"Master?" The voice echoed, deep and hollow, reverberating through the dark interior of the cave. It was the helmeted skeleton, its half-open jaw moving slowly, as if speaking were an ancient habit returning to life.
Uriel opened his eye, his iris glowing like the moon. With a slight movement, his massive wings stretched out with a dry sound, like scrolls being unfurled. He rose with silent majesty and spoke in a firm, yet lazy voice:
"I'm awake... get something to carry my gold. I don't want a single coin to fall. Understood?"
Without question, the helmeted skeleton slightly inclined its head, a gesture of absolute respect.
"Leave it to me, master," it replied with reverence, before turning to the other undead in the cave. "Find something to carry the master's gold. Now!"
Uriel was walking toward the cave entrance when he stopped for a moment, turning with a curious look toward the helmeted skeleton.
"Do you have a name?" he asked, his voice tinged with disinterest, but carrying a faint trace of curiosity.
The skeleton hesitated briefly, as if digging through the rubble of its own mind.
"Master... I once did, but I've long forgotten it. I only remember fragments of my past life... scattered pieces of the memories that meant the most to me."
Uriel observed him in silence for a few seconds. His thoughts formed lazily, yet clearly. "Should I give him a name? Doesn't hurt... but what name?"
He gave a small, nearly imperceptible smile as an idea came to him.
"Very well... I'll give you a name. From now on, you shall be called Ainz. Understood?"
The skeleton seemed to straighten even more, as if that name reignited something within him.
"Yes, master. I understand."
"There's no problem giving him that name," Uriel thought as he finally left the cave, his wings spreading at the touch of open air. "It's not like the anime character is here in the Marvel world... it's just a name, after all."
"All set, master. The gold is ready for transport," Ainz said, his voice echoing with a touch of pride as he offered a brief bow. Behind him, the skeletons had improvised a large rudimentary structure with wooden wheels and aged ropes, carefully loaded with Uriel's gleaming treasure. The golden coins shimmered under the faint light filtering into the cave's entrance, casting warm, hypnotic reflections.
Uriel briefly observed the cargo, satisfied with his servants' efficiency. His gaze then rose to the gray sky outside. He stretched his black wings once more, feeling the cold wind pass between the feathers, and said:
"Alright. I'll fly low. Follow me. I won't go fast, so you won't have trouble keeping up."
With an elegant impulse, he launched himself into the air, his wings spreading wide with a powerful beat that lifted dust and dry leaves from the cave's entrance. His body cut through the air like a silent, yet imposing arrow.
"Let's go! Follow the master!" Ainz shouted fervently, raising his bony arm and pointing ahead. The skeletons responded instantly, pulling the gold-laden structure with effort, creaking under the weight but never losing rhythm.
As he walked, Ainz kept his eyes fixed on Uriel, his dark figure standing out against the cloudy sky. His thoughts, however, were far away.
"I hope he doesn't disappoint me... I hope he makes me feel that emotion again. The same I felt in the midst of war, when my heart still beat and my body was made of flesh. If he can give me that... then my loyalty will be eternal."
The group advanced along an old road of uneven stones until they reached a wide bridge crossing a river of dark, fast-moving waters. The wooden structure creaked beneath their steps, as if remembering the weight of centuries and forgotten stories.
Uriel was already hovering in the center of the bridge, observing the water's flow below with keen eyes. There was something in his expression – a subtle trace of caution.
"Even flying at high altitude, I felt it... that being saw me. Whatever it is, I'm sure we locked eyes when I passed through here." His eyes scanned the other side of the bridge, searching for an anomaly, any sign of the presence that had noticed him. His instincts didn't lie. Someone — or something — had been aware of his passage.
"How strange... I'm sure something should be here, but there's nothing. Maybe that's for the best," Uriel thought, gliding gently a few meters above the ground, his wings silently slicing through the air.
Suddenly, a deep and ethereal voice echoed through the empty space, sounding as if it came from all directions at once:
"The living should not be here."
Uriel halted in the air, his eyes widening slightly. Before him, as if formed from the very fabric of darkness, appeared a figure cloaked in black robes that seemed to absorb all surrounding light. No visible trace of the being could be discerned — no face, no hands, no feet. Only the oppressive, enigmatic presence.
"Out of nowhere? How did he appear?" Uriel thought, trying to hide the discomfort he felt.
He decided to keep his composure and replied with light sarcasm:
"Didn't know it was forbidden... I didn't see any sign when I passed by."
At the same time, his mind screamed in alert. "This being is dangerous..."
The figure remained still, its cloak gently floating as if blown by a nonexistent wind. Its voice, serene yet filled with ancient authority, sounded again:
"It's not exactly forbidden. But no living being should be able to reach this place... except for certain exceptions. And as far as I know, you are not one of them."
Uriel frowned slightly, curious. His gaze rested on the figure for a brief moment before turning away, uncertain.
"So? Does that mean I'll be kicked out?" he asked with a faint smirk, trying to mask the tension in his voice.
"No. I don't have that authority. But I will have to report your presence to His Majesty."
The figure slightly lifted what seemed to be the hood of the cloak, though nothing was revealed beneath it.
"You may pass."
Uriel nodded slowly, keeping a wary eye as he moved forward. Something about that encounter left him uneasy. But for now, he was free to continue.
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