Second Party Member

The next day had passed.

After this event, the citizens all thanked me for managing to get rid of the serial killers, aka the two brothers. The reward that the old man had offered was given out to the others. 100 platinum coins and a ticket to the next rank.

Now, I was a Brown Rank... yeah that doesn't sound cool.

Anyway, since the mist was gone, people got to visit the graveyard again which was cleaned up before Ravyn took down her mist. People got to visit the cemetery again to mourn for their deceased ones.

The corpses belonging to Simon and Kyle, the two brothers were nowhere to be seen when I got back there but I did see a spot that was stained with their blood.

All I can say is that they are definitely gone.

Currently, it was dark and I was wandering through the graveyard when I noticed there was someone sitting in front of Ravyn's grave. It didn't take me long to figure out who it was.

"Mourning you little sister?" I asked as I walked up to him.

Tyid turned around and nodded.

"Yes... today is the day she died after all."

"Is that so?"

Rumble~

I looked up at the sky as thunder boomed behind the dark clouds. In just a few seconds, it began raining again.

"Nero..."

"Yes?"

"Thank you for avenging my sister..."

...

"So you knew... How?" I asked curiously.

"I just know. I can see it. The killer in your eyes. It's just my intuition, but I know you were the one to kill them."

Tyid stood up and faced me. He placed his hand on my shoulder.

"Nero... have you killed innocent people?" He asked.

"Please, don't lie."

"..."

"..."

Hmph...

"Of course not. Who do you think I am?"

I nudge his hand off my shoulder as I cracked my neck.

"I don't go killing people because I want to. I only do it when it's necessary or when they deserve it."

I waited for Tyid to say something and a smile appeared on his face.

"I see... guess you aren't lying."

I picked a rose off the ground and placed it on Ravyn's grave.

"Tyid, tell me about your sister. What was she like before she died?"

I was curious. Ravyn only told me how she became a necromancer but not her childhood, so I might as well get it off of her brother.

"Ravyn... she was... a nice girl. Friendly, adorable, charming, and always curious. She was only a harmless girl, even after she awakened her powers."

A contented looked appeared on Tyid's face. He then continued.

"At first, she was feared by others as she had the ability to control the dead. But the only thing she did was reanimate a dead puppy. Of course, everything is fine as long as you don't get bitten."

Tyid went on about Ravyn and I managed to learn a couple of things about her. Though most of them weren't important.

"Ravyn's eyes changed when she became an adult. She was never guaranteed a normal life after that. It just... angered me."

He began to clench his hands.

"Who the hell judges someone because of their eyes? Just because of a slight change in appearance and she's become a creep."

I patted his shoulders as he began to tear up. Luckily the rain was masking his tears but I can tell.

"Did you love your sister? Even after that?"

"Yes... no matter what she was, I still loved her to the very end."

Is that so...?

"Tyid, I have a question for you."

"What is it?"

"If I had the ability to revive your sister from the dead, would you want me to do it? Think about it, you could meet her once again. I may not have the power to do so but if I did, would you accept the offer?"

Tyid hesitated for a minute and looked up at the dark sky. I can tell he was considering the option but what came out of his mouth was totally unexpected.

"No... never."

Even I was a little surprised there. I asked why he would decline the offer.

"I don't want my sister to come back to this... hellhole. She's already in a better place so it would be rude to bring her to this wretched place. I... would decline your offer... as much as I want to see her again."

"Is that so...?"

"Now... I should get going," He sniffed and wiped his tears away. "It's getting dark and I'm betting your lover is getting worried about you since you are out here so late."

"Hmph, I guess you are right. But I'll be staying here for a little longer."

"Ahh, I see. Well then, I'll head back first. Oh Nero, want to uhh... get a couple of drinks?"

"Hmm, maybe next time."

He nodded and before heading off.

When I was certain he was gone, I walked over to the small shed in the middle of the graveyard.

"I must say, your brother loves you very much and even cares about you even when your dead."

The gates opened and Ravyn walked out with swollen eyes.

"He's still the same... even after I'm gone. He's still the kind brother I know."

"Yeah, I wished I had a brother like that. Now Ravyn, has your curse been lifted?"

"Yes, I can roam around freely now. Though I will still be watched over, I can do anything I want now unless the reaper says otherwise. However, I don't have any place to go. I could go back to my family but I don't want to cause them any more trouble. They are all humans and I'm a ghoul, who knows when my hunger will take over and I consume them because of it. I think it's best I stay here and seal myself."

She turned around and grabbed the gate to close it but I snatched her hand before that.

"Huh?"

"Well, there is always one thing you can do. But that's only if you want to do it."

"And what is that?"

"How does joining my party sound? Of course, you can decline, but it's up to you. If you do decline, I'll leave you be. But if yo-"

"I'll do it!" She quickly responded.

"I didn't- are you sure?"

"Yes. I won't regret my decision. I want to serve you."

"Well then, you'll have to pledge your fidelity. Then I'll place a crest on you, showing me your loyalty."

Ravyn nodded and began pledging her fidelity to me. After that, I implemented the Mark of Fidelity onto her right arm.

[Ravyn added to the party]

Whoosh~

I noticed that there was a spirit coming towards us and I was about to equip Osiris until Ravyn stopped me.

"It's the reaper, it's alright," Ravyn said as she walked up to the reaper.

The reaper began to speak in a language I couldn't understand but Ravyn understood him perfectly. I just assumed it was speaking the language of the dead since she knows that. After a few seconds later, the reaper vanished.

"What did it say?" I asked.

"I was assigned another mission."

"Another one? In another graveyard?"

"No, this is much different."

She then looked at me and smiled.

"My mission is to serve you until you die. That means I'll be in your care from now on."

I see, so it's just another curse to chain her to me. I'd say it isn't necessary, but I'll let it slide this time. I don't like forcing others to do things but if it's the reaper telling her to do this, then I won't take my chances. I don't want my soul reaped before I have the chance to accomplish my mission.

"Well, now that that's settled... I gotta explain a few things to her..." I said as I began biting my nails.

"Her?" Ravyn asked as she tilted her head.

"Yes... her..."

***

I was in my room sitting on my bed with Kiyomi sitting next to me. She had an exasperated look on her face.

"Master... you pervert."

"H-hey now."

Yeah, returning to the inn, I had brought Ravyn along with me. Actually, she just followed me and I didn't really say anything.

I bought her a room next to mine and I felt like introducing her to Kiyomi... but she came to us instead.

The thing is, she caught us and she thought I was... "cheating" on her.

"Look, Kiyomi, we didn't do such things."

"Then why were you both in the same room?"

"Well, a few things happened and she pledged her fidelity to me as you did. She's another party member. There is nothing affectionate going on between us two alright?"

"Master, do you really trust her? Wasn't she the one that terrified this town because of her mist?"

"Well yes, that is true but I'm giving her another chance. She may have been the root cause but those two brothers were the real problem. They've done more damage. And either way, her skills as a necromancer will be useful."

Kiyomi still didn't trust me.

"I would never lie to you. Trust me, Kiyomi. Would I ever lie to you?"

"...fine."

I sighed in relief as I took off my wet clothes.

"A-achoo!" I sneezed as I took my vest off. Aah, great, I knew I should've bought an umbrella.

"Master, are you sick?"

"N-no Kiyomi, just a little cold."

"Well, if master is cold, he can always warm up using... me."

When I turned around, she had taken her pajamas off and was lying on the bed.

"Is that so...?"

A grin appeared on my face.

"Well then, I don't think I'll be getting any sleep today, but I think I deserve something for my hard work."

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