Daughter of Death - A Necromantic LitRPG

Lieze stepped forward. Another sigil expanded from her feet, nullifying Graeme’s attempts to reconstitute his [Blood Spike]. He held the dagger in both hands like a child, predictable in both timing and ferocity. Lieze had the advantage of wielding a longer blade, meaning she had the privilege of lurking outside his attack range and waiting for him to make a move.

“You can’t be serious…” His cowardice kicked up a storm of emotions. Graeme was fearful, furious, and pleading all at the same time, “There’s nothing to be gained from killing me!”

“I do not need an excuse to stomp on an insect. If it proves irritating, then ridding myself of it is as simple as putting my foot down.” Lieze replied, “You’re very much like an insect, Hede. At times, you are constructive - perhaps even helpful. But when opportunity knocks, you are always the first to descend on the unwary. You don’t have the right to act surprised when the same attempt is made on your own life.”

“Come, now! I only do what’s best for the Order!” He insisted, “The weak are culled! The strong and cunning survive! My predecessors learned the hard way that lowering one’s guard in the presence of a necromancer will only invite ruin!”

“Isn’t that what you’ve done just now?” Lieze asked, “Haven’t you just lowered your guard by attending this meeting without any thralls to protect yourself?”

“A-Attacking me in the presence of Master Sokalar is unforgivable! My value as a tactician and Deathguard is too great to ignore! He cannot deny me that praise!”

“Then why isn’t he trying to save you?”

There was no answer. Or, rather, the only rational answer was too grave for Graeme to consider. Sokalar - the man he had spent decades grovelling under to reach his position - was observing his imminent execution with the interest of a surgeon.

“Is this your twisted idea of revenge?” He spoke through gritted teeth, “Drayya failed to keep her subordinates in line! Her punishment was a standard affair! You should know this, Lieze…”

“Revenge?” Lieze shook her head, “You’re mistaken. I don’t fight for anything so lofty. Your death is a mere stepping stone on my ascension through the ranks of the Order.”

“I will not die here! My destiny remains unfulfilled!” Graeme tightened his stance.

He leapt forward with the adrenaline of a cornered beast, thrusting his dagger towards Lieze’s heart. His movements were predictable enough for her to sidestep the blow with ease, allowing the hunched necromancer’s momentum to send him barrelling across the carpeted floor.

She didn’t allow him to recover, spinning around and sinking the rapier into his outstretched palm. A pathetic wail left his throat as blood spurted from the wound.

Hede’s HP - 98 / 109

Lieze couldn’t believe that he was an entire 2 levels above her. Were all necromancers so weak in close combat? Granted, she would have gotten some trouble from him if she hadn’t spent a Heavenly Favour, but the difference between Graeme and a comparably high-level fighter like Helmach was unbelievable.

She made sure to kick the dagger out of his reach, severing the final lifeline connecting Graeme to the world of the living. The rapier was of exceptional make, its silvered tip sinking into the flesh beneath his robes with barely any resistance. She punctured something vital with a stab to his chest region.

Hede’s HP - 43 / 109

“No… no more…” His voice came out as a whisper.

“You’re whinging like a dog from only two wounds?” Lieze scoffed, “How you survived this long is a mystery to me.”

“Y-You wicked girl…” He coughed out, “Today… you may strike me down… but tomorrow-”

“I’m not giving you the pleasure of choosing your last words.” Lieze lifted the rapier, “Die.”

She felt the weapon’s tip pressuring against Graeme’s skull before piercing his brain. He wasn’t allowed enough time for a reaction before his body went limp.

Hede’s HP - 0 / 109

[Hede Graeme] Defeated!

320xp Rewarded

Quest “The Toad” Completed!

Reward - 4,000xp

Level Up!

You are now level [32]

HP + 5 MP + 50

MIND + 1

The second-in-command of the Order since the day of Lieze’s birth, dead by her own hand. She shared as much love for Graeme as he did for her, respectful only of the fleeting moments where he made use of his guile to manipulate her into praising his name.

“That’s one blockade out of the way.” Lieze didn’t care much for who heard those words, “If anyone else fancies challenging me, then please get it out of the way here and now. There are more important matters to be focusing on.”

“One of you-” Sokalar waved a hand towards Graeme’s corpse, “Clean this mess up.”

A novice necromancer came close to tripping over his own feet rushing towards the cadaver, leaving a trail of blood behind as it was dragged out of sight.

“You aren’t furious with me. You aren’t attacking me. If I didn’t know any better, I would say this has almost pleased you, as ridiculous as that would be.” Lieze met her father’s gaze, “Is this the freedom that accompanies my daughterhood? Can I slay and gouge and kill as I please until there is nothing left?”

“It is your right to judge those who are beneath you, just as it is the pleasure of your betters to observe the flowering of a calculated murderer.” Sokalar said, “But Graeme’s words were not entirely hollow. He was a fine shepard of thralls, if nothing else. With his death, you have inherited his responsibilities and the risks which accompany them.”

“No. Have someone else shoulder the burden.” She replied, “I am myself, not the phantom of a wrinkled lieutenant.”

Something in that sentence brought Sokalar to the edge of his patience. In the lapses of her [Antimagic Pulse], sparks of sickly-green magic surrounded his body like a halo of stars.

“Ignas.” Lüngen spoke up, “Do not kill her.”

“Hm…” Acknowledging the words of the only man he respected, Sokalar’s tranquil rage began to simmer down, “Interrupting again, Lüngen?”

“Is there any sin in ambition? You have shown less interest in the deaths of far more talented lieutenants.” The portly man replied, “Let us not quarrel amongst ourselves while there is work to be done. If the two of you wish to tear one-another apart, then let it be at a more personal occasion.”

“Lieze.” The Lich ignored Lüngen’s protests, “From where did you learn this power of abjuration?”

“You already know I’m not going to answer that.” She replied, “That’s why you aren’t going to kill me, isn’t it? You won’t let me die until you piece together the source of my strength.”

“You believe yourself untouchable, but Lüngen’s influence only extends so far, and my patience can only last for so long.” He said, “This power of yours would serve the Order well. If we could find a method of reverse-engineering its brilliance, there would be no creature alive capable of resisting our crusade.”

“The only ‘crusade’ I care for is my own.” Lieze declared, “I’m leaving. Our strategy has already been decided, so there’s no use in wasting any more time.”

Drayya and Marché rose from their seats as Lieze made for the exit. Sokalar watched the trio vanish before unclasping his hands.

“How troublesome.” Despite those words, he didn’t seem too bothered by the altercation, “Lüngen - I entrust you with raising Graeme’s corpse. As for the rest of you, we must portion out the aimless thralls left in his wake. This meeting is over.”

As the necromancers flooded out from the town hall, Lüngen waddled over to Sokalar’s elevated bench, retrieving a napkin from the hem of his trousers to brush beads of sweat from his forehead.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’d gone soft on us, Ignas.” He said.

“Tell me of Lieze’s condition, Lüngen.” The Lich replied, “I can sense it - her aptitude remains underwhelming, and yet she weaves necromancy with the expertise of an acolyte twice her age. There is something unnatural and artificial providing her with that ability.”

“You’re a perceptive fellow. No doubt you’ve caught glimpses of the golden scale growing from her palm and the profane God-flesh replacing one of her arms.” He said, “I have never seen anything like it in all my scholarly years. Aren’t you the least bit proud to see your own daughter finally making a name for herself?”

“She is young and uncontrollable. Power often corrupts, but in her case, it has festered like a disease. I believe you were the one who taught her that anger needn’t be rejected.”

“Indeed. She was a wonderful student. Talentless, as you say, but also persistent and ceaseless in her studies.” Lüngen’s tone carried a hint of pride, “-But she is ambitious, too. A trait she has no doubt inherited from your blood. You seem content to keep her leash slack, but there will come a day when her power rivals - or even exceeds - the likes of yourself.”

“Does she have the courage to rebel against me?” Sokalar asked.

“Hah… you’ve given up plenty to be as you are today, Ignas - your emotions least of all.” Lüngen sighed, “That girl despises you. Her hatred is so pronounced and shameless that I’m forced to admire it. Your death is just about the only thing she truly cares about. Didn’t you notice? When you called her ‘daughter’, the connection between the two of you was severed. Whatever you are to her now, it is most certainly not a father.”

“Splendid. Hatred is a wonderful thing.” Sokalar paused, “You have done well to instil the foundational ideals of our way in her heart, Lüngen. Even if I am to die, she will inherit a genocidal legacy and carry out my final wishes whether she desires to or not.”

“Yes… she’s become a real powder keg.” Lüngen folded his arms behind his back, “Could this be the only form of ‘love’ your twisted heart is still capable of? I recall the disappointment in your voice whenever the young girl failed another of your trials. Now she is everything you wished for, and that disappointment has disintegrated, replaced with… well, not quite ‘happiness’, but something dangerously close to it.”

“22 years a failure. In many ways, she is still a failure.” The Lich muttered, “But there is hope yet for her development. Keep a close eye on her for me, will you?”

“Of course.”

“-But do remember that she is a tool before she is a girl, Lüngen.” He warned, “Do not coddle her or withhold information from me. If she confides in you, report her secrets immediately.”

“I wouldn’t dream of hiding anything from you, Ignas.” Lüngen smiled.

“So you say…” Levitating from his chair, Sokalar turned his attention towards the exit, “We have much to do. Come along.”

Lieze’s cheek stung. She didn’t try to stop Drayya from slapping her.

“You fool!” She yelled, “Do you have the slightest idea of how badly that could have gone!? Sokalar could have killed us with a glance, and he only spared you because you’re too valuable of an asset to lose!”

“I was testing the waters.” Lieze said, “I think I have a good idea of how far I can push things now. Plus, Graeme was only going to get in our way later. You don’t think he was going to forgive me for mutilating him, did you?”

“But that’s- you don’t-- argh!” Drayya buried her face in her hands, “Unbelievable…”

The three of them were on their way back to the cemetery. Lieze’s body was still flushed with adrenaline. She had taken Graeme’s life as easily as a butcher slits the throat of a lamb. A month ago, she would never have dreamed of attacking a senior, especially not in plain view of her father.

“It worked out. That’s the important thing.” Marché said, “Plus, we managed to sway the Order towards our original plan of creating Dark Casters. We’ll finally have some time to reorganise and reinforce our thralls since taking the northern district.”

“Yes… I’ve been meaning to experiment with some new ideas.” Lieze replied, “Let’s hope today’s events will keep my father off our backs for a while…”