The dust settled slowly, and as it did, I fell back to the floor with a soft clicking noise as my shoes hit the ground below.

My forearms were damaged and the skin there was torn, letting blood trickle slowly to the ground. Still, I had a confident smile in my lips as I watched the second silhouette descend from the explosion's fading result —

A tall, well-built man with trimmed white hair and a beard, carrying my opponent's unconscious form in his arms. His 

His posture was perfect and his eyes were keen — dressed in what could only be described as high-ranking military garb that was black in colour, the old man struck an intimidating image and then some.

Wordlessly, he beckoned the soldiers that had been following Elizabeth around to his position and handed them the unconscious girl. She wasn't too injured, of course, but, as a fancy little noblewoman, she was bound to be frail and weak anyway. Now that I'd caught the attention of a bigger fish, there really was no need for me to pay her any mind.

Now the question that remained — was this man the bigger fish?

"I'm pretty sure it's rude to interrupt a duel like that, you know?" My voice rang clearly as I called out to him, a small smile on the corners of my lips. "I mean, I'm in full right to —"

Oh, my. 

The absolute cold chill in his eyes as he turned his gaze toward me couldn't be described as anything else but imposing. 

My hands quaked, but only for a second, and then I remembered myself. Instincts are useful, but one has to swallow them properly when it is time to get things done.

"Shut your mouth," the man commanded, his voice cold. Just the sound of it was enough to make some in the crowd step back, and there was a general change in demeanor in the faces of those who watched us — the general vibe I got was that they were now more afraid than excited.

Powerful, I thought. This man was undoubtedly powerful, to have this effect on these people. 

"Go fuck yourself," I replied promptly, my own eyes flaring with mana as my Mana Core was stimulated. "I'm not afraid of you, you geriatric sack of skin."

People clearly didn't expect that — I heard actual gasps come from the crowd, shock and surprise melting into a sort of awestruck admiration or even anger at my complete lack of respectful behaviour toward this clearly well-known figure.

One of the soldiers immediately stepped forward once again, ready to cut me down with his longsword. The lower half of his helmet was raised, so I could see the absolute rage on his face at the way I spoke to them —

"Lord Raphael!" Ah, there it was. "Allow me to deal with this mongrel—"

"Sir Kell," My prey responded immediately, eyes not leaving me. "Settle. Down."

"But, my lord…"

"Now."

Oh, the dog was put in his place! The way mister Kell looked down in embarrassment and stepped back was almost comedic. Unfortunately, I was too busy analysing my dearest Raphael Varisis to care — the way he stood, his posture, which hand was more calloused, if he favoured any leg, anything and everything I could use.

His eyes narrowed.

"You, boy."

"Hmm?" I hummed. "What's up?"

—A veritable tempest of magic erupted from him. The pressure alone flung the unprepared back, wrapping and twisting around him like a tornado coloured in purple, ripping at the skin and at the heart in equal measures. The amount of Mana this man had accumulated in his very high-quality Cores throughout his life was frankly unbelievable… and he had at least three Cores.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

I grinned at him, stepping forward like I was absolutely sure I could take him down.

"Now, that would be something, hm?" I murmured and continued walking, ignoring the pains in my skin as his aura cut into it by increasing wind pressure. It was hard to walk, but I made sure to do so carelessly, in a relaxed way. 

His eyes narrowed even further, and the tempest picked up in force. This wasn't just a tornado, now; it was a hurricane, violent and thirsty for blood. A family man, then. Protective. How sweet.

"You." He grit his teeth, rage flowing clearly through him. That he managed to follow his weird protocols in such a state was admirable, really. "I would know the name of one who dares as you do. Who are you?"

Hook, Line, Sinker. 

See, I wasn't exactly what someone would think of as traditionally threatening.

 In my first life, I had commonly been described as frail-looking, with soft features and long lashes coupling with my long hair well enough. I had hoped — and still do — that puberty may help with that. Thankfully, it turns out that I can be just as threatening as anyone else regardless of my looks. Anyone can, really. All one needs is reputation.

With a wide, twisted grin and eyes flaring in intense golden light, I tilted forward and scoffed. Slow, steady. This man had befriended the Duchess — let's see if he knows who I am.

"Eh? I'm hurt. I'd think our mutual friend would've told ya about me… did she forget, I wonder?" There was a flare of caution in his eyes now. Good. I lowered my voice to just a whisper, confident that this man's senses would be able to pick it up where no one else would. "And after giving my necklace to the little lady there, too."

I saw it then.

The moment of realization. The moment of dawning realization, followed by a widening of his eyes as he took in every detail about me and undoubtedly compared them with those he had seen in paintings, pictures and things like that. The moment of abstract horror when he realized the face was the same, the grin was the same and that he was in more trouble than he'd first assumed.

His skin turned pale, and his lips parted slightly. He looked… unsure. Was he thinking of calling reinforcements? Now, we can't have that.

"Did you know that necromancy can leave lasting effects on the body?" I murmured. "We can do that in many ways. For example, using an explosion to apply a rotting curse…"

And, just like that, the tempest vanished completely. 

People fell to their knees and backs in relief, able to finally breathe again, and even the knight who had been previously quite composed, Kell, stumbled back in absolute relief. As for me, though it was wonderful to be able to breathe again, I made sure to remain silent and still.

Now his hands were the ones trembling, and I saw his sneak a look at peaceful, slumbering Elizabeth, covered in bruises and cuts and tears. Who, mind you, I hasn't done a single thing to (aside from blow up) — but I could have. What matters is that he thinks that I did. 

"...Follow me."

With a motion of his hand, he told the maids to clear from and open the gates to the manor, and I rolled my shoulders in clear satisfaction as the wide gates started to be pulled. I felt once again the press of Lurline's consciousness against mine — a flash of concerned irritation. She should learn to trust me, really.

Because, see, I was a Necromancer.

Studying people and bending their inner workings was what I did best.

=========

We walked the halls of the manor in complete silence, with the maids and servants stepping aside with panicked gazes on their faces when they saw the state their master was in. I followed, my posture relaxed and my eyes full of wonder as I took the chance to explore a place I found rather aesthetically pleasing.

The walls, floor, everything was of a beautiful white marble, shaped in a way that reminded me of ancient Cradunian architecture, all arcs and spirals and religious depictions of the human body. Everything was kept evenly lit by small magic crystals embedded into the walls — expensive, but effective.

Raphael stiffly guided me to the biggest door in the entire mansion — a dark oak door that led to his office. He opened it and walked through himself, waiting for me to cross before immediately shutting it closed with a slam and locking it at once. My heart stuttered just slightly at the thought that I may very well have walked into a trap, but I kept my composure with a smile.

Lurline was still with me, after all. A trickle of blood, a murmured summon and she'd materialize in a second. That would be enough to get out of a bad situation, if nothing else.

Raphael Varisis was a stern man, clearly. The marks on his face told me as much — he'd not aged well, that man, though most would agree that his features were still handsome despite the wear and tear of time. He still looked pale as snow, staring at me with slightly parted lips and hands trembling just slightly. 

Good.

I chuckled.

"Come, now, good sir. Why do you look so nervous?"

"Do not play with me, Little Monster." He cut me off, his tone quivering. "Do not."

Not my favourite alias, that one. It reminded me of his… daughter? Nephew? Whatever Elizabeth was to this man, and her comment on my height. I was still growing, goddamn it. Still, I conceded, taking a seat in front of the table that centered the office.

After a few seconds, Raphael stiffly walked to his own chair and did the same, gripping his chair a bit too tightly. Met my eyes. I stared back.

We remained in complete silence for a minute or three.

*You are here to kill me," he finally muttered.

"Probably," I agreed easily. No point arguing about the obvious."Do you know why?"

Silence once again prevailed for a few precious moments.

"...Yes..I believe the reason is quite obvious. But my family had nothing to do with —"

"You say that," I interjected, "And yet you are aware of the fact that she murdered me in the very city you call home." No surprise. Just reluctance. "And yet the people do not. I wonder why is that?"

He scoffed.

"You would blame me for having my family's best interest at heart?"

I hummed, tilting my head childishly to the side with an exaggerated thinking expression, then snapped my fingers as if I'd just had an idea.

"Yes!" I exclaimed cheerfully. "Because she fucking murdered me!"

"Not thoroughly enough," Raphael replied, "As you are clearly alive.."

Not exactly right, unfortunately for me. Had I retained my original body, my issues would've been considerably less pervasive and I would've wet the ground with his blood and extracted information from his brain already. But that's enough about that.

"No, she definitely succeeded in killing me." I settled for a version of the truth. "Unfortunately for her, reanimation happens to be my strong suit. Of course, the construction of the new body took longer than I predicted, but that is besides the point. What matters, Viscount, is that our dearest Duchess Anastasia murdered me, and I am very unhappy about that. You were her friend, so by association I was very unhappy with you. And then I found your little heiress wearing a necklace that should have been buried alongside me. I am feeling a bit, hm, miffed."

Raphael stared at me for a few seconds, eyes surprisingly sharp. It was not impossible that he might decide to go for kills right now and risk dying; If he called me out on my bluff of strength, which was not impossible, I was in a very bad position. My control over my body language had served me well thus far, however; Raphael knew what I had been capable of in life and knew me as the same person I was then, which meant he had little reason to doubt me. 

Still. He was smart enough to not be underestimated. I was, after all, playing a dangerous game. So I shrugged, disturbing our mutual stiffness by lifting a hand to my mouth… and biting down hard.

Raphael shifted in shock, eyes widening. I took my chance.

"Lurline, by the terms of our contract —"

But she erupted from the blood that dripped down to the floor before I could even finish, her sudden appearance causing the Viscount to jump back in surprise. The woman glared at him with vivid disdain, then at me as if I were a rebellious child. Still, she settled in a second, jumping out of the blood and into our world proper with a scoff and standing behind me.

"You really expect me to believe you need my help for this man, dearest?" The fairy queen's voice was filled with absolute disdain. What a good actress she was.

"No, no. But it's nice to have company…"

Raphael recovered his composure, shaking his head and taking in a deep breath, likely to settle his nerves.

"The fabled summon of the Little Monster, the Fairy Queen of the Summer Court… To think I would see one of the Monster's servants in my lifetime like this."

"Servants?!" This time, Lurline was not acting at all. "My relationship with the little one is that of a partnership, a mutual agreement of eternal companionship. Do not mock me by implying me a servant, cur."

"My apologies, madam…"He cleared his throat. "In truth, I was but a young man by the time the Little Monster was killed, and an active effort was made to erase him from history after that. The specifics of your relationships are known only to those who lived and were important 50 years ago… and to those closest to the Duchess, who has been known to brag."

I hummed. What an obvious attempt to divert my rage... but I must admit it worked.

I had figured as much, of course. After all, I had found little even on the leaders of the Alliance for which I had fought. What an insidious way to war on your enemies. I ought to adopt it; after I slay the traitor, I should slay her name from history.

"I couldn't care less," I interjected. "I'll have my payback in due time. For now, I have to figure out what to do about you, Viscount… Because, see, I do need you to give me information on the Duchess. After that…"

"T-The entire neighborhood saw your altercation with Elizabeth, and with me after the fact. Your face will become known if I'm found dead; soon you would be hunted by —"

My eyes flared dangerously. 

"And?" I asked calmly. "I am already a dead person, and I have no presence anywhere in this world. They would be hunting a ghost they can never find. And you would be dead… along with the little graverobbing lady."

Raphael Varisis, proud Viscount of Erenen, swallowed dryly. Good, I thought. Fear me more.

"I…" A pause. He was thinking, looking for a way out. He did not believe himself strong enough to take down the so-called Little Monster. And the protectiveness he had toward the girl I'd fought was rearing it's ugly head back at him, too. "I… will receive correspondence from the Duchess in five months. Only I would know of our methods of communication, and the letters are destroyed after read. You'll need me until then."

"Maybe," I murmured. "I suppose you would make a decent undead servant, then… Though I am surprised you would sell off such a close friend this readily."

Again, he swallowed.

"T-The Varisis family had nothing to gain from your slaughter! We did not aid in it, nor were we responsible for keeping it hidden. Most of the higher-rank nobles know about it — but what could we do? Speak out against it, and we lose the power we were given by —"

"By Maburh. Bribes. They were bribing you." A pause. "Well, whatever. I'm not here because of some dumb moral reason. I'm here because some asshole killed me and I want her dead. And anyone she associates with."

Yep. 

You can't 'I didn't want to they made me' your way out of this one, you old fuck.

"Then… I…" He deflated. "...I do not know what to tell you, Lord Kyo. I will not stand by and let myself be slain, but I know I am utterly outmatched in this situation. And with our heiress in risk, too, there is little I can do. What is it that you want? What will it take for you to spare the life of my granddaughter? I know that my — that Anastasia will fall. And so will I."

Ah.

A granddaughter, huh? His children must have bore children somewhat young, then. Good to know. Still, I was… suddenly intrigued.

"Your granddaughter 's life? Not yours?"

He looked up at me. He looked genuinely irritated, perhaps even angry, but there was a defeated light in his eyes that told me he believed himself dead already, or something close to it. He expected a fight he would lose horribly. What had he been told about me, I wondered, that he would look at me like so?

"Do not play with me, Little Monster. Was that ever truly in the table?"

And at that, I grinned.

I wasn't a saint.

I had fought for the right side, the side that wasn't a warmongering empire with a penchant for slave trade and a body count that touches the stars, but I had done plenty of bad things in the name of supplying the Alliance with enough undead when needed, and to build my image up when not. There was a reason I ascended so quickly and at such a young age: I wasn't afraid to step on a butterfly.

But I could appreciate the loyalty of a man to his family. If nothing else, it told me much about his character.

"No," I agreed. "But how about this: it is now. I've got an open mind. Convince me."