I didn't have time to think before the world blew.
A hammer blow of a shockwave struck me, shaking my bones and sending birds screaming into the air. I didn't lose any time—I ran.
The smoke and heat made the air heavy. Trees were charred, and something terrible clung in the air. like burning metal and death. I tracked the blast, pushing through branches and debris, until I stumbled into a clearing.
That's where I saw them.
There was a girl, about my age, in the middle. She had blood on her clothes, her arms were trembling, and her legs were trembling like they would collapse. Next to her floated a distorted soul, its body held together with threads of a loose stitch, trembling with the illusion of interference.
She didn't pause.
In a final scream, she struck, her sword gently aglow with power. She hit true—the monster emitted an unnatural shriek and fell into darkness.
Then she fell.
I sprinted over and knelt beside her. She wasn't dead. Her chest was rising and falling in shallow, weak gasps. She was hanging by a thread.
I stared at her, powerless. I couldn't repair. No way to repair this.
"Morrígan," I croaked, my throat constricted. "Can you do something? Anything?"
"Yes, Host," she spoke in her soothing voice. "You can buy healing pills or potions. But they are Soul Points."
"How much?" I asked hastily.
"One Outer Ring Realm – Low State Healing Pill is 10 Soul Points. You have 30 now. Do you want to buy?"
"Yes! Do it now!" I impatiently snapped, my anxiety building.
"Confirmed. You've bought one Outer Ring Realm – Low State Healing Pill. Good job on your first buy."
A soft light took shape in my hand—a tiny pill, which was warm to the touch.
I picked the girl's head up gently and placed the pill against her mouth. She swallowed shakily.
I waited.
Nothing.
"Morrígan…" I snarled. "I gave it to her. Why isn't something happening? Are you actually scamming me at this very moment?"
"Host," she answered quietly, "healing pills work gradually. And this pill is low-quality. It will not cure her in one night."
I ground my teeth and breathed slowly. "Alright. I'll wait."
I waited. Minutes ticked away. Then more. The sky darkened as the sun set behind the trees. Still, she remained unconscious.
I looked at her, then asked, "Any estimate how long she'll recover?"
"I don't know," Morrígan answered. "It will all depend upon the strength of her soul and the desire to live of her mind."
I gazed down at the girl once more. Even sleeping, she did not appear weak. There was something… fierce on her face. Something stubborn.
I considered departing.
Something kept me from doing so.
Just as I rose from my crouch, prepared to depart—
Her fingers convulsed.
And then her eyes snapped open—silver light glowing dimly. She stared at me.
I remained immobile.
Her eyes were filled with confusion at first. Then with anger. Her lips parted and she breathed—
"Why you…"
Her silver eyes blazed at mine, furious and wild.
I hadn't a chance to speak before she screamed—and attacked.
Blade first.
I just had time to move out of the way.
Her sword sliced across my left arm, glancing deep enough to bleed. Fire coursed through me. I stumbled backward, cradling the wound.
What the hell?!
She was quick—too quick. And although she was obviously still hurt, that blow had almost severed my arm. If she hadn't been weakened, I was certain I'd be dead now.
"You're… not getting away this time…"
she snarled through gritted teeth.
Her position faltered, but she never dropped her stare. She thought I was that specter. The same one she'd just battled with. And being as demented as she is, maybe, anything was peril to her.
"I'm not the ghost!" I bellowed, waving both hands in the air—even the bloody one. "I'm not whom you fought!"
She didn't lower the knife.
I came to fetch you after the battle," I tried to keep my tone steady. "You fainted. I gave you a recovery pill. I rescued you!"
She blinked, hesitated for a bit, but did not say anything.
Was she still dazed?
"I am not your foe!" I shouted louder, infuriated. "I rescued your life!"
That finally hit home.
Her gun dropped only inches. Her shoulders eased—just barely. Her breathing was still difficult and uneven, but the blaze in her eyes subsided.
She glared at me as if she had no idea what to believe… but at least for now, she wasn't attempting to kill me.
There was tension between us.
I breathed slowly, holding onto my bleeding arm. "Damn,","you're intimidating."
She teetered on her feet, still holding onto her sword like she wasn't sure if she believed me yet. I could see the pain, confusion… and tiredness in her eyes.
Then, suddenly, her legs went out from beneath her.
"Hey—!" I moved quickly, catching her before she fall on the ground.
Her sword droped on the ground near us as she slumped over onto my shoulder. Out cold. Again.
I laid her down carefully and checked her pulse—weak, but steady.
"She fainted again," I snapped, wiping the blood off my arm with a ripped piece of cloak. "Terrific."
"Expected," Morrígan said clinically inside my head. "Her body hasn't caught up yet. She overdid it."
"No kidding," I growled.
I gazed down at her. Even unconscious, she had this intense aura about her. She'd nearly killed me on reflex alone. Whatever-or-whomever-she-was, she wasn't normal.
I leaned back against the boulder.
"Well," I growled to no one in particular, "guess I'm now babysitting a unknown girl."
I rested against the tree, gazing at the girl and the edge of the forest. The woods were silent once more, but my senses remained heightened. That cut on my arm ached, and I didn't exactly have a stash of healing pills for myself.
That's when it occurred.
A gentle chime echoed in my mind, followed by a flash of light in my vision.
[SYSTEM MISSION TRIGGERED]
Mission Type: Emergency
Title:
Objective: "Keep the unconscious soulbound target safe for the next 10 minutes."
Difficulty: Unknown
Time Limit: 10:00
Reward: +50 Soul Points, Bonus Item (???)
My eyes opened. "Morrígan… what in the world is going on here?"
The girl still has an aura of soulbound energy. Most likely part of the system," she said. "Her unstable condition has attracted attention."
"Attention from what?"
Just in time, the wind changed—and I heard it.
Movement. Quick. More than one.
From the darkness among the trees, I saw glowing eyes.
One set.
Two.
Four.
More.
Figure emerged—half-form spirits, crawling and dragging themselves out with twisted limbs. Their bodies shifted like smoke, hardly solid, but extremely present.
I stood up quickly, my heart thumping.
"Ten minutes?" I grumbled, clutching the Scythe of Echoing Souls as it solidified in my hand.
"Morrígan," I growled through gritted teeth, "begin the timer."
"Yes, Host," she answered.
10:00… 9:59… 9:58…
The spirits charged.
I stood before the girl, ready to fight.
[To Be Continued]