Chapter 86 – Lich of the Empire
The sky was already leaning toward dusk when I finally returned to the city, walking calmly yet carrying something no one would have ever expected a werewolf zombie that used to be a guild receptionist. It walked faithfully behind me, its body now pale and covered in scars, yet its aura had clearly changed not alive, but not entirely dead either.
As I approached the gates of Velthya’s estate, the guards initially moved to stop me, but they quickly recognized me and stepped aside. Just as I passed through the main gate, Velthya herself appeared from within the house, breathless. Her gaze went straight to me or more precisely, to the creature following behind me.
"SYLVIA!" she shouted, running toward me. "Where have you been? I was about to send out a search party! And that..." Her eyes widened at the werewolf zombie standing calmly behind me. "Don’t tell me that...?"
I raised a hand to calm her. "Calm down. Let’s talk inside. This isn’t something to discuss out here."
Velthya’s face tensed, but she nodded slowly and ushered me in. We walked through her grand hallway toward a private sitting room. Velthya prepared tea for us a habit she always kept even though she knew I didn’t need it. Maybe it was her way of calming herself. Or maybe just a form of courtesy.
I sat on a black velvet-covered sofa. The zombie receptionist stood motionless near the door like a statue. Velthya placed a teacup in front of me and sat across from me, her face filled with restrained worry and curiosity.
"All right," she finally said. "Now explain. What really happened? And... is it true you turned her into a zombie?"
I nodded slightly. "Yes. She was part of a trap meant to capture me in the forest. Twelve people were sent to abduct me."
Velthya bit her lower lip, her face showing inner conflict. "She’s a werewolf, Sylvia. The same race as me. I don’t like seeing someone from our race treated this way... But..." She let out a deep breath, then looked me straight in the eyes. "I know you wouldn’t do this without a reason. And I know you... didn’t have a choice."