Back inside Uncle Leopold’s house, the sun was starting to set. Uncle Leopold put on a few logs in the fireplace and prepared some tea for the two of us. I was rooted to his red leather cushioned chair with my feet up in front of the fire. Uncle Leopold sat across from me and set down two steaming hot mugs on the table between us. My skin tingled when I saw him brandishing a knife while dropping a small pile of animal bones next to his mug.

“Don’t be alarmed. The knife is the tool of the necromancer. To assemble the bones to their original place and imbue them with magic, you have to say an incantation. Which is like a poem. Then, once you get to the special line in the poem, you actually have to cut your hand.”

“Cut your hand?!” I blurted.

“Yes. Part of the magic is that you must give your blood to give the bones life.” His smile felt so trustworthy and warm. “But it doesn’t hurt if you do it correctly. I can’t explain why it doesn’t hurt, except that it’s all part of the magical process.”

“That’s kinda creepy.”

Uncle Leopold chuckled. “Why don’t I show you an example.”

“Bones are vessels of the soul. I give my blood to bring life as toll. Rise within and become my companion. Awaken and rise, reform and mend. Become one, once again.”

The tip of the knife glowed a bright white. My jaw dropped as my uncle stabbed his palm. Droplets of blood shot from his wrist and landed on the mouse bones. The bones reconnected like a pile of magnets, and a fully formed mouse skeleton stared up at me, tilting its head.

“See, not a big deal at all.” My uncle smiled.

“Can you show me how to do that? That was amazing!” I put my hand up to the mouse and pet its smooth bones.

“It’s a little difficult to do summon magic, but we can start with another simpler spell tomorrow morning. Sound good?”

I bounced my head up and down.

“Wonderful. Let me show you something.” Uncle Leopold stood up, went to another room, and returned with an old, tattered textbook in his hand. “This is the book that taught me a lot in the beginning, and I think it will be useful to you.” He thumbed through the first few pages and landed on an entry. “Here’s what I’d like to show you how to do first.”

I took the book from him and read the heading: Chapter 4—Bone Flowers.

“Where did you get this book?” I asked.

“Sometimes, cities have bookstores with a special hidden section where they sell illegal texts pertaining to necromancers. This is an introductory guide to all things necromancy. You’ll notice that the pages I’ve skipped go over some of the history the necromancers believe in. Or at least, I think some believe in it. Probably not so much anymore. To be honest, I’m not all that sure because it reads like mythology.”

I skimmed the previous chunk of pages. “Huh, that’s pretty fascinating. I think I might read about that stuff too.”

“If you’re interested, go for it. But read about that spell, and we’ll work on it tomorrow.”

I gulped. “Do I have to cut my hand?”

“Just read the text, and you’ll find everything you need to know.” Uncle Leopold smiled.

I began reading.

The summoning spell. Arguably the necromancer’s most remarkable and most useful spell, it’s used every day and can be applied to almost all facets of life.

This is the first summoning spell every beginner necromancer should learn. It’s a simple introduction that establishes a firm base and understanding. It also doesn’t require a knife or any blood, which is usually an integral part of the process.

The incantation should be said aloud. As you study and get more comfortable with it, you can whisper it. For advanced learners with a lot of training, try saying it in your mind. It takes a lot of practice and great concentration, so don’t give up if you can’t do it after numerous attempts. It can be mastered with patience. Memorize the following lines:

“Beneath the soil I call upon the underworld. Roots, stems, and leaves come out untwirled. Show me an ivory succulent or flower. With the earth, I’m one with your power.”

You cannot read it from the text. It must be memorized perfectly in your head. Success is more likely when the incantation is spoken at a tempo of 104 beats per second, although flexibility exists. With more advanced spells and larger skeletal summons, rhythms are crucial to success.

I spent the rest of the evening memorizing the incantation. It wasn’t very long, but remembering anything was always a challenge for me. My uncle and I sat there, drinking our tea, relaxing by the warm fireplace embers. I practiced reading from the text as Uncle Leopold tapped the rhythm on his thigh.

“I can’t wait to try this tomorrow. This is so fascinating!” I beamed.

“Good, we’ll do it first thing in the morning,” Uncle Leopold said.

“Don’t you have to smith?”

“The skeletons will take care of the morning load, no problem. Besides, if I could show you something that you’ll love, then it is all worthwhile. Life is all about opening doors and finding out which ones you want to keep traveling through.”

“Great, well, I’m gonna head off to bed then. Do you mind if I keep on reading this book before I fall asleep?”

“Not at all.” Uncle Leopold hugged me goodnight, and I scooted off to bed.

By my mattress, a lantern emitted a soft glow in the room as I read the book’s earlier pages. My eyes kept closing, and the words continued to blur. The terms didn’t make a whole lot of sense. Images of the formation of Earth by two spirits filled my mind. This spirit was called the ‘Zevolra,’ Yes? Or something like that? And then there’s this other one that was the ‘Vyrux’, I think? The lantern died out, and within seconds I fell asleep.

In the morning, I gobbled my breakfast of eggs and bacon with Uncle Leopold, and then I rushed out to the backyard. Uncle Leopold laughed as he came outside a few moments later, smiling once he saw me with my hands outstretched at the ground.

“Are you ready?” I asked.

“Are you sure you’re ready?” Uncle Leopold said.

I bobbed my head up and down.

“You have it all memorized?”

I nodded. I had been reciting the whole passage in my head during our breakfast.

“All right, let’s see you work your magic.” He took a step back.

“Beneath the soil I call upon the underworld. Roots, stems, and leaves come out untwirled. Show me an ivory succulent or flower. With the earth, I’m one with your power.”

Nothing happened.

“Say it louder,” Uncle Leopold said.

Again, I repeated the incantation with extra decibels.

Nothing grew from the ground.

“Clear your mind. You’re too focused on the words. Really focus, really picture the bones coming up from the earth.”

All I imagined was a tulip of pure ivory, emerging from the green grass. Its texture, its glisten from the sun, its gentle dance side-to-side in the wind. I repeated the incantation again, my voice booming with my diaphragm’s help.

“Hello?” a voice called out.

I jumped. Would the plant be able to talk?

Uncle Leopold’s eyes darted to woods that made up the frame of his backyard. His mouth fell ajar. A man approached the back of the house, waving as he carried a burlap backpack wearing a wicker disc on top of his head.

“Hello? What’s with all the yelling?” The man chuckled, getting closer, then he froze. “Wait a second.”

I was squinting at the traveler until a white crown poked into my eyesight. I gasped. A three-foot tulip with a base of white leaves stood in front of me. “Wow.” I rubbed the leaves in between my fingers and felt the stem. Smooth, dense, and pristine.

“Unsummon!” Uncle Leopold whispered.

The tulip burst into a cloud of dust that settled on the grass. I fixed my attention back on the traveler, and he gaped at the ground.

“Hello? Can I help you, sir?” Uncle Leopold strode up to him, and I followed, but my uncle whipped his head around and whispered to me, “Stay back.”

My heart sped up, and I couldn’t help but frown. Uncle Leopold had a twinge of anger in his eye. I cupped my ear towards them and inched my way closer, sliding through the grass.

“Uh hi, sorry to come upon you like this, I uh, haven’t been here before, and I got a little turned around. I’m uh, well, I was looking for a Mr. Leopold Smith?”

“Yes, that’s me. How can I help you, sir?”

“Oh uh, well, n-nevermind then, ca-carry on.”

“No, please, explain. A stranger enters my backyard looking for me. I deserve to know.”

“I’m j-just traveling from the other side of Lavarund.” He took a deep breath. “It’s been a long journey, but I’m h-here to request a set of armor to be made for my s-son. It’s my understanding you’re the b-best in the country.”

“Uh yeah, so they say. I’d be happy to help you. While I only take requests at my office in Lostonia, I will take your request under the agreement you forget everything you’ve seen here today. Do you understand me?”

“Su-sure.” The stranger trembled.

“Let’s go inside my house. I’ll fix you up some breakfast; you must be exhausted.” Uncle Leopold turned around, leading him to the house. I jogged back quietly.

“That’s okay, si-sir. I don’t need any food,” the man replied.

“All right, at least have some coffee then, and we’ll work up a contract for you to get your son some of the finest plates in Lavarund. Please, I’m happy to help.”

They sat inside the dining room, and I sat outside, holding my ear as close to the door as possible.

“Now, look, I’m happy to do this project for you. It seems rather simple. You came prepared and brought all of his measurements. I can’t tell you enough how much I appreciate that,” Uncle Leopold said.

“Well, I didn’t w-want to w-waste your time,” the traveler said.

“Thanks. I wish more customers were like you.” Uncle Leopold paused. “I’d be happy to do this project for you, for free, if that’s okay with you?”

“For free?” the man gasped. “I was expecting several gold coins.” He laughed. “Of course, that’s okay with me. How long will it take?”

“Judging by the scope of the needs, I’d say it’d take around 24 hours.”

“24 hours! Why, that’s incredible!”

“Yes, but it’s all under one condition.”

Silence sat between them for an uncomfortable few seconds.

“You cannot tell a soul what you witnessed here today.”

“Oh uh, s-sure.”

“You can pick it up at my office tomorrow morning in Lostonia. I won’t be there, but my assistant will help you.”

“Great, uh, I’ll be staying in Lostonia this evening then. Th-thanks.”

They shook hands, and I slipped away upstairs without a sound as Uncle Leopold showed him the door. I gazed down from the staircase at the man. He said goodbye with a feigned smile.

Uncle Leopold sprinted to the forgery and didn’t say a word to me other than, “Stay inside the house today. I’m sorry.”

The only thing I wanted to do was practice summoning ivory flowers to see how tall I could get them, but I had to listen to my uncle. For the rest of the afternoon, I read about the necromancers from the textbook. I couldn’t believe they used to live among people in the cities all over Lavarund. Nowadays, they lived in the southeast lands of Lavarund. It saddened me to find out they had been exiled by monarchs for the past few generations. When Uncle Leopold came back in the house, I said, “I had no idea about this history with the necromancers. They don’t teach us this stuff in school. They’re barely mentioned in history, if at all.”

He entered the kitchen and fixed himself a tall glass of water from a barrel. Uncle Leopold nodded, but his signature smile was nowhere to be found. His lips were flat, and his eyes were exhausted, not from lack of sleep, but from stress. “Yes,” he finally said after a lengthy pause. “The past hasn’t been kind to them, unfortunately. And as you now know, anyone can be a necromancer, Maximilian.” He moped into the living room and fell into the chair by the silent fireplace, rubbing his forehead. “Come here for a moment, Maximilian.”

I sat on the chair opposite of him. “You okay, Uncle Leopold?”

His lips sank on both ends. “I’m going, to be honest with you, I don’t know.”

Silence lingered.

“Sometimes it helps me if I talk about what’s on my mind,” I said.

He smiled just the slightest bit. “Thank you, Maximilian. You’re a good kid, you know that?”

Compliments were foreign to my ears. How does one respond to such a thing?

“And I know things haven’t been very fair to you,” Uncle Leopold continued, “but that doesn’t mean there aren’t better days to come. I wasn’t able to give you credit earlier, but you summoned up an incredible ivory flower. Are you sure you’ve never done that before?”

I nodded.

“I’m so impressed. If that is something you want to pursue, you should. You ever think about moving away?”

I chuckled. “I think about leaving my house all the time. I wanna be as far away from my parents as possible.” I thought my response would lighten the tone, but Uncle Leopold stared off into space.

“Something might happen to me, Maximilian. And it might happen during your stay here, and if it does, I want you to run. Take my horse and start a new life somewhere else. Sell the horse if you have to. You’re still young, but I think you’ll get by.”

My eyes widened. “That sounds like crazy talk.”

“It’s not crazy, as much as I’d like to admit it. That man that came in here, I don’t trust him at all.”

“I don’t know, Uncle Leopold, you said you’d give him free armor. I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”

He glared at me. “Were you listening in on our conversation?”

I frowned and slowly nodded.

“Dammit, Maximilian,” he raised his voice. “That was wrong of you. You shouldn’t have done something like that.”

“I’m sorry.” I got up from the seat and couldn’t bear to look him in the eye. “I’ll be up in my room. Let me know if you need my help for dinner or something. Again, I’m really sorry.” I went up the steps, closed the door, and sat on my bed, crying into my pillow.

A few minutes later, there was a gentle knock at my door.

I picked my head up. “Y-Yeah?” I sniffled.

Uncle Leopold came into the room. “I’m sorry, Maximilian. I’m just a little on edge. This is a stressful time for me, and I didn’t mean to take it out on you.”

Sitting up on the bed, I continued to look at him.

“Can I have a hug?” he asked.

I nodded and leaped off the bed to wrap my arms around him. He held me for a long moment, rubbing my back.

“Let’s get started with dinner, shall we?” he said.

We prepared a baked ham, potatoes, and string beans. We both had a glass of fresh grape juice and enjoyed a quiet dinner. Near the end of our meal, Uncle Leopold said, “I’m sorry, Maximilian, but as I think about everything that transpired this morning, it might be best if we didn’t perform any more acts of necromancy in the backyard. I hope you understand.”

The excitement I had about exploring the necromancy book deeper and continuing to practice flower summoning collapsed. I had recovered my smile when I helped Uncle Leopold with dinner, but it vanished once again.

“I know, you seem really excited about it, and I wish things were different. But please, do you understand?” Uncle Leopold asked.

“Yes, I do.” I hung my head and finished off the rest of my dinner in silence.