The Genesis Of A Necromancer - Chapter 84

Chapter 84: An auction?
In the planes where the moon never seemed to wane, its cold silver glow bathed a world blanketed in unyielding darkness.

Shadows stretched endlessly, their jagged forms swallowing everything in sight.

The air carried a vile stench of decay, clinging to each breath—a constant reminder of the abyss that defined their reality.

The village square lay in tense silence as the head demon soldier’s booming voice tore through the oppressive night.

“All of you idiots!” he roared, his voice reverberating across the square like a crack of thunder.

“How could intruders stroll into your village, and you welcome them as if they were kin? What’s wrong with you all?!”

The beast beneath him snarled in apparent agreement, releasing a breath so hot it created a visible steam that mingled with the cold night air. Its massive claws scraped against the cobblestone, leaving deep, jagged marks on the ground.

The oppressive aura radiating from the commander pressed down on the gathered villagers.

Some buckled under the invisible weight, while others stood frozen, their trembling bodies betraying their fear. None dared meet his blazing crimson gaze.

“Find the little demon who was last seen with them,” the commander barked. His fiery gaze swept over the cowering crowd.

“And if this ever happens again, if you even think of letting intruders in, I’ll make sure you never live to see the next moon!”

The crowd murmured in panic, their voices low and incoherent, as if the mere act of speaking too loudly would summon his wrath anew.

The town square, though vast, held all the village’s inhabitants—a grim testament to the demons’ woefully low birthrate.

Their population was sparse, each life critical to their survival, yet here they stood, their collective fear leaving them paralyzed.

The commander’s face twisted with frustration as he turned his attention inward.

‘These idiots have caused me nothing but trouble. What am I supposed to tell Lord Zomaza? I can’t return empty-handed.’ A single bead of sweat trailed down his temple at the thought of Zomaza’s wrath.

Failure was not an option.

“Men!” he bellowed, snapping his subordinates to attention.

“We’re moving out. They can’t have gone far. Search the next settlement if necessary. We will find them.”

Without another word, he tugged at the reins, urging his monstrous steed forward. The ground trembled beneath the beast’s powerful strides as the soldiers followed their commander into the night, their dark forms disappearing into the abyss beyond the square.

From the mouth of a shadowy tunnel at the village’s edge, five figures emerged.

Their movements were cautious, their breaths barely audible against the backdrop of the night.

“Gurat,” Jack said, his voice low yet commanding. “Go back to the village. Tell them you don’t know where we went. Say you stepped out to relieve yourself or something.”

Gurat stiffened, his face paling.

‘Look at how casually he says it, like it’s the easiest thing in the world,’ he thought bitterly.

As a demon himself, Gurat knew his kind far too well.

‘The entire village is in an uproar because of me. There’s no way they’ll just let me off. I’m going to receive years’ worth of punishment for this.’

Despite the mounting dread in his chest, he forced a weak smile and nodded.

“Yes, sir. I’ll be back soon.”

He turned and trudged back toward the square, each step feeling heavier than the last.

Jack watched him go before turning to the rest of the group.

“We can’t stay here much longer. Despite the rings concealing our presence, we still stand out. These demons might not be the brightest, but they’re not complete fools either.”

Gale crossed his arms, his expression calm yet contemplative.

“True. Our clothes alone are enough to give us away. We need something less… foreign.”

Jack nodded.

“Exactly. If we’re going to blend in, we need new clothes first. That’s priority one.”

Alisha’s voice cut through the conversation, sharp and skeptical.

“And how do you plan to get those clothes without drawing attention? Walking into the village market isn’t exactly an option.”

Jack rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Before he could respond, Gale spoke up.

“I have an idea,” he said simply.

—

The group moved swiftly through the village outskirts, sticking to the shadows. Carriages, pulled by skeletal beasts, were a common sight in the village, used to transport goods between settlements. They were the perfect cover.

They waited near the marketplace until a lone demon approached his carriage, the wooden structure creaking under the weight of its cargo. Gale stepped forward, his towering form and calm demeanor stopping the demon in his tracks.

“Excuse me,” Gale said, his voice as steady as a rock.

“we need your carriage.”

The demon blinked, confusion giving way to alarm as Gale’s words registered.

He opened his mouth to protest, but before he could utter a sound, Gale’s hand shot out, striking a precise point on the demon’s neck.

The demon crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

Jack stepped forward, inspecting the carriage

“Nice work. Let’s load up.”

Minutes later, the group was concealed beneath a pile of worn tarps and discarded fabrics in the back of the carriage.

The air inside was musty and stifling, the cramped space forcing them to sit uncomfortably close.

“This is ridiculous,” Alisha muttered, her voice laced with irritation.

She shifted in her spot, trying to find a position that didn’t leave her elbow digging into Jack’s ribs.

“We’re sitting ducks if they find us.”

“Stop complaining,” Jack retorted, his tone sharper than usual.

“We’ll be out of the village soon enough. Just stay quiet until then.”

The rhythmic clatter of wheels against cobblestones was the only sound as Gale steered the carriage through the village.

He kept his pace steady, avoiding any sudden movements that might draw attention.

After what felt like an eternity, Gale’s voice drifted back to them. “We’re clear. You can come out now.”

Jack pushed the tarp aside, climbing out of the carriage and into the cool night air. He surveyed their surroundings—a secluded alleyway on the village’s edge. The narrow streets and shadowy corners offered the perfect cover.

—

The alleyway where the group had taken refuge was narrow, hemmed in by decaying walls slick with dampness.

Even here, hidden from sight, the oppressive energy of the place weighed on them like an invisible shroud.

Jack leaned casually against the mossy stone wall, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips as he addressed the others.

His tone, light and unbothered, belied the tension crackling in the air.

“Relax. If this really is Nyxoria, our first clue to finding the Chapters of Time has to be here.”

“Your confidence is unnerving sometimes,”

Alisha muttered, her arms crossed as she cast a wary glance toward the alley’s entrance. She was tense, her fingers twitching.

“It’s not like this place is rolling out a red carpet for us.”

“They don’t need to,” Jack replied with a shrug.

“We just have to stay one step ahead of them.”

Gale, standing at his full height, towered behind the group like a silent sentinel.

His piercing gaze swept the street beyond, sharp and calculating.

He adjusted his cloak, the fabric straining to conceal his otherworldly features.

“There’s a demon just outside the alley. Looked like they were giving out clothes.”

Jack arched a brow.

“Handouts? From demons? Sounds too good to be true.”

Gale gave a slight nod toward the street.

“Either way, it’s worth investigating. I’ll handle it.”

“Good,” Jack said, his smirk deepening. “And keep your charm to a minimum. We don’t need you accidentally starting a fan club.”

Gale didn’t dignify the comment with a response. Instead, he stepped out of the shadows and into the muted light of the street.

The town was eerily empty, its usual bustling energy drained, leaving behind only the quiet hum of distant activity.

The demon tending to the clothes was a scrawny figure with pale, almost translucent skin.

Two pairs of bat-like wings protruded awkwardly from her back, twitching every so often as if responding to an unseen rhythm.

Her eyes glowed with a dim yellow light, her gaze downcast as she sorted through the pile of garments.

Muttering to herself, she didn’t notice Gale until his shadow loomed over her, blanketing her in darkness.

She looked up sharply, her eyes widening as they met his.

A flush of red crept up her cheeks, and she stumbled back a step, her wings fluttering in agitation.

“Ah… ah, who are you?” she stammered, her voice high and breathless. She couldn’t hold his gaze for long, her pupils dilating as she averted her eyes.

Gale sighed inwardly, already recognizing the effect his aura had on her.

It wasn’t fear—no, this reaction was something else entirely, something that made him long for a cloak heavy enough to mask his presence completely.

“I saw you sorting clothes,” he said, his tone neutral and direct. “We need them.”

The demon blinked, her hands fumbling with the fabric.

“Oh… yes! Yes, of course. You can have them. I wasn’t using them anyway,” she said hurriedly, her words tumbling over themselves.

Her voice was tinged with nervous energy, and her wings folded tightly against her back.

As she passed him a bundle of clothes, she hesitated.

“Most of the others have gone to the auction,” she said, seemingly unable to stop herself.

“It’s a big event—once every ten years. All the nobles gather to show off their power and bid on rare artifacts.”

Gale’s brows lifted slightly, though his expression remained stoic. “Artifacts?”

“Yes,” she continued, her voice growing steadier.

“Weapons, ancient relics… anything that can strengthen a demonic bloodline. It’s a display of wealth and influence. Everyone who’s anyone will be there.”

The mention of artifacts piqued Gale’s interest.

‘Jack might want to hear this.’ He inclined his head in thanks and turned to leave, carrying the garments back toward the alley.

—

Back in the shadows, Jack watched Gale’s approach, his curiosity evident. “You were gone long enough. What were you discussing?”

“Nothing much,” Gale replied, handing the clothes to the others.

“But there’s an auction happening right now. Demons are gathering to flaunt their power and bid on rare items. Could be worth checking out.”

Jack’s eyes lit up, a grin spreading across his face. “An auction, huh? Sounds like the perfect place to find a lead on the Chapters of Time.” He glanced at the others, his excitement infectious. “This might actually work out in our favor.”

Alisha raised an eyebrow. “And you’re just assuming we can walk in unnoticed? Pretty sure they’re not handing out invitations to people like us.”

Jack chuckled, slipping into the newly acquired cloak. “We’ll figure it out. If there’s even a chance the Chapters of Time are there, we have to take it.”

The group quickly changed into the demon’s garments, each piece worn and weathered but effective in masking their identities. Jack inspected the cloak he’d donned, running his fingers over its coarse fabric. “Not exactly royal attire, but it’ll do.”

With their disguises in place, they moved toward the outskirts of the village.