Looking into the pulsing green eyes the same color as the flame I conjured earlier I muse how different I am now compared to eight years ago when I first saw a risen skeleton. Back then I had only just found out about my primary affinity was death and barely had begun my tutelage under Elrich. The first few days of the training was about removing the stigma I had about the affinity as most assume who talk about the death affinity do so with distaste.

  Around two weeks into my training Elrich brought me to the Mort house for the first time. Upon entering I ended up tracking mud in causing Nicol to rush towards me brandishing a long wooden staff I thought was a crude spear, It was actually a broom. However I ended up fainting in fear and shock, getting Elrich to realize he never warned me about Nicol. Which to be fair, only a handful in the town are aware that Nicol exists.

  After I had awoken Elrich sat me down and had to explain that the death affinity alongside undead beings currently have a bad reputation due to a few notable cases of a rogue necromancer leading an infectious zombie horde. In truth most undead and death affinity users are in actuality a crucial part to the kingdom's defensive forces. In fact it was said that Dovan The God of Death in the Plorvin Faith created the first undead to act as eternal soldiers. Nowadays most Undead are either naturally formed mindless from concentrations of magic or arcane reanimations by Necromancers.

  Even one of the local Noble, House Vallin, is led by a Necromancer each generation who is responsible for creating undead to patrol the mountains east of the Hell’s Stand, this aids in keeping the Fallen from bypassing the Citadel. House Vallin was given the position after their ancestor, who was a necromancer himself, was one of the arcane mages during the arcane resurgence in order to fight the fallen. The resurgence was from King Maxlan Pesak Yaldric releasing the seal on the Arcane Obelisk around seven hundred years ago.

  Being drawn out of my thoughts for a moment I hear, “Still bothering Nicol after everything. I thought by now you would be fine with his presence.” Spoke the gravelly voice of Elrich.

  Looking over at Elrich and Bishop Reginald who both look a tad amused and sad respectively. “Well, Besides the scare I do owe his original life a small bought of revenge still. After all, he led the group that raided the caravan that brought me here.” I replied firmly.

  Bishop Reginald spoke, “Be as that may be, We apparently have more important matters to discuss. So Cleric Jacob joined the town guards scout group due to an increase in the Kobolds. I assume he sent yourself and Lauren back with the majority of the firewood then.” His rich voice and solemn tone reminds me why he is so successful in his preaching.

  Giving a nod to the Bishop, “That’s right he decided to join after Edgar told him of the suspicion that it is a new tribe with a chieftain or shaman leading them.” pausing then continuing, “We didn’t see any signs of disruption in the animals near the path so likely they have not explored too far outside of the caverns yet.”

  “That is a decent sign but nothing solid kobolds send small scouts and then rush most the horde towards the settlements they find to raid them before retreating.” Elrich explains, “If it's a new tribe we are probably looking at a maximum of three thousand kobolds in the caverns.” he continues turning to the Bishop.

  The Bishop responds, “A fair point Elrich, We will need to talk more later tonight with the other priests and clerics for now let us continue where we left off. Also Thomas thank you for informing us, go get some food and continue the rest of your tasks for the day please.”

  Nodding, I take a few steps away giving them thanks before exiting the building and heading towards the main complex. As I’m making my way to the cafeteria I consider the information Elrich said on the size of the kobolds tribe. In total the town of Eastmont is home to around six thousand people with three hundred trained guards at adept tier. Though most people can fight decently if need be, the majority of the citizens are only in the intermediate tier with a handful of people at the expert tier.

  Considering that each tier gets increasing more mana and spells or infusions it should be fine. From what I was taught by Elrich most people reach Intermediate tier in about a year at maximum for most it is less. But in order to reach the Adept tier it is a different beast requiring far more time and effort with specific requirements based on one's class. An expert could spend a decade in the adept tier before crossing the gap. Thankfully kobolds as a species have a below average physicality compared to most other species. Considering that when an individual gains a class they begin to become infused with mana. The infusion takes place in different ways both based on class and how their species evolved.

  Even considering a human with the same class level as an orc, the orc will generally be physically stronger but less agile. While a human is more capable of fighting for longer periods of time but is far less durable. By comparison a kobold would mostly enhance one's agility to higher than human barley. In exchange however, a kobold's durability, strength and endurance are all naturally lower by so much that an untiered human is equal to the capabilities of a basic tier kobold. The true danger they possess is Numbers even an intermediate could be overwhelmed with enough foes.

  Pausing I take a moment to close my eyes, pinch my nose, take a deep breath, and calm my racing thoughts. While under my breath I mutter, “Good job Tom you spiraled once more into thought. Now how close am I to the cafeteria.” Opening my eyes I look around and see I’m just about near the dormitory a good hundred feet past the cafeteria. With a sigh I spin on my heel and freeze as Lauren is standing a foot away looking right at me with a bemused expression with both Isabel and Torex stifling laughter at my expense.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  “You three wont let this one go will you.” I state more than ask.

  Lauren's expression changes to one of contemplation before replying, “Nope.” which proceeds to cause Torex and Isabel to double over losing it.

  Looking over at the two laughing I note the change in attire for the two. Torex’s light green skin and lanky frame now has blue arcane tattoos going up his bare right arm with a grey shirt that has only a single sleeve on his left side. He has black trousers with a cord belt for his pants with a pair of work boots on his feet. A pouch rests on his left hip next to a dirk, while a few potion bottles in a bandolier across his chest. His black hair shaved on the sides leaving top slicked back while his blue eyes are currently closed. From his open mouth with laughter you can see small tusks protruding up from the lower jaw. On his back a large pack sits full of scrolls of parchment and books.

  Meanwhile Isabel is wearing a grey sleeveless vest with an open back. Her forearms covered in leather bracers and gloves with open fingers for her talons. From her back is a pair of brown and dark grey wings that are currently folded up around her back and sides crossing slightly in front of her. Her eagle-like face, bright yellow eyes, and grey beak chirping as she laughs. Wearing short pants, with an opening for her tail, covering her legs up to her knee before her legs extend leading into a pair of wide feet with three toes spread apart on the front and one toe in the back with long talons on each toe. Across her entire body are feathers of the same brown color as the upper wing. Across her hips are two empty quivers one on each and a large canvas pouch in front of her stomach.

  “Alright you two get up, it's about enough right now. What are the two of you even doing here? Torex I understand cause you have a few days off of work in your parents shop for the festival every year. But Isabel I thought you were flying back from a trip to the city of Malkein and wouldn’t be back for another day?” I question the two of them while studiously ignoring Lauren’s grin.

  Isabel slows her laughter in order to chirp out between giggles. “We caught a wind current once we got out of the Peaks so we reached Malkein two days early. Therefore we were able to return yesterday but I spent it resting.”

  Meanwhile Torex begins to straighten before looking at my reddining face while Lauren smug smirk grows and proceeds to laugh harder once again. With an air of embarrassment and defeat I say. “Alright, well, that explains Isabel. Can, can we please just go so I can eat lunch. I still have some chores to do today.”

  “Sure, sure, Mr. Lost in thought. Let's go get you some food so you can trim the grass or whatever it is you need to do in the graveyard.” Lauren giggles out.

  With that I walk past the doubled over Torex and next to Lauren as Isabel fully straightens out while still giggling sliding up next to us. Entering the cafeteria with Torex rushing in behind us I move to grab a plate and place some roasted chicken and carrots on it while the others go sit at a table by the door. Once done I join them taking my seat at the round table and begin to eat. While Isabel describes the vibrancy and structure of the city of Malkein ruled by Margrave Melford one of the richest nobles in the Kingdom of Parvin. The Melford family is the owner of the rights to mining in the northern edge of the Green Peaks, and they are known for having a durable breed of horses and other mounts as well. In fact the heir of the house is rumored to have a trained griffon as personal mount.

  Once my food is mostly gone Torex decides to ask, “So Tom what was it that you were thinking about so hard you didn’t notice us behind you?” The two girls glance over and apparently decide my thoughts are more interesting than the fifth largest city in the kingdom for some reason.

  Swallowing what remains of my current bite I take a moment and drink a sip of water. And continue drinking the water for a good thirty seconds before Isabel and Lauren proceed to narrow their eyes at me. I answer, “I’m not sure if Lauren told you yet but it looks like a new kobold tribe is in the caverns to the south that makes two new tribes in the last four years. Also when I told Bishop Reginald and Elrich they commented that the new tribe would number around three thousand.”

  “Even if all of them are intermediate rank, that many could overwhelm the town guard.” Isabel comments thoughtfully, “Did they say what they are going to do?”

  “Not that I heard though they did mention informing the rest of the cleric’s and priest’s. Also we received this information from Edgar who Mayor Reinfield sent out so he is already aware.” I state before taking in Torex and Laurens expressions.

  Torex is visibly nervous and probably thinking of trying to place a few traps in his house or packing some emergency runic explosives in his pack. Lauren is grinning at the numbers which is not that odd considering her late father was an expert guardian while also being the former head of the town guard. After his death a decade ago she moved into the temple and has been hoping for opportunities to prove herself and follow in his footsteps. Making me narrow my eyes at her for a moment and then giving Isabel a nod in her direction. Isabel looks over with a slight nod as the two of us silently agree to keep an eye on Lauren to make sure she won't do anything too reckless.

  After talking for a while I head to do my tasks in the graveyard with Torex following to read in the seating area. My task mostly involves trimming a few hedges, using a scythe to cut the overgrown grass,all the while training my mana sense by feeling for elevated amounts of Death aspected mana. Thankfully nothing worrying, just a few slightly higher concentrations that Elrich will deal with after I inform him. Considering a few of them might be some infused objects he placed around as a test my mana sense it’s not an issue.

  After around four hours I finish up and get Torex out of his book so we can go meet up with Lauren and Isabel who agreed to pick up the ingredients for the soup. As I work in the kitchen making dinner for the four, the others prepare the table and begin to make plans to meet at Torex’s families shop before the festival. Once the food is ready and we dished we begin to enjoy our meal and before long we agree on one final task for the evening. To use the Journeys Path ritual tonight so Lauren and I are ready for our bestowment.