72 Chapter 72
Aruno's breaths evened, the warmth of the room lulling him into a state of stillness. The soft glow from the lanterns painted the walls in gentle amber, and the faint hum of the village outside was a quiet counterpoint to the chaos of his mind.
From the corner of his consciousness, Void stirred. His tone was calm, almost approving. "The Ghost is whole again," he said. "The fear, the hesitation… gone. You've reclaimed yourself."
Aruno kept his eyes closed, listening.
Void's presence shimmered faintly, a shadow against the quiet of the room. "I can now fade, return to the void… or you can bring me out. Turn me into something more—something that walks with you, bound to your will."
Aruno considered this. His hand flexed at his side, the thought of having Void manifest as a shadow no longer appealing. He didn't need him lingering like a whisper. He needed action. Control. Power.
"I'll do it," he said, voice low but certain. "I'll make you… a revenant. Bound by my hand, my intent. Not as a shadow in my mind, but as something that stands, that fights alongside me."
Void's form shimmered, flickering with a faint darkness, then solidifying in a shape reminiscent of the ghostly figure he had always been—a body of shadow and silver light, eyes faintly glowing, posture alert. The air around him hummed with potential, a quiet resonance that promised strength without willfulness.
"You will obey," Aruno said simply, his red eyes gleaming faintly in the lantern light. "No whims. No distractions. Serve the Ghost."
"I am yours," Void intoned, voice now fuller, more corporeal, yet still carrying that calm, watchful presence. "As you command."
Aruno allowed himself a slow exhale. The room felt heavier now, charged, but it was a steady weight—a power he could wield. He didn't need attachment. He didn't need reliance. He had a companion forged from his past, bound as revenant, ready to act only at his command.
The night outside stretched on quietly, the village calm, unaware. Inside, Aruno lay back on the mat, letting the presence of Void beside him settle into a companionable stillness. Not comfort, not distraction—only readiness.
"Absorb." Void now sucked back into Aruno's body. "You and Behemoth better play nice together, and by that I mean you specifically Void."
I let out a tired sigh- "Okay I'm not going to be bothered now. Not one word from you Void. Goodnight."
I woke to pale light filtering through the curtains. My body ached from sleep, but the lingering tension in my mind was sharper than anything physical. Void stirred inside me, silent and watchful, ready to obey—but not a companion, not a comfort.
I flexed my fingers, feeling the subtle pulse of power waiting beneath my skin. One could call it a shadow of myself, a presence bound entirely to my will. A thought flickered—blood, darkness, movement. Revenants. Soldiers I could raise, controlled completely, nothing wandering or free.
The room smelled faintly of morning dew and wood smoke. Liraya still slept, peaceful and unaware of the currents coiling inside me. I didn't linger. I moved, methodical, letting my cloak settle around my shoulders.
"Time to move," I muttered quietly. Purpose sharpened my senses. Every step was deliberate. Every heartbeat a signal that I was ready.
I reached the doorway, ready to step into the morning air. The village outside was just stirring—soft light spilling across rooftops, the faint hum of life beginning.
A groggy voice stopped me.
"Wait… wha? You're just gonna leave without saying goodbye?"
I turned, and there she was—Liraya, rubbing her eyes, hair messy from sleep. The calmness she usually carried was softened by the morning, almost vulnerable, yet her gaze was steady on me.
Before I could respond, she reached out and grabbed my arm, the grip light but insistent.
"I want to join you," she said simply, almost shyly, but there was fire in her voice. "-On your journey. Don't… don't leave me behind."
I froze for a moment, studying her. The village, the morning, the quiet—the world felt bigger somehow, but the weight of my path pressed against me. I didn't pull away, didn't say yes. Not yet.
"Liraya…" I started, voice low, measured. "It's not that simple. This path… it's dangerous. You don't have to follow me."
Her grip didn't falter. "I know. But I want to. I'll be careful. I'll keep up. Just… let me come with you."
I glanced at the morning, the streets just beginning to wake. Her persistence was unexpected, and for a brief moment, I felt something I hadn't in days—acknowledgment, connection, not dependence.
"…Fine," I said finally, voice steady. "But stay close. And follow my lead. Nothing more."
Her face brightened with a soft smile, and she nodded once. The journey was about to continue, but now she would be a part of it.
Liraya straightened her tunic and adjusted her boots, brushing stray strands of hair behind her ears. She moved with quiet purpose, the morning light catching in her eyes as she headed out of the small house.
The streets of the village were starting to fill with the soft bustle of early activity. Liraya didn't glance at the vendors or children playing. Her steps carried her directly toward Kaelor's shop, the heavy door creaking as she entered.
Kaelor looked up from his workbench, the shard Aruno had given him still glowing faintly at the side. His hands were stained with soot and metal dust, but he gave her a warm, knowing smile.
"Morning, Liraya. Something on your mind, or just here for a visit?" he asked, wiping his hands on a rag.
"I need a weapon," she said simply, her tone calm but firm. "Something light, something I can wield. I'm going with Aruno, and I need to be able to defend myself."
Kaelor's eyes flicked to the shard. "You're serious about this, eh? Good. Then we'll use this." He tapped the crystalline shard lightly, and a faint hum resonated through the room. "This will strengthen the weapon. Make it sharper, lighter, and more durable than ordinary steel. We'll forge it to your hand."
Liraya stepped closer, watching intently as Kaelor picked up a short blade blank. The crystal pulsed in his hands, tiny sparks of energy running along the edge as he carefully worked it into the shape of a sleek, agile weapon.
"This… might do," he said after a few precise movements, holding it up to the light. "Balanced for speed, tempered to hold a sharp edge. Quick strikes, quick parries—something that moves with you, not against you. And this crystal infusion? It'll last longer, resist breaking. You'll be able to handle threats most wouldn't dare approach."
She tested the weight in her hand, swinging it lightly. "This feels right," she said, a faint smile breaking through her calm demeanor. "I can handle this."
Kaelor nodded, sliding the blade into a simple, practical sheath. "Then it's yours. Use it wisely, Liraya. Out there, skill will matter more than strength. And remember—don't just rely on the weapon. Rely on yourself first. The crystal only enhances what's already in you."
"I won't forget," she said, securing the sheath over her shoulder. "Thank you, Kaelor."
"Kaelor, take this." I hand him a massive orb, purple energy radiating from it. "Don't ask questions, I don't have time to answer those. Just- thank you man."
Liraya and I exit the shop as Kaelor tries to speak.
Liraya walked beside me, the new blade secured at her side, her expression calm but alert.
"I'll keep up," she said, her voice steady. "You set the pace."
I nodded once, "Good. Stick close. Don't wander off."
She gave a small smile, acknowledging without question. The hum of Kaelor's forge faded behind us as we moved toward the edge of the village, where the grasslands stretched out like a sea of gold beneath the rising sun.
"We're going past Mount Thariel, I want to see what is over that way." Could be another step closer to Caelith.
"Alright boss. Let's get to it." I can sense that he knows how to lead, his aura says a lot about him.
The wind shifted, brushing faint currents of magic across the open plains. I could feel it—a residue of power lingering in the world, faint but deliberate, almost like a pulse waiting to be tested. I allowed my senses to stretch, scanning the distance for signs of anything unusual.
Liraya noticed too. She tilted her head slightly, brow furrowed, and slowed her step ever so slightly. "You feel that?" she asked softly.
"Not yet," I replied. "But we're close. Keep your focus. Nothing sudden."
The path narrowed as we neared the foothills, the grass giving way to rougher terrain. Small rocks and scraggly bushes dotted the slope. My boots crunched softly against the earth, and I could feel the faint pulse growing stronger—something unnatural, waiting ahead.
I didn't say it aloud, but my hand brushed against the hilt of Durandal instinctively. Liraya's hand rested near her blade too, but she trusted my lead, letting me dictate the pace.
"Stay close. Keep your eyes sharp. We don't know what's waiting," I said.
She nodded, silent, resolute. For now, that was enough.
Liraya's gaze never wavered, but I could sense a quiet curiosity in her movements. Her steps were deliberate, but the faint hum of energy rising from the city ahead caught both our attention.
Rising from the horizon, tall structures of glass and metal glimmered in the sunlight. Neon signs and glowing advertisements lined the streets, flashing messages in languages both familiar and strange. A massive archway spanned the main boulevard, bold letters proclaiming: PLAGA CITY.
The name hit me with a strange familiarity. The style, the lights, the energy of the city—it reminded me of my short, chaotic time in Tokyo. But here, everything felt amplified, sharper, more alive. The air hummed with technology and magic intertwined, a pulse beneath the city streets that made my instincts twitch.
Liraya glanced at me, her calm eyes reflecting a mix of wonder and caution. "It's… bigger than I expected," she said softly.
I nodded, my attention scanning the city carefully. "Stay alert. This place… it feels different. Not hostile yet, but the energy here is… complicated."
The streets were bustling with people, vehicles gliding along rails, and drones hovering overhead. Holographic signs flickered with advertisements for goods and services I didn't immediately recognize. I let my senses extend just slightly, feeling currents of mana and technology coiling together like a network waiting to be tapped—or disrupted.
Liraya moved close, matching my pace, blade still sheathed. "Are you… thinking of something?" she asked.
I shook my head slightly. "Nothing yet. But don't let the lights fool you. Cities like this hide more than they show."
We approached the main entrance of Plaga City, the crowds parting subtly as if sensing the weight of our presence. The pulse of energy beneath the city thrummed faintly, teasing at something dark, something waiting.
I inhaled slowly, preparing myself. The path ahead was clear for now, but I could feel the city already watching, already assessing.
"Ready?" I asked, glancing at Liraya.
She nodded, expression firm. "Always."
And with that, we stepped forward into Plaga City, the bright lights and hum of machinery swallowing us as the next stage of the journey began.