Coastline stretched wide and shimmering under the afternoon sun, the sound of waves crashing against jagged cliffs mingling with the faint hum of necromantic energy. Azrath stood atop a rocky outcrop, his eyes fixed on the sprawling structure taking shape below him.

  The citadel was a marvel of engineering and necromantic artistry. Made entirely of dark obsidian, it gleamed like polished glass, its spires catching the light in sharp, dazzling angles. The structure seemed to rise from the ground itself, as though coaxed out of the earth by Azrath’s will. Necromantic glyphs shimmered faintly along its walls, designed to reinforce the structure and ward off unwanted intruders.

  Azrath’s hands moved methodically as he carved another rune into a stone tablet, the necromantic energy flowing through him like a steady current. This citadel would be a new stronghold for Grin Hollow’s influence, a testament to their victory over the crusaders who had dared to challenge them. It would be a channel for the Leyline on a coastal stronghold.

  From the nearby clearing, laughter broke through the rhythmic sounds of construction. Azrath turned his head to see Autumn, Potabeau, and Lilac gathered beneath a cluster of withered trees.

  Potabeau was doubled over with laughter as a tiny, shambling sapling waddled toward him, its roots clumsily dragging through the dirt. "Look at it! It’s like a toddler that fell into a glue pot!"

  Autumn crouched beside another sapling, her tinkering tools in hand. "They’re fascinating," she said, adjusting a small necromantic crystal embedded in a gearbox in the bark. "I didn’t think plant life could respond to necromantic energy like this."

  Lilac stood nearby, arms crossed, a bemused smile on her face. "Fascinating or not, they’re kind of creepy. I mean, look at this one." She pointed to a sapling that had sprouted tiny, skeletal branches that rattled in the wind.

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  "That’s not creepy," Potabeau said, wiping tears from his eyes. "That’s art."

  Azrath descended the slope toward them, his robes billowing in the sea breeze. He paused at the edge of the clearing, watching the trio interact with the animated saplings.

  "You’re playing with undead plants while I’m building a citadel," he said dryly.

  Potabeau straightened, his grin widening. "We’re *studying* them, thank you very much. Besides, your citadel isn’t going anywhere. These little guys might shuffle off at any moment."

  "Literally," Autumn added, gesturing to a sapling that was attempting to escape toward the forest.

  Azrath raised an eyebrow but said nothing as he approached. He knelt beside one of the saplings, studying its animated movements. The roots twisted and flexed like fingers, giving the impression of a creature caught between plant and animal.

  "This is... unexpected," he admitted. "I’ve never seen necromancy applied with...whatever that contraption is...to flora before."

  Autumn grinned, clearly pleased. "It’s a mix of your necromantic theory and my technological advancements. The energy doesn’t just animate the saplings; it sort of... integrates with their natural systems."

  Lilac leaned against a tree, watching them. "It’s all fun and games until one of these things starts growing giant teeth."

  Potabeau’s eyes lit up. "Giant teeth! Now there’s an idea. Imagine risen man-eating trees protecting the city!"

  Azrath shot him a withering look. "Let’s not turn Grin Hollow into a nightmare forest, Potabeau."

  - - -

  As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a golden glow over the coast, the group gathered near a small fire pit they had constructed. The saplings shuffled about, occasionally bumping into each other, their eerie movements now an amusing backdrop.

  Azrath sat on a stone, his gaze drifting to the obsidian citadel in the distance. The structure was nearly complete, a symbol of their resilience and ambition.

  "You’ve outdone yourself, Az," Autumn said, sitting beside him. She handed him a piece of roasted breadfruit she had cooked over the fire.

  He accepted it with a nod. "It’s necessary. This coast is strategically important, and the citadel will ensure we’re ready for whatever comes next."

  Lilac chuckled, stretching her legs out. "You say that, but I bet you just wanted to outdo the last tower you built."

  Azrath smirked faintly. "Perhaps."

  Potabeau leaned back, resting his hands behind his head. "Well, I, for one, approve. But next time, let’s make a floating citadel. Imagine the possibilities."

  Azrath sighed. "Let me finish this one first before you start giving me more ideas."

  The group fell into a comfortable silence, the sound of the ocean mingling with the faint shuffling of the saplings. Despite the chaos and challenges that lay ahead, moments like this reminded them why they fought so hard to protect what they had built.

  And as Azrath gazed out at the horizon, he couldn’t help but feel a flicker of hope for the future—undead saplings and all.