(Fifteen minutes ago.)

The girl stood in line along with the other slaves. Her eyes vacant as she stared ahead, the threadbare clothes she had on just enough to stave off any chill that the catacombs might hold for the master's stocks. She was thin and small for one of her age, a half-breed between a Snó and Dökk Alfar and only around eleven years old. Her skin was a very pale white with a tinge of blueish colour to it with hair as white as snow that reached down to her thighs.

She had no name as the one to buy her would be the one to give it to her. She had been a slave for the slave trader now for most of her life. He had told the girl her parents had left her on the side of the road and he had decided to take her in as a result of coming across her.

She didn’t believe him, she really couldn’t believe him. She hugged herself a little and shivered slightly. Not from the cold but others might think so, no from the thoughts that plagued her mind at times like this.

Her attention was drawn out from herself by a shadow that fell over her. Looking up she began to shiver even more. A giant of dark metal and blue fire for eyes stared down at her. “Hmm? Aren’t you a bit too young to be a slave?” A kindly yet raspy voice asked her and she looked a little lower to see a black skeleton… with a white beard stare at her. She noticed this skeleton had eyes like her, cross-shaped but where’s her's were a bright pale blue this skeleton had pale grey eyes. They reminded her of her own eyes when she had managed to get a look at herself in a mirror.

Devoid of something, or missing something. The strange skeleton began to chuckle before it went down almost to its knees and looked at her. The bones suddenly peeling back and a face came to be shown underneath. “Our little secret all right?” The man said as he pulled at his white beard to show her a kind smile. He was wearing a fake beard over his own black beard? This was a strange man that was for sure.

The strangest the girl had ever seen in her short life.

The man put the beard back on and the bone’s slid back into place, like a mouth closing over the man's face. The girl had to cock her head to the side as she looked at this strange stranger quizzically, watching as he stood and walked over to her seller.

They talked for a while, the stranger acting like an old man as he gestured back at her and then at her trader. They spoke for a short while before the stranger handed over her price, thirty silver coins. She was a little sad she was only worth that much.

The stranger came back to her and reached out to her. “Want to come with me? I don’t feel so good to see a girl like you in a place like this.” He said gently and she could hear the smile in his voice.

She reached out to his hand tentatively almost jerking it back when she touched his black bone covered hand. He took hold of her hand and she was surprised how gentle he was with her. “Do you have a name little one?” He asked as he gently lead her out of the slave line up and made his way to a stall that had a delicious smell wafting off it.

“I don’t have a name, you are my new master?” She asked him as she looked up at him and then a little fearfully at the metal giant following this strange man.

“Hmm, you don’t? Well, I’ll have to fix that won’t I?” He said with an amused tone before gently patting her head. The girls face flushed at the gentleness of his touch and the way he treated her. “I don’t intend to be your master to be perfectly honest.” He then said.

She looked up at him fearful, was he going sell her off to someone else? Abandon her? Or like some of the slaves spoke of horror stories of mages and necromancers pulling their slaves apart! Was he going to do that to her?!

The man seemed to pick up on her mood and gently laughed in a soft tone. “I have no ill will towards you, child. I think I’m just lonely, Abhorash here isn’t much for conversation at times.” He said as he patted the giant's arm. “No, I think I’ll free you and then allow you to choose if you wish to come with me or go somewhere else.” He then said and gestured to the merchant at the food stall and handed her a large meat skewer.

“Y-you’re going to free me?” The girl asked with wide eyes as she followed him to a little secluded place and yelped a little when he picked her up and put her on his knee.

“I am, eat up. You must be starving.” He said as he took a small bite of his own skewer, she found it strange how his skull mask moved with his own mouth to allow him to bite into his food. She nodded to him and took a small probing bite before lighting up. This was so delicious! She began to almost inhale the meat on the skewer almost chocking on it.

The man laughed and gently patted her back. “Don’t eat so fast it’s not going anywhere. There’s plenty more so don’t hurry so much.” He said as he patted her head. The girl blushed bright red. This was the first time someone had been so kind to her that she could remember. “Hmm, so no name huh? Let’s see... Selene? Nah too cliché.. Carmilla? No, you don’t look like a Carmilla. Isabella? No that would make it way too creepy for me… Hmm, what was that queen’s name again?” The man began to mutter to himself and the girl stared at him wide-eyed. Was he giving her a name?! And of some queen no less?!

She stared at the man as he muttered to himself, he seemed to have switched languages without realizing it as he continued to mutter to himself. She could only stare at him with both awe and curiosity. He was so strange, he had only laid his eyes on her for a moment but he bought her from the slaver, given her food, promised to free her and was now giving her a name as well!

The girl felt like crying with joy and leaned into the man’s chest to hide her tears as they threatened to come forth. But in the end, she only sniffled a bit, she couldn’t feel safe enough to let go while still in this place.

With almost a slight pout she began to eat her skewer and once finished she saw the man was holding his to her. He had only eaten half of it. She looked up at him and saw those kind eyes looking at her, nodding shyly she took the skewer and began to eat it. At that time a man came up to them and she moved herself a little closer against the man. She didn’t know why but his touch and gentleness with her made her feel safe.

Not to mention that he controlled such scary creatures with a wave of his hand he must be strong. She hoped dearly he would take care of her. She was too absorbed finishing the skewer and her own mind whirling with hope for being taken care of by the man, that she didn’t hear a thing that the two men were talking about.

“So who is this girl to you Arkhan?” The other man asked and she looked up at this Arkhan. Was that his name? It was then that she realized she didn’t even know his name and he had already decided to give her a name! She felt embarrassed for her own thoughtlessness and blushed a little as she lowered her head. She didn’t want the two men to see her face.

“This girl? Hmm.” Arkhan said as he looked down at her and she saw something else in his eyes now and it scared her. They seemed void of anything as if he was dead inside but then he leaned down and patted her on the head. “I think I might be rash and adopt her as my daughter. If she so wishes that is.” He then said wistfully as the kindness came back to his eyes.

“Adopt her? But… isn’t she a slave?” Asked the other man and the girl felt that she didn’t like him at all now. Just because she was a slave, she was now a free girl and apparently Arkhan wanted her as his daughter. That alone made her happy and she lowered her head once more to hide the beet-red face and a wide smile on her lips. This had to be a dream right? If it was she didn’t want to wake up.

“And what should that matter to you? Nazim?” Arkhan responded and a little shiver ran up the girl’s spine at the tone he took with this Nazim man. A hand moved over her shoulders and she felt instantly safe and protected, she even went so far as to lean into Arkhan’s chest and buried her face into it, gripping tightly onto his tattered robes like he was her lifeline.

“N-nothing at all Arkhan. I’m sorry its… it's just unusual is all.” Nazim said and the girl could even hear him swallow hard. Arkhan must have given him a stare, it made her happy that he had taken a liking to her to try and improve her lot in life so much. She had desperately wished for a parent, for anyone to come in and take her away from the slave trader. She held on tighter to Arkhan, wishing this wasn’t some fancy little dream of hers and that come morning she would still be his… his daughter. The thought alone made her smile widen, almost to a goofy grin.

“Well… Akasha here is a child, she shouldn’t be a slave. After all, what could she have possibly done to deserve such a fate? Besides we Dökk Alfar should stick together.” Arkahn said and the girl, no Akasha’s eyes went wide as she smiled wide. She had a name and now it seemed a father. Tears began to flow as she hugged Arkhan tightly, desperately wishing this wasn’t a dream.

Arkhan and Nazim seemed to continue to talk while Arkhan patted Akasha’s back and head as she hugged him tightly and cried silently into his chest. They seemed to have talked about something, a deal of some sort but Akasha had been to busy just clinging to Arkhan to pay much attention to it.

She finished crying ten minutes or so after and Nazim had left.

In Arkhan’s hands was a strange crystal, all jagged and pulsing with a soft white glow in its centre. The crystal was a pale blue and the light let off a swirling pattern that looked like stars orbiting the centre within. “Hmm, not a dungeon core world huh? Well, things can’t all be easy. Hopefully, it’ll come in handy in some way.” Arkhan said before Akasha saw the crystal just disappear from Arkhan’s hand.

Akasha flinched a little and looked around, startled that it had just disappeared like that out of nowhere. She stopped looking around when she heard Arkhan chuckle good-naturedly and looked up to see him watching her. An amused look in his eyes.

“W-what did you do?” She asked him as she reached out and touched the hand that had held the crystal.

“I stored it away.” Arkahn said and his amusement was evident in his voice. “However I think you should know your full name little Akasha.” He then said and that got Akasha’s attention and her eyes snapped to look up at him again, eagerness spilling out of her.

“You will be my daughter, I am not named Arkhan, just a little name to disguise myself so don’t use my name until I change out of this costume all right?” He said and she nodded furiously, feeling a crack in her neck and stopping at that point to Arkahn’s amusement.

“I am Vlad Von Carstein and you, my dear little daughter are Akasha Von Carstein from this day forth.” He said and then seemed surprised at Akashas tearful expression. “Uh? D-did I say something wrong? What’s the matter?” He said looking around, almost flailing before she buried her face into his chest again and cried.

He seemed to stiffen a little at that but then gently patted her back and stroked the top of her head. “It’s all right little Akasha.” He then said softly as he began to rock back and forth gently consoling her. Akasha couldn’t be happier as she hugged him so tightly that she felt like her fingers were on fire from the strain.

“This is a right mess we got ourselves into.” Nazim muttered to himself as he left to find Kamber. He had managed to get on Arkhan’s good side, or better side at the very least. Heck! He had even managed to get his cooperation to deal with their problems, the only problem with that? Well, the man was one greedy bastard. Not only did he demand a huge storage device, but he also almost cleaned out the throwaway goods they had hoped to allow him to choose some from.

Not only that but he wanted the Market to pay for his purchases from Morice’s stall and to keep all corpses he would make of the ghouls. Nazim had, had no choice but to accept, after all, he had been afraid he had insulted him when he had asked about the girl on his knee who had been burying her face almost in the man’s chest while they spoke.

Arkhan had to be senile, adopting a slave girl as his own daughter? Ridiculous, he could understand giving the girl a better life but to adopt her outright?! Nazim could only shake his head. Part of him admired Arkhan for such a decision and how kind he seemed towards children.

Of course, it was clear he held nothing but disinterest towards adults at best, contempt at worst. It was a strange way for someone to think, what exactly had this man gone through to become so… strange was the only way for Nazim to think of it.

Scratching the back of his neck he slipped into the auction hall and moved quickly to Kamber to tell him the good and bad news.

As he had suspected Kamber didn’t take it well, though surprisingly not as bad as he had thought he would. They decided in the end to extend the radius that Arkhan would clear out for them as Nazim hadn’t known that when he purposed the deal to the man.

“This way we should recoup our losses and hopefully gain a potential ally and hopefully a regular to our black Market.” Kamber said as he sat down on the chair that had been prepared for him.

“Just.. tell me again what did he do to Orglan?” Kamber then said before putting his face into his hands as he leaned almost fully over the chair.

Nazim shrugged and told the story again, in full detail and as well as he could this time. He didn’t leave out a single thing telling it just how he had seen it and managed to find out from the other guards.

Kamber sighed. “And you say he’s adopted a slave girl? What is that man thinking?” Kamber said as he leaned back into his chair and began to rub at his temples.

“Well he did say and I quote “We Dökk Alfar should stick together”.” Nazim said and Kamber suddenly jerked and looked at him.

“He said that?” Kamber said and once Nazim nodded he began to chew on the corner of his lower lip. “Then perhaps if we manage to let Morice join him we will be fully on his good side?...” He muttered.

“Are you sure about that? I mean the lad is young and you don’t know anything about this Arkhan besides his power.” Nazim said, hoping to at least try and let Morice not end up in Kamber’s schemes.

“Nonsense! I’ve prepared Arkhans private booth and I want you to have Morice there while the auction is underway. Hopefully, the two will hit it off well enough that he’ll take him in as his apprentice. Spells or no spells.” Kamber said and waved his hand at Nazim to dismiss him. “Hurry up and gather the guards, the auction is about to start and I don’t want anything going wrong.” He commanded forcefully before standing up and straightening out his greatcoat.

Nazim nodded and went about his job, mumbling a little to himself once he was out of earshot of Kamber. ‘Scheming bastard.’ He thought as he first went to Morice to tell him the news, feeling bad at how excited the lad became.

Then after telling him were to go he started to head over to the slave markets to start making the people go to the auction hall. He stopped as one of the troll-kin held up a huge axe. It’s back was covered in what looked like a spiky spinal column with bones seeming to grow around towards the blade and down the handle. What made Nazim pause however was that the bone was black and almost oozed a liquid-like smoke from the bones with a hard enough movement.

He swallowed and made his way quickly towards the slave market only to see Akrhan finish putting a bone growth like pattern over a shield with a goat’s skull in it’s middle, this too was shadowy and black. Was the man selling his services now of all times?!

Nazim almost sprinted towards Arkhan before noticing the little girl, Akasha, riding on the bone wolf as Arkhan walked away from his customer. She seemed happy and for some reason had another skewer of meat in her hands. Was she a glutton or something?!

Nazim shook his head, he couldn’t get distracted now of all times. However, he stopped as a couple walked up to Arkhan. The man was very tall with his long black hair tied behind his head with a braid made from the hair on the side of his head, coming together behind his back. A woman stood at his side and both looked at Arkhan like they wanted to behead him right then and there.

“What is your disgusting kind doing here?” The man almost spat at Arkhan who seemed oddly calm. “What?” The man spat as he pushed at Arkhan’s shoulder and the old necromancer took a step back. The people around who had seen what Arkhan was capable of all took a few steps back, Nazim had to resist the urge to do so too.

“Hmm, and you are?” Arkhan then asked in a bored tone as he turned to scratch the head of his bone wolf as Akasha rode it up to his side, looking worried and scared.

“Disgusting, you raise a child?” The woman said and her tone had such venom that Nazim wondered if they knew Arkhan or just hated necromancers with such visceral hate.

“I do, this is my daughter….” Arkhan paused as he looked at the woman and then at the man and chuckled a little. “You aren’t Wolfguardians are you by any chance?” He then asked and the amusement in the man's tone was clearly of the darker variety.

“And if we are?” The woman said puffing out her meagre chest in pride only to suddenly take a step back as the old necromancer began to laugh. The laugh was terrifying, like the one of a very patient hunter having caught his prey.

Arkhan pointed one finger at the man. “What is your name?” He asked and his tone was clearly one that brooked no argument or resistance.

The man frowned and furrowed his brows at Arkahn. “I’m Robert.” He said narrowing his eyes at Arkhan. Much like this Robert, Nazim wasn’t quite clear on where Arkhan was going with this.

“I take it you’re named after the hero some twenty years past?” He then asked and Robert took a step back looking confused. Arkhan only chuckled. “Interesting… And your father’s name?” He then said and the tone at the end of Arkhan’s words was icy cold and clearly threatening now.

Nazim looked around and didn’t see the armoured giant that followed Arkhan around anywhere. Were was his bodyguard at such a time?! “R-Ragnar...” Robert replied a little shakily now as blue ethereal flames and liquid-like shadow began to come off Arkhan’s armour.

“Stephenwolf perchance?” Arkhan said and the way Robert swallowed made Nazim go pale. This was the son of the great berserker general of Wolfsguard?! What the hell was he doing all the way out here in the west?! In some half backwater trade city no less?!!

The slow and dark chuckle that came from Arkhan froze Nazim in his tracks. “I’ll let you go now, child. But I want one thing in repayment.” He said as he suddenly drew himself up and almost grew by half a meter, his haunched over appearance changing to an imposing warrior-like man.

Still holding tightly onto his staff he pointed at Robert. “Go back home to your dear old father and ask him what happened to your namesake. I got the pleasure of talking to him for a minute before his soul was destroyed. Ask him how that happened.” He said and both Robert and the woman grew so pale they might as well have skin made of white paper.

“You… You’re lying, his soul lives on in heaven with Aona!” Robert finally said as he took a threatening step forwards only to suddenly be pulled down onto his ass. The metal giant loomed over him. Nazim hadn’t even seen him come up behind the tall man.

“My lord is not a liar and I will not forgive any trespass upon my lord.” He said in his deep hollow voice, the flames in his eyes flaring up a little as he spoke. “He has given you a task in return for your lives. Perform it or your souls shall be forfeit.” He said and when he clenched his large fists, the creaking of the metal made everyone shrink back.

The woman knelt down to Robert and glared hatefully at Arkhan. “You will pay for this insult necromancer. Mark my words.” Then she disappeared with Robert right before the giant’s fist came slamming down on where she had been. A crater was all that was left in the stone floor as the giant rose to his height once more.

“You are so serious. Can’t you let me have a little fun at those bastards expense?” Arkhan pipped up as he leaned back down and walked up to the giant who knelt to his master, only to get a flick of Arkhan’s finger at his helmet.

“I’m sorry my lord.” The giant said sounding almost like a chided child being scolded by its parent. Something that oddly made sense in a morbid way to Nazim.

“Bah don’t be. The Wolfsguard empire.” Arkhan began giving the empires name a mocking and sarcastic tone of voice. “Is full of hypocrites, traitors and cowards. I just hope those two come to realize it. Before they too are used up by that bitch.” He said and that last word was said with such strong and burning hatred in Arkhans voice that Nazim’s eyes went wide. What could cause such a reaction from this ancient necromancer? Hadn’t he been away for a few centuries?

Arkhan looked at Akasha and walked over to her, placing his hand gently on top of her head. “Don’t worry, as long as I live no one will harm you, my dear.” He said so gently that Nazim wondered if this man wasn’t just senile but utterly insane too. Then the necromancer chuckled happily. “And believe you me, I’m rather hard to kill.” He joked to his adopted daughter who smiled sheepishly and shyly to him.

Nazim waited for a few moments to allow Arkhan a moment with his new daughter before he called out and announced that the auction was starting. He told everyone to head to the auction hall before heading over to Arkhan and inviting him over to the private booth that had been reserved for him.

“My, my how generous of you.” Arkhan said happily as he walked with his daughter riding his bone wolf next to him and the giant behind him. “Ah!” He then said snapping his fingers and looking at Nazim.

“I don’t suppose you have any weapons up for auction that might fit my friend here?” He asked as he pointed with his finger at his giant.

(Later)

Nazim sighed heavily and sat down in front of the auction hall once everyone had entered it that was going to. “I don’t get paid enough for this shit. I need a vacation and a raise.” He muttered tiredly to himself.

He noticed Marion approaching him holding a wineskin in both hands, handing one over to him.

“Thought you might need a drink.” She said almost as she half threw him the wineskin. “You look like shit.” She said with a smirk and he scoffed at her in return before she sat down next to him.

“To hopeful vacations and raises for us lowly guards.” He said with a smirk and toasted his wineskin against hers.

Kamber couldn’t believe it. The Auction had gone off without a hitch. Heck, many had bid rather high for some items. Arkhan had even chimed in to bid when a staff and a claymore came up for auction. He spent almost a hundred and twenty gold to get both.

He was happy as he went over the gains this day. The auction had been cleaned out and there wouldn’t be another market until a month from now.

He personally went over to Arkhan to hand over his purchases and accept his payment. When he entered the half tent that was Arkhan’s personal booth he saw the little girl Nazim had mentioned. Akasha was her name, wasn’t it? Well, she sat on the chair next to Arkhan and was playing with the bone wolf, who seemed to be rather mentally like a pet.

Arkhan, on the other hand, was talking to Morice jovially, the two sharing some joke which they both laughed a little at.

“Ah, Kamber! I’ve gained a master!” Morice said with a wide smile as he gestured towards Arkhan who nodded while chuckling good-naturedly.

“Is that so? Congratulations lad. I hope he will be a good master for you and that you can take his lessons to heart.” Kamber said nodding almost sagely to Morice who simply beamed a bright smile.

“Are those what I bought?” Arkhan said as he groaned a little while sitting up and walking over to Kamber. His staff tapping gently on the ground with every other step and the raven atop it bobbing with the motions.

“Why yes, though I am sorry Arkhan I must receive the payment first.” Kamber said apologetically. Which Arkhan simply nodded to him, he still looked at Kamber with wary indifference which made Kamber’s spine crawl with unease.

Once Arkhan handed over the very same pouch he had handed over to him before with the added weight of twenty gold Kamber smiled. “Here you are and I do hope you will return to our market once next it is set up.” He said bowing lightly towards the old necromancer.

“I just might.” Arkhan said wryly before he made the items disappear into his satchel. “Ah! I’m heading towards the great desert so I wish to ask you something.” He said and paused a little scrutinizing Kamber with his gaze. “How do I get into the black market at the capital and is there one in the oasis cities?”

This caught Kamber by surprise. He had to think for a while before he eyed Arkhan a little. “I think I can manage an introductory letter to the capitals market but I’m not so sure about the oasis cities, however.” He said and bowed lightly once more to Arkhan who simply waved at him.

“Oh don’t worry about it. If you can get me an introductory letter for the capital then I’ll be sated. How long do you think it’ll take?” He then asked as he looked over at Akasha and Kamber was almost floored by what he saw in the old necromancer’s eyes. It was something close to fondness but not quite, as if he was growing fond of the girl the more he was around her.

With another light bow, he left the old necromancer with his adopted daughter, new apprentice and his undead guards. ‘Who’d have thought such a scary man would have such a soft spot for children?’ Kamber thought as he scratched at his head.

He went into the secondary office that was connected straight to the auction hall and prepared everything. He put what would be Arkhan’s reward for helping him out and the introductory letter along with a small map to where to go to present it in the capital. It should be done as fast as possible after all.

Once he had finished he noticed that there was another storage bag left in the office. Quizzically he touched it and mentally plumed its depths. It was full of skeletons, scrolls, books, tomes and strange trinkets. “Oh right! This must be Morice’s stock.” He said to himself as he took it along with him. He might as well make a better impression to Arkhan while he still had the chance.

He moved slowly, having to weave through a few of the patrons that had decided to dally around and chat. Most were humans and Kamber held back his distaste for the race. He needed patrons to keep the market going after all, so no reason to alienate the most dominant race in this kingdom.

Kamber managed to squeeze through everything and came back into the half tent where Arkhan and his retinue seemed to be getting ready to depart. “Ah, I just wanted to give you the reward for the task you wished to render my little market and Morice you forgot your wares.” He said with a smile as he handed over each bag to their respective owners.

“Oh, right I should give you what you bought from me shouldn’t I?” Morice said as he dug his hand into his bag before stopping at a gesture from Arkhan.

“Lad, you’re my apprentice now right?” Arkhan said with amusement. “Don’t hurry we can have our little fun with those skeletons at a later time. I would, however, like to have one of those soulstones you mentioned. They gather souls and free-range spirits into them to store for later use you said, is that correct of me?” He said and Morice actually blushed a little at his perceived fopaux.

He handed over a fist-sized and roughly cut purple like a ball of what looked like a mix of slate and obsidian rocks with the way it seemed to gleam yet also seemed muted in colour. “Well isn’t this interesting,” Arkhan said as he held it up before a torch to let the light glisten off it.

Kamber noticed the wide-eyed look from the girl at his side as she stared into the ball. She seemed rather mesmerised over how the colour played over the rough-hewn orb. “How many would you say would fit into this single one?” Arkhan then asked as he took the orb away from the torchlight and looked at Morice.

“Oh...I-I think around ten or twenty I haven’t really managed to test it out fully, too low level you see.” Morice said sheepishly.

Arkhan looked from the orb and then at Kamber before handing it over and giving him a meaningful look. Kamber swallowed and nodded before looking at the orb and analysing it. “This should manage to hold up to twelve or so souls. This is of rather poor quality for a soul gem according to the analysis. Perhaps there is a way to refine them?” Kamber said taking on the air of a professional as he handed it back.

Arkhan nodded and asked him to check out two swords for him, a great sword and long sword. These took a bit longer for his skill to get through but once it was done Kamber was a bit wide-eyed. “This… These are both something called Blood drinker swords. They gather blood from the wielder's enemies and use that to heal them. Feeding on the enemies life energy to heal the wielders. Such enchantments are exceedingly rare. Where did you get these?” He asked excitedly as he handed them back.

Arkhan seemed to be about to answer but then the screaming started. All hell had broken loose. All the men in the tent rushed out, Arkhan a little slower than the younger men but once all of them had exited the tent they saw pandemonium.

Skeletons wielding femurs and jagged bones ran around the bloody auction hall. Tackling and swarming patrons and guards alike. Ghouls came in snarling and ravenous, pouncing and grasping for anyone that got to close to them.

A singular voice echoing from the main market area beyond. “I am the Necroshade! I will not tolerate this trespass upon my domain!” A raspy and weak yet contradictory enough it was also a powerful one. That voice rang out from the market hall. Like someone was trying to scream the words while inhaling at the same time.

“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me… That thing was actually real?” Arkhan muttered in annoyance.