The dungeon's exit turned out to be anticlimactic. Just a rising tunnel that opened into a forest clearing, lit by the glow of two moons hanging in the night sky.
Two moons.
Definitely not Earth.
Mark drew a deep breath. Fresh air for the first time since waking up. The contrast with the dungeon's stale rot was almost intoxicating.
"Master, are you all right?"
Elyndra stood at his side. Close enough that he could feel the unnatural cold radiating from her body. It wasn't unpleasant. Just different. Like standing beside a marble statue that had somehow come alive.
"I'm fine," Mark said, trying to sound more confident than he felt. "Just… appreciating the scenery."
"The scenery is beautiful," she agreed. But her eyes never left him. "But not as beautiful as you, Master."
Okay. That was intense.
Mark cleared his throat. Uncomfortable.
"Ely… can I call you Ely?"
"You may call me anything you wish, Master. Any name from your lips will be music to my ears."
Yeah. I definitely overdid the personality modification.
"Ely," he continued, forcing himself forward. "I need you to explain some things about this world. I've been isolated a long time. My knowledge might be outdated."
An obvious lie. Elyndra accepted it without question. Of course she did. She was programmed to accept anything he said.
That should make me feel guilty. Why don't I feel guiltier?
"Of course, Master. What would you like to know?"
Over the next hour, they walked through the forest searching for signs of civilization. Elyndra explained the basics.
It was, as he'd suspected, a generic fantasy world. Adventurers had ranks from F up to SSS. Dungeons appeared naturally and spawned monsters. Magic existed, though it was relatively rare. And there was an Adventurers' Guild that regulated pretty much everything.
"Necromancers," Ely said, her tone carrying a hint of restrained disapproval, "are… looked down upon. Manipulating the dead is considered an affront to the gods. Most are hunted and executed."
Great. I'm a social outcast in an unfamiliar world. Some things never change.
"And you?" Mark asked. "What do you think of necromancers?"
Elyndra looked at him with those impossible blue eyes. Her expression softened.
"I think my master is the most wonderful person in the world. If he is a necromancer, then necromancy must be the noblest art to exist."
"That doesn't answer the question. But I guess it's the best I'm gonna get."
Eventually, they found a road. The road led them to a city.
It wasn't large. More like a medieval European town. Stone walls. Wooden-and-thatch houses. A central square with a fountain. The usual.
"Master," Ely said, stopping before the gates. "My presence may cause… complications."
Mark frowned.
"Why?"
"I am… was… known. Elyndra Ashford, the Knight of Dawn. My disappearance three weeks ago probably caused quite a stir. If they see me—"
Shit. I didn't think of that.
"Can you… hide somehow?"
Elyndra tilted her head. Considered.
"I have a skill. Shadow Merge. It allows me to hide within any nearby shadow. But it only works if a shadow is available."
"Perfect. Then stay in my shadow. Only come out if I call you. Or if I'm in danger."
"As you command, Master."
And with that, Elyndra dissolved. Literally. Her body turned translucent, then transparent, then vanished completely. Melted into the shadow Mark cast beneath the moonlight.
That was disturbing. And also incredibly useful.
Mark approached the city gates. Tried to look as normal as possible. Difficult, considering his appearance screamed "edgy videogame character" from a mile away.
The gate guard eyed him suspiciously.
"Name and purpose?"
"Mark," he said. His real name. Nothing else came to mind. "I'm an adventurer. Looking to register with the guild."
The guard looked him up and down. Clearly judging his equipment. Or rather, his lack of it.
"Rank?"
"F."
A mocking smile crossed the guard's face.
"Another newbie. Guild's in the central plaza. Don't cause trouble."
Mark nodded and entered the city. Felt the guard's stare burning into his back.
Rank F, he thought bitterly. Bottom of the barrel. Everyone's joke.
But in his shadow, invisible to everyone but him, traveled a rank SSS warrior who adored him unconditionally.
Maybe being rank F isn't so bad after all.