16 Leader.

Done with the main lobby and its historical relic, everyone continued through the stairs ahead. It was a tunnel illuminated by mild lanterns rosing into a brass door, similar to the one at the high-tech locomotive leading to Inanna. The stairs split in two from it.

"That's Aeschylus' Lab," said Artur. "that crooked place full of machines and exploding substances is where you were turned into a lich, Will. Well, all of us. Or at least Miris and I too, for all I know. The crazy old man was excited like a little kid when we told him he had to perform one of those lich-turning rituals on you. He had done none in years."

They went through the right way, spiraling and getting narrower as they crossed next to various hexagonal doors at each rest. It was like some stronghold or castle meant to protect a key location.

"Artur," Miris had disapproving tone. "You make Mr. Charalampos sound like some kind of experiment-obsessed twisted scientist with no regard for ethics or human life."

"Ain't that what he is, Miri-Mi? Heh, don't be scared, Willy. There's nothing to fear about Aeschylus except being in the middle of one of his alchemy tests and losing your arms and face at a reactive explosion. Wait 'till he's got to teach us something."

"Artur…"

"You know I'm just kidding, relax," he chuckled. "If you were still a living human I'd bet money you'd always be on your period, Miris, considering how much of a nagger you are— Ouch!"

He sobbed his lower back, Miris having punched his left kidney as she walked behind him. William was behind her, Zho leading the way.

"And I'd bet that if you were still a living human you'd be working as a clown in one of those Mauric circuses at the capital or something," she smugly replied. "you'd surely steal the whole spectacle with how funny you are, Mr. Comedian."

Artur chuckled, rubbing his lower back.

"Sassy and sarcastic, if you like that in your lasses then you're gonna love Reniram, Will. Now, speaking seriously, no one better than Aeschylus could have brought you back so well. Just look at you, clean and with your skin smooth as a baby. I've heard some past liches had rotting fingers and toes back when they woke up."

"I see you are already getting along," said Zho. "Remember that there is a time and a place. We're near the Hall of Progress."

So, the three were the only liches in training, and Artur said it was years since that man Aeschylus did one of those lich-turning rituals. How old were all of them?

He needed to ask them later. By years Artur could have meant one or 20, and considering they were ageless, they could either be his age of 21 years or 100 each.

They reached the ending of the snail stairs, a black, hexagonal door with a skull at its center. Zho pushed it, and its magical mechanisms spread. The room after those claustrophobic stairs was refreshing like being at the top of the mountain they were in.

With a height of probably 12 meters, a width of 20, and a length running deep to the other side of at least 50 meters, the whole place was as large as the pompous throne room of a rich monarch, or the whole nave of the most majestic church. Except that it didn't count with any luxurious decoration nor any expensive relics.

"This is the Hall of Progress," said Zho. "Here is where many of the lich generations that preceded you learned and trained. Even after disappearing, Okkos managed to inspire them with his resilience and unbreakable discipline. Do you think you live to their standards, or a new age of decadence has started with you? Don't answer me. Your actions will."

Artur abstained from making any jokes. William felt as if that question was directed to the three of them and not just him. As the monastery's fashion, the Hall of Progress was made of the same sand-colored grainy material, with both walls and floor composed of hexagonal tilts that made the hall look like a giant beehive.

Separated from both adjacent walls at a distance of three meters each, two symmetrical rows of 10 pillars crossed all across the place, supporting the triangular, vault ceiling.

Chains holding lit lanterns, chandeliers, rusty weapons, and broken armor parts hung from it, looking like tiny toys from the bottom where they stood.

And the pillars. Behind them, various dark gray hexagonal doors stood behind them, making the place feel even more labyrinthic. They also had carved the same Yikkh geometric cuneiform as the clay tablets they inspected in the main lobby.

But something else dragged his attention; at the other extreme of the hall, an eight-meter tall black gate stood, giant locks and gray wooden beams covered it.

A chained pulley system was installed on the floor of both sizes, like in gates installed at the castles and forts where he used to be assigned back in Sunia. Probably nothing but the biggest siege weapons would have been able of taking it down.

A small door at its bottom opened; white light illuminated as two figures entered and then the door was closed. Who were they One was lean and tall, dressing in a black tunic similar to Zho's, contrasting with the short figure by his side, wearing a simple white toga.

"Here comes Oraesh. Remember to be respectful and only talk when necessary. He is the most experienced and powerful lich in our order, as well as the oldest," said Zho. "He's with our Aeschylus, our alchemist. He's the one who brought you back."

William gulped his own saliva; that sounded as if they were about to talk with some important monarch. They advanced through the middle of the hall, facing the incoming figures until both groups halted at two meters from each other.

The first one was taller than he thought, towering everyone in the room with a height nearing two meters. He wore a long, simplistic coat with a single belt at his waist accompanied by long boots and silky black gloves. His black hair was all gelled back, exposing his hairline and a long face with an aquiline nose of tanned complexion.

Compared to Miris, Zho, or the rest of Oksidi he had seen before, his facial features were western, lacking their typical mongoloid eyes. His stare was freezingly serious, which made William feel oddly uncomfortable.

The old man by his side contrasted like oil and water, being at a similar height of Miris of 160cms, and having a thin, slightly hunched body below his white toga, typical of someone of more advanced age.

His hair around his bald head was white as snow, messy, and electrified as if he had been attacked by an electric eel. His facial features were all typically western, with a more easy-going aura on him.

"Zho, good to see you today. You have brought the new blood," spoke the taller man, his voice smooth, grave, and authoritative like a sergeant.

He looked down at William without lowering his head, a dismissive glimpse he didn't like a little bit. Miris and Artur put their hands behind their backs.

"Earlier than expected, Oraes. You can say he's stronger than anything we would have expected."

"Eh, I trust that Aeschylus did a splendid work, like always," the man didn't put his condescending eyes off William. "I fail to see the strength you are talking about. What is your name, kid? Why are you here?"

Was he talking to William? He looked at both Miris and Artur, the first with her head down and the second looking back with a poker face. Yes. He was talking to him.

"Amber. William Amber. I didn't choose to be here."

"Arrogant like a westerner and empty-headed like a novice. You don't need to tell me your name for me to know who you are… Maybe we committed a mistake, Zho. You were wrong in trusting the unexperimented intuition of your frivolous student."

He dismissively looked at Artur, who lowered his head. But Zho didn't look bothered. A mild simper drew his lips before he spoke.

"I don't believe mistakes exist, Oraesh. William is right where he's to be. He deserves a chance."

The man turned around, walking once to both sides with his gloved hands on his back before speaking again. This time, he did so to William.

"Zho and your companions must have told you already what you are. I'm sure they must have put it in some romantic, dramatic way so they could appeal to your emotional being. Even though you still are ignorant and don't understand anything, I'm going to act as if I do. Why do you think you deserve to be here? Why should we trust and give you a chance? I saw many in the past like you fail and be eaten by the worms as the world forgot about them. What makes you think you're special?"

William didn't like his tone a little bit, feeling his blood getting warmer and his skin tighter. He had withstood irreparable superiors back in Sunia and knew what it took to deal with them. But that man Oraesh hadn't fully introduced himself, and they were certainly in no military organization. He spoke his mind, craving answers.

"I don't believe in deserving anything or anyone being special. You were the ones who brought me back, so I could ask you the same question. What do you want me for? I want the answers your subordinates won't tell me."

"Be quiet," Oraesh raised his voice. "You don't deserve to know that. You should be thankful to be where you are, so don't abuse the kindness we've shown to you. Let's test him, Zho. Let's see what he can do. Let his action and the potential he can show us be his answers."

"Artur, Miris, please take William to the armory," said Zho. "he'll know what to choose once there."

"One more thing, kid. My name is Oraesh Khugazid, and I'm the current leader of the Zeimey Order, so show respect the next time you dare open your mouth. Now show me you're worth something."

William only squeezed his lips with a frown. It was useless and idiotic trying to provoke someone like him, and clear as water that he was also not going to provide him with any answers.

He took a deep breath, saving his anger. It was best to keep playing along to see what would come off.

Miris put a hand on his shoulder and simpered, a signal to follow. It was an oddly comforting gesture, yet he couldn't help but feel irritated. Nothing unexpected from the man that called himself the leader of the order, but it was jarringly contrasting with how Zho had treated him, making his impersonal distance feel warm and friendly.

Didn't he say his last name was Khugazid? Yes. Zho said he was near 1000 years old and was the son of one of the greatest generals of Okkos Zeimey himself. Remembering the statue in the lobby, maybe his irreparable behavior was due…

Sigh. He shook his head with a deep gasp as he thought about what was next. He was supposed to show off his fighting skills, but against what? He couldn't help but feel nervous…