I was happy to feel Clara's warmth again when she suddenly jumped on me. Her arms locking tightly around my neck, her legs wrapping firmly around my waist like she never wanted to let go.
I caught her steadying herself, and hugged her back. But after a long moment, she still didn't let go. That's when I felt the wet warmth soaking into my shoulder, her tears.
"Hey, Clara, what's wrong?" My voice was soft, but I could already hear the small sobs breaking through her breath.
She pressed her face harder against me, her voice cracking.
"Mistress Elunara and I were so worried about you! You just… vanished with no trace. We thought you'd disappeared forever…"
I sighed and gently rubbed her back, feeling her trembling against me. "Hey, you don't need to cry," I said softly, patting her head. "I'm sorry I made you worry. But I'm fine now."
She pulled back slightly, just enough for me to see her tear-streaked face. Her lips quivered as she shouted,
"No, you're lying! Every time you disappear, you come back hurt. So why are you smiling? Why are you calm? Why don't you cry?"
Her voice hit me like a punch, sharper than I expected. She wasn't just crying, she was hurting for me.
Nellie stood quietly at the door, her expression unreadable, but her thoughts hanging in the air.
There are people who care about Ash just as much as Vanarion does.
Clara's sobs grew heavier, her arms tightening around me with an almost desperate strength. I tilted my head slightly to catch her gaze.
"Clara," I said gently. "Look at me."
But she wouldn't. Her face stayed buried in my shoulder, her tears soaking through my shirt as though my arms were the only safe place she had left. I sighed and brushed her damp hair back.
The only way to calm her was to shift the moment. "Clara," I tried again, my voice firmer yet kind. "Do you see the collar on my neck?"
She froze, blinking up at me, her lashes clumped with tears. "Yeah… why do you have a collar?"
"Can you take it off? It's draining my energy, and I can't remove it myself."
She slid down from me reluctantly, wiping her wet cheeks with the back of her hand, her breathing uneven. She studied the collar, her fingers hesitating near my skin. Then she suddenly squinted, her voice sharp but shaky.
"You're wrecked. First, take a shower," she said, her tone half-scolding, half-worried.
I gave her a small smile, relieved that her mood was shifting. "Okay, I will. Just take care of Nellie for me. Oh, this is Nellie, by the way. Nellie, this is Clara."
Before she could ask more questions, I turned and started down the hallway.
"Okayyy…" Clara called after me with a sniff, a faint grin forming. "Is she your girlfriend, Young Master?"
I didn't respond. I was already gone. Although, could a human date an impurity? Maybe it was possibly, but such bonds ended with the human soul being corrupted, loosing humanity to their demonic side.
Clara puffed her cheeks in frustration but grabbed Nellie's hand, gently tugging her to sit beside her. "You'll tell me later," she muttered under her breath, still sniffling.
---
Somewhere outside, in a home surrounded by endless farmland, a figure stood in the open compound, posture rigid, as if he'd been waiting all evening. The warm light from the house spilled across the yard, casting long shadows. His eyes, sharp and faintly yellow, glimmered in the dim light.
A man approached, boots crunching against the dirt path. "Kuzen," he called, voice careful but stern. "What did you want to talk about?"
Kuzen turned, his golden hair catching the light as his gaze sharpened like a blade.
"I want to join the Hunter's Department," he said firmly.
The man's response was immediate, unyielding. "No. You'll join the Exorcist's Department. We've discussed this already, and my answer won't change."
"But Dad," Kuzen's voice rose, his tone desperate, "I want to be a hunter! I want nothing to do with ghosts or demons or spirits!"
"You can't go into the dungeons," his father snapped. "It's for your own good. You'll take the Exorcists' Department and that's final."
The man turned on his heel and walked away, his silhouette shrinking into the night.
Kuzen stayed rooted, his jaw tightening as he stared at the fading figure. He couldn't wrap his mind around why his father hated the idea of him stepping into the dungeons.
---
Later, as I took a shower, steam curling around me, water trailing down my skin, my gaze shifted to the scar on my chest reflected in the mirror.
Tomorrow, I'm going to the academy… but I feel uneasy. I missed the enrollment days, and Van is still missing.
I stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around my waist, when a voice startled me.
"So, you disappeared and came back whole… again?"
I spun around and Grandma Elunara was standing behind me. "Grandma! When did you come back?"
She leaned against the doorframe, arms folded, her gaze sharp and searching. "I should be asking you that. What happened to you? You made me worry sick."
I exhaled slowly, "I was taken somewhere by some men. I think this time they had a solid plan to finish me for good.
Her brows furrowed. "Were they trying to open the seal? Or summon him out?" She began walking closer, worry in her expression and spun my frail body around with brutal force I almost kissed the floor.
"Gosh, you're too weak. Hold still and let me take a closer look at what they did."
"Calm down Grandma," I said, tightening my grip on the towel around my waist that almost fell. "They didn't try to do any of that. I wouldn't be here if that was what they were after."
"Hold still." When her eyes traced the huge circular scar of the cutting her brows creased and she gently trailed her fingers on the seal. "Does it still hurt?" She asked, voice low.
I shook my head and I sured her it didn't hurt anymore and she should worry at all.
Her expression stayed calm, but I could sense the quickened beat of her heart even without her showing it. My Grandma was forced to suppress her emotions around me, because mine weren't always stable. Afraid any moment I would snap at the slightest flicker of emotional damage.
"Do you know where your Yoda is? I couldn't find him anywhere." She finally asked. "The day I felt you in the city he was home when I came back. But when I went back to look for you, He wasn't home when I came back again."
"I have no idea Grandma. But wherever he is, I can tell his safe for now." I added quietly, not trying to dwell on that. "Can I get a temporary spirit, Grandma?"
She paused, her voice low and thoughtful. "Do you think it will work? Vanarion was an exception because he evolved through your emotions. I doubt another spirit would handle a pack with you. So the only option is to find your spirit.
She sighed and turned toward the hallway. "Once you're done, join us for dinner and we'll try, but if it fails, I'll find Vanarion myself. Your friend said she's good at searching, so she will give me a hand."
Friend? What friend? Nellie!?
For a moment, I just froze, unable to call back to Grandma. Nellie's presence as a ghost impurity had gone unnoticed by Grandma and Clara who is a spirit herself. Something about her was definitely off.
Tomorrow new challenges start. I have to be ready for anything.
.
.
Back in June of a certain year. When the people of Aderfel had begun to adjust to a life shaped by fear, disguise, bravery, wisdom, and uncertain blessings. Everything changed.
It followed the great attack sixteen years ago. An invasion by creatures known as Malgeds that were once thought to only exist in legends. People believed they came from unknown dimensions. Since then, birth rates surged but so did the fear of the unknown.
Behind the sealed doors of council chambers and silent government courts, Aderfel quietly transformed. A facility was secretly established to ensure the safety of its people, and to quietly exile those labeled as outsiders.
In the city of Elaria, one such response took form; an academy known as Wilson Castalis, a prestigious institution for elite Hunters [dungeon runners] and Exo-hunters [exorcists and slayers].
The academy operates under a strange yet refined structure. Students may enroll after completing secondary education whether at standard or intermediate level.
Hunters are trained to master their abilities, refine their swordsmanship, and confront the threats lurking within dungeons [Malgeds]
Exo-hunters on the other hand learn to banish evil spirits, exorcise ghosts and slay demons [Netherkins] often by trading their natural born powers for spiritual ones through forming pacts with powerful spirits.
But some people don't survive these pacts, either the spirit rejects them, proves too wild to tame, or overwhelms their will entirely.
The generation-abilities, the will to manipulate water, fire, wind, sand, or sound from natural elements or self manifested are useless against Netherkins except for a rare few exceptions.
Spirits are remnants of the great attack sixteen years ago. Impurities that lingered longer unable to cross to the other side and found purpose from human emotions through bonding. They are either Malgeds, humans or animals.
Some of these impurity are angry, restless, and capable of spreading chaos throughout the cities.
While hunters pursue the creatures responsible for the devastation. These entities are found deep within the dungeons scattered throughout Adafio Woods, labyrinths that first appeared sixteen years ago and continue to grow, as if summoned by unseen hands.
These dungeons rarely shift once they appear but some are alive with traps, mobs, and dungeon bosses.
Some Malgeds can mimic human forms and enter the city for various reasons. Many have even married humans and had children with them.
Although most people can't distinguish them from real humans, I, on the other hand, can easily tell them apart.
Hunters benefit in many ways through collecting Aether crystals also known as Essencia crystals found deep within these dungeons, using them for various purposes and in many forms.
But among them, people call me a Dustborn. A name spat like dirt, a label meant for those with no power to speak of. Yet they fear what I carry.