The skeleton in the chair drums his bony fingers against the open book on his lap, eye sockets hollow but somehow still looking at the designs filling each page. “I just don’t want it to clash,” he says, gesturing to the glowing sigil etched into his ribcage. “The last guy said this one would enhance my magical power, but honestly? I think he was just trying to sell me something flashy.”

  The sigil artist chuckles, adjusting his grip on the skull before him. “Oh, it *does* enhance your magical power,” he muses, tilting the client’s head slightly for a better view. “Problem is, it’s designed to just amplify power. Without a stabilizer, your body will eventually.. well.. give way to all this power it can't possibly contain.”

  The seated skeleton stiffens. “Give way?”

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  The artist shrugs. “Not *dangerously* at first - unless, of course, you’ve been feeling… unbound lately?”

  A long pause.

  The client shifts in his seat. “I did wake up missing a finger last week. I just thought that was part of this whole *being undead* thing.”

  “Uh, yeah. Not exactly.” The artist taps a finger against his skull. “But, we could reinforce it with a containment spell—keeps everything locked in, makes sure you don’t wake up with, say, a missing leg. Or…” He steps back, pondering. “We go with an augmentation rune. It won’t reinforce your core, but it’ll make sure whenever magic escapes, it does something *useful.*”

  The skeleton considers. “Like what?”

  The artist’s grin widens, wickedly. “Oh, you know. Bitchin' flames rolling off your back like a cloak or wings. Igniting your hands when you snap the fingers you have left. Making your footsteps sound like screams when you run towards some terrified hero. Tons of fun little tricks.”

  The seated skeleton hums, thoughtful, and playfully snaps his fingers. “The snap thing sounds neat.”

  “Excellent choice.” The artist flexes his fingers, runes flaring to life. “Now hold still - I promise this won’t hurt a bit.”

  He's right. It can't when you're already dead.