Atop the hill, Sarahliza stood, her gaze fixed on the scene before her. A man beside her clutched a shovel, standing over a lifeless body sprawled in the dirt. The corpse was that of a man-who he was or what had happened to him remained unclear.
Sarahliza wrinkled her nose slightly but maintained her composure. Scenes like this weren't new to her.
"How long has he been dead?" she asked.
The man, Gibbit, shrugged. "No idea. I found the place wrecked, and him lying here."
Sarahliza scanned the area, noting the scattered remnants of destruction. "Judging by the ruins, it looks like the house inverted in on itself before exploding outward. Dead tree trunks are everywhere."
"You think this was caused by Arcane?" Gibbit asked, resting the shovel on his shoulder.
"Without a doubt. This has Solomon's Arcanecraft written all over it. Looks like Mazaeta finally caught up to him."
"And this guy?" Gibbit nudged the body with the toe of his boot.
Sarahliza knelt beside the corpse, her golden eyes flickering green for a brief moment before returning to normal. She widened them slightly.
"There are traces of ajam in him," she muttered.
"So he was possessed by a wraith?" Gibbit guessed. "Looks like whatever spirit was in him found a better host and left him to die."
Sarahliza's expression darkened. "...I hope that host isn't Solomon. That would be a dangerous combination."
Not far from the hill, two figures crouched behind a cluster of bushes-Oenhi and Mimya. The young girl peeked cautiously at the two adults standing over the body.
"Who's that guy?" Oenhi whispered.
Mimya adjusted her glasses. "Gibbit. He's the one who found you and brought you to us. He's a friend."
Oenhi's gaze fell upon the corpse, her breath hitching. It was the first time she had ever seen death up close. Her heart pounded, a weight pressing against her chest.
"Is that... a dead guy?" she whispered, fear creeping into her voice.
Even Mimya seemed unsettled. The vacant, lifeless stare of the corpse felt unnatural, as if it defied the order of the world. Oenhi trembled.
Mimya placed a reassuring hand on the girl's shoulder. "It's okay. Don't let it shake you. Everyone goes, eventually."
Oenhi swallowed hard, the words doing little to ease the turmoil inside her. Then, something struck her-she didn't see Solomon anywhere.
"Where's Grandpa?" she asked.
Mimya hesitated. "I don't know. I don't think he's here."
That answer didn't sit right with Oenhi. She clenched her fists.
Gibbit sighed, running his fingers through his messy red hair. "So, what do we do now?"
Sarahliza exhaled. "We bury the body. Oenhi will be staying with me until I figure out what's going on."
Gibbit pressed the shovel into the earth. "Poor guy probably had no idea what he was caught up in."
Sarahliza crossed her arms. "Solomon's last message mentioned a group. If that's true, it's too dangerous for us to pursue them blindly. But based on what we've seen so far, the only explanation is-"
"Solomon is a host now."
A feminine voice interrupted her.
The air grew tense as all four turned toward the source.
Oenhi's eyes widened. A memory resurfaced in her mind.
A figure stood at the edge of the scene-a woman wearing a fractured jester mask. Long, blue, tentacle-like hair cascaded down her back. The jagged crack in her mask seemed to align perfectly with the sly smile stretching across her face.
"What?" Gibbit muttered.
"Did yah not hear me?" The jester wraith teased. "Solly's a hosty now."
Sarahliza's face twisted in displeasure. "I suspected as much... You bastard."
"Ooo, that one burned." The wraith cackled.
Oenhi's breathing quickened. "Host? What does she mean?"
Mimya remained silent, staring in disbelief.
"What does that mean!?" Oenhi grabbed her arm.
Mimya's voice was barely a whisper. "It means... Gramps is a vessel for a wraith."
Oenhi's mind reeled. Her grandfather-possessed? No. That couldn't be right.
Her thoughts raced back to their last moments together. The memory of Solomon smiling at her before launching her away-it suddenly made sense.
No.
It couldn't be.
Tears stung at her eyes as frustration bubbled to the surface. Then, without thinking, she shot out from the bushes.
"My grandpa is alive!" she yelled.
All eyes snapped toward her.
"Oenhi?!" Sarahliza exclaimed.
Gibbit tilted his head. "Wait... The kid?"
The jester wraith's mask curled into an amused expression. "Well, well! If it ain't lil' kicky-kickster!"
Oenhi ignored them, glaring directly at the wraith.
"Where is my grandpa, you octopus freak!?" she demanded.
The wraith giggled. "Ouch. Again with the insults."
Mimya reluctantly stepped out of the bushes as well. "I'm sorry, Liza... It was her idea."
Sarahliza barely paid her any mind. Instead, her focus remained locked onto the jester wraith. "Tell me, which one of your allies possesses Solomon?"
The wraith placed a finger on her lips. "Hmm... Wanna know?"
"Quit stalling and answer me."
A sinister smile spread beneath the mask. "Mazaeta."
Oenhi tensed. "Mazaeta?"
"You know him," the wraith continued. "Red hair, blue eyes, nasty teeth-always smiling."
The memory struck Oenhi like a bolt of lightning. She remembered him-the one who stood out the most among the wraiths. The so-called leader.
"You're lying!" she snapped. "Grandpa would never lose to someone like that!"
Mimya looked just as shaken. Sarahliza's fingers twitched. Gibbit took a cautious step back.
The jester wraith giggled. "Believe what you will. Your grandpap did it to himself-so Mazaeta wouldn't take you instead."
"Enough."
Sarahliza flicked her wrist, revealing four glowing pink crystals between her fingers. Without hesitation, she flung them at the wraith.
"What're those?" the wraith asked, tilting her head.
"Runecraft: Scatter!"
The crystals erupted on impact, sending a violent gust of colorful explosions into the air.
Oenhi watched, eyes wide. So this is Arcane...
Sarahliza readied more crystals, turning to Mimya. "Take Oenhi and-"
"I'm not going anywhere!" Oenhi shouted. "She knows where my grandpa is! I won't leave without him!"
Sarahliza gritted her teeth. "Oenhi, this isn't-"
A blue limb shot from the dust cloud, slamming into Sarahliza's stomach and launching her backward.
"Liza!" Mimya fired a green projectile from her fingertips.
The wraith extended another blue tendril from her mask, deflecting the shot.
"Ooooh, Arcages!" Cecillet mused. "This'll be fun."
Mimya kept her hand raised, fingers twitching. "Is this girl insane?"
Gibbit took another step back. "Yeah, uh... I think I'll sit this one out."
Cecillet tilted her head, her ever-present smile unshaken.
"Now then," she chimed with a dance. "Let's play."