Chapter 266

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Chapter 266: Chaotic Graveyard

On both banks of the Nazferiti River, the weak green had been stripped almost bare, with dry, yellowish branches piled on top of each other. Not to mention the occasional cold wind blowing through, just looking at this scene made people feel chilly.

Jesse grabbed his constantly shaking hood and red cap blown by the wind, observing the forest on the opposite side. Vereesa, dressed in light green, glanced at him and said, "That hat looks awkward on you."

"Not good-looking?" Jesse said. "As long as it’s practical, that’s all that matters. You should be able to feel the magical power on it, the power of flames. As a mage, I need all the equipment that can enhance my magical abilities."

"I can feel a little bit," Vereesa said. "But indeed…it’s very conspicuous."

"I’m a warlock, not a thief," Jesse looked across the river and asked, "Are you sure we should cross the forest over there?"

"Of course, taking the main road to Raven Hill will take at least two to three days," Vereesa said. "I checked this area roughly before, there’s no danger. Are you afraid of some wild beasts wandering outside at night?"

Vereesa’s words made sense. The last time they traveled with Greed to Duskwood, they had to risk their lives dealing with a few Gnolls. Three to four months later, the situation was completely different.

The female elf beside Jesse looked at him like she was in her own living room, making Jesse feel relieved.

The docks at Nazferiti River were mainly for fishermen and patrollers to cross, with few common people or farmers choosing to go to the other side from here.

In the past, these docks were very busy, but after the explosion at Karazhan, it became much quieter.

Jesse could see many sunken and abandoned ships under the docks, with some wooden boats tied far away that seemed to have been untouched for a long time.

The two rowed across to the Great Mausoleum, just need to pass through the dark forest for about half a day, which was a shortcut by two-thirds compared to going around Sentinel Hill.

Jesse planned to take Vereesa to Raven Hill first, to look for clues of the necromancer Abercrombie near the Great Mausoleum, as he was supposed to be hiding in a dilapidated house close to the graveyard in the game. He wasn’t sure if it was the same here.

Upon entering Duskwood, the familiar gloomy feeling enveloped them, even though it was only mid-afternoon.

"I hardly sense any wild beasts this time, Jesse," Vereesa said. "The last time I was here, I was followed by several wolves. It felt like the forest was full of beasts watching me, but now…"

"So, you still say this place isn’t dangerous?"

"After all, there are two of us this time," Vereesa said, "and you have classes to attend, I also hope we can make the most of our time." Jesse said, "All my classes happen to be squeezed into three days, so this time I have free time to come out with you…"

"Actually, since we set out early from Stormwind, I’ve been sensing a strange smell following us," Vereesa looked at Jesse and said, "At first I thought it was just my imagination, but now…"

"What smell?" Jesse nervously sniffed himself, thinking it couldn’t be the scent of a succubus, as he had been very careful when he went out today.

"It smells like a black dragon," Vereesa stated firmly, "I have a vivid memory of this smell from our time in Silverpine."

"Ah… I almost forgot about this," Jesse breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It’s my cloak, Vereesa, I was spat on by a black dragon when I was in Southshore, and the scent still lingers."

"The shopkeeper told me not to wash it too hard, to keep this smell that makes animals in the forest stay away, isn’t it showing its effect?"

"So that’s how it is," Vereesa leaned in to smell Jesse’s cloak and said, "You can actually stand this… although they always told me to learn how to hide my scent in the forest, or we might be tracked by trolls, but I think there should be no Forest Trolls here!?"

"There are no Forest Trolls, but to the south is the territory of the Gurubashi Empire," Jesse reminded, "though those jungle trolls don’t come around much these days."

"Why are trolls everywhere," Vereesa complained under her breath.

Yes, there are trolls everywhere, even you are descendants of ancient dark trolls from the Well of Eternity side, Jesse thought as he watched her walk away.

If that is said, their relationship would probably come to an abrupt end, and they wouldn’t even need to think about a letter of guarantee anymore.

After leaving the forest, Jesse became familiar with the surroundings, as he had spent some time circling around the Great Mausoleum with Greed last time, getting to know the terrain around.

When he saw those crooked, partially collapsed brick walls, and the distant, damaged metal fence, Jesse knew they were not far from Raven Hill.

"Where does the person we are looking for live?" Vereesa asked, looking at the knocked-down railing to the south.

"Did you see any rundown houses the last time you were here?" Jesse said. "To be honest, I’m not sure of the exact location myself. I just heard people say he might be hiding out here."

"There’s one up high in the Great Mausoleum, but no one lives there," Vereesa said, pointing southwest. "It’s on the slope over there, not visible from here, blocked by the forest behind the fence."

"Not that one, it’s outside the cemetery. Have you been there?"

Jesse pointed southeast, and on the game map, that’s where Abercrombie’s cottage is located.

"Is there a cemetery over there too?" Vereesa said, "The people in Darkshire mentioned Raven Hill’s Great Mausoleum to me. I thought it was just that area inside the iron fence. I completely forgot to look outside, silly me."

Realizing she may have said the wrong words, she lowered her eyebrows and said, "Sorry."

"Don’t worry, I’m not that well-mannered either," Jesse said. "Let’s head that way. Hopefully this trip goes smoothly. Otherwise, I might have to show you how rich my collection of swear words in common language is."

Vereesa chuckled shyly and followed Jesse’s steps.

As expected, to the east and northeast of the Great Mausoleum were patches of scattered graves. However, the undertakers of Raven Hill did not abandon these people. They built some simple fences here and there were small houses where caretakers lived.

Nevertheless, it seemed abandoned for many years.

This might be where Abercrombie would hide in the future, as there were undead roaming around. With the houses being dilapidated and rarely visited, Abercrombie could research his Necromancy and carry out his revenge plans here.

Vereesa and Jesse searched through each house, one next to the other, but found no living person or any sign of recent human habitation.

It was getting close to evening. Jesse stood on a high hill, looking around, and said to Vereesa returning from afar, "There’s no one here. It seems even the caretakers have left."

"Not a living soul could be seen, and there were barely any remains of the dead." Vereesa said, "I took a look over there, and many of the graves have been unearthed. Could it be that the bodies have come back to life?"

"I don’t know either."

Jesse thought it might not be that simple.

As the people in Raven Hill dwindled, this huge mass grave site became unguarded, attracting all sorts of people to dig up graves, taking away valuables from the rich buried there, or the only insignificant meaningful items they had.

He had heard many such stories in Stormwind as well.

"Let’s go ask around in Raven Hill." He pointed to the southwest.