Thane:(mind) How did I get myself into this mess?

With the compass provided by Azrei, Thane followed it out of the God capital Ome'Alf, and into the wilderness where he had been walking for over a week now.

Thane:(mind) All I wanted was a few questions answered but now I'm a Champion...

Thane:(mind) I know it's a pretty high position someone could ever achieve...

Thane:(mind) Still... She could at least try using her words to answer my question.

Thane:(mind) But what does it matter now? A god is a god. Can't really say no to them...

Walking past a few bushes, Thane finds himself at a farm.

The compass still pointed forward thus he continued walking straight, through crops, fences, and "keep away" signs. He only walked around a house.

Thane: How far is it- Oh it changed directions?

Walking back the way he came, Thane saw it change directions once he got in front of the house.

Thane:(stares at house)

Inside the farmer's home, the man and woman of the house were in a heated discussion.

Farmer: We have to talk about this...

Wife: There isn't anything to discuss... Everything is fine.

Farmer: But it's not- What in tarnation?!

The Farmer shouted as he saw Thane climb in through their window holding a compass.

Wife: Huh-AHHHH!?

Thane: Sorry to intrude! Official God business!

(Opening Theme)

He walks through the house, to see in the middle of it, the compass would simply spin around.

Thane:(mind) There's a necromancer here? Or lost soul... Don't know how to tell which it's searching for.

Farmer: Stop right there!

Pointing a kitchen knife at Thane, The Farmer with his wife behind him threatened Thane.

Farmer: We don't want any trouble. But if you try anything I'll use this!

Thane: Hey, do you know of any undead here?

Farmer: Undead?!

Wife:?

Thane: Right! I forgot to introduce myself.

Thane: My name is Thane. And I'm sorta the new Champion of Death.

Farmer: Champion of Death? There's no such Champion!

Wife: Honey, there was supposed to be a tournament in the God capital to decide that thing... He might be the real thing.

Wife: Just look at his outfit...

Farmer: Hmmm... Can you prove it?

Thane: Prove what?

Farmer: You're the Champion you claim to be!

Farmer: Show me your magic weapon.

Thane: Weapon? All she gave me was this compass.

He holds out the quite mystical-looking compass. It was white like bone, with graves-like stitches all around it. Thane flipped it open for the couple to see that it spun.

Wife: What about a power? Show us your blessing!

Thane: Blessing...?

His mind flashes to the kiss Azrei gave him in the ceremony knighting him as her champion, the strange feeling of power he felt across his body after.

Thane: Not sure yet.

Farmer: Then why should we believe you? You reek of trouble and death!

Thane: Doesn't that prove it?

Farmer:...

Farmer: By the gods... The champion of death is in our house.

Thane:?

Wife: S-sorry about the knife...

Thane: It's fine. (looks at compass)

Wife: Can I get you something to eat?

Thane: Sure. If you don't mind.

Thus, Thane found himself dining with the farmer Boris and his wife, Gertrude.

Boris: So... You're looking for a necromancer...?

Thane: Yeah. The Goddess of Death really doesn't like them so I have to take them out or something...

Thane: Well... "Give them a chance" and if they refuse to, then kill them, I guess.

Gertrude: What if they had a good reason? Would you still kill them?

Thane: I think it's about them giving up, not their attention.

Gertrude: Still... You'd be willing to kill a person?

Thane:...

Thane: Yeah.

Thane: That isn't really my big issue with this... People have killed people before.

Thane: My main concern is this compass...

He looks at it, still spinning.

Thane: Do you know if there's a cave, or do you have a basement?

Boris: There's a basement.

Thane: Cool. I'll check it out after this porridge.

Gertrude:(stare) Take all the time you need...

Thane:... Kay...

He continues eating the porridge and drinking his fresh juice as Gertrude stared at him and Boris looked on with concern.

Thane noticed these looks from the two, taking note of their tone of voice and choice of words.

Unable to feel fear, Thane was not concerned but curious. He perhaps was abnormal but he wasn't a complete fool who couldn't tell something was up.

Finishing his meal whilst the couple discussed something away from him, Thane interrupted the two.

Thane: I'd like to see the basement now.

Gertrude: Why of course. Follow me.

Leading the Champion of Death outside, she shows him the basement doors.

Gertrude: Explore to your heart's content- Oh wait. It's quite dark out there, Boris, Honey, could you go get the lantern?

Boris:...

Boris: Alright... Don't get impatient while I'm gone.

As soon as Boris leaves, Gertrude opens the doors, leaving the curious young man to want to loom over to try and get a peek.

Thane checked his compass which spun faster as he lowered his hand into the cellar.

Gertrude: I have a question...

Thane: Yeah?

He continued to try and see what was down the basement with the little light that shined in.

Gertrude: What's the point of your Goddess? Why do children have to die!?

Thane: You don't have to yell-

Shoved down into the basement, Thane tumbled down the steep set of stairs before landing with a heavy thump.

(THUMP)

Thane:(GRUNTS)

The door was shut behind him. Thane was in the dark, alone with no feeling in his body.

.......

........

.........

........

.......

"Can you feel it?"

"Your body?"

"No... I can't feel anything...."

"It's like a cage, am I right?"

"I feel like a corpse in a coffin..."

"Try to breathe. Not deeply. Just a short gasp."

"Alright..."

.....

....

"I can see something now... A little floating glowing sphere... And a chain attached to it..."

"The chain is going towards me, I think..."

"That's your soul"

"My soul?"

"This is your blessing, which I bestowed upon you as my Champion of Death."

"Breath again."

Thane found the ability to move again after the chain reeled into his body by a meeter, dragging his soul along with it.

"There are two things that can see souls. Gods and the dead."

"Since it is a necessity for you to see the souls of the lost, and I need you alive..."

Thane felt how his body was cold, and his senses were all numb.

"This power will let you decay your own body, in whatever way you see fit. Simply let your soul extend out from your body to decay and pull it back in to revert the process."

Breathing in a deep breath, Thane pulled his soul back into his body. Regaining the feeling of being alive but losing a direct connection with Azrei.

Thane: Whoa-ho-ho...!

This new feeling, though a bit disturbing, Thane's natural response to it was to grin, as if he was being tickled.

Thane:(grining) That was freaky...!

(Creak)

Thane:?

Still in the dark, Thane was blind to what else was moving in the basement.

The creak of the floor and the jingle of chains made Thane get up and look for his cellar mate.

Thane: Hello...? Are you human or doggy?

???: Ugggggh...

The long groan made him think human. The tone made him think child, along with Gertrude shouting at him something involving children.

Thane: Hmmm... I really need a light.

Backing up, he manages to find a wall, and the ladder back up.

Gertrude:(muffled) Fine, he's down there. We'll hold him ransom to force the goddess to-

Opening the cellar doors, Thane makes the farmers jump in shock and terror.

Thane: What's this about holding me ransom?

Gertrude: Y-You're perfectly fine...? But how-

(WHABAM)

Thane punched the housewife across the face.

Thane: If I didn't have to go back down there, I'd throw you down like you did to me.

Noticing the husband had a lantern, Thane snatched it and went back down into the basement.

With a light source, Thane could see what they had hidden beneath their house.

It was a zombified undead child. A girl who was probably thirteen or younger.

She was chained to a wall and upon seeing Thane, attempted to approach him.

Thane:(checks compass) Yeah... You're what I've been tracking...

Thane:(heavy sigh)...

With a deep guttural sigh, Thane's blessing activated as his soul floated out of his body which decayed somewhat.

Now with the eyes of a deadman, Thane could see stitches that glowed. This was what remained of her soul and forced this girl to move once again.

The father and mother then arrived.

Boris: We can explain!

Gertrude: But we don't have to! She's just a girl, she deserves a full life!

Gertrude: Take my life if you have to! Just-

Thane: Shut up.

He turns and glares at the two who find him with pale lifeless skin and dead eyes.

Boris/Gertrude:?!

The life in his body returns once Thane takes in a deep breath.

Thane: Which one of you did this to her?

Boris: It wasn't us. A weird wizard stopped by and offered to bring her back...

Gertrude: They brought her back like that... But you-

Smashing the zombie girl with the lantern, Thane sets it on fire.

Thane: My job here is done.

Gertrude: NOOO!!

The housewife tried to save the zombie but was stopped by Boris her husband.

Thane leaves after seeing the zombie fall limp and the compass points in a new direction.

Thane:(sigh) What a bitch... Pushing me down the stairs.

"There, there, it's okay now..."

Thane: Huh?

Looking around with dead eyes, Thane could see the silhouette of Azrei, cupping in her hands a small dim ball of light.

Gently cradling it, she meets her gaze with Thane's. The two hold eye contact before the goddess fades away with the ball of light.

Thane:...

Realizing he had extended his soul out from his body, Thane sucked it back in.

Thane: I need to get a hang of that...

TO BE CONTINUED......