Wintersbane and the Butler were trying to gently keep the women apart as Shinra stepped back into the hallway.
“All of my children are leeches. You’ve never worked a day in your life, but expect your father and I to pay for your lavish lifestyles.”
“You’re one to talk. You were just married off to the Muskox family like a prized breeding mare!” The daughter yelled. They looked like they were going to come to blows.
Wintersbane took a step back and turned to the butler, Mr. Slats. “So, the only way into the vault is if Nole opens the door.”
“Yes sir. The door was locked tight this morning, so I decided to come check
The Deputies’ salon was a large space, but it was filled with tables, large tomes and several large artefacts used in crime solving. There was a mop in the corner too. Shinra looked at it as a glorified supply closet. The other deputies all viewed this room as a stepping stone. Service in the Sheriff’s office could lead to good things further down the road for these youths. Even if they didn’t stay in policing, they could jump to the military, or find a role in politics. The parents of these kids had impressed on them the importance of making all the right connections while they are here, and to be perceived as the best.‘Why do these shits all care about ‘who looks the best’, rather than just working hard?’ Shinra wondered. Maybe because he had to work his entire life just to eat, but the games and posturing of these young mages didn’t make any sense to him. He watched as Dave leaned against a desk, laughing and chatting with one of the female deputies. Hannah. She was beau
.....“I know you’re anxious to read about how much better I am than you Dave, but be patient, please. The best things always take longer,” Shinra said, a wide dumb smirk plastered over his face. “What did you say!” Dave said. He couldn’t believe this little zombie was trash talking to him. Did he think it would impress Hannah? No way would she be interested in a zombie. ‘Sure, he gets to work with the best Sheriff, but I’m better in every way. Everyone will see eventually,’ Dave thought. His full cheeks shook a bit with his anger.“Shhhhh, I need to concentrate. I’m at the best part,” Shinra said.“Hahahah,” escaped Hannah, though she tried to cover her mouth to suppress it. ‘Snap,’ it was the sound of Dave’s last nerve breaking. ‘Who the hell did this Zombie think he was? I’m from aristocratic stock! My great grandfather was a Baron!’ Dave thought. Though his grandfather had disgraced the family and lost their holdings and titles, Dave believed he could turn their
Shinra shrugged Dave off, but Dave didn't really notice. He had gone from full on murderer to young child seeking approval in the span of a moment.Captain Spars was a big man, not strong like Wintersbane, big like a bureaucrat. Big like a mage. He rarely saw the deputies because, as far as they knew, he was in his office all night. He took his job very seriously, he’d been a captain for 80 years, and a sheriff for well over 100.Dave thought the man just lacked ambition. As a captain of the police, he could surely have used his influence to progress politically and be appointed to a better role somewhere. But he had stayed in the Sheriff's office, slowly growing older. Chump. Dave wouldn't be here long, and this commendation was just the first step.‘Why I might even become a Sheriff right n
Wintersbane had mixed feelings about Shinra being promoted to Deputy level 2, which was a constable, 4th class. For one thing, it meant that he was officially on track to become an actual Sheriff. This opened up serious and awkward questions for Wintersbane, not the least of which was that he had brought him in as a murderer and instead entered into the deputy program.The Deputy program was designed as a place for families to put their kids who didn’t have other promising opportunities, so there were nearly no entry requirements. What no one told these pups, was that the barrier to become a regular Constable was likely insurmountable for most of them. It took effort and luck.‘Damn this Zombie, he’s just made me more complicit in covering up his potential crimes,’ Wintersbane thought. He still needed him to get the jum
Shinra was a little intimidated. He wouldn't admit it, but he was shocked at Wintersbane's martial arts display. In a world of unstoppable magic, even the strongest 'knights' only practised with swords.Shinra's father had told him that martial arts were the domain of the oppressed. He never said it could overcome magic, but he felt it was shameful to stay weak. The unspoken assumption Shinra had was that mages didn’t need martial arts, so they didn’t use them. ‘What was the point of all that training if mages could be this good at Martial Arts too?’Shinra had been trained by his father for as long as he could remember, and he continued his practice even after his father was killed. He wasn't sure he could do what Wintersbane had done so easily though. Not that he was admitting he was better.“I didn't think mages knew how to sully their hands like that. What would your friends think if they saw you fighting without using any magic?”“Haha, well I'm sure they would laugh. That
‘Death Walker?’ He’d almost forgotten about the title the System had given him. He assumed it was related to nearly dying. Did it give him any special abilities, or buffs? So far, he hadn't noticed anything.Not that Shinra had time to think about a meaningless title, as a kick whistled towards his head. He didn’t dodge so much as fall backwards. The wind from its passage pressed against his face with a force he could feel. ‘That would have killed me. I’m a Zombie, I don’t have physical wards.’‘If the System is here, I can use my skills!’ The thought energised him, and he almost started to Fade out of sight, but stopped. Wintersbane was right there. Somehow Wintersbane tolerated him as a suspected murderer, but a Zombie wi
‘Critical Strike level 2…. Wasn’t the skill called Targeted Strike before?’ Shinra wondered. He would need to query the System later, there were a lot of new things he’d noticed since the System returned to him today.Hard to believe he’d almost died a few hours ago, and now he was about to die again.‘By a damned doll!’[Upgrade to Critical Strike 2 commencing. Rapid integration unlocked. Prepare, Death Walker.]Shinra wasn’t sure what ‘prepare’ meant. Skills and upgrades all seemed to affect him differently, but they always hurt. Fade 2 had knocked him unconscious. ‘At least if I pass out, Wintersbane might stop the fight without me …’ was as far as
Shinra was alone in his small room. He was stuffed from the meal he’d had with WIntersbane, but was glad to be home. Wintersbane and the Sheriff's office had pulled some strings to get him into the Officer’s Barracks, which was a fancy term for ‘crumbling, old, dormitory’. The room was much smaller than his hovel in the Zombie village, but it had everything he needed: a bed, small bookcase, night table, and a writing desk. The furniture was all old and used, but he didn’t mind. He even had a window! Though it looked out to the bricks of the next building, 4 stories up.‘I went from murder suspect to Deputy Sheriff pretty fast. I’m not in jail, but I’m still surrounded by law enforcement… and I sleep in a tiny room.’ He smiled. The irony wasn’t lost on him, but he also viewed it as an opportunity. ‘I can learn about the worst mages in the city doing this job, and the ones who get away with their crimes.’Not to mention, he might even learn the layouts of their homes, and their