Setting up camp went by relatively quick. A lot of people decided to set up in one of the few extra rooms in the large cabin that the Lesser Lich used to call home.

Malcolm helped out with discarding the skeletal remains of the Lich’s minions, he did falter slightly once he put together that all of the undead were once the inhabitants of the mining town. He glanced around and saw others nonchalantly tossed the undead carcasses into piles, they didn’t even flinch. Malcolm’s mind reeled, just how often did abandoned town become nest for undead for them to grow so callused to it.

“Just place them in that large pile over there!” Saria said when she saw him hesitate. “I’ll conduct a minor blessing and then we can burn them. This way we don’t have to worry about them getting back up again.”

“They can do that?” Malcolm asked as he tossed what used to be a woman judging by the shaggy hair clinging to its skull and tattered dress, into the pile. He suppressed a shiver as he looked at the massive pile of undead bodies.

Now that he was Lichmarked he could feel the intense death magic seeping from the tainted corpses, he strained his eyes slightly and could see the dark wisp like tentacles reaching out hungerly.

“We have to get rid of this. It looked like it’s trying to spread.”

Saria sighed. “That’s eldritch magic, it’s an unpredictable element of magic. Unlike the other eight elements, which balance each other and flow in a constant flux. Eldritch magic is unruly and can only be used for one thing, destruction.”

And now I have that magic coursing through me? Malcolm absentmindedly scratched his now gloved left hand, He could feel the branded mark throb with a dull pain.

“So, there are eight elements?”

“Well yes,” Saria began counting out with her fingers. “There are the four primal elements of water, fire, earth, and wind. And then there are the extended elements of light, dark, death, and life.”

Malcolm nodded along, he had guessed as much. The Realm seemed to function close to the videogames he used to play back on Earth. Though his eyes widened as Saria continued with her lecture.

“Though scholars have recently made discoveries to support that there may be even deeper elements.”

“Deeper elements? What other element could there possibly be?”

Saria chuckled and tapped two fingers to the side of her head. “The mind.” Then she pressed her hand to her chest. “And the Soul.”

“So like telekinesis and soul magic?”

Saria turned to Malcolm with a strange expression on her face. “Not quite. For example, life magic has countless spells that include the soul as does death magic. When I say the Soul element, I mean the true soul of all things, to be able to tap into the very essence of being. Into the soul and beyond the soul, deep into the aether and right in the quintessence!”

“Okay, I’m confused.”

“Exactly!” Saria pumped her small fist. “Magical theory is so interesting. If you want, I could teach you a little of what I know about-”

“Excuse me, Lady Saria? Uh, Lord Malcolm?”

A man awkwardly approached them, seemingly confused on who he should address first. Again, Malcolm began to wonder just who Saria was, back when they were at the orc camp all she did was say her name and title and everyone nearly fell over themselves to join them to New Arcadia without question. Could she be a threat to me? I should put together a countermeasure, just in case she tries to betray me. Malcolm squinted his eyes, then shook his head. What? No. Saria has been nothing but helpful! Where did that thought even come from?! He scratched his left hand and made a mental note to ask Saria about her past later.

“All of the bodies have been collected, we await further instruction.”

“Ah!” Saria clasped her hands together. “It is time for the blessing. Do you have anything to say before I finally lay them to rest, Lord Malcolm?”

Malcolm blinked. He looked around and saw that a small crowd of people were now gathering around them. Apparently, a lot of people wanted to show their respected to the former residents. They had decided to pile all of the bodies on the far side of the town, the spot was just far enough to unsure it wouldn’t be disturbed by any future growth of the town. He also saw that it was getting darker, the sun was setting behind the mountain range. It’ll be night soon. Our first night here, in our new home.

“Uh yes, right.” Malcolm strained his mind for a moment but then decided to just speak naturally. “These people died a tragic death, manipulated by dark forces, and bond beyond death to wander for countless years in their own homes.” He knelt and straightened a small skull which had to have belonged to a child. He turned and face the crowd around him, taking in their somber expressions. Internally he wondered just what these people expected from him. Why did they choose him to follow? Did he deserve their devotion? Pushing those thoughts aside, he clenched his jaw and continued.

“They have been liberated now. Finally, they are free to rest. Now it’s up to all of us to take their home and bring prosperity and vibrant life. I know we will make them proud. So now I say, we therefore commit these bodies to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Amen.”

Saria smiled at Malcolm and wiped a tear from the corner of her eye then proceeded with her blessing, which turned out to be simple spell. She whispered the word of magic in a soft voice as if it were a prayer.

Malcolm looked in wonder as the inky black aura of death was wiped away and then cleansed further as torches were tossed onto the piles and began to burn it all away. He took the moment then to look around at the shambled town, the dense forest that surrounded the front, the crystal-clear lake at the rear, and the massive mountain range that apparently held of the ocean on the other side.

Breaking away from the crowd, Malcolm made his way towards the lake.

“According to the Lesser Lich’s memories, this is where the mine is supposed to be.” Malcolm walked down to the lakes beach, staring hard into the water’s depths.

Thanks to his new night vision ability it wasn’t too difficult to see down into the deepest parts of the lake, he could even vaguely see holes deep down. He also saw what appeared to be a cave of some kind on the far opposite side of the lake. The abandoned mine. There was also a countless number of strange schools of fish.

“Is it even possible for an entire mine to be submerged by water?” He asked himself. Turning around he began to fully scan his new surroundings, truly taking in the vibrant lush forest and pristine lake.

He began to walk the lakes sandy shore, cocking his head slightly as a familiar sound tickled his ear. Rushing water. Far to the side of the lake was a fallen over grown tree that perfectly covered a small river that flowed deeper into the forest.

“What are you doing?”

Malcolm nearly jumped out of his skin at the sudden voice behind him. I really need to improve my situational awareness! He screamed internally. He turned to see Darion grinning at him. This sly bastard!

“Did I scare you?” Darion placed a hand over his mouth to stifle his laughter. “Just what were you doing all the way over here? Hmm? Something deviant?”

“Oh, shut up!” Malcolm snapped. “I was just going to explore a little,” he gestured to the trickling river. “wanted to see where this leads to. Want to come along?”

Darion hesitated a moment before nodding. “Sure. But I came over here to tell you that we found a strange iron door in the basement of the townhall. Saria thought that you’d be able to open it.”

“A door in the basement?” Malcolm questioned out loud as he pushed passed a bramble of foliage. “We can check that out later. For now, we can-Holy shit!”

“What is it!?” Darion pulled out his bow and nocked an arrow as he rushed to Malcolm’s side. His muscles tenses as he brought the bow up to aim. “What’s wrong?”

“Look at that huge ass mushroom!” Malcolm rushed over to a towering spotted mushroom which had to be at least thirty feet tall. “Whoa, look at this!”

Darion deflated. “You damn fool, I thought something was actually happening!”

Malcolm snickered. “Now who’s scared?” He poked at the colossal shroom and was amazed by how soft it was. Curiously he pinched and pulled off a tiny bit of the shrooms trunk. “Wow, it’s so spongy. What is this thing?”

“It’s just a Lume Shroom,” Darion sighed. “Though I’ve never even heard of one growing so large. They usually don’t get” He glanced at Malcolm who was still investigating the tiny lump in his hands. “Don’t eat that please. It won’t kill you, but you’d be sick for days.”

Malcolm glared at Darion. He opened his mouth berate his green haired friends but then something behind him caught his eye. “Whoa…”

With his new night vision ability, Malcolm could clearly see the massive rocks set into the stone ceiling above them. He vaguely remembered Saria going on about how the oasis was created in a natural biodome, but now his eyes widened as he saw the sedan sized rocks begin to emit a soft yellowish glow.

Darion had taken notice of his friends’ attention and turned to look up at the glowing rocks. “By the Gods above. Those are sunstones! They must take in the sun rays from above and discharge some of the energy down here…”

“That must be how all of these plants survived down her without direct sunlight.” Malcolm concluded. He continued to stare up at the sunstones, from so high above they looked like stars. “This place really is a fantasy world…”

“We should head back,” Darion said as the forest began to come alive with the chirping and chittering of wildlife. “we still have to check out that door.”

Malcolm turned to the small river and noticed how it continued to travel deeper into the forest. He had no doubt that it also went farther underground as well, mentally he made note to further explore the forest around the town. Not to mention the weird little caves by the lake, Malcolm reminded himself. Being lord of the land was seriously keeping his plate full.

“Alright,” He grinned as he snatched his eyes from the marvelous sight above him and began to stretch. “Let’s get down to business!”