A Zombie's Path to Power

Azel wasn't too impressed with the uniform Gryphon provided. Well if you could even call it that. Previously Azel had just been wearing whatever Colwyn had provided for him, that included plain tunics, vests and loose trousers for easy manoeuvrability.

Quite frankly, it was clothes one would imagine a knight's squire wearing and definitely not what a customer would be expecting when they walk into a magic store.

As a result, Azel was provided with a white dress shirt, expensive suit pants and even all the posh accessories like cuff links for free. Well, apparently it just meant Azel wouldn't be getting paid until he had worked the debt off, but the zombie hadn't been initially expecting that the frugal Gryphon would pay him in the first place.

Sighing in frustration as he set down the book, Azel made sure Gryphon was still at the front desk and decided to close his eyes for a rest. Once again, Azel didn't need to sleep due to his necrotic nature, but between doing nothing and continuing the mind numbing exercises the shop keep had given him... Well one was much more appealing.

Gryphon had wanted Azel to gain a firm understanding on how magic worked, and he felt that having the zombie read all of his various research notes was a good way of doing that. In a way, the mage had been right, despite it how tedious of a task it was Azel was in fact learning.

Before the zombie had assumed magic and science to be opposites, one being the study of the natural and the other being the supernatural. But magic is actually regarded as a science and is taught at most colleges and universities around the continent. After all, it was quite linear in the structure, the output of spells are just the result of applying mana through mediums.

In theory, the study of magic was how the application of mana could affect the world in its different ways. From how the different languages used in chanting would impact the outcome of the spell to how ancient runes could turn a regular object into a legendary relic, it was definitely a broad subject.

Azel was curious by nature, but even he was starting to feel overwhelmed by the myriad information before him. He tugged at the collar, muttering under his breath, "Did they tailor this thing to choke me?"

Gryphon's voice echoed from the front, sharp and precise as always. "It's meant to command respect. Your posture, however, undoes all that effort."

Azel sat up straight instinctively before realizing Gryphon couldn't see him through the walls of the backroom. He scowled and muttered, "Old man must have eyes everywhere."

The zombie turned his attention back to the open tome on the desk before him. It detailed the origins of mana manipulation and its parallels to the natural sciences. The text was fascinating in theory but dry in delivery, a tangle of equations, ancient runes, and verbose explanations that even a seasoned scholar would struggle to parse.

For someone like Azel—more accustomed to thinking on his feet—it was an endurance test. Still, there were moments when the pieces clicked, giving him flashes of clarity that fuelled his curiosity.

"When can I stop reading this stuff and learn some actual spells," Groaned Azel, aware Gryphon could hear him, "I'm a seeker, not an archivist, remember?"

The zombie paused for a moment before adding, "You didn't actually forget, right? I know you're old but surely-"

A sharp gust of wind slammed into the room, sending a cascade of books tumbling from their shelves. Azel barely had time to react before the heavy tomes landed in a precise arc, striking his head with a deadly accuracy.

"Anyone can learn to fling around the same attack spell if given enough time," Remarked Gryphon as Azel hissed in pain, "Only someone who comprehends the origin of magic can truly call themselves a sorcerer,"

The old man sounded so prideful with his statement that Azel wasn't sure how to explain to him that the zombie didn't actually care about being a sorcerer and was more than happy to just 'fling around the same attack spell'.

"Besides..." Continued Gryphon, "Mana responds to the shape of the soul, we don't even know if you have one yet."

He said it factually, so Azel knew he wasn't trying to be rude, but the zombie still detected a subtle bias in the old mans words. It was true, though, most mana beasts can't use magic. So the worlds various religion groups said it was a result of either the gods blessing humanity or cursing the monsters.

The thought annoyed Azel. He was different, sure, but so was everyone else in some way or another. Gryphon's scepticism only made him more determined to prove him wrong. He flipped the page aggressively, squinting at an illustration of an elemental rune and its corresponding mana flowchart.

<---o--->

"Weeping hells..." Mumbled Azel as he rubbed his head, the wound had obviously healed immediately and his unique body seemingly had a dulled sense of pain so it could hardly be called a punishment, but the zombies pride was still hurt.

Ducking into an alley, Azel considered if magic was worth the effort. Sure having an extra form of attack was always a benefit, but people like Colwyn had gotten by through just using mana as enhancement for their physical strength. Surely, the zombie could do the same.

Well, there was no reason not to learn it, even if he fails there's not much Azel misses out on. His body was slowly becoming healthier and healthier as he went on, but supposedly Zombie's won't physically age. Azel truly did have all the time in the world.

He glanced down at his hands, the faint, pale hue of his skin a constant reminder of his undead state. It wasn't that he disliked being what he was—Azel had made his peace with it the second he found out who he was. But the zombie couldn't help but think how things would be much easier if he was human.