The Life of a Necromancer as a Swashbuckler

Chapter 38: Aoxiu’s Memories

I looked at my body and the surroundings; they felt very familiar. It was as if I’d been here before. Where was this? Before me lay a place that resembled an academy, and I was standing alone in its grand hall, which seemed eerily empty. Suddenly, melodious music filled the air. To the sound of the music, many young students ran out of their classrooms, joyful and full of energy. They wore colorful robes and held wands in their hands, seeming incredibly happy—it was the end of class at the academy. It hit me—I was currently at the most prestigious magic academy on the continent, and I was a student here. Wait—was I really a student here? Something just didn’t feel quite right. While I was still puzzling over this, a group of kids came running toward me from across the hall. Leading the pack was a burly boy who charged straight ahead, barreling right into me. “Haha, Stinky Egg, you’re still a dud!” What’s a “dud”? I didn’t know what he was talking about, but he looked really happy, with a smug expression on his face—and I felt a surge of anger. “Thud!” Just as that kid was still gloating in front of me, I suddenly threw a punch that landed squarely on his nose—such a weak nose—and blood gushed out instantly. “You dare hit me?” The burly kid seemed provoked; he raised his wand at me. What was he up to? My instincts sensed danger. Suddenly, a ball of flame appeared in front of him and shot toward me. It was so hot! I tried to dodge, but it felt too late. Just as I was at a loss, a water dragon suddenly appeared from behind me and swallowed the flames. Who was that? I instinctively turned to look, and there stood a cute little girl with twin ponytails and a long blue robe—playful and beautiful. “Lance, you’re picking on someone again,” she said sternly. Was she here to protect me? “Look at my nose—this stinky brat hit me right here,” Lance protested from across the way, while I remained frozen in place. “Hurry up and leave. If you don’t go now, I’m going to tell the teacher.” The little girl paid no attention to Lance’s explanation; to me, she seemed as radiant as a goddess. Lance walked away grudgingly, and the little girl approached me. I felt a bit nervous. “Thank you, Annie,” the voice came from within me. So this little girl’s name was Annie. “Aoxiu, if you pay attention in class from now on, you won’t get kicked out by the teacher. By the way, do you still not know any magic?” Annie seemed genuinely concerned about me. “No,” I shook my head sheepishly. “It’s okay. I heard from the teachers that the magic you can use is forbidden—necromancy. That kind of magic has almost disappeared from this continent. Take your time; you’ll learn magic eventually,” Annie encouraged me. “Mm-hmm,” I nodded shyly. What is necromancy? A term that seemed very familiar to me popped into my head. “Well, see you later,” Annie said as she bid me farewell. “Mm-hmm, bye,” I stood there staring blankly as Annie walked away. Only then did my body begin to move, filled with despondency—but not toward the tall, beautiful dormitory. Instead, I found myself in a pitch-black place, dark and gloomy. Was this really where I was supposed to live? Sure enough, I found myself sitting dejectedly among a pile of coal briquettes. There was a bed here, but it had been blackened by smoke from being too close to the stove. Why was I living here instead of in the dormitory? I sat down on the edge of the bed, then picked up *Introduction to Necromancy*, which looked like I’d already worn it out. Grasping my wand, I began practicing against the wall. In the corner lay a small skeleton—tiny and white, not at all scary—lying there lifelessly. I practiced my spells on it. Just as I’d expected, my practice yielded no results. I felt furious and roared, “Damn necromancy—it’s nothing but a scam!” As I roared, I hurled my wand into the fire. Something strange happened: fueled by my rage, the little skeleton seemed to twitch. I was utterly astonished. I kept venting my anger, and to my amazement, the skeleton actually sprang to life in response to my fury. It turned out my necromancy didn’t need a wand at all—what I needed was my own rage! The power of magic surged into my body like a gushing spring the moment I awoke. This is magic! I remembered! I am the only necromancer on the entire continent—a true Awakened One, the heir to innate magic, and the leader of the Undead. I felt a surge of frenzy and ferocity fill my chest; the power of my rage was almost beyond my control. I am the master of all living beings! By the time I came to my senses, I had already arrived at a graveyard. The place was quiet and serene, yet I was filled with sorrow and remorse. The sky was overcast, as if rain were about to fall, but my mood was even gloomier than the weather. It felt as though I had committed some grave mistake and was now exiling myself. As I was consumed by remorse, a thunderclap rang out from the sky, followed immediately by a torrential downpour. The rain was heavy, yet I had no desire to seek shelter. A voice inside me told me I might as well be drenched to death. Just as I was losing all hope, a horse came galloping from the distance, ridden by a girl with twin ponytails and a long blue robe—it was Annie! Annie had come all this way just for me. I felt a surge of vitality return to my body; seeing Annie was like seeing a ray of hope. From a distance, Annie called out, “Aoxiu, Aoxiu, are you okay?” “Yes, I’m fine!” I was fine the moment I saw her. I felt like shouting it out, but I was too shy, so I could only stare blankly as Annie approached. Then, with a hint of reluctance, I managed to say, “Why are you here?” “The Dean was worried about you and sent us to find you. With rain this heavy, what were you doing running out here?” Annie said as she tapped the air with her wand, seemingly creating a protective shield that enveloped both of us. The rain couldn’t get in anymore, and it felt warm. “You must be cold. Here,” Annie said, ignoring my reaction as she shoved a pair of gloves into my hands. “Put them on. They’ll warm your hands.” I took them, feeling a bit embarrassed—this was the first time Annie had ever given me a gift. “Annie, why are you so nice to me?” I asked, a bit clueless. “Because we’re classmates! If you ever need help, I’ll definitely come back to help you!” Annie said loyally. I’d never felt such warmth in my heart before. “Me too. If anything ever happens to Annie, I, Aoxiu, will risk my life to save you!” I said with great passion, feeling more sincere than ever before. Back in that gloomy room, I once again watched helplessly as Annie was seized—unable to rescue her. How I longed to save her! How I longed to see her face one last time! Filled with regret and resentment, I closed my eyes once more. “Remember!” When I opened my eyes, a woman in white stood before me. It wasn’t Annie, but she seemed familiar—it was the cold, beautiful woman who had once given me an injection. Now she stood before me, her expression as icy as ever, and said, “Do you remember?” “Am I Aoxiu?” I asked, still unable to believe it. “You might be Aoxiu. Aoxiu was once the best necromancer on the entire continent, but now he’s dead,” the beautiful woman replied coldly. “Aoxiu is dead? And where am I?” I couldn’t believe it. “Aoxiu is dead—he died trying to save Annie—but you’re still alive,” the woman said coldly, a sneer playing at the corners of her mouth. “So I’m not Aoxiu? Then who am I?” I was even more confused. “You are Aoxiu, and yet you aren’t Aoxiu—you are simply you,” the ice-queen beauty said, leaving me even more perplexed.