"What do you mean? I thought you found him!" Evelyn shouted at the Galmore City Lord.

They stood in the throne room, where an enchanted table displaying all known movements of both Demon and Human across the continent constantly updated.

Dozens of advisers, both military and civil, spoke amongst themselves. Guards ringed the room, standing against all four walls both to maintain order as well as provide a sense of security.

In this time of war, there was little to be had.

One of the Nobles in attendance stepped forward, his hand resting on the sheathed sword at his hip, "You will be silent and respect his Majesty!"

Evelyn stepped up on the first stair leading up to the City Lord's throne, where he sat, "And you will answer my question. Where is my brother?"

The City Lord sighed, putting a hand on the Noble and pulling him back, "We don't actually know. Not exactly."

Evelyn glared, "Explain."

"Might I remind you that you and your friends are guests here!" The Noble bit.

"And might I remind you that I hold just as little patience for stupidity as my uncle?"

"Lord Julix, sit down and be quiet." The City Lord command in a tone that offered no argument.

"Lady Evelyn… I'm sorry, do you prefer your name or your surname?"

"You may call me Lady Ashborn."

"Very well. Lady Ashborn, we received reports of a group of Necromancers fighting against the Demon Coalition somewhere in the mountain ranges of Tauras. Beside that, we have no information regarding any unique aspects reserved for you brother."

"Then why did your council even consider my brother?"

"Necromancers tend to reserve themselves to positions where their Undead can work without end. This characteristic often leads them to be in powerful positions in their cities, or often leading the city themselves. A large number of tireless and disposable workers and soldiers hold quite the influence."

"Yes I know all this."

"But did you know that they are highly independent? Philosophers have considered the reason to be their Undead, which can fulfill a number of roles all on their own, making it difficult for the Necromancer themselves to trust or rely on others.

Regardless of the reason, because their Undead care very little for the cold, many Necromancers find themselves creating their own cities or similar communities in the fridged mountains where even the rugged Dwarves of Tauras struggle to survive.

These communities fight under no banner and regularly reject any offer to do so.

And yet, they have now decided to do just that.

Our reports suggest that the Necromancers of the North have begun descending their mountains, where even the Demons refuse to climb, and have begun fighting against them."

"What is their effectiveness?" Evelyn asked, momentarily putting aside her emotions to focus on the new potential ally against the Demons.

"Not overwhelming, but valuable to the war effort. They throw their Undead into the fray without care, for their destruction. They merely summon more as the need requires. They do still take losses to themselves and their living comrades, but it is very minor. If they can push the Demons back far enough, the Dwarves of Tauras will be able to leave their fortresses once more and join the battleline.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

If this happens, my council believes that we can finally begin to push the Demons back, at least on the Northern Front. If we push them back far enough, the City States can provide assistance, and so on.

We could finally begin fighting as a world, not as individual nations."

Evelyn nodded, "That would be great, but the Demons would not stand for the momentum to even begin. It will be challenging, but why was my brother brought up in one of your meetings?"

"The Necromancers have always been independent almost fiercely so, but they have also always maintained a certain hierarchy. Where they respect those who command Death at a higher degree than themselves.

What other person do you know of that commands Death to such a degree that they could not just gain the respect of the Necromancers, but their service?"

"My brother told me himself once that he knew of at least three others."

"Perhaps you are correct. Perhaps it is one of the other few. But they are too few to not consider the idea that your brother is the one."

"We don't even know if that 'thing' still controls him. We don't know if he is even still in there."

The City Lord stood up and gently walked down the five steps, putting his hand on Evelyn's back to softly lead her away from the ever listening crowd, "We know it doesn't control him. At least not to the extent of the events in Onigas. We have had reports of his sighting throughout the continent. Always by himself, always fighting the Demons, always disregarding the chain of command or any dumb enough to try to order him around."

Evelyn's eyes flared, "Why is this the first time I am hearing about it?"

"Because by the time we received the reports of his appearance, we would also receive a report saying he was somewhere else. We don't know if they are simple rumors, or lies concocted by various powers to explain away how a battle suddenly shifted in their favor. Or maybe these stories are him and he has somehow found a way to get around the continent so quickly.

Until we find out which, we kept it secret. But now, there is a strong possibility he is the one leading the Necromancers in the North."

"What are you doing to find out?"

"Right now? Nothing. We can't do anything. We have heard of them and their actions, but we can't get any of our scouts close enough to the Necromancers to find anything out. The terrain is too rough, the weather too violent, the Monsters too hungry, and the Demons too many.

We have reason to believe that the Necromancers have a way to communicate with the Taurans, but the Demons surround their fortresses and we can't get into those either.

So for now, we continue to monitor them."

"Keep sitting here, while the rest of the world fights." Evelyn scoffed.

"Lady Ashborn, what would you have us do? We are situated in the safety zone the Demons issued. They are not attacking us and as of yet have made no actions to do so. We serve as a safe harbor for Humanity, a beacon of hope and safety.

Yet while we are struggling to shelter and feed all these refugees, we continue to provide material and supplies to the beacon of defiance that is Zalar. We might not be the ones fighting, but make no mistake, we are participating in this war."

"Then let me and my force get on the trains to Zalar. Let us fight."

"My lady, the Zalarians have made it very clear. Their way of fighting is too unique, too foreign. They do not have the time to retrain anyone. And the way the rest of the world fights would provide no help to them. They have specifically requested that we do not send any soldiers to them as they would only get in the way.

As it is, we have a small elite unit in both of their cities, specifically ordered to stay out of the way. Their only duty is to hold back the Demons while the Zalarians retreat, should the Demons breach the cities.

The Zalarians are better suited at ranged combat while we are better in close quarters.

So no, I will not allow you, or anyone, to go to Zalar under the guise of wanting to help, when all you would do is hinder.

Instead, keep doing what you are doing. Hunt the Monsters around Galmore. Not only are you helping feed the many refugees, while providing material for our defenses, but you are growing stronger.

Just last night a shipment was sent to Zalar that contained medical supplies whose ingredients were composed of materials you hunted.

Hunt and become stronger, because a time is fast approaching when we sill no longer be able to continue as we have."

"What do you mean?" Evelyn asked, narrowing her eyes.

"The Demons are exterminating every Human they come across. Military and Civilian. They are actively cutting off escape routes. Why would they do that yet at the same time allow an area where Humans can live safely?"

Evelyn did not answer.

"Think about it. If they simply starting killing everyone, people would hide. We would continue to hide and pester them for years, maybe even centuries, they might never manage to completely get rid of us. But by "giving" a safe zone, a place where Humans could live freely, they not only know where any fleeing Humans are headed, making it much easier to hunt them down, but also make an area where the survivors are all grouped together, making infinitely easier to wipe us out.

They wipe out the nations, the survivors come here, and when there are no more nations, they will come here, killing the few who have survived. Some of us would still manage to escape, but to such a small degree that we would be powerless to do anything but continue to hide in the mud.

This is not just an invasion. This is an extermination. And Galmore is the trap."

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