Chapter 8

Lord of Tomes

Bullin strode over to a nearby crate, pulling open the lid. In rapid succession, he pulled out multiple pieces of leather bundled together. “Try these on,” he said as he laid the leather garments onto the enchanting table.

June walked over and appraised the items. There was a simple pair of leather pants and a mass of leather straps. Both items were made from the same simple leather. Looking closer, June noted small runes that she didn’t recognize etched into the surface of both. She also found a basic red leather scabbard.

“That should fit you just fine,” said the dwarf, “belt it around your hips, with the loop through the scabbard, simple.”

Nervously, June tried to thread her bony frame through the large pants. She managed to do it after a few tries, only hanging the bones of her feet twice.

June reached over, grabbing the belt and scabbard next. She looped the leather strap around, but couldn’t cinch it closed. When she tried to loop the leather strap over her hips, she couldn’t tighten it. The belt just hung over her hip bones loosely. Bullin instructed her to channel Mana into it. As she did so, the leather pants and belt alike fit to her frame. Instead of draping loosely over her bones, the leather remained in the air just off her body.

“Right, now we’re off to the library,” said the dwarf as he clapped his hands together.

Before June could ask any questions, he was already out of the main door. She grabbed the sword off of the anvil, sheathed it, then ran off after him.

The skeleton sprinted after the dwarf as he left the shop, catching up to him a few seconds later—as he rounded a corner. Along the way, June cast glimpses around. The hallway bore similar black stones and carved reliefs she had known from her room. This area was much more polished and clean than anything else she had seen. Though she couldn’t stop to look at the images etched into the wall, she caught peeks of faces and other figures in the dances of torchlight and shadow around her. Instead of flat walls, multiple statues and other artwork sat in alcoves in the surface.

The skeleton trudged along behind Bullin for several minutes before the nature of the surrounding area changed again. The previously narrow stonework widened into a larger passage fit for multiple beings to pass. Along each wall were different entryways. Some bore unmarked doors, and a couple led into dark offshoot hallways. It seemed they were traveling along a primary thoroughfare running through this level. After a few minutes, the pair arrived at a massive stone arch heading into a series of grand rooms. The skeleton entered the cross-shaped hall, following Bullin.

Inside the chamber, June was met with new images and senses. The room filled with a noticeable shift in heat. This new chamber was carved from a much brighter stone, a definite departure from the carved black stones of the previous area. The chamber itself was lined with several more statues, all of which featured reliefs that June didn't recognize. The chamber led into three different arches, each leading into a new room.

Bullin charged through the arch to the left, leading into a room with tables and a forest of shelves. Within the library sat a massive amount of books stacked high on racks made of simple carved wood.

Ahead of them, was the largest of the three rooms. The room ahead seemed to glow as if filled by a small star. Craning her neck, June tried to peer inside before entering the room Bullin was entering—inside the new room she heard a mess of noises sounding like impacts on metal. A flurry of bones and dead flesh inhabited the forge, and she saw a few undead standing in front of small black stone forges. They looked to be working on metal projects of some kind, although June couldn't see close enough to make out any details.

The chamber to the right was closed off by massive wooden doors. Within the gates set a dizzying array of bones, arranged into the gigantic relief of a skull. The eyes of the skeleton blazed with a deep violet hue. June looked to the sides and nearly leapt back at what she saw flanking the door. There were two immense patchwork golems made of stone. They seemed inert, but gleamed with an ominous lavender light. At the center of the living piles of rubble, thrummed a huge purple gem.

June hurried off into the waiting library, somewhat mixed with feelings of dread and eagerness.

“W...What was—” June stammered out.

“Sit, I’ll explain it all. Just let me get some things.” Bullin rushed off into the deeper shelves.

As June entered, she found an empty table to one side. She sat down and waited...and waited. Very quickly getting bored, she decided to glance at the shelves around her. An unknowable quantity of books and scrolls sat on nearly every surface. Racks were neatly sorted into rows, but there was no order clear to June’s untrained eye. As she perused a few shelves, she plucked a random book from the shelves, titled Advanced Runics and Theory, by Archwizard Valguraan. The green spine glinted with silver lettering.

When she opened it, a dizzying array of information and runes laid out before her. Thumbing through the pages, she saw rituals and spellwork that were entirely alien to her. Nothing like this existed in the MMO version of this reality. It seemed magic was much more complex here than she had initially thought.

June thought it was rather strange she could read this, considering that it probably wasn’t written in English. She filed the question away.

Bullin returned as June put the book down onto the table. She looked over, noticing an unknown figure following closely behind the dwarf. June could have seen him from a mile away. The skull of its form floated amid a flowing white and gold robe. Gilded edges of the garment dragged along the floor, hiding its true form in a silky embrace. Slowly stepping around the tables and shelves in the chamber, the being moved with careful grace. This thing had to be seven feet tall or higher, from June’s perspective.

Bullin sat down at the table with an arm full of books. Gesturing for her to sit down, Bullin pulled a chair out opposite June, and the two began talking in earnest. “I have so many questions,” said an exasperated June as she sat.

“I’ll bet. First, let me introduce the lord of this fine vault of intelligence, Mukkrag. He’s called the Tome Lord.”

The massive skeletal form behind Bullin sank into a deep bow. “Tis’ an honor to meet a new member of our fine dungeon,” the new undead drawled. “As the forge master said, I am Mukkrag, Lord of Tomes and Knowledge, proud to serve in the employ of the glorious Lord Sharth’ax.” The skeleton leaned in, its shadow casting a tall black line across the table, as its golden eyes regarded the tome June had opened in front of her.

“Ah, advanced Runes, a magic-user of some kind, yes? Tis’ a wonderful thing to explore the greater mysteries of our world.”

The pompous nature of this thing’s speech set June’s teeth on edge, but she did her best to grin and bear it. The way he moved spoke to a careful and considered being, June thought it was good to not to upset him.

“I’m just very curious about this world I’ve been reincarnated into,” she declared truthfully.

With a slow nod, the giant skeleton seemed accepting of her answer. It faced Bullin, before continuing, “if you need anything, please do ask.” Turning quickly, its massive form sauntered off deeper into the library.

Bullin turned to June. An exhausted look crossed his features before a soft smile covered it up.

“If you want any books from here, just ask me, and I’ll grab them for you. We can't have you just taking whatever you want, can we?. Until then, you can make do with these. And no, don’t come back here without an escort like me. Those hulking golems outside will smash you to bits.”

“That’s one of many things I wanted to ask about,” said June, turning her attention away from the pile of tomes before her.

Bullin made an open motion with his hands, availing himself of her inquiries.

June asked about the library around them, as well as this dungeon. She was still in the dark about most of it.

“When we get the chance, I’ll explain it in more detail, but for now, let’s stick to this floor. This is an area called the Spellforges—the main crafting area—and where you’re most likely to find knowledge or tools when you want them.”

June nearly jumped out of her seat in excitement at the combination of news. She had access to a tremendous source of information about the world, something she could put to use. As to not let her eagerness show, she did her best to school her features. “What are those other two rooms?”

“Ah, the main spellforges, that’s where most of the crafting happens here. As I’m sure you realized on the way in here, there’s a lot of stuff going on in there. That sealed door, that’s not for you to worry about, just know that it’s where my boss is. Do me a favor and don’t disturb them,” he finished with a stern look.

Their conversation continued by broaching that stack of bones in the workshop.

“Oh, those were feral undead, they needed to be dealt with,” he explained in a plain tone that was shocking to June.

Bullin explained the concept of feral undead to June, she was reminded of classic zombies from many films and media. “The feral state is way too common with freshly summoned ones,” he said. “They fracture, and their mind goes with them.”

“Fracture?” she inquired.

“Just a term I’ve heard bandied about. All I know is that it's dangerous. And if it goes unnoticed, things go south. The best way to root them out is to scare the pants off ‘em. Can’t have half the S-man’s forces wiped out, can we?”

Something about his tone lit June on fire emotionally. He spoke about all other undead as if they were property. Anxiety grasped her entire being, as an icy cold and familiar sense made her want to jump up from the table and run. Forming a response, her tone turned dark as she tried to sound intimidating. “I don’t appreciate being talked about like some trinket, you overgrown beard,” she shouted, as she slammed her balled fists onto the wooden table. Her voice still filled with ice, she continued. “Look, you’re going to have to understand. I don’t want to do this. So it’s either let me go or destroy me.” A tense handful of seconds passed between the two.

“No use hiding it then,” admitted the dwarf with a shrug. “I couldn’t hurt you if I wanted to, s’not my call to make.” Bullin fixed her with a cold gaze before continuing, “You’re one of the more important ones out of that recent batch. Every so often, some undead comes through with a potential Elite Class, or unique ability.” Bullin finished his statement by pointing to June with his bushy black eyebrows raised. “That’s where ones like you come in, you’re going to hopefully take command of a squad, and head out into the world. Once you’ve trained up a bit, of course.”

“So you’re saying I’m stuck here?”

A curt nod was Bullin’s response, his eyes had turned to a glassy haze.”The compulsion should take care of that temper of yours." He held up his hand as her jaw dropped at the gall of his statement. Bullin rolled up his sleeve and showed a familiar S-shaped mark on his forearm. He pointed behind himself with a crooked thumb to a mirror fixed on the wall.

June rushed over to it to check herself over. She hadn’t been too focused on checking out her new form until now. Panic formed in the pit of her being as she scrutinized each bone. Then, in a flash of terror, she saw the same spiral-made mark burned into her left shoulder blade. Her jaw dropped, and a wave of horror washed away any fire of resistance in June’s core.

June slumped back into her seat and stared at the surface of the table.

“At least you got an Elite Class, that’s sumthin’,” said the dwarf through a thin smile, clearly trying to make the deal sound better than it was.

June was a mess of negative emotions. “Why me—why did I get sent here? What have I done wrong?” she thought to herself as anxiety racked her bones once again. The new skeleton could feel that familiar sense of resignation taking hold. The echo of “what’s the point” could be heard in her own mind. That toxic voice that sounded like her own, it screamed a hopeless mantra into her consciousness.

“You keep saying this Elite Class like it’s important, or like I care,” spat June.

“Well,” started the dwarf, revealing a small glimmer of panic on his face, choosing his words carefully.”That little purple gem is vital to your survival. Not only is it the key to getting stronger, which is what you’re here for, it’s important in other ways. For one thing, you can’t die. As long as that nugget stays intact, you just come back. Where I can’t say, but you just shuffle on back," he said with a beckoning motion of his hands.

“What’s the difference between mine and the others I’ve seen?” June asked, snapped out of despair in a moment of curiosity.

“That style of gem there isn’t handed out too often. Most undead start with a basic one, or none at all.”

The implication of what Bullin was saying washed over June like a tidal wave. The blows of repeated shocking reveals sent June into a deluge of memories and emotions. Out of all the undead June had watched receive Class Gems. She’s the only one she’d known to gain a color other than red, blue or green. June pondered a new question, discarding it for now after brief consideration. The prospect of being immortal was cruelly tantalizing to her. Maybe there was a way out of all this. A plan formed in her head, filed away for later. She also wondered why she hadn’t noticed many other undead in the time she’d been here. The skeleton raised that question to her larger companion.

“Each time a special undead spawns like this, it’s kind of rare, usually someone claims them for their own uses. Most of the others end up with basic classes and get dumped into the larger programs. Until the rare ones are ready to venture out, they’re assigned to a master. That’s where I come in.”

June put together the information in her head, realizing that most of the undead around here probably weren’t immortal like her. After asking Bullin, he confirmed as much. The next question was obvious to June. “Someone?” she asked.

“You remember that giant contraption you stepped into?” June nodded in the affirmative. “Well, that’s a magical device that the Lords use to appraise new undead. It’s a bit beyond my understanding, but it’s basically a way to process a bunch of corpses very fast. Varren could probably explain more.” Holding his hand up to intercept the next question, Bullin said, “Varren Ebonwood, my master, they were in that chamber that day trying to recruit for the crafting legions.”

“Is that the skeleton with the bedazzled face?” After June clarified what bedazzled meant, it was Bullin’s turn to nod yes. Moving past her concern over the mysterious undead, June continued pressing. “So why me? And what am I supposed to do?” pressed the undead, asking in a hurried voice.

“Like I said, you’re special enough to warrant the exclusion. That feral state I mentioned can sometimes spread. We’ve found it’s better to keep more powerful units separate. And that’s why I’ve been doing all this, we can’t let you leave.”

June deflated, knowing that she was effectively trapped here, and without the power to escape. Stuck between her new masters, and that horrifying mass of rags, June descended into a horrifying state in the back of her mind. She fought not to show any emotion as she stared down at the table.

“I know it sucks, took me a long time to accept too, but it’s the lot we’re given.” The dwarf was seemingly trying to sound sympathetic, but his words rung hollow against the vicious combination of burning hatred and despair blooming in June’s chest.

“Come, let’s get back to work,” said the dwarf as he rose from his chair, heaving his heavy frame.

June scooped up the works and followed him out into the dungeon.

Returning with an armful of tomes, June was instructed to put them into her chamber and get straight back here. Rushing off to her room, she threw the various volumes onto her bed in a huff. She took a moment to slump into the straw and stare at the wall. After a few minutes, June resolved to see this bullshit through to its end. She slowly trundled down the hall to the workshop.

Bullin explained that the process she was going to undergo to get stronger couldn’t be done easily or passively. It was a long and arduous thing to undertake, but well worth it. “Hey, at least you won’t die of old age before you get tougher, eh?” he joked.

June didn’t laugh.

Their conversation continued for a few minutes before turning to the topic of actually leveling up.

“Remember when you taught me to first interact with my core? How could you see what I see?” asked June, confused about the process she was being instructed on.

“Ah...well, it’s kind of a quirk of that mark on your shoulder. I can sort of get glimpses of your core under the right circumstances,” he sheepishly admitted. “Normally, you would have to open yourself up to stuff like that, but it’s one of the things that the big boss did with his minions to help control them.”

“Great, more intrusiveness from the walking blueberry and his cronies,” she bitterly thought to herself. “How often can you use this little power of yours?” June asked, wanting to know how on guard she should be.

“Only when you’re actively cultivating Mana, I sort of just follow the threads and see where they go. I only get flashes, in a sense, but I’m pretty smart, I can figure out what’s going on.” A curious smile dawned on his face in that instant. “Actually, I’m thinkin’ of correcting that today. Let’s teach ya how to better control your essence, that way it’s harder to get a read on you. It’s actually the final step in the leveling process, ya need to bring the pieces together and build your core, nice and strong.”

Bullin explained some finer points, highlighting the need to use Runes and other techniques she had begun to experiment with. The ritual was beautifully complex, outside of June’s knowledge by a long shot. Bullin was busy trying to illustrate the Runes he was going to draw for her when she interrupted him.

“There was something I saw that was pretty interesting in one of those books, think it was called Matteir’s Ritual?“ asked the curious skeleton, remembering the scrawls she had seen jotted in the margins of the runes text.

He nodded knowingly before responding, “Ah yes, that’s a term for what I’m talking about.“ Bullin explained that June needed to rethink how she visualized her core. The goal was to organize it, in a way.

“You’re saying I need to redo my core entirely?” asked the confused skeleton as the two stood in the workshop, hunched over the enchanting table.

Bullin pointed to the book that was open on the table, “that ritual will help a lot, but you need to do most of the work yourself. I won’t lie, this ain’t going to be easy. But I can help.”

The high-level smith explained that each person has to reorganize their core through brute force. The idea was to compress then expand the overall shape. He pointed out that Mana would often fight back in a way, reminding June of the way her Death Mana had assisted in the Lightning conversion. She kept quiet about the details, though. A few more minutes into their conversation, Bullin brought up the concept of the Weave.

“Think of it like ring mail, or stitched fabric,” he said. He flipped through the same book, pointing to a section with complex diagrams. “Try to understand that, it’ll help. The Mana flows like a stream when it’s at peace, and floods destroying everything in its path when it's challenged.”

June thought through his words, picturing herself being buried under a torrent of ichorous clouds. Steeling her resolve against the menace, she was as prepared as she was ever going to be.

Deciding that it was best to let her work through the problem on her own, Bullin wanted to retire for the day. Bullin gave her free rein of the workshop for the night, giving her more space to work.

The Matteir’s Ritual was scrawled hastily in the margins, making it hard to figure out exactly how to use the information revealed to June. The ritual itself was described as a mana purification ritual that focused on the entire core. This would be significantly tougher than the conversion ritual she had already done. The sheer complexity of the runework alone revealed that much.

Copying the runes onto some parchment from the book, she took a closer look at them. The mixture of Runes only contained a few items that she recognized. The entire assembly was surrounded by Purification and Distillation Runes. Within she noted ones for the four basic elements arranged in some kind of alternating spiral pattern.

As she sketched it in charcoal, she decided to try Mana Sense, making sure she wasn’t missing anything. When she did, the entire room shifted around her, the greyscale that dominated the scene was expected. But, the Death Mana shocked her, it wasn’t in the form she expected. Instead of the tiny wisps, the area of the shop was choked with a massive snake of negative energy. The Mana swirled and heaved, as if it was breathing.

Deciding that now was the time, she began. Focusing on materializing her core, June was able to force it to materialize amid the maelstrom. The previously burning light of the core was dim against the whirlwind of living nightmares around her.

“Bullin wouldn’t let me do this alone if it was dangerous, right?” she thought, concerned about the implication. Figuring this was part of the challenge, she forged ahead.

As June focused more and more in on her core, she tried as hard as she could to push the Mana into it.

When she put more mental effort into the task, June could feel a wall blocking her path. The Mana was resisting her. More time passed, and June felt a lot more pressure from the surrounding Mana, it seemed to be closing in. Those nefarious whispers were back now, too, and this time they seemed angry. The whispers quickly exploded into esoteric shouts. Alien tongues lapping at her consciousness. It seemed like Mana was trying to stop her, distract her. And no matter what she tried to conceive, nothing worked. She tried to visualize all manner of weaves to force the mana into, things like a spool of silk, but it resisted still.

Around her, the Runes she had drawn as part of the ritual were flaring. Beams of white light drifted from the surface of the parchment, searching for a target. Like a whip, the golden tendrils snapped into her core after a short delay. As she tried to force mana from outside in, she hit on an idea. Pulling from her own core, a tendril of Mana followed her command and fed the Runes.

June felt a pull similar to the one of her being sucked through her core, and she fell into it. The contentment she experienced was near-euphoric. At that moment, the whips of light exploded, snapping out in a funnel shape over the entire room. The Death Mana folded in on itself over and over, tightening into a dense lump of boiling shadow. Try as it might, the snake of energy couldn’t break the hold the runic formation had, no matter how much it squirmed.

At that moment, June found her fire. Amid the din of screaming souls, she found peace in her own power. Reliving the death of the lightning wyvern, she felt every part of her mind and body sing with joy. A burning passion for exploration and creativity filled her mind, casting out the shadows and noise. June’s eyes lit up with the same golden light of the runes, and bathed the entire workshop in their gaze.

June envisioned herself yanking at the edges of her core, trying to unfurl the tightly wound thread, to weave the mana into the mix. Instead, she thought of a balloon, expanding and expanding, until it popped. Pushing the thought to the front of her mind, she willed her core to follow that example.

The funnel of light snapped at that moment, pulling everything back into her core in a great conflagration of wind and magical fire. The snake was ripped to shreds by the whipping winds of her core’s pull. Over an agonizingly long minute, the chunks of mana were ripped to a bare thread before being pulled into the maw of her expanding core. It disappeared like a rope falling over a great cliff, and all was still.