"So, could you 'play' the Skeleton King?"
It took Annan more than ten minutes to finish his story. He told the Skeleton King about his plan to pose as the Princess Knight and approach the Southern Kingdoms.
"I need to prepare."
The Skeleton King spoke, then strode deeper into the Tomb.
Annan turned his attention back to the Oddities. They were still chattering about the falling-rock spell the Skeleton King had used to save them.
"Was that a Legendary?"
"I think it was a Demigod..."
"Maybe it was the god of death!"
Their guesses grew wilder and wilder, and they seemed to be enjoying themselves. The stronger the Skeleton King was, the more it proved Annan hadn't lied to them.
The Skeleton King's footsteps returned. Annan looked over and saw him emerge from the shadows. A red cloak studded with dazzling gemstones hung from his towering frame, and his thick-boned hand gripped a royal Staff set with a pure ruby the size of a fist. He looked like the king of a nation built on trade.
I absolutely can't let Illymoyas see the Skeleton King... Annan thought. Even he wanted to rush over and pry out those gemstones.
"Shall we go?" the Skeleton King asked, now dressed for the part.
"Now? But it's dark outside..."
"That doesn't matter."
The Skeleton King seemed to be finding his old bearing. "It befits the dignity of a 'Lord of Death,'" he murmured majestically.
Annan was representing the Princess, so it wouldn't be appropriate to bring the Oddities along. They stayed in the Tomb while Annan and the Skeleton King went up to the surface.
The Skeleton King tapped his royal Staff against the ground. Under the cold moonlight, the soil ahead split open, and countless towering skeletons climbed out. He swept his Staff