I watched as Tama landed in the undead army. She weaved her way through the enemies like water through air. I watched, concerned for a moment, before nodding to myself. Willing the visual stuff to appear, I looked at the undead. Sure enough, I was able to spot enemies with bigger labels, their titles below their heads. But no details other than their rank and basic name like "skeleton warrior."

  After focusing on one, a popup appeared and asked, "Would you like to set a marker?" Excitedly, I mentally hit yes. A large label appeared above the zombie captain I was focusing on. Another message popped up: "Leave tag?"

  I wasn't sure what that meant, but I pressed yes. Then I realized quickly what it meant when it started putting my thoughts on the label.

  I quickly mentally erased and put "Here, Tama!" before finding and marking four more in quick succession. As I did, I turned to face Tera. She was looking at me with unreserved hatred. Still, she didn't say anything volatile or mean. Instead, her tone was submissive. "Royal Advisor, if I may once again ask why you felt it necessary to launch our empress into a sea of undead?"

  She didn't say it mean, but the point still came across. She was livid. I didn't blame her. I was terrified for Tama, but I knew she could handle this too. This could be a massive win for us, especially if the next part worked.

  I began to weave a massive illusion as the second captain went down. Turning to David, I nodded and made a motion with my head. He nodded back and began building an earth wall around us.

  Tera glared at me for another moment before walking up behind me and gently placing her hands on my back. I felt the soothing water course through me, restoring my stamina and my health as both dropped quickly from what I was doing.

  I added two more markers to undead captains. I made sure that the one with glowing blue eyes and was floating was marked as "This one looks dangerous, be careful." Or something like that.

  I wasn't paying close attention and my vision was starting to blur. The insane amount of health and stamina still dropping was disconcerting.

  If Tera was not healing me, I would be dead right now. The mere fact I had to trust her scared me, but for Tama I would do anything. Also, the Lich had to pay for his crimes.

  I felt liquid come from my eyes. I quickly realized those were not tearsI was bleeding from my eyes. But I was so close!

  "Saki, I am pushing as hard as I can. I can't keep this up. Your health is dropping faster than I can heal it!" Tera said. She sounded strained. I pushed to finish quicker.

  I finally finished the illusion and collapsed to my knees. My health began to slowly regenerate, Tera trying to heal me the rest of the way. For it not being her primary element, her water skill was quite strong.

  For a moment, nothing happened. Then, a massive army of wolves appeared in front of the undead army, numbering in the thousands. I made sure they were placed right at the edge of where the still-controlled undead were instead of where the uncontrolled ones were causing havoc.

  The wolves attacked the undead, and the undead fought back. However, it became apparent quickly that the wolves were only illusory; Only a single hit killed a wolf. Still, their numbers were large and they ran through the controlled zombies, causing confusion with the captains in that part of the army.

  Then it happened. The real event. As the thousands of illusory wolves spread throughout the undead army, I raised a single hand and activated my spell. Suddenly, all the wolves, thousands of them, exploded into a large spray of fae fire, burning and expanding throughout the army.

  I smiled weakly as I watched thousands more drop dead from the act. "We did it," I said weakly.

  "Yes, you did, and you have earned my ire for it." A chilling voice said behind Saki. Fear gripped her and she turned just in time to see a large bone-white figure standing behind them. Saki's blood ran cold as she came face to face with the Lich.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Panic began to flood me, but I calmed it down. While the chances were small, I had planned for this. I looked around to make sure, but Tera and David were now gone.

  Just as I had planned. I smiled up at the Lich, my health still only at half, my stamina regenerating quickly but still only at ten percent.

  "What, can't a little fox have a bit of fun around here? They are disposable anyway, unlike you." I brought my tail around and forcefully dilated my eyes. The chances of my charm working on the Lich were zilch, but that wasn't the point.

  The Lich laughed, a cold harsh voice that sounded like nails on a chalkboard. I felt my ears bleed a little. I kept myself in the same position.

  "Do you honestly think your charms will work, Foxkin? Are you truly so naive to attempt such a thing at the great and powerful Jabrome!" The Lich's eyes lit up. Apparently, he found my attempt at flirtation and charm amusing. Good, it would make this next part much easier.

  "Oh, well of course you're great and powerful. Why even use an army then?" I said in an almost mocking tone.

  "Simple, little Foxkin, because why should I do the dirty work myself when I have servants to do it for me!" The Lich said, his voice grating.

  I had been doing my best to ignore the cold, but as the Lich floated there, I watched the ground around him freeze and expand.

  "This was all pointless, little fox. All you have done is anger me. I could kill you here and now, but I have a better idea."

  I froze at his words. That was not part of the plan. Quickly I began trying to recalculate, but I was too slow. I felt my body go rigid and I was forced into the air, unable to move or control my own body. I was forcefully turned around to face the undead army.

  "That little nekojin is your friend, yes?" The Lich spoke calmly, amusement tingling his horrid tone.

  I grimaced but said nothing, my tail curling around my leg. One of the only appendages I still had any control over.

  "She is awfully fast and strong. She reminds me of someone. Someone I recently paid a visit to. That man had a special photo on his nightstand of a purple-haired nekojin, just like that one." The Lich said. It sounded like he was talking into my ear, but I couldn't turn my head or anything to check.

  I felt a rage bubble inside of me, but I managed to tamper it down. Instead, I remained silent.

  "Ah, the sweet sound of silence," the Lich said. I felt a jolt of freezing cold as something touched me.

  Just a little longer, I thought to myself.

  "Soon, all will be silent, and all will be right." The Lich continued his monologue. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, even though I wasn't even sure I could.

  I felt a sharp pang in my chest as an icicle was rammed through it. My vision blurred and everything started going black.

  "Nighty night, little fox. I will be seeing you again very soon." It was the last thing I heard before I lost consciousness.

  I awoke a moment later in a cold sweat. Panting heavily, I quickly moved out from the rock I was hiding behind. I watched my clone body. A neat little feature of being a kitsune; fall to the ground, blood pooling beneath her. I shook uncontrollably at the feeling of being stabbed in the heart.

  "Is he..." I quickly turned and covered David's mouth and shook my head, looking at him seriously.

  For a very long moment, no one moved. Then I fearfully looked around the corner. I half expected the Lich to be standing right there about to kill me. Instead, the Lich simply cast a spell. I watched as my clone illusion body rose into undeath, its milky eyes turned and walked toward the undead army.

  I winced at that. I needed to make sure Tama knew I was alright before she saw that version of me. It wasn't like I could create endless clones. They were extremely hard to make, and they usually cost an appendage. Luckily, I could heal the appendage, but I was limited to one clone. It literally cost me an arm, and while I could summon them, I also had to control them directly.

  I felt my chest where the clone had been stabbed. The phantom pain was still there. The Lich followed behind my zombie clone as it entered the army. I made a mental note that my undead copy didn't turn into a fox.

  After a moment, I considered something. I tried to connect to my clone again. I didn't expect it to work, but to my shock, the undead Saki's vision became mine. I wasn't in control of my own body as I walked, but I still had the ability to shift and use my fae fire.

  That caused me to pale, and I disconnected from my now-undead clone. Praying to Earth that the Lich never learned the truth of my undead clone.

  I, as well as Tera and David, began to sneak away. The plan had been an amazing success, but it had come at a terrible cost. We needed to get to Drestor now!

  As I looked over the ridge one last time, making sure to stay close to the ground, I saw Tama standing in the middle of the undead army fighting. I facepalmed. Looking in the direction of Drestor, I placed a marker around a couple dozen feet in front of the marching army and said "This way, stupid."

  She seemed to frown at the label, then she jumped into the air and after a few short seconds, appeared at the marker point I had placed. Then she just stood there! I watched as she killed a few zombies and looked around. Was... was she looking for us?! Was she insane?!

  I made another marker in the direction of Drestor, really emphasizing she needed to move now! I don't know why the Lich didn't attack her, but I wasn't looking a gift gleeblet in the mouth.

  She finally noticed the marker and began blinking towards it. I sighed in relief when she passed it and kept going.

  It was going to be a long way back for us, but Tama should be able to make it in around a day if I had her speed right.