The city was restless.
Not from hunters, not from rogue spirits, not from exorcists…
From the consequences of my own influence.
---
Small things first:
A human patrol accidentally harmed a spirit because of miscalculated fear.
A rogue spirit, nudged by my influence, trapped a civilian temporarily.
---
> [System Alert: Unintended Consequences – Moderate]
"…I didn't want this," I muttered, hovering above the street.
Mira's voice echoed softly.
"Power always has a cost," she said.
"And influence? It's rarely clean."
---
I watched a young exorcist argue with a superior about following orders versus helping civilians.
> [Human Influence Observed – Moral Conflict Detected]
"…They're learning from me," I whispered.
"And now they're confused… angry… questioning authority."
---
Rogue spirits twisted nearby, still aligned with my subtle pulses, but some misinterpreted my guidance.
> [Network Influence – Imperfect]
---
I exhaled.
"…Control chaos, yes. Influence others… carefully. But at what cost?"
---
A faint scream carried up from a distant alley.
I looked.
A rogue spirit, guided by my subtle nudge, had cornered a human.
I acted instantly, combining Chaotic Signature + Emotional Grounding, redirecting the spirit without harm.
---
> [System Update: Moral Intervention Successful – Human Saved]
---
But the damage lingered.
The network was growing stronger… but it wasn't perfect.
> [Insight: Every action has ripple effects. Not all predictable.]
---
I exhaled slowly, floating above the city.
"…This is the true test," I murmured.
"…Not just survival. Not just power. But conscience."
---
Above, Mira's voice whispered:
"Welcome to being more than a ghost. You're now a variable in every life around you."
---
The city pulsed below.
The humans, rogue spirits, hunters, and exorcists all felt subtle shifts.
And I… carried the weight of every ripple.
---