CHAPTER 427: A Conversation with Lady Nanami

Two days later, after the last lesson for the day, Lady Nanami offered to have a conversation. We met in one of the training rooms, which were pretty sound proof. I brought all of my tier threes and some of my tier twos to show off.

I had arrived first and was nervously pacing when the door opened and Nanami walked in, followed by Kotara.

"It's nice to finally have a chance to talk to you again, Koyuki!" Nanami said.

"Hello! Yes, I was looking forward to it! I have quite a few new undead but I didn't make much progress with the guardian bond, I think." I said.

"Kotara has told me some things…" Nanami said, while looking at her undead companion.

Kotara nodded. "Indeed. It's hard to believe that our whole continent has overlooked fashion for so long. Truly this has been an enlightening trip. Although I still think there should be something for female undead, since it seems only the males wear neckwear. I have seen Nyx with a top hat but apparently that's more for formal occasions."

Nanami glared at Kotara. "Fashion is not really the point here!"

"That's your opinion." Kotara replied.

"So, you have seen Rose in class but Kyan is usually hidden. Say hello Kyan!" I said, while ignoring their bickering.

Kyan poked out of my sleeve and studied Nanami. "Greetingsss Nanami, I have already met Kotara."

Nanami walked closer and studied the snake. "Greetings. I have heard about you. Kotara claims you might be related to mummies? A form of undead bonded with some fabric?"

"Which manifests as neckwear in his case." Kotara pointed out.

"I can control the ribbon." Kyan said, while his ribbon unfurled and waved at her.

"Fascinating. Mummies are exceedingly rare on our continent since there has never been a practice of burying the dead this way." Nanami said. "I understand that they are mostly found in the desert, south of Nethena?"

I nodded. "Yes. I think we don't know too much about them either although there is some ongoing research. There was some talk about them at last year's conference, maybe they have found out more since then?"

A source note for readers: this copy was taken without permission, while the site the author publishes on carries the published chapter.

"I will certainly visit the conference this year, if time allows it." Nanami said, then she looked at me again. "You have added two more tier threes and your core has grown again. That's remarkable for your age and I understand why your teachers are worried. Your guardian is helping with that but there is a limit on how much Nyx can bear."

I looked at Nyx, who was sitting nearby on the floor and licking her paw. The other cats were curled up near her.

"I don't think Nyx has any problem with that. She has helped me make Kyan." I replied. "We had an unforeseen reaction while trying to make a tier two and Nyx helped me change the spell, so we ended up with a tier three. Kyan has already saved me since then."

Nanami pondered that for a bit before she replied: "You seem to have a surprisingly strong link to Nyx, despite the fact that you can't speak her language. However, she seems young for an undead so I wouldn't trust her to make the best decisions."

"Meow!" Nyx protested.

"She is clearly a pack-type." Kotara stated.

"Pack-type?" I asked.

"Devourers don't form packs." Nanami stated.

"We certainly are a pack." Garm's left head said.

"What do you mean by type?" I asked.

"There are different types of guardians." Kotara said. "You see, the bond isn't the same for everyone. A guardian is not just a normal controlled undead, there is a partnership involved, even though we are technically controlled. But we enter that bond willingly thereby putting less stress on your mind. It also means we help to manage your other links and there are further benefits based on the type of undead."

"A lot of this information isn't meant to be shared…" Nanami said, while looking at me. "However, the basics are more widely known in Kitara, so I can tell you a few things. Kotara is essentially a knight-type, he is a powerful undead who fights at the front. I am trained as a knight as well." Nanami was wearing a dark blue uniform and rolled up the left sleeve of her shirt.

My eyes widened as I suddenly saw black runes… "You are a spellblade!" I blurted out.

"Not exactly the same as your spellblades but close enough. Those runes are connected to my guardian bond, which provide a few special enhancements." Nanami said.

"Essentially we are a team of elite fighters and don't rely on a large number of minions." Kotara added. "That means we need less space, attract less attention and aren't as easily ambushed. A lesson that some of those traitors, I think you call them Ilestrians, have learned since we have arrived here."

"You were ambushed by Ilestrians?" Rose asked.

"Naturally." Kotara replied.

"When?" I asked.

"Not that recently and not in this city." Nanami replied. "That part isn't really important now."

"Perhaps you can elaborate some more about this pack-type of undead?" Kaito asked.

"Essentially they are undead who focus on leading a group. When they form a bond they mostly help to manage and coordinate other undead, allowing the Necatari to have a large army. Often those undead aren't focused on fighting themselves which doesn't seem to be the case with Nyx." Nanami said.

"Maybe that's why Nyx is always hungry?" Rose wondered.

"No, she is simply a cat." I replied.

"The way you formed your bond and Nyx herself are strange." Nanami said. "Normally you would seek an undead that compliments your fighting style and then have a conversation to see if both of you are willing to commit. The bonding process itself is seen as a sacred ritual and it is not done lightly. It's a commitment for life."

"Devourers are more like me, they are loners who are strong in battle." Kotara said. "Although a devourer is often classified as a brawler-type, since they are more about offense than defense. However, devourers are not skeletons. Nyx is quite fascinating in that regard. Perhaps she is some sort of hybrid-type?"

"What sort of undead are you, Kotara?" I asked, since I had been curious about that.

"I am a type of Nekomata. There are a few variations of my kind, not everyone has three tails like I do. However, all of us have multiple tails and some feline features." Kotara explained.

"While all this is fascinating there is still one important question." Hatsumi said. "What do you know about Koyuki's past?"