Chapter Six: Sooner or Later, She Will Be Mine

When Han Shuo awakened, he found it was already deep into the night. The magic energy coursing through his body still moved in erratic patterns, yet his mind seemed sharper, as if something new had settled within. Everything around him appeared clearer than before.

His heart stirred; Han Shuo calmed himself and entered meditation once again, meticulously following the basic tenets of necromancy. After careful introspection, he finally determined that, during the attack of the Soul Pain, the magic energy had inadvertently flowed into his mind, inexplicably allowing him to cultivate spiritual power.

“Haha! Looks like I really am a genius—so quickly, I’ve managed to develop spiritual power through meditation. Perhaps I should try the lowest-level necromancy, see if I can summon a skeleton warrior!”

He quickly retrieved the “Basics of Necromancy” from his bed and flipped through it for some time, but failed to find the incantation for summoning a skeleton warrior. Only then did Han Shuo realize that this book contained merely foundational knowledge; it held no spells or magic formulas.

Frowning, Han Shuo recalled the summoning incantation Lisa once used. Mimicking her with both hands raised, he focused all his spiritual power and recited the necromantic summoning spell: “Fallen warrior of the dead, by the call of the dark messenger, reveal your existence!”

At the completion of his chant, Han Shuo suddenly felt his slender spiritual power drain rapidly—drawn out of him all at once. In that instant, he sensed something intangible, then his mind throbbed with pain, and his body collapsed onto the bed, weak and gasping for breath.

As Han Shuo lay there, in his little storeroom, a flash of black light appeared and a skeleton materialized—white and small, only half the height of the one Lisa Buck had summoned before.

This tiny skeleton, its body snow-white, holding a bone knife resembling a dagger, its hollow eye sockets fixed upon Han Shuo, filled him with wild joy. It was smaller than Lisa’s, but a skeleton nonetheless, proof that his necromancy had succeeded.

His body felt drained and his mind foggy. From the “Basics of Necromancy,” Han Shuo understood that his spiritual power was far too weak; even summoning such a tiny skeleton had depleted it entirely.

Looking at the little skeleton before him, Han Shuo sensed a strange connection between them. Yet his spiritual power was so pitifully frail, he couldn’t even muster a command, let alone send it back to the alternate dimension.

Man and skeleton faced each other for a while. Han Shuo reasoned that since no one else entered the storeroom, and the skeleton wouldn’t wander without orders, leaving it there wouldn’t matter.

It was already the dead of night. Han Shuo, exhausted after all his efforts, quickly felt the fatigue settle in after the excitement, and drifted into sleep.

The next day, before dawn had fully broken, Han Shuo was already awake. He had grown accustomed to rising before others to clear away the trash accumulating in the storeroom. As he prepared to do so, his eyes fell upon the little skeleton beside the pile of waste.

After a night’s rest, Han Shuo’s spiritual power had recovered slightly. He wouldn’t have enough to send the skeleton back to the other realm, but perhaps, he thought, just enough to issue a command. Concentrating, he sent his first order: help him take out the trash.

Immediately, the little skeleton straightened its leg bones, slowly extended its five bony fingers, grasped the nearby garbage, and shuffled out the door.

“Heh, no wonder everyone wants to learn magic. With magic, life is so much easier. From now on, I’ll have this little skeleton help me take out the trash early every morning!”

Seeing that it was still early, Han Shuo flopped onto his small bed and fell into a deep, contented sleep—the first leisurely morning he’d enjoyed in days.

After a refreshing nap, Han Shuo opened his eyes to find the little skeleton had returned. Judging by its presence, the trash had been dealt with as ordered.

Climbing down from his bed, he noticed while washing his face that the bruised purple hue from yesterday had vanished completely, and even the scars on his hands seemed to be shedding and fading. Aside from a lingering dizziness due to yesterday’s depleted spiritual power, Han Shuo felt remarkably well.

The “solid” stage of this demonic cultivation would transform his entire body; once he completed it, all scars would disappear, and his muscles would grow stronger and more flexible. By then, neither Buck nor Lisa would have any hope of besting him in a duel with skeletons.

Thinking this as he finished washing, Han Shuo watched the necromancy students begin to file toward Dark Academy for lessons. He grabbed his tools and rushed out, ready to clean the statues of Babylon Academy’s top students along the way.

“Arsena, before sunrise this morning, I went to the bathroom and looked out the window. I saw a tiny skeleton carrying two garbage bags, shuffling toward the dump. So strange!” Magic apprentice Amy said to her companion, Arsena, as they walked toward the Dark Arts building.

“Nonsense. Which student would be so bored as to summon a little skeleton just to take out trash? Isn’t that what the half-crazed, half-fool Bryan always does?”

“I swear I saw it—a small skeleton, carrying two bags. Also, I feel really bad for Bryan. He’s already miserable, and now Lisa’s made it worse, and Buck beats him every day!”

“You must not have slept well—seeing things. Bryan’s a servant, sold to the Academy as a slave; he’s lucky just to survive. You’re too kind to worry about him!”

The two female students walked away. Han Shuo could no longer hear their conversation. Soon, Jack arrived to help Han Shuo clean the dust. After working for a while, Jack stared at him and said, “Bryan, you seem to have put on a bit of flesh. And weren’t you beaten by Buck yesterday? Last night, your face was purple, but now it looks fine.”

“Buck’s probably been getting too much exercise lately. Look at him—his eyes look dull, and he’s weak. He’s running out of strength. At this rate, he might not even be able to beat me soon!” Han Shuo replied, feeling his stomach empty. He quickly said to Jack, “I’ve been eating more lately. Give me some of the food you’re hiding.”

“Huh, how did you know I had bread hidden?”

“All the student servants know you stash food. Only you think it’s a secret. Stop talking and hand it over. I’ll pay you back!”

Reluctantly, Jack handed him a loaf, breaking off a piece before offering it to Han Shuo.

As Han Shuo paused his work to wolf down the bread, Jack suddenly whispered, “Shh… Buck’s coming—wait, Lisa’s with him!”

Buck followed closely behind the little witch Lisa, carrying two exquisite white boxes and wearing a sycophantic smile. “Lisa, these are pastries my family sent just for me. They’re delicious—you haven’t had breakfast, right? Try some.”

Yesterday, while beating Han Shuo, Buck had received a punch to his right cheek, which was still bruised. Smiling now, his face twitched painfully, making his grin appear somewhat grotesque.

“Hmph, I’m not hungry. Spare me the theatrics. I despise people like you—acting friendly while gossiping behind my back!”

Lisa ignored Buck, walking ahead, and as she passed Bryan and Jack, she shot Bryan a cold glance. “Bryan, when your Soul Pain magic ends in a month, I’ll be back to spar with you again!”

Lisa’s words reminded Han Shuo that the Soul Pain spell hadn’t flared up since morning. He guessed that cultivating spiritual power yesterday had dispelled the magic; otherwise, it would have attacked by now.

Lisa was about to leave, but Buck glanced at Bryan in astonishment. “How is it possible? I remember I beat your face purple yesterday, but today there’s nothing there!”

Damn, you remember that well. Han Shuo grinned foolishly at Buck and babbled, “Heh, I take care of myself!”

“Pfft!” The little witch Lisa, about to leave, couldn’t help but laugh, her beautiful eyes curving like crescent moons, making her adorable. This idiot Bryan was more amusing after going mad, unlike before when he barely spoke. Lisa thought to herself, lingering a moment.

Jack, knowing Han Shuo wasn’t actually mad, realized he was mocking Buck deliberately. Unable to contain himself, Jack laughed softly, but when he realized his mistake, it was too late.

Buck, already angry, thought, My own bruise hasn’t healed, but this fool’s has. Lisa’s laugh he dared not protest, but Jack’s laughter enraged him. Buck stormed toward Jack, cursing, “You wretched servant, you dare mock me! I’ll beat you to death!”

Jack knew trouble was coming; watching Buck charge, he dared not run, pitifully waiting to be struck. At that moment, Han Shuo suddenly clutched his head and shouted, “It hurts!” He darted in front of Jack. Buck, seeing Han Shuo had replaced Jack, swung his fist at Han Shuo’s face without hesitation.

With a thud, Han Shuo took the blow, but compared to yesterday, Buck’s punch felt lighter. Han Shuo’s frail body didn’t even sway.

Still, Han Shuo cried out, “It hurts!” and, as if possessed, flailed his arms wildly, landing three solid punches on Buck. Buck’s left eye blackened, and he clutched his stomach, hopping and howling, “You wretched servant, how dare you hit me! I’ll use necromancy to kill you today!”

“Buck, you’re bullying Bryan again. Class has already started—get back to the classroom now, or you know the consequences!” came a gentle yet commanding voice from afar.

A tall, stunning woman approached, her lavender hair cascading in waves. She looked about twenty-four or twenty-five, with a straight nose, oval face, full lips, and healthy tanned skin. She wore a gold-trimmed, slightly tight mage’s robe that accentuated her ample bust and long, slender legs. Her left hand cradled several magic books, and her right gripped an innovative staff inlaid with a green gem, addressing Bryan.

“Um… Miss Fanny, you’ve forgotten your glasses again—you’re pointing at Bryan!” Lisa pouted in resignation.

“Glasses are a fatal blow to a woman’s beauty—I have no intention of wearing those every day,” Fanny replied with a smile, then finally located Buck, tapping her staff on his head. “Get to class immediately, or you know what comes next!”

After scolding Buck fiercely, Fanny’s expression softened as she smiled at Lisa. “Lisa, you should hurry to class, too. Frequent tardiness isn’t becoming of a good student. I need to prepare for today’s lesson, so I’ll be off.”

With that, Fanny shot Buck a final glare and strode forward, her long, shapely legs moving with grace, her rounded, firm hips swaying alluringly.

“Um… Miss Fanny, that’s not the classroom—that’s the wrong direction. Oh heavens, you really should wear your glasses!” Lisa called lightly, about to leave, then paused, giving Buck a cold, contemptuous look. “Useless—you can’t even beat a servant!” She glanced at Han Shuo, then quickly chased after Fanny.

Buck, seething, pointed menacingly at Han Shuo and Jack. “You two wretched servants, just wait—I’ll settle with you!” He hurried off to class, evidently cowed by Fanny’s threat.

Han Shuo watched dreamily as Fanny disappeared, his gaze lingering long after she was gone, unconcerned by Buck’s threats. Only when Fanny was out of sight did he murmur, “Miss Fanny is truly enchanting. No wonder Bryan’s foolish heart fell for her. Turns out his taste matches mine!”

“Bryan, stop staring. I know you’ve liked Miss Fanny for ages. She’s even told some students not to bully you. But you’re just a servant, and she’s a high mage at the Academy. Do you even understand how powerful high mages are? Though she’s a bit nearsighted, half the Academy is in love with her. You’d best wake up to reality!” Jack waved his pudgy hands in front of Han Shuo, urging him to be sensible.

“I’m already drunk—there’s no waking up!” Han Shuo replied lasciviously, then added, “One day, I’ll win her over!”