Chapter 26: Vulnerable Beauty
Tevin instinctively reached for his bone spear while Nero stepped forward, squaring his stance toward the door. His hands clenched, his heart beating faster—not from fear, but in readiness to summon flames at a moment’s notice. The rain had stopped. He wasn’t useless anymore.
Everyone froze in place as a large, shadowy group emerged in the distance. At first, the silhouettes were indistinct, just dark shapes against the faint backdrop of night. But as they drew closer, more details came into view—a tall, grey-armoured figure led the group, a red plume flowing from her helm, a long sword resting at her side. Beside her walked a man cloaked in a black coat, his stride measured and sure.
When the cold steel light from the pole lamps finally reached them, recognition dawned across the room.
It was Merek—and behind him, dozens of students.
Tevin rushed to open the door. As soon as it swung wide, a torrent of anxious figures poured into the cafeteria—seventy students in total, ragged and tired, yet alive. Merek stepped in afterward, moving aside to let his companions pass. Behind him, five armoured undead entered the hall in formation.
Felicity’s eyes narrowed.
The number of those things has increased.
He had three when he left. Now there were five.
Among them was another Vulture wraith—Merek had been lucky enough to find another soul and weave a new armour. Since he was at level 18 when he weaved armour for it, the end result was a formidable level 13 undead.
Their steel forms and grim visages would have once terrified the students. But now, in a world where death lurked in every shadow, even monsters were welcomed—if they were on your side.
To these survivors, Merek and his undead were not threats. They were guardians.