Chapter 86: The Weight of Gratitude

No one moved in the burial chamber. Or, more precisely, Nerez and Ily stood motionless, watching Kayrus as his skeletal jaw chattered uncontrollably, unable to contain his excitement.

"Oh…! Oh! Ooooooh! How can anyone possibly feel this much happiness?! My god's divine form has blessed my eye sockets!" Kayrus prostrated himself on the floor and raised his arms toward the heavens. "I would weep with joy if I had tears, but then the flames in my eyes would go out! What a cruel paradox!"

Nerez approached the skeleton and crouched in front of him.

"I only used spiritual energy to reanimate you. After that, you became completely independent of me. I can hardly believe the Divine Order allows something like this. It definitely has to remain a secret from the other gods, or I'll never hear the end of their complaints."

"I think that's something only Lord Nereziel could do…" Ily added from beside him.

Could it have something to do with the density of my spiritual energy? The amount must matter too, considering I used around a million units. Or maybe it simply has something to do with how long I spent as a soul in the Silver Sea myself…

Nerez could not see it, but the mysterious symbols inscribed in his eyes shifted around his irises, whose golden glow resembled the light visible on the horizon of the Silver Sea.

"Thank you for your compliments, my god!" Kayrus exclaimed from the floor. "Your kindness touches me deeply… right down to the bone! Though that isn't very far in my case!"

"Well, now that it's clear we aren't enemies, we can finally have a civilized conversation," Nerez declared, holding out a hand to help the skeleton to his feet. (His right eye did twitch slightly, however, when Kayrus took hold of his glove with both skeletal hands.)

"Not enemies? This goes far beyond the mere absence of hostility, my god! I am your most humble servant! Your most faithful lamb! An insignificant pile of bones ready to follow you to the farthest reaches of death!"

"Mm… I think I'd prefer a little more distance between us, but thank you. It's the thought that counts… Also, could you please calm down a little?"

"Forgive my lack of decorum, my god. You are right. I allowed my excitement to get the better of me… But please, tell me what I can do for you," the necromancer replied, calmer now, as he bowed once more. "Considering you were the one who returned me to this world, I am inclined to believe you must have some request of me."

"Actually, you already have… I won't go into detail, but there was something I wanted to test, and the result was quite interesting. What I wasn't expecting was for there to be no connection between us at all. Now I need to figure out what we're going to do with you, because I have to admit, you draw quite a bit of attention…"

"There is no greater joy than having pleased my god without even realizing it! Ah! Ahem… Please, do not concern yourself with me. In fact, there was something I had planned to do if I ever happened to return to life. So, if you have no need to call upon my services directly, you may rest easy. I know perfectly well how best to serve you on my own."

Ugh… I was the one who revived him, after all… I can't exactly tell him I have no need for whatever it is he wants to do… though I have a terrible feeling about this…

"Um, just to be sure, do you really like that body?" Nerez asked. "If you'd rather, I can return you to your former form (using Remembrance)…"

"Oh, please do not worry, my god! This form you bestowed upon me is marvelously pure! Not to mention the new gift you have granted me! I found my new power rather curious when I awoke from my prolonged slumber, but now everything makes sense."

New power…

"Lord Nereziel, I think Edran and the others must be waiting for us by now," Ily reminded him. "Besides, the tremors that shook the tomb must have them quite nervous."

"You're right. We'd better head back… Kayrus, you can manage on your own, then?"

"Do not worry, my god. I promise to serve you in my own way and honor everything you have bestowed upon me."

That is exactly what worries me…

"Ah, but my god! Before you depart, allow me to present you with a humble offering. After all, no self-respecting necromancer can be content merely to receive!" Kayrus turned and made his way to his sarcophagus, where he pressed several of the reliefs adorning it in an order only he knew.

The tomb trembled once again, though not as violently as before. At the same time, one of the walls began sinking into the floor, revealing the treasure chamber.

"Please! Help yourselves to anything you wish," Kayrus declared, spreading his arms wide. "It is not as though I can use any of it to enjoy alcohol or the company of a woman. My pure body prevents me from indulging in such impurities!"

"I see…" Nerez said, glancing at Ily out of the corner of his eye. She merely shrugged. "Well, thank you very much, Kayrus…"

***

"Nerez, Ilyra!" Edran ran toward them as soon as they emerged from the corridor, but stopped dead at the sight of the treasure piled in their arms. "Did you find the treasure chamber?!"

"Something like that…" Nerez replied. "But the tremors caused the ceiling to start collapsing, so we grabbed what we could and made it out just as the entrance caved in behind us. A real shame."

I have to keep them from meeting Kayrus, after all. I have no idea what kind of trouble that would bring me…

"Not at all!" Edran exclaimed. "What you're already carrying is incredibly valuable. This trip was more than worth it."

In truth, Nerez could have stored the entire treasure in his storage ring. However, Kayrus was staring at his back so intensely that Nerez decided to take only what he could carry in his arms.

Of course, Kayrus had simply been delighted at the chance to be of use to the object of his veneration.

"Speaking of the tremors, we don't know when they might start again," Bastor pointed out as he approached them. "We should leave this tomb as soon as possible."

"What are you waiting for?! Hurry, hurry!" Yvene shouted, trembling as she clung to the wall. Apparently, the thought of being trapped inside terrified her.

Nerez looked back one last time at the corridor disappearing into darkness.

The sooner we leave this tomb, the better. I'm sure that title on Kayrus Odentis's Godscript page is going to cause me plenty of trouble…

[Lich King]

***

At the same time, back in the tomb's dark burial chamber, a skeleton clad in sumptuous ceremonial robes sat on the edge of a sarcophagus, one leg crossed over the other.

"Let's see… There's a certain Cult of Light I have quite a bone to pick with… Haha! Now that I've returned, I can settle our score once and for all. Lord Nereziel's domain shall know no bounds!"