WILL OF FRANCESCO

[ 00:00 ]

[ Time up ]

[ Reverting host ]

[ Arcane skeleton knight ~ skeleton knight ]

[ Skeleton knight ~ Basic skeleton warrior ]

[ Too much energy consumed ]

[ Initiating sleep mode ]

[ Host would be forced into a deep sleep as the system recharges and undergoes an update ]

[ Sleep mode activating ]

[...]

[ Sleep mode ]

Time once again froze as Ossa's body glowed a subtle green hue, his form changing back into that of a weak, basic skeletal soldier.

His bones thinned, losing their silvery hue and sturdy appearance, replaced by the dull white color he was used to.

Time resumed as he fell, like a puppet with its strings cut.

"WOLF!! WOLF!! WOLF!!! WOLF!!! WOLF!!!..."

He could hear the barks of the shadow wolves, the sounds becoming fainter by the moment until he could no longer hear them as he had finally blacked out.

In the dark abyss of his mind's world, he found himself—a humanoid ethereal body whose specific features like his face or gender could not be determined.

"Where am I?"

"Who am I?"

"..."

His voice sounded in the endless traveling through the abyss, with no one there to reply.

[For your first question, you are in the void of your mind, your mind world.]

[And for your second question, you do not have enough energy to access that, but for your name, you are Ossa, a name given to you by your current contractor.]

Ossa was startled by the voice, floating backward in surprise.

"Who... who... Is there... Who are you?" He said in a shaky tone.

[For your first question, there is no one here but you and I, and for your second question, I am Francesco... No, I am a collection of his knowledge, magic, and skills... I am what is left of Francesco, who was once the hero of Lux Kingdom a couple of centuries ago and your master.]

"Master?!" Ossa muttered, memories flooding into his ethereal mind.

In his memories were moments when he, a skeletal soldier, was called by his master Francesco to fight against hordes of demons. Unlike most of his comrades, he only added to the number, breaking as quickly as he appeared, easily defeated by the monsters they faced.

Despite this, he kept reviving as his master's mana still flowed in him, practically making him a weak, annoying immortal soldier.

Although he had not killed most of the beasts, he had helped in the demise of many, serving as a distraction that allowed his stronger brethren to bring them down.

Memories of many battles surged through his ethereal mind, and in reaction, he remained motionless, seemingly in a trance as he absorbed what he was seeing.

"I was a skeleton summon?!" He muttered as the memories stopped, fully integrating with him.

He could attest that the voice that was speaking with him was that of Francesco, his master. A master who never abandoned a living or undead soldier; despite not having a will of his own, he was glad to serve him.

"Master!" Ossa exclaimed excitedly, recognizing the voice as that of Francesco.

[I am not your master, just his will.]

"Then where is he?" Ossa inquired, still giddy as he had finally been reunited with his purpose, with his master.

[Dead, at least for now.]

"What do you mean?"

[He is dead, but if you accumulate enough energy, he could be revived through you, as that was his wish.]

"Really?!" Ossa inquired, ready to lay his existence down for his master.

Necromancy made the summoner see their master as a God, one that they would serve until eternity, sacrificing everything for them with a smile.

He, a summons, had the imprint of loyalty still engraved in his soul.

[I would give you some tasks from time to time. Through this, you would grow stronger, strong enough to accumulate Francesco's soul.]

"Master, with this gift, I will make your dream a reality. Your enemies would be my enemies, and your allies my companions," he said with resolution, making up his mind to give his all to his master.

He made up his mind not out of his own volition but by the imprint Francesco's necromancy had on him, yet he felt it was according to his own will.

[Good...]

[I'm glad you are on board. Protect your new contractor; she is a special one. As you grow stronger, so does she, and as she grows stronger, so do you.]

"Yes, master. Your wish is my will," Ossa responded solemnly, bowing in respect to no one as only the voice of Francesco echoed in the pitch-black empty abyss.

"Ossa!!! Ossa!!" A cute but panicked voice reverberated through the abyss.

[Your contractor is awake.]

[Sleep mode deactivating.]

"Wait, master," Ossa exclaimed as he reached out his hand, attempting to grab the sound of his master's voice.

His mind's world cracked like glass, breaking into a million pieces.

"Ossa," Bel, who noticed the light in Ossa's eyes return, hugged the skeleton. "You are finally awake," she said, her voice muffled by her silent sobs.

Ossa gently got up and looked around his vicinity, barely remembering what happened before blacking out and what transpired in his mind's world.

He found himself in a dark cave, the rays of sunlight at its entrance signaling that it was now day.

"Where am I," he thought to himself.

[You are in the den of alpha wolves, leaders of this territory.]

"Master, is that you?" Ossa thought, trying to communicate with the system.

[No, I am but the will of Francesco.]

"Huh, so you are master," Ossa, whose mind had reverted to that of a three-year-old, could not comprehend what the system meant by that.

"Ossa, are you listening to me?" Bel inquired as Ossa had a spaced-out look in his eyes.

"Sorry," he thought, his eyes reflecting his apology as Bel could not yet hear his thoughts.

"Don't worry, I am not upset," Bel comforted as she could feel his emotions and notice the sadness in his eyes.

"Get up, I want to show you something. You have been asleep for hours now," she said, grabbing Ossa's hand and helping him stand up.

Ossa got up and followed her outside.

Bel raised her hand to block the bright rays of the afternoon sun. Ossa, on the other hand, moved unbothered as he did not have a retina.

In front of them were shadow wolves, some in the clearing while others hid in the forest, staring at them, their intentions unknown.