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Bard to Death

By

Al Song

"He wrote the secrets of the dead. Few would know the words again," the wolf sang as he held the last bittersweet note and strummed the final chord of the song on his lute. A faded grayish blue strand of smoke emitted from the triangular sound board and spiraled around him. His tail and shoulders slumped as his ears flung back. The mist floated to the ceiling and formed a cloud that rained blue rose petals, which disappeared as they fell.

The tavern's audience 'oohed' at the spectacle in the quaint tavern and applauded cheerfully at the solemn bard. Soon they turned their attention back to their drinks and started to converse loudly and boisterously.

A skinny badger with a rag slung over his shoulder clapped the wolf on the back and said, "Herr Himmel, thank you so much for your lovely music! Here's your pay for the night." He handed him a small bag of coins.

"Thank you, Hans. I'm just glad to have an audience," he said and smiled softly at the bartender.

"Your performances always bring in business," he said flipping a coin from one paw to the other.

"Well, I appreciate it," the bard said as his tail gently wagged.

"Oh, I've found someone that can help you on your trip," Hans said and grinned towards the wolf.

"You found me a bodyguard so soon?" Friedrich asked as his eyes lighted up and his ears flicked to attention.

"Come on, I told you not to doubt my people powers," the badger said and nodded his head towards a tall and bulky rat in leather armor sitting on a stool across the room. "He's not dressed like that just to listen to music and have a few drinks."

"He's quite handsome," he said and bit his lip.

"I thought you'd like him. I'll introduce the two of you."

"Hey, I just needed protection. You don't need to set me up with anyone," the wolf said and frowned at the bartender.

"But I do," he said still grinning. "You're always in your little house studying magic and singing sad songs. You always help everyone else in town so why don't you let me help you out?"

"But, it's my job to help everyone."

"Come on. Two ales, on the house! Now go have fun," he said while nudging the wolf over.

They walked across the room and then Hans slapped the brown furred rat on the back.

"This is Friedrich. He needs a big, strong guy to prevent him from dying," the badger said and smirked as the skinny wolf gave him a dirty look.

He shook paws with the large rat, who then raised the wolf's paw and gently kissed it. Friedrich felt his cheeks getting warm at the intimate contact. Hans said that he'd leave them alone so they could flirt, even though he walked a few feet away and cleaned a stein while grinning at them.

"Your performance was amazing. I'm Wilhelm by the way. Wilhelm Croix. It's nice to meet you."

"Why that's very kind of you to say. Are you from Fahlung?" the wolf asked when he heard the slight sweetly flowing accent.

"Yeah, I was born there and lived there for most of my life. When my mom found out that she was pregnant with me she said that since my father got to give me his Fahlungese surname then she should get to give me a Yilamungian first name, so she named me Wilhelm. I don't think I'm ever going to lose the accent," Wilhelm chuckled. "My mom constantly spoke it to me and I've been out here long enough, so I am somewhat fluent. I'm _down_with all the slang too." He made a cheesy smirk at the last sentence and it made Friedrich smile with a light snicker.

"Who doesn't love the accent? The language sounds so pretty," the wolf said still beaming at the rat.

"Xenophobes and people that hate Fahlung, I guess," the swordsman said with another chuckle.

"Fair enough. So, how much will it be for your protective services?" Friedrich asked.

"It's fifty Gip per day. You don't need to pay me until after I've escorted you to wherever and then back," he said as he twirled a finger in the air. "If I'm dead then I really don't need the money and if we're both dead then I didn't do a great job."

"That's... fair," he said nervously and tapped his fingers against the soundboard of his lute.

"I'm not trying to sound horribly morbid. I'm just trying to be honest."

"Well, I also know defense spells so I can help us if anyone tries to hurt us or steal from us," Friedrich said as he snapped his fingers and a small flame appeared above his fingers.

"Hey, put that out! This place is made of wood," the barkeeper shouted as he was still staring at them.

"Sorry," he apologized as his ears fell.

"That's good to know," Wilhelm said. "I've noticed that people have been attempting to rob me more and more lately in Yilamun."

"Well, crime goes up during war, I guess. Usually I enchant my belongings so if anyone pickpockets me then the object sets them on fire until they give it back."

"Isn't that dangerous?"

"It only burns the thief, and everything and everyone else is safe," the wolf said matter-of-factly.

"That's pretty cool. Anyone die that way?"

"No, I just tell them what's going on and they throw it back at me. Their fur stays intact and it's not a real fire. They just feel like they're trapped in a fireplace."

"So, you're a tricky fighter?" the rat asked as he raised a brow.

"Well, I think it's all pretty straight forward. If you set off a trap then it's your own fault especially if you stick your paw where it doesn't belong. Trying to pick the lock on my house does the same until you stop."

"What if someone jumped in water and then tried to steal from you?" the swordsman asked.

"Boiling water is still painful to the touch."

"I'm glad I'm protecting someone who has all his bases covered," the rat said with a smile.

"I don't know how to throw a good punch or swordfight and you're an extra pair of eyes. Trust me," the wolf said and put a paw on the rat's armored shoulder. "I do need someone to protect me."

"Here you go. Drink up and be merry!" the badger said as he slammed down two steins full of foamy ale.

"Um, may we not die the next couple of days?!" the bard said as he lifted his stein.

"I can drink to that," the swordsman replied as he lifted the drink and knocked it against the wolf's stein.

"Prost!" they shouted and gulped some of the ale at the same time.

"I guess someone's trying to work his own magic on us," the rat said as he shot his eyes over at the staring bartender.

Friedrich nodded and mouthed a confirmation. "So, I'm guessing that you're single too?" the gray wolf asked.

"Yep, I'm as single as a one Gip coin," he said with a cheesy smirk. "I wish someone would pick me off of the road already."

"Do you date very much?" Friedrich asked as his ears tilted.

"Eh, I had a boyfriend a long time ago and we were together for a couple years but it ended... messily, but I've been on dates with guys now and then," the rat said and took another gulp of the ale.

Friedrich nodded empathetically.

"How about you?" the swordsman asked back.

"Not really. I had someone close, too, but he turned out to hate me pretty badly."

"I'm sorry," the rat said and put a paw on the wolf's arm. "You don't seem like someone people would hate."

"It's okay... I think," Friedrich said and sighed. "And I guess I haven't really dated much in the past few years."

"How old are you? If you don't mind me asking," Wilhelm said.

"I'm a little over thirty one. You?" the wolf asked back.

"I'm thirty three."

"Well, usually I'm with an older gentleman whenever I date," Friedrich said and looked down at the wooden floor. "I hope this isn't too forward to say but I do think that you're very handsome."

"No, that's blunter than the last mace I had, but the opinion's mutual," the rat said genially to the wolf.

"Thank you," the wolf said turning his gaze back at Wilhelm.

"No, thank you. You're sweet."

The wolf and rat sat together and slowly drank and flirted for another hour. They mostly had small talk about things on the surface like their favorite dishes, and songs that they liked. Friedrich showed off a few little ditties. They had a fun time getting to know each other and they kissed one another on the cheek afterwards.

"Alright, I'll be at the inn tomorrow morning. Would you like to meet me there and then we can get started on this trip?" the rat asked.

"That sounds fine with me," the wolf replied.

"I'll see you then."

"Have a good night."

***

Friedrich woke up at sunrise with a crackling stretch and a loud yawn, and got ready for his pilgrimage. He threw on a billowy cream shirt and dark brown pants. He took out a spellbook and chanted, "Gnai yu nai gup bao." He shoved it in the old leather rucksack and added the resources that he needed for the trip. He put a few blankets and an aged pillows in the in the bag along with food that would last a few days and then a journal that he used to write songs and personal notes in. He put the case to his lute in the bag and a few other necessary items. The bag still looked like it was almost empty.

He placed the lute strap around his shoulder and then put on the backpack, which felt like it barely had anything in it. He checked around his home again to see if he would need anything else for the journey and headed out.

The wolf walked to the inn excited to see the handsome, brown rat again. He waved at Wilhelm, who was leaning against the building finishing up an apple and waving his long pink tail. The rat waved back at him and tossed the core into the compost barrel.

"Good morning Friedrich!" the rat said cheerfully to the sluggish wolf. "How are you today?"

He rubbed his eyes and yawned, "Morning. I'm a little tired. I didn't get much sleep last night. I guess I was thinking too much about the trip."

"Hey, I'll protect you from highway robbers and thieves," the rat said jauntily. He then pointed to the lute, "So you're providing us with entertainment along with way. That'll be fun. Do you take requests?"

"Sure, anything you have in mind?" the bard asked.

"How about something fun?"

"I've been working on a little song. Tell me what you think," Friedrich said.

Friedrich plucked a few notes slowly at first but then picked up the tempo and his tail started to swish in time with the jaunty song. A pink stream of steam emitted from the lute and created the shape of a wolf and a rat. The two vaporous figures danced together. Soon the song stopped and the steam faded into the atmosphere.

"What did you think?"

"It was cute, but maybe you should save the magic for later. I don't want you tiring yourself out," the rat said.

"My fingers got more exercise out of that than I did. It's about the same amount of energy as slowly walking around a town square for me. I also improvised that last part."

"From what you just played and your performance last night I think that you're an amazing musician," the swordsman said kindly.

A warmth rushed to the wolf's face and he looked down at his feet. "Thank you." He then looked up and noticed all the equipment Wilhelm was bearing. "Oh, would you like me to carry your belongings?"

"Are you sure?" the rat asked. "I've got a lot of stuff and it's heavy."

"I put a spell on my bag. See?" he said as he pulled out the case for his lute.

"That's a cool trick, but I'm going to keep my weapons on my person." He gave a big grin and was returned with a gentle smile. The rat placed his own rucksack into the enchanted backpack and it swallowed it up like a starving person with a cake in front of them. "It's nice travelling light. Well, let's get going."

"Alright," the gray wolf obliged.

As they walked through the village Wilhelm asked, "So how long have you been playing music?"

"My parents owned a music store and they taught my sister and me how to play different instruments when I was growing up. The first instrument they taught me was the lute and I instantly fell in love with it. I also love playing flutes and reed instruments. When I was about eleven my family paid for me to attend a mage college and I also spent some time at a bard college, since I made my instruments my foci. My family and neighbors wanted me to have opportunities to do whatever I wanted and they were all so supportive," he said grinning at the memory.

"If you went to two fancy schools then why are you here in the middle of nowhere?" the rat asked with a cocked brow.

"Heh, I just wanted to get away from the city and have some quiet time around me," he said nervously.

"The countryside isn't so bad. I used to live in a big city too. I don't find many mages out here though."

"We are definitely rare out here, but everyone's already spread out."

"I guess so, unless you stumble across some recluse of a mage." Friedrich's step faltered at that but he caught himself. Wilhelm then said, "I was just walking down a path and this frail, old squirrel popped out from behind some bushes and shot a bolt of lightning at me and told me to get off her property, then she threw some berries at me and teleported off somewhere."

"Well, you know sometimes mages and musicians like to live alone away from people so they can hone their craft without disturbing other people."

"Sorry. I didn't mean any offence towards you," the rat frowned as his ears dropped. "I'm guessing that you don't zap people for walking in front of you house though."

"I don't try to hurt anyone until I'm provoked but most of my attacks are wind and air based anyway. I rarely ever have to use fire."

"Isn't air defense mostly for pushing people away?" the rat asked as he cocked his head.

"I can force the air out of someone's lungs and suffocate them," the bard said as he strummed his lute and gust flew out of the soundboard.

He just got a stare out of Wilhelm.

"I've never actually used it on someone. It's just something you learn how to do in school. It's not like you couldn't strangle someone," he said quickly and anxiously.

Wilhelm just stopped and grimaced and then walked along again without a word.

"Oh, I'm sorry. We can change the subject," Friedrich said panicked. "I didn't mean to say something to upset you."

The rat sighed and shook his head. "It's okay," he said and smiled back at the gray wolf.

"Alright," Friedrich said.

They walked down to the edge of town and crossed the small bridge over the river flanking the town. Friedrich put a glass bottle in the water and added a pinch of a gray potion and said, "Sah'aht." It turned the brown liquid as transparent as its container.

"Maybe I should have studied more magic when I was younger," the swordsman said as he examined the bottled liquid.

"You can start at any age, and you can use it just for practical applications. Are you able to do any magic?" Friedrich asked.

"I can make a small orb of light, but I know that's a pretty basic thing. I can also make a weak light shield but both those things took me a while to learn."

"I guess it's like learning how to play an instrument. It's difficult at first but when you get a hang of it you can play different songs and it makes it easier to learn new instruments," he tried to say reassuringly. "But I guess it does take a while to figure out the basics."

"If I do learn more in the future then I guess I have a pretty amazing teacher that can help me."

"You definitely know how to flatter a guy," the wolf said and felt his cheeks warming again.

As they approached the edge of the town Wilhelm swept his gaze around at the natural beauty beyond the buildings. Friedrich took a second to take in the sight of the mountains and the lake off in the distance.

"Hmm, the countryside looks really nice and then all the grass is dead over here. It's a curved line around the town. Do you know why that is?" Wilhelm asked.

"I think someone's just watering the plants really well and maybe the river helps and then that grass might just be temperamental," he gave a sudden chuckle as he scratched the back of his neck and looked down.

"Is everything okay?" Wilhelm asked with concern in his voice.

"Yes, everything is fine," Friedrich said shakily and curled his light gray tail close to him. "I guess I'm still a little nervous about traveling this way."

"I'll keep us both alive and you're able to protect yourself." The rat then stopped and softly placed a paw on Friedrich's shoulder and said, "We'll be okay. I promise."

A few merchants were headed into Sueddorf that morning with their wares and Wilhelm cheerfully greeted them and they all smiled at the sight of Friedrich, who always proved himself useful when it came to helping everyone in town. They were especially happy since he was with another man.

"You're a mage for hire around town then?" the swordsman asked.

"Yeah, I also teach music and sometimes magic at the schools."

"You've made a name for yourself then?"

"I guess so," the wolf said and paused. "For the most part I stay at home and try to find new magical discoveries and I practice my instruments a lot."

"That sounds like a cozy little life," the rat said gently.

"It is, but sometimes it gets lonely."

"But it seems like you have a whole town that cares about you."

"You're right," Friedrich said and smiled up to Wilhelm and gave him a tight hug.

The two talked longer as they headed down the road paw in paw. Friedrich pointed out different plants and how they could be used with magic to be medicinal or how they could be used as poisonous weapons and Wilhelm listened attentively. The strong rat also taught Friedrich a couple phrases in Fahlungese. After a while they sat and had lunch together and talked about what they saw in the cloud formations encroaching upon the sublime, immense mountains in the distance. Wilhelm was lying down on the waving grass and Friedrich put his head on the rat's chest. Friedrich played a sweet, soothing song on his lute. They tried to stifle chuckles and giggles but they failed and the wolf looked up to the rat's handsome face. Wilhelm put his arms around Friedrich and looked back at him. The two sat up and gave each other a gentle kiss.

"I like you a lot," Friedrich said.

"I feel the same way," Wilhelm replied.

***

A few hours later they reached the edge of the Dunkelholz Forest. The coniferous forest's canopy was lush and bountiful but only a few strands of sunlight managed to make their way through the needles of the trees.

"Let's try not to get lost," the wolf said and took out the map. He marked a location in the north east of the forest and a purple arrow appeared above the map pointing north-eastwards. "Instead of pointing north, this will point us in the direction of our destination. Just so we don't lose too much daylight getting there."

"Alright, but what if there's a river, or a lake, or a cliff?" Wilhelm asked.

"I've got spells and I guess we can go around them if we need to."

"I trust you," the rat said and the wolf smiled back at him.

"To be honest it's a little nerve wracking. Okay, this is very nerve wracking," the wolf admitted.

"We'll just need to be quiet and careful and if a bandit or a thief tries anything on us I think that we'll have a handle on it."

"Okay," he said taking a few deep breaths and Wilhelm kissed him gently on the cheek. Friedrich exhaled deeply and nodded up to the large rat.

The two traveled through the dark trees for a while trying to sneak their way through and to stay off the larger paths already made by other travelers.

A while later Friedrich smelled scents of various species getting closer him. There were remote rustles and the sound of a few footfalls in the vicinity. The two stopped immediately.

"You heard that, right?" the wolf quietly asked.

"Yeah, should we try to hide?" Wilhelm asked back to him.

"Give up. You're surrounded," a shrill voice teased and cackled.

"Stand directly behind me," Friedrich whispered to the swordsman.

"Okay," the rat said and stood behind the wolf.

He whispered, "Baow dai ngin," and played an open string. "This will protect us."

He plucked the highest string on his lute and slid his finger further and further down the string. He then howled, "Hahng!" and then twisted the string's tuning peg. A high pitched whine emitted from lute.

"It hurts!" someone groaned.

"My ears are bleeding!" another shouted.

"Stop, no, please stop!" another begged.

The wolf and rat were oblivious to these pleas and they waited standing back to back for a minute. Friedrich then whispered, "Fuhng." They could hear again and the agonizing screams hit their ears like a bell tower's fire alarm. Friedrich then told Wilhelm to run.

After a few seconds someone yelled, "They're over there! Get them!"

They reached a trail and a tall cloaked figure with an open book and a splayed hand had sprayed a cone of flames towards the wolf and the rat. They jumped out of the way and Wilhelm tackled the cloaked wizard.

As Friedrich fell he stumbled against a tree and a dagger thudded against it directly above him. He saw another wolf dressed in green duck behind a bush. Friedrich saw a shadow move, turned his head and quickly strummed his lute at an ax flying towards him. "Yuht!" he said and strummed a chord. It stopped and dropped a few feet away from him.

Wilhelm rolled down the path with the towering wizard and his hood fell off to reveal a deer with large branching antlers. He punched him across the muzzle and then jumped off him and drew his sword.

Friedrich strummed his lute and a dust devil appeared near the other wolf. It sucked the wolf from its apex and twirled him as he howled for help.

He saw the spellbook on the ground and a piece of paper with his face and the word 'wanted' above it. He quickly grabbed it and shoved it in his backpack.

He heard and smelled dozens of other thieves headed for them. He looked at Wilhelm's bloody sword and sighed. He sat with his legs crossed and started to strum a minor chord. He hummed sorrowfully and sang, "The sweet past has passed. Never can we forget you. Always will we know and love you. Help me, please we need you."

The ground started to shake and rattle. Fallen trees and sticks rose, while others rolled towards where the bandits were. The ones that stood had grown branches that looked like arms and legs. They stomped and slammed themselves against the bandits. The slain wizard started to stand up like someone who was just woken from a deep and restful slumber. The gash on his neck bled but his expression was aloof and dead serious.

"Don't attack him. He's still dead," Friedrich said to Wilhelm and held the rat's shoulder back.

"What's happening?" Wilhelm asked distressed at the scene unfolding before him.

Friedrich gave the buck his book back and he marched towards the other bandits.

"Well..." he looked downward.

The rat's eyes widened and he shouted, "You're a necromancer!"

"Yes, but we have to leave. Now!" Friedrich said as he took out the map and sprinted along with Wilhelm.

They ran a long distance through the woods with branches and underbrush undermining their progress. Eventually they made it to the edge of the forest. There was a clearing with a field of long grass near it. They jumped into the grass and started to mat a patch of it down.

"I think we'll be okay now," Friedrich said as he stomped and ripped out some grass.

"What's going on!?" Wilhelm yelled. "How do you know how to raise the dead?"

"They were trying to rob us, and I was just trying to protect us," Friedrich said as he pulled out a couple supplies to set up camp. He pulled out a blanket but the paper was also in his grip. He let go of the blanket and paper drifted towards Wilhelm.

The swordsman looked over the wanted poster. "What's this?" he asked.

"I..." the wolf said and tried to search for the right words.

"You made me kill innocent people!" he shouted as he raised the paper to Friedrich and smacked it and the wolf flinched.

"No, they weren't innocent people. They were robbers," the mage tried to argue.

"They wouldn't have been here if it weren't for you! You didn't tell me that you're a criminal," the rat yelled.

"Those thieves would have robbed you if I weren't here and they would have robbed me even if I didn't do anything wrong, which I didn't. I swear," Friedrich pleaded.

"Then why are you on here?" he asked pointing to the picture of the wolf.

"Can we just set up camp before we run out of sunlight first?" the mage asked meekly.

"Fine," the rat relented.

They cleared the small area around them so they could set up a tent along with a space for the pot and food. They finished assembling the little refuge as the sun started to set.

They heard a rustling in the grass and Wilhelm readied his sword. The cloaked buck appeared in front of them with bloodied antlers and his throat still dripping with his own blood. "It's okay," Friedrich explained. "He's here to keep watch while we sleep."

"Can I ask why I'm helping a criminal?" the rat said and scowled.

"I'm not a criminal," he retorted defensively.

"But you practice necromancy. That's banished magic. You made all those dead trees and that mage come back to life. That's wrong and immoral. Plus, you're on a wanted poster."

"You know what? I've only helped people with necromancy. I'm the one that keeps all the crops 'alive.' Nothing can grow well in Sueddorf. The soil is horrible. I'm the one that's responsible for allowing farmers to keep their jobs and keep them happy. I get no thanks for that. I'm not abusing what I've learned. I saved us from getting killed," the wolf said and then he started to tear up. "I learned necromancy because Bachstadt, the town my family lived in was pillaged when I was in school. When I got the letter that stated my family was dead I cried for days and I couldn't go to any funeral. I started to learn necromancy when I became a professor so I could learn how to talk to the dead and try to say goodbye to my family. I paid you to help me get somewhere, not to judge me." He then started to sob as tears escaped from his eyes.

Wilhelm turned his gaze downward and frowned.

"I'm sorry for yelling at you but please just help me see my family for the last time before I get myself killed," Friedrich said through sobs. "I haven't said that out loud before. I just need a moment."

"Alright, I'll leave you alone for now," he said calmly.

The rat walked through the wall of grass over to the undead deer and sat next to him at the edge of the tall lawn.

"Do you know of anything else that's going on with him?" he asked the deer.

The undead mage shrugged his shoulders and looked back at the forest. He stared without breathing or any motion. Wilhelm found him to be completely uncanny but he also wanted to give Friedrich space, so he stayed.

"So, you gored someone?"

The deer turned his head and nodded.

"That must have been tough for you."

He shrugged again.

"Can you talk?"

He pointed to his bleeding slit throat.

"Ah, yeah. Sorry."

After a while of sitting in awkward silence Friedrich called him and said, "I finished dinner."

"That didn't take too long," the swordsman said as he walked back through the grass. "I mostly warmed up vegetable soup and made cheese and lettuce sandwiches. I didn't poison them or do anything to them."

"I trust you," Wilhelm said. "So, can you explain the wanted poster?"

"I can," he said and gave a sigh. "Well there's a secret section in the mage college in Freihochstadt that only professors can access, which has forbidden and highly classified materials. I found some old books about necromancy and I kind of stole them. I learned how to reanimate insects and plants from the books. One time I reanimated a withered flower and someone saw me."

"So they tried to arrest you then?" the rat asked.

"Well, I was reprimanded pretty badly by the dean but I got to keep my job. I became more and more obsessed with trying to learn more about necromancy, especially how to talk to the dead. One time during the night I was reanimating a few butterflies and roses that were thrown out of a flower shop. I heard a yell and I ran towards it. I discovered the body of the flower shop owner and I resurrected him. I was scared but I also felt like this way my only chance of practicing necromancy on an actual dead person."

"Woah," the rat whispered.

"The shop was near the college and the dean saw me with the dead body and he kept shouting that I had murdered someone and that I was a necromancer. I ran for my life since I had the most important book on necromancy on me. It was written by King Vernicht."

"He was the one that tried to rule the Lands with necromancy, right?"

"Yes, one of the people. His book had a lot more on the subject than the others combined," Friedrich went into his bag and pulled it out.

"I'm speechless," he blurted.

"It's been useful in my 'research.'"

"May I look through it?" the rat asked.

"Sure, if you'd like," the mage said.

Wilhelm opened the book and all the text looked illegible and it wasn't in a language he knew. His head then started to throb. "Ow," he said and dropped the book.

"I should have told you that's what happens when you start to try to read it. Sorry I forgot."

"It's okay. At least it didn't explode in my face," the swordsman said with a chuckle. "I couldn't read any of it though."

"It's in a dead language, pardon my pun."

"At least we can still joke at time like this," Wilhelm said as the two smirked at one another. "Then what happened?"

"I hopped from one town to another trying to get food and books on magic. I already know a lot but I still wanted to learn more. I also had my instruments on me in a bag since my lute's my focus I wanted my other instruments to do follow in its footsteps and help me with magic."

"You've been through a lot for saying goodbye. It's very noble of you," the rat said gently.

"And stubborn," Friedrich added.

"Couldn't you have just gone to Bachstadt after you left the college?"

"Between Freihochstadt and Bachstadt there were and still are a lot of battles going on between kingdoms, and I didn't want anyone to see me and arrest me. I guess I've also been pretty impatient for the last few years," the wolf said and frowned.

"I do believe you."

"Thank you. Ugh, I shouldn't have put you through all of this."

"It's okay, it's my job and I've seen worse," the large rat said trying to comfort the wolf.

"I meant that I should also have told you the truth in the beginning. You would then actually know what you were agreeing to."

"It's understandable why you wouldn't have told me."

"Are you still upset?" the wolf asked.

"For the most part I'm not. The food's really good by the way."

"Thanks," Friedrich sighed.

The two smiled at one another and continued to eat.

***

When they woke up the deer was still sitting attentively at the edge of the grass. Friedrich said, "You may now rest," and the body went limp against the ground.

They packed up the blankets and equipment and shoved it all into the enchanted backpack.

"So, where to next?" the rat asked as he stretched his thick, muscled arms.

"The map says that we keep going northeast," Friedrich said as he looked at the purple arrow guiding their way.

"I hope I didn't snore too loudly last night," Wilhelm said and gave the wolf a hug before throwing on his leather armor.

"I fixed that with a spell," Friedrich said quickly and threw on his flowing cream shirt.

That stunned the swordsman. "Oh, well, I..." he stuttered.

"I'm joking I fell asleep before I heard any snoring. Thank you for holding me last night," the wolf said and stood on the tips of his toes to kiss the rat.

"No problem," the swordsman said and kissed the mage back on the cheek.

The two walked paw in paw and were still vigilant about highwaymen and robbers as they walked towards Bachstadt.

"So, Bachstadt is in the valley between these two large ranges of hills," Friedrich said as he pointed at the awe-inspiring, towering peaks.

"I'm guessing going around will take a while?" the rat asked.

"Yeah and the kingdoms are still fighting around them and there might be some battles in the valley."

Soon they stood between the large ranges of the hills and saw pieces of armor and decaying bodies. For a while they walked in silence through a knoll filled field of rocks and grass. Friedrich smelled fresh blood and dying flesh. He saw a few tents set up with the red flag of Freihoch waving in the distance.

"Let's try to get around the battlefield. I don't want any straggling soldiers seeing me."

"Sure thing," Wilhelm said as he sighed tiredly. They walked along the side of a tall knoll trying to avoid and stay out of sight of the battlefield as they headed through the hills.

"What are you two doing here?" a goat in red armor asked as he ascended an adjacent knoll and spotted the two. He started to jog over to them along with a couple other soldiers following.

"Maybe they're just some lost travelers or merchants," a fox said as he squinted.

"Wait isn't that Friedrich Himmel?" a bear asked as he shielded the sun from his eyes with his paws.

"Tell the captain and arrest him!" the armored goat yelled as he slipped on his helmet.

"Wilhelm! Run to the battlefield!" Friedrich commanded and headed towards the corpse-filled stretch of land.

"Stop!" one of the soldiers shouted and they started chasing after the wolf and rat.

"I can buy you some time," Wilhelm said and drew his sword. He took his stance and growled at the soldiers.

"Don't get in our way! That wolf is a criminal!" the goat said and drew his own broadsword.

The smell of the blood and death attacked his nose and he kept gagging and dry heaving. He tried his best to inhale only through his mouth but the scents lingered on his tongue and it was as if he were kissing death itself.

He sat down next to another wolf, whose green uniform was looking more and more like a red Freihoch uniform as the crimson of his blood soaked through the edges.

As Friedrich sang his somber song again gray clouds rolled over the field. Lightning speared the ground and sky. Thunder roared angrily at the world below. When the lyrics ended, Friedrich howled, "Soi khoi!" A gust of wind blew across his face and smoothed over the fallen soldier's fur and the red stained grass.

He saw Wilhelm run towards him with the Freihoch soldiers right behind him. He was bleeding and his armor had gashes and indentations and the wolf noticed that he was weaponless. "Friedrich, hurry!" he yelled as he sprinted from the knoll.

The wolf stood up and the sky splashed the world below in red rain and another explosion of thunder shattered the field. The gory, deceased soldiers pushed themselves up and marched towards the Freihoch tents and the soldiers, who were chasing Wilhelm.

The wolf strummed a chord and an ethereal, crimson broadsword appeared before him. He grabbed it and shouted, "Catch!" as he threw it to Wilhelm.

The rat grabbed the sword in midair and slashed the few that were near him. The sword went through them but their armor and flesh stayed intact. They stopped in their tracks and fell to the ground. They clutched their stomachs and started screaming in agony.

"Are you okay? You're bleeding!" Friedrich said as he kept plucking notes and strumming chords.

"I think you answered your own question," he responded and fought to have a smirk on his muzzle.

"I'll heal you after this."

"Thanks," the swordsman said and beamed towards the wolf despite the pain and exhaustion. "There were more soldiers behind them and I couldn't take them all on myself."

"Find the necromancer!" someone yelled. "Kill him."

The undead around them roared, growled, and hissed as the two armies clashed. They fought the living soldiers more slowly but they still had the ability to swing their weapons and throw punches and bite if they were weaponless.

More Freihoch soldiers poured from the tents and charged at the undead. They started to try to lop off their limbs but the dead soldiers didn't stop, and crawled their hardest to the living soldiers.

A horse yelled as he jumped and tried to strike Friedrich. Wilhelm slashed him with the crimson sword and when the horse clutched his abdomen the rat kicked him into a crowd of the undead.

Friedrich plucked two notes and a gust of wind blew a Freihoch soldier back who had almost struck Wilhelm.

The two found an opening between the dead soldiers and made a run for it. The soldiers in green closed the gap between the Freihoch soldiers and the rat and wolf.

Suddenly Friedrich fell over with his lute dangling by the strap, and he shut his eyes and started panting harder.

"Friedrich," Wilhelm gasped.

"I guess raising a dead army back up took a lot out of me," he said and winced at the pain in his muscles, head, and lungs.

"Don't worry I'll carry you," he said as the red sword disappeared. He lifted the lithe wolf in both arms.

"Thank you. So just keep going through the valley and it'll be on the right set of hills near a brook," Friedrich said between coughs and wheezes.

"I've got it. Just rest and save your energy."

Wilhelm kept running towards Bachstadt with no intent on stopping for anything. He shut out the pain in his legs and focused on getting to the town.

***

Miles later the swordsman ran through a brook and found a town that was comprised of fallen broken boards and stones. He set the mage on the ground and he himself slumped over out of exhaustion.

Friedrich groaned painfully as he sat up.

"We're here," the rat said and looked at the fallen sign that read, 'Bachstadt,' and then at the wolf.

After Friedrich opened his eyes he sat there solemnly and stared at the devastation spread out in front of him. He dropped his head into his paws and started to tear up and sob. It hurt to see that the homes and shops were completely destroyed and left to decay over the years. He didn't expect anything else, but being there and gazing at the ruins of his childhood impacted him stronger than any mental visual of the town he loved.

Wilhelm remained silent as the wolf mourned the town. He crawled to the wolf and held him as the mage cried.

When he finished sobbing Friedrich reached into his rucksack and pulled out a corked bottle of translucent, cerulean liquid. He produced a small rag and poured some of the liquid onto the cloth.

"This is going to sting a little," he said and frowned at the rat.

"I understand," the swordsman said. He then kissed the wolf on top of his muzzle.

Friedrich dabbed the wounds gently and Wilhelm inhaled a sharp breath.

"It's alright," the rat said.

The mage then pulled a cobalt colored salve out of the bag and rubbed it on the wounds. He whispered, "Di eek," as he applied the cream. The wounds visibly started to heal themselves.

"Any side effects to all of this?" the rat asked.

"I made it all myself but the dark blue stuff might burn a little. Do you feel anything?"

"I guess it slightly burns but I barely feel it," Wilhelm replied.

"Good, that means I invented something that works well," he said with slight joy in his voice. "I almost died getting the ingredients though."

"I think that's an inevitable thing that keeps happening in our lives," Wilhelm said and started to put his armor back on and put a paw on the wolf's shoulder.

After a couple of minutes they walked into the damaged and decomposing town. Some of the stores were slanted and the doors were off their hinges. Some buildings were completely demolished and had insensitive graffiti painted on the wood and bricks. It was like walking into a nightmare for both of them. Wilhelm followed the wolf into a mostly intact home at the edge of the town.

Friedrich picked up a rock and squeezed it in his palm. "This is where I lived," Friedrich said and dropped the rock. Wilhelm nodded thoughtfully back at him.

The rat found the wooden door and placed it lopsided on its frame. He then shut the wooden slats of the windows around the large room. There was sheet music splayed on the ground, and remnants of broken instruments were scattered around the floor. The room was the storefront of the music store that once existed. Friedrich's heart ached as he used a wind spell to move all the debris to one side of the room so they could set a few blankets down.

"I need to tell you something else," the wolf admitted.

"Alright," the rat said turning to him.

"I kept trying to communicate with the dead but I learned that I need someone living to help summon the spirit of the deceased. I needed to take someone with me to the vicinity where my family died. The dead need someone living besides the mage acting as the medium to help channel them to us, so we can actually communicate with them," the wolf explained.

"Okay, as long as this doesn't hurt me," Wilhelm said.

"I promise that it won't. I would never want to harm you," he said and the two gave each other a quick kiss. "We can also set up here for the night, but first."

"We need to do what we've travelled here to do."

"Yep, alright I need you to sit down and face north," the mage instructed the swordsman. He then sprinkled blue rose petals from his bag on the ground in front of Wilhelm in the shape of a crescent moon. He then placed the book of King Vernicht in the waning part of the moon and opened the book up to a page with a sun and a spiral drawn in the center of it. "Now, put your paws on your thighs and think of the most beautiful song you've ever heard and focus on slowing your breathing.

The mage sat down opposite of Wilhelm and started chanting as he played a few notes on his lute to a simple rhythm and then he started to strum a few chords. A slow wind encircled them. The chanting stopped as the wolf howled and cried. He wailed and screamed as the tempo and wind gradually quickened.

The two heard a crowd of people talking slowly with their voices melting into one another then a loud thundering laugh, who said, "As you wish."

Friedrich opened his eyes to see an ethereal shape of a female wolf floating above him. Wilhelm looked in horror but he didn't say a word.

"Lieber Friedrich," a high voice came from the spirit's mouth.

"Mutti? Mother, is that you?" the wolf asked.

"Yes, Friedrich I'm here now," she said sweetly.

"I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have left. If I had stayed then I could have helped protect you and father and Verena," he said quickly and panicked.

"No, don't blame yourself for the faults of others. You've done nothing wrong," she said softly and kindly.

"I could have done something and it took me so long to come back here."

"It's okay Friedrich. We want you to be happy."

"Alright Mutti," he said and slumped over.

"Who is this?" the spirit asked and gestured towards the rat.

"This is Wilhelm, my boyfriend, well, hopefully he'll become my boyfriend," he said and smiled at the rat.

"Can you hear me too?" Wilhelm asked in awe.

"Of course I can. Oh, you're so handsome. I'm happy for the two of you," she said cheerfully.

"Thank you and I would love to be his boyfriend," the swordsman said and smiled at the wolves.

"Yes, thank you, Mutti," Friedrich said.

"Verena and father miss you, as do I."

"I miss you all too. There hasn't been a day I haven't thought of all of you."

"I think about you all the time too. You have nothing to worry about. We're fine," she said gently.

"What's it like after you die? What's there? Is the entire town there?" he asked panicked.

"Oh, Liebchen, I can't tell you these things. Wilhelm, please keep yourself and my son safe."

"I promise, Frau Himmel," he said with a nod.

"You have such polite manners," she said and then the sound of a bell tower rang. "I have to go now. We love you," her voice slowly dissipated into silence.

"I love you too! All of you!" Friedrich shouted as the spirit vanished.

He cried into Wilhelm's chest and the rat held him tightly. The wolf trembled and the rat swayed him gently and rubbed his back and nuzzled him.

After a while Friedrich had stopped sobbing he whispered, "Thank you," to Wilhelm.

"No problem. So, we're boyfriends now?" the rat jested.

"Only if you really want to be," the wolf said as he sniffed and wiped a tear away.

"Sure, but we've only known each other for about two whole days."

"That's true. We can take some more time to figure out what we are. I just don't want to lie to my mom."

"Whatever we are, I'd still like to spend time with you," Wilhelm said and put his paws in Friedrich's paws.

"I do too," the mage said as he grasped the warm paws in his own.

"Can I ask you another question?" the rat asked.

"Sure."

"Can't you also talk to your sister and your dad?"

Friedrich sighed and then leaned against Wilhelm. "It's only one person per spirit. I'll need two other people. I panicked and said my mom's name. I really don't want to have to choose between them."

"I'm sorry for asking."

"It's okay. Hopefully I can convince some others to help me. One day," he said with an exasperated breath.

"It's going to take a lot to make a political movement but maybe another mage might be willing to help."

"Maybe," the wolf said hopelessly.

"I guess I had another reason I wanted to help you."

"Oh?" the wolf said as his ears perked.

"Well, I've got things that I need to confess too," Wilhelm said.

"You weren't framed for murder too, were you?" the wolf joked.

"No, but I am exiled from my home town," the rat said plainly.

"So you understand?"

"Well, part of it. People aren't trying to find me."

"So, what happened?" Friedrich asked.

Wilhelm took a breath and started. "When I was a child I didn't have much and after I got out of school I wanted to do something that could earn a good amount of money for my parents and me. So I became a soldier and fought for Voie Verte, my principality."

"Oh, I know where that is."

"You ever been there?" the rat asked.

"No, I just know of it. Lots of potatoes and tomatoes, right?" the wolf asked.

"Yeah, plenty of them," the rat said with a grin. "So I rose in the ranks and eventually I got to fight alongside the prince."

"Wait, the red fox, Prince Jacques? You knew him?" the wolf asked surprised.

"Yeah, we became close friends and I had a huge crush on him. I knew he had suitors and other princes that had their eye on him, but during one battle I saved his life after he fell down. He thanked me with a kiss and then we started dating," Wilhelm said as his grin grew.

"Ah, that's sweet."

"Yeah, it was pretty awesome. I was knighted and they gave my parents a lot of money and a new home. King and Queen Dutronc liked me a lot. I got to learn a couple world languages, Fahlung history, and more in depth studies than what basic school had to offer when I was at the castle. Things were great. The only problem that I had was Prince Laurent."

"The little brother got jealous?" the wolf asked.

"Yep, he didn't like that the two of us were going to be the kings before him and that peasant blood was going to get to sit on the throne. So he kind of made our lives completely miserable. He called me a peasant every time I went near him, he gave Jacques and me spoiled food one time, he pushed Jacques down a small flight of stairs, and he assaulted me a couple times too. So one day I was pretty fed up with him and I started to strangle him after he called me a fat rat that would break the throne or something like that. He kept trying to kick me and punch me but he couldn't escape since I was sitting on him, then Jacques came into the room and pushed me off of him. A part of me thinks that I would have actually gone through with the in-law fratricide. Jacques got really upset with me and then the King and Queen banished me from Voie Verte. Now my parents think I'm teaching mathematics to children in impoverished parts of Fahlung."

"I'm really sorry. That's a lot that happened."

"I can prove it," he said as he took off his armor and the clothes covering his torso. A square golden locket dangled from a chain around his neck. The rat took it off and handed it to the wolf. The front of the locket had their names engraved into it. He popped it open and one side of the locket had Willhelm's face smiling and Prince Jacques face smiling on the other side. The two turned and they kissed passionately rocking from one side of the locket to the other.

"I wasn't trying to say that I didn't believe you," the wolf said. "But the vision enchantment was done really well. The engraving is amazing too." Friedrich handed it back to Wilhelm and the rat snapped it shut with a gentle sigh.

"I was really in love with him and now he hates me and I guess I still have feelings for him. It feels hopeless."

"I'm really sorry," Friedrich said and hugged the tall rat.

"Hey, at least I get to travel and be my own boss, and I've got you," he said and kissed the wolf.

"Thanks. My last boyfriend was the one that turned me in for 'unwilting' a flower," Friedrich said.

"What? Why would he do that?"

"We fought a lot and we were both competitive in school. We got together because it was fun at first and then it was convenience. We had the school in common and we were both wolves. I was naïve and I thought that I couldn't survive without him and then we broke up and he left Freihochstadt to go teach somewhere else."

"I'm sorry," the rat said still hugging the wolf close.

"I blame myself for staying so long."

"It's not like there's a kind of magic to see the future," Wilhelm said.

Friedrich just stared at him.

"I'm kidding. Of course there isn't. If I could do things over again I probably would run myself ragged changing things. But we can't change the past and we can't know the future," the wolf said sadly.

"But we can always try to make a better future," the rat said with an optimistic smile.

"That's true. How about we eat and then get cleaned up at the brook?"

"That sounds good to me."

***

They cleaned themselves off in the nearby brook, which Friedrich warmed the area around them and the wolf also blew dried their clothes clean with some wind spells from his lute. Wilhelm helped Friedrich cook some soup and they shared bread together.

After they ate the two were lying down together on a blanket on the floor of the home. They had started a fire in the small fireplace. The wolf and the rat looked out at the window at the gray bleak atmosphere but they wanted to watch a pastoral sunset. Friedrich got up and shut the wooden slabs on the window again. He returned to Wilhelm and held him closely as he nuzzled his chest.

They listened to each other's breathing, the gently gusting winds outside, and the warm crackle of the fire.

The former soldier had his armor undershirts off to give Friedrich a softer pillow to rest his head on.

The wolf smiled at the sight before him. He rubbed the rat's large belly and turned his head to kiss him. He then unbuttoned his own shirt and let his thick gray fur burst out.

Wilhelm stroked the back of the skinny wolf with his muscular arms and grinned back at him.

Friedrich went back for another kiss and kept his lips on the rat's longer. The two pressed on deeper and more passionately. They both felt a bliss neither of them had felt in ages and the loneliness in their hearts were overshadowed by delightful ecstasy.

***

Friedrich woke up to Wilhelm kissing him on the nose. The morning greeted them to sunny skies as they opened up the wooden slats of the window. The rat put his arms around the wolf as they both looked up at the blue sky and the clouds racing across the horizon.

They kissed again and relaxed in each other's company for a while. They ate breakfast and then packed up their belongings.

Soon they heard a cacophony of yelling outside.

"Find them!" someone yelled.

"They're going to pay!"

"Get out here you cowards!"

Their hearts raced and Friedrich whispered, "The basement."

The wolf led the rat down into a hatch in the corner of the room. They managed to leave the blanket on top of the covering.

"I think we'll be okay down here and hopefully they leave soon."

They waited a couple minutes and then they heard yelling above them.

They tried to relax and not make any type of sound.

Soon the hatch opened and there was a flash of light and a loud bang.

***

Friedrich woke up again from being jostled. He opened his eyes to see that he was surrounded by glowing metal bars and that the horizon was moving away from him. He noticed that Wilhelm was passed out beside him.

There was a mage sitting in front of the carriage powering the large crystal in front of him.

"Awake now are we?" the mage sitting next to him said.

"Where are you taking us?" Friedrich groggily asked.

"You two are going to be tried by the Mage Council in Freihochstadt. You've been gone a long time Professor," the other mage said.

"Yeah," he replied.

About an hour later Wilhelm woke up and asked, "What's going on?"

"We're in a cage on a carriage and we're going to the Mage Council."

"Why are we going there?" the rat asked and yawned.

"I committed magical crimes so they're the only ones fit to determine my future."

"They're mages too so they'll be lenient and more understanding, right?"

"Maybe, but I know that they're more willing to listen to people on trial than a regular court. I know they'll let me prove that I didn't murder Jakob Knopf," Friedrich said.

"You keep thinking that," the driver said and turned his head back to the road.

"I guess it's hopeless. It's not like I have any evidence to defend myself with."

"Can't you just do that magic thing that you did yesterday and get that one guy to testify?" Wilhelm asked while trying to be coy and selective of his words.

"I don't know if they'll let me do that."

"Well, you can always ask."

"I guess it's my only choice," the wolf said.

Friedrich leaned on Wilhelm and nuzzled his shoulder and the rat gently leaned back on him.

"Thank you for being here for me and I'm sorry for getting you into this mess," Friedrich said.

"It's okay. I know that we're going to be alright," Wilhelm replied.

***

That afternoon they made it into Freihochstadt and the citizens were staring at the cage. A few of them pointed and covered their muzzles and a few others, who knew what was going on clapped and shouted, 'Murderer!' or 'Killer!'

The wolf and the rat were jailed for the evening and were told that they would be tried in the morning.

When the sun rose they were shackled in the glowing chains and taken to the mage college. The college was a large silvery stone crafted square building that spiraled upwards with a few large wooden buildings surrounding it. They headed into the main building and took a couple flights of stairs up to a floor with a large golden door.

The guards opened the door and they were greeted by a shadowy figure.

"Professor Himmel, it's been long time," the older white wolf shook paws with him.

"Thank you, Dean Weiss."

"I believe in you. You were one of my best students and you were an incredible professor," the dean said and he got a nod from Friedrich.

Large chunks of amethysts and sapphires glowed as they stepped into the courtroom. They illuminated the room and revealed five robed mages behind a long silver desk. In the center of the council an elderly vixen sat with a calm demeanor.

"Friedrich Himmel," she said and the words appeared behind her on the stone wall. "You've been summoned for necromancy, fighting against the Freihoch army, resisting arrest, and multiple accounts of murder in Freihochstadt."

"Wait, multiple?" he asked.

"There have been a few strings of murders where your belongings have turned up. We suspect that you've been sneaking into the city and committing these homicides for your experiments," she explained.

"But, I wasn't even here and I didn't commit the first..."

She cut him off. "Just wait a minute Herr Himmel. Wilhelm Croix, you have been summoned for assisting Herr Himmel in his endeavors."

Wilhelm just looked upon the court in silence.

"How do the two of you plead?"

"I plead not guilty," Friedrich said.

"I also plead no guilty," Wilhelm then said.

"Herr Himmel, we have on record that you've used necromancy before?"

"This is true," the wolf stated.

"Were you there when Herr Knopf was murdered?"

"I was there after he was murdered. I heard him scream and I ran over," the wolf calmly stated.

"Is it true that you didn't call for help right away?" she asked.

"This is also true."

"Would you like to explain to us why?"

"Yes, after reading the news of the events of Bachstadt being pillaged and learning that my family was killed I grew depressed and I wanted to speak to them one more time and to say my goodbyes to them. I used a few books about necromancy from the faculty library," he explained.

"Do you have the missing book? The others from your home have been returned to the faculty library."

"Yes, it is in my rucksack," he said and pointed to the bag on the end of the long table.

A middle-aged robed badger sitting at the end searched the enchanted backpack and found the book of King Vernicht.

The councilor in the middle took the large book and opened it to the first page. She rubbed her temple at the sight of it.

"I shall read the translation." She then recited,

"One hundred dark, long years ago

A mage had brought back the dead

He found his friends and taught them how

They learned and started bloodshed

They grew powerful and slaughtered

They destroyed a small city

The resurrected multiplied

It was an army to be

The mages ruled over the dead

Kingdoms in the north were slain

Other armies fought the soulless

The fighting was all in vain

As the mages sat on their thrones

Their lust for power blossomed

They envied each other's lands

Corpses sprinkled across them

Each one organized their soldiers

The eviscerated stood

The mages fought each other

They did everything they could

These wars just ended in stalemates

The mages couldn't proceed

No one knew what to do from here

Then they made each other bleed

One king was left after the fight

He felt guilt, sorrow, and pain

He wrote the secrets of the dead

Few would know the words again

This book was written by King Vernicht and the unknown author of this short text was added to the first page, and it shows us why Necromancy was made illegal in the land of Yilamun and many others. We have adopted this poem into law as evidence on why it is forbidden. You have done the same as this king and raised the dead to fight an army for you but the reports from the soldiers stated that they only suffered minor injuries from that battle."

"I ordered the dead not to kill anyone but only for them to be distraction so we could get away," the wolf responded.

"Well, alright, but please no more interruptions," she continued. "King Vernicht and his friends had also given mages and magic a bad name and we had to prove ourselves innocent from their wrongdoing. Do you understand the implications of necromancy? Do you understand that with your knowledge and magical ability you are one of the most dangerous people alive today?"

"I do understand. I have only used my ability to defend myself and to help others. I have grown crops in small villages with dying farms. I think I can help end hunger in the world."

"Do you have proof that you didn't commit any murders with the use of your capabilities?"

"I think I have a way to prove this. May I call the dead to be my witness?"

"No, he can't use more necromancy!" the dean shouted. The other five councilors started to whisper to one another.

"Will this harm anyone involved?" the center councilor asked.

"No, and may I have the list of those victims?"

"If it helps, you may. If you try anything on us there are seven other mages around you, including the dean and the guard."

"I understand," he said.

The badger gave him backpack and he made another crescent moon with the blue rose petals and placed the book next to it. The eight mages sat around it as Wilhelm watched from behind. He told the guard to think about flowers, the first councilor to think about mirrors, the second to think about weapons, the third about bread, the fourth about money, the fifth about novels, and the dean to think about beds. Each murder victim owned a shop except for a banker.

Friedrich played his lute and chanted and then howled and cried.

"As you wish," as deep voice whispered.

Herr Knopf appeared first along with the six other spirits.

"For the record this is no visual spell, this is real," the vixen stated. "Herr Knopf, did Professor Himmel murder you?"

The ethereal rabbit said, "No, it was him." The spirits pointed to the dean. "He stabbed me in the back and put my blood in a vile and ran off back to the college."

"Liar, the dean shouted."

"It's true," the baker, a raccoon and the banker, a weasel said at the same time.

"The same happened to me," the mirror shop owner said.

The other three concurred with these statements.

"Dean Weiss, we will need to search your quarters due to these allegations. The latest murder happened last week this is soon enough to not rule you out," the fox commanded.

Each spirit spoke as quickly as they could and their statements were copied by the wall.

Soon everyone heard a loud bell ring and the spirits disappeared.

The councilors ordered the guard to get the other guards outside to search the top of the building for evidence. In an hour they found the seven vials of blood.

"Dean Weiss, how do you explain this?" the vixen asked.

"I was also trying to find a way to resurrect the dead," the white wolf said calmly. "I have another book written by my father, King Vernicht. Such a silly name he gave himself. When he was young he wrote about how the blood of a different deadly sin could be mixed together and one could use that to resurrect a dead body. Professor Friedrich here found a different way, a less effective way to bring them back. With their blood I can bring back my father forever."

"Dean Weiss, this is your way of turning yourself in?" the councilor asked.

"You think a prison is going to keep me?" he questioned as the guard bound his wrists in glowing chains. "I've been killing for years and none of you could have figured it out. I'm sorry Friedrich but someone had to take the blame."

Friedrich just stared at him.

"I apologize for this fiasco," the vixen said. "We can get you your job back and a new home. We can also compensate you monetarily."

"Sure," he said and looked back down at the ground.

"I guess for the right applications necromancy isn't just wrong. What you've learned would be really useful for court cases and loved ones can say their goodbyes to victims."

Friedrich just nodded.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

"No, I've been running for a few years now, constantly in fear, even though I didn't do anything to hurt anyone at the start. Now, I don't have to be afraid, well, I'm kind of afraid of the dean now. I don't know what this college or even the city can do to make me feel better."

"You have our deepest and sincerest apologies," the vixen said gently.

"Well, thank you, but I think I need some time to think about everything."

"Understandably," she replied.

The wolf and the rat got back their belongings and walked out of the spiral building.

The rat patted the wolf on the back and said, "This was one wild first date."

"I'm sorry again for everything. I shouldn't have roped you into all of this."

"Everything turned out okay and most of my customers get me into these kinds of adventures," Wilhelm explained with a smile. "And I'd love to go on another date with you."

"You still want to be with me despite all of this?" Friedrich asked and looked up at Wilhelm's beaming face.

"Of course, I do. Let's go out for some dinner then maybe relax at a bathhouse and then let's find an inn to spend the night."

"That sounds lovely. Alright, let's go."

The two walked with their fingers laced toward a small tavern with a lute and a sword crossed on the front door.

---

Thank you for reading and I hope you liked it!