[Elaina's POV]
The cobblestone streets of the noble quarter felt too clean.
Too quiet.
Jethro walked beside me, arms folded and scowling at everything. Expensive restaurants lined the road—polished marble walls, crystal chandeliers, curtains drawn to hide whatever elitist nonsense happened inside.
Despite us being nobles ourselves, we both hated the difference between this side of the city and everywhere else.
"I'll never understand the point of flaunting money," he muttered. "Why not just… build homes? Help commoners? Feed people? Isn't that what nobles are supposed to *do*?"
I reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I agree. Most don't. But some do." I gave him a small smile. "Terra's family, the Rondos? They actually donate to the city and support their people. Without flaunting it in others' faces."
His shoulders relaxed slightly. "Once we take over Father's business, we'll do more."
"We will." I said with a nod
We turned a corner and found ourselves in front of a church.
It towered over the street. White marble and pale stone, sunlight glinting off the stained glass. A massive image of a man in a golden robe stood in the center, light beaming from his head like the sun. Crops grew at his feet, and a crowd of people knelt in reverence.
I clicked my tongue.
Worship of the sun god Sol wasn't common in Rumia. But being so close to Solaria meant cities like this still built churches… mostly to avoid conflict with the Holy Kingdom, rather than out of genuine belief.
'I'll never understand how people can follow a god who doesn't help them when they're suffering.' I thought
"I don't like this place," Jethro muttered.
"Me neither," I whispered. "But put on a good face."
We stepped inside.
The scent of incense and candle wax hung thick in the air. Golden chandeliers flickered above us, casting warm light across polished floors.
Expensive decorations and paintings depicting the same man over and over. Every single one is probably worth more than what 5 generations of commoners make in their entire lives put together.
A man spotted us almost immediately.
Older. Salt-and-pepper beard. Black robes with a bright sun emblem stitched over the heart.
A priest.
He approached with measured steps, smiling politely. "Welcome, children. I don't recognize you. Are you here to join our congregation?"
Jethro bowed slightly. "Apologies, no. We're just here to purchase holy water."
The priest tilted his head. "A blessing for travel?"
"Our cousin is sick," I said quickly, matching Jethro's tone. "We're worried dark magic might be involved. We were hoping to use the holy water discreetly… mixed into some tea."
He raised an eyebrow. "Would you like a priest to examine them? Perhaps—"
"No," I said with just enough firmness. "Our cousin… dislikes the church. We don't know why, but they'll refuse any direct help. This is the best we can do."
The man sighed but nodded. "I understand. In cases of true corruption, the holy water will reveal itself. If their throat burns or they begin coughing… that may be your sign. If that happens, seek a priest immediately."
"We will," Jethro said.
I hesitated for a second.
"Actually… do you have any high-grade holy water?"
The priest blinked, clearly surprised.
I smiled awkwardly. "There's… a story in our family. Something about a demon curse passed down from our grandmother. Probably nothing, but she always told us to be *very* careful."
He blinked again, then slowly nodded. "We typically reserve higher grades for confirmed cases. The high priest is away, so I'll have to check what we have left."
"We're willing to pay," Jethro said calmly.
The priest bowed his head. "I'll return shortly."
He stepped into the back room.
We waited.
The silence was oppressive.
The still air. The stale incense. The judgment hangs from every wall.
I shifted uncomfortably.
So did Jethro.
He whispered under his breath, "I forgot how much I hate churches."
"Same," I muttered. "Feels like the walls are watching us."
Finally, the priest returned.
"We only have one bottle of high-grade holy water left. One litre. Fifty gold."
I nodded and reached into a pouch—not the one Jack gave me—and counted out the coins.
The priest looked stunned but didn't comment.
"I'll pray for your cousin," he said softly, then disappeared again. When he returned, he carried a glass bottle etched with golden script and sealed with wax.
We took it carefully.
"Thank you," I said.
He nodded. "May Sol's light guide you."
We walked out without another word.
Down the street.
Around the corner.
And far, far away.
Once the church was out of sight, we both slouched.
"*Ugh!*" Jethro groaned. "That air was so still, I thought I was dying inside."
I laughed. "Same. I swear, if I stood still long enough, I would've fossilized."
He muttered something under his breath—probably a curse—then straightened up.
"…Why did Jack make *us* go?" he asked. "Why not Araki, Orin, or even Zek?"
I raised an eyebrow.
"Did you *forget* how racist the church is to anything not human or elvish?"
Jethro blinked.
Then rubbed the back of his neck, sheepishly. "Right. Yeah. Damn."
I sighed and lightly punched his shoulder.
He laughed.
We walked on.
Holy water secured.
Masks dropped.
And finally able to breathe.
~~~~~~~~~~
[Jack's POV]
We walked back into the forest.
The birds were chirping, and small animals ran on the forest floor.
Ark walked next to me, looking around. Before, when he was in the forest, the animals would normally be hiding away, but now that it was getting later, they were coming out.
"Why are there more animals? There weren't this many earlier," he asked.
I smiled and said, "Most of these animals remain hidden during midday but come out around now. Plus, this is a smaller group, and our auras are calmer, so they don't fear us as much."
"Our auras? Why would that matter?" he asked, turning to me.
Animals can naturally sense the auras of other creatures. This helps them detect predators and such. Your aura is weaker, so, no offence, but they don't see you as a threat," I explained.
He gave me a look but nodded and asked, "Ok, I guess that is true, but what about yours? It's a lot stronger than anyone around here, isn't it?"
I nodded and said, "My aura is very strong, but most common animals can't sense it as it isn't Mana, Ki, or has any killing intent. Plus, as far as they can tell, I am a spirit, and spirits are not predators."
"Oh, right. That makes more sense... Um, sorry to ask, but... are you a spirit?" he asked hesitantly.
I shook my head with a smile and said, "I am not a spirit, but because of my magic, most creatures can't tell the difference."
Ark nodded. We continued to walk.
After another 10 minutes or so, Ark asked, "So what is this meeting you were talking about? Who are we meeting, and why out here?"
I smiled and said, "I need a way to track Aaron, plus the shadow is doing something else that I need help with, as it isn't my spe—"
I jumped back and tackled Ark to the ground.
"Jack, wha—?!" Ark tried to say, but stopped.
A black creature shot over us, right where we stood.
I got up quickly, summoned my spear, and put myself between Ark and the creature.
It was only after I got into position that I realized what this creature was.
"Shit. A Skull Hound," I growled as I saw it stand up.
Its body was humanoid but covered completely in black 'fur'—if it can be called that. The fur was so black and dark I couldn't even tell if it had dimension. It was a dark void with no sheen, allowing me to gauge its size other than an outline.
In truth, if someone told me it was a flat image, I would believe it.
That is, unless you look at its head and claws.
Its head was a skull. A wolf skull, bleached and unmarked.
Two glowing yellow rings in the empty black eye sockets.
Its claws are made of bone on its hands and feet.
Its mouth opened slightly, probably a smile, as it lunged at me again.
He clucked my tongue and thrust my spear.
It plunged directly into its chest.
It looked at me with a creepy 'smile' and went to grab the spear.
"[Anima Ruptor]"
I said and cast a spell.
The hound instantly exploded in a burst of shadow and ichor.
Its head landed directly in my outstretched hand.
"I thought the Reaper was supposed to break you guys," I said plainly.
"Normally, he is, but he needed a babysitter for this one as he had other matters to attend to," a voice said from behind me.
I turned and saw a small person in a black cloak, holding a small lantern with a blue flame on the end of a pole.
I smiled and said, "And I take it you're the babysitter, oh Will o' the Wisp."
The wisp nodded and waved their lantern. Blue flame shot out and burned away the black ichor in the area.
"I owed him a favour, so I took over teaching this one what hounds like him are for. I didn't think it would be this hard keeping it from eating people."
The flames moved and engulfed the skull, seemingly burning it into nothing.
"Now, what can I do for you, Summoner?" it asked.
I smiled, but before I said anything, I helped Ark get up.
"Sorry about that," I said to him. "It caught me by surprise."
Ark nodded as he brushed himself off and asked, "What was that thing?"
I looked at the wisp, and they shook their head.
I nodded and said, "It's a type of creature that, upon its rebirth, is insane and will try and kill any living thing. Its creator usually takes care of it, but this one is under the care of this Fae." I gestured to the wisp.
"Annoyingly, they are also immortal and will come back in a few hours but this should keep it from attacking us again," I added
The wisp gave a slight bow and introduced himself, "I am a Will o' the Wisp. We are those who guide lost souls to the afterlife."
I raised an eyebrow as I waited for it to finish.
But it stopped there and didn't.
"They are also a type of Fae that lead travellers off safe paths and into dangerous territories," I added.
Ark shifted slightly towards me after hearing that last bit.
I put a hand on his shoulder and said, "He wouldn't do anything to me, and since you're with me, he will always make sure to lead you somewhere safe. Right?" I glanced at the wisp.
The wisp flinched slightly and nodded. "Of course. I would never harm a friend of Jackson Drovas."
Ark was wide-eyed and asked, "How do you know his name?"
I chuckled and said, "Remember, I have a reputation among spirits. I wouldn't be surprised if Spirit Lords are watching over me at this point to see if I'm worth their favour."
"Spirit Lords?" he asked.
"Another time," I said, ruffling his hair before turning to the wisp and asking, "Would you be willing to sign a contract with me?"
The wisp tilted its head and asked, "What kind of contract?"
I smiled.
'Things are going smoothly,' I thought.