We're almost there when I notice the bears turning their heads to the right. I hear strange noises coming from that direction, and I feel something—the same sensation I get when Ronan uses his magic. Curious, I decide to take a look.

We push through the forest undergrowth and reach a clearing near the mountainside, where there's a rather large pile of bones. The dark energy is so intense that I can actually see it. As I've confirmed before, this is because of my affinity with light.

Ronan stands in front of the pile, with several skeletal animals surrounding him. Right before my eyes, I watch as a cluster of bones from the pile lifts into the air, rotates, shifts, and finally takes the form of three skeletal deer, standing on the forest floor on their four hooves. Black orbs of dark energy flicker inside their once-living eye sockets.

Okaaaaay.

"Hey, Ronan. Having fun?"

The boy doesn't catch my sarcasm.

"Welcome, my lady. The goblins bring me their food bones here; they are careful not to break them. I am raising them. They have also gathered all the bones that were already in the bear cave and the surrounding area."

Seriously, though, how many skeletal animals has he raised? Just at a glance, I count about thirty.

"Weren't you helping them with the smithy or forge or whatever it's called?" I ask.

"I was, but it is done. They are already making tools. So, I came here to train as well, my lady. And, at the same time, to create more creatures for your army."

"My army," I repeat, as if I myself were an idiot.

"Yes, to reinforce the goblins."

"Ronan, I'm not trying to build an army," I explain.

"But my lady, you have appointed me as sergeant of your army, and you are recruiting goblins and bears."

"Uh… right. Sorry. I don't think you know that if I refuse to accept those who wish to swear vassalage to me, the divine beast will die, and I'll be sent back to level one. Besides, I felt bad for the goblins, and I like bears. They're big, fierce animals. I've never had a dog before." I shrug, and I think my logic completely baffles him.

I know, I know… I don't even know what I want, and I'm probably lying to myself.

However, Ronan looks like he's laughing. Wait, does he actually know how to laugh?

"I understand, my lady. Before presenting anyone who wishes to serve you, I will consult you first. That way, you will not be forced to accept someone you do not want."

Was he planning to introduce someone to me? I hesitate to ask. Then he continues:

"My lady, regarding your current vassals. I assume you want to protect them and help them prosper."

Faced with reality, I sigh.

"Fine, but for now, discreetly. I don't want any conflicts with humans."

"Understood. Would you like a report on my progress with these skeletons?"

"Yes, of course."

"Some of the skeletal birds are perched in the nearby trees, keeping watch, while others are spread farther out, covering a large area. The potential mounts—boars, deer, and bears—are in one of the inner caves, ready for when the goblins need them and out of sight. Buried in holes in the ground near the cave entrance and along the forest's edge, there are wolves, along with a few boars, skeletal bears, and other combat-ready creatures."

"What do the goblins need mounts for? We're not going to war."

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"To move faster through the forest when hunting and to transport their prey, for example."

Then it hits me.

"Ronan, last week we conquered the cave, and sure, you managed to raise some skeletons. Yesterday and this afternoon, you raised a few more. But you're talking about a lot of creatures."

"Well, I took the birds to the academy and brought them back already raised in my bag. All the others were done here."

"How much mana does it cost you to raise a skeleton?" I ask, amazed.

"With one point of mana, I can raise three."

Okaaaay.

Now I get it.

"And how much mana do you have?"

He's my vassal, so I should be able to ask about his stats without offending him.

"In total, fourteen, my lady."

Of course, the cloak gave him mana. By the way, the cloak with that ominous mist swirling at his feet—the one he put on just to be in the forest… ugh, the guy gives off a bit of an eerie vibe. Even more so surrounded by the undead. I suppose anyone into the gothic aesthetic would think it suits him.

Anyway, back to my point—doing the math, that's 42 every 20 hours. He's easily raised around 100 in three days. Plus the birds he brought back. Did he seriously dig holes near the cave entrance and bury skeletons alive in them?

Oh my gosh, I don't know whether to applaud him, roll my eyes, or be horrified by this zombie-animal cruelty.

Do skeletons feel claustrophobia if they're buried?

I shake my head. Obviously not.

I sigh and ask him if he's ready to head back.

"I have a couple of mana points left. Would you mind if I were to use them?

"Go ahead."

I sit down and watch him prepare and cast the spell. This time, six skeletons rise into the air and take form—two boars, three wolves, and a deer

The necromancer signals that he's finished, and we head back to the cave, escorted by all the creatures he has raised. Altogether, they don't quite add up to 42, but he might have raised some birds that flew off or spent some mana earlier.

Speaking of which, I still haven't seen any skeletal birds fly. I imagine they do so using magic.

By the time we reach the village, the scent of dinner fills the air—roasted meat. There's also a stew in a huge pot, with chunks of meat and what looks like roots and forest berries. I tried it the other day; it's… not good, but at least edible

Ronan's skeletal creatures disperse, some heading to the mounts' cave while others begin to bury themselves. Curious, I step closer and see that a couple of goblins are helping them with shovels. At the same time, I notice a goblin, excited, bringing Ronan a hammer he made to show him.

"Good work," he says, patting the goblin's head in praise.

I'm stunned. Like I said before—this guy won't touch a human, but he seems to get along great with goblins.

Dinner is lively and relaxed. As we finish eating, Ronan suddenly freezes mid-motion, his hand halfway to his mouth with food.

"My lady," he says after a moment, "I think I have found a way to level up your pup faster."

"A way, you say?"

"Yes. One of my birds—the ones patrolling the farthest perimeter, deeper into the mountains, watching the mountain passes—just spotted a few orcs. I would say it is a scouting party. They are heading this way through one of the passes."

"Wait, orcs are tougher than goblins, right? Like… six or seven goblins to take down one orc?" I ask.

Ronan shrugs.

"Something like that," he replies.

He probably has no clue either, just like me.

"Orcs aren't that strong," Gump protests. "Eight like my brother can take one down."

Uh…

Goblins can't count, apparently. As for his older brother Galp, he's one of the village warriors, meaning he's among the strongest goblins.

"Right," I say to Ronan. "How many are there?"

"The bird relays that there are 'a few.' I believe it is a scouting party, not too large."

If the bird counts as well as Gump, this is going to be fun…

"So, are we going?"

"My lady, I would advise that we sleep first, recover mana, and go at dawn. Better to ambush them in the forest than fight on open, rugged terrain that would give the defenders an advantage. Let's allow them to keep approaching—the birds will alert me if they get too close."

"And how are we getting there?"

"Galp and the other three highest-level warriors are my soldiers, under my command as sergeant. I have discovered I can give them mental orders, and they can communicate with me as well. I am sure they would be thrilled to ride zombie or skeletal bears and take down the orcs. Both of us can also ride bears. "

"They always abuse us, use us as slaves. Galp is happy to attack," he says, while his younger brother looks at him with adoration.

I swear, the little guy knows how to gaze at someone like he's got stars sparkling in his eyes.

"Yes. But we could go alone. With our magic, they wouldn't be a problem, and that way, we wouldn't risk the goblins."

The undead don't count—Ronan can just raise them again as long as he has the skull. And the bears? If they fall, he can just summon them again.

"My lady, using your troops will make you stronger. "

The influence points. The system told me I could earn them through the sergeant and his soldiers. Ronan doesn't have a system, so I imagine it's something he just senses—or maybe his 'friend' told him.

"Then let's rest tonight."

"You heard leader Bianca!" the totem raises its voice. "Fill your bellies and rest. Tomorrow, our best warriors will have the honor of accompanying her into battle!"

The goblins cheer and bang their wooden bowls against the cave floor we use as a table. I can't help but smile. It's crude and uncivilized, but there's something oddly homey about it

Then I catch sight of the totem's sharp teeth.

Hmm… actually, no. I'm forgetting that they're monsters.

I take it back.

Nothing homey about this.

Nothing at all.

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