All in Charisma (A LitRPG/Isekai Adventure)

Justin slid the window open. "Alistair? What are you doing here?"

There was a moment's pause as Alistair the Paladin stared up at him in shock and disbelief. His white robes over his steel armor made him stick out like a sore thumb. "Justin? Is that you, lad?"

"Yes. Are you following me?"

Lila joined him at the window, and Alistair looked at each of them.

"I take it you know him?" Lila asked.

Before Justin could answer, Alistair cut him off. "Listen. Something's amiss. Can we meet in the alehouse below?"

"Can't this wait until tomorrow?"

"I'm afraid not. Your life is in question, boy. I won't say anything more. Hurry!"

Alistair headed out of the alley and toward the entrance of the alehouse.

"Your life?" Lila asked. "Sounds serious."

"He must be confused," Justin said. "I need to go down there."

"I'm coming with you," Lila said.

"Sure. What about Eldrin?"

"Ah, just let him sleep. From tonight, it seems like he's ready to go his own way."

The duo left the room and headed down to the tavern. There, it was mostly empty, with Alistair sitting alone in a corner. Justin and Lila joined him.

"So," Justin said, "what's this about me dying?"

"Careful what you say," Alistair said, his eyes scanning their surroundings. "You never know who might be listening."

"Okay then," Justin said, quieter. "Why are you following me? It's been a long day, and I would like to rest."

"I wouldn't be speaking to you if it weren't important, so I'll cut to the chase. I'm on a quest, bestowed by the Templars of Arion themselves."

"The Templars of Arion," Lila said. "Sounds serious."

"Aye, very much so. A necromancer is wreaking havoc in the County of Silverton. And I have tracked down an agent of the necromancer to this very inn."

As his piercing blue eyes settled on Justin, a silent accusation hung in the still air.

But before fear could fully grip him, Lila's voice rang out. "What, are you accusing Justin? Justin, the Level 1 Socialite?"

"Indeed, my Paladin's Sense detects an agent of darkness sitting at this very table. Death magic is emanating from you, Justin."

"You must be mistaken," Justin said. "And you are leveling a very heavy accusation. Besides, if you can detect this 'death magic' on me, then why didn't you notice it before, when you helped me at Mistwatch?"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out."

"I don't have time for this. I really need to get to sleep. I have a level-up to process."

Justin rose, but Alistair's arm shot out, keeping him seated with iron strength. He wasn't going anywhere tonight until he'd answered some questions.

"You must tell me everything that has happened since we last parted, Justin," Alistair said. "You must do so if you wish to prove your innocence."

"Where I come from, you have to prove that I'm guilty."

Alistair gave an amused smile. "That is not how things are done by the Templars of Arion."

"Is that a threat?" Lila asked.

"Nay," Alistair said. "But my sense has never failed me, and it has led me right to your window. There is more to you than meets the eye, Justin Talemaker."

Justin locked eyes with him and sighed. "You want to know what's happened with me? Well, I'll tell you, and you'll see I've done nothing wrong."

Justin caught him up on everything. It took half an hour or so, but soon, Alistair was up to speed.

But Justin couldn't help but notice that the Paladin's disposition had darkened when they had gotten to their interaction with Baron Valdrik.

Once done, Alistair seemed to think deeply, taking a deep draught from his mug.

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"The puzzle is coming together."

"What puzzle?" Justin asked.

"It must be the Baron of Silverton," Alistair said. "He is among my top suspects. You mentioned him uttering words in the Foundation Language of Vranthillis. What were those words again?"

"I have no idea."

"What does Vranthillis have to do with anything?" Lila asked.

"Could be nothing. Could be everything. The language is mysterious, and there are very few Lexicants. But what few Lexicants do exist are somewhat known for dabbling in the darker arts, and some have even been known to take up necromancy. It's a path open to Lexicants, given the right conditions."

"Okay, but what does this have to do with me?" Justin asked.

"You mentioned that the Baron spoke in Vranthillis. My suspicion is that he placed a death mark upon you. A mark that would make you his to command upon your death."

Justin's eyes went wide. "Upon my death? Is he trying to murder me?"

"Well, there would be little other reason to place the death mark. It takes time to mature. Three risings of the moon, to be precise. If he did this today, then this would be your first night."

"I'm going to die in three days?" Justin asked, feeling as if he was going to pass out.

"Not from the mark itself," Alistair clarified. "It merely means that once you do die, the mark will make you controllable by the Baron. Bound to him in undead thralldom."

Lila looked at Justin nervously. "He did mention wanting you to work for him..."

"That's worse than dying!" Justin said. "There must be some way to stop it!"

"There is," Alistair said, "but it requires you to pay very close attention to me. Now, I came here to root out the evil in this town that has been festering. On the surface, it might seem a busy and prosperous place. But there has been a string of murders stretching back years, and the local government doesn't seem to want to investigate them adequately. The sheriff, unfortunately, has been bribed to look the other way."

"So we've heard," Lila said.

"That's where I come in," Alistair said. "The Church of Light sent me here to figure out just what's going on. And now, I've discovered that things are a bit too much for a single Paladin to handle."

"Well, what can I do?" Justin asked.

"Now, this death mark can be cured," Alistair said. "But the paths to doing so are far from easy."

Justin was filled with many conflicting emotions. Fear. Confusion. Skepticism. He wanted to trust Alistair, and yet he didn't feel any different.

The only thing that had felt strange was that sense of coldness when Baron Valdrik had spoken those words. If Alistair was right, the Baron was keeping tabs on him right now and was determined to finish what he had started. He suddenly felt exposed and unsafe, despite the comfortable aura of the inn.

"We need to wake up Eldrin," Justin decided. "If I'm really in danger, then he is too by association."

"Eldrin?" Alistair asked.

"A Ranger we met in Whispering Pines," Justin said. "We sort of fell in together."

"I can go get him," Lila said.

She went off, leaving Justin alone with the Paladin.

Alistair leaned forward. "If those two aren't to be trusted, simply say the word and we'll be off."

"I trust them."

The Paladin eyed him closely, then nodded.

Eldrin joined them at the table, surprisingly alert for the late hour. "What's this about Justin being in danger?"

"I have a death mark on me, apparently. Courtesy of Baron Valdrik."

Eldrin's eyes widened at that. He looked at Alistair. "You can confirm this, Master Paladin?"

"Aye. I cannot determine the nature of the mark, but given the certainty of there being a necromancer in this town, it cannot be anything else."

"And what is your suggestion? I suppose I must be in danger too?"

"All of us are," Alistair said. "There are only two ways for Justin to rid himself of this mark. The first is a near impossibility, taking down the Baron himself, who uttered the incantation. But if the disappearances of the past few years are any indication, it's not only the Baron we'd have to contend with, but also those working for him."

"You think he has a small undead army in his halls?" Eldrin asked.

"I'm certain of it," Alistair said. "And in fact, I suspect that army might not be small. Worse, Valdrik's level far exceeds anyone sitting at this table. There is no record, but he had to be at least level twenty to have access to the Lexicant class, and it's likely, given the bloody work in this town and its environs, that he must be much higher than that. More than a match for even me."

"Then why did you come here thinking you could take him down?" Lila asked.

"I didn't. I came to learn more."

"But how do I get rid of the mark?" Justin pressed. "You said there's a way."

"Yes," Alistair said. "You must come with me to the Templar Chapter House at Mont Elea. There, the High Priest of Arion can remove the mark. He's the only one I know who for sure out-levels the Baron and has access to the right kind of magic. It's about a hundred miles north of Belmora."

"That far?" Lila asked. "We can't cover such a distance in three days!"

"No, we cannot," Alistair agreed, leaning forward. "But I will be with you every step of the way, protecting you from any and all pursuit. Remember, the mark becomes active in three days, and it won't kill Justin outright. But it will allow the Baron to know exactly where Justin is. If he's close enough. We need to be well ahead of them when that time comes. What's more, once the Baron realizes I'm here, he will act immediately."

"Then we must leave now," Eldrin said. "Although, if all this is true, then surely the gates will mark our passing."

"There is a hidden way," Alistair said. "It's a mountain path located on the north side of the pass, by the silver mines. That way will be little watched, and if you're coming with us, Eldrin, all the better. Your Pathfinder's Pace will be vital to our escape. I assume you have that party tactic?"

"I do," Eldrin confirmed. "I stand ready to help."

"Wait a second," Lila said. "What do you think was in the parcel? Does it have anything to do with this?"

"Perhaps," Alistair said. "Or maybe it was just a coincidence that Justin was the one who made the delivery."

"Maybe the Baron uses these parcels to lure new victims into his manor," Eldrin suggested.

"That is also possible. But the point is, Eldrin is right. We must leave immediately. For whatever reason, he wants to enthrall Justin."

The only question Justin was left with was, "Why?" However, he doubted that the question could be answered by anyone here.

"I need to gather my things," Justin said.

"Let's reconvene in five minutes," Alistair said. "Try to hurry."

Justin and Lila rushed to their room. The darkness of the hallway seemed altogether threatening as he fumbled for the room key and unlocked the door. But everything inside was undisturbed, awaiting their arrival.

It only took a minute for Justin to pack, along with Lila. They both shared a look, slightly unbelieving of the situation, before they rejoined Alistair and Eldrin in the alehouse below.

But as soon as Justin came forward, he reached for the dagger on his belt.

Alistair and Eldrin were no longer alone.