The camp near the coast was quiet for once, save for the crackling of the fire and the distant sound of waves crashing against the cliffs. Azrath sat in his tent, meticulously reviewing maps and notes detailing the leyline patterns of the region. The soft green glow of his staff illuminated the parchment in front of him.
A rustling at the entrance made him glance up. Potabeau strolled in, holding a scroll sealed with the emblem of Grin Hollow: a smiling skull encircled by laurels.
"Mail’s here, Az," Potabeau said, tossing the scroll onto the table. "Looks like it’s from Autumn. Hope it’s not more complaints about skeletons scaring off her lab assistants."
Azrath picked up the scroll, carefully breaking the seal. The familiar, neat handwriting of Autumn greeted him as he unrolled it.
**Dear Azrath,**
I hope this letter finds you alive, or at least undead and in good spirits. Things in Grin Hollow are moving along splendidly, though I suspect you’ll find that hard to believe considering the chaos you left behind.
I’m writing to inform you that the *Hallowhaven Academy of Science* is thriving! We’ve made some remarkable breakthroughs, many of which I suspect will make you roll your eyes, but hear me out. Your apprentice, Mervin—yes, that Mervin—has stepped up in ways I don’t think any of us expected.
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As of last week, Mervin has been officially named Dean of Necromantic Sciences. He’s taken to the position like a non-corporeal to an unguarded pie. Under his leadership, we’ve developed a method for harnessing necromantic energy to power small machinery. Imagine that! The same magic you use to raise armies and workers is now being used to run water mills and keep the Laughing Skull’s ale cool.
Mervin’s latest project involves merging necromantic risen parts with mundane clockwork mechanisms. He’s calling it “Animatonics.” Honestly, it’s both fascinating and slightly terrifying. One of his prototypes, a skeletal raven, now patrols the academy, squawking at students who don’t clean up their workstations.
The Academy’s first graduating class will be presenting their findings at a symposium next month. Lilac has already volunteered to host the event ( though I suspect it’s just an excuse to sell more ale.) The whole town is buzzing with excitement!
On a personal note, I wanted to thank you for trusting me with founding of the Academy, even if you were too preoccupied with your grand crusade plans to say it out loud. Watching Grin Hollow grow into something more than a haven for skeletons and lost souls has been...rewarding, to say the least.
Do try to stay out of trouble—or at least out of too much trouble. Potabeau will no doubt tell you otherwise, but we’re all counting on you.
Looking forward to seeing what you’ll wrought next,
Autumn
---
Azrath finished reading and set the letter down, a rare smile tugging at his lips. "Mervin... Dean of Necromantic Sciences. Who would’ve thought?"
Potabeau, who had been lounging against a stack of supplies, grinned. "Told you the kid had potential. Though I’m a little hurt Autumn didn’t mention my drum circle. That’s the *real* cultural breakthrough."
Azrath snorted. "Yes, I’m sure your percussion ensemble will be remembered in history books alongside Mervin’s mechanical ravens."
"You laugh now, but wait until we have a full orchestra," Potabeau said, standing and stretching. "Anyway, sounds like Grin Hollow’s doing fine without us. Guess that means we can focus on this city of yours."
Azrath nodded, his gaze drifting to the maps on his desk. The leyline nexus he’d discovered along the seacoast would be the heart of a new settlement—one that could stand against any threat, Crusaders or otherwise. And if Mervin and Autumn’s work was any indication, the future of necromancy was brighter than even he had dared to hope.
