Chapter 64: Return
Thanks to Night Vision, Raven navigated the snow-covered Ashenvale Forest with ease. Wolves and goblins lurked, but none posed a threat to him. After more than two hours of trekking, he found the perfect spot: a tall oak surrounded by thorny, leafless plants.
He cleared the snow, dug a six-foot grave, and waited until dawn. Then, he retrieved Thomas's corpse from his inventory, removed the clothes and belongings, and placed the body near the grave.
As he shoveled soil over the corpse, Raven began a solemn prayer:
"Beloved spirits, guardians of the Eclipse land, we gather here under the watchful eyes of the stars to honor the dead, who have journeyed beyond the mortal veil.
We call upon the Four Winds, the Earth Mother, the Celestial Waters, and the Rebirth Flame to guide and protect him on his passage to the next life.
O Spirits of the Beyond, hear our call. Grant him peace and safe passage through the celestial realms.
In the East, where the sun rises, we ask for clarity and wisdom to light his path.
May the dawn's light guide him.
In the South, where the Rebirth fires burn bright, we seek the warmth of love and the courage to embrace his soul.
May the fire's warmth comfort him.
In the West, where the Celestial waters flow, we pray for the cleansing and renewal of his spirit.
May the water's purity cleanse him.
In the North, where the Earth stands firm, we hope for strength and protection for him on his journey.
May Mother Earth's strength support him.
O Mother Twilight, Keeper of Souls, we entrust the dead into your care.
May he find rest among the stars, his spirit and heart at peace.
We release him into the arms of eternity. May he soar higher and dance with the stars.
Until we meet beyond the stars."
After the ritualistic chant, Raven placed the flower garland near the grave and clapped his hands before bowing his head towards it.
After that, he quietly walked away from there.
…
Raven didn't linger in Ashenvale. He returned to Claw Ville, met Rebecca's father, and secured transport back to Giaris City. The carriage ride was uneventful; the rhythmic clatter of wheels was hypnotic. By the time they reached the Southward Borough, the morning sun bathed the city in orange light, melting patches of snow along the roads.
"Where shall I drop you, boy?" Rebecca's father asked.
"Near Salford, sir," Raven replied.
Minutes later, the carriage halted. Raven thanked the man, stepped down, and activated Shadow Stealth, disappearing into the alleyway.
…
Bristol Street, Salford Borough. 8:00 A.M.
A black-haired boy, around sixteen, approached a two-story mansion. His azure eyes scanned the compound, monocle perched over his left eye. He wore a black frock coat, white shirt, black pants, ribbon tie, bowler hat, and carried his Gladstone bag.
A man in a dark green uniform stepped forward.
"This area is off-limits, boy."
Raven frowned.
'A local guard? I thought he was a policeman.'
"Who are you to block the way to my house?" Raven asked coldly.
A sudden realization appeared on the guard's face.
"I didn't ask for protection. Why are you here?" He questioned further.
The guard hesitated. "Lord Count assigned me after you went missing, Young Master Thomas. I've been guarding the mansion."
Raven noted the guard's identity with the monocle.
'More likely, the count put a guard here for a show.'
"Your duty is complete. Return to the Count and tell him I'm grateful," Raven said, walking past and unlocking the gate.
The garden lay ahead, partially covered in snow. Wildflowers pushed through the frost, stubborn and colorful.
What a grand sight.
The mansion loomed before him: steep roofs, ornate gables, deep-red bricks weathered by time. Tall windows with faded curtains, some decorated with metal patterns, reflected the morning sun like fractured diamonds.
"This mansion is worth over ten thousand gold coins," he muttered, approaching the heavy oak door. Stained glass inset and a brass lion-head knocker adorned the entrance. Vines crawled up the walls, stretching toward the sky.
Inside, the lobby smelled of dust, aged wood, and faint floral notes. Sunlight filtered through the glass, splashing colors across the marble floor. A grand chandelier hung overhead, though some bulbs were dead.
A curved staircase spiraled upward. Rooms branched to either side: kitchen, dining, butler's pantry, guest suite to the left; living room, library, drawing room, office, laundry to the right.
'The mansion is massive.' Muttering, he moved to the laundry room.
Raven retrieved items from his inventory in the laundry room and washed them. Then, he rested briefly on the living room sofa.
A bell chimed from the foyer. Raven stood and opened the door to find two visitors: a tall middle-aged man with a rough square face and black eyes, dressed in a charcoal morning coat, and a blonde woman in her thirties with emerald eyes and olive skin, dressed formally.
"Jacob?" Raven asked.
"Oh, have we met, Young Master?" the man replied, surprised.
"No, but I expected your arrival," Raven said, smiling, then turned to the woman.
She bowed. "Greetings, Young Master Thomas. I'm Quincy, vice leader of the Sepoy Mercenary."
"Welcome, Lady Quincy. Please, come in," Raven said, leading them to the living room.
He gestured to the empty mansion. "There are no servants yet, but I'll hire some soon."
Jacob waved. "I heard you were kidnapped and tortured. How are you feeling?"
"Memory loss spared me from much of the trauma. Mentally and physically, I've recovered," Raven replied.
"But the reason I'm considering hiring the Sepoy—"
"You won't need to worry about safety, Young Master," Quincy interrupted, smiling. "Most of our members are Radiant Rank Walkers; our leader is on par with an Expert Rank Walker. But long-term hiring costs around 800 gold coins per month. Can you afford it?"
Multiple Radiant Walkers… overkill for protection. Perfect for reclaiming Azmar territory, Raven mused. He snapped his fingers, and a leather pouch appeared on the table.
Jacob's eyes widened. A spatial artifact? But no elemental fluctuations… it must be a spell from himself.
"Are you a Wizard?" Jacob asked, frozen.