From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

Ty slowly raised his hands towards the sky, wearing a slight smile as he spoke. "Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you or your crow."

"I was assuming it was someone else I know watching me. Again, sorry to have bothered… Mr.?" Ty's voice trailed off, inviting the mysterious figure to introduce themselves.

The stranger's hand touched the back of Ty's garb, and he felt a slight tinge of warmth.

"The fact that you don't know who I am by my voice alone is an alarming presence. I am a captain in the Royal Guards military. You can call me General Mattison, Commander of the Kingdom's outlands."

General Mattison continued, "Care to tell me where you came from and why you're traveling with an Ogre?"

"Actually," Ty interjected, "I think he might be an Orc or a goblin."

The general's voice grew more intense, and he increased the pressure on Ty's back slightly as he continued to question him. "I have no idea what that is, but the fact you're traveling with a dangerous creature so haphazardly, and bringing him into one of my towns has my attention."

Ty decided to introduce himself and provide some context. "Well, to start, my name is Ty Hockenson, and I come from far away from here. I'm bringing the young girl to the capital. She thinks she is part of one of the houses and requested I be her bodyguard in the meantime. She is paying quite well."

The general seemed skeptical and questioned Ty's ability to defend her. "And you think you can defend her? You and that bloodthirsty Ogre?"

Taking a deep breath, Ty responded, "Well, that is a good question. You can always find out for yourself if you want. But I do have to retort that I am not looking for any fights directly. I have my own goals but do be my guest if you don't think I can protect the lady back home."

After a thoughtful pause, Ty responded, "I'm afraid I don't, but if you give me some of the info, I will make sure to let you know if I do. Does that sound fair?"

The general provided a description, "He was about your height but with much paler skin. He didn't kill anyone, even though he could. That's all the info I've been given from the reports."

"I don't know how strong you think you are, but if you see this person, don't hesitate to let me know," Mattison warned.

Removing his palm from the back of Ty, the general changed the subject. "Nice to know you're a flame user. What weapon do you use?"

A bit puzzled by Mattison's curiosity, Ty simply replied, "I don't have one. I usually just punch really hard." He clenched his fist, and black lines of flames ran down his knuckles. Ty turned around to get a better look at Mattison. The general had long, flowing dark red hair that reached his shoulders, and he was clad in finely crafted silver crest armor.

"Well, aren't you the spiffy-looking one," Ty remarked, extending his hand for Mattison to shake. "Maybe we should team up at some point while we escort the lady back to the capital if it's needed."

However, Mattison's expression remained cold and unwavering as he replied, "Sorry, no can do. My orders are directly to protect the outlands of the capital for the time being and investigate the individual who attempted to assassinate the royal family."

Mattison shook Ty's hand firmly and remarked, "Good on you for watching over a small child and ensuring she gets back home safely. I will keep a close eye on all of you until you reach the middle grounds, and then you will be outside my jurisdiction for the time being."

He continued, "What is her name so I can send a messenger to the houses of her return?"

Ty pondered for a moment before responding, "She is Nanako. Though I can't recall if she told me her last name, and she never fully explained why she was so far away. But she promised to pay us well."

Ty added, "Honestly, just ensuring she gets back home is enough for me. And the 'Ogre' is actually a nice guy if you get the chance to chat with him in the future."

Mattison, with his stern crimson eyes, maintained a blank expression. A faint trail of light flames followed him as he spoke, "I guess I'll find out sooner or later." With that, he bowed and disappeared into the darkness.

Ty, feeling a bit perplexed by the encounter, couldn't help but wonder about Mattison's powers. Crows and fire? It was an odd combination, and Ty assumed he had some kind of weapon that enhanced his abilities.

Pushing those thoughts aside, Ty made his way back to the inn.

Along the way, he stopped at a local shop and was pleasantly surprised to find a cold section stocked with an assortment of drinks and various snacks.

It felt almost like a modern snack shop, which brought a small smile to Ty's face.

He picked up some cold waters and approached the checkout counter.

The checkout lady processed the payment by placing the coins into a small metal orb that, surprisingly, spat out the change in return.

She wished Ty a good night with a slight bow, and he reciprocated with a polite nod.

The shop had a unique charm that blended seamlessly with the kingdom's setting, leaving Ty with a sense of appreciation for the little details that made this world different from his own.

The rest of the evening remained uneventful for Ty.

He made his way back to the inn, delivering the drinks to the old innkeeper and gently gesturing her to head to bed.

Then, he returned to the room to find Todd and Nana both fast asleep.

Todd lay sprawled out, taking up most of the bed, while Nana was curled up in a small ball on the couch. Ty noticed her shivering slightly, probably due to the cold.

Not wanting her to be uncomfortable, Ty went to the closet and found an assortment of sheets and replacement blankets.

He selected a thin sheet and gently covered Nana, propping her up on a nearby pillow.

She gave a slight grumble in her sleep, and in that moment, a shock wave of memories came crashing over Ty.