Chapter 33: Shadow Realm (part 1)
The ambassadors left with an escort and rode directly to the forts where their city lords would hear about any terms that would need to be approved of, what they didn't know was their feathered spies all around them, always watching and listening.
Salem stayed in his study for the rest of the day, he had asked for a large amount of the children to attend a lecture about magic, he kept it very simple explaining magic could work in many ways. Once you become adept enough you would no longer need chants.
You could use your will to bend the world around you, he showed them very simple magic most of the children became excited and asked questions of when could they try. He smiled at their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn, though there were a few who didn't become enamored by magic, he asked them why and was surprised to learn that some just wanted to wield swords and bows.
Thankfully the academy could start in a few months once the trade had been established and he could hire teachers, and if plans went according to plan the other clans would be arriving in just a few weeks.
The secret entrance he was carving through the mountain would allow his kin to move in and out of his city during emergencies, it would also provide a means for his knights to recruit more undead and train their apprentices in combat. The apprentices were going to become knights in a few short years, once they had touched upon their powers they would officially become Squires.
They would then look after the apprentices, teaching them the basics in their masters' stead, solidifying the bond between each other, while giving them a chance to gain a firmer foundation in their own skills.
Thinking back over his own skills, Salem brought up his stats page to see his progress.
Name:Salem Belegast
Location:Country->??? City-> Minas Lusta mil Luna
CP: 1.025.000
Race: (High) Void Elf
Physique:Tier- 3 Stage-1
Agility:Tier- 3 Stage-1
Intelligence:Tier- 3 Stage-1
Wisdom:Tier- 3 Stage-4
<Abilities/Powers>
Devour- Absorb(T-3)
Mind- Alure(T-4), Mind Control(T-3)
Space- Short range teleport(T-3), Pocket Dimension(T-5)
Death- Raise Undead(T-4), Command Undead(T-4), Death Bolt(T-3) , Promote Undead (T-3)
Wraith-Wings-1
Wraith-Armor-4
Wraith-weapon-4
Wraith-Soul Brand-3
Wraith-SolarFlame-3
<Forces>
Wraith <knights>: 22 <Squires>:0
Wraiths:
Tier(1)- 37.000
tier(2)- 5
Tier(3)- 0
Helh Rauku {Silver Demons} :<Queens-1> <Spawn-0>
Skeletons: 0
Undead captains:0
Mixed emotions were all he felt looking at his stats, his abilities and spells were climbing with study and practice, but his attributes hardly moved. He would need more potent herbs for the body, and stronger souls for his own, while he searched for more information regarding magic.
If he could find information on magic the system didn't possess, he could turn it over for analyses to find new understandings of the universe, and the many worlds that fill it. Doing so would benefit his intelligence greatly but finding that information would be difficult, he didn't even know the name of the continent he was standing upon.
Pulling his mind from these distractions, he took out his flask and sipped at the sweet taste and gazed into the fire. With the stats page still in his sight, he noticed that a few additions in his forces section were flashing, "System what are these flashing lights over the squires, and I assume these Helh Rauku would be my mounts correct?"
"Correct master Salem, using information on various beasts and the structures of their bloodlines, we have created this Helh Rauku or Silver Demons. The flashing lights indicate that someone is advancing into this classification, one of the apprentices have found their way onto the wraith lords path, I would suggest guiding them personally. It may prove beneficial for you to see the beginning of the road you were born on."
Wondering why the system was being a bit cryptic he decided to watch, using his spear as a staff and following the system's directions, he came upon the soon to be Squire in a practice room. He watched the young boy meditate, but he could feel the world around him slightly opening and closing.
Like small invisible windows that held the truth about what he was, just beyond his reach, they would come and go. This was an amazing phenomenon, the road was still forming, though it would arrive in a little over an hour.
He summoned his knights to watch this along with him and witness the road they hadn't found naturally, like him they were brought onto the road by the system, and wouldn't know what the road looked or felt like for themselves.
If they could finally see the road and feel it for themselves they could guide the children onto this path with much greater ease, with the Squires coming into their powers so soon, he would be able to have them take on the management of the apprentices.
The knights arrived outside the practice room, seeing their master shushing them and motioning them to walk quietly. Once they had all arrived he slowly walked back into the room with his knights tailing behind him, they spread out the room keeping as quiet as possible, they noticed the young boy meditating in the center of the room.
Annah let out a slight gasp, this must be one of her apprentices, Salem thought while placing a finger over her lips. After calming her down, Salem watched on feeling the road getting closer to completion.
He did what he could for the boy, gently, he let his connection to the Knights' envelope the child while watching for the road. The knights followed his example and let their power slowly fill up the room. Sensing a change over the whole room and the boy, Salem and the Knights kept their senses on high, waiting for the moment when they could see the road.
There it was, Salem could hardly breathe when he felt the road enter into his mind, he saw it stretch out into the void. It stood by itself alone in the dark, it called him over sweetly, stepping onto the road he felt like he had returned home after a long journey.
Taking another step he moved forward, he wanted to explore this new world and so he did. He moved swiftly, rushing past everything like a flooded river, he moved past his knights which seemed to be having trouble moving further upon the road until he came to a gate made from a stone so black it would make obsidian pale by comparison.
There were runes carved along the outside of the gate, he could hear whispers from the runes but he couldn't make out what they were saying. He touched the gate.
The runes grew bright red in color. A phantom appeared in the gate, hooded with bright red eyes staring into him, Salem was forced to his knees just by the presence of the monster.
Looming over him, the figure spoke in a few languages before stopping on the common tongue.
"A newborn squire summoned me? Speak newborn why did you summon a knight to such a distant and small plane?"
He was what? a squire? how is that possible the system declared him a lord, and a small plane what did it mean by that?
The questions fired rapidly in his mind, he spoke hoping he wouldn't anger what he believed was a powerful wraith in front of him, "Lor-
"Stop! I am not a Lord I am a Knight, who taught you when you became a wraith? The lack of discipline and your location do not seem to be the work of one of us, how did you come to be young squire?"
Thinking quickly Salem spun a tale of how he had been dead, there was going to be a war against the living, during the attack he had become how he was with no knowledge of how he was alive again or where his new power came from.
He had knowledge of his name and that his people were attacked before he died and wiped out to the last. Noticing he was the only one of his kind, he had tasked himself with procreation, he had found through experimenting he was adept at death magic. While new abilities came with time which he had no knowledge of receiving.
The being listened to him, he felt the will of the being in front of him inspect his soul, it was extremely uncomfortable. "Your soul was damaged, there will be massive gaps in your memory and it may take decades to remember it all while you heal."
"I believe you had been dead a very long time and through magic you can't remember reformed a body, in doing so you trespassed onto the road for a moment granting yourself the title of shade, the weakest of the wraiths."
Salem's eyes briefly twitched hearing that, he listened on while the Knight explained the basics of how the wraiths worked and increased their power.
He was also told of the hierarchy of the wraiths and that anyone above you in the hierarchy could give you pressure, or even command you into battle if they were two ranks above you. So most wraiths would not join ranks unless it was with those at the same level.
The hierarchy was rather straightforward beginning with the weakest were Shades, Squires, knights, witch kings, Minor Lord, High Lord, Wraith Lord.
Before Salem could digest or ask any more questions, his thoughts were interrupted.
"While it is uncommon it is not impossible to come upon a natural born shade though in your case it was a miracle in defiance of nature."
"I, Knight Heidon, welcome you to the Wraiths of the shadow realm."
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
OmensHymn
OmensHymn While writing this chap I wanted to get further into the wraith side of the story before we moved to deep, and so on, here's part one and part two will be up tomorrow. Stay Shameless! comments questions and concerns please put them in the comments.
power stones are welcome please leave them all before you go. if you are enjoying this novel please leave a review!
Sins of Annah is a great read please check it out if you like romance!
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