The Glitched Mage-Chapter 48: Sana

"I'm going to kill an Acolyte," Riven stated calmly. "Then use Puppeteer of the Dead to reanimate the body and infiltrate the library from the inside."

Nyx and Krux stilled, their eyes sharpening as they processed his words.

"I can use the Acolyte's identity to access internal records," Riven continued. "There must be documents on the hidden passage and how to bypass its wards."

Krux's grin widened, golden eyes flashing with anticipation. "Now that is a strategy I can get behind, my liege."

Nyx, ever the pragmatist, remained thoughtful. "Executing it won't be easy. The Acolytes rarely leave the library, and if one goes missing, it'll raise immediate suspicion."

Riven smirked. "That's why I've already chosen my target."

Nyx raised a brow. "Oh?"

"Sana," Riven said smoothly. "She was the one overseeing me during the third trial. She's already aware of my connection to necromancy, and with the King keeping the staff on high alert for anything related to the undead, she won't be able to ignore even the slightest hint of suspicion."

Nyx's eyes darkened with understanding. "So you're going to bait her."

"Exactly," Riven confirmed. "I'll make it seem like I'm struggling with the necromancy skill I acquired when I was with her — she won't be able to ignore it."

Nyx crossed her arms. "Even if she takes the bait, getting rid of her quietly will be the real challenge."

Riven's smirk deepened. "Then I suppose I'll just have to be very quiet."

Nyx and Krux exchanged glances before shifting their focus back to Riven. The weight of his plan was sinking in—every step had to be calculated, flawless. A single mistake, and the entire academy would be on high alert.

"We need to find out where she is first," Nyx murmured, her gaze sharp. "Acolytes don't wander the academy aimlessly. If she's stationed at the library, she'll have a designated task or schedule."

"I'll ask for her directly," Riven decided. "If I act like a confused student seeking guidance on necromancy, she'll have no reason to be suspicious. Ill have her meet me somewhere secluded and I'll kill her swiftly."

Nyx sighed, shaking her head. "It's too late now — we should head out at dawn."

Riven nodded. "Let's use this time to plan exactly how this will be carried out."

—x—

Riven strode into the academy's library the next morning, his movements unhurried yet deliberate. The towering bookshelves stretched toward the vaulted ceiling, their shadows cast long by the first rays of dawn filtering through the high arched windows.

He approached the front desk where a stern-looking acolyte was meticulously organizing scrolls. Without hesitation, he spoke.

"I'm looking for Acolyte Sana."

The clerk barely spared him a glance before flipping through a thick, rune-etched registry book. The pages shimmered with shifting names and schedules, constantly updating themselves in real-time.

"Acolyte Sana is currently on duty within the second-floor archives," the clerk replied monotonously. "Do you require assistance with a request?"

Riven shook his head. "No. I need to speak to her directly. It's about the necromancy skill I received during the trials."

That, at last, made the clerk pause.

His gaze flicked up to Riven, assessing, then he nodded. "I will inform her."

The clerk whispered a quick incantation, and a pulse of mana spread through the library like an unseen ripple.

Moments later, soft footsteps echoed from the second-floor staircase.

Acolyte Sana descended with the same eerie grace that all Acolytes carried—silent, almost ghostly. Her blindfolded gaze remained impassive, her robes flowing around her like shifting shadows.

She stopped in front of him. "You sought me out."

"I need to talk," Riven said, voice just the right mix of hesitant and urgent. "About my skill."

A pause.

Sana's expression remained unreadable, but he could sense the shift in her demeanor. Curiosity. Wariness.

"Go on," she said.

Riven exhaled, feigning discomfort. "It's… begun to react strangely. I haven't used it since I learned it but… It keeps resonating with the mana in my body, but I don't know why. You were there when I first acquired it. I thought you might understand."

Another pause.

Sana tilted her head slightly, considering. Riven knew she was running calculations in her mind—assessing the risk, the importance, and most of all, whether this was something she should report.

Which was precisely what Riven was counting on.

"…When did this start?" she finally asked.

"A few days ago. At first, I thought it was nothing, but it's getting worse." He rubbed his arm as if discomforted. "I don't want to report it to anyone higher up yet. Not without knowing what's wrong."

The moment the words left his lips, he saw the decision solidify in her expression.

The King had undoubtedly ordered all staff to keep a close watch on him. Anything remotely unusual involving necromancy had to be reported.

But in order to report it properly, she would have to investigate first and she knew that if she involved anyone else too soon, Riven might shut down completely.

He watched the internal struggle unfold in her mind—logic, duty, suspicion.

Then, she nodded. "I will assess the situation myself."

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Perfect.

Riven kept his relief hidden beneath a furrowed brow. "Thank you. Meet me at the training fields this evening. I don't want to risk any disturbances."

Sana didn't question it. "Very well. I will come alone."

That was all he needed to hear.

He gave her a small nod before turning and walking away, keeping his pace steady. As he exited the library, a slow smirk curled his lips.

Hook, line, and sinker.

—x—

Night fell swiftly over the academy, cloaking the training fields in a soft hush. The torches lining the pathways flickered, casting long shadows that twisted with the wind.

Riven stood alone in the dim glow, his Abyssal Flames pulsing beneath his skin.

Behind him, unseen, Nyx and Krux waited in the darkness.

"She'll be here soon," Nyx murmured, voice barely above a whisper.

Riven didn't respond. His hands flexed at his sides. He wasn't nervous. No, this wasn't a test—it was a calculated execution.

One that would change everything.

Then, from the distance, he heard it. Soft, steady footsteps.

Acolyte Sana arrived, her blindfolded gaze locked onto him even without sight.

"I am here," she announced, stopping a few feet away. "Show me."

Riven exhaled, letting his mana flicker chaotically—just enough to make it look unstable. His Abyssal Flames wove between his fingers, twisting unnaturally.

Sana frowned. "That is… unusual."

She stepped closer.

Closer.

One more step.

And then—

Nyx struck. A blade shone faintly in the moonlight.

Sana's blindfolded head snapped up, sensing the shift—but she was already too late.

Nyx's dagger sliced effortlessly across Sana's throat, the blade whispering through flesh. A strangled gasp escaped her lips as she stumbled back, crimson spilling over her robes in violent contrast. Her hands shot up instinctively, pressing against the wound, but it was futile—the life was already draining from her eyes.

Her knees buckled and she fell.

Silence.

Nyx wiped her blade, stepping back. "Swift and clean."

Riven crouched beside the acolyte as the last flickers of life faded from her body.

He felt nothing.

Just another obstacle removed.

He raised his hand over her still form and abyssal Flames coiled around his fingers.

"Awaken." He sent out the command and a rush of mana crackled to life around them.

[[ Attempting Skill: Puppeteer of the Dead ]]

A shadowy aura coiled around her corpse, sinking into her flesh like unseen tendrils. Her lifeless body twitched violently, limbs jerking as if resisting before finally succumbing. With unnatural stiffness, she rose, the gaze beneath the blindfold now hollow and lifeless.

[[ Subjugation successful ]]

[[ Adding Acolyte Sana as an undead minion 2/5 ]]

Sana's body dropped awkwardly to one knee, her head tilted downward in a grotesque bow.

"Maaaaaasterrrrrr…" Her mouth moved sluggishly, her voice rasping out in a hollow breath.

Riven's gaze flicked over her reanimated form, his brow furrowing. Her movements were stiff, unnatural—far too conspicuous for what he needed.

"Hmm… blending in might be a problem." He rubbed his chin, studying her carefully.

With a sigh, he extended his hand, letting a single finger wreathed in abyssal flame graze her robes. The dark fire ignited instantly, burning with precise control, devouring every trace of blood that had stained the dark fabric without harming the material itself. The scent of iron and charred energy faded into the damp air.

"Hide for now," Riven ordered. "We'll deal with the next steps back at the mausoleum."

Without hesitation, Sana's undead form dissolved into the shifting void of his shadows. Riven and his warriors wasted no time, slipping through the forest to the back of the academy, using the cover of darkness to move unseen.

They emerged only once they reached the forgotten depths of the mausoleum, its dust-ridden stone walls offering sanctuary from prying eyes.

Riven turned to his subordinates without missing a beat. "Krux, scout the library from the shadows. Ensure no one is investigating Sana's disappearance."

Krux grinned, the anticipation of mischief gleaming in his golden eyes. "Consider it handled, my liege." With that, his form blurred into the darkness, vanishing from sight.

"Nyx," Riven continued, his voice unwaverin. "Hold position at the entrance. If anyone comes near, alert me immediately."

Nyx inclined her head, stepping into the shadows without a sound, her presence melting into the mausoleum's ancient walls.

Now alone, Riven exhaled, summoning the acolyte once more. He paced around her, keen eyes scanning her stiff posture, the unnatural way her limbs twitched.

This won't do.

She needed refinement. Something beyond the crude, hollow shell of an undead servant.

"System," he murmured, tapping his fingers against his forearm. "Is there a way to make her… less corpse-like? More human?"

[[ Query Processing… ]]

[[ Solution Found: Undead Advancement System Available ]]

[[ Current Minion Rank: Basic Undead Minion ]]

[[ Available Promotion: Undead Warrior — Requires direct infusion of Master's mana. This will grant improved cognitive abilities, enhanced physical dexterity, and the ability to simulate human mannerisms. ]]

Riven's eyes glinted with intrigue as he studied the system prompt. An undead warrior? That was exactly what he needed. If he could refine Sana's control and movements, she could pass as a normal Acolyte long enough to infiltrate the library unnoticed.

He let out a slow exhale. "How much mana will it take?"

[[ Estimated Cost: 15% of current reserves. Temporary exhaustion may occur depending on the subject's compatibility. ]]

Manageable.

Riven flexed his fingers, his abyssal flames flickering to life at his fingertips. He didn't hesitate—his mana surged forth, coiling into dark threads that slithered toward Sana's still form.

The moment the energy made contact, her body convulsed violently.

A deep, guttural groan escaped her lips as the abyssal flames sank into her core, weaving into her very essence. Her limbs twitched, her posture straightening as the rigid stiffness of undeath melted away into something more… fluid.

Then, something changed.

The air thickened.

Sana's dull, lifeless presence sharpened.

Her fingers flexed. Her shoulders rolled back. The awkward, jerking motions she had displayed before were now smooth, almost too smooth. A deep breath—though unnecessary—passed through her lips, as if her body instinctively mimicked life.

Her blindfolded head tilted up toward him, and when she spoke, the hollow rasp from before had been replaced with something eerily composed.

"I… hear you, Master," she murmured, her voice steady yet carrying an undertone of something darker. More aware.

Riven narrowed his gaze. He could feel it—her presence had shifted. She was no longer a simple puppet bound to raw commands. There was intelligence there now. Subservient. Loyal. But… thinking.

The system chimed again.

[[ Promotion Complete: Undead Minion → Undead Warrior ]]

[[ New Capabilities Unlocked:

— Increased Dexterity and Reflexes

— Ability to Simulate Human Speech and Expressions

— Minor Mana Recovery Over Time

— Enhanced Cognitive Functions ]]

Riven crossed his arms, studying her intently.

"Speak. Can you think for yourself?"

Sana's lips parted, and for the first time, there was no hesitation in her reply.

"Yes, Master," she said smoothly. "My thoughts are… clearer." A pause. "I am still bound to your will, but I can now… interpret your desires rather than simply obeying without thought."

Riven raised a brow at that. Interesting.

He narrowed his eyes, an important question tugging at his brain. "Can you still access your memories from before your death?"

Sana hesitated for a fraction of a second. Then, she slowly nodded. "Yes… but they are… faded. I remember my duties. My place in the academy. But my emotions… they are distant, insignificant. I understand what I was, but I do not care for it anymore."

Perfect.

Riven smirked. "Then we have work to do."

He stepped back, letting his eyes drift toward the mausoleum's towering walls. They had what they needed now—an insider within the library itself. With Sana moving freely as an Acolyte, the rest of the infiltration could finally begin.

But first—she needed a test.

He turned back to her, sharp blue eyes gleaming under the dim torchlight.

"Go back to the library," he ordered. "Resume your duties as if nothing has changed. Gather information on the internal archives—find out exactly how the hidden floors are sealed. If anyone asks why you were gone, improvise."

Sana bowed her head in acknowledgment, her movements smooth, eerily human now. "Understood."

"And Sana?" Riven's voice dropped lower. "If anything goes wrong… destroy all evidence of your presence."

A pause.

Then, a slow, almost unnatural smile curled at the edges of her lips.

"As you wish, Master."

Without another word, she turned and dissolved into the shadows, her form vanishing as she moved back toward the academy.

Riven let out a breath, rolling his shoulders. That had been a success.

Krux reappeared then, stepping from the shadows with his usual smug grin. "Well, I have good news. No one suspects a thing about the missing Acolyte. The library staff assumes she's still on duty."

Riven smirked. "Good. Then let's see how well our little undead acolyte can do."