Koyuki, the Necromancing Foxkin

CHAPTER 337: Chatting with Friends

It took a few days for Cassie to brew the fire tainted blood. The test confirmed our suspicions, Hatsumi had no additional resistance to fire. On the bright side, drinking normal blood after the tainted one helped her to recover.

While our test progressed the investigation into the attack on the party did not. Archibald denied any connection to the event and the prisoners only confessed to being hired by someone. They were former adventurers who had turned to more profitable work. Hopefully the city guard could find whoever had hired them, only time would tell.

As I met my friends for dinner in the mess hall Cassie seemed rather excited.

"I am getting my licence to open a brewery!" She announced as she put her try down.

"Then why are you punishing yourself?" I asked, while pointing at the mushroom pasta on her plate.

"Those mushrooms are delicious, really you are missing out!" Cassie replied.

I shuddered. "No thank you, I will enjoy my stew. But congratulations on the licence! Do you have a location as well?"

She shook her head. "No, but Bridget is looking into it."

"We have got the funds but finding workers might be tricky. The brewery could become a target." Skadi said.

"You think my skeletons won't be enough to guard it?" I wondered.

"The tier twos will need someone intelligent and we don't have anyone we can trust." Skadi said.

"What about your parents, Skadi? Surely they have connections." Helena suggested.

"Actually, doesn't your mother have people she could send, Cassie?" I asked.

"I guess…" Cassie mumbled. "I am still not used to her wanting to work with me."

"It might be a good idea to include her and my parents. It might just take a bit of time to contact them if they are on the road with a caravan." Skadi said.

"You could invite everyone to my home! We are going north again during the break, right?" Helena asked.

"I would like to. Maybe we can hunt a bit more effectively this year! I could use some corpses. Do you think we will find anything with a light affinity?" I wondered.

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"I don't think there are any light monsters in the north. At least nothing comes to mind." Helena replied.

"Where do light monsters live? The desert has mostly earth and fire." Cassie stated.

"I believe some are found inside Ilestria." Kaito stated.

"Great! We can just invade them and get some corpses while we are there!" Helena suggested with a grin.

"I would want the corpses before our next encounter with a light mage." I replied.

Skadi snorted. "I think you will be ambushed several times before you get another light corpse."

"She only needs to be ambushed by light mages and she gets more light corpses!" Cassie said.

"I do look forward to drinking more of them dry. However, next time I will focus on leaving a corpse for you to animate." Hatsumi stated.

"While you seem to be focused on Ilestria, what about this Brotherhood?" Garm asked.

"After Koyuki's discovery I suspect they plan on abducting her, or killing her and taking control of us." Kaito said.

"Actually, what is happening with all the vampiric nightshades? Have those infestations been dealt with?" I wondered.

"Partially." Helena said. "The army is still busy removing them. I have heard there has been a bit of backlash as some nobles question how the infestation has been allowed to spread in the first place."

"Rumors say that King William is personally travelling through the country to assure the nobles everything is under control." Garm's left head said. "I have also heard that his weakness emboldens Ilestria." Garm's right head added.

"He is weak?" I wondered.

"Not personally. He is a grand mage, I think." Helena said.

"This is just politics and a lot of gossip." Cassie added.

"Anyway, for now we should focus on the end of year exams. There is not that much time left." I stated.

"Really? You are doing well in the basic subjects and I doubt Gronir will even have a proper exam for your necromancy. You just need to point at Hatsumi and you pass." Helena pointed out.

"It's not like you are doing badly. Your big ice spell should be enough for your artillery specialisation, right?" I asked.

Helena nodded. "Being a senior mage helps. I can throw a lot more magic around than most other students."

"There are barely any spellblades but I am doing better than the other three. They are struggling to control their runes. Of course, I had quite the head start. Not everyone got their runes at the start of the year." Skadi said.

Cassie sighed. "My support classes focus way too much on logistics and such…"

"You picked the specialisation." I pointed out.

"Because it sounded ideal for an alchemist!" Cassie whined.

"You will need those skills for your brewery as well." Skadi said.

"I have you for that." Cassie replied.

"Is it me, or is Leo looking way too excited?" Hatsumi asked.

"Huh? I try not to pay any attention to him." I said.

"What is his project for the end of the year? After losing one of his undead he might try something foolish." Kaito mused.

Helena shrugged. "Maybe he will manage to get eaten by his undead."

Garm shook his head. "From my observations his undead are not that useful."

Cassie snickered.

We kept talking as we finished our meal and went to our rooms afterwards. I spent some time reading a necromancy textbook until it was time for bed. As I closed it I looked at Helena, who was already in her nightwear. "Helena, do you want to go out next Solday?"

She turned around and looked at me. "Sure, what's the plan?"

"I think we could go to one of those nice coffee shops, maybe have some cake…" I replied.

Helena smiled as she walked closer. "So this will just be the two of us?"

I grabbed her and gave her a kiss. "Yes." I said afterwards. "Uhm, and some undead for protection." I added.

"I am looking forward to it." Helena replied.