Chapter 96 - A Little Drafty

Opening his eyes, Professor Kal was greeted by muffled light filtering through a thin, yellow stained cotton sheet. He was back in the musty basement of the inn they had yet to name, the air was moist, and the smell of mold clung to his silken robe. Pulling the sheet off of himself, he groggily got to his feet, his world spinning slightly.

Having your soul travel through the material plane unprotected was anything but a pleasant experience. Even for a lich, whose soul could be considered hardier than most, it was difficult to weather the symptoms. His undead body felt hot and fuzzy, his mana pathways were itching as his damaged soul started the process of repairing itself.

Luckily for him, the link to his phylactery aided in the process, speeding up his recovery many folds as the chaotic energy from the other plane was funneled into his wounded soul. Straightening up, he stretched his fleshless bones, taking pleasure in the sounds of his cracking joints. After his light stretching, he regrew his mortal shell as he was expecting company to arrive at any moment.

The two death-knights, still standing sentry by the basement entrance, followed a voiceless command and retrieved the body of his young student that was sitting on the floor. As gently as drunken bears, the death knights began to strip the young man naked, his skin unconsciously growing goosepimples from the cold, subterranean air.

A Warp Gate appeared in the center of the room and two disheveled women came spilling out of it, forming a tangled pile on the floor. The portal closed behind them and they quickly looked around, taking in their unfamiliar surroundings, before finding an all too familiar face staring down at them. Before they could attempt to ask any questions, a groggy moan came from not too far away, drawing their attention to two, very large black knights, and the very naked young man they held in between them.

Ryan opened his eyes as his mind was still processing everything that was going on around him. It was unusually cold at the moment, and for some reason his body ached all over like he had been inside a wash basin. As his eyes attempted to focus in the dim light of the basement, he saw Princess Alessandria and her personal guard, Lilly, awkwardly looking away from him as they sat on the ground. Just next to them was Professor Kal, standing there with his arms crossed and a smirk spread across his plain face.

With a wave of just a finger, Professor Kal created a frigid breeze that rolled through the dark basement, causing Ryan to shiver. With the Professor's help, Ryan suddenly realized why it was that he was so cold. Embarrassed beyond belief, Ryan tried to step behind one of the death-knights, only to be grabbed by the two of them and held into place.

"Professor!" Ryan shouted out. "What are you doing?!"

"You got me killed, you little shit. I believe it's a fit punishment, consider yourself lucky I don't have these two march you up there in front of everyone in the inn!" Professor Kal barked at the horrified boy.

Ryan started to struggle, but soon discovered how futile it was to try and overpower the two monstrous summons. The only thing he got for his trouble were more bruises on his arms and shoulders. As his student hung his head in defeat, Professor Kal turned his attention to the two women that had just gotten to their feet.

"Now, I'm sure you both have loads of questions; unfortunately, I'm not going to answer any of them. So, you two set tight down here for now, ok?"

"What are you…" Princess Alessandria started to say when iron bars rose up from the hard packed floor, reaching all the way to the ceiling, confining them in a tiny jailcell.

Shocked by her treatment, Princess Alessandria grit her teeth in anger while Lilly's arm morphed into a blunt hammer before striking at the iron bars, creating sparks that helped light up the dim basement. Still being held between the two death knights, Ryan lifted his head, looking at the commotion.

"What're you doing now?" Ryan asked nervously, still beet red from embarrassment.

"I'm protecting my cash cow. Can't have her running around, getting herself killed." Professor Kal said, pointing to the Princess.

"Excuse me!? I AM NOT a COW!" Princess Alessandria scolded him from behind iron bars, clearly very offended by the Professor's offhanded insult.

Turning to face the angry Princess, Professor Kal glared at the woman. "Shut it, Princess. You're lucky to be alive, so I don't want to hear anything coming from you, got it?"

Turning a shade paler after seeing the look in the mage's eyes, Princess Alessandria took a step back from the iron bars but couldn't help but mutter something as she did so. "Asshole."

Ignoring the insult, Professor Kal took Ryan's crumpled up robes and tossed them to him, hitting him in the chest with them before they fell to the ground. The two death knights released their grips on the boy at the same moment, allowing him to timidly bend over before he hurriedly dressed himself.

"Let's hurry up there, I'm sure whatever you let out is just wreaking havoc, and the more of the city we save, the more they'll have to pay us." Professor Kal stated.

"Won't someone hear them?" Ryan asked, pointing to the two women.

Professor Kal shook his head. "We don't have to worry about that." He turned back to the Princess. "So, just relax down here for a bit, and when I get back, we can talk business."

…..

The inn was as boisterous as it was the last time Professor Kal had seen it, still filled with travelers displaced by the sudden outbreak of war. Many of them were only carrying what they can in their pockets, having been forced to sell the rest to afford a place to stay and warm food to fill their bellies. By now, the alarm bells had spread to this side of the city and could faintly be heard through the thick wooden walls and the low roar of the people inside.

There were several new faces running about, taking orders, and talking to guests. Professor Kal had heard that Ben had went out to find some help with running the day-to-day operations, and it would seem that he was successful in that endeavor. But he didn't really care, they could run the inn into the ground for all he cared. He had just bought the place on a whim, not even with his own coin for that matter, for a reason that he couldn't remember now.

Shaking his head, driving away the superfluous thoughts, Professor Kal strode across the lobby of the inn with Ryan in tow. Stopping at the front counter, Professor Kal grabbed Ryan by the shoulder. "Go and get everyone, bring them here."

Nodding his head, Ryan took off at a brisk pace, not wanting to make the Professor wait any longer than necessary. After a few minutes, and a little persuasion, Ryan managed to tear everyone away from the busy work they were doing. Ben and Richard actually looked relieved to have an excuse to get away from what they were doing, while Laura seemed just a little upset at the fact that Ryan had disappeared for more than a day without her knowing where he had gone off to. Professor Treffle on the other hand looked disinterested in the whole ordeal, like she had something else on her mind, as everyone waited around for the Professor to speak.

Clapping his hands together, Professor Kal brought everyone's attention to himself, even a few of the nearby patrons turned to look at the well-dressed mage. "Alright everyone, long story short; there's a monster on the loose in the city, so don't leave the inn, or you might be killed."

At those foreboding words, everyone present perked up, not sure they had heard him right. Even the eavesdropping guests stopped talking long enough to finally hear the alarm bells that were still ringing outside, alerting the city of danger. Peeking out the windows, gasps could be heard as the guests could see the city guard, along with adventurers of every rank, hurrying deeper into the city.

"Where in the city? Tell me!" Professor Treffle shouted, pulling everyone's attention from the windows to herself.

"What's gotten into you?" Professor Kal asked, taking a step back from the fanatical woman.

"Just tell me already!"

"The noble district, the last time I saw it." He hurriedly answered, fearful of her sudden serious look.

Without another word, Professor Treffle bolted out of the inn and into the frigid winter air, running in the same direction as all of the other guards and adventurers. Professor Kal looked to the others, trying to figure out the odd behavior, but only received shrugging shoulders and shaking heads as an answer.

"Whatever." He finally said before moving on. "You lot stay here then, you'll be safe. Me and dumbass over there will be back after a bit."

"Why are you taking Ryan with you?!" Laura blurted out, still angry at her boyfriend for abandoning her, but concerned for his safety.

"It's his mess, he's got to help clean it up."

Leaving no room for argument, Professor Kal opened up a Warp Gate right there in the middle of the lobby before grabbing ahold of Ryan and pulling him through it. With the portal closing right on her nose, Laura let out a frustrated huff before stomping off toward her room. Ben and Richard, who both had remained silent thus far, looked at her as she stormed off, questioning what she was doing. A quick minute later, Laura returned, dressed for the winter chill.

"C'mon you two, we just can't stand around and do nothing." She said, expecting them to follow her out.

Richard, looking ghastly pale, timidly retorted. "B… but the Professor said to stay put."

"Fine, stay here then, I'll go by myself." She said, not willing to argue with her timorous friend.

Ben let out a reluctant sigh as he turned to leave. "Hold on, let me grab my coat."

Laura nodded her head, her long ponytail bobbing along with her motions. After another minute, Ben returned wearing his thick winter jacket, carrying something in his arms. With a bit of force, he shoved another jacket onto Richard, a stern look on his face.

"You're not getting out of this one so easily.." He said.