I crawled on the ground, desperately trying to reach them. I swear, it’s not my fault. They are important to me..they are family to me. I want to be with them, but not in this way. It won’t end here that easily.

I see them lying on the ground..the three of them. It’s her fault, the one who wields a fiery sword. The burnt cut on their wounds, it matches the smell of the blood on her blade. That’s right, it was this girl behind me, approaching me closely.

No one should dictate me on what I do, but myself. It is my life. I am done on others writing my own destiny. I grabbed my blade, and I finally faced her. I’ll never forget those eyes, and the sight of those barbarians.

If I’m able to return to the past… the first thing I want to see is the ceiling of my room. I crawled deeper into the void, and hear those familiar noises.

(Seven Months Earlier)

I woke up as I banged my head to the ground. I just fell from my bed. I’ve heard a knock, “Asvra, get up already! You’ll be late! We have work to do!”. Then I get up, and fixed myself as I heard that old man’s voice.

“Yes, Master Maleck! I’ll meet you there!”. After I heard his footsteps leaving, I quickly hid my flute. It takes a few moments. Then I grabbed my backpack and opened the doors. I will be meeting Master Maleck at his lab.

I am his apprentice, Asvra Valgrad, living in seventeen years inside this bloody tower in an island of death. I ran all way down to get to the lab. “There you are! My apprentice! Come help me with these books”, master Maleck said.

This is what I do on my days as the grand master’s apprentice. I Arrange some books, creating new life forms and wielding the power of advance necrotic magics on daily basis. I also clean the table full of dead creatures that was experimented by Master Maleck.

A sixteen years old, so young to dissolve a dead creature’s body as a routine. Seriously, what is everyone’s problem? Have any of them are in their right mind? The whole court expect me to do some horrible things. And how about the feeling of living on their expectations?

I can take that, but not on something like this. Those unfamiliar skulls on my Master’s deck, and those beating hearts in the glass. And I don’t even know how it’s possible. But I do know one thing, it has something to do with the power of our Goddess.

This power is what the island people cares about. After my time in my Master’s lab, I go to my class and all I experience is necromancy. But thanks to that, I’m able to join the choir when a ceremony is held.

I wrote songs for the goddess. Keisar and Reisha, they are the only ones that can understand who I am. Even I write songs for the goddess, to please her, the court cannot recognize me if I don’t value necromancy and be a devoted servant of the tower.

They are planning to feed me to the sharks if I don’t do my responsibility as a necro student. But I will survive this. I just need to act and do what they say. But I’ll never succumb to the dark temptation of dark arts, and let them plant a stronghold on me.

I’m in the classroom on the second floor of the tower. This floor was meant for those youngsters who wanted to learn necromancy. Most of the people were hungry for power, that’s why necromancy is addicting, even for the young.

Im currently sitting at my chair and writing lyrics on my music journal. I covered it to avoid being caught. Then Reisha called on me quietly. “Hey, Asvra! teacher is coming! Twelve o’clock!”. My body moved on its own and closed my drawer in my deck, and I pretended to pay attention as the teacher passes by.

“Thanks, Reisha”, I said. She smiled at me and wink. Reisha Valentine; my childhood friend, partners in crime. We pat each other’s back. Whatever happens, whatever the world throws at us, we will always be friends to the depths of the realm.

A few moments later, someone throws a crumbled paper at me. Then I’ve noticed a writing. It says; “You should be fed to the sharks, or the council should let us stone you to death”. I folded it and clenched my fists, and my vision became dark.

After a while, I’ve heard a little commotion behind my back. I turned around and saw Keisar tearing Aaryll’s notebooks apart. “Hey! Stop it! I need It for the class later! Bring it back!”, Aaryll pleads. But Keisar won’t stop until he heared what he wants to hear. Then Keisar is close in tearing it half.

“Okay I’m sorry! I confess. I’m the one who threw that note on Asvra. But Kian’s the one who wrote it”, she cried. Then Keisar turned on Kian on his right. Then Kian suddenly startled. “Wait, I’m sorry okay!”, he said in a half-hearted tone and a hiss of a lying snake.

I nodded at Keisar to thank him. Then he nods back. Keisar Navaro; I’ve met him one year later after I met reisha when we are kids. He protected us from a wandering skeleton. Since then, the three of US became friends. He is always there for us when we are in trouble. I always wanted to repay him someday.

As the teacher discuss the basic skeleton summoning, she was interrupted by a council member at the front door. The teacher approaches him, then the council member whispered to her.

“Oh goddess, It looks like trouble. But I won’t be surprise if it has something to do with me”, I whispered in my thoughts. Then Reisha pat me in my shoulders to comfort me. I smiled at her.

Then the teacher suddenly glanced at me. I stand up, and I saw It coming. I grabbed my backpack, and take one last look at Reisha and Keisar, ignoring those classmates of mine smirking at me.

I know that whenever I saw a council member at the student’s floor, I can expect that they came there for me, or simply making it to the Great Floor. But I wondered what could it be this time.

I was walking with the council member. It took a while before we reach the thirteenth floor; the highest floor for the Grand Council. I’ve entered the halls where the Five Masters are waiting. “Ah, there you are, Master Asvra”, Master Evan said.

Did he just call me Master? Am I being promoted or something? If that’s the case, call me out. It only means more dead bodies to see.

I looked at the five of them. Thier black and long coat, and the five thrones of black skulls. The atmosphere is a little overwhelming upon staring at these walls and the whole interior. I lowered my head for respect.

“Good Morning, Master Evan, Master Noren, Master Garid, Master Eliva aaanddd Master Maleck”. Master Maleck looked at me not as an apprentice, but as a student just like everybody else.

“Master Asvra, the council had agreed… to let you lead the choir for the Seventeenth Ceremonial Skull tomorrow at the Main Floor. You’re the only person here who can please the Goddess through worship. Backing up now is not an option”, Master Eliva said.

Upon hearing those words, nostalgia filled my heart. And I embraced it, caress it, savoured it to my heart’s content! I almost jump in excitement.

“I’ve been waiting for this! I mean, It would be my pleasure. Thank you, sir, mam. The orchestra is ready. And it will only take an hour to memorize my written work. Thank you! Thank you!”. I bow down politely.

“Sorry for the disturbance. We are just making sure that you are prepared for tomorrow night. The last thing you’ve heard on the class is about basic summoning is it not?”, Master Eliva said.

I was filled with joy and pride on the moment that I’ve already forgotten about the skeleton duel later, or probably it is ongoing right now.

“Would you like us to make an exception for the dueling, Master Asvra?”, Master Noren said.

“No, Master Noren, It’s not necessary. I think I can participate in the duel just fine. One of the perks of being an apprentice is advance learning afterall”.

They all laughed except for Master Garid who’s about to explode in anger for waiting for me to leave.

“That’s my boy. Now, go down there and show them what you’re made of. And tell them it was me who teach you those incredible Enchantments”, Master Maleck laughed.

“Yes, Master. I will tell them. Though they’ve already knew”. Then I lowered my head before I leave. Somehow, it bothered me that they finally listen to my wishes step by step, and this is the first. I think that somehow, there’s a catch upon agreeing with my request.

The way they call me Master is only natural because of my Parents. The council renamed the tower by my Parent's last name, the tower of Valgrad. But I can’t think of it now. I’m happy.

Then I ran all way down to the sixth floor. When I entered, I saw my classmates summoned a basic skeleton. Most of it were incomplete and fragile.