padded room for protection. Or worse, run off and get themselves killed

  The three-headed monstrosity that coalesced at the edge of the clearing was a cssic chimera with its lion, goat, and serpent pieces, and in this case, completely undead. The lion’s face was half eaten away to a bare skull and patchy flesh covered it. Its size made it simir to that of one of the floor guardians. Harmony’s head would probably reach its knees, and the lion's head could almost swallow Hyacinth whole. "Grrupt." He compined, sensing her thoughts. Maybe not, considering how chonky he was getting.

  This was not her time to show off for the spirits. But that didn’t mean Harmony couldn’t pn to step in if needed. Getting full use of her necromancy skills for a challenge of this level was exciting. There was always going for the joints by fusing or breaking them. Maybe she could show off and have her and Hyacinth come in from above? There would be more info on what it could do once the other engaged it. Acting as their only support, it could be valuable to readjust to that role with [Mend] and [Renew Spirit] as a heal.

  The shrieking wail the creature let out of the goat head sent a ripple of fear, forcing everyone to step back a few steps under the uncontrolble need to retreat. With good discipline, no one turned away to retreat blindly. The snake-headed tail spit out a gob of acid, and Rose dodged with a skill. The ground where she’d been standing sizzled and started to depress under the effects. [Mend] wouldn’t help with that. Avoid acid at all costs.

  The lion part raised its head to roar. No roar came out as it froze mid-inhation. A faint hiss of escaping air came out, followed by a wet ripping sound as a seam straight down the middle of the powerful creature started to split. Two equal halves of the two-story tall monster separated. A secret transformation? A unique skill? No one in the party had attacked yet. Undead viscera, guts, and bones tumbled out as the teral bisection split, like an unpleasant gift. Their challenge id out, interrupted, disassembled, and uncompleted with the chimera in two still chunks.

  Floating between and over those split parts was a normal-sized man. Bates? No. Bates couldn’t float, and whoever this was they were a tad shorter and undead. His butler uniform was out of date stylistically, and his jacket had a tail. But the uniform was there. White gloves to check for dust, and the nearly identical calm and collected, yet patient look a master butler had. There was also the aura of power that made Harmony feel like it was her first day at Coodly Manor, standing before Bates, ready for her first assignment. A more powerful enemy butler?

  “Sorry to break tradition. Pressing matters are before us and require me to step out early. Let me get a look at the candidates.”

  “Doesn’t seem to be hostile,” Harmony yelled out to the group. Not that she could get much sense other than an aura as her soul sight was blocked. No one put down their weapons but no one attacked.

  “The prince. No longer dying but… that won’t do.” He said, eyes on Adric. Harmony felt their cool gaze turn to her. “Such authority, yet new blood and having it rule you. Not you either.” Rose flinched when he turned to her. “A princess. Good bloodline. Authority is a bit cking, but undisturbed. You’ll do.”

  “I’ll do - for what?” Rosaline asked, using authority to support her words.

  “You’re here to bond a spirit. I have extensive experience serving those with authority. With some uninvited guests coming to disturb this trial you could use the assistance. I don’t recommend going without it, and the time we have is limited.”

  “Guests?” Adric asked.

  “No time. You...” The spirit pointed to Tyler. “...have a bond undead servant scroll and materials. It’s the only one that will be able to handle this contract. Give them to the princess.”

  “Do you know how rare those...?” Tyler started.

  “Give them to her now.” The butler said with enough steel that hinted that if they weren’t given, they’d be taken.

  “Harmony?” Rose asked.

  [Keen Investigative Awareness] was spitting out plenty of arms, but none directly at this spirit. “Do it!”

  The order had Tyler sprint over and hand scroll and bundle, one of the many he brought for the trip.

  The powerful spirit floated down to face Rose. The princess was already dumping Tyler's vials of his blood and cutting her palm for the scroll. “I apologize for the abruptness, my dy. You may call me Hargreaves. I fear this will take too long.” Hargreaves's head turned to the others. “You will need to protect us until this binding is complete.”

  Rose activated the scroll, and a connection started to build between the two. That was when the sky shattered with cracks and chunks that faded out almost immediately, and the sense of environmental control over the area faded from their senses as the spectral trees flickered back into existence.

  “Signal Thorne,” Harmony yelled needlessly, as Adric was already snapping the emergency token he’d been given by her.

  That was when the familiar hit of obscurement passed over Harmony, that same feeling she’d felt when summoned to the alleyway. Whoever was coming didn’t want to be recognized. After that attack on Max, Thorne had provided the team with a charm, just in case, so they’d at least know a friend from foe if this happened.

  Everyone positioned themselves around the princess and Hargreaves. Harmony called forth [Shadowed Graves] ready to fight.