Complete Private ✪ Stokbon Putting the Fun in Funeral

[Chrys]

WICKED’S REST
Tavern and Funeral Parlor

Spoiler: Theme

《⋯《 ⋯ ❖ ⋯ 》⋯》

❰ Adventurers Guild ❱

My time is coming to an end… Chrys mused as he looked out through the window, the rolling pillows of clouds soliciting a deep sigh from the geomancer who owned the now barely sustainable Wicked’s Rest Tavern (and Funeral Parlor). How long has it been since he’s made any profit from his establishments? How long has it been since he went out there for an adventure or two? How long has it been since he’s felt the urge, the passion, to play, to live?

❝ It’s been too long... ❞

Chrys’ lips curled into a smile as the very earth underneath his feet whispered to him the arrival of a familiar face. With his geomancy at its most powerful, he could tell whether the person (at least he thinks it’s a person) who had just crossed his space was a danger to him or not. With the funeral parlor part of the tavern basically a decorated cave, his tremor sense was a far better alarm system than any tinkerer can develop. It was a bold statement, sure, but who could argue? His thoughts were his own, a private safe space where he could muse and reminisce and do whatever else he could think of.

Stretching his fingers around his cup, he savored the warmth his freshly brewed tea could offer. It tasted the same as it always did, as he remembered, but where were those who shared the memory? It has been a while since he was in touch with old friends. A lot of them have disappeared, gone busy, or maybe even died. He did not know for certain what was what, but if it’s the latter, he’d rather not know. Chrys himself has been busy outside of the game, in the real world. Maybe it was just scheduling conflicts after all. Maybe it was just the inevitable end of things, as people change, lives move on, and all that anyone is ever left with are the memories of the good, old days.

❝ ...Alice. Come to pay your old friend a visit? Or are you here to check my wares? ❞

Calling the corpses, silent and still on their respective earthen slabs, as his wares felt a bit off. At least part of him felt a bit off. The other part? People die, Lander and Starcalled alike, despite certain differences. To have others find use for what remains of you, wasn’t that a good death? It was for Chrys, though he wasn’t quite sure what an innocent little girl like Alice wanted with such remains. He often left her to her devices whenever she came to visit, but today was different: Chrys wanted to stay. Rather, he felt no reason to leave. Why would he, when he was now one of them himself? He heaved another sigh and took a long, drawn-out sip of his tea.

@Lucia Mierz

 

[Lucia Mierz]

Alice had returned once more on an errand, the same errand she always went to do. It was a simple task to retrieve cadavers and bodies for Lucia, one that even she could manage with a pouch full of money tied around her.

She was a small child out on an adventure...
She had pristine golden blond hair...
She blinked sparkling blue eyes...
She was always dressed in the sweetest of summer's dresses...

She gave the impression of your average girl out possibly doing a delivery for her mom or picking up some items at a local store. At a glance it gave that impression but no matter how hard Alice tried, there was always something uncanny about her. No matter the effort Lucia poured in or the amount of magic used to keep her stable, it was a problem that ran deeper, something at her very core that was unsettling.

Her gait and steps were eerily measured and calculated...
Her blond hair never had a strand out of place, never disturbed...
Her eyes sparkled but the light never went deeper then the surface...
Her dress never creased or tore...

Those who took the time to scrutinize her would know there was something unnatural, something off, but it wasn't Alice's job to ascertain who knew and didn't know. It wasn't her place to make judgements or to think. These were all roles that her Lady Lucia served and she, Alice, was merely a tool, the perfect tool, the tool that would accomplish it's given tasks one way or another.

---

Upon arriving at the Tavern, Alice tried to enter, her only goal the funeral parlor as her errand demanded. Though when Chrys spoke to her there was a brief lag in her response as always. "Alice is here for Cadavers... Alice was given money again... More money if the corpse has unique features... More money if it is... Talented?..." Alice spoke tilting her head at her own question as if uncertain of how to gauge talent herself. For a tool like her, talent was irrelevant, but it seemed it must be useful if she was told to request it.

Of course, she did habitually shake the pouch of coins for Chrys to know it did indeed have money in it. Though strangely, despite always offering to pay extra for specific corpses, the pouches always had the standard rate in them as Alice rarely considered a corpse rare enough to warrant the increase of price. Where those extra coins were... was anyone's guess but as always Alice simply stoically explained the terms as she was told to.

Unsmiling
Unflinching

As empty as a person could be, it was only when she glanced towards the 'wares' that the faintest of twitches would make it's way to the corner of her lips. "How many can Alice take away this time?... And... Are you sure you want to trade here?..." Alice asked tilting her head. Normally she would give the man the money and be left to her own devices with the remains. Seeing him settled in to made Alice uncertain if the deal was still on or not. Any kind of change in her routine was difficult for Alice to manage without Lucia's supervision. In order to proceed she could only try her best to make sense of whether or not this change will interfere with her errand.

 

[Chrys]

《⋯《 ⋯ ❖ ⋯ 》⋯》

❰ Adventurers Guild ❱

Chillin’ among the corpses

The sound of clinking from the coins colliding against each other deep within Alice’s pouch drew Chrys’ attention not unlike a flame burning bright throughout a dark night, and with him as the proverbial, endangered moth. Between traumatizing creatures of the icy deep and the dark deities intending to engulf all that life held precious, the young girl’s fire did not quite terrify the geomancer’s moth. He’s survived worse things, worse people. Her quirks made him curious, sure, but Chrys did enjoy the eccentricities of those he’s met in this world.

❝ It’s alright, dear: Business hasn’t boomed for a while. ❞

With the cup of tea in one hand, Chrys gestured around them, using the emptiness of his establishment as evidence supporting his statement. ...and I doubt it will for a while. That silence slowly bure surely drowned his ears, as if it was an entire ocean of rough waves determined to bury his heart under depths of loneliness.

Chrys immediately clenched his jaw when he realized this, gritting his teeth together, in an attempt to stave off the feeling, the suffocating void that was fast becoming an unwanted companion. Mustering a weak smile, he turned to the young girl, her innocence a decent source of motivation to leave those dark thoughts behind.

❝ You can take as many as you can afford, Alice... ❞

Chrys showed her an open palm, gesturing for the pouch, so he could count the payment and check if the amount of corpses was suitable. Most of the time, he simply did it out of routine, reflex. The remains that usually came his way were those of the unclaimed. Few were talented, special, when they were alive, he’s heard, though some specimens held serviceable secrets that someone with the specific skills and knowledge should be able to wring out of them. Wait, she’s just a young girl! She can’t possibly— His eyes narrowed at Alice, a certain curiosity burying deep into his skull like an earthworm finding a new, cozy home for itself.

❝ ...though now that I think about it, where do you get your money? Who gives you money? ❞

The geomancer leaned forward, his head tilted to one side. He wondered if Alice’s father, or mother, worked in a field of science, biology maybe? Anatomy? What else would seek to purchase these corpses with that much coin and regard? Only a scientist came to his mind. Maybe it wasn’t even a parent. Maybe it was a mentor or an employer. That would explain the money, just not the interest in the rotting bodies of forgotten folk. Maybe a farmer who’s experimenting with fertilizer for their crops? Chrys grimaced. Did Alice need saving?

@Lucia Mierz

 

[Lucia Mierz]

Being told 'as many as you can afford' made Alice perk up slightly. Of course there wasn't even a flicker of change in her expression but her body tensed as she trotted towards the cadavers in a much more animated step then before. Pacing back and forth as she checked them, much like a child in a candy store trying to decide which treats looked the tastiest.

Of course, when she seemed to settle on what seemed most useful she would gesture. "Alice wants this one... And these two... And that one..." She pointed out, her actions and gesture much more bouncy and fluffy now that it came time to get the cadavers though the reason why was difficult to discern. Instead, Alice only heard Chrys ask about the money and where it came from causing Alice's head to cock slightly in answer.

"?... Alice's money comes from Alice... Alice's Owner sends Alice out on errands after filling her with money... Alice is good at protecting things..." She explained, though if Chrys seemed confused about what Alice meant by 'filling her with money' Alice would answer with actions instead as she leaned over the bag. Normally she didn't buy as many as 4 so more coins were needed in the pouch. Opening her mouth, she shook briefly before a few coins fell out into the pouch. Followed by a few more, then a few more until the right price was met according to Alice's count.

With the pouch properly filled, she lowered the pouch and drew it closed with a tug once more holding it out with both hands and giving it another jingle habitually. Even if her expression didn't change she had the bounce of a small girl looking to be praised for 'creating' more coins. Her body language accurately communicated what her stoic expression couldn't as she tried to hand the pouch to Chrys to make sure everything was even.

 

[Chrys]

《⋯《 ⋯ ❖ ⋯ 》⋯》

❰ Adventurers Guild ❱

Overthinkin’ among the corpses

She was like a child in a candy shop, which made Chrys smile. Alice reminded him of someone else, a lot of someone elses, but those memories felt like they came from lifetimes ago. Maybe even belonged to different universes, different timelines. He felt like a stranger to his own life, and maybe that was for good reason.

Then he remembered this was not a candy shop. It was a funeral parlor, the one thing he wanted to get rid of, as he wanted to focus on the tavern half of the building he had bought from a lander months ago, years even. How ironic then that it was all that was left for him.

He watched her flutter over a specimen and then another and another, his amber-like eyes zeroing in on the coins and then the pouch. Carefully, he took it, accepted the offering like it had come from a fragile little thing: One false move, and she, along with his pay, would turn into nothing more than ash and soot.

Of course, he knew that wasn't the truth. Alice wasn't an illusion, a delusion, and the coins, now in his hands, were as real as his own cup of tea, which was left by the window sill, growing colder by the minute.

❝ Great choices all around. But how are you going to bring them all back to...your owner? ❞

That felt a little weird to him. Maybe even more. Why would a little girl have an owner? The question crossed his mind without consent or delay. Other thoughts immediately followed, most of which very alarming. Chrys furrowed her brow at all of them. Where were her parents? Her family? Did they sell her to someone?

But who was he to judge? He was selling unclaimed remains to the little girl in question. Chrys narrowed his eyes toward her, shifting his gaze from his pouch of coins to his client of the day.

❝ Or don’t you mean parent, Alice? Parents? No one should own a little girl. ❞

At least that was the ideal. Throughout his time in this world, he’s often experienced the exact opposite of the ideal. From fishing villages either worshipping some sort of deep sea primordial monstrosity or hacking the same thing for food to performers having to fight a haywire invention, things tended to grow out of the ideal a lot of times. Most of the times. If it wasn’t just routine by now.

With that in mind, Chrys couldn’t help but feel concerned for the child, her welfare, her current state of affairs, and of course, whatever future that all should leave to. If someone else did indeed own her, then wouldn’t it be his responsibility to rescue her from her oppressor? Save her from a terrible fate? Or was that asking too much for a semi-retired adventurer who was selling unwanted corpses in his cave-like establishment?

❝ Do you...need help, Alice? ❞

It was the best he could do. Or rather, the only thing he could do. He didn’t have all the facts yet. Maybe he was just worrying over nothing. Or maybe it’d be too late if he didn’t try anything right then and there. The least he could do was ask.

@Lucia Mierz

 

[Lucia Mierz]

While Alice flitted around the cadavers repeatedly she stopped, spinning briefly on her heel before her head cocked left and turned towards Chrys. Still expressionless, still stoic. "It will be like always... They will become a part of Alice... Then Alice will return to her place... Until the next errand... Until Owner needs Alice again..." Alice explained bluntly though it was likely an answer that just created more questions. For all intents and purposes, as bizarre as she was, Alice was still externally merely a small child.

Though when asked about parents, Alice straightened up. For a moment her brow furrowed in discomfort. It was the most emotion the girl had ever shown until now, though simple displeasure, for Alice who had been stoic and empty in regards to everything else it was a big change. "Alice was clear... Parents... Alice had no need for things like that... If Alice needed them, Owner would have made them for Alice... Alice belongs to her owner... Owner gives Alice purpose... Alice is the answer to Owner's concerns..." Alice started, her gaze slowly raising until she was staring at the ceiling.

Alice carried a heavy burden in her own mind and heart. She was created, but unlike most she was created for a purpose. She was meant to be the little princess that would ideally claim the role of a royal. A 'perfect' undead body, a paragon of what an undead physique is capable of, a benchmark from which Lucia could then use to measure all other undead. Alice stared at the ceiling though, completely aware of how far she was from 'perfection'. She was so painfully far and so woefully worthless that she still had no understanding of what or where she should do or go to achieve perfection.

Because of that...
All she could do was keep consuming...
Until she found a corpse that could give her a clue...
All she could do was keep evolving...
She would devour everything...
She would feast on anything...
Until she fulfilled her purpose...
Until she was complete...
So that her creator would be proud of her...

All it took was that thought. The thought of Lucia one day waiting impatiently for Alice to be perfect and ready to take her place. "Alice doesn't need help... This was what Alice was made for..." Once the fear of her creator's possible frustration appeared in her mind, Alice saw red.

One eye immediately blackened and swelled like an insect's. Her chest rippled and expanded even as she grit her teeth until it finally burst open down the center. Alice's ribs jutted out like teeth grasping and clamping at the air impatiently as they clamped onto one corpse drawing it towards her chest cavity that seemed to contain no real organs outside of muscle and tissue.

With a sick sound one of her arms dropped down to the floor, her shoulder and elbow softening as the arm flailed around like a fleshy tendril gaining length. Her hand gradually split like an eyelid as a bloodshot eye opened chaotically twisting about until her hand suddenly darted towards the second corpse. Supported by Ant carapace from the ant queen to maintain it's shape it latched on as sharpened ant mandibles forced their way out from her fingertips for a better grip as she tried to make as much surface area as possible.

The eeriest part perhaps though was how after a few moments of contact, the corpses she was devouring also began to move. The cadavers limbs twitching and jerking until one's arm was adorned with lizardman scales slowly reaching towards the third to join in the fusion process while the other corpse began growing wolf fur as it's hand gradually turned into a wolf maw to bite the fourth to continue the process.

All the while, Alice's head dangled, hanging back from her now bisected chest as the neck bent unnaturally to keep out of the way of debris. Her eyes still rolled around though, briefly glancing about to orientate herself before they settled on Chrys. "Alice is good at this... It should not take long..." She spoke, still the same tone despite the nightmarish change.

 

[Chrys]

《⋯《 ⋯ ❖ ⋯ 》⋯》

❰ Adventurers Guild ❱

WHAT. IN THE BLOODY. DICKENS?!

A part of what? Chrys narrowed his amber eyes at the young girl, confusion swirling around his brain like thick fog enveloping an abandoned town in the middle of nowhere. He felt as if he had just awakened in that same town without any memory of how he got there, why he was alone, where he was, when it was, what he was doing there, and who he was in the first place. So many questions, so few answers.

❝ Does your Owner have a name, Alice? Can I meet…them? ❞

In his head, Chrys pictured the mysterious Owner as a bald man in a greying lab coat, thin and frail but still very intimidating. He was, in Chrys’ mind, a connoisseur of the sciences, dabbling in the taboo to push the very limits of collective knowledge.

In the Owner’s head, they were probably pursuing the greatness of man, going places where no others have ever gone before. They probably also owned their own lair, complete with an underground laboratory filled with vats of human remains, both in parts and in whole.

Chrys stared at his tea cup, grimacing. Perhaps it was time to get a fresher batch. This old one might have gone the way of his wares as well.

When his eyes wandered back to Alice, he felt more concern and sympathy for the wayward youth. Whoever this Owner was, it seemed to Chrys, had done a number on her perception of reality and loyalty. He came to his own conclusion that Alice was probably orphaned at a young age, and the Owner had taken advantage of her tragedy. The horrible things people do…, the corpse trader mused.

❝ Are you sure? ❞

His question was delivered with a smile. The way Alice looked, Chrys did not want to let her carry all her purchases with her. Even with a wheelbarrow or whatever tool, equipment, she had brought, it still did not sit right with him to just leave her with the damned things as she traveled all the way back to wherever her Owner’s lair was. Probably not in Stokbon… Or else I’d see her more often.

❝ Those things can still be heavy, and I can lift them for y— ❞

Chrys’ jaw dropped open, his eyes widened in horror as he laid unprepared witness to her transformation in what seemed to him the slowest of motions. The young, innocent girl that had entered his establishment was gone. What stood where she once did was a monstrosity that even his nightmares would not dare concoct.

❝ What… In the bloody hell…?! ❞

Christopher Samuel Jackson bled out onto Chrys, the terrifying scene before him violently dragging out the man behind the character. He had survived the worst this game could offer, and although they had their own sense of horror, he had expected that from them. Facing a monster head on, consenting to squaring up against eldritch horrors, was not the same as seeing a friend morph into Cthulhu’s bloody arsehole on an otherwise normal day.

❝ You’re not… ❞

…Alice…

Chrys did not want to believe what he was seeing. He felt his entire body freeze in place, though he was not quite sure if it was due to fear or due to still believing he was just seeing things. Maybe if he didn’t move, maybe if he waited for a second more, it’ll all be revealed to be a trick of the light.

❝ …gonna eat me, are you? ❞

Chrys instinctively clenched his left hand into a fist, as his right held tightly the nearest table edge it could find. Grains of sand and dust began to slowly swirl around that same fist, barely noticeable, barely hostile, all ready to defend the geomancer if necessary.

Hopefully, Alice was still there. Underneath all that terrifying visage. Chrys would rather not fight a friend. Worse? Chrys would rather not level his remaining source of income.


@Lucia Mierz

 

[Lucia Mierz]

As things continued, it got harder and harder for Alice to maintain her shape. As a small child she had 1 single brain, however powerful and reinforced it might be, it was still 1. As she assimilated the other corpses it was spinning in overdrive trying to organize every drop of blood, scrap of bone, flake of skin, strand of hair. As it got harder for her to focus on multiple things her body warped and bloated. Needing more processing power needed more brains in activity, and to support that she needed a larger body.

It ballooned slowly, swelling up first from a small child to the size of a horse or cow, then further as her shape contorted. Some portions of Ant carapace came through revealing limbs of the ant queen as she swelled. Needing limbs and a body strong and study enough to support the additional weight when she was finally settled, the carapace contained strings of human brains all wired together processing and filtering each gene, each trait, filtering out each particle of iron in their blood and gene data necessary to reproduce their appearances.

Unfortunately in this form despite the many brains, she didn't have the wherewithal to maintain her child-guise. Instead, mouths tore open from the ant's side and from what remained of her original fleshy body. A cacophony of different voices stolen from different corpses answered his question with the same lag Alice was known for.

"Alice's Owner... Lucia Mierz... It is also Alice's role to escort guests and visitors if she discovers them first... Do you... Plan to be a visitor to Alice's Owner?..."

Alice posed the question through the dozens of voices speaking in harmony. She was happy, happy at a chance that she could perhaps have a chance to fulfill another role she didn't often get to do. Normally the wraith butler was too fast for her, his nature as an assassin naturally made him more gifted for greeting guests at the edge of Lucia's camp compared to Alice who's poor coordination skills that at times made haste difficult.

Of course, the sudden outburst made the entirety of Alice shiver. The talk of bloody hells only confused and made her question. "Alice will not leave blood... Blood is a valuable resource for Alice... You can be happy... Alice will make sure it is cleanly assimilated..." She spoke as if a expecting praise like a child for eating their entire dinner. Of course with most of the chaotic voices being adult though it was probably not nearly as endearing as it otherwise may have been.

Though as Alice talked and warped, her body was still hard at work. The corpses she was absorbing gradually grew indistinct, melting together in a mass of flesh and sinew. Soon her arm gradually began to retract pulling the large pile of flesh attached to the end with it. Her mid section gradually closed around the pair of corpses being pulled into her chest cavity as her rib cage clutched them tightly.

The rough brutal sounds of bones crunching could be heard as her large Ant-like form began to shrink but at a much slower rate then it's expansion. With each sickening crunch the mouths along her ant-like body closed as the carapace was gradually absorbed as well. Soon, Alice's hanging head swung back upright though her body was not yet completely compressed back down, steady progress was being made as she answered.

"Eat you?... Why?..."

Alice asked blankly. Despite being a horrific eldritch monster even now, there was that naivety she had back in her childish form as even her voice began returning to normal. She had dozens of reasons to explain her confusion. She hadn't shown any intent to harm or eat him, therefore she couldn't understand why he asked. Lucia's constant lectures about the importance of societal norms and expectations as a being with intelligence. Lucia's lectures about her responsibility as a representative of the undead community and what her aggression may represent in the eyes of the living. Mortimer's lessons on being an upright and dignified royal being.

Her head twisted unnaturally towards Chrys wondering what would bring him to say something so strange. Even in it's unnatural state, her head still tilted in stoic confusion... a very Alice gesture however deformed she was now.

 

[Chrys]

《⋯《 ⋯ ❖ ⋯ 》⋯》

❰ Adventurers Guild ❱

Terrified.

With amber eyes as wide as they could get, Chrys could do nothing else as watch the horrifying scene before him, anticipating the worst that could happen now that he was stuck in a room with no longer Alice but whatever had become of her.

If he wasn’t so preoccupied with his own survival, what he possibly needed to do to defend himself should an attack ever come, he would’ve had enough time and effort to regurgitate yesterday’s lunch, including all that tea he had swallowed since dawn. She’s…swallowing the remains…

Chrys winced as the voices came, the sound they made jarring to his ears.

❝ Lucia… ❞

It was a woman’s name. More importantly, it was a name he’s heard before. When and where, he could not remember. If he’s even heard it. A lot of people, women, have crossed his path. A lot of faces, a lot of names. Lucia would’ve been something he remembered, even if only in passing, but he could not quite put a face to it.

❝ If they would have me, of course… As a guest, I mean. Not…anything else. ❞

Chrys tried to be very careful with his words. The last thing he wanted was to be…assimilated as well, even if only accidentally. He would put up a fight, of course. Or try to. It had been a while since his last battle, and he was starting to doubt himself on whether he could hurt Alice. Would want to hurt a friend, a child. She was still in there somewhere, wasn’t she?

He could only nod, hesitantly, at her reassurance regarding valuable resources and clean assimilation. Tiny beads of sweat began to form around his forehead, and Chrys had to swallow air. It was a mistake: He felt his throat close, though only momentarily, which made him all too aware of how dry it had become. Or maybe he was just imagining it.

❝ That…is nice of you…Alice… ❞

It was all that Chrys could say as the terrifying scene continued. He winced, eyes instinctively closing, when he heard the first crunch, but he immediately opened them again, not wanting to get caught surprised by anything else. He did not want to watch the rest of it but he knew he had to, if only to make sure she would not turn to him as her next meal. I’m not dead… All she wants are the remains…, he tried to reassure himself to little avail.

❝ I don’t know… I just don’t want you to… We’re friends, aren’t we? And I am not a corpse. ❞

Chrys instinctively moved his head back, the rest of his body following suit, as her head turned to where he was. It was as if a part of him had expected her to gobble him up right after asking the question, a sick play from a monstrosity from the depths of whatever this world called hell. But she didn’t. And a brief sense of relief washed over him.

I don’t want to hurt you… Don’t make me hurt you…, he repeated in his head, though he wasn’t quite sure whether he was trying to convince himself or just hope that things would not end terribly for anyone. There’s no need to fight…


@Lucia Mierz

 

[Lucia Mierz]

Slowly, painfully slowly, the sounds of crunching grew more intense and rapid, her form returned to normal gradually. By the time she was normal sized, her ribs receding back into their rightful places it became clear why her dress and hair was always perfect. Once the tare in her chest was close enough to seal, the dress she wore likewise began trying to seal as hair-like strands stretched across the fissure until the dress was pulled back together sealing more like a cut across skin then a fabric repair. Her dress, her hair, perhaps even everything else on her body was likely flesh or hair of some kind woven or wound up into the appearance of clothes.

Soon she was back in her normal child facade, not any worse for ware, as if nothing happened her unnaturally bent head gradually snapped back into place between her shoulders as she patted herself off. The grizzly nightmarish transformation like a bad dream as she dusted herself like nothing had happened.

"Alice's Owner likes guests... She has many coming and going... Alice doesn't usually get to escort them so Alice will try her best..."

Alice was trying to psyche herself up unaware the poor man might still be trying to reconcile what just happened with the small girl that now stood before him once more. For Alice though, this type of thing was just a standard affair, it was who and what she was; she was a Corpse Collector.

The part about being friends did confuse and puzzle her though. While she certainly could consider Chrys a friend who helped her acquire new materials, she didn't understand what gave him the impression she would eat him still. Of course, if needed she certainly could try, but if it wasn't needed, why waste the resources doing such a thing when it wasn't asked of her?

Living people were weird.

This was the only conclusion she could take away from it as she tried to answer with her same stoic and dead expression. "Mm, Alice understands... Chrys doesn't want to be eaten... Friends aren't food... Alice thinks." She expressed tilting her head in thought. Yeah, as far as she thought, friends should at least be dead before before being assimilated, but even then Lucia could just revive them so why eat friends at all? Definitely strange, but the thought was just making Alice go in circles trying to understand something she couldn't wrap her head around.

Trying to shrug off the errors in her brain's attempts at understanding, she pushed aside the confusing exchange and instead approached Chrys raising her hand. "Alice will escort you to Alice's Owner... Alice will need Emerson's help to bring you back though... Living people are too delicate for Alice to carry..." Alice tried being considerate. She couldn't exactly transform into a beast and race through the woods to get home if she had to bring Chrys with her to Lucia. She needed help of one of the Wraiths to move Chrys safely she thought.

 

[Chrys]

《⋯《 ⋯ ❖ ⋯ 》⋯》

❰ Adventurers Guild ❱

Bargaining.

So the Owner is at least hospitable… If Chrys’ amber eyes weren’t glued to the terrifying scene before him, he would’ve found something funny about that. He would’ve laughed, maybe just chuckled, at the thought of a—necromancer, there is no other word for her, this Lucia—being inviting to strangers, opening her lair’s doors to friendly chit-chat and whatnot.

Or maybe the chit-chat is not that friendly and the whatnot is my body getting swallowed by Alice… Or someone worse. Chrys gulped at that thought, and the question, though slowly, immediately came out of him in a bid to preserve himself, his own existence, his very safety.

❝ Your Owner… Lucia… What does she do with her guests, exactly? Do you also escort them out? Actually see them leave her, uhh, domain? ❞

He had to be sure. Chrys did not want to assume the worst, but considering what was before him, once a young girl now turned into a composite monstrosity of many things, insects and other creatures included, the worst might be less nightmarish. Still, she sounded very much like Alice, with little change to her demeanor, if only her physical features and that jarring cacophony of varied origin. Does she retain the voice of all she’s consumed?

❝ Yes, Alice, you’re very much right… Friends aren’t food… Especially me. I’m not food. Chrys isnt very tasty or nutritious. Chrys will give anyone indigestion. ❞

Slowly, Chrys rose from his seat, leaving the teacup on the table closest to him. He put his hands up, still closer to his body than anyone in complete surrender, just to show her he meant to harm, which was true. To fight a friend, in his establishment, would violate some sort of implied agreement between friends. He hoped Alice’s owner, Lucia, would feel the same way. A guest must always have their rights protected. Or some bullshit like that that might let him keep his head intact.

❝ Emerson? Who is… Is he a friend of yours? Does he look…like you? ❞

Chrys gulped again. If this Emerson fellow was just like Alice, the Alice in front of him, it would make much no difference, would it? Another creature of nightmare, one that was a stranger and with whom he did not have any rapport. Wouldn’t it be better for him to go with Alice, the Alice that had been, instead? It never crossed his mind that she may have trouble transforming back, especially with those remains she just...assimilated. If she even could.

❝ I would rather go with you, if that’s alright? After all, we’re friends, aren’t we? Just…turn back into the little girl that you are, and we can leave for Lucia’s place right away. ❞

What did Chrys know of these people? He barely even knew anything about himself anymore. I still know how to survive... I hope. He gulped a third time, his life in-game flashing right before his very eyes. Damn, that’s a lot of memes.


@Lucia Mierz

 

[Lucia Mierz]

In Alice's memory, meetings with outsiders was pretty boring. She rarely stuck around with them, if not for the reason that her presence was usually eerie in a camp of undead but also because Alice herself was not built for politic and social occasions. "Alice remembers... It depends though... Some leave after only a few minutes of talking... There have been a few who stay over night for sleep overs..." Alice tried to explain with her limited knowledge.

Though being told again that friends weren't food Alice could only stoically bob her head in confusion. She couldn't understand why it was so important to stress such a thing but Alice wasn't one to think deeper then what she was told most of the time. As long as it didn't contradict what Lucia said, there was no reason to invest much thought or energy.

Being asked about Emerson though made Alice's gaze list briefly. Recalling the wraith and her more curvaceous physique Alice shook her head somewhat defiantly. The point of the question perhaps going over her head. "Emerson is like Alice but different... Alice was made specifically for a purpose... Emerson was brought back after dying... Emerson handles logistics for Alice's Owner because Alice's Owner was annoyed that there was no Fast Travel... Emerson is much taller and bigger then Alice though..." Alice murmured touching her own non-existent chest in dismay knowing it was a losing battle to compare her own appearance to someone who was an adult in form. The comment about Fast Travel being taken literally by Alice who misinterpreted the video game mechanic.

When he mentioned wanting to go with her, Alice didn't protest. For her, though the walk might be a bit long she was an undead for whom stamina was never an issue. Any dangers could just be eaten and consumed so there wasn't any problem with that either. The suggestion to use Emerson had largely been for Chrys's comfort but Alice wouldn't argue if he opposed. It was just another way to monopolize head pats when she escorted someone all by herself in her mind.

"Mm, then Alice will escort you..."

Alice offered as the last of her bizarre growths receded. Her dress repaired itself soon after as the fabric was gradually pulled back together as if it were a cut healing before Chrys's eyes. More alarming though was that when Chrys said he was ready, Alice would reach up to him offering her hand, a naive childish gesture to hold hands and walk but whether or not Chrys would dare hold that hand after seeing what it could do was another story.

---

The way back... Was certainly long. If Chrys went along with it Alice would have walked him all the way to the edge of the city and further still along the coast. The distance was just enough that it was debatably walkable but at the same time it was far enough that your average city dweller wouldn't casually wander that far without purpose.

Along the way as time passed, Chrys would find more and more evidence of Lucia's existence once line of sight to the city was nearly broken along the winding coast.

It began with small teams of skeletons occasionally wandering about. They were dressed in simple rags and peasants garbs usually carrying some kind of spear or basket as they casually trudged into the ocean sinking to the ocean floor for whatever work they set out to do. Each time they passed by, Alice hardly paid much attention to them, instead focusing more on the destination and Chrys.

Farther still, the types of skeletons would occasionally change from simple skeletons to armored knights with burning helmets brutalizing the occasional monster who would otherwise trouble the local skeletons. They worked efficiently and in coordination to strip the area of threats before settling up to move onto the next leaving behind only a small team of peasants to take care of the remains.

Each skeleton's skull burned with a lightless flame that flickered. In their chests a cosmic light beat and pulsed like a heart transmitting energy throughout their structure.

 

[Chrys]

《⋯《 ⋯ ❖ ⋯ 》⋯》

❰ Adventurers Guild ❱

Terrified.

Sleepovers?! Chrys frowned, narrowing his eyes, though definitely not to further stare deeper into whatever Alice had become but mostly out of a sense of disbelief. Why would anyone want to sleep over— Then it dawned on him, another curiosity that needed to be satiated.

❝ Those people who’ve slept over… They know about you and Lucia and…Emerson? They weren’t…scared? ❞

There it was. That word. Scared. Most others won’t admit to it, but Chrys has faced too many of his fears to discredit the word. This Emerson guy might just be another one of those fears… The geomancer’s forehead slowly creased, his entire face continuing to show more concern as Alice’s description of Emerson intensified his worries with each word. Taller and bigger than… His amber eyes wandered from the present monstrosity’s, well, what should be the head…down to what should be the feet.

❝ Lucia…brought Emerson back to life? ❞

Chrys needed that confirmation. It was like the first source of water after crawling through the desert sands for days. He had theorized as much, but there was a part of him that second guessed his thoughts. Alice’s validation would silence that guy.

❝ T-thank you? ❞

Chrys gulped, perhaps for the final time. He was glad that the taller and bigger Emerson was no longer out of the picture, an option discarded. He was even gladder when Alice decided to turn back into the innocent young girl he’s always known her to be, though the image of her true form would be forever seared into his brain now. Despite that, he did hold her hand.

What made him the opposite of glad, however, was the journey to Lucia’s domain, specifically, the horrors his eyes had to endure throughout. Chrys half-expected the skeletons but seeing them dressed, in rags and garbs maybe but still dressed, and wielding weaponry was not something he expected.

There was a difference between imagining something terrifying and actually witnessing them in person, and Chrys was experiencing that right then and there. At one point, he wanted to ask Alice where they were going, if they indeed had a destination under the sea, but he relented, deciding to keep those questions for Lucia.

By the time the skeletons with the flaming heads came into his view, he was more than ready to just disappear. Too late now… If I leave Alice’s side, I might just get randomly mauled by one of those things for being a trespasser. At least with her as my guide… What the bloody hell did I get myself into?!


@Lucia Mierz

 

[Lucia Mierz]

As they walked, Alice simply answered questions naturally as if it were a part of the escorting process. "Mm... Alice doesn't think anyone who knows Alice's Owner is unaware of us... We're not exactly discreet... Except for Mortimer maybe..." Alice considered briefly but as far as she knew, Lucia typically opened with necromancy and the like. She was practically synonymous with the Mastery at this point. All of Lucia's partners and friends were largely aware of her goals and her subordinate's natures.

The question about being scared though was silly to Alice though. She glanced up at Chrys with the same deadpan stoic expression as she asked quizzically. "Why would they be scared?..." It was hard for Alice to understand. To her Undead were her people, as far as she was concerned she saw the living and expected the living to look upon them the same way unaware that typically wasn't the case. Those few humans that did freak out and attack her Alice attributed to random acts of violence like serial killers or murderers no different from those random wild undead who were thirsty for living flesh and blood.

"Not back to life... Emerson came back as an Undead too..." Alice clarified perhaps pouring cold water on him for the moment. Though she did follow up briefly after some thought expressing her own outlook on Emerson's case. "Alice's Owner wouldn't bring Emerson back to life... It's too wasteful and Alice isn't sure if Emerson even fit the conditions necessary for coming back to life... Alice doesn't know about life... Life is the kind of thing Alice's Owner's Goddess knows about... Alice has seen her do things like that before..."

Lucia was Syndra's follower after all, the Goddess known for reviving dead lovers for story book reunions. Though Alice wasn't exactly the brightest when it came to book knowledge she would never forget anything related to Lucia. That and Alice was even present for one of the moments when Syndra appeared in the Ant tunnel and helped.

Unfortunately talk about Syndra was beyond Alice who struggled even to be a worthy bench mark to claim her role as a little princess. She didn't want to try to get too much into talking about it and show off how shameful she is.

---

During Alice's explanations though they would get closer. As the city grew indistinct on the horizon Lucia's camp came into view. Large white military tents were posted up in neat rows. The closer they got, the closer Chrys could see between the tents here and there were were piles of antiques and fancy fineries organized and stacked neatly to stay safe from rain if it should fall.

Though the tents interiors were lit, there was no activity inside of them, instead the activity was all outside. Undead knights coming and going in neat ranks. Others gathered around stumps or tables playing cards or dice. There was an occasional wraith or ghost drifting in or out of view. A small dug out area existed where undead struggled and tested themselves against each other almost like gladiators sparing and testing their mettle. Some were carving up monster corpses for materials while others were dragging around barrels and boxes of equipment or tools.

Though they were undead, the camp was very much alive.

With Chrys's hand still in her's Alice approached the front as blandly as ever. "Alice is home... Alice brought a guest..." It was a simple statement, but the few armored undead who watched the perimeter only turned to gesture inward. It met Alice's gaze and as if a silent conversation occurred during a brief awkward silence. Her head tilted, the knight made hand gestures, it was a method of conversation unique to undead until Alice continued walking.

She escorted Chrys through the perimeter, among the tents where undead wandered and lived. Close enough to see the tents that while clean were unoccupied but were clearly meant for certain people complete with personal effects and decorations. Alice's destination was the largest tent though, one that looked like it was reserved for war meetings.

Lucia's tent was full of elaborate book cases and ornaments. The antiques that occupied it were no doubt occasionally swapped out for the other ones stored outside from time to time. It was a wash with purples and blues with silver and obsidian accents. She sat in a gilded chair, too modest for a throne, but too opulent for a chair. Legs crossed with a crystalline glass of wine in one hand, a book in the other with a page casually turning.

She was the picturesque image of a refined woman with a regal demeanor to her. There was charm and charisma to her that at times seemed sinister and other times seemed warm and welcoming. Though it was clear she favored leathers and pants to silks and dresses it didn't take away from her image.

The moment she was in sight, Alice let go of Chrys's hand and picked up speed towards her like a child rushing towards a parent.

 

[Chrys]

《⋯《 ⋯ ❖ ⋯ 》⋯》

❰ Adventurers Guild ❱

Lucia’s place

Mortimer? There’s more of them?! Chrys clenched his jaw discreetly. It was an instinctively reaction, though he tried his best to keep his face neutral. The last thing he wanted was to scowl, to show Alice a negative reaction. That might be the last thing he’d do.

To be fair, he should’ve expected as much. Especially after seeing the throngs of skeletons, head aflame or not. And not. Wherever he was, wherever Lucia’s domain was, there didn’t seem to be a lack of undead, of nightmares turned real. Wait, does that mean Alice is undead? His curiosity had to be put on hold for a bit. On account of trying to make sure he still had his guide’s protection of course.

❝ Oh, you know… People tend to fear what they don’t understand. ❞

Too. That sounded like enough confirmation for Chrys, though he didn’t want to hear it. The Alice he had grown fond of, a surrogate daughter or little sister at the very least, was undead. Just like Emerson. Just like the skeletons they’d come across, skulls on fire and not. That made her Owner, Lucia, a necromancer, and seemingly a very powerful one at that.

❝ Lucia’s goddess… She works for a…goddess? ❞

Chrys has had his fair share of encounters with this world’s gods and goddesses. A while back, he had to deal with Tyldr and his believers as he fought a massive Leviathan with a fishing village…Viking style. It was not an experience he’d love to repeat again. Or maybe it’s just the kind of experience that’s been missing in my life as of late… Whoever Lucia’s goddess was, maybe they’ll offer him a similar kind of excitement, too. Again.

For starters, it seemed, the goddess’ disciple was doing well for her, what with the antiques and an undead army. Chrys made sure to stick beside Alice, not wanting to get separated for fear of getting labeled as a fair prey for the skeleton crew. He had no idea how their minds worked. Were they as much of a hunting collective as a pack of wolves? Did they operate on their own individual fancies? Or, as he hoped, did they need Lucia’s guidance to decide on anything?

Apparently, Chrys would find that out soon enough. Oh, f#@%, she’s f#@%ing hot as f#@%!

❝ Greetings. I am Chrystopheles of Wicked’s Rest Tavern…and Funeral Parlor. You must be Lucia. I hope my intrusion won’t be too much of a bother to your fair...ness? ❞

Chrys offered his host his most modest bow, eyes glued on her very attractive form. That and he wanted to watch how she interacted with Alice. The way Alice had spoken about her seemed very intimate, familial, though he had been skeptical of how she kept calling this Lucia her Owner. The moniker didn’t sound very intimate, familial. But now that he was here, in the same space as Owner and nightmarish undead in disguise, he watched them with keen amber eyes, hoping to glean more firsthand information to satiate his curiosity. That, and again, she was hot.


@Lucia Mierz

 

[Lucia Mierz]

Alice jogged up only to collapse like a heap into Lucia's lap. For a moment it caused Lucia to hesitate before placing her glass down on one side of the table and snapping her book closed with a light clap. "Alice, dear, come now." Lucia teased, her voice deep and warm but even as she reached down to pat the small girl's head Alice only stoically looked up at her.

It wasn't an uncommon dynamic for them, specially considering Alice's origins but Lucia could only reluctantly sigh not wanting to just push the poor girl away coldly. Instead Lucia's gaze turned up towards Chrys. Once he made his introduction, Lucia patted Alice once more. "Alice." Her tone sharp, but Alice didn't skip a beat. Unlike her usual style of talking, there was no lag as the response came out immediately in reaction to Lucia's word. "Alice presents her Owner... Lucia Mierz... Astorea's Duchess of Undead... Syndra's Grey Saintess... Alice presents her, mm." The small girl nodded as if expecting praise for announcing Lucia from her lap.

"Good enough."

Lucia praised patting her a few more times before trying to stand. Though annoyed at no longer being able to enjoy her place on the lap, Alice defaulted to claiming Lucia's chair like a cat while Lucia dusted her pants to approach Chrys.

"Not a bother no, I get guests pretty regularly at least. It's not uncommon considering the way I do things I suppose. sometimes it's for advice on magical things or organizing raids or labor forces and the like though. A few fans but usually it's more often then not lost lambs who wander in unaware, jumping left and right at every bone or wisp that passes by."

Lucia explained, her voice mellow, her pace even and relaxed as she glanced about her shelves for another glass that seemed clear and empty. Upon finding one she blew into it lightly before offering it to Chrys. If Chrys took it he'd find a Spector on the edge of his vision reach into view to pour him a glass before withdrawing it's arm from real space.

The drink wasn't the same wine as Lucia, but something stiffer, a rich brown liquor that gave the impression of something heavy you might see in shot glasses instead of the wine glass it was poured into. First timers usually need something stronger to deal with the sight of Undead coming and going casually.

"Tavern owners aren't my usual cliental though, dear, but I suppose Alice also doesn't usually bring guests either. Did people die this time or is it something different?" Lucia couldn't help asking, as if the only time anyone Alice brought someone by was usually because she attacked someone out in the wild. It was a question that made Alice pout even as her empty eyes followed the conversation

 

[Chrys]

《⋯《 ⋯ ❖ ⋯ 》⋯》

❰ Adventurers Guild ❱

Lucia’s place

To say that Chrys was pleasantly surprised at this turn of events was an understatement, even if that in itself was an overstatement. What the hell did he expect? An old balding mad scientist in a lab gown maniacally laughing with their arms raised as a mishmash of corpses, strapped on a grey slab, gets electrocuted back to life? Nah, her name changed that… Lucia was certainly not what he expected.

Then again, this entire place was not something he expected either. Certainly not the undead walking around like that was normal. What would his old comrades say? One of them would probably start hitting one of them without asking anything. Another would hide behind him, crying from fear. The rest would scramble to defend themselves, not wanting to get turned. Have I ever seen anyone get turned into undead by an undead? Must’ve been a different show.

❝ I…see. Your hospitality is much appreciated…Your Grace? Or is it…Your Holiness? Your Unholiness? Forgive me, I’m quite unfamiliar with how to formally address a…Duchess of Undead and Grey Saint? ❞

Chrys gently accepted the offered glass with a nod, more like a slight bow. He could see why anyone would seek her counsel on magic, and even experienced the very reason. He almost jerked back instinctively at the creepy arm that appeared out of nowhere, and whatever else was attached to it, but managed to regain his composure without spilling a single drop of the host’s drink. That would’ve been very rude. Not to mention a waste of good…whatever it was.

Organizing raids and labor forces, that was understandable, too, especially considering her undead army. If he was a leader of sorts, which he never thought of himself was, he’d ask for her insights as well. Then again, wouldn’t the undead be easier to control compared to actual, stupid people, Landers and Starcalled alike? He stewed in those thoughts for a bit as he took in the liquor, most probably aged in a wooden barrel. With his S-ranked Fortitude, he took its richness, its very strength, in stride.

❝ Did you say fans? Like, suitors or…? ❞

Chrys feigned a cough, reining himself in. Thoughts of Lucia having fans… Well, he could understand that. Most men would be bold enough, if not outright stupid, and he would count himself in those ranks. After all, what better way was there to die than to have a pretty face be the last thing you’d see?

Maybe not die at all, but I suppose, if I have to… He smiled as he stole a glance at her face. ...it wouldn’t be so bad.

And then another cough. This one into his hand. A more measured attempt to redirect his thoughts elsewhere. Somewhere more productive and less…that.

❝ Well, yes, people did die, which is usually why Alice comes to me… I supply the unclaimed corpses that you apparently purchase. I was just curious as to the identity of my clientele and curiouser when Alice referred to you as her Owner… Are you? ❞

In his head, the question was more pointed. Was she forcing Alice to do her bidding? Did she turn her without her consent? Was Alice even alive when they met and did she end her and her parents just so she could turn a young, innocent girl into an eternal unpaid intern? Sounds illegal…and also horrible.

But Lucia looked cute and pretty and refined, so maybe the Duchess of Undead and Grey Saintess wasn’t that evil…right? I mean... Duchess? And it's Grey SAINTess, not Black Cultist...ess, amirite? ...I need to stop talking to myself.

@Lucia Mierz

 

[Lucia Mierz]

Lucia took a sip of her glass returning to Alice's side, visibly used to receiving strangers she wasn't particularly bothered. Though, she wasn't one for formal address as much as she enjoyed her titles and the specialness it just didn't suit her pragmatic personality. Resting a hand on Alice's head she answered with dry laughter as she explained.

"No need to struggle so hard with formal address, it's not really the kind of thing I'd be able to get used to regardless. I'm a woman of humble beginnings after all." Lucia offered with a flippant shrug. She had always considered herself synonymous with 'normal', 'mundane' or 'average' and as much as she enjoyed feeling special, it was something she wasn't used to and to some extent had doubts over.

The talk of suitors did make her crack a charming grin over her glass though even with a sideways glance to follow. It was this type of question that made it clear to her Chrys didn't know her that well at all. Of course she could no doubt have inferred that regardless but it was just more evidence on the pile that the man didn't come here knowing her or her summons.

"Something like that I suppose. I am a pretty popular woman despite my flaws." Lucia explained, punctuating with a wink before taking a sip. Of course, all in good fun, it was a part of Lucia's charm at least. Her own way of being friendly.

When the topic shifted to more business minded things though, Lucia nodded accepting it plainly. She did give Alice money to go find corpses and materials for her evolution. She had to keep pushing Alice until she reaches a point of diminishing returns becoming near zero. She hummed, her jaw rolling as she mused on how much needed to be said for a full explanation about Alice's nature for people to understand.

"Alice... She's a Corpse Collector. The name gives it away I suppose, but they are of the abomination family of undead. Abominations are known for being as powerful as their parts to varying extents, and Alice as a corpse collector will grow and evolve the more she assimilates over time. One day, ideally, she'll make it to the level of a raid boss but we're not quite there yet are we dear?"

She spoke patting Alice but the small girl only stoically turned her gaze down in shame and disappointment. It was something Alice was also thoroughly aware of, her lack of ability and weakness when Lucia had such expectations of her. Unfortunately Alice had no way of knowing what kind of corpses were required in order to become that class of creature and instead could only keep eating until she found a clue.

"As for being her owner, I suppose it's not an inaccurate moniker? Though I feel like it's weirdly suggestive and implies a lot of things. I created her, we can't really consider her alive, she's more of a parasite then a person, and i mean that in a literal sense not a metaphorical sense."

 

[Chrys]

《⋯《 ⋯ ❖ ⋯ 》⋯》

❰ Adventurers Guild ❱

Lucia’s place

Chrys nodded, an eyebrow raised. He was impressed, though he tried not to show too much of it. The last thing he wanted was to scare her. If that was even possible.

Maybe the right term was creep her out? Would that even be possible? She was a necromancer, after all, with an undead army at her beck and call. It should be much harder to creep her out. If that was even possible.

❝ I agree. You seem to me to be very pretty…popular. ❞

Chrys couldn’t stop himself from smiling when she winked at him, so instead, he took a sip of his drink again, hoping that would be enough cover. Amber eyes wandering over the rest of her, they could not, as he could not, think of any flaws that might belong to her.

Of course, he knew, as a well-experienced lawyer in the other world, that such things rarely revealed themselves on the first meeting, but he hoped they did not count in their numbers ❝turning guests into undead while they sleep.❞ Not that he had plans to sleep there, of course. At least not without her invitation. That might be too much, if it wasn’t already.

❝ I can’t imagine what flaws you might have, but from humble beginnings to your own domain, your own army, they might not matter much. ❞

At least not when it counted, when they could've hindered her success. Whatever flaws she had, they seemed to him not as important. What counted more, what was more important, were her revelations regarding Alice.

Chrys turned to the creature he once only knew as a young, innocent girl, eyebrows furrowed in confusion at her truth. A parasite? That could become a raid boss? Would that be through assimilation of other corpses? Was he unknowingly feeding her, aiding her in her inevitable ascent as a force of destruction? He turned to Lucia again, more questions fueling his voice.

❝ So… Alice was never really alive? She was never human? You just created her out of…what exactly? ❞

Any hint of fear from Chrys was now replaced by pure curiosity. It dawned on him that Lucia was pretty much well-versed in her craft, her field of study, of magic, and with each second that passed, he was becoming more and more interested in it, in her, in what she knew.

In particular, the geomancer was never knowledgeable in undead categories. Corpse collectors… Abominations… They were all Greek to him. But the more she talked about them, and the more he listened to her, the more he realized he might just enjoy a few days in Greece.


@Lucia Mierz

 

[Lucia Mierz]

Lucia didn't hesitate to tip her glass at the playful double entendre. Word play was on point at least as far as she was concerned it was nice and the compliment welcome. Of course when he mentioned her flaws not mattering the metaphoric plastic in the smile became a bit more clear. Her smile twisted at the corners, the grin of a snake that lacked only the serpentine eyes.

She covered her flaws well, so she hoped, keeping them buried deep beneath the fetid self-loathing that stewed within. The nice, refined and polished veneer of confidence and charm held firm. There were so few who remembered what she was before she was a Necromancer, the amount of people who still understood could be counted on one hand.

"There's power in self-awareness because happiness can only exist in acceptance. It's not about my flaws not mattering-- no, it's about knowing that even those flaws can be a resource, though I can't say it's the most appealing resource. It's nice being popular despite putting so much time into refining flaws."

Luicia explained with a laugh. it wasn't entirely analogy or metaphor, Lucia's power originated from sin, virtue and base human emotion. Though she did enjoy talking about the core and building blocks of power in game. So many people simply relied on the game's interface, though she couldn't understand whether or not the locals would agree with her.

Though when the questions shifted back to Alice, Lucia chuckled and nodded along.

"Alive, no, but human, yes, in a sense. She's made out of many things."

Lucia offered but if that answer wasn't satisfying Lucia would turn towards Alice and beckon her over. The small girl trotted over after climbing out of the chair but even as Lucia talked about her story Alice didn't seem to flinch or show much interest despite being the direct topic. She merely stared into space with blank eyes as Lucia explained her nature.

"Consider this... Were you some evil individual who wanted to hunt our Alice here. How would you start? What would you even target?"

"Her Brain? If her brain is damaged, every cell in her body can double as a brain cell maintaining her bodily function. If she needs the processing power to think strategically or fight properly she can decompress more brains while recycling the one you destroy."

"Her Heart? Even without a heart, her body's normal muscles can funnel blood until she decompresses more hearts or recycles the destroyed one."

"Her Lungs? If she feels like being creative she can use Frog's skin to absorb oxygen through contact."

"You would be fighting a creature that is composed of thousands of limbs, hundreds of organs, dozens of faces. Would you consider such a thing to be alive? Would you still consider it human?"

Lucia posed these questions back to back casually. Each time her hand came to rest on Alice in a different place. Each time Alice's flesh squirmed in reaction as if preparing the necessary replacements or adjustments just in case. Despite being spoken about in such a way though Alice remained stoic, her gaze still just as bland and empty. Alice neither confirmed nor denied Lucia's words, who could know Alice better then her creator?

"As for why I say she's more of a parasite... Well, if you've seen her at work, then you can understand. Assimilation works both ways dear, just as she absorbs bodies into herself, she could just as easily grab you and assimilate herself into you. At which point, what option do you have? How do you decide where you end and where she begins after the compression process? How do you know what you're cutting out are her organs or your own?"

"Early on she used this method to keep me safe. If she's a part of your body then you share her redundancies and she can still wield her compressed limbs using your body as a medium. This may be why she likes to think I own her."