Norris approached the noble with confidence… relatively. He had meticulously studied the territory, identified loopholes that could aid his escape, and discovered what the noble lacked: mage services.
The undead mages in the noble's territory, though strong and natural necromancers, lacked enough knowledge to form a complete system to study and facilitate research.
Most undead mages were weak mages in their former life who couldn't secure a better ending for themselves after they died and ended up coming to the Death Realm.
The rest? Even worse: all other spell casters practice and mortals with magical talent.
Norris was strong enough, and the Death Realm felt pretty swell for a necromancer. Though a little too gloomy, a little too desolate, a little… Well, to be honest, Norris had to admit; the Death Realm really wasn't fit for living. But to be fair, after death, he'd most likely reincarnate as an undead. All he needed to do was ensure the preparations were made so that he could go further and absorb all his knowledge and powers.
As a way out? The Death Realm might be his best destination. Woe is the necromancer, I guess.
Norris unconsciously slowed his pace the closer he got to the noble's domain.
He looked at the domain as he tried to re-analyze the information he had.
Norris began thinking of what he had observed. He had discreetly scouted the mages in the territory, especially those aiding the… doctors—the medical system—using magic to help repair bones.
They were more like warlocks than mages. This made them stronger in particular areas, but the lack of foundation in spells made researching new ones difficult.
That wouldn't have been a problem, but the noble had instead decided to thoroughly focus on melee professionals, neglecting spell-casting professionals, which led to a lack of magical knowledge in his domain.
Lacking knowledge, they instead tried studying their innate spells, combining them with knowledge from their previous lives, forming their own magic system and losing the versatility of being a mage.
Norris had formed a hypothesis: due to being mages, their evolution as lesser undead was guided by instinct retained from their previous lives to use energy as a primary source of defense before being blessed by the Death Realm during the sublimation process. This granted them innate magic from the combination of what they had studied in their former life and death magic, creating unique innate spells.
"Norris, you know you're scared, so you're having all these random thoughts. Weakness is really the original sin," Norris thought with a sigh.
Though he was ready and not really scared of dying—having prepared something at the bottom of the box—acting without at least 90% certainty was not his thing. He was 99.9% sure that he wouldn't die… below the legendary level, that is. But the certainty that he'd profit was really low. Life's like that. Risk taking is life
Having reassured himself, Norris stopped standing in a daze and walked into the core of the domain.
***
The noble just looked at Norris, his oppressive presence made the room colder, clearly showing his displeasure. "Why have you come back, Mr. Mage?" he demanded, his voice echoing through the chamber.
Norris, undeterred, introduced himself with confidence, getting straight to the point. "My name is Norris, Sir. After scouting your territory, Noble, I am certain that my presence is needed here. Your domain has potential, but it lacks the expertise to fully harness it. I am a specialist in array magic."
The noble's gaze remained stern, but Norris could sense a flicker of interest behind his eyes. "Show me your expertise," the noble commanded. After his last shenanigans, he had lost his opportunity. The mage was clearly prepared. Let's see what he has to offer. He'd cooperate with the mage.... For now.
Silence ensued between them. The silence felt like a stand off.
Norris was amused, noting how the noble seemed to be trying to save face. It was clear that the noble was relenting and not trying to do anything funny.
The noble finally handed Norris two arrays designs to Norris.
"These are commonly used arrays by the nobles in the death realm", while explaining, he also handed Norris two scrolls.
"These are arrays miniaturized into scrolls. For we the nobles who rely solely on military force comprising of warriors, this would be harder to get and more expensive. Prove your value mage."
His voice neutral, he calmly explained his predicament without shame.
Norris was ecstatic about the opportunity to learn new spells for free. Looking at the scroll, he found creating a scroll according to the array designs…..not difficult.
It's like seeing the blue print of a sophisticated machine and building a run down version that works with limitations, only convenient. As long as you have enough knowledge, you should be able to do it.
And Norris was someone who did.
He eagerly demonstrated his skill in scroll writing. He selected the finest vellum, carefully crafted from the skin of a long-dead creature. The vellum's surface absorbed the dim light, giving it an eerie glow. Norris mixed a special blend of inks, combining the essence of graveyard dirt, burned offerings, and a hint of mortal tears. The ink seemed to shift and writhe on the page, as if alive.
With practiced precision, Norris's quill danced across the vellum, leaving trails of dark, glittering ink. The symbols and glyphs pulsed with malevolent energy, feeding off the darkness within the chamber. As he worked, the shadows around him deepened and twisted, as if they themselves were being woven into the fabric of the scrolls. The air grew colder, the silence more oppressive, and the scent of decay more pronounced.
The Noble Death Knight stood watch, his presence a reminder of the power and danger that Norris courted. "These scrolls had better be worth the cost, Norris," he warned, his voice low and menacing. He felt Norris was making sense and doing something meaningful, but wasn't this too fast?
"They will be, Noble," Norris replied with slight impatience and continued.
Done, he got ready to introduce the final product, his voice steady. "These scrolls will grant you the power to command the very spirits of the dead."
As the final strokes of magic were applied, the scrolls began to glow with an eerie, otherworldly energy. Norris handed them to the Noble Death Knight, who accepted them with eager hunger.
"The first scroll, Soul Bind, will allow you to command the spirits of the fallen," Norris explained, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of pride and satisfaction. "The second, Undead Legion, will grant you the power to summon an army of undead warriors to do your bidding."
These spells weren't anything special. But the alterations made due to the different realm made it worth it. This new knowledge could be the template for all his spells modification while also showing him some special rules in the death realm.
The Noble Death Knight's grin grew wider as he examined the scrolls. "Excellent work, Norris. You have proven yourself to be a valuable asset."
With the scrolls complete, Norris had become a crucial part of the Noble's plan, a key component in the undead lord's quest for power. Despite the noble's displeasure and the oppressive atmosphere, he had to admit that Norris was a good asset…no partner. Too bad he couldn't alter his mind the last time they met.
To formalize their agreement, they unanimously decided to sign a magical contract. The terms were simple yet binding: neither party would share each other's secrets nor harm each other.
Norris inscribed the terms onto a scroll, weaving intricate magical patterns that glowed with a binding energy. The noble and Norris each released a wisp of their soul aura, allowing it to merge with the contract. As the soul auras mingled with the ink, the scroll absorbed the essence, sealing the pact.
With the contract complete, the air seemed to hum with an unspoken understanding. They had entered into a partnership that would serve both their interests, ensuring mutual benefit without the threat of betrayal….. for now.