On the third day after Sessler joined the group, Linley stopped on a hillside.
The road forked ahead.
The left branch led to the O'Brien imperial capital, while the right curved toward the heart of the Northwest Province.
"Which way?" Sessler asked.
"The imperial capital," Linley said.
Sessler shook his head.
"Not just yet."
Linley looked at him.
Sessler sat on a rock, his white hair somewhat tousled by the wind. Although his magic-suppressing handcuffs had been broken, his clothes were still tattered, and he looked like a skeleton that had just crawled out of a grave.
"When I was being escorted, I saw another group," Sessler said. "They weren't escorting human warriors, but two young girls."
"People from the Radiant Church?"
"Of course."
A chill rose in Sessler's jade-green eyes.
"The two girls have very pure souls. The Church certainly didn't capture them just to lock them up."
Linley gripped his sword hilt.
"Where are they now?"
"Judging by their route, they should still be up ahead."
"Let's go."
Sessler glanced at Bebe and Haeru beside them.
"You're certainly decisive."
"Since you said they're being taken to the Church, we can't let their captors keep taking them away."
A sinister smile appeared on Sessler's face.
"Good."
Haeru became a black blur and charged down the hillside.
Bebe followed close behind, disappearing into the woods in a few bounds. Linley unfurled his Wings of Wind and swept through the air. Sessler followed swiftly along the ground with two Gold-furred Zombies.
Half a day later, Bebe's voice came from the distance.
"Boss, found them."
Linley landed outside a stretch of woods.
Deep in the woods, a group of white-robed Church personnel escorted a carriage south along a narrow path.
There weren't many of them.
Four seventh-level warriors and a dozen or so ordinary guards.
Light Element magic formations were carved around the carriage, and sealing runes were affixed to its body.
Sessler took a look.
"The two girls are inside."
"Can you break it open?"
"As long as we kill these guards."
Linley nodded.
"Haeru, the left."
Haeru made no sound.
Its body became a black blur, charging into the group in the blink of an eye.
The seventh-level warrior closest to the woods had just turned when Haeru's sharp claws swept across his throat.
Blood spurted out.
Another seventh-level warrior drew his sword and moved to meet the attack.
Bebe darted out from beneath the carriage, driving his claws straight into the man's chest.
The remaining two turned at the same time.
Linley was already in front of them.
The Purple Blood Soft Sword became an arc of violet light.
The two had barely raised their swords when their wrists were slashed simultaneously.
The next instant, Linley stepped forward.
His sword tip struck each of their throats.
The two seventh-level warriors fell.
The ordinary guards around them all panicked.
Sessler raised a hand.
Gray mist surged from beneath his feet, instantly covering the entire path.
The guards had only run a few steps before they fell, one after another.
"Open the door," Linley said.
Sessler walked up to the carriage and lightly tapped the sealing runes with a withered finger.
Gray magical power spread along the runes.
Crack!
All the light seals on the carriage door shattered.
Inside the carriage, two girls huddled in a corner.
They were young and pale, with small restraining bands around their wrists. At the sight of Sessler, both girls shrank back.
"Don't be afraid," Linley said. "We're not from the Church."
The slightly older girl stared at him.
"Who are you?"
"The people rescuing you."
Sessler reached out and grasped one girl's restraining band.
Black magical power flashed.
The restraining band snapped.
He removed the other girl's restraints as well.
The two girls were free, but they didn't immediately leave the carriage.
"Where were they taking you?" Linley asked.
The older girl pressed her lips together.
"Holy Island."
"What for?"
She didn't answer.
"A sacrifice," Sessler said coldly.
Both girls shuddered.
"They said that if we went to Holy Island, the Lord of Light would grant us eternal life," the younger girl said quietly. "But they killed our father and mother."
Linley's gaze turned cold.
"What are your names?"
"My name is Lina, and hers is Rebecca," the older girl said. "Will you really let us go?"
"Where do you want to go?"
Lina and Rebecca looked at each other.
The Church had destroyed their home, and all their loved ones were dead. Even if Linley let them leave, they had nowhere to go.
"We want to follow you," Lina said. "As long as we don't end up back in the Church's hands."
Sessler looked at them and suddenly said, "Your souls are very pure. You're suited to practicing Necromancy."
Rebecca turned pale.
"Necromancy?"
"If you want to survive, you must have power," Sessler said. "I can teach you."
Linley glanced at Sessler.
Sessler snorted. "Don't misunderstand. I simply value their talent."
"Suit yourself."
Linley had the sisters get out of the carriage.
Bebe studied them from nearby, while Haeru stood beside the road, watching the distance warily.
Sessler waved a hand.
Gray mist spread once more.
The corpses of the Church guards on the ground slowly rose and followed at the rear of the group.
Bebe wrinkled his nose.
"Boss, they stink."
Sessler glanced at him.
"The undead aren't there for you to sniff."
Haeru gave a low growl.
Bebe immediately translated, "It says Haeru smells better after all."
Sessler ignored the two magical beasts.
The group continued along the path.
That night, they rested in an abandoned manor.
Lina and Rebecca sat beside the fire, still looking somewhat ill at ease. Sessler explained the basics of Necromancy to them, his tone cold, without the slightest comfort.
"Remember, Necromancy isn't as simple as summoning a few corpses," Sessler said. "The soul, spiritual energy, and magical power are all essential."
Lina listened attentively.
Rebecca glanced at Linley from time to time.
Linley sat on the other side, wiping the Purple Blood Soft Sword.
"Why did you save us?" Rebecca suddenly asked.
Linley didn't stop what he was doing.
"The Radiant Church wants you."
"Just because of that?"
"And because the Church killed your parents."
Both sisters fell silent.
Sessler looked up at Linley.
"You certainly like meddling."
"Didn't you save them too?"
"I simply need two successors," Sessler said. "That doesn't mean I like meddling."
Linley said nothing more.
The next day, they returned to the valley outside Chier County City.
Linley had lived here for a while. The wooden cabin was still there, and the lake remained calm.
Lina and Rebecca stayed in the cabin to practice Necromancy, while Haeru and Bebe roamed near the valley.
Standing beside the lake, Sessler looked at Linley.
"Where are you planning to go next?"
"The imperial capital."
"You can't go yet."
Linley frowned slightly.
"When I was being escorted through the Northwest Province, I heard a name," Sessler said. "Perry."
"Perry?"
"Earl Perry of Basil Provincial Capital," Sessler said. "On the surface, he's a kindly man everyone praises. In reality, he's the Radiant Church's leader in the Northwest Province."
Linley's gaze turned cold.
"How strong?"
"An Eighth-level Warrior."
"How many people does he have with him?"
"A few seventh-level warriors, and probably some ordinary guards."
Sessler looked at Linley.
"If we kill him, we can find more information in his soul."
Doehring stood beside Linley, stroking his white beard.
"This necromancer has finally said something useful."
Linley didn't respond to Doehring, continuing to question Sessler instead. "Do you know where he lives?"
"Huating Street, the third mansion from the right."
Sessler paused, then added, "There's one more thing."
"Go on."
"In about a month, an important escort convoy will enter the Northwest Province." Sessler's tone grew serious. "It will be no less important than the one escorting me."
Linley gripped Edgeless's hilt.
"What are they transporting?"
"Perry might not know," Sessler said, "but he must know the party's route and how they'll rendezvous. According to what I've heard, they won't enter Basil. They're heading to Deke County City instead."
Linley looked toward the distant mountain path.
"We'll go to Basil first."
"To kill Perry?"
"To get information."
Sessler nodded.
"When do we leave?"
"Tomorrow."
Doehring looked at Linley.
"You've already decided?"
"Yes."
"What about Lina and Rebecca?"
"They'll stay in the valley," Linley said. "And wait for us to return."
"You're leaving me behind again?"
Linley fell silent for a moment.
Sessler couldn't hear Doehring's voice. He only saw Linley suddenly stop.
"What is it?"
"Nothing," Linley said. "They'll need someone to protect them while they stay here."
"I can stay," Sessler said. "But I'd rather go to Basil."
"Then we'll go together."
"I'm not your subordinate."
"I know."
Sessler looked at Linley and gave a sinister smile.
"Good."
Early the next morning, Linley, Sessler, Bebe, and Haeru left the valley and headed for Basil Provincial Capital.
Lina and Rebecca stood in front of the wooden cabin to see them off.
"Lord Linley, when will you be back?" Lina asked.
"Soon."
"Teacher Sessler said Necromancy is very dangerous," Rebecca said quietly.
"He'll protect you."
Up ahead, Sessler turned back.
"I only teach you. I'm not responsible for fighting your battles."
Rebecca immediately ducked her head.
Bebe laughed.
Haeru gave a low growl.
"It says you're a very fierce teacher," Bebe translated.
"Only the weak need gentleness," Sessler said coldly.
Linley looked at him.
"They aren't strong yet."
Sessler fell silent for an instant.
"That's why I'm going to teach them."
The four figures soon disappeared beyond the end of the mountain path.
Ahead lay Basil Provincial Capital.
It was also one of the Radiant Church's most deeply hidden strongholds in the Northwest Province.