"We are going to the mining town. Is it safe there?" Lith had just noticed that Phloria was staring at them. She hated the dryad's guts for looking at him like a slab of meat, seductively playing with her dress and hair.
Yet the coldness in Lith's tone warmed her heart.
"Gods, no. It's full of corpses there, I wouldn't be surprised if she has turned it into her new nest. Even if I doubt it with all the protections and the alarms set in that place, I doubt it. Humans would run to protect their precious mine and slaughter her colony."
"What does she need the corpses for?" Lith was shocked by her words. He had an idea about what was happening, but he had to be sure.
"How do you think she managed to expand her territory so much? With all those corpses of powerful beasts and humans, the Brood Mother has greatly improved the quality of her underlings.
"That's the reason why they wanted to capture you five alive so badly. Each of you can become the breeding ground for a small legion of Soldiers. Corpses are second rate hosts, but they still provide a lot of nutrients. Especially those belonging to powerful beings like Kalla or M'Rook."
"When did Kalla die?" Lith had met her only twice, yet he cared for her. Not to mention he had to keep his promise to her too.
"A long time ago." Lyta laughed cruelly, losing most of her glamour.
"Kalla died the day she became a Wraith. Undead should stay away from the living."
"That's not what I meant! What happened to her? What about Protector's corpse?"
"Beats me." She shrugged, going higher on the tree, just to be safe.
"I've never been there and I don't plan to. I don't get involved in humans' squabbles. As long the Clackers stay out of my turf, it's none of my business. Thanks for getting rid of them for me. I'd say we are even now."
Lyta had enough of his rude behavior. She disappeared in the tree bark while Lith could only watch her dart away through the forest with Life Vision.
"Did you hear her? You guys have to go back." Lith now felt even more motivated to continue his mission. He had to find out what had happened to Kalla and prevent the Clackers from defiling Protector's corpse.
"We all have to go back! The Headmaster and the Professors can take care of the Clackers by themselves." Phloria said.
"She is right. This isn't a place for students anymore. We have to retreat to fight another day." Yurial patted his shoulder. He knew how deep the scar in Lith's heart was and how the decision he had to make would only worsen it.
"Heck, no!" Lith angrily pushed Yurial's hand away.
"I don't plan to fight, only to recover my friend's body. I can make it as long as I avoid direct confrontation. I don't have the luxury of time. It could already be too late. If you were Linjos, what priority would you give to retrieving a corpse?
Would you really risk the members of the staff you have left just to humor a grieving student?"
No one could deny those words. An awkward silence fell between them.
"Let's calm down and rest first." Yurial said.
"We can't remain here, it's not safe. There could be more Clackers around."
The group used darkness magic to destroy the corpses and erase all traces of their passage. They moved in a random direction, picking the first clearing they found to rest.
Yurial used what mana he had left to cast the best defensive arrays in his arsenal before entering the dimensional tent Phloria had arranged for them. On the outside, it closely resembled a pup tent.
On the inside, it looked like a three star hotel room. There was a fully furnished bedroom with three king sized beds, a liquor cabinet, and a single door leading to a bathroom.
It had no running water since any mage could easily conjure as much as they wanted, but there were a pot and a bathtub. Lith went straight for the liquor cabinet, removing stoppers until he found a familiar smell.
"Do you drink?" Yurial was surprised.
"Usually no." Lith poured himself a glass of something he hoped would taste like whiskey.
"Right now I really need one though. Do you want to join me?"
His father had never allowed him to drink alcohol. The ban had become especially severe ever since he had developed his nerve problems. So it was natural for Yurial to accept.
"Take small sips and watch out for the burn." Lith warned him after handing Yurial his glass. Back on Earth, Lith would have finished his drink in two gulps. Now, instead, he was forced to follow his own advice.
The taste was terrible but at least it was alcohol. Lith embraced the familiar warm sensation spreading from his stomach. It was only after the second glass that they talked.
"Are you sure you want to do it?" Yurial asked.
"I mean, risking your life for Protector's dead body is beyond stupid. No offense."
"None taken." Lith replied emptying his glass.
"He died to save us all, the only way we have to honor his sacrifice is to live our lives to the fullest, don't you think?" Yurial was surprised by Lith's meek attitude and by how at peace he was feeling after drinking the amber colored liquid.
"I agree with you. That's why I'm going to do it."