Shadowbound Ascension: The Necromancer's Journey

Aiden stood in front of his mirror placing the hood of the cloak over his head. The black material emitted a faint aurora which envelopped him like a mystical mist as it enveloped his shoulders. The mask he wore on his face was also rather mysterious, it changed patterns and made it impossible to read his expressions. This equipment is not an ornament and was made to remove every hint of his identity, his rank, and skills.

The cloak and the mask were earned a way of victory after a stiff fight against a formidable opponent. He had earned them after defeating a D-Rank dungeon's boss, a goblin that looked like a chameleon with green skin that could mimic anyone or anything. The battle has been 'arduous,' but the carrots were well deserved after the hrs of hardship. Now, with these items, Aiden was completely invisible and even the people who took their time to learn how to locate lost persons were not going to find him.

"Cloak of Disguise"

Rank: D

Effect: Camouflages the person wearing it and his/her rank, skills, and all other information from any sort of recognition.

Bound to: Aiden Shadowbane

"Mask of the Faceless"

Rank: D

Effect: Hides the identity of the person wearing it and he/she cannot be recognized by any magical or even of great physical means.

Bound to: Aiden Shadowbane

Finally after fixing the mask and making sure that it was well on his face Aiden switched his back to the dark area of the room. There was still the residual of the dreadful warning that the system had given him before.

No threat is observed now, but the remaining energy exhaust indicates sustained espionage. Please be careful.

They've been following him: someone, or something. But with a new set of skills he would not be so defenseless anymore – that is exactly what he had in mind.

Speaking out loud Aiden summoned Shadow Affinity, currently at Rank E. He allowed the blackness to envelop him and as if time had slowed down he felt his other senses came alive. The darkness emanated from his spirit and spread out as slimy tendrils searching the place for any traces of the spirit. Gradually the oppression started ebbing away and Sean got the feeling that the unseen eyes had retreated in front of him.

Aiden exhaled. The darkness left, and the only activity that was noticeable was in the park.

He said to himself repeatedly, 'It's time'.

For the Eclipse Auction House that was the epitome of luxury and protection behind walls. It stood tall, dominating the skyline and was made of black material; one that had runes that common folk would never know existed, known to be reserved for the elites. It was a place where people became rich, friends were made and enemies bought information from the people around them.

Cloaked and cloaked, Aiden approached the entrance of the place, it was getting dark in the evening. Upon entering the first room he was immediately faced with highly polite attendant dressed according to the tavern's dress code. The atmosphere of the auction house was tense but not noisy, as if the building itself has leaked a certain electricity.

A smiling attendant greeted them, "Well, welcome to the Eclipse Auction House", the attendant said while bowing slightly. "How may we be of service to you today?"

"I have something for your auction," Aiden answered, and his words were masked because of the cloth he had on his face. "It's an item of ….. high value."

'You're going to need a new exhaust system then' said the attendant, though he did not show any embarrassment. It is therefore only proper to ask; may I know what type of item it is?

Aiden grabbed one of the items from his backpack and took out a vial which was emitting a blue light – Potion of Restoration (Rank D). The attendant rubbed his eyes to make sure what he saw was really true and in front of him lay down a real head. The potion was beautiful – bluish in colour and gave an illusion of hope with its natural swirls.

"Oh I get you… "the attendant commented, obviously interested. "Please, follow me. "

Aiden was then taken to a room where senior auction managers that he had to meet were already seated. Bushman was a senior wizard that new how to handle such odd and strong items but even he looked skeptical when Aiden began to describe the potion in question.

"It cures all known diseases," Aiden said and added, "It does not have any side effects at all."

The managers looked at each other, clearly astonishment at what they heard. One of them, a woman with good eyesight and much better for her intelligence and quick wit, looked intently at me.

"Are you okay?" she questioned me. 'A potion like this, what a useless life we lead!' It just cannot be real, such artifacts, if they do exist, the price is way too high; it is too risky.'

Aiden's voice remained steady. "You can try it if you don't feel me. I'm not lying to you. "

The managers finally agreed, thus nodding their heads. A sample of this potion's potion was brought to their alchemy labs for tests. Everyone in the room ceased and silence ensued, waiting for the verdict.

A few minutes later, on of the lab technicians came running into the room looking surprised. 'Yes it is,' He replied almost panting. "The potion works. We tried it on several subjects and each of them is cured of their ailments. No side effects. "

The managers' I looked at each other in disbelief. It was evident that this potion they had was worth much more than what they had thought. The woman who was first very skeptical now looked at Aiden with completely different eyes.

'This… this could bring an unthinkable sum,' she concluded softly. 'You realise the gravity of what you have brought to us do you,' I countered.

Aiden nodded. "I'm aware. "

The head of auction manager is a man reaping rather tall, with a rather authoritative aura around him; he took a rapping cough. "We will have to check this with our superiors This kind of item,.... not that we can just put it up for sale in the auction and that's it."

Of course, the founder group of the Eclipse Auction House was to be notified behind the scenes. These were the real big-shots of the auction—the would-be M-Rank hunters nobody had ever heard of let alone seen. Several of these figures existed and only the three new generation M-Rank hunters were familiar with their existence and always cautious around them.

Soon, the news went viral among the founders of the beer and they were also able to establish that the potion was genuine. They have witnessed many powerful belongings in their years, but a potion of such type was a thing which even they considered invaluable.

Aiden who was still masked and clad stayed close as the auction managers debated what the next course of action would be. He could notice the mild stinements of eyes on him, but did not flinch. He was on top form here, and so he knew it.

Finally the head manager looked at him and spoke with him in more polite manner as if acknowledging his authority. They have learned about this potion you have made good on so they want to meet you in person the founders.

Aiden froze in his tracks having his heart rate momentarily quicken in anticipation. This was unexpected.

'Okay,'came the composed and calm response. "Let's meet. "

Thinking of the strangers that were as M-Rank hunters as the manager, Aiden couldn't help but wonder who these people were, as he continued following the man deeper into the auction house. But one thing was clear: the shadows he had stepped into were way much deeper and perilous than what he had thought of or imagined to be.