《Freeing Spirits》


 Magic Guide

    Spooks


    A spook can be either an entity or a job title, or both. Spooks as entities have the natural ability to see and detect the presence of ghosts. They also have the ability to cast spirit wards, perform exorcisms, make physical contact with a ghost, and annihilate ghosts with their bare hands. Spooks are hired to get rid of spirits that haunt or harm others. With a witch¡¯s help, all of these abilities can be enchanted into objects like spell tags or magic substitutions so that humans and witches can also take on jobs as spooks.


    Abilities


    -Sight: spooks will naturally see a ghost even when it''s invisible to others. Less experienced spooks may confuse unaware ghosts with living people if they do not rely on their ghost sense.


    -Ghost sense: spooks can feel a spirit¡¯s emotions¨Cusually more intense ones like regret, anger, and sorrow¨Cas clearly as their own. If a ghost is not emoting, their presence will be sensed by a general feeling of unease. Ghost senses are natural, but it may have to be learned (to distinguish a spook¡¯s own emotions from the ghost¡¯s) or honed (to more accurately pinpoint a ghost¡¯s location).


    -Spirit Wards: A spook can use their hands to cast a ward on anything with a soul, such as a ghost, or a living being (including people and animals), forcing distance between them. How far and how long a target will be warded depends on how powerful the spook is.


    Tags: Ward spell tags can be placed around a property or object to prevent ghosts from nearing it. Their magic will fade over time, and powerful spirits that are possessing people or objects may be able to bypass them.


    -Exorcisms: A spook can exorcize a spirit that is possessing a living being or an object.


    Tags: If a spirit is possessing someone/something, an exorcism tag will expel the spirit from them. Exorcism tags can also be used in combination with a witch''s confinement spell (or spell tag) to annihilate a spirit that isn''t possessing anything.


    -Contact: Spooks can make physical contact with a ghost even when it''s intangible. Doing so uses a lot of power, though.


    -Annihilation: A spook is usually hired by someone to get rid of ghosts. While ghosts can be made to leave the world and move on to the afterlife by resolving their unfinished business, they can also be ''killed'' by annihilation. Annihilating a ghost means it does not get to move on to the afterlife; it simply ceases to exist.


    Tools of the Trade


    The naturally-enchanted properties of certain woods and metals shaped into a weapon will allow said weapon to make physical contact with a ghost. They can also help a spook focus their natural abilities, particularly their sight, more easily.


    People without natural powers or abilities may use these weapons to work as a spook as well, but without the aid of enchanted objects they would not be able to see or sense invisible ghosts to use these weapons effectively.


    -Wooden Staffs: the most common and accessible weapon for a spook. A staff can be imbued with additional metals (such as steel or silver) to inflict more damage on a ghost. Staffs can come in many shapes and sizes, including scythes.


    -Silver or Steel: weapons forged from steel or silver are also effective on ghosts. These weapons can include any type of blades (like knives or swords), sickles, etc.


    -Spell tags: tags made from witches¡¯ spells can also affect ghosts, but only when applied to an enchanted weapon.


    -Enchanted Objects: like with spell tags, objects enchanted by a witch (such as Boosters or Magic Substitutions) can benefit a spook in their fight with a ghost.


    ____


    Witches


    Witches have the power to cast spells from their hands and to enchant items. Using a wand will allow them to cast their spells on distant targets.


    Spells


    -Confinement: This traps a soul or an otherwise non-physical being or element inside of a physical object.


    Tags: Legal, but low-powered as to only be used on ghosts or weaker elements, and the effect of the tag creates a barrier the target is trapped in. The effects of the tag are temporary.


    -Stun: This acts more like a taser. It sends a shock through the target to temporarily immobilize them. It is a branch off of elemental summons, but tags for them are legal.


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    Tags: Legal


    -Shield: Witches can summon a protective barrier, ranging from a shield to a bubble. It can also be thrown or used as an object to strike something with.


    Tags: Legal


    -Levitation: Witches can levitate themselves and can move objects with magic. But the heavier the object, the more power is required to levitate it, including their own bodies.


    Tags: nonexistent


    -Teleportation: witches can teleport themselves or objects, but the distance is limited to how powerful they are, and there''s a cool down period of time before the witch can teleport again regardless of distance and power.


    Tags: nonexistent


    -Illusion: Witches can conjure fake visuals of anything, but illusions are an art; it takes practice and skill to make an illusion look realistic or ''interact'' with the environment.


    Tags: Legal, but rare and expensive


    -Dispels: These can be used to end others'' spells such as illusions, shields, or enchantments. However, the amount of power needed to dispel something needs to be equal to or greater than the power of the spell they wish to stop.


    Tags: obsolete, but were common enough in the past to still be found


    -Disfigurement: This is used similarly to dispels, except it only temporarily disrupts the spells, and weaker witches can still use it to disrupt more powerful spells.


    Tags: Legal. Using these tags on a ghost will make it temporarily lose its shape.


    -Seals: Witches can place seals on others to stop or stunt their magic. However, they need to have a blood pact¨Ctemporary or otherwise¨Cwith someone in order to put a seal on them, and even still, sealing and even unsealing both require a lot of power.


    Tags: nonexistent


    -Elemental Summons: Witches can conjure lightning, fire, and water from their hands or wands, and they can manipulate water into ice or evaporate it. They can also elevate chunks of the earth or create fissures in the earth. This requires a LOT of power, though.


    Tags: illegal


    -Enchantment: Witches can enchant objects with spells. That object will then be able to cast the spell they are enchanted with. This is commonly used to enchant ''spell tags'' that non-witches can use.


    Enchantments


    The average witch only has enough power to give an object a single-use enchantment with a common spell. Witches commonly enchant spell tags for a living to sell to those who lack magic so the buyers can use those spells through the tags. Tags for elemental magic are illegal to sell or buy, though. Tags can be re-enchanted, but finding someone willing or able to re-enchant a tag is harder than just buying a new tag from a hex shop.


    Witches with more power can give an object a permanent enchantment, and/or allow for unique enchantments, such as creating Nullifiers, Boosters, or Magic Substitutions. Unique enchantments can also include enhancing an object''s existing function (i.e. allowing a compass to point to any specific object). More creatively, witches might aim for the opposite effect (such as enchanting an eyepatch to enhance your vision).


    Off the market, more powerful witches can combine elemental, levitation, or teleportation spells to enchant objects, usually weapons or accessories.


    Enchanted Objects


    -Spell tags: every common witch¡¯s spell can be used through a tag enchanted with that spell, and tags can be bought from hex shops. Each tag is single-use, but can be recharged by a witch.


    -Nullifiers: accessories, usually pendants or necklaces, that can be used to stunt or seal the wearer¡¯s natural power. This can apply to both spooks and witches. These are obsolete, but they used to be common enough that there are still plenty that exist.


    -Boosters: accessories that can condense the wearer¡¯s magic to increase the power of their spells, but it does drain more power from the wearer to compensate. This can let a witch bypass the cooldown period for teleportation as well. These are rare and expensive.


    -Magic Substitutions: accessories that can be enchanted with the powers of either a witch or a spook, but not both in the same object. The wearer will gain the basics of those powers, but they are typically a lot weaker than the average witch or spook¡¯s natural power. These are extremely rare and obsolete.


    Cooperation


    Witches can work together to enchant an object or to enhance each other''s spells. Witches can combine their powers by way of a blood pact (temporary or permanent). The more witches involved in a blood pact, the more power each of them has when drawing forth from that pact. Permanent blood pacts allow one witch to borrow power from another at any time and from anywhere, and permanent pacts can only be made voluntarily.


    Temporary pacts can let a witch borrow power from anyone¡¯s blood they happen to have access to, whether or not someone gave that blood voluntarily. These pacts are made from the blood itself, and can only draw from the power that is in that blood. The more blood, or the more powerful a witch the blood is from, the more power can be drawn from it. Usually this pact is harmless and voluntary. However, some witches may harm or even kill others for their blood if nobody volunteers to help them.


    ____


    Hybrids


    Witch/Spook hybrid:  Someone who is born of a witch and a spook has an even chance of having either parent¡¯s powers, or both of their parents¡¯ powers.


    Spook/Human hybrid: Someone born from a spook and a human will have an even chance of having a spook¡¯s powers, or no powers at all.


    Witch/Human hybrid: Someone born from a witch and a human will inherit the witch''s powers, but they may be weaker than their pure blooded witch parent.

 Ghost Guide

    Ghosts


    Ghosts are the lingering souls of the deceased, bound to the world by their unfinished business.


    Abilities:


    -Invisibility: ghosts can effortlessly choose to become visible or invisible at will.


    -Intangibility: ghosts are intangible by default. They can make physical contact with worldly objects or people, but it uses a lot of their energy.


    -Levitation: ghosts themselves can effortlessly levitate. They can also levitate worldly objects or people, but it uses a lot of their energy.


    -Possession: ghosts can mentally or physically possess worldly objects, including people. This requires a high amount of energy that most ghosts do not have. Mental possession allows a ghost to see into their target''s memories and control what their target sees and feels. Physical possession is taking control of their target¡¯s body.


    -Shape-shifting: by default, ghosts look the same way they did in life. But since ghosts don''t have a physical body, they can effortlessly shape themselves into any form. Consumed ghosts may instinctually take on a form that reflects their emotional state.


    Energy


    Each ghost''s level of energy varies per individual.  A heightened emotional state during or as a result of their death increases their energy limits as a ghost.  Otherwise, ghosts tend to only have enough energy that''s required for them to finish their life''s business.


    Each night, the moon will restore the energy a ghost spends on abilities that require it.


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    Mobility


    -Haunters: a ghost who is a haunter can only go where the target of their haunting goes. They can haunt a person, a place, or an object that''s important to them.


    -Poltergeists: ghosts that cannot leave a specific area, often an area that was important to them in life, but the area they''re trapped in may also be the place they died in.


    -Roamers: ghosts that are free to travel. A roamer''s unfinished business may require them to travel to a specific place or meet a specific person, but roamers may get lost along the way.


    Goals


    -Content: a ghost who is content doesn''t care about moving on to the afterlife.


    -Seekers: a ghost who is a seeker will actively be trying to move on to the afterlife by finishing their life¡¯s business.


    -Consumed: a consumed ghost wants to move on to the afterlife, but either doesn''t know how to, or doesn''t want to do what is required to move on. Consumed spirits may instinctually take on the form of monsters.


    -Lost: a ghost who doesn''t know what their unfinished business is. Lost ghosts who have spent too long on earth may lose their humanity. Humanity includes knowledge of their lifetime, their ability to speak, their visual appearance in life, their cause of death, etc.


    Roamers and unaware ghosts are more likely to become lost.


    Awareness


    -Aware: a ghost who is ¡®aware¡¯ knows that they are dead.


    -Unaware: a ghost who is ¡®unaware¡¯ does not know that they are dead. These are more commonly children who are too young to grasp the concept of death, or anyone who may be in denial of their own death.


    Needs


    Ghosts do not need to eat, drink, sleep, etc, but they can choose to.  They still have all of their senses, but ghosts who are too weak to interact with worldly beings or objects may forget what their sense of touch and taste feel like.


    Summary


    A ghost can be a combination of any of these types. For example, a ghost may be a content, aware, haunter (meaning they aren''t driven to move on to the afterlife, they''re aware they''re dead, and they are unable to go far from someone or something).

 Extras (Characters Art & Animations)

<hr>


    Meet the characters:


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 Episode 1: Promises

    Gadalik wrapped his green robe tighter around his body, both to keep warm and to prevent the chilling wind from stealing it. Usually he''d carry a staff with him--a weapon capable of harming intangible ghosts, although his main use for it was to differentiate spirits from the living, as it was for those who could see the dead--and if it hadn''t broken during a fight with a violent ghost three days prior, Gadalik would''ve used it to help trudge through the piling snow. He never realized how much he relied on it until it was gone.


    Black clouds ahead were spreading over the evening sky with suggestion of a storm fast approaching, but luckily for him he was winning in their race to town.


    He crossed the gateway, turned around, and pulled out a crinkled map which he then flattened against the inner-side of it, letting the wind pin the paper for him to gain his bearings. It depicted an inn nearby and so, rolling up the map to slip inside his robe''s inner pocket, he dragged himself to it.


    People were already rushing to the shelter of their homes. Gadalik would have done the same if he lived there; alas, he''d only known where this town resided from the aforementioned map his adoptive-mother Glacia gave him to find her if there was an emergency.


    She had gone to meet her boyfriend Gale in the village yonder, and while she told Gadalik to stay home, he couldn''t ignore the letter he received the day after she left. A good portion of the ink had been melted off from having went through the mail slot to land in the slush that had seeped under the door of their house, although the address and the need for help were still clear.


    By the time he reached his destination, hail had begun to fall. Gadalik grabbed at the door handle blindly with his numbing hand and gently pulled it open--the gales suddenly blew it outward with force that would''ve broke his nose had he been any later dodging it. He used it as leverage to pull himself through the entryway, and tugged it shut behind him.


    The air inside was thick from the space heaters stationed around the lobby. A few tables were set up, and an older man was sitting at one of them, drinking a beverage. Pins and needles rushed through Gadalik as his sense of touch returned. He took a moment to adjust to the more pleasant temperature, then rummaged in his left inner coat pocket, retrieving his wallet before asking the clerk if there was an available room.


    She looked concerned when she replied, "Yes, there''s one left. But the fuse to it is out... It doesn''t have lights or heat."


    That''s still better than becoming a snowman. "I''ll take it." Gadalik withdrew some crumpled cash and handed it to her.


    "Oh, dear... You''re a couple dollars short, there," she informed him.


    He grimaced. That''s awfully expensive for a room, especially one without heat or lighting...


    "Need help, young man?" said the elder at the table.


    "Um..." Gadalik didn''t want to ask someone for money, but he didn''t want to sleep in a hailstorm either.


    "How much does he owe you, miss?"


    "$2.15..." the clerk answered.


    "Here." The man gave her three silver coins. "Enjoy your stay, young man."


    "I really appreciate this," Gadalik said, genuinely surprised and grateful to him. "Here, let me repay you." He pulled out lunchbag from right inner pouch and offered the equivalent amount of food to him.


    The man declined. "You''re that spook from the newspapers, correct? I''ve been expecting you. I''m Finley. You can repay me with a favor. Meet me here at noon tomorrow. Until then, get some rest, lad." With that, the man returned to his seat.


    The clerk handed Gadalik a key labeled ''206.'' "It''s on the second floor; the last on the right," she specified. When he started for the staircase, she called out, "And be mindful not to lose that key! The spare one is missing."


    The second-story hallway had three rooms on either side, with a small ceiling light between each of them. The bulb at the end was flickering. Gadalik fished out a pack of matches with one hand and pushed his key into the knob of Room 206 with his other. The door popped open as soon as the key was turned. I''ll have to lock it once I''m inside if I want it to stay shut...


    He had to yank the door in order to close it all the way, then reentered the key from the inside and turned it. The door fought to reopen, but it held. Gadalik then swiped a match against the pack until it sparked into a flame, illuminating enough for him to spot some candles in holders clinging to the wall on both sides of the doorway, which he thankfully lit. There was a single bed in the corner with a window across from it, and... A child?


    He rubbed the half-frozen tears from his eyes, confirming that a little girl about five years old was in front of the window. She was pale, staring wide-eyed back at him with both fear and curiosity.


    "Um... Hello," Gadalik greeted her, uncertain as to what else he should do.


    The girl silently stood up and backed away from the curtains, her gaze never leaving him. Her clothes were unravelled at the extremities, and he realized some of the dark spots he previously assumed were shadows were actually stains. I doubt her family could afford a room... They must have taken the spare key to sneak in here. "Are you alone? I mean, where are your parents?"


    At first she said nothing, averting her eyes melancholically. "Mommy went out before the hail started... She hasn''t come back yet."


    He knelt to her level but didn''t approach her. "Don''t worry. Your mom probably found someplace else to stay until the storm passes."


    "But why?"


    "It''s dangerous to be out in this weather. She''d have to go inside somewhere to keep warm. I''m sure she''ll come back for you when it''s safer out."


    "Really?"


    "Really." Unless there was nowhere she could find... He shoved the thought from his head. "My name''s Gadalik. What''s yours?"


    "...Bianca."


    "Well, Bianca, I have this bag full of food, and I don''t think I can eat it all by myself. Do you want some?"


    For the first time, she smiled. "Yes, please!!"


    Cold night air leaked in from the window, trying its best to snuff out the last of the candlelight. Gadalik had made himself a pallet on the floor, while Bianca took the bed. She''d encouraged him to share it with her, but he didn''t want her mother to walk in and find him that close to her.


    Most people seemed to assume the worst of strangers these days.


    He didn''t mind the lack of heat and comfort that much, but the sound of ice crashing against the roof and outer walls was keeping him awake...and he was exhausted.


    "Gadalik...?" she whispered. "When will the storm be over?"


    "I don''t know," he mumbled. I only had enough to pay for tonight...so hopefully it''ll pass before dawn.


    "...Will you stay with me until she comes back...?"


    He hesitated. I can''t leave her alone... And if I tell the clerk she''s here, Bianca and her mother will probably be kicked out and homeless. I can''t afford another day here, though... "Let''s give her some time to come back before we think about that, alright? Try to get some sleep."


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    Gadalik awoke surprisingly early. Opening the curtains to let the sunlight in, he realized the morning sky was clear. "Hey, Bianca," he began, but stopped when he saw she wasn''t in the bed. He looked under it, then finally toward the door.


    Bianca was sleeping propped up against it. She stirred from his voice. "Is Mommy back, yet...?"


    "No... Not yet," he said, forcing himself to sound optimistic. "But I''m going to be heading into town, so I''ll keep an eye out for her. What does your mother look like? Would you tell me her name?"


    "She has white hair, like mine... And she has gray eyes, and light skin, like mine. Her name is...Mommy..." She yawned.


    "...Alright, I''ll be back soon. You stay put, okay?" He walked out of the room, heading downstairs.


    "Good morning," said the clerk when he returned the key to her. "How was your stay?"


    "It was...great, thanks." He couldn''t disguise the lie very well. When she glared at him, he shied back. "S-sorry. It was...helpful,," he corrected himself. He looked around the lobby, hoping to see Bianca''s mother enter at any second.


    "Expecting someone?"


    "Uh..."


    Gadalik wasn''t sure if he should mention the woman; if his suspicions were true, she was a squatter who stole the spare key to the room, and he didn''t want them getting in trouble. I''ll just be vague. "Actually, I was wondering if you saw a woman leave here yesterday? She apparently left right before the storm, and I just want to make sure she''s okay."


    "Sorry, I''m not obligated to tell you of my patrons'' whereabouts."


    "...I understand." He went out the door and into the empty street. One by one, people began to populate it, and one by one Gadalik described the woman to them. The responses he received were far from helpful:


    "Doesn''t she work at the deli?" No. "She left town weeks ago." Bianca stated she was there before the storm, which was yesterday. "My friend is also searching for her. Strange he doesn''t know her name, either..." "Sounds like the one who''s been making goo-goo eyes at my husband. They went that way. When you find them, deliver a message to my Bartie, will you?"


    Gadalik ventured in that direction and came across a middle-aged bearded man with a younger woman...the latter having very dark brown eyes. That''s not her... "Bartie?"


    "It''s Batholomew. You need somethin'', kid?" the man huffed.


    Gadalik looked at the wedding ring on the guy''s finger. "Um... Your wife...Cheryl..."


    "Go on. Spit it out."


    "S-she said she wants a divorce."


    Bartie''s face turned red with anger. "Why, that no-good little...!" He took off his ring and threw it. "She couldn''t even say that to my face?! I oughta..."


    Gadalik backed away slowly, then ran.


    By noon, he reentered the inn and sat down, defeated, at a table in the lobby. He knew he''d have to face Bianca sooner or later with no news of her mother.


    "Ah, you made it." The man whom helped pay Gadalik''s room fee approached the table. He sat down across from the robed teen and ordered tea for the both of them, casually sipping it once it arrived.


    Gadalik added a sugar cube to his and stirred it in...and kept stirring, absently watching the whirlpool in his cup.


    "Is something troubling you, young man?"


    "...Yes." A gut feeling told Gadalik he could trust Finley. "There was a little girl in the room I stayed in last night... She said her mother disappeared. I asked around, but nobody seems to know where or who she could be."


    The man put his drink down. "Bianca... So you really are that spook. Garlic, was it?"


    He chuckled. "It''s pronounced ''gad-uh-lick''. You''re the one who sent me the letter, right?"


    "Yes. At first I didn''t believe a youngster like you could have so much experience with ghosts. You''re only, what, sixteen?"


    "I turned seventeen a week ago," Gadalik politely corrected him.


    "Yes, of course. When I saw who your parents were, though, I figured you''d be at least decent, so I''d like to ask for your help." Finley sipped the tea. "You see, my daughter Alma--Bianca''s mother--is deceased. I want you to summon Alma to prove to Bianca that she''s not with us anymore."


    "I...I''m sorry. I can''t summon spirits from the other world; I''m not a medium who can channel them, either. All I can do is assist a spirit to move from this world to the next by helping them resolve their unfinished business."


    Finley nodded slowly. "Hmm. Then you can still be of service. Alma went out to find our dog right before a storm like this one hit, just last month... She locked Bianca in the room you stayed in and promised to be back with our dog before the storm got too bad, but...she died out there." Finley added sugar to his cup. "Bianca refused to leave that room ever since. Nothing I say can persuay her--she won''t move until she sees Alma."


    Gadalik tasted the tea despite having no appetite. "Does the clerk know she''s there?"


    "She knows of Bianca, but that doesn''t stop her from renting the room out if it means having a paying customer. Lots of bad things have happened to that room over the months, however, that deters most people from renting it... Some say it''s cursed. Our dog sure seemed to think so; that''s why he fled the first night we moved in. Most recently, there was an electrical fire and the fuse blew out. Nobody''s been willing to go in there to repair it."


    "That explains it..."


    "Poor Bianca was inside when it happened... Even if you can''t bring Alma''s spirit to her, you must have some other tactics for dealing with the dead. So, here" --Finley handed him the key labelled ''206''-- "see what you can do for Bianca."


    "Alright. I''ll talk to her." Gadalik stood up, tucked his chair in, and went back upstairs. He paused in front of the door, then finally turned the key. It popped open once again, revealing the little girl behind it.


    "Yay, you''re back!" Bianca cheered. "Did you find Mommy?"


    I should''ve thought this through... "I didn''t... But your grandpa found her, a long time ago."


    Instantly, she crossed her arms and stomped her foot. "I don''t care what Grampa says. Mommy said she''d come back for me, and I believe her."


    "Your mom would have come back to you, but she can''t now," Gadalik tried again. "She''s gone someplace she can''t come back from."


    "But you said you said you were sure she''d come back when it was safer outside..."


    "I know I did... That was before I knew where she was."


    "You know where she is?"


    He gulped. "She''s in a different world now."


    "Well I''ll wait ''til she comes back to this world," she repeated with finality.


    "She can''t, Bianca. She''d be here if she could."


    "Why can''t she?"


    "Because...she''s..." The sentence trailed off.


    "Dead?" Bianca snorted. "That''s what Grampa said. But Grampa says death is sleeping for a long time. That means Mommy will come back when she wakes up."


    "No... Death is like sleeping, but it means never waking up again."


    "Never waking up...?" she echoed, confused and saddened.


    He nodded ever so slightly. "At least, your body is. Your soul moves on to a world beyond this one, and it can''t come back here easily..."


    Bianca was quiet for a few moments, his words sinking in. Then she broke down and wailed. "It''s not fair! She promised to come back...!"


    Gadalik let her vent it out, fighting to prevent unwanted memories from resurfacing.


    "I know this spirit seems like the scariest one yet, but I promise your father and I will beat it. So don''t worry about us so much," his mother chuckled. "We''ve defeated every one up until now, haven''t we, Gadalik? We''ll win this time, too. Besides, who will take Glacia''s boat back to her if we lose?"


    "Sometimes things can break promises, even if a person doesn''t," he murmured.


    She eventually calmed down, though tears still dripped down her cheeks. "Really...?"


    "Yes. I know how you feel... My parents were also dead when I was a few years older than you."


    Bianca sniffled. "What did you do?"


    "Someone else stepped up to take care of me," he explained, and brought the map into view.


    "But it''s not the same from someone else... That person''s not your mom..."


    "True. But she loves me as much as my real mother did... Just like your grandpa loves you."


    "But I''ve been so mean to Grampa... I yelled at him every time he came in here... He probably hates me now," she sobbed.


    "That''s not true. He sent me a letter before I got here. He told me how much he wants to see you smile again."


    She seemed shocked by this.


    "Come on... Let''s go see him." He opened the door and lead her downstairs. She froze when she spotted her grandfather at the table.


    "Bianca?" Finley called.


    She hid shamefully behind Gadalik.


    "Come here, sweetheart... It''s okay. You''re not in any trouble."


    "Grampa... I... I''m sorry, Grampa," she cried, running into his open arms.


    "It''s alright... I love you so much, Bianca."


    "I love you, too, Grampa..."


    As their embrace tightened, Finley''s arms slowly phased through her; Bianca''s body was becoming transparent. In a matter of seconds, she was gone.


    That evening, Gadalik walked out of the inn and recognized the silhouette of someone--female, wearing a knee-length yellow dress, a blue overcoat with purple trim and shining pearls approaching him from a distance. "Glacia?"


    The woman squinted her eyes as she neared him. "Gadalik?!" She quickly hid one hand behind her back. "I didn''t expect to run into you here! I was just headed home. Gale brought a present for you--"


    He hugged her.


    Glacia was caught off guard by the sudden action, but managed to awkwardly returned it with her free hand. "What''s this for?"


    "I''m just...glad you''re here."


    "Pfft. I told you I''d be back in three days."


    "Yeah." He sniffed. "I know."


    "What are you doing out here, anyway? Ghost business?"


    Gadalik grinned and held up a gunnysack of silver dollars. She squealed with delight and messed up his striped hair by proudly patting his head. He laughed and lightly pushed her away. "Did you have fun with Gale?"


    "Sure did! I have a surprise for you, too." She revealed her other hand to show him a brand new staff. He gaped at it in shock. "When I told Gale what happened to your old one, he mentioned he received a similar one as payment for catching a bad guy. I went all that way to bring it to you!"


    Gadalik grasped it, and retained a familiar edge to his vision. If I''d had this, I would''ve known Bianca was the ghost I was supposed to help from the start. He looked back toward the only dark room on the inn''s second story.


    Then he smiled as the light came on.

 Episode 2: Irresponsibility

    <div>


    "Tuesday, the lady who had went missing after her trip to Mount Thaed has been found dead inside the old abandoned house on the eastern side of the mountain." Gadalik sat at a small dinner table, pushing aside various old spices and condiments to make room for the newspaper he had quoted. "Locals say the house is no stranger to tragedy; an elderly woman was killed during a robbery in it just last month when her unsuspecting husband allowed the criminals inside. He died from natural causes only a week later."


    "Sounds familiar. Is that the same house where that young man was killed in recently?" Glacia asked as she stacked the final clean dish between the kitchen sink and the glass cabinet that was filled with them.


    "Yes, and both of them were killed the same way. Like they were..." he hesitated, "...crushed to death."


    She shuddered. For a moment they were both quiet. "...And you still want to check it out?" she murmured, approaching him to place a comforting hand on his shoulder.


    Gadalik braced himself, then nodded with determination. "This is the second incident reported at that house since the old man there passed away. These deaths aren''t natural, Glacia."


    "You''re right... They''re super-natural." She chuckled at her own pun, hoping to liven the mood.


    Gadalik grinned and dismissively rolled his eyes. "I think they could be another poltergeist, like the little girl at the inn I told you about. Except this one is fully aware they''re a ghost, and they''re taking advantage of their new powers. I''ll have to see for myself to be sure, though."


    "It sounds more hostile than the one who broke your father''s staff," she pointed out with uncertainty.


    "Yes, and that''s why I have to stop him."


    "It doesn''t have to be you who stops him... There are other spooks who read the paper, I''m sure." The purple-haired woman leaned forward some to examine the news article. "Besides, look how far away it is."


    "We can take your cruiser," he said. Then the teenager turned to smile up at her. "Kind of like when we first met."


    Glacia simpered upon seeing her adoptive-son''s expression. She quickly looked away from him as the corners of her mouth fell with concern.


    Gadalik''s keen eyes noticed her frown anyway. He didn''t want to upset her further. "Well, it''s getting late. I should go to bed now..."


    "W-wait. I''ll take you to Mount Thaed if that''s what you truly want...alright? Just...promise me you''ll be careful."


    "I will. I promise."


    He went through the living room, mindful not to bump into the many cases filled with memorabilia from a kingdom long forgotten, then made his way upstairs, the base and top of the railings marked with flags that took up just a little too much space.


    He passed Glacia''s bedroom, seeing the second refrigerator among the myriad of different overflowing treasure chests, her bed that had more pillows than mattress with multiple blankets hanging off, and miscellaneous small items like used styrofoam plates scattered about on her floor, through her carelessly left-opened door.


    Gadalik was always tempted to clean or organize her room, despite the fact that she unintentionally trashed it soon after the last time he''d done so.


    He continued to the end of the hallway and went in his own room. Two of the four walls were lined with bookshelves, a large map of their tri-state area was on the third, and the one by the door had his dresser full of spell-tags, on which leaned his new staff. The head of his bed was against the middle of the wall across from the door, a window above it.


    He hadn''t had a chance to use it since Glacia and her long-distance boyfriend had given it to him. The chance was coming up now, and he needed to be well-rested for the trip.


    Nine-year-old Gadalik followed his mother and father inside a boat rental shop.


    "Hey, there," greeted the shopkeeper, an eighteen-year-old female with red irises and light purple hair. "My name''s Glacia. What are you looking for today?"


    "Nothing expensive. Just something that can get us across that river and back," said the man. "We can pay you after we return it tomorrow."


    "Sounds good. But stay clear of that haunted cabin on the other side, especially since you have a little kid. I heard there have been a lot of gruesome murders there recently," she warned them in a hushed voice so the child wouldn''t hear. Under her breath, she halfway-jokingly added, "It''s been murdering my business, too..."


    "Don''t worry, ma''am," said Gadalik''s mother, "we''re aware of the deaths surrounding the cabin. It won''t be a problem for us."


    The next morning they packed food and other necessities then set out to the docks. Glacia owned a lot of boats that she would rent out to customers until eight years ago, but she mainly kept three on hand for personal use: a canoe, a cruiser, and a pirate ship.


    She paused once she was finished putting their supplies in the cruiser. "Are you sure you''re alright with this...?"


    "Of course," he answered. "It''s not like you to worry so much... Have you been there before?"


    "...No. I haven''t; not exactly," she said with a laugh suggestive of another joke, but Gadalik didn''t understand it. She never elaborated.


    Glacia made room for him in the cabin of the cruiser, then set the course and took off for their day-long journey.


    The shopkeeper checked her calender to make sure she didn''t mark the dates wrong. It''s been two days since I lent the boat out to that little family, she thought. I could tell they weren''t well-off, but they didn''t seem like the kind of people who would steal. What could''ve happened to them...?


    She set her sights upon the cabin hidden by the trees of the forest across the river. She had sworn never to go near there ever since the resident of the cabin died, marking the first of many more killings in that area. They wouldn''t possibly have gone there...right? She continued to wait but her focus kept being drawn to it. There''s only one way to find out, I guess. She got in a boat herself.


    "Here we are," Glacia announced. "The base of Mount Thaed. His little house is supposedly halfway up the mountain. Ready for a trip, Gadalik?"


    "Always!" he responded, taking off his robe to reveal he had already put on his climbing gear beneath it, showing how his passion for hiking had built up his muscles over the years. That was one thing that gave him the courage to face ghosts who only talked with their fists.


    Glacia carried his robe and staff with a duffel bag of camping gear slung over her shoulder, taking the scenic path while keeping an eye on him as he found footholds and launched himself up in time with her ascent.


    A quarter-way up she spotted a spring and they took a break cooling off in the water.


    It was evening by the time they made it on even ground with the old house, but it was on the eastern side so they still had a little ways to go. He chugged some water and helped set up camp for the night.


    Glacia cautiously reached her hand to the cabin''s door. A gentle knock was enough to push it open. Great, now I can''t use ''being locked out'' as an excuse not to go in... She prepared herself for the worst as she stepped inside. There were small muddied footprints leading to a shovel on the floor, and dried blood splatters all over the wall behind her.


    The little boy from before was sitting alone in the corner, his face buried in his folded arms which rested on his knees. He was sobbing voicelessly.


    "Hey, there," she called with forced optimism.


    Immediately upon hearing someone, he grabbed the staff beside him and stood up in one quick motion, shakily clutching the weapon offensively at her in both hands.


    She held her arms partly up in surrender. "Hey--it''s alright! Remember me? I''m the one your parents got the boat from."


    He didn''t seem to recognize her at first, his skeptical blue eyes clouded with tears.


    "Speaking of your parents... Where are they...? Do you know?"


    "...It killed them," he whispered, hugging the staff to his chest and slumping down against the wall. It was then she noticed the mud on his boots.


    The morning light leaked in through the tent, waking Gadalik. This was the day to confront the murderous spirit. He pulled on his robe, packed up food and water, and reached for his staff, only for his hand to grip the air. Confused, he searched through his organized tent for anywhere else his exhausted self might''ve mistakenly put it, but it was gone.


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    The blue-eyed teen stepped outside to see Glacia standing in front of her tent, staring toward the rising sun. In her hands was his staff.


    Gadalik walked up to his adoptive mother, stopping before he was beside her to follow her gaze. "It''s beautiful out at this hour, isn''t it?"


    She looked back at him, silhouetted, and motioned him forward with her hand. He stood at her side and two watched silently as the pink sky faded to blue.


    "Are you ready to go...?" he prompted.


    She nodded and lowered his staff to use as a walking stick. He didn''t mind it.


    By the time the house came into view, he walked ahead of Glacia and held his arm out protectively in front of her. "There''s an old man on the porch," he said. "I can''t tell if he''s a potential victim or if he''s the poltergeist unless I have my staff..."


    "I can''t see him," Glacia reported. "That means he''s the ghost."


    "Alright... That answers that." He sighed. "I''ll try to reason with him, but judging by how brutal he was to the people found dead in his home, I''m not sure if he''ll listen. I need my staff as a way to defend myself if he attacks me."


    Glacia gripped it tighter even though he wasn''t reaching for it.


    "You can stay here... But I can''t face him without a weapon," he explained.


    "...That''s the point," she finally spoke.


    Gadalik faced her, puzzled. "I don''t understand... We''ve come all the way here so I can send him to the afterlife. Wasn''t that the point...?"


    "I... I said I''d take you here. I never said I''d let you fight him."


    Everything up to the confrontation these few days has been identical... he realized, and for a moment the house became a cabin.


    won''t make that mistake with you. I''m responsible for protecting you...!"


    She nodded slowly. Then they both started when they heard a door slam followed by a female''s scream. Gadalik let her keep the staff and ran to the house; Glacia was right behind him. He tried the handle, and when it wouldn''t turn, he bent back then front-kicked near the knob. The door swung open upon impact.


    Surprisingly, what was left of the spirit''s humanity caused him to flinch and release his hold on the girl. Glacia instantly picked her up and took her outside. The spirit and the teen stared each other down. The old man moved slowly, watching Gadalik''s partially heterochromatic eyes track him.


    her." He stretched his arm out the door, past Glacia, and snatched a priceless teakettle from the girl''s hand all in the blink of an eye.


    nothing," Glacia retorted.


    anyone anymore."


    they own them!" He was getting angrier. "Those rotten thieves killed my Julia to get her treasure, so I''ll kill them to protect it! They need to be punished for their misdeeds!"


    know!" He dropped Gadalik and floated to the ceiling. His madness dissolved into melancholia.


    Gadalik caught his breath, the girl was long gone, and Glacia was on the edge of the porch with the shield from the staff beginning to fade.


    is my fault!" he wailed, the sound amplified by his ghostly power.


    Killing people isn''t going to make up for letting her die, either," Gadalik informed him.


    for."


    didn''t have my staff." He smiled slightly.


    I ended up hurting you instead..."


    I''m responsible for what happens if I choose to find out." He held out his hand. "Just like my parents were."

 Episode 3: Arguments

    "I didn''t think such a high-class neighborhood could be haunted." Glacia''s chin rested in her hand, her elbow propped on the door to the horse-drawn carriage she and Gadalik were riding in. The pearls stringed around her shoulders were blown against the finely-stitched fabric of her blue kimono-like outfit''s sleeve by the passing breeze.


    Complex buildings towered over them from either side of the street as they passed.


    "Is this the right area?" the coachman asked for clarification.


    "Yes, it isn''t much farther. It should be just around the corner," the blue-eyed teen answered, matching the return address on an envelope in his hand to the street signs. It led them to an elegant two-story mansion.


    The purple-haired woman retrieved her two-tone leather pocketbook from the smaller of the two bags they had packed. It was overflowing with cash, but she paid the coach the exact amount he charged, gathered her bags, and casually leapt out, tapping her foot impatiently when her companion didn''t join her right away.


    "Thanks for the ride. And, uh... Please excuse her," Gadalik apologized, rubbing a hand through his striped green bangs with embarrassment before tipping him half of what little there was in his worn-down wallet. He returned it to his green robe¡¯s inner pocket, then grabbed his staff and followed Glacia as the coachman drove off.


    A middle-aged pudgy man in a business suit and tie paced on the sidewalk out front of the mansion, frantically checking his watch. He beamed when he saw the two approaching. "Well, lookie here! The little lad with a robe and a staff! Might you be that cheap--err, affordable spook I''ve read such wonderful reports on?"


    "Gadalik, at your service," he confirmed somewhat sheepishly.


    "I told you that you should charge more," Glacia offhandedly remarked.


    "Why? You''re already rich," he lightheartedly pointed out.


    "But he doesn''t know that!" She winked.


    He laughed and gently elbowed her.


    "The name''s Albert," the man greeted them, tipping his hat to Glacia and offering his gloved hand to the teen. Gadalik reached for it, and Albert''s sudden grip was unpredictably tight; the two rough shakes following it nearly dislocated the younger male''s shoulder. "I own this house now that my, uh, lovely mother Karen unfortunately passed away from sickness."


    "I''m...sorry to hear that," Gadalik condoled, moving his staff to the crook of his arm to rub his aching knuckles.


    "So am I," Albert said genuinely, "but, more importantly, so are my potential buyers. Her spirit never lets them hear the end of it."


    "Wait," Glacia interrupted. "Is that the problem: a ghost talking to your homebuyers?"


    "Yes! She has run out five potential buyers since she died a few weeks ago."


    "Is she threatening them?" Gadalik inquired.


    "No, she''s just...talking."


    The woman¡¯s red irises stared expectantly at Albert. "...What''s so bad about that?"


    "Ah, uh, forgive me; I forgot you''re not from around here.¡± The older man cleared his throat. ¡°I don''t mean to speak ill of my late mother, but...well, maybe she should speak for herself and then you''ll understand. Please, come inside." He unlocked the double doors and held one open for them.


    They entered, Glacia setting down her pack by the door. Gadalik paused and turned around to see his client was still outside. "What''s wrong? Aren''t you coming with us?"


    "Heavens, no!" Albert exclaimed. "Eh, I¡­ I mean...it grieves me to see her in such an unlively state. I''ll simply wait for you on the porch. But, then again, it might be a while... Perhaps I should meet you back here at sundown?"


    Glacia recoiled. "Sundown? But it''s barely noon!"


    "Hm, yes, well in that case... Tomorrow it is."


    "But that''s even longer--"


    "You charge by the task, not the hour," he tutted.


    "That''s not what I--"


    "Make yourselves at home, and I''ll see you then, my good fellows!" He promptly slammed the door in her face.


    The woman stared at it, dumbfounded for a moment. "Geez... What a kook."


    Gadalik nodded, but his focus was on his job. This place is huge... Where do I even start¡­?


    He didn''t have to wonder for long. His striped blue eyes saw the ghost before she became visible as she drifted down from the second floor.


    "My, oh, my, what a pleasant surprise! Two new visitors," rang out a delighted voice as an older female''s spirit descended to hover in front of them. She had grayed hair held in a bun by a braid, and was wearing a pink dress, although all of her colors were translucent. "A family, might you be? And a happy one, at that! I wish I could say the same for myself. Will you be moving in?"


    "W-we don''t intend to stay here for long," Gadalik said so as not to mislead her into targeting them, given her negative history with past housemates.


    "Is that so? How dreadful... It''s been so lonely here. I haven''t had good company in weeks!"


    Glacia raised an eyebrow. "What about the five people before us?"


    "Oh, they were just as bad as my son. Not good listeners at all! Very disrespectful, the lot of them. Thank goodness they decided to leave."


    The traveling pair exchanged a subtle, uncertain glance.


    "Ah, but while you''re here, let me give you a tour of my home! To your right is the kitchen, and on the left is the library--judging by your adorable little ascot, boy, I assume you''re the scholarly type. I think you and your sister would like it here, if you decide to stay."


    "Sister?" Glacia echoed, somewhat flattered. "I''m actually his mother."


    Karen looked her over, unconvinced, then grinned with forced politeness. "You seem hardly a decade older than him."


    "That''s because I am. Nine years older, to be exact." With horror, the purple-haired woman realized what that implied. "H-he''s adopted!" she quickly explained.


    Gadalik chuckled a bit at her reddening face, which she then attempted to hide with one hand while pushing him away with the other.


    "How sweet," Karen giggled. "Now, let me show you the rest of the house." She flew to the second floor while the others took the stairs. "This was my bedroom. My good-for-nothing son jumped at the chance to take everything in it after I died--but at least he waited until then. Now, my sister Riley was always begging for my share of our parents'' possessions, going on about how she was entitled to our family heirlooms. And I always told her, she would have inherited some if she didn''t plan on selling them like everything else she got her hands on!"


    Gadalik listened intently; Karen''s relationship with Albert seemed strained even before her death, but Riley sounded more problematic.


    "That reminds me of the time she came over with my nephew Cody, trying to use that child as an excuse to bum money from me, but I wasn''t gonna fall for her little schemes. I bought Cody everything he needed instead, so she didn''t get a penny from me. But, would you believe it, he grew up to be just like her! After everything I''ve done for him, too. Shameful, the both of them are."


    Gadalik swallowed. Albert, Riley, and now Cody?


    "Sheesh. They sound like the kind who would steal from you even after asking first," Glacia muttered.


    "Oh, Riley has stolen from me before. Countless times. I can''t tell you how many things went missing whenever she came around!"


    "Despicable."


    "Absolutely." Karen led them past a bathroom and to the end of the hall. "Here is my son Albert''s old room. Even as a child he had issues with greediness and listening to me... He takes after his father, you know. I can''t imagine why; my husband Carl was never there to help me raise him, let alone influence him!"


    "It seems like you''ve had a hard life," Gadalik sympathized. "Is Carl still with us?¡±


    "No; the one good thing he did for me was die," she sneered.


    The spook winced. She means it... Her own husband...!


    "How could so many people have the nerve to treat you like that?" Glacia said, angry on the ghost''s behalf. "If I had family like yours, I''d knock some sense into them!"


    "Really?" the teen teased her, stopping to let Karen drift ahead out of earshot. "I find that hard to believe. The worst punishment you ever gave me was putting childproof locks on my bedroom windows."


    "That''s because the worst you ever did was sneak outside and waste half of your tenth birthday cake--that I spent so much time baking for you--on a ''lost boy'' who turned out to be a spirit."


    He chuckled. "I thought he was alive."


    "Point is, I can be stern if the situation calls for it." She crossed her arms with mock-indignance when he couldn''t help laughing. "W-what? I can!"


    Karen looked back and smiled at the two. "Unfortunately, they are who they are, and I just had to accept that not everyone will behave how I want."


    That was a word that always got Gadalik''s attention. Acceptance was usually the final key to passing on, but there were instances where it had the opposite effect: if a spirit was content with being stuck in the living world, coaxing them into leaving proved to be difficult, especially if they had no interest in resolving what they knew to be their unfinished business. He hoped the latter wasn''t Karen''s case.


    The tour continued, going on brief holds for the older woman to introduce more family members and friends and even neighbors...who have all mistreated her.


    "...And when I told Morgan he should help me out while I let him stay in the guest room, he just up and left me all alone!" "...I took a walk to cool down after Jenny and I got into an argument, and when I came back, she had gone into the kitchen and broken my favorite saucer, just to spite me!" "My other nephew Bailey stayed with us for a few years through it all. He spent most of his time in the library. He was always the nice one I could count on... But then he tried to say all of these problems were my fault. We had a little bicker over it, nothing serious, then he moved out and hasn''t spoken to me since."


    This continued, the list of problematic people lengthening until she slid open the door to the balcony to show them the cityscape from their vantage point, only to find that night had fallen.


    "My, is it that late already?" Karen said. "I''ll let you be for now. Please consider staying longer; the house is wonderful!"


    "Yes, it is," Gadalik agreed. ¡°Mind if we stay the night?¡±


    ¡°Be my guest! You know where the bathrooms are if you¡¯d like to shower. Did you bring anything to change into?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll go get them,¡± Glacia said, heading back to the entrance for her pack.


    After the two had bathed and put on their night clothes, Karen invited them into a guest bedroom with two beds on either side of it, a nightstand between them, and a writing desk against the wall across from it. "Goodnight! I''ll talk to you tomorrow." Karen turned invisible, but the spook could still see her as she drifted through the ceiling.


    "I hope she won''t talk with us tomorrow," Glacia groaned. She tucked in her yellow gown and plopped onto one of the mattresses.


    Gadalik sat at a desk and withdrew some letter paper from the drawer the ghost had welcomed him to earlier. He took out a pen, wrote down the countless names, relationships, and interactions she had spoken of before he could forget them, then tapped the utensil in a light, quick rhythm against the paper as he read them over.


    "Is it bad that I''m starting to get numb to her problems?" his adoptive mother continued.


    "No," Gadalik assured her, his gaze not leaving the desktop. Then he brought a hand to his forehead, the other still fidgeting with the pen. "But it''s bad that I am."


    "Huh? Why?"


    "I''m supposed to be one who gives her closure. But there are so many outside factors, I can hardly keep track of it all. And who knows how many more are involved that she didn''t have time to mention? Maybe if I could narrow it down to who caused her the greatest amount of grief...but that''s subjective, and she made them all sound as bad as each other..."


    She hated seeing him so frustrated. "I say we just leave her for the next spook. You''re not getting paid enough to deal with her drama, anyway."


    "For the last time, it''s not about the money, Glacia...! I only care about helping her--and from what I''ve heard and seen of Albert, I don''t think he would be willing to pay the average price for any other spook."


    "Hey, don''t use that tone with me, young man," she huffed.


    He took a breath, and the fidgeting came to a stop. "I''m sorry... Really; I-I didn''t mean to snap. It''s just..." He let the pen drop to bury his eyes in both palms, then sniffed and dragged his hands down his cheeks, holding that pose for a second as he breathed. Then he faced his mother, looking into her red irises with determination. "I can''t just give up on her."


    Glacia''s gaze softened. "Hm. Well, if they''re mostly horrible, maybe you should look for who caused her the least amount of trouble."


    He was speechless at the solution being so simple. "...You''re right." He went over the list one more time before he folded the paper, put it in the pocket of his robe hanging on the rack by the door, and turned off the lights...but he was too bothered to sleep right away. Karen did say Bailey was someone she could count on until he moved, which was better than how everyone else ended with her. Maybe getting in touch with him could help. He eventually dozed.


    Gadalik heard the drumming of raindrops on the roof of the disheveled log cabin he found himself in. Blood was splattered on the walls, and a smeared trail of it led to the outside, the crimson color mixed in the mud but guiding him toward a makeshift gravesite. The rain had let up at this point, but water continued to drip down his face.


    He woke up with a gasp, wiping the tears from his eyes as if that would also eradicate the horrible ache in his chest, and although the dream was instantly forgotten, the feeling lingered. The spook turned over and tried to go back to sleep. When he again dozed, the dream continued where it left off and this time he jolted himself awake, refusing to go through that again.


    The rest of the night consisted of changing sleep positions and staring at the wall.


    No sooner than his eyes fell shut, it seemed, a harsh knocking echoed through the nearly-unfurnished mansion, loud enough to wake the dead. Literally. The ghost shot down from the roof to check on the duo, then took off toward the front doors before Gadalik could drag himself out of bed. Glacia gripped her pillow and rolled onto her belly, tugging it down over her ears to block out the noise. The sound ceased for a moment, to their relief. Gadalik fetched his dark green robe, moving carefully since the lack of sleep had left him lightheaded. Then it resumed even louder.


    "What on Earth--?" she complained. Anger willed her to hop up and, still in just her yellow nightgown, march out toward the staircase. "What''s the meaning of this?! It''s, like, five in the morning!"


    Alone in the room, Gadalik swiftly changed into his usual green standing-collared shirt and matching pants, followed by this robe, before pulling his shoulder-length striped green hair back into a ponytail with a red hair-tie the same color as his ascot, which was just lighter than his shoes. He grabbed his staff, and went after them.


    In the foyer Glacia was struggling to remove the wooden chair that was wedged underneath the handles of the double-doors, which were being pounded on from the outside. Karen floated unhelpfully above her.


    "What''s wrong with you?! Get this chair out of the way! Now!" Glacia demanded the spirit.


    The ghost defiantly crossed her arms. "I''d die before I let that no-good son of mine in."


    "You did die! You''re a ghost!"


    Gadalik sighed, joining his mother. "Here... Take the bottom chair-leg and lift it toward you," he said, demonstrating with the other side of the chair.


    They pulled both hind chair-legs simultaneously and it slid onto its back on the floor--then was immediately flung across the room when the doors burst open.


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    Albert was on the other side, rather disheveled at first, though he was quick to gain his composure. "Hmm...I take it you didn''t succeed," he commented upon seeing the mess in front of him, straightening up to look more professional.


    "No... Not yet, sir. But I''m working on it," Gadalik promised.


    "I should hope so. This isn''t the first time my dear mother has blocked me out."


    "And it won''t be the last!" his dear mother huffed. She vanished but Gadalik''s eyes could still see her.


    Albert ran his hand down his forehead, pinching the ridge of his nose. "Mr. Spook, please tell me you''ve at least made some progress."


    Glacia set the chair upright and sat in it backward, folding her arms on the back of it to use as a makeshift pillow while she grumbled to herself about waking up so early.


    "I think I have an idea of how to help, thanks to Glacia." Gadalik paused, remembering how tired he''d been when he decided on who to talk to. He pulled out the folded sheet with the list of names and their corresponding conflicts with Karen to ensure he wouldn''t get the person wrong. "I was hoping you could contact Bailey for me--"


    "Is that my name written there?" Albert interrupted. Before giving the teen a chance to reply, the man swiped the paper from him.


    "W-wait!"


    Too late. "...Is this all she told you?" Albert asked, disgusted. He neatly refolded the paper and handed it back to him. "Nonsense. Utter nonsense!"


    "Are you calling me a liar?" Karen, who had been reading it over his shoulder, became visible to confront him.


    "Well this certainly isn''t how I remember things!"


    The two talked over themselves, neither one hearing the other.


    Glacia rolled her eyes. "Great. Now we don''t know who to believe."


    Gadalik tried to keep up with what each of them was saying, quickly getting overwhelmed. "Excuse me..."


    Their accusations devolved into a name-calling screaming match.


    "Grr... Enough!" The normally calm and quiet boy now irritably raised his voice above theirs. This caught them by surprise and they stopped to hear him out. He steadied his breathing. Not getting enough sleep tended to make him more grouchy. "Let''s go over each point and discuss them. Now, does that sound fair?"


    "No!" The spirit and her son cried at once.


    "Everything I told you was true! He''s not even denying it!" she said.


    "But it''s not the whole truth!" Albert threw his hands up with exasperation. "Ugh! I had to deal with this too many times when she was alive. I shouldn''t be subjected to it now that she''s dead!"


    "Then stay away from me and my house!"


    "It''s my house! Why, I never--" He stopped himself, taking a moment to calm down. He faced the spook. "You wanted to contact Bailey? You''re in luck; I don''t think he left yet after coming here for the funeral. He should be staying with our aunt Riley here in town." He scribbled the address on the back of a business card and offered it to him.


    Gadalik accepted it. "...Thank you."


    "Whatever it takes. And, uh, good luck to you and your girlfriend."


    "Girlfriend?!" Glacia stood so fast the chair fell again. "Why would you think I''m--? H-he''s only seventeen--"


    Albert slammed the door between them.


    Gadalik released a breath, his tension ebbing. He just wanted nothing more than to go back to bed, but dismissed the idea. Then he examined the card.


    "Don''t bother getting Bailey involved," Karen murmured. "He wants nothing to do with me."


    "I doubt that. He came to your funeral, after all," the teen reminded her.


    "That''s only because he thought I was gone."


    Gadalik flinched. "Don''t sell yourself so short..."


    Karen looked down, as if ashamed.


    He wanted to change the subject. "What was your son saying about the list being nonsense? Did I get some details wrong?"


    "No, you were spot-on. I only wish that more people were as good at listening as you are. I do hope you two decide to stay here after all."


    "I don''t know about staying, but I''ll be back later. Maybe Bailey won''t want to return with me...but, maybe he will. The worst he can do is decline."


    Karen seemed unsure, but let him go.


    The duo had gone out for a quick breakfast before going on the way to see Bailey. "I get that Albert''s high-strung, but Karen blocking the doors from him was a bit much," Glacia was saying as they walked.


    "She''s avoiding the people she''s had bad experiences with," Gadalik assumed, half to himself. "Understandable as that is, it isn''t helping her."


    "You think that''s the root of the problem? She''s just lonely?"


    "The problem is she''s not over any of the arguments she''s had with them. And if Albert is to be believed--"


    "I still think he''s a kook!"


    "--she may not be telling us the whole story."


    "About how she''s been the target of everyone all her life?"


    "Right. I took her word for it, too...as we should. But after her exchange with Albert this morning, I realize we only heard what they''ve done to her¡­ And...I doubt that every single one of them acted without a reason--whether or not that reason excuses their actions."


    "I just thought they were all nuts, like Albert."


    "That could still be the case. Well, hopefully we''ll find out now." Gadalik double-checked the address, then walked up the steps and knocked on the door to a house that seemed to have been partially rebuilt countless times; mismatched paint colors and shoddy brickwork overlayed the base of the decayed wooden walls. Despite the attempts to repair it, the house was still in shambles.


    Nobody answered. After a couple more tries, he uncertainly triple-checked the card. Usually he had a good sense of direction, but...


    "Who is it?" A husky female''s voice sounded sharply.


    "Uh, Gadalik... I''m a spook, trying to help Karen''s spirit. Albert sent me."


    The door cracked ajar as the lady peered out, then quickly shut it. "Who''s she?"


    "I''m his mother. Just looking out for him," Glacia said.


    She reopened it and let them in. "That Albert never sleeps in, does he? Sorry he''s dragged you into this mess so early. Watch your feet--"


    Gadalik jumped up the extra step that the front of the house had been built over, turning quickly to catch Glacia who tripped over it in the dim lighting. The floorboards were flimsy, bending under their weight and even splintering in some areas. She gestured to a ripped up couch before taking a seat in the reclining chair across from it.


    "Gadalik, you said? That''s an odd name. I''m Riley." She reached her hand out to shake.


    He instinctively did the same, then hesitated. She took it--thankfully at a reasonable grip. "You''re Karen''s sister?"


    "Yes. She''s still lingering in this world? No wonder Albert wouldn''t let us in that mansion. I thought it was just to keep my parents'' heirlooms for himself... Eh, it was probably both. Anyway... How can I help?"


    "Could you tell me more about your relationship with her, and the heirlooms?"


    "Certainly. Karen was always the favorite child. We didn''t have much growing up, but she still had more than me and our brother--and she also received more than us after our parents passed. She married that rich man Carl and got everything he owned after he died, too! But what am I left with? Nothing but our old house ready to fall apart at any second. What problem could she possibly have with me?"


    "Karen said you''ve tried to steal from her..."


    "Stealing? Such a harsh term. No, it''s just taking what''s rightfully mine. You can see I''m not well-off. I had to raise my son Cody by myself with little money. She helped buy him clothes and food, but that doesn''t keep the house standing. Just look at it!"


    As if on cue, a rat scuttled across the room.


    "Has it always been in this bad of shape?" he wondered.


    "It''s only gotten worse over the years... But my sister wouldn''t understand that. She had a successful husband and a fancy mansion, why--she wouldn''t miss a few material objects if I took them."


    "I don''t know about that," Glacia said. "Just because she''s rich doesn''t mean she can replace sentimental items. And it certainly doesn''t give you the right to steal from her, even if she could."


    "Pfft. Of course you would defend her. Look at those pearls on your outfit! You''re obviously as wealthy as she is."


    "Well excuse me for thinking that robbing someone is still a crime regardless of their financial status," Glacia shot back.


    "I wouldn''t need to steal if she''d just let me have them!"


    "Why? So you can sell those priceless family treasures?" she huffed.


    "Of course! My son is worth more than any of the junk my parents hoarded!"


    Glacia fell silent at that.


    "Karen knew how bad this environment is for a young boy to grow up in, and she still refused to fund the repairs necessary for the house. That''s more messed up than swiping a few little trinkets, if you ask me."


    "Speaking of your son... Cody... Is he home?" Gadalik wondered. ¡°And if Bailey¡¯s still here, I¡¯d like to hear from him as well.¡±


    "Yes, but they¡¯re both still asleep. Let me try to wake them."


    Glacia sat back and crossed her legs as Riley left. "She''s so entitled. She didn''t have to steal things for her son; they both said Karen bought Cody everything he needed. No wonder Karen has nothing to do with her."


    "Even so, just look around... Nobody deserves to live in this state. If Karen could afford to, she should''ve helped them find a better house, or at least remodel this one," Gadalik sided with Riley.


    "It''s not Karen''s responsibility to! Riley is his mother. She''s the one who''s supposed to provide a house for him--like I did for you. She can''t steal from everyone and then expect them to fork over everything they have!"


    "I''m grateful for everything you do for me," Gadalik said wholeheartedly. "But she only stole so that she could provide a home for him..." He gestured to the obvious attempts at replacing the walls. "Yes, stealing isn¡¯t the way to go about it, and Riley should be held responsible for that... But everyone needs help once in a while. And if Karen had the means to help her family with something as important as shelter, I think she should have."


    "She did help us," said a blonde man entering the living room. "Karen let us move in with her. She and my mother started fighting about what belonged to who, though, and when things started going missing she kicked my mom out. But she let me stay."


    "Cody, right?" Gadalik guessed, and the man nodded. "So what happened after Riley left?"


    "I know how my mother is when it comes to valuable items¡­ Aunt Karen was always spoiling me, and we were close because of it. When she blamed herself for letting things get stolen, I convinced her it wasn''t her fault; it was my mom''s."


    Glacia nodded in agreement.


    "And then something got between you..." Gadalik said. "Something about money?"


    Cody narrowed his eyes. "I''ve never asked her anything--especially not money--until that day, mainly because she gave me everything I could I ask for before that. But my friend got sick and he couldn''t afford his medicine, so I thought Karen would give me the money for it, like she gave me everything else. But she flipped out on me, saying I''m an ingrate and a con-man ''like my mother.'' She kicked me out after that."


    "She didn''t believe your friend needed help?"


    "She denied he even existed," he affirmed. "She thought I made him up as an excuse--perhaps she even thought that friend was my mother. That is something my mom would do, if I''m honest...so maybe Aunt Karen was justified for suspecting me. But... She wouldn''t give me a chance to make it up to her after that. She would put furniture against the doors to keep me out, call me names, and everything. Eventually I gave up trying to contact her altogether..."


    "So it''s a typical misunderstanding. You''ll explain this to her and she''ll move on," Glacia summarized. "Easy."


    "I wish," said a dark-haired man who leaned against the wall of the hallway. "Cody wasn''t the only one she had misunderstandings with."


    Gadalik''s hold on the list in his pocket strengthened, crumpling the folded corners. "Bailey?"


    "Yes. My parents were also troublesome, so I stayed with Aunt Karen just to have some peace... And let me tell you, there wasn''t much of it around her. Cody was the first of many people she fought with while I was there. I kept to myself in the library, so our relationship was fine. But a family friend Morgan lost his job and then his house and Karen moved him in with us. The second he got a new job, Karen demanded he pay her back for all of the food and shelter she had provided him. He couldn''t afford it so he found somewhere else to crash. She was very upset by him ''abandoning'' her and ''freeloading,'' ranting about how he had ''used'' her--even when Jenny came along."


    "Jenny..." Gadalik remembered. "Did they fight often?"


    "Yes, mainly since Jenny got sick of hearing about Morgan and Cody, so she always argued with Karen when she brought them up. But Jenny always earned her keep and surprised her with a home-made treat after each of their fights to make up for it."


    "Breaking her favorite dish doesn''t sound like a good surprise," Glacia stated.


    "It was an accident. She slipped and dropped it. But Karen thought it was done on purpose, and refused to believe otherwise, so that was the last we saw of Jenny," Bailey clarified.


    "And you?" Gadalik pressed.


    "Karen''s inability to see things from anyone else''s viewpoint always bothered me. I finally called her out on it when Jenny was gone, and I left on my own volition before she could turn on me too."


    "Right... She did say you were the only one who hadn''t wronged her until the confrontation." Gadalik stood. "Thanks for your time. You all were a big help. I was wondering if either of you would come back with me to tell her this, yourself?"


    "I did... We did. She doesn''t listen to anything that goes against what she believes happened, even if it''s the truth. She probably won''t even let me in if I go."


    "But she might listen to you, Gadalik. After all, you''re an outsider so she doesn''t have any dirt on you," Cody said.


    "...Yet," Bailey added, pessimistic.


    "Dirt on you?" Glacia echoed as they were headed back to the mansion. "I don''t even have dirt on you, and I''ve known you for eight years."


    Gadalik said nothing. He remembered the literal dirt, turned mud by the rain, splattered on his hands and clothing as he had trudged back toward the log cabin with a rusted shovel in-hand. He presently clasped his staff tighter until his knuckles turned white.


    "Gadalik?"


    Her voice snapped him out of it. "Oh... S-sorry. Guess I spaced out for a moment..."


    They reached the mansion and Glacia knocked. Gadalik saw the invisible ghost''s head phase through the door before the handles jiggled and they opened.


    She turned visible to welcome their return. "What happened with Bailey?"


    "He said you helped a lot of people by letting them stay with you," he answered, giving her a reassuring smile.


    "That I did," she confirmed with pride. "But just look how he repaid me... He left me for dead!"


    Gadalik felt his chest suddenly tighten. The memory of leaving the shallow graves suddenly invaded his mind. No¡­ It wasn¡¯t my fault. I was a child; there was nothing I could do to save them.


    "Literally!" she added upon seeing his reaction, as if to lighten the mood some.


    ¡°I know you feel like Bailey left you. But maybe he felt that he didn¡¯t have a choice,¡± he tried again. ¡°Do you remember anything he told you before he left?¡±


    ¡°All I remember is how everyone hurt me and tried to come back to hurt me some more.¡±


    ¡°But how can you be so sure that they intended to hurt you?¡±


    ¡°Because hurting me is all they¡¯ve ever done! Why else would they come back?¡±


    ¡°To reconcile with you.¡±


    ¡°Well the damage has already been done. And if Bailey were really sorry, he wouldn¡¯t have left in the first place!¡±


    ¡°He felt like they didn¡¯t have a choice¡­¡± Gadalik¡¯s voice faded. This was going in circles. He struggled to rephrase things in his mind when the memory interrupted it again and his chest ached. I didn¡¯t have a choice¡­! He tried to dismiss it although it lingered in the back of his thoughts. Focus¡­! I¡¯m here to save Karen. But...what if I can¡¯t save her¡­? Like I couldn¡¯t save my parents¡­ He shook his head ever so slightly. No--stop thinking like this! I¡¯m not a helpless kid anymore. I can help! I just...need to think of how to¡­


    "Sounded to me like you''re the one who made everyone leave," Glacia said when her adoptive son remained silent.


    "Well of course! I refused to tolerate their mistreatment of me."


    "Define ''mistreatment'' and then reevaluate yourself," she muttered.


    "Excuse me? Did you read the page your son wrote? Don''t tell me you didn''t listen to a word I said since you came here."


    "Maybe more people would listen to you if you weren''t so negative all the time," Glacia yawned, casually stretching her back for a few seconds. "Just saying. I mean, I started tuning you out halfway through your rant on Morgan, because it was just more of the same problems, with the same unsatisfactory ending of ''never speaking again.''"


    "How rude! You should be more considerate, like Gadalik."


    "Sorry, but I don''t recall hearing you say a single nice thing about anyone you mentioned yesterday. You had a decent relationship with these people at one point in your life, right? It sounds like you''re only focusing on the bad parts."


    "Because the bad parts are the most recent, ma''am," Karen said haughtily.


    "They wouldn''t be if you hadn''t cut ties with them afterward," Glacia argued, fed up with the situation.


    "That''s it. Get out of my house."


    "Pfft--what? Are you seriously proving my point right now?" she laughed.


    "Out!" Karen wailed. "I allowed you into my home, let you spend the night, and you repay me with such disrespect?! You''re just as bad as the rest of them! So ungrateful, so judgemental! Get out! Out, out, out!"


    "Gladly," Glacia complied, her hands raised in mock-surrender as she left to get her belongings from the guest room.


    Gadalik had found it difficult to process their conversation but had tuned in just in time to hear the end of it loud and clear. He started following his mother.


    "Oh, not you, sweetie--you can stay as long as you want," Karen said to the blue-eyed teen. "If I learned anything from my nephew Cody, it''s that no matter how nice you treat someone, they might turn out as bad as their parent. But you''re nothing like that ill-mannered mother of yours... Probably since she''s not your actual mother."


    Gadalik''s staff abruptly dropped, the sound of hardwood clacking against tile reminiscent of thunder echoing across the empty home.


    Glacia came back to inspect the noise, finding that he had fallen to one knee, his staff on the ground, and one hand clutching his chest. He was fighting to breathe deeply despite his lungs feeling too constricted to hold that much.


    "H-hey! Are you alright?" She rushed to his side and rubbed his back. Karen circled around him worriedly from above.


    He found speaking between breaths to be too difficult but managed to weakly hold his trembling index finger up to imply he just needed a moment. They backed off some to give him space. Then he puked.


    Karen took some paper towels from the kitchen and handed it to him, then turned to Glacia, her voice hushed when asking, "What''s wrong with him...?"


    "I-I have no idea; he''s never been like this before." Glacia dragged the chair over to him, then stood the staff upright, holding it in place if needed for support.


    Gadalik used it to pull himself up and into the chair. The tension in his chest was easing up gradually, eventually allowing his breathing to normalize enough to say, "I''m alright¡­¡±


    "Are you sure? What happened?"


    "I don''t know... Just...stress." He''d felt more stressed in the past, but this was new. He swallowed dryly. "I''m alright," he repeated, his stronger voice proving it.


    "You''ve been acting a little off ever since we left Mount Thaed last week. Maybe you need a break."


    That was a week ago...? Feels like a lot longer¡­ Gadalik finally could get a full breath in. "Yeah... You''re probably right." He hadn''t been able to sleep very well for the past week, but he hadn''t considered that what happened on their trip could be the cause of it.


    "You should lie down and rest," Karen recommended. At his approving nod she moved to pick him up, but he stopped her.


    "I can make it," he said, standing up with his staff in hand. Aside from how tired he was, he was back to normal. Glacia and Karen both kept an eye on him until he closed the guest room door and collapsed onto his temporary bed, instantly feeling better upon doing so.


    Minutes passed. Maybe even a quarter-hour before he turned over to stare at the ceiling. What am I doing? I shouldn''t sleep now, even if I were able to. My purpose is to help that spirit, yet...I''m making this all about me. Gadalik looked at the staff propped against the nightstand between the beds. It''s not about me.


    "...You''re lucky to have someone who cares so much about you," Karen remarked to Glacia back in the foyer. "I envy your kinship. It must be nice, never fighting with each other."


    "...Are you kidding?" Glacia laughed. "We argue all the time. Not to the extent of you and Albert, but still."


    "How can you say you care about each other if you fight so often?"


    "Because arguing is normal. Even the closest people in the world don''t get along every day of their lives."


    Karen cocked her head skeptically.


    "But every time we talk to each other, we both learn from the conclusion and we compromise. They¡¯re more like debates or discussions, but there¡¯s not much of a difference when you boil it down." She faced the ghost. "If you don''t finish an argument, nobody learns anything, and you both walk away miserable."


    "Is that so..."


    "She''s right," Gadalik agreed as he descended the stairs. "And if you keep cutting ties with people you care about just because they disagree with you, or do something you disagree with, then you''ll end up with nobody left." He stopped at the base of the staircase.


    "So I should just welcome them back after everything they¡¯ve done?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not as cut and dry as that. If someone continues to hurt you after you¡¯ve told them to stop, like Riley, then you have every right to cut them off. But with everyone else, it seems like they truly want to make peace with you. They can¡¯t do that if you won¡¯t let them.¡±


    ¡°What if they hurt me again after we make up? How many chances do they deserve?"


    ¡°If you have a relationship of any kind, hurting each other once in a while is unavoidable," he pointed out. "If they aren¡¯t making an effort to fix what they¡¯ve done, like Riley, then you should keep your distance from them until they change. But you shouldn¡¯t let your bad experiences with her make you lose faith in everyone else. What happened with Jenny was an accident, and as for Cody, Morgan, and Bailey, the problem stemmed from poor communication. They heard what you had to say, and they still care about you--even Albert does! They want to be a part of your life...! All you have to do...is listen to them."


    Karen landed for the first time, the fog around her ghostly figure died down some. Standing there, she seemed almost alive. "Alright. I''ll hear them out."


    That evening, Gadalik and Glacia waited outside of the small rundown home after watching Karen and Albert go inside. It had been nearly two hours when the latter finally exited.


    "She''s gone," he reported, although he didn''t sound as happy about it as Gadalik expected, given how desperately the older man had pleaded for him to get rid of her the previous day.


    His change of heart is a good thing, the spook determined.


    "We all reached an agreement before that. I''ll use part of the money I receive from the homebuyer to make sure everyone has what they need," Albert continued. "They finally made up, forgave each other, and then...she disappeared."


    "Well, why wouldn''t she? There was no more reason for her to stick around," Glacia replied.


    "Yeah... Guess you''re right." He sniffed. Then he turned to the spook and extended a closed hand. "Here."


    Gadalik did the same with an open palm, and his eyes widened when he saw the amount of money placed in his hand. "Th-that''s way more than we agreed on...!"


    "And you''re complaining?" Glacia nudged her son. "You deserve it."


    Gadalik glanced between her and his client, then reluctantly accepted it.


    "You''re welcome to stay another night," Albert offered.


    The teen subtly shook his head when his mother looked to him for an answer. "Nah, we should be getting home. Thanks anyway, though," she responded.


    They parted ways and flagged down another coachman. Night was upon them soon after they left the town behind.


    "I think we need a vacation," Glacia commented, if only to break the silence. "Gale might want one too. What do you say?"


    The only answer she received was the sound of hooves and squeaking wheels over a bumpy dirt road.


    "Gadalik?¡± She inched closer in the dark to see him more clearly. To her relief, he''d fallen asleep.

 Episode 4: Hero

    "I already told you: I feel fine," Gadalik insisted. He was sitting up in his bed, the rising sun shining a perfect rectangle of light onto the mattress in front of him through the window above the headboard. "Honest."


    Glacia was crouched on the floor beside him with her hand to his forehead. "You don''t have a fever," she reported. "Can you breathe okay? Deep breaths."


    The teen complied, if only so his adoptive mother would quit worrying about him.


    "Alright, that''s good... Now how long did you sleep last night?"


    He froze.


    "Gadalik," she said, stretching the sound into a warning. His striped blue eyes darted away from her. She repeated his name more sharply, "Gadalik!"


    He flinched. "I still have a hard time falling asleep, but I''m getting in more hours than before," he said truthfully. "Why is this still so important to you?"


    "Just five days ago you looked like you were dying," she reminded him. "I don''t want that happening again...!"


    "Hey, now... If he says he''s alright, then let him be," a voice sounded from the hallway. Its owner--a man one year older than her, wearing a white tank top covered by a magenta vest and blue-violet scarf, both just shades darker than his eyes of the same colors, and black pants--leaned against the doorframe to Gadalik''s room, stretching a muscle-toned arm across the top of it so that there was still space for either of them to pass through.


    "That''s easy for you to believe. You weren''t there for his last spook¡¯s job, Gale. You didn''t see him shaking like a leaf and struggling to breathe and puking...!"


    Gadalik stared absently at the comforter clenched in his hands. He hated the fact that he caused such a pitiful scene.


    "But I was there with him for three out of the four doctors that you made him see. They all chalked it up to being overwhelmed in a stressful environment... A nervous breakdown. Not some deadly disease," Gale soothed his girlfriend.


    "But that doesn''t explain why he can''t sleep,¡± Glacia went on. ¡°Something''s keeping him up, and those quacks were more eager to get their hands on my money than to figure out what''s wrong with him!"


    Gadalik dragged a knee to his chest, blanket and all, and rested his upper body against it. His miser of a mother rarely spent a cent more than necessary, yet she didn''t bat an eye at forking over insane amounts for the medical expenses even when the last three times yielded the same result as the first. He felt a sense of guilt not only from making her fret but also from how much she spent on him.


    "Stress can cause insomnia. The best thing you can do for him right now is calm down and give him time," Gale said, repeating what the last nurse had told them.


    "...Fine," she gave in. "But if he doesn''t start getting enough sleep like they told him to, I''m sending him to that reputable doctor next state."


    Please don''t, the spook silently begged, hugging his leg firmly.


    Gale pushed a clump of his blue-violet hair, stylized in a medium length flowy mohawk with black fades, up off the side of his forehead, revealing the two sets of piercings above and below his left eyebrow. "Deal. Now come and eat the breakfast I made you, or I''ll throw you both in the hospital for starvation," he joked.


    Gadalik''s stomach growled at the thought of eating those famous omelets of his, and although Glacia seemed hesitant to leave him, ultimately she walked under Gale''s arm and headed downstairs.


    The bounty hunter stood straighter. "If you''re having trouble sleeping, try eating a couple of kiwis before bed. It helps me sometimes, anyway."


    "Thank you... I really do need more sleep. They told me that was a big contributor to what happened," he shared. "If I could sleep, there''d be nothing to worry about. But ever since we got back from Mount Thaed, I just...can''t¨Cnot for very long. Why...?"


    "Did something unusual happen when you were there?"


    The green-haired boy shrugged. "The spirit almost crushed my windpipe, but I''ve been through worse. Glacia had a small disagreement with me, but we worked it out in the end." He narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.


    "Maybe it wasn''t something that happened at the place itself; rather, on the way there or back."


    Gadalik tensed, his appetite fading. The journey there had been nearly identical to the last one he and his blood-parents had been on. The spirit was in the same consumed category as well. He shook his head. "...It was eight years ago, and I moved past it. I was over it until Glacia brought it up..." the sentence trailed off. "It wasn''t Glacia''s fault. We agreed on that." His voice was almost inaudible, as he was more so thinking out loud. "I don''t understand why it''s suddenly a problem--I..."


    "...Something wrong?"


    The teen brought his other knee up over top of the covers and lightly dug his fingernails into his lower calf, near some tiny faded pink scars that would be unnoticeable if they weren''t more reflective than clear skin in the light.


    "Woah, there--it''s alright; calm down." Gale immediately stepped in and pulled his hand away.


    Gadalik struggled for just a moment before realizing what he himself had been doing. "S-sorry," he apologized, humiliated.


    "...What happened? You can talk to me."


    The spook took a breath. "Our fight was about my parents... Their deaths must have been so hard on Glacia. I had no idea she shouldered that blame for almost a decade. But it wasn''t her fault, and that''s what I told her."


    "...Whose fault was it, then, Gadalik?"


    He glared at the pattern on his comforter. "It was their own fault. What they did was their choice... Not Glacia''s, and not mine."


    Gale nodded.


    "I know I wasn''t responsible for them dying... So why...why--do I feel so--" his hand suddenly fought against the man''s restraint "--bothered about it all of the sudden?"


    "Hey! Relax. It''s completely normal. I still miss my father after eight years, too. Just because they''ve been gone for so long doesn''t mean the grief is," he pointed out. "New kinds of stress can open up old wounds... And according to Glacia, you''ve been under a lot of it recently."


    The spook didn''t deny that, allowing his arm to go limp.


    Gale released it. "Come and eat. We''ve got a surprise for you afterward, okay?"


    "...Alright. I''ll be there in a few minutes."


    "Take your time." He waited a moment before leaving to give the kid some much-needed space.


    Gadalik hauled himself out of bed soon after, pulling on some decent clothes and then joining his family to eat.


    "There he is," Glacia announced happily when her son moved to sit at the table. "Now let''s dig in!"


    Eating improved Gadalik''s mood a lot. It helped that his practical father''s cooking was superb. The flavor overrode his thoughts, at least until the omelets were gone.


    "Now then, start packing," his mother demanded. "...Because we''re going on vacation at a beach resort!"


    The teen swallowed the last bite and stared at her in amazement. "Really?"


    "Only on one condition," Gale specified. "That you''re not going there on business. You''re going to take this opportunity to relax and have fun."


    "What do you say? Do you think you can manage that for a few days?" Glacia prompted.


    "W-well... If there aren''t any ghosts who need help there, I don''t see why not," Gadalik agreed.


    "If there is a ghost there, we''re switching resorts," Glacia said sternly. "Maybe you can take care of it once you''re back to your normal self, if you really want to. But not a soul until then! Is that clear?"


    "Crystal," he answered.


    "I already have our ride scheduled, so hurry and get ready," she chimed.


    He showered, brushed his teeth and hair, and changed into a dark red button-down plaid short-sleeved shirt and tucked it into pastel-blue polyester slacks that slightly narrowed toward his ankles. Lastly he put on a pair of shiny deep red loafers. He rarely left the house without having ghost business that required the adorning of his protective robe, so dressing casually was a nice change of pace, and helped take his mind off things.


    He tied his shoulder-length striped green hair back into his usual ponytail, then reconsidered and let it down again. Hm... He put it up once more and experimented with how loose to make it, eventually settling on a very low variation of the style.


    He felt refreshed and ready to spend time outdoors doing other things he liked. He started packing into a suitcase when his gaze traveled to the staff by his bed, then to the duffel bag in his closet, and he debated with himself. Taking it doesn''t mean working, he rationalized. And without it, unaware ghosts would look like living people to me. I don''t want to accidentally talk to a ghost that nobody else can see...they''d think I''m crazy. So just in case... He swapped packs to make room for it.


    As he left down the hallway, Glacia came out of her room wearing a sleeveless vertically-striped button-up purple shirt that was tied on at the waist, with straight-legged capri pants belted on just below her navel, a light blue color to match her short pearl necklace.


    "Wow, I don''t think I''ve seen you out of your spook''s clothes in ages," she commented. "You look like a normal person now!"


    Gadalik laughed.


    "Ride''s here!" Gale called them. He gave a one-note whistle when the two came down. "Lookin'' good!"


    Glacia posed as she passed him. "Why, thank you!"


    "You''re not going to put on something more fitting?" he asked the bounty hunter.


    "Eh, no need. I''m comfortable in this," Gale replied. The only alteration made to his outfit was the addition of a sheathed sword at his hip. The three left together.


    Gale had joined them a mere three days after they returned home from their visit to a haunted mansion, having left immediately upon receiving Glacia''s urgent letter detailing her concerns for the spook''s well-being.


    She often dramatized the events of which she wrote to him, although this time she may have gone overboard; Gale seemed to believe the younger male had one foot in the grave until he saw Gadalik for himself, after which Glacia had ''appointed'' him as her son''s personal bodyguard...a role that the spook was certain the bounty hunter would have taken on regardless of her asking. Not that Gadalik minded it. In the five years they''ve known each other, Gale tended to be protective of him and Glacia, always covertly vigilant, and it gave him a sense of safety.


    It was afternoon when they walked into the resort to get their room keys. When it came to traveling with his parents, Gadalik preferred having his own room, while the couple shared a separate one next door. Apparently the two had been planning this for a couple days, and while it was Glacia¡¯s idea, Gale had been the one to reserve their rooms, which were on the upper floor. They headed for the elevator and there was a woman, perhaps in her forties, seeming upset with an employee in front of it.


    "I''m sorry, ma''am, but you''ll have to take the stairs. The elevator is still being repaired," the worker said.


    "I would take the stairs except I don''t know the code to unlock it." She placed a hand on her hip.


    "You only need a code to reach the storage room below-ground," the employee informed her.


    "I know this! I was hired to go down there. Didn''t the owner tell you anything? I get he wanted this to stay under wraps, but I thought he''d tell at least one of his workers to let me do my job!"


    Gadalik related to her situation. When it came to places as successful as this, any and all hauntings were kept secret by the owners to avoid losing business from scared customers until a spook could rid the building of it. Troublesome as it was, they usually paid a lot to compensate for it.


    Glacia groaned. "We have to take the stairs? I wonder if it''s too late to switch to a room on the ground floor..."


    "Unfortunately they''re all taken," Gale sighed. "Oh well. We could all use the exercise, right Gadalik?"


    "Hang on," he said, and approached the woman. "Um, excuse me, miss..."


    She looked down to face him, her long jet-black bangs falling over her dark brown eyes from the motion. She tucked them behind her ears. "Yes, boy?" She stared at him momentarily. "Do I know you?"


    "I don''t think so... My name''s Gadalik."


    "...Janna. Do you need something?"


    "I was wondering if I could help... Can you tell me what your job is, that they want it ''under wraps''?"


    "Oh." She glanced at her large pack and then to the employee. "I, uh...I''m an exterminator. Undercover. Just between you and me, there are reports of an infestation in the storage room. B-but I''m here to take care of it, so don''t go telling all your friends, okay?" she said with an obviously fake smile.


    "I''ll page the owner for you right away, ma''am," the employee assured her.


    It was plain to see she wasn''t being honest, but with his family waiting on him, Gadalik let it go. Upstairs, he separated from them to unpack his belongings, including a first aid kit which he dismissively wrapped in his dark green spook''s robe and tucked under the bed, a beach umbrella, towel, swimwear, and sunscreen, all of which he planned to use after the rest in his bag was put away. Then there was his staff. His adoptive parents knew he needed it to differentiate spirits from the living. Gale was even the one who gave him this particular staff to replace his real father''s that had recently broken during a fight between Gadalik and a consumed ghost. Surely they''d understand he wasn''t breaking their only condition by simply bringing it...right?


    He sighed and decided to leave it in the bag. Then he took the bag and the beach supplies--besides the trunks and tank since he was now in them--within it along, meeting up with his family to go to the ocean. Glacia was now in a one-piece bathing suit and Gale without his vest but was wearing more casual shorts.


    The beach was full of people chasing seagulls, swimming, and tanning, and Glacia instantly took to the water. Gale watched her from the shore, and Gadalik set up the umbrella over the towel he decided to sit on with the change of clothes and drying towels in a bag beside his own.


    He took in the pleasant sight of shimmering waves and breathed the salty air tinted with the scent of grilling foods. The strangers and his parents all seemed happy. That''s why he couldn''t help but notice one man a few years older than Gadalik by himself sitting at the shoreline, his face a little scrunched with concentration. The spook slipped his hand into the bag, gripping the hardwood at the bottom of it. As he suspected, the man became slightly translucent. A ghost... He seems troubled. But I promised...


    "I-I found one!" the man suddenly exclaimed. Since he was currently invisible, his voice was also silent to those who couldn''t see him. He leapt up with something in his hand. "A real scalloped hammerhead shark''s tooth! It took a lifetime, but I finally found one for myself...!"


    Gadalik watched as the man spun while clutching the tooth to his heart, then flew off with the tooth. The spook relaxed some, relieved the spirit fulfilled his lingering goal. The heat of the sun was comforting, and his lack of sleep was starting to catch up to him despite the surrounding indistinct chatter. He started to doze off into a dreamless sleep.


    Late afternoon, Gadalik rolled over and realized he was awake. Gale and Glacia were sitting beside him, talking quietly so as to let him sleep.


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    "...And then I finally told her off," Glacia was saying.


    "She had it coming," Gale sided with his girlfriend.


    "Ooh, she got so mad after that. You should''ve seen her ghostly face," she giggled. Gadalik pushed himself upright and stretched. "Oh, you''re up! Did you have a nice nap?"


    It was less populated than before, and the weather was a bit cooler. He looked at the sky to take note of where the sun was. "Almost two hours," he estimated. "I''d say that''s pretty good. I feel better too."


    "What say we grab something to eat?" Gale suggested.


    "We can have a picnic here," she added.


    Gadalik smiled. "Sure."


    After they ate and washed the sand off at the public showers and dressed, they went browsing through the souvenir shops, Glacia picking out sponges and cards and a stuffed animal, among other things to add to the hoard in her bedroom at home. Gadalik fancied a small painting of an island. Gale didn''t ask for anything, but his girlfriend bought him a mug with a decorative pattern, which he acted like was the best thing in the world.


    Around evening they went to their rooms, and Gadalik moved the stool from the little table toward the window and watched the sunset over the churning waves. After the sun went out of view he replaced the stool, went to bed, and shut his eyes.


    After a few hours of lying awake, he thought he heard something. He glanced toward the window and was jolted to complete wakefulness upon unexpectedly spotting a girl there looking out.


    She heard his gasp and looked at the teen, confused at first. Then she covered her mouth with horror. "You--you can see me?! Are you a spook?"


    He nodded, a little bit shaken, but calming down a bit since it wasn''t a living person like he first thought.


    "I-I''m sorry--please don''t annihilate me!"


    "Annihilate you?! Why--what horrific things have you done to deserve being wiped from existence?"


    "I don''t know, ask your lady friend!"


    "Lady friend...?"


    "Yeah! That spook with the black hair. Aren''t you with her?"


    The woman at the elevator... I knew it. "No, I''ve only seen her once. I''m actually off-duty right now, anyway, so don''t worry about me."


    "Phew... Glad to hear it."


    "...Were you ever in the storage room, by chance?"


    "Ick, why would I want to go down there? I''m not a poltergeist trapped in a dirty old room. I actually lived very far from here, in a landlocked state. All I ever wanted was to see the full moon over the ocean from a good vantage point with my own eyes before I died, and...it''s finally a full moon tonight." She brought her focus back to the window.


    Then there''s another spirit here... He looked at his duffel bag. No--I can''t break my terms with Glacia and Gale. Besides, that other spook is already handling it. It''s not my responsibility.


    "You know, it''s nice being able to talk to someone living without them freaking out. Is it okay if I watch the moon from here?"


    "...Sure." If I can''t sleep, at least I''ll have something else to do now.


    The two witnessed the moon''s reflection on the sea, which danced on the tops of waves. It was easy to forget that such sights were never seen by some people. He counted himself lucky.


    "It''s more beautiful than I could have imagined," she murmured. With those final words, she disappeared.


    Gadalik yawned and covered up, eventually falling asleep.


    It was a beautiful morning. He slept in for the first time in almost two weeks. Gadalik went through his routine and then stepped out of his room to see if his parents were up. Closing the door behind him, he saw a note taped to it, the words in familiar cursive handwriting.


    ''Morning! We thought you should sleep in, so we let you. Gale and I went on a walk by the water. We''ll be back soon!


    -Glacia


    He passed by the broken elevator and went down the staircase, to be met with a crowd of worried people blocking the way. Gadalik tapped the nearest person''s shoulder. "Excuse me, sir, what''s going on?"


    The bystander answered, "Apparently someone''s hurt down there. We''re waiting for help to arrive, but we think some kind of feral animal is in there with her..."


    Gadalik''s heart skipped a beat. He raced back up the stairs and grabbed his robe and staff as well as the first aid kit he was now grateful Glacia made him bring. I heard a faint thump last night, but I thought it was the ghost from out of state. I didn''t think it could be from the storage room... Please, let her be alive...!


    He pried his way between people and toward the code-locked door at the base of the stairs. An older man was blocking it off from the public. "Please go about your business. The matter is currently being handled and is not of your concern. As the owner of this establishment, I can assure you that this will not impact your stay."


    The owner? This means I have a chance...! He buried his fears and copied the authoritative mannerisms he''d seen Glacia use to get her way with officials. He approached the man. "Let me through," he demanded in a collected tone, just loud enough to be heard over the crowd.


    The owner took one look at his getup and immediately listened. "A-a spook?"


    "Yes. I know about the ghost. Janna called me for backup,¡± he lied. ¡°This is urgent; her life--and your business--is at stake."


    The man stared him down for a second, then reluctantly entered the code and turned the handle. Gadalik stepped inside, leaving it open out of fear that nobody could rescue them if things ended badly, and silently descended the steps with bated breath. He waited behind the corner of the stairwell, listening to find out what he was getting himself into.


    He heard the woman curse to herself breathlessly.


    The ghost answered her with a reverent snarl. She let out a battle cry, her charging footsteps echoing between the storage crates and furniture cluttering the basement. There was a wail-like roar for a few seconds, followed by a growl, and then a scream.


    The metallic smell of blood was sickening and at first overpowered Gadalik''s other senses. He dared himself to peer around the wall. Janna lied on the cold concrete floor, wearing a shredded dark gray cloak with blood matting her previously-silky hair as well as gushing from a gash in her leg. Clutched in her fist was a staff shorter than his and more stake-like in appearance. She propped herself up with the weapon aimed at it.


    Before them was a humongous transparent beast with a featureless head, its only two limbs being arms shortened from shoulder to elbow then lengthened there-down and ending with mole-like hands. A tangible energy field from a spell-tag she had used on it was confining its body, preventing it from shape-shifting, though its movements in its current shape were not restricted. Its muzzle ripped open where the mouth should be as it released a threatening bellow at the injured spook and prepared to deal a finishing blow. She angled the point of her staff to meet his attack, and the spell-tag attached Gadalik recognized was for exorcism.


    Horrified, he darted out from cover. "Stop!"


    The ghost paused its attack, distracted by the intruder.


    "What the--?" Janna said, turning to see who was there. "Y-you!"


    Gadalik put a shield spell on his staff as he rushed to her side. He took out the medical kit.


    She grabbed it and tended to her leg. The confinement tag she''d used on the spirit timed out. "I should''ve known... You''re Trent''s boy, aren''t you?"


    She knew my father?


    "...It doesn''t matter. Get out of here. I can handle this."


    He shook his head defiantly. "You''re injured, and you''ve already lost too much blood. Besides, I can''t let you annihilate this spirit with the exorcism tag... Even if it looks like a beast, it was once a human like us. It just...needs help."


    "Ugh, I don''t have time to deal with a rookie''s delusions. This one is too far gone for help." She finished bandaging her leg and crawled out from under his protective barrier.


    "You can never be too far gone," Gadalik disagreed. "I''ve only faced two spirits who were consumed this badly, but I still managed to at least talk to them. Please, let me try."


    "Tch. It''s your funeral, kid."


    As the shield began to fade, he reached into his pocket and took out a tag for disfigurement. Attaching it to his staff, he used the claw-shaped steel tip to stab the beast''s lashing hand. Upon contact, its wispy form dispersed into a cloud.


    Gadalik propped the weapon over his shoulder, leaving himself open. "It''s okay, see? I''m not going to hurt you."


    The cloud began to reshape. It took the form of a similar, slightly smaller beast, this time with reptilian eyes that darted to and fro, assessing the danger it was in.


    Janna watched skeptically, leaning against a crate to relieve the pressure on her injured leg. Both hands held her staff in preparation to fight at any second, but she held it low and stayed out of the way.


    Gadalik remained calm and still. "You''re safe. You don''t have to fight anymore."


    The large creature neared the spook. Then it roared in his face and moved in to bite his head off. Gadalik fell backward in fear, instinctively added another tag, then drove his staff into its temple. Again its form lost solidity.


    "Are you done yet?" Janna snidely remarked.


    Gadalik stayed down, shaking too bad to get up. He ignored her. "Please, listen... You''re not a voiceless animal; you''re a human. You can tell me what''s bothering you. I can help...!"


    The fog of the ghost¡¯s shapeless body swirled aimlessly. "...All my life I''ve talked, and it never made a difference," the disembodied voice finally spoke.


    "It''s worth a try," he encouraged.


    "Nobody cared or listened to what I had to say, so I gave up speaking at all... But I grew to accept it. I never needed them to hear me anyway."


    "That''s awful... Everyone deserves to be heard..."


    "Yes... I learned that a few days ago. I was in the elevator when it fell from the fourth floor... Fatally injured and trapped, for hours I cried and begged for help, yet still nobody heard me. By the time someone showed up later that day, I was long dead."


    "I''m so sorry... There may be some misunderstanding... I doubt everyone ignored you on purpose. I would have to ask the others involved so I can give you the full story. Either way, it must have been so lonely and painful," he said. "It''s going to be okay now. Calm down and we can work through this."


    "Too late..."


    Gadalik gulped as the cloud''s new form was more massive than before. "W-what...?"


    The door slammed shut. Janna limped over to inspect it. "We''re trapped," she reported, then staggered. Despite the bandage on her leg, she still had her head-injury and wouldn''t be able to move very much.


    "Nobody came to help me until it was too late," the spirit continued. "Now nobody will rescue you. You''ll know how it feels for your screams to befall deaf ears until your deaths!" The beast swiped at Gadalik like a cat would a mouse. Caught off-guard, he was swatted against a sturdy crate, the impact knocking the breath from his lungs. It slowly, menacingly strode toward him. "Any last words...?"


    Gadalik gasped in air until he could confess, "I already know what that''s like..."


    "What?" it asked, disbelieving.


    "My parents were murdered by a ghost like you... I was a kid, helpless to protect them... For two days I was alone in a cabin after I buried them. I cried and screamed for help and when nobody came, I gave up. I know how hopeless you felt..."


    "You can''t possibly know how I feel... You survived!" The spirit lunged at him with its torn up jaws agape.


    Gadalik blocked it with his staff by itself. There hadn''t been enough time to prepare another tag, and now that he needed both arms to keep the blade-like teeth parted, it boiled down to a contest of strength. "Listen to me... You may have died, but you''re still here...! As long as you exist, you can find closure," he reasoned. When it didn''t acknowledge his words, desperation began to take hold. "Please, this isn''t the answer...! Killing us isn''t going to help you move on!"


    The ghost simply growled, all traces of its humanity lost. It was mere inches from the boy, who had now been forced onto his back in his losing struggle. Just as it was about to kill, a stake-like staff pierced its shoulder and knocked it off balance. The stun spell-tag attached electrified the beast, which opened its mouth wider to roar, allowing Gadalik''s staff to fall from it.


    He took a second to recover, then retrieved his weapon and turned to Janna, who had thrown hers.


    She was on the verge of passing out by the stairs. "What are you waiting for? Confine it, then exorcize it!"


    "I... I don''t have any exorcism tags," Gadalik said. "Annihilating a spirit... I-I can''t do that...!"


    "Argh! Stupid kid! Why did you become a spook in the first place if you''re not prepared to kill a ghost?"


    He was shaking, both from terror and emotion, and he realized he was out of tags completely. He hadn''t brought many in the first place since he wasn''t supposed to be on business.


    "Come and take mine before the stun spell wears off," Janna instructed, barely able to sit up. "We don''t have much time."


    He ran, exhausted, to her side and looked through the tags she handed him. "You don''t have any stun spells left?"


    "No, but you don''t need them."


    The beast regained mobility, reached back with its giant clawed hand, and tore Janna''s staff from its shoulder, tossing it to the back of the room. Then it rounded on them.


    "Hurry, kid...! Before it...kills us..." Janna lost consciousness.


    Gadalik panicked. Time appeared to slow down drastically as he escaped to his mind. It was like he was nine years old again, unable to do anything but watch as the consumed spirit tried to kill someone he cared for.


    Nothing good ever came of violence. All it brought was death. He had never so much as touched the tags necessary to annihilate a soul. The thought of doing so went against everything he stood for.


    "I became a spook...so I could help spirits...!" he cried, answering Janna''s earlier question. The beast was getting closer by each eternity-long second. "It was my parents'' fault they died...because they chose to fight...!"


    Janna lay motionless at his feet. But this ghost isn''t giving me a choice... Could it be the same for the others, like Janna...?


    He stared indecisively at the tags she gave him. His mind was going blank, unable to think at all under the pressure.


    Before he knew it, the spirit shoved him against the wall where he was pinned , the abrupt motion scattering the tags he''d unintentionally released upon impact. But he still had a strong hold on his weapon.


    Gadalik could scarcely breathe under its increasing pressure. He shut his eyes in acceptance of his impending death. Then his mind tuned back in. No. He angled the steeled end of his staff at his attacker. I''m not a helpless child anymore...! I won''t stand by while Janna dies the same way my parents did!


    He struggled to free his arm from under the increasing weight of its massive palm. Janna didn''t choose to die... Neither did Mom and Dad.


    His arm broke free. Its sudden absence let the pressure that had been on his arm befall his chest; he cried out in agony when something cracked, but he refused to be withheld by the pain. The teen glared at the void inside the creature''s mouth. It was purposely not finishing him, opting to make its victim suffer by crushing him slowly, like a preying snake.


    A spirit chose to kill them. "You chose to kill..." he accused it quietly. "It''s your fault..."


    It snarled, pressing harder. His chest felt about to burst.


    "It''s your fault!" Gadalik exclaimed, simultaneously driving the speared edge up through its chin and blocking out the sound of its pained bluster. It recoiled and released him¨Chis body dropped, feeling both too light and too heavy at the same time. He forced himself to stand while clutching the staff offensively. "You''re not a human anymore... You''re a monster...!" He charged at the spirit before it could recover, running the staff straight through it with all of his might.


    It was beginning to back away from him, but Gadalik didn''t let up. He swung, beat, and stabbed the monster in a flurry of movements derived from pure rage. Now it was the beast pinned against the wall. The staff was designed to be able to strike spirits even when they were intangible. The ghost was bound to the room regardless; it had no escape.


    In the back of his mind, the spook knew this. Yet his assault never ceased. If he stopped, the monster would kill Janna. It would kill him. So he didn''t.


    The ghost''s struggles were weakening. Its muzzle was wide to emit endless wails that the teen couldn''t hear over the blood rushing through him. Its body was being ripped apart with bits of white fog clinging to the steel claws every time he withdrew the weapon only to strike again and again. Eventually, there was nothing left.


    Still, he battered the ground where the last of it had faded. He distinctly heard the door unlock but his focus didn''t leave the floor that was soaked with blood...Janna''s blood. Blood that the monster had spilled.


    He didn''t hear Glacia yelling his name, or Gale''s approaching footsteps. He let out a contumacious scream when his practical father restrained him in an arm lock until the injured spook couldn''t fight anymore. The teen choked and coughed out blood, gasping for air. More people came in through the open door but Gadalik couldn''t see who they were through his fading vision. The world dissolved into blackness.


    Everything was silent. Gadalik''s body was sore all over. It hurt to move, yet he blindly reached for the staff he kept propped on the nightstand beside his bed. Nothing was there. Panic set in. He opened his striped blue eyes, his heart sinking when he saw he was in a hospital room. Again.


    How many times do I have to tell Glacia my breakdown didn''t mean anything? he complained silently and tried to stand up to leave, whimpering slightly from the terrible ache in his upper back and in his chest every time he inhaled. Looking down he was confused to find a bandage on the side of his chest where it hurt the most.


    "Sir, you shouldn''t be up yet," said a nurse who caught him at the door. "While your injuries aren''t life-threatening, you were crushed pretty badly. Fractured your rib and it punctured your lung. You need to rest. Your guardians are in the waiting room, so I can tell them you''re awake for you."


    Crushed? When was I ever...? Memories flooded back. "Janna!" he cried.


    "Sir, please calm down--"


    "Where''s Janna? Did--did she--?" he couldn''t bring himself to say the word ''die.'' The image of her still and bleeding body stuck in his mind.


    "She''s alive, and she''s making a great recovery. Now you settle down so you can recover too, okay?"


    He breathed a sigh of relief and nodded. "Can I see her...?"


    "Sure. She''s right across the hall there."


    "Thank you so much," he said wholeheartedly. He knocked, and upon hearing her invite, entered.


    "Well, if it isn''t my hero," she greeted him sarcastically. He looked away, ashamed he hadn''t used her spell tags to end the fight sooner. "Hey, cheer up. I''m proud of you, boy. I didn''t think you had it in you to exorcize a spirit, let alone beat one to into annihilation."


    He felt sick as the memories returned. "...He just wanted to be heard..."


    "...What?"


    "...And I--I stopped listening to his cries while I--" his voice broke. "What...What have I done...?"


    "You did what you had to," Janna answered simply. "I saw you try to reason with him. He was too far gone."


    "But you''re never too--"


    "Oh, spare me that wishful thinking. You realize spooks are hired to make spirits leave this world, right? That doesn''t always mean sending them to the netherworld--it means getting rid of their spirit for good."


    "...How can you be okay with that? Denying their soul their right to the afterlife..."


    "You''re, like, the only spook who isn''t okay with it," she explained. "Consumed spirits are the most dangerous and difficult to help with your method. They feel entitled to their rage and despair, so they just want to vent it out on innocent people for as long as we spooks let them. Ending their existence is the best thing we can for everyone, including them."


    Gadalik processed this, sitting in the chair by her bed. The events from that morning felt like it was all a dream or a distant memory from long ago. The details were hazy but his bruised skin reminded him that it was very much real and recent.


    "I know it can sound heartless... It took your father years to start taking on jobs involving consumed ghosts because of that mentality."


    "Who were you to him...?"


    "Trent was my partner before he met your mother. He used to act a lot like you when we first started out. But then he learned that annihilation is the best thing we can do to help ghosts who are too consumed by their fates. It puts an end to everyone''s suffering."


    "But what if there was still hope for him...? What if I could''ve saved him--"


    "You can''t help someone if they don''t want to be helped, kid. They''ll just drag you down with them...human, or ghost. The sooner you realize you''re not a perfect little hero capable of saving everyone, the happier you''ll be."

 Episode 5: Bounty

    <div>


    <section>


    "Remember... Go easy on him," Gale murmured to his girlfriend when their adoptive son was at the check-out window of the hospital. "This is punishment enough."


    Gadalik had stayed there for the three days it took the doctors to make sure there was nothing else besides the bruising and cracked rib that he sustained from a poltergeist who had thrown and crushed him, but they would heal on their own with help from the compression wraps. He spent that time learning more about spooks'' capabilities from Janna, who was still recovering from that same fight.


    After he finished the form and received a prescription for pain-relievers, he went to his parents. Both the darker-skinned man and the purple-haired woman seemed at a loss for how to treat him after they had found Gadalik still in a fit of rage, whaling on the bloodied basement floor of the resort after he had annihilated the spirit¨Cinstead of saving it¨Cfor the first time in his career as a spook. A career he had promised them to put on hold for their stay at the beach. A promise he had broken.


    "You ready to go home?" his mother asked him gently.


    Gadalik shook his head. He owed them the rest of their vacation after the mess he caused. "Can we stay a few days longer?"


    Glacia and Gale glanced at each other. "Sure," she replied, "if that''s what you want."


    "It is," the teen answered honestly. Between his breakdown nine days ago and his rampage just shy of a week after, all he did lately was cause them worry. The spook needed to get himself on the right track so he wouldn''t hurt them any farther, and until his encounter with the ghost, their getaway had him more unwound than he''d been in a long while. They all needed some downtime. "Unless you don''t want to...?"


    The couple exchanged another uncertain look. Then the bounty hunter smiled. "I''m game."


    "Uh... Yeah...! We''ve still got places around here we haven''t been to yet," Glacia agreed. "Like the docks. You used to love watching the boats go by, remember? We can go there later--after we get your medicine."


    "That''d be nice," Gadalik said. He still did enjoy the view from the pier; it made him wonder about others'' travels across the world.


    The trio headed to the pharmacy in town. The spring flowers were blooming along the sidewalk, their vibrant colors standing out against the gray shops lining the streets, some matching the roofs and the flyers along the walls, the majority of the latter being advertisements for local events and discounts that green-haired teen didn''t pay much attention to. Gale stopped to inspect the only grayscale photo print on the building next to the drugstore.


    "You coming?" Glacia called to the swordsman.


    "...Yeah, go on ahead. I''ll be right there," he answered.


    She shrugged, then walked inside with her son. Gadalik went to the refrigerated section first so he could buy a few bottles of water along with the medicine. The persistent aching in his back was tolerable albeit a nuisance when bending or reaching, or even just lifting the water. He didn''t mind the rib fracture so much, although any deeper breaths or the slightest bit of pressure on it aside from that of the wrap was excruciating. Still, he carried himself as he normally would and hoped not to worry anyone.


    "Here you are, Gadalik. Take it every four-to-six hours, but never more than six times a day," the pharmacist instructed as he traded the money for everything.


    "Understood," he said. "Thank you."


    "Better take one now," Glacia told him. He acceded.


    "Got everything?" Gale asked as he came in, opting to carry the plastic bottles aside from the one the spook was drinking from, to Gadalik''s relief. The teen nodded.


    The three left together. "So what were you doing out there?" she wondered.


    "Oh, just looking at a wanted poster."


    Curious, Gadalik gazed toward the one his practical father had read, puzzled when he didn''t find it on the next door building where it had been. Odd... Maybe Gale took it down to keep.


    On their way to the harbor he got a hunch that there was a spirit nearby. More experienced spooks like Janna would be able to rely on such feelings to tell the difference between the dead and the living without the need of their staff, but Gadalik wasn''t quite there yet. When he noticed someone a year or two older than him standing outside of a hex shop, he gently tugged the light blue sleeve of Glacia¡¯s kimono-like outfit and discreetly pointed a thumb at him.


    His mother understood that motion and followed his gesture with her eyes. "Red hair, blue bandanna, black eye-patch, sword at his hip?" she reported. He nodded. "Yeah, he''s alive."


    "Do you need something from the shop?" Gale offered his son.


    Gadalik gave it some thought. "I-I could use more spell tags... Just in case."


    "There''s no stopping you from working even when you''re injured and on vacation, is there?" she commented. "You and Gale are just alike."


    The spook had forgotten he was injured; he felt normal. He thanked the medicine and tried to remember how long it had been since he''d taken it. Almost an hour ago, at nine. So around thirteen- or fifteen-hundred hours is when I might need it again.


    They passed the older red-haired teen whose blue eye glanced their way for just a moment before casually stepping out of their path and returning his attention to the paper he was holding. Despite his neutral expression, he seemed too focused for Gadalik to be convinced that he wasn''t troubled. Even though he''s alive, maybe I can help him out.


    The spook slowed to a stop inside. Janna''s words to him echoed in his mind: "The sooner you realize you''re not a perfect little hero capable of saving everyone, the happier you''ll be." He gingerly placed a hand over his bandaged chest. She''s right. He''s most likely fine on his own, anyway.


    "...Does it hurt?" Glacia fretted. "If the medicine isn''t working, we could go back to the doctor and tell them--"


    "Oh, uh...no--it''s working. I feel fine. Honest. I was just thinking..." He shook his head dismissively and surveyed the shop. Most of the items were out of stock. He went to the spook''s section and looked at the tags, which thankfully were still readily available. He chose to get a few of each: stun, disfigurement, shield, and... Gadalik hesitated. Then he reluctantly selected ones for confinement and exorcism. He went to pay.


    "What happened here? This place is almost empty," Glacia said to the cashier.


    "We were robbed a couple nights ago," the worker explained. "The thieves made off with a lot, but the most valuable one they stole was our enchanted compass."


    Gadalik couldn''t stop himself from prying, remembering his hunch. He still had the feeling a spirit was close. "Did anybody die...?"


    The employee looked at the spell tags he was buying. "I''m not supposed to say, but since you''re a spook, maybe it wouldn''t hurt to let you know. Our manager Sheila was staying late at the time, and she was killed trying to protect the shop. Knowing her, she won''t move on until there''s justice."


    Gale approached her. "The criminals... What did they look like?"


    "From what I heard, it was a man with brown hair, and a blond woman, both in their thirties. There was an older guy with them; he fought with Sheila while the first two ransacked us."


    "Must be Jim Culler and his two accomplices...."


    "Y-yes. But please don''t do anything reckless; they''re a dangerous bunch, and we personally don''t have a bounty for him...but if you do happen to bring him off the streets, the compass is yours to keep as payment."


    "Thanks for the info. Stay safe," Gale replied. They paid and exited. No sooner than they walked out the door did a woman phase up through the ground. Gadalik stumbled backward with shock. She had dark skin and long wavy red hair in a high ponytail and wore a purple uniform shirt matching that of the hex shop''s employee.


    Judging by his parents'' reactions, the spirit turned visible to say, "A spook and a bounty hunter? I''m in luck!"


    "Sh-Sheila?" the blue-eyed teen asked.


    "Yep. Sorry for the scare. I knew I''d come across another spook if I stuck around here long enough."


    "Hold on there," Glacia butted in. "Firstly, he''s off duty. Secondly, he is hurt something awful. Thirdly, the last thing he needs right now is more stress." She shoved three fingers through the ghost''s intangible face. "He''s in no condition to help with anything right now!"


    Her son looked away, a feeling of uselessness creeping through him.


    Sheila backed out of her reach. "He won''t have to do much. I only need him to use his staff and disfigurement tags."


    "Don''t you sell those in your shop? Use them yourself!" The living woman shooed her.


    "She can''t," Gadalik defended the spirit. "The instant she touches a tag, it will activate--using the tag on herself."


    "Well what do you need those for anyway? That gang isn''t made up of ghosts."


    "Maybe so, but I suspect they''ve disguised their hideout somewhere with magic," Sheila mused. "If they truly are able to use what they''ve stolen from me, I can''t find it on my own." She glanced toward the store. "I''ll make it worth your while. Alongside the compass that can locate anything, I''ll personally give you something that will benefit a spook."


    "Sorry, but you''ll have to find someone else. Regardless of his injuries, I don''t want him involved in any stressful situations. He''s been through enough of those recently."


    "I see.  The only other spook I encountered had a horrible gash in her leg... She could barely walk."


    Janna... He froze, remembering the bestial poltergeist readying an ending blow against the bloodied woman...an attack that, if blocked by her staff, would have exorcised that spirit the second before Gadalik showed up, if only he hadn''t. His involvement merely prolonged the battle, making it worse for everyone. Maybe Glacia''s right. I should stay out of this...


    "Gadalik isn''t in good enough shape to help...but I am," Gale announced. "Is there anything I can do?"


    "Sure. Being dead has its perks: I can search through walls and without being seen. But I can''t ask living people for clues; they get frightened. That''s where you''d come in. The more people searching, the better."


    "I''m on it," the bounty hunter declared.


    "I''ll help any way I can," Gadalik offered. It was all he could do to rid himself of the worthlessness eating at him. "Talking to people won''t be dangerous," he added to his mother before she could protest. "Besides, you''ll be with me."


    "W-well... Should we join you, Gale?" she confided in his practical father.


    "Fine with me," the mohawked swordsman answered. To the spirit, he stated, "We''ll meet you back here in a few hours."


    "Sounds good. I''ll keep looking, and I''ll find you first if I need you." Sheila turned invisible even though Gadalik could still see her as she flew off.


    "If those ruffians target my son, I''ll dump you on the spot," Glacia threatened him.


    "Easy, now. I won''t let anyone get hurt," Gale replied. "We''ll have a nice tour and shop some as we ask around. It won''t make a difference for us."


    She sighed. "Fine. Whatever. But the second things get hairy, we''re leaving! No more ghosts, no more crooks, and no more stress."


    "Yes, dear," he concurred, starting to leave but twisting slightly to kiss her cheek as he passed her. He smiled as she blushed while she tried to stay assertive.


    Gadalik laughed, the two close behind him. He was grateful for Gale''s presence. The bounty hunter never usually stayed for this long at a time, so that was one good thing that came out of the hospital trips. He held the other male true to his word.


    The family traipsed farther into town, visiting hardware stores, boutiques, and gift shops, among other places. They had started conversations with workers and customers alike. Most people got antsy when Jim Culler was brought up, but some had things to say.


    "That Chuck guy who''s with Jim is known for getting into buildings no matter how tight the security. He only really comes out when it''s dark, and his sight is the best. I heard he recently went after that little magic store." "It''s confirmed that a woman named Linda is part of the trio, but not many have seen her. Some say she suddenly gained the ability to move faster than the eye can see..." "Jim has been coming out of hiding more frequently, but even still nobody can track him down."


    "That girl with him is the devil!" An unkempt elderly man had approached them on the street. "She blew my entire home into smithereens and made off with my pocket watch!"


    "W-what? Where do you live?" The thought of someone capable of such destruction made Gadalik uneasy.


    "Did you see which way she went?" Gale added.


    "All of that damage for one little watch?" Glacia muttered skeptically.


    "I live right behind you!" he exclaimed, gesturing wildly.


    They turned around to see a house in perfectly good shape. Then they faced the elder again with an awkward silence.


    "Uh... When did all of that happen?" the bounty hunter spoke up.


    "Yesterday! And she headed south."


    Glacia wasn''t buying it. "...Are you sure that''s your house? It looks fine to me."


    "It is fine now, but trust me, she used the devil''s work to obliterate it! Nothing left of it but ashes at the time!"


    "So...what. It just magically repaired itself? And out of everything you owned, she only stole a watch?"


    "Yes! That watch has been in my wife''s family for generations! Why, my great grandmother-in-law was a legendary hero in her time, able to defeat any foe in the blink of an eye! She carried that watch everywhere..."


    "O-kay, then," she talked over him when his ramblings had no indication of stopping. "Thanks, but we gotta go."


    Around noon they settled at a diner.


    "You''re looking for Jim?" said the waitress after she wrote down their orders.


    "We are," Gale affirmed. "Him or his partners."


    "Good luck finding him. My older brother saw Jim and his lackeys outside the bar just south of here yesterday evening. They got in a car and drove off. He followed them from a distance but he lost sight."


    "And you''re sure he didn''t see which way they went?"


    "No... He told me it was like they vanished into thin air."


    "Oh... Well thank you. That''s something to go on."


    "...First the codger, and now this girl''s brother?" Glacia huffed as they left. She drew a circle around her ear.


    "Hey, it''s worth looking into, at least," Gale said.


    "It better be. The more I hear about this gang, the more I want to knock their blocks off when we find them, just for wasting our time!" She marched ahead with her fists clenched as if to punch whoever would stop her.


    "Yeah. But, um...the bar is that way," the spook corrected her, pointing.


    His mother stiffened, then spun around on her heel. "Right. Got it. Let''s go!"


    By the time they reached it, Gadalik''s back started bothering him again. They''d been walking almost nonstop for hours since morning, and sitting at the restaurant had given a chance for exhaustion to catch up. Being completely out of pain for the first time had made him aware that his shoulders were also in bad shape when it began to return.


    The crowned woman sat with him outside while Gale talked with the bouncer. She noticed the former''s expression. "Don''t worry; we''re gonna nail this guy."


    Gadalik nodded halfheartedly. He needed a break, but he despised the thought of slowing them down, especially if they were getting a lead. Maybe I should call it quits and let them go without me... Gale was already doing all the work, regardless. The spook propped his forehead in his hand and closed his eyes.


    "Gadalik?" she pressed.


    He reopened them to acknowledge her, then spotted the same teen from outside the hex shop slowly walking away, still concentrating on the paper, and almost seeming a bit more frustrated than before.


    With his back now to Gadalik, the spook could glimpse what was on the front side of the poster, and recognized it as the missing one Gale had looked at earlier: a colorless illustration of a heavyset man with a scraggly beard and crooked grin revealing some missing teeth.


    Wanted: James ''Jim'' Culler; male; born March 12, 1910 (age 47)


    Accomplices: Charles ''Chuck'' Idiom; male; age 30


    Linda Baywing; female; age 34


    "Excuse me," Gadalik called, approaching him. Glacia stayed seated as an onlooker. He pushed aside Janna''s warning as it replayed in his head. If he does want help, then I can help him. I won''t know unless I try. "Do you need anything?"


    The red-haired man faced him with one eyebrow lifted. "Everyone needs things, matey," he replied as a matter of fact. There was a slight British accent in his lighthearted tone.


    "Uh... That''s true," Gadalik said, a bit embarrassed. "I just couldn''t help but notice the poster you''re holding..."


    His eye narrowed, the smile dropping into a more neutral frown.


    "...Have you seen him?"


    "Sure I have...on the poster," he answered with a small huff of laughter that Gadalik suspected wasn''t genuine.


    "Heh. Same here. My name is Gadalik. I may not look like it in these clothes, but I''m a spook. That gang on the poster... They murdered someone, and her soul won''t rest until they''re not a threat anymore. If he''s wronged you, too, then we''re on the same side. Maybe we can help each other." He offered his hand to shake.


    The stranger didn''t even glance at it. "Eh. I think I can manage on my own."


    "...Oh. I understand." The younger teen tucked his thumb into the belt-loops of his pants as if to disguise his failed handshake. The female spook''s words invaded his thoughts: ''...You''re not...capable of saving everyone...''


    Gadalik tensed, feeling a slight tightness in his chest that wasn''t from his fractured rib. He attempted to take a slow, deep breath, but that caused his injury to act up.


    "Gadalik, come on," his mother called to him. "Gale says he knows where Jim was last seen!"


    That got the older teen''s interest.


    Gadalik gazed absently at the ground. His lung burned worse the more air he struggled to inhale, although outwardly he barely expressed any discomfort. Why bother telling me this? Why bother letting me join the search? I can''t help them--they don''t need my help--I''ll just make things worse--


    "Hey, did you hear her?" Gale stepped in, placing a hand on the spook''s shoulder. "I''ll find him. Count on it. Let''s just go."


    "Wait," said the sailor. He was eyeing the sword on the bounty hunter''s hip. "If yer plannin'' on takin'' him down, I might be of assistance."


    "And who exactly are you?" Glacia asked, standing beside her boyfriend.


    "Gentri."


    She squinted suspiciously at him. "And? How do you plan to assist us?"


    His blue eye looked to his own sword as if in answer.


    Gadalik was too sore to stand for much longer, and his purposefully inadequate breaths made him lightheaded; he leaned slightly backward onto his father. Normally he could endure it but it felt so much worse when compared to no pain at all.


    Gale caught him, mildly surprised, and held him more securely. "I think we could all use a break first. Gentri, you''re welcome to join us."


    "It''s one in the afternoon. That''s four hours. You need the medicine now," Glacia said to her son.


    Gentri observed the scene before him. His expression was hard to read, though he appeared more curious than concerned. Gale helped his son to the table and sat him down. The spook obeyed Glacia but didn''t improve right away. He brought his left leg onto the chair and wrapped his hand around his scarred ankle, consciously substituting a bad habit that had recently resurfaced since childhood.


    The bounty hunter supervised it for a few moments to make sure it wasn''t harmful. "You want something to eat?" he asked Gentri. "My treat."


    "Aye," he accepted.


    Glacia pursed her lips. "So what''s your deal? You have a vendetta against that crook Jim or something?"


    "I could ask you the same thing."


    "Touch¨¦. Nothing personal for us; we were roped in by a victim of his. At this point I just wanna see that thug get what''s comin'' for him. So, what, did he take something from you?"


    "Not exactly."


    "''Not exactly''? What does that mean? It was a ''yes'' or ''no'' question."


    Gentri didn''t elaborate.


    "I''m sure he has his reasons," the blue-violet-haired man spoke for him.


    "Then why doesn''t he tell us?" she muttered. "There''s something fishy about him."


    "Of course there is. He''s a sailor," Gale joked. That got a smile out of the new guy.


    Glacia groaned. "Did he tell you anything, Gadalik?"


    Her son barely heard them, getting lost in his own head. He snapped out of it when she tapped his arm.


    "Are you alright...? If you want, we can call this whole thing off. Sheila can get Gentri''s help instead of ours."


    "N-no, I''m fine," the spook stammered. His parents were both very motivated; he didn''t want to take that from them. Besides, I promised to help. Then his eyes narrowed. But promises didn''t stop me from annihilating that spirit... His fingers curled, the nails resting atop his lower calf. He caught himself and quickly sat up straighter, both hands above the table and both feet on the ground. "Just a little sore, that''s all. B-but I''m already feeling better--we can keep going! What did you learn, Gale?"


    "Slow down; Gentri hasn''t eaten yet. I can show you after we rest," the older man said. "We should pay a visit to our hotel rooms first as well, to drop off the things we bought and to prepare to face him--if he really is there. Just to be safe."


    "Alright. So we meet with Sheila, show her where Jim''s at, then she and you swordsmen can take him down," Glacia summarized. "Sounds easy enough."


    "Nothin'' easy about dodging bullets," the sailor disagreed. "Ol'' Jim''s got a six-shooter."


    He has a gun? The younger teen and the woman both shifted their focus to Gale, who turned away slightly at that news. Gentri seemed the least bit addled.


    When the bounty hunter noticed, he took a step back with one hand slightly out, palm facing them. "It''s nothing I haven''t faced before," he reminded his family. "But it may be safer if you two stay out of it."


    "Sure. Safety is most important... That''s why I don''t want you going, either."


    "...What?" Gale was simply confused.


    "Didn''t you want to see Jim get pummeled?" Gentri remarked.


    "Yeah, and I still do!" she said. "But our only agreement is to tell Sheila where he''s at so she can take him out. She''s a ghost; she can''t get hurt."


    "...Some enchanted items, like a spook''s staff, can be used to hurt ghosts..." Gadalik had used his weapon to tear at the otherworldly monster until there was nothing left of it. He quailed.


    She covered her mouth with instant regret of her insensitivity. "Oh... B-but they don''t have a staff like that!"


    "...They did rob a hex shop...so there''s still a chance Sheila might be at risk."


    "In that case at least one of us should act as her backup. A living person has to be there, regardless, to turn Jim in even if Sheila doesn''t need us," Gale insisted.


    "That''s what Gentri''s for." She waved him off.


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    The spook flinched. "You don''t want anyone to die, but you''re fine with Gentri risking his life alone?"


    "W-well he''s not our responsibility. And, frankly, neither is Jim. This is supposed to be our vacation, for goodness sake!"


    "But I''m the one who dragged him into this..." He wrapped his arms around his lower torso as if the added pressure would relieve the sudden tension there.


    The pirate shrugged. "Relax, lad. Tellin'' me where he''s at will suffice. It''s not like I wasn''t hunting solo before we met. I don''t need your help defeating him."


    The younger teen hugged himself tighter at those last words. He''s right... That''s what I concluded when I first saw him. I should''ve left him alone... I should''ve left Janna alone. Why can''t I mind my own business? And why am I getting...so...stressed over everything? He took a deep breath now that he was able, then winced and coughed from that action.


    Glacia handed him some water. "That settles it. We''re leaving it to Gentri," she decided.


    "I''ll catch up with you two later, then," Gale replied.


    She glared at her love, somewhat frustrated by his persistence. "Even if you''re just on the sidelines, you of all people know the damage a stray bullet can cause."


    "Yes... One from an irrelevant fight killed my father. But I defeated his killer and a couple more gunmen since. I''ll also win against Jim," he said with finality. "Especially with Gentri and Sheila on my side."


    "Sometimes I think you boys have a death wish," Glacia sighed. "But, hey, it''s your life. If you''re that determined to fight him, I can''t stop you. However, that also means you can''t stop me from coming with you."


    "I...wouldn''t recommend it."


    "And just why not?"


    "I have first-hand experience with these situations. You don''t. If you get hurt, that''d be my fault."


    "N-no," Gadalik interrupted, momentarily reminded of his own accusation to the storage room''s spirit. When his word got everyone''s attention, he felt a bit nervous under their unified gaze. "If anyone gets hurt, it''s Jim''s fault." He sat up straighter, regaining some amount of confidence. "Don''t worry, Glacia; I have shield tags that can protect us, so we can be there without endangering ourselves. We can also protect them if things get out of hand."


    His mother considered that, not quite satisfied. "Wait," she realized, "if we can get him to waste all his ammo on Sheila, then no-one can be shot!"


    "O'' course." The sailor''s words were sarcastic. "Anyone would waste five bullets on a ghost after the first one didn''t connect."


    "Don''t use that tone with me, boy," she snapped. "I have a plan. Meet with us later."


    They were still staying at the formerly-haunted resort. Since the poltergeist had been eradicated, there wasn''t any danger left, and thus there was no reason to leave. The elevator was now fully functional, as well, although the green-haired teen avoided it like the plague. Residents had emptied out after the incident which thankfully allowed his parents to switch their room and his to the first floor in the few days of his absence so he wouldn''t strain himself by going upstairs.


    He went in his for the first time and grimaced at the mess: all of his belongings were piled up on the bed. He immediately began putting them away so he could find something in case of an emergency without having to search. He put on his dark green robe and kept the confinement- and exorcism-tags in a separate inner pocket from the rest for that very reason.


    He was glad that Glacia managed to get the red stains out. He could always get another, but his current robe belonged to his blood-mother and it wasn''t something he was willing to replace. He headed back out with staff-in-hand, met up with the former princess still crowned and carrying a cloth bag over her shoulder, and his practical father.


    "Got everything?" he asked them.


    "Flashlights, ropes, snacks, water, you name it," Glacia chimed.


    They all rejoined outside the hex shop.


    Gentri had waited for them there, along with Sheila, whom the spook could see was invisible thanks to his staff. When she suddenly showed herself, the pirate''s hand moved to the hilt of his sword in the blink of an eye. He seemed quick to catch on to who she was, however.


    "So, any news on where he''s at?" the spirit consulted them.


    "Yes. Follow me." Gale led them to a dirt road between buildings leading to a chain-link fence with a barren field behind it. "Jim was last seen going toward this field, in a car after jumping and robbing someone yesterday."


    Glacia stared expectantly at the fence. "Uh... It''s a dead end, and there''s nothing unusual past the fence. Maybe they''re all loons."


    "Multiple witnesses said he seemed to disappear as soon as they got close. I doubt every single one of them is crazy."


    "Perhaps Sheila''s not the only ghost here," Gentri kidded.


    "Sounds like it, except ghosts can''t turn things invisible. I tried," Sheila laughed. "No... There''s definitely magic involved."


    "Is there anything of use to them in the field?" Gadalik said.


    "There used to be a department store there, but they demolished it many years ago. Hm. Now that I think about it, I do know where they might be!"


    Gadalik stuck his fingers between the steel wires and closed a fist around them. He looked to the U-shaped latch that stopped the fence from opening on its own. "It''s not locked. Why wouldn''t they secure it?"


    "That''s...smart," the spirit credited them. "I get it now. Go ahead, open it."


    The spook lifted the handle and pushed. It dragged in the thick dirt at first but it gave. There wasn''t anything different when he stepped past it.


    "...What happened? He just phased through the gate?" Glacia commented, confused. "That''s...impossible. Gadalik, are you there?"


    He left it open and came back to them. "Yeah, what did you mean? I didn''t phase through anything...?"


    "Turn around," Gale answered him.


    The robed teen did as told and stared at the fence, which appeared to be closed. "Huh? I don''t understand..."


    "It''s a duplication illusion," Sheila said. "He made a fake copy of the closed fence that stays there even if the real fence is opened. When it''s closed, it fits right into the fake so people think the real one is the only one. That, my friends, is pretty clever security. Gadalik, try a disfigurement tag."


    He did, attaching it to his staff and touching the speared end to the fake, causing it to dissolve into a cloud that faded away.


    Glacia seemed impressed. "How is it even possible to make a copy though?"


    "Who knows? It couldn''t possibly be from the enchanted items he stole," Gentri replied, the sarcasm surprisingly less than the scornful edge he seemed to direct at the theft itself rather than the crowned woman. She rolled her eyes.


    "Spot-on," Sheila affirmed. "They got the illusion tags for it from my shop. Those tags are obsolete so they cost a pretty penny, but back in the older days most people put a copied object over something different to disguise the real thing, so whoever set this up knew a few tricks."


    "...Is that what happened to the old man''s house?" Gadalik figured. "Fake wreckage?"


    "That would explain it," his father said. "Perhaps the watch is something special after all."


    "Only one way to find out. Let''s go," Sheila prompted.


    "Hang on." Glacia withdrew a long black cloak from her bag. "You''re going in first, way ahead of us. You''ll be wearing this and walking the whole time. Keep the hood up, too. Don''t let anyone see you under it."


    The spirit tried it on. It was large enough on her that it trailed on the ground even though she was currently floating. "What''s this for?"


    "For everyone''s protection. You''d be in danger from their enchanted items if they know you''re a ghost. If they think you''re a living human, though, they won''t waste those items on you; they''ll try to shoot you instead. So you''ll pretend to dodge or get hurt by the bullets until they''re out of ammo! No risk to you, and it''d also be making it safe for us to help you out when the jig is up."


    "Hm. Pretty solid plan."


    "Yeah. It''s worth a shot," Gale punned. His girlfriend lightly bopped his arm.


    One of the things Gadalik admired about his mother was her will to get what she wanted. In this case, a way they could watch criminals get beat-up. He couldn''t help chuckling to himself at how ridiculous that sounded.


    Sheila continued, "Afterward I''ll turn invisible and fly up to signal Gadalik, so he can let you know when it''s safe." At that, she landed and walked past the visibly-open gate.


    Minutes passed. Then a half-hour. The spook was starting to worry; it had been silent and he didn''t see Sheila anywhere. The hunch he retained of her presence wasn''t enough to ease his worries. After an hour with no sign of the ghost, he withdrew a shield tag and headed toward the field, unable to shake his fears that something happened to her.


    The others immediately followed him. Gadalik glanced back at them, a bit confused but too distraught to question it. He attached the tag to the staff which created a protective bubble. He concentrated his own power into it and, straining some, managed to widen the shield over all of them. His striped blue eyes darted around the flat grassy area, only seeing a commemorative statue and few trees spaced far apart. There must be one more fake entrance. But where?


    "There be her cloak," Gentri pointed out, leading the way toward the statue.


    Gadalik matched his pace to keep him behind the barrier. As they neared it the younger male noticed something black in its shadow. "Wow... Good eye."


    "That''d be my bad eye, actually," the eye-patched sailor laughed.


    "Huh?"


    "Nevermind."


    Gadalik used a disfigurement tag on the stone horseman; it vanished to reveal a groove in the earth where a real one used to be. In the center lied a cellar door with Sheila''s cloak trapped in the frame. He tugged the fabric, the force opening it, then they pried it the rest of the way and went inside.


    Glacia shone a flashlight from behind him as they descended. Their footsteps seemed all too loud in the absence of the surface''s noise. Once the four of them reached level flooring, the narrow stairway opened up into a room so wide the light couldn''t reach the walls from where they stood. They proceeded cautiously, slow enough for Gadalik to hear each of their ten footsteps individually.


    ...Wait...ten? There should only be eight-- he gasped as Gentri charged past him into the darkness, followed by the sound of clashing steel. Glacia took his place beside her son to literally shed some light, however dim it may be from distance, on the situation.


    The pirate had locked swords with an older man who had scruffy brown hair. They seemed evenly matched for a moment before they broke apart and something got their partner''s attention.


    "Above you!" Gentri warned them.


    Gale shoved his family out of the way in time for a blond woman to drop down from the rafters, landing ethereally.


    Her green eyes squinted against the light Glacia aimed to blind her, but not before she managed to get a look at the trespassers. "That staff... So you''re the one who sent that pest of a spirit after us? I guess I should thank you; she prepared us for more intruders."


    "W-What did you do to her?!" Gadalik cried.


    "We killed her once... And we killed her again. But don''t worry; you''ll join her soon enough," she hissed. She retrieved a small round object from one of the many pouches strapped to her legs, then leaped away as she launched it at them.


    It exploded against the shield.


    "Sheila''s been annihilated?" Glacia repeated, incredulous.


    "She couldn''t have been... I still sense a soul nearby," he denied it.


    "You think she''s the only ghost in the world?" the blond giggled.


    "But...she signaled to you that it was safe, didn''t she, Gadalik?" his mother pressed.


    That''s why they followed me?! He cursed himself for forgetting they couldn''t see invisible ghosts--or in this case, a lack thereof. "No... She didn''t..."


    "Oh, no... That means the gun is still..."


    "A shield tag, huh?" the green eyed girl spotted as the smoke cleared and Glacia''s flashlight shone through. "No matter. I have a couple dispel tags." The criminal tossed a marked piece of paper that aligned itself to the barrier which caused it to rapidly begin flickering out of existence.


    No! Without it, we''ll all be... Gadalik shook his head and concentrated. He channeled his own energy into his shield tag through the staff until it regained its solidity. His foe seemed surprised by this. She repeated the process and so too did the spook. The second time drained him of all he had, but he didn''t dare show it.


    "You''re more powerful than I thought. Fine, then. I''ll just take out that red-haired punk."


    "Argh, it''s about time, Linda," the other crook, frustrated, responded, striving to deflect Gentri''s blade. "How can this kid track my movements so well? It''s like his vision''s even better than mine is in the dark... Turn the lights on!"


    "On it, Chuck. Brace yourself!" She audibly pulled a switch, and everyone flinched at the abrupt change of brightness, momentarily blinded.


    "Gah!" Chuck yelped, followed by the sound of metal landing and scraping on the stone floor farther away. "H-how in the--"


    As their eyes adjusted, they saw Gentri standing over the disarmed killer, the point of his sword aimed at the latter''s neck. He faced Linda with his blue eye narrowed. "Move, and he''s dead."


    They stood off. With the room lit for the first time, they could take in their surroundings: an old underground parking lot. There were scaffolds lining the walls, explaining how Linda had gotten to the ceiling beams. A driveway was parallel with the stairs, and there were doors on either of the remaining walls. Gale''s attention was drawn to Chuck''s sword.


    "That eye-patch... It''s been enchanted," Linda identified. "I''ll bet it lets him see extraordinarily well in the dark. Using only that eye lets his other stay adjusted to the light, so it''s no wonder he bested you, Chuck. But he''s not the only one with enchanted items..." She took out a pocket watch.


    At that motion, Gentri swung his sword to behead the hostage, but in an instant she was between them, already with the former''s eye-patch in her hand, and in the next she seemingly teleported back to the rafters with her companion propped next to her out of harm''s way.


    Gentri''s right eye had a scar over it. The iris was a lighter shade of blue than his left. He closed it before the pupil could shrink to the light-level.


    "This ought to come in handy for us," she said as she put it on. After phasing in and out of sight for a second, the lights went out once more. Moments of silence passed while she fiddled with her new possession.


    "Glacia, keep the flashlight angled at them," Gale whispered. She did. Gadalik heard his father quietly leave the barrier.


    "Strange... You, there! How do I activate it?" she demanded the pirate. "I know it''s enchanted. So why won''t it work?!"


    Gentri laughed from down below.


    "Why, you little brat! Tell me how to use this, or so help me I''ll... Wait...what?" The blue symbol on the eye-patch glowed faintly and then the whole of it disappeared off her face. "My patch! What happened to it?!"


    "I wish you wouldn''t obsess over magic things so much," Chuck muttered. "Just kill them already."


    "I would but I''ll have to wait for the shield spell to time out, first. It shouldn''t be much longer--" her sentence ended in a scream as Chuck''s sword, thrown expertly by Gale, pierced clean through her armpit and out her shoulder until the hand-guard met her skin, the impact sending Linda up and off her perch as well as forcing the affected hand to drop the pocket watch.


    Glacia kept the light on the other woman, then moved it to the bounty hunter as he rushed in and caught her. The watch clattered right next to them, so the purple-haired woman reached out from under the shield and snatched it.


    Linda wriggled futilely in Gale''s hold. "Chuck, don''t just sit there! Help me!"


    "How?" Her partner threw his hands out to show they were empty, despite it being too dark to see them. "My sword is stuck in your arm..."


    "Well get down here and fist-fight him like a man!"


    "But I''m outnumbered!"


    While they argued in the background, Gale bespoke the others. "Glacia, you disarm her. Take everything she has even if it looks harmless. Gadalik, if you could please tie her wrists and ankles."


    The spook did so while his mother frisked her.


    "Don''t you dare take my things!" Linda snarled.


    "Geez. Get a grip, lady, they''re not even yours; you stole them," Glacia grumbled, placing the myriad of trinkets into a separate part of her bag.


    "Grr... Chuck, what''s taking so long?!"


    "I-it''s not exactly easy to get down from here," her companion retorted.


    "Just drop down, you coward! It won''t kill you!"


    "N-no, but he might..." Chuck said, referring to Gentri. "I''m defenseless. I''d rather be a coward than dead."


    "Too bad...you''re both." Gentri''s threat sounded from behind him. The patch had replaced itself upon his scarred eye, and he had used it to stealthily climb the scaffolding during the commotion. He drew his blade, then pressed the flat of it into Chuck''s throat.


    "I--ack--I surrender," the thief choked.


    "Good job up there," Gale praised the other swordsman. By the time Linda was dealt with, Gentri had dragged Chuck down, where the latter received the same treatment. The shield spell ran out.


    "That''s two out of three," Gale announced. "So where''s Jim?"


    His family exchanged a worried glance. "Uh, you know what? We can come back for Jim," Glacia said with a nervous laugh. Gale raised his pierced eyebrow questioningly.


    "...I messed up," Gadalik confessed. "Sheila''s gone and Jim''s gun is loaded. I''m sorry... I don''t know how many bullets it can take, but this should help with some," he said, volunteering his staff and shield tags.


    Gale refused it. "...Oh well. Back to plan A."


    Gentri approached them. "What did you find on her, lass?" the sailor inquired. "Was there a compass?"


    "...Huh. You mean the valuable compass they offered us as payment?" Glacia scooted the bag out of view with her foot. "Nope. Didn''t see it."


    "Don''t be like that," Gadalik sighed. "He''s shown himself to be trustworthy by now." He rummaged through it then handed the enchanted item to Gentri.


    "No, my compass!" Linda and Glacia cried simultaneously.


    "Are you daft? That''s our reward!" his mother continued. "I''m not letting Gale do this for free. At least charge the kid something for it!"


    "Enough. I''m not stealing it... And neither of us should be paid for a job unfinished. We can use this to track Jim down," the sailor answered. "All I need is an object related specifically to him and it''ll direct us."


    A door creaked open. "I''ve got something that should work," said a familiar female voice.


    Tears of relief watered Gadalik''s eyes as a ghost entered the lot. "Sheila...!"


    "Don''t scare me like that! Ghosts don''t need to open doors--I thought you were Jim," Glacia breathed.


    "Ghosts don''t, but worldly things do. Including objects like...this!" She held up the revolver, safety on, and twirled it.


    "Way to ghost," Gale congratulated her.


    "Oof. That was bad, even by your standards," Glacia chuffed.


    "This lot was under that old department store I mentioned," the spirit said. "I did get the gun, but Jim drove off with a lot of the gang''s collected loot while I was trapped..."


    "So he got away. Good; he can break us out of jail later," Chuck said with a victorious smile.


    "That just means we can use you to bait him," Gadalik stated. The crook frowned at that.


    "Wait--you survived my trap?!" Linda yelled at the spirit.


    "Correction: my trap. And yes, I disabled it," Sheila tutted. "I must admit it was set up pretty well for someone who didn''t have the instructions, but it was far from how secure it was supposed to be. If you two had paid for these items instead of killing me, you''d know how to use them."


    Linda glowered at her but said nothing else.


    The ghost turned to Gentri. "Now, the compass, if you will." When he handed it over, she wound up the dial via a flat button on the bottom that she turned with her finger, then she placed it on top of the gun. The dial spun on its own in response, eventually settling on a single direction that moved subtly.


    Glacia blinked. "But that''s toward the water, isn''t it?"


    "...He''s leaving without us?!" Chuck exclaimed, sounding more hurt than angry.


    "The docks," Gentri concluded. Sheila gave the compass back and he raced to the stairs.


    "You two stay here and watch the criminals. Make sure they don''t escape. I''ll be back," Gale swore, following suit.


    "''Stay here...''" Glacia mocked him. "Pfft. Who does he think we are? C''mon, Gadalik. We''re taking these guys to the sheriff, then we''re joining him."


    The teen nodded and stood, then staggered slightly, rebalancing himself with his staff. Restoring the shield had used up almost all of his energy.


    Glacia noticed. "Hm. We could rest here first..."


    "No," Gadalik declined. "You can turn them in without me. Sheila can show you the way. I''ll catch up."


    "What? Are you telling me to leave you alone here in a murderous thief''s hideout? Jim could come back any second and we don''t have the compass to anticipate his arrival. I''m not going without you."


    "...Why not?" he whispered.


    "Hm?"


    "Why not?" He raised his voice barely enough to be heard. "All I''ve done today is slow you down and put your lives at risk... You said it yourself: I''m in no shape to help with anything right now... And...I''m not any help when I''m uninjured, either." He looked away from her. "I should''ve stayed behind from the start."


    "Don''t be ridiculous," Glacia chided. "We''re in this together. It''s all of us, or none of us. Gale''s just used to doing his own thing, but we''re still a team."


    "But it''s not just today... I worried you at the mansion; ruined our vacation; and now I didn''t wait for Sheila''s signal, and--"


    "Hey. Everyone messes up sometimes. These things happen even with good intentions. All that matters in the end is how you rectify them... Staying behind doesn''t fix anything."


    "But none of you need me here to fix this..."


    "So? You don''t always have to be the one to fix things; that''s what we''re here for! And we want you with us no matter what--not only for your help, but for your company." She held him steady.


    Gadalik faced her as if to argue, and while he couldn''t fathom how just being there was good enough for them, he couldn''t bring himself to ask. Instead he choked up and tried to wipe his eyes before tears could fall. Too late.


    "Oh, it''s okay! It''s alright. Come here..." She hugged the teen until he was pacified. "Soon as you can walk, we''re going together. Okay?"


    Her son nodded, his mood lifting after getting that out of his system.


    Chuck broke out in a sob. "I wish Jim cared about us like that... He abandoned us!"


    "Ugh. I think I''m gonna hurl," Linda remarked under her breath. "Untie me and I''ll turn myself in if it means not having to sit here with these sentimental saps for so long."


    "True, it might take a while for him to recover. But maybe it won''t if you tell me about this." She brought forth the pocket watch.


    "Give that back or I''m not telling you anything!"


    "Allow me," Sheila intervened. "It''s a legendary time stopper, created during the age before witches were extinct. There are very few of its kind, and without a powerful witch they can''t be made. Linda, where did you find it?"


    "Some old coot had it. It was wasted on him..."


    "Yeah, yeah, but how does it work?" Glacia questioned the spirit.


    "Normally enchanted objects like the compass and this watch can be used without magic, but their powers have dwindled over the ages.  So in order to make it work, you''d need to channel your own magic into it.  The more power you have, the longer you can ''freeze'' time around you. It affects whatever else you''re touching, too, so long as you have tactile contact with them. But beware...time will still affect you all the while. Therefore using it will cut your lifespan short. If you stop time for two years, you''ll resume time being two years older than when you stopped it, for example--not that anyone could stop time for that long at once. But even if you only use it in intervals, it all adds up."


    Gadalik swallowed. "Maybe you shouldn''t mess with it, Glacia..."


    "Oh, she might not be able to use it," Linda sneered. "Not many people have the power to. She should just hand it back over to me, and maybe I''ll use it for you."


    "As if! And don''t act like you know anything about me," Glacia snapped. "I''ve used Gadalik''s staff and spell tags before."


    "That doesn''t say much about you," she argued. "That magic comes from the tags--more specifically the witches who enchanted the tags--not you."


    "Then why did it wear Gadalik out?"


    "Not every enchanted item requires magic to use, but magic can enhance them," Shiela reiterated. "He must have boosted the shield spell with his own power."


    Linda thought for a moment. "That boy has potential. I''ve never seen someone win against my dispels before, let alone twice in a row." The criminal addressed him, "Maybe we can work something out. Release me and I''ll take you as my underling. I''ll even let you keep some of my items! Sound like a deal?"


    "Don''t speak to him!" Glacia barked. "I won''t let you corrupt him, and you''ve no right to give those items to anybody unless they''re who you stole them from!"


    "Alright, sheesh, no need to shout."


    She harrumphed. "How would I know if I have any power, Sheila?"


    "It''s mainly by your ancestry," said the ghost. "Witches used to populate this world until the powerless began to fear and massacre them. Presently, those with powers--such as a spook or someone with a witch''s blood in their veins--are able to channel their energy into objects. Their genes have been so muddled over the generations, though... That''s the most magic can be used for in this age."


    "Heh. My ancestors were royalty. Can''t get more powerful than that!" She gripped Gadalik by the bend of his arm and stared determinedly at the watch. Nothing happened...at first.


    The watch stopped ticking: it was three forty-five. The world became almost still around the two.


    Gadalik was amazed. "...You did it!"


    "It''s working?" She was as surprised as the spook. "I-I mean... Of course it is! Alright...so...we''re still aging as we normally are, only the rest of the world isn''t?" He nodded. "That''s fair. Anyway, rest up. Just be sure to literally keep in touch with me."


    "Right." They sat down and he leaned on her shoulder, eventually dozing off.


    Later on he awoke from his mother''s poor attempts to bite back laughter. Glacia had the chain of the watch around the wrist of her hand that hadn''t ceased its hold on his elbow. It read three fifty.


    "What are you doing?" he asked her.


    "Haha, look at Chuck!" She burst out laughing at her son''s horrified reaction to his deformed face.


    "W-what did you do to him?"


    "I flicked his nose about ten minutes ago," she managed to say between huffs and chortles.


    "And it just now affected him? How long was I asleep?"


    She audibly sighed and wiped her eyes to check the normal watch on her free hand''s wrist; it was still functioning. "We''ve had time stopped for almost exactly an hour."


    Gadalik divided. "That means time didn''t stop; it slowed down. We were here for an hour, and according to the pocket watch only five minutes have passed. That means twelve minutes for us is one for them."


    "Sounds about right. Are you feeling better yet?"


    "I''m starting to hurt again, but I''m rested," he said with an honest smile.


    She gave him the medicine and water from her bag.


    "Thank you. I don''t know how you managed to do this for an hour! Are you alright?"


    "Yeah, I''m perfectly fine," she answered, the least bit puzzled. "Guess we don''t need it anymore, though." The slow-motion fastened to real-time.


    "Cut it out! That hurt!" Chuck cried. Glacia cracked up all over again.


    "...How many times did you flick him?" The blue-eyed male felt sorry for the guy.


    She hesitated.


    Linda rolled her eyes. "At least twenty."


    "Th-that''s not important!" she dismissed it. "Let''s turn them in and find Gale."


    "So you''re not even a little tired?" Sheila hovered over Glacia quizzically on their way out of the Sheriff''s office. Chuck, the gun, and the stolen goods were taken into custody and Linda was transported to the hospital to have the sword removed. Gadalik told them the general direction Jim had gone in as well. Glacia planned to return the watch to the elder in person, but held onto it until then.


    "Not at all," the princess of nothing answered, flagging down a taxi. "Why? Should I be?"


    "Either you have a ton of power, or you have great control over how much you use. Perhaps even both. I''m very surprised you don''t have more experience with enchanted items. You may be able to enchant things, yourself!"


    Glacia shrugged as she and Gadalik got in the cab. Sheila turned invisible but stayed near them. "I''m not really interested in that kind of stuff. It gets too complicated for me."


    "That''s understandable," Gadalik replied, if only so the driver didn''t think his mother was talking to herself.


    When they spotted the swordsmen meandering around the warehouses by the water, they paid--Gadalik chipping in for a tip--and regrouped. Glacia jumped at her boyfriend''s back and hung from his neck as a greeting.


    He spun around and lifted her into his own hug, the couple sharing a peck before he placed her down. "I should''ve guessed you wouldn''t stay put. You didn''t leave the gang alone, did you?"


    "Of course not," she said. "We took care of them, didn''t we, Gadalik?"


    "Yep," her son answered, catching up. "Any luck finding Jim?"


    "The compass points to this warehouse, but we can''t get in," Gentri reported. There were two doors, one being an overhead garage-style and the other hinged to open outward, both securely locked.


    "That''s no problem for me," Sheila edified them, showing herself. She phased through the wall and within seconds the latter door popped open, her white and wispy form glowing in contrast with the pitch-blackness inside.


    Gentri gave her an appreciative nod as he passed. Glacia turned the flashlight on and led the rest of them. Between the many rows of shelves lined with water-damaged crates, there wasn''t much space for the living to navigate.


    Sheila floated by Gentri, who showed her the compass. She became invisible and Gadalik could see her go through the shelves on the right, returning a minute later. "He''s two aisles over," she reported, then covered her mouth when her words seemed to echo in the silence despite how quietly she spoke.


    Jim must have heard her; there was a sudden clang. They froze. Gentri gave the compass to the ghost and took off to round the corner with his sword drawn. The sound rang out again, this time coming from the top of the shelf to their right, which creaked and now tilted over them.


    Gale used both hands to hold it up, easily at first, then strenuously once it began to cave into a dome-shape above them. Boxes slid out of their places and landed in a plume of dust. "It''s too heavy... Go back to the door," he coughed.


    "We can''t leave you! As soon as you let go to run, you''ll be crushed," Gadalik cried.


    "Better...one of us than...all of us..." he strained.


    "Better none of us," Glacia argued. She tucked the flashlight in her armpit, wrapped the chain of the pocket watch around her wrist, and reached for the two.


    "Wait," Sheila stopped her. The ghost reshaped, increasing in size. Gadalik suddenly trembled and impulsively aimed the spear of his staff at his undead companion. Even after she used her newfound strength to easily overthrow the shelf, he found himself glued to the spot, terrified and scarcely breathing.


    "Gentri!" Gale called out a warning as the rusty metal racks were collapsing in the direction the sailor had run.


    "Waiting on you," the other swordsman replied, a silhouette rim-lit by the sun as he opened the door for them. "The big guy didn''t escape in time."


    Gale ushered his girlfriend to leave, then turned to do the same to Gadalik. The teen''s wide eyes were staring at Sheila as the giant was searching through the wreckage for Jim.


    "Don''t worry... She can handle herself," Gale soothed, placing a hand on his shoulder and pulling him gently toward the door.


    Gadalik jumped away from the touch with a gasp, coming to, then followed him out on shaking legs.


    "Is he okay?" Glacia asked the bounty hunter when the two joined them outside.


    "He''s just shaken, but who wouldn''t be after almost getting flattened by a ton of metal?" Gale reasoned.


    Gadalik held his peace. He glanced back at the warehouse. After a short while Sheila hauled Jim''s heavy and limp--but breathing--body out into the open. He was bleeding from a couple of shallow cuts on his legs, but he was mostly injured from the shelves. She returned to normal; the spook relaxed some.


    The police eventually showed up and arrested the crook, rather anticlimactically.


    "...Guess that''s that," Glacia commented when things settled down. "Now, about those rewards..."


    "Right. Besides the compass, I have something that''ll help you with your spook''s work," the ghost agreed. "The spirit trap Linda used on me is a one-of-a-kind invention of mine. I''ll give you that, and the instructions for it."


    "...Thank you," he forced himself to say. As much as the spook hoped he wouldn''t need to use it, there was a possibility that it might save their lives in the future, so he accepted it.


    "That''s all?" the crowned woman said.


    "They did tell us they didn''t have a bounty on him," Gale pointed out. "Sometimes it''s more of a duty than a job."


    "About the compass..." Gentri began.


    Glacia cut him off. "Right, the compass! At least we can sell that, can''t we?"


    "Its value isn''t in money," Sheila regretfully informed them. "Its retail value is low since the average person can''t use it. Only those with enough magic can."


    Gale leaned on the warehouse. "That counts me out."


    "If I can''t get money from it, I don''t have a use for it," Glacia huffed.


    "Then why not let Gentri keep it," Gadalik suggested.


    "Whatever," she muttered, complaining to herself. "What a waste of time... Now some mysterious stranger walks away with a useless reward for a pointless quest."


    Sheila gave the sailor the compass for the third time that day.


    "It''s much appreciated, lass," Gentri said genuinely. "This is what I wanted from the start."


    "No problem," the ghost welcomed him. To Gadalik, she added, "I''ll go get the trap from the parking lot and bring it to you tomorrow." With that, she flew off.


    "Why do you care about that thing so much? Is the compass what Jim ''not exactly'' took from you?" Glacia almost mocked him, misdirecting her frustration.


    He narrowed his eye at the compass, not facing her.


    "Hey, lay off him," Gale defended the pirate. "We don''t need to know everything. It''s his business."


    "...Nay," Gentri finally answered. "Someone close to me was taken years ago... With this, there''s a chance I''ll find him again."


    She paused, her anger fading. "...Oh. W-well... Good luck with that, I guess."


    "In other words, she''s sorry," her boyfriend translated with a smile.


    "Am not! He should''ve said that when we met him. Act suspicious and that''s how I''ll treat you." Glacia crossed her arms but averted her gaze somewhat guiltily. "L-look... All I wanted was a relaxing family trip and to watch boats sail off from the docks. Can you blame me for getting upset after all of this?"


    "Hm... We are by the water...and the day isn''t over yet." Gadalik optimistically gestured to their current location. "It''s not too late."


    "I''ll be embarking soon as well," the older teen added.


    "It''s almost five. What say you accompany us for dinner before you leave?" the bounty hunter propounded.


    "...Sure."


    That evening they bid farewell to the sailor and watched him depart until his humble ship followed the sun over the horizon. They stayed a while longer until the moon was overhead.


    When they stood up to leave, Gadalik noticed the glint of a chain hanging out of Glacia''s bag. "Uh... I think we forgot something."


    "Hm?" She traced his line of sight. "Oh--the watch!"


    "We can give it back tomorrow," Gale said.


    "N-no, it''s been long enough already... Come on, we''re returning it right now!" She led them past the warehouses, the resort, the pharmacy and the diner at a brisk pace, refusing to slow down until she reached the man''s door on which she loudly knocked. Nobody answered at first.


    The spook yawned. "Maybe he''s asleep--"


    The door flew open and the old man held a baseball bat at the ready. "Who''s there?! Is it that devil woman again?!"


    "Easy, there," Gale said. "She isn''t a threat to you anymore."


    Glacia held the watch out to him by its chain. "We got it back from her earlier."


    The old man stared at his watch in awe. "You went through all that trouble for me...?"


    "Err...not exactly," she admitted.


    "Never mind that... I mainly used it as a keepsake from my late wife. We never had any children, you see, and she was an only child. The generations that watch has been through ends with me, and I don''t have many years left." He cupped the watch in his hand, lifting it to Glacia''s. "Maybe a younger gal like you can give it to your own children someday."


    "I already have a child--"


    Gadalik shook his head.


    "I-I mean... Are you sure I can keep it?"


    "Of course. Any other person would''ve run off with it, but since you''re kind enough to return it, it''s yours," the elder assured her. "Now go on home and rest." He shut the door.


    "Well, it''s not money, but it looks nice on you," Gale complimented her.


    "Thanks. Oh, you weren''t there when Sheila told us it was magic, were you? I found out I can use magic, by the way."


    "R-really?"


    "Really. Monetary worth aside...unlike that compass, I can use this watch to protect you!"


    Gadalik smiled. "Looks like you got a reward after all."


    </section>


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 Episode 6: Happiness

    Gadalik finally placed a small framed painting of an island on his nightstand and sat on the bed to look over his reorganized room with satisfaction. After being in town for so long, he welcomed the silence of their home in the middle of nowhere. At least, it was usually quiet; the teen could hear his mother talking with Gale downstairs.


    "So you''re really leaving next week?" Glacia was saying as her son went through the hall toward the staircase. He stopped at the first step since he didn''t want to interrupt them.


    "Yeah. Gadalik has recovered; he''s sleeping well, and seems happier lately. There''s no need to stick around for much longer," the bounty hunter replied, placing a colorful mug of steaming tea next to a stack of mail on the living room table.


    "He''s great," she acknowledged, "but what about me?"


    He tucked his girlfriend''s pale purple hair behind her ear. "I told you before: I can''t settle as long as I''m able to fight. Maybe I''ll move in with you once I retire."


    "But you''re in such good shape... I''ll be dead by then!" She melodramatically threw herself onto the couch.


    Gale laughed. "Gadalik would let your spirit linger, I''m sure!"


    "In that case, my ghost-self won''t rest until I drag you down with me!" She smiled and tugged him on top of her by his vest to prove her words.


    He took a hold around her waist and rolled over so that he was between the woman and the back of the sofa, the two sharing the seat of it where they lied, embraced, for a few seconds of silence.


    "I worry about you rushing into danger all the time," she sighed. "And Gadalik, too. You are both very capable, but neither of you are invincible. You might end up taking on someone...or something...too powerful to defeat."


    The teen clutched the railing a little tighter as the memory of his unnecessary encounter with the beach resort''s undead monster came to mind.


    "Don''t worry so much... We know our limits." The complete faith in his practical-father''s voice was comforting. "If it puts you at ease, though, I''ll visit more often. And we still have until after the weekend together... maybe longer if you or Gadalik need me. Sound good...?"


    "...Okay," she mumbled.


    When they heard their son descend the staircase, Glacia''s face reddened and she scrambled to her feet, straightening her yellow dress.


    Gale sat up and took a sip from the mug.


    "Y-you finished your room already?" she stammered. "Geez, that was fast. Don''t you ever take a break? I-I mean, you''ve been cleaning for two days straight!"


    "I spent most of yesterday hauling trash out of your room," Gadalik teased her.


    The mohawked man choked on his drink. "All of it?"


    "Y-yeah. You haven''t been in there to see it?"


    "No; I value my life." He laughed when Glacia playfully popped him on the shoulder. "Honestly, though--that room hasn''t been cleaned since..." The corners of his mouth dropped slightly. Gale placed the mug down and looked him in the eyes, unusually serious. "Gadalik... Is everything okay...?"


    "What, now there has to be something wrong with him in order to go in my room?" Glacia huffed. "Ha-ha, very funny: I''m a hoarder. Can we please change the subject?" She reached for the letters and waved them in the air at her son. "If you have spare time to laugh at me, young man, you have time to read these now. They''ve been sitting here forever."


    Gadalik sat in one of the two thick-cushioned chairs on the other side of the table. "Uh... Sure. Any jobs for me?"


    "I don''t know, but Gretel wrote you while we were gone." She handed them over, and he opened them to read in order.


    "Heya!


    I stopped by your place but you weren''t home! What gives? I wish you''d get a phone already so I could call you instead of waiting for my letter to deliver. Oh well. They cancelled the rest of gym practice because of the upcoming hurricane, so I''m home a month early. You should come over sometime; maybe watch TV with me, since you don''t have one of <u>those</u> either. I''ll be waiting!


    -Gretel"


    "Did you get my first letter? You should''ve received it by now, but since you didn''t write back maybe it got lost. You can never trust the mailmen these days. I can''t tell you how many times he gave me mail addressed to someone named Gertie. Who even is that?


    Anyway, I was just wondering where you''re at. Also, GET A PHONE! No excuses. Glacia is rich; she can afford it.


    -Gretel"


    "Look at that grin on your face," Glacia giggled. "Did she finally ask you on a date?"


    Gadalik felt his cheeks warm up. "What? N-no! We''re just friends..."


    "You''re not crushing on Gretel anymore?" Gale was merely curious.


    "Well... I am, but..."


    "You need to forget about her and find someone who actually cares about you," she muttered scornfully.


    "Gretel does care... She has since we were twelve. I''m not going to throw away five years of friendship just because she doesn''t want to date anybody."


    His practical father rested his elbows on the back of the couch. "I''m with Glacia on this one. That is, about finding somebody new to love...if only so you don''t torture yourself pining over Gretel."


    Gadalik shrugged. Just hanging out with his friend brought him joy enough without the need for romance, so the pain of unrequited love was worth tolerating to him. "If another person as great as her exists, then sure," he conceded with a doubtful laugh. "By the way... Glacia... Do you think we could ever rent a phone?"


    "Absolutely not," his mother answered. "You can send three letters for a penny less than the price of one phone call. Plus, letters can be a keepsake, while phone calls can be forgotten." She plopped down across Gale''s lap, then sang, "Always remember: a letter is better!"


    Gadalik smiled tepidly. "Yeah... Alright." He didn''t bother asking about a TV; anything over a hundred dollars was out of the question, which was why they also had no car. The cheapest colored TVs cost way more than that. ''If you want entertainment, then read the newspaper comics,'' he imagined her hypothetical response, and chuckled to himself.


    At that moment there was a knock on the door. Gale moved to answer it but couldn''t do much when his girlfriend refused to budge. "Nobody knows we''re back yet," she told him. "This is suspicious."


    "Nobody knew we left, either," Gadalik pointed out. He would''ve told Gretel except she was supposed to be competing out of town for the duration of their stay. It might be her now.


    He slowly peeked out the window. It was late evening and rain was sprinkling down. There was a blue-haired woman he had never seen before, seemingly in her twenties but younger than Glacia, leaning on a closed umbrella with one hand; a wet page of newspaper clenched in her other. She knocked one more time before dragging herself to sink on the edge of the porch despite the water dripping onto her from the roof.


    "I think she needs our help," he reported to his parents after describing her.


    "...Fine. Let''s see what she wants," Glacia approved.


    Gadalik opened the door. "Um... Hello..."


    The stranger stood up immediately and turned to face him with widened violet eyes. "You actually answered?"


    "You''ve stopped by before?"


    "A few times, yes... I''m looking for that spook named Gaydalike in the advert here." She held up the paper. "I need his help."


    He stifled a laugh. "It''s actually pronounced ''Gad-uh-lick.'' ''Gad'' rhymes with ''glad.''"


    "Oh... I see."


    "''I-K, actually. And I''m sorry for not answering... We were gone and only returned home yesterday. Please, come in. And, uh, pardon the mess."


    "What mess?" his mother exclaimed, opting to sit beside Gale as they entered. "You spent two whole days getting this house spotless."


    His striped blue eyes flitted to the souvenirs from their trip still scattered about the living room that he struggled to find places for among the cluttered wooden shelves and cabinets already filled to the brim with memorabilia from a kingdom long forgotten. Emptying spots for them would mean taking everything down to restructure its contents categorically... Putting a new shelf up would be optimal, if there were any free space on the walls for it, which he could create by moving the existing shelves closer together and displaying the objects by height instead--


    "Um... Excuse me..." the guest spoke, snapping him out of it.


    "Go ahead," Gale encouraged her. Gadalik sat on his other side while she took a seat in the chair across from Glacia.


    "I''m Lea. My problem is this ghost..." she said. "Err, not to say the ghost is a problem; he''s my nephew Andrew, and he''s a good kid! I guess the problem is how my brother and his wife are treating him..."


    "Are they forbidding their son from moving on? Forcing him to stay with them?" Gadalik asked.


    "Well, no, but...they''re not in a hurry for him to leave, either. They''re all going about their lives with him as if he never died."


    "Must be an unaware ghost," Glacia guessed. "Of course Andrew would want to keep living if he doesn''t know he''s dead."


    "B-but he does know," Lea informed her. "He acknowledges he''s dead, and even has fun with his new abilities."


    Hm... This is the kind of thing I was worried about with Karen, over five weeks ago, Gadalik thought. "Is he capable of straying far from his house?"


    "By himself? I''m not sure. He usually stays with his parents, but they can go anywhere together."


    "So he''s aware, content, and...either a haunter or a roamer, then." That means he''s not a poltergeist confined to a place or object. If he''s a roamer, there''s a chance he might run away, so let''s hope he''s a haunter.


    "Haunter? Oh, Andy would never haunt someone..."


    "It isn''t what it sounds like," he explained. "Haunters are spirits who won''t stray far from a specific living person. While sometimes it is to seek revenge on them, it can also be because the ghost likes spending time together."


    "Hm. In that case, it''s possible. Regardless... Is there anything you can do to help?"


    The spook froze at that last word. His mind suddenly went blank, and he forced away his emotions to avoid feeling disappointed in himself over the monstrous spirit he had failed to save earlier that month, although a faint sense of panic was striving to take hold from the reminder.


    "I''m sure he can, if he ever takes another break from cleaning," Gale kidded when his son didn''t speak, hoping to cheer him up.


    "You said it. I''m surprised his hands aren''t bones by now, with how long he spent scrubbing the floor," Glacia agreed. She faced Lea. "Tell us more first. How did Andrew die?"


    "It was a car accident," she began.


    Gadalik was too deeply focused on controlling himself to listen. The last few weeks had gone by without a single moment like this. He couldn''t let himself lose progress.


    His father''s relaxed attitude gained an edge of concern when the teen remained silent and staring at nothing in particular. "Bud...?" he called quietly. When his voice didn''t get through, the swordsman discreetly reached for the young man''s elbow to get his attention.


    Gadalik came to with a slight jolt from the touch, but didn''t let himself breathe freely out of fear of making a scene like he had at Karen''s mansion before their vacation. His eyes searched desperately for a way to slip out of the room so he could get over this in private. Then he stressed a bit more at the conclusion that leaving would bring attention to himself as well. Either way he''d be making a scene, and Glacia still wasn''t over the first time this happened; she''d never let it go if she noticed how upset he was getting again.


    He could feel his heart pounding and, unable to leave, he shrank into the couch, tightly shutting his eyes. Stop! he yelled at himself as a last resort, becoming more frustrated when that didn''t work. Nothing''s wrong... Nothing''s happening. Don''t make this about my dumb insecurity...!


    "Hey... It''s alright," Gale soothed him in a hushed tone while the women were talking. "Breathe... It''ll be okay."


    Gadalik released a shaky breath and buried his face in his hands to silence his panting for the few seconds it took to make up for holding it. His eyes watered as a physical response but the tension started ebbing as he caught his breath. I''m...alright...?


    He had been too scared of another breakdown to realize that he wasn''t having one. The relief allowed him to unbend.


    "So... A car crash, was it?" Gale joined in the conversation once his son was well enough.


    "Yes," Lea affirmed. "I think Andrew''s parents feel responsible, so maybe they''re trying to make up for it with his ghost... But it''s not helping. That''s why I''m here: for Gayda--I mean, uh... Glad-uh-lick''s help."


    Glacia failed to withhold a short bout of laughter. "...Hah! He''ll be glad to help! Right, Glad-alik?"


    He groaned, embarrassed. "I''ll...have to get more details on their current relationship from meeting with them, to determine if I''m able to give him closure," the teen finally spoke, careful not to make a promise impossible to keep. "If I can''t, you don''t have to pay me, so you''re not risking anything."


    "I know. It stated that in the advert," Lea said. "But you will try, won''t you?"


    He gave a single, firm nod. "My best."


    "Thank you... Here''s their address. I''ll meet you there tomorrow." At the family''s agreement, she stood, excused herself, and left.


    "You hear that, Gadalik? Tomorrow. That means no more cleaning tonight; you''re going to bed early," Glacia said sternly. "I won''t let you start staying up again."


    "...I understand." Despite feeling the need to put the rest of their vacation items away, he went back up the stairs, passed his mother''s room that wasn''t cluttered for the first time in forever, and into his bedroom at the end of the hall. He sat at his desk and took his friend''s letters out of his pocket, skimmed them, then began writing a reply.


    Dear Gretel


    Or should I say Gertie?


    ...Ha, I''m kidding.


    Glacia planned a surprise trip to the beach, so we weren''t home when you visited. We were only supposed to stay for a week but it ended up a month because I meddled in somebody else''s spook''s work and got hurt.


    I''m okay now, though! Lesson learned: trust that other people can fix things by themselves. Gale was with us, too, and he threw a sword all the way through this criminal''s arm! It was scary, but also cool. You would''ve liked it.


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Funny that you returned early when I did late. That''s how schedules tend to turn out, isn''t it? I''m going to be busy for a few days, but I''ll make time to hang out next week! Count on it!


    Love


    Gadalik


    He hesitated, then scribbled out ''Love.'' It was a standard closing word he used for friends, but he didn''t want her getting the wrong idea...even though it was the right idea...which she already knew about since he confessed years ago.


    Gadalik sighed, folded the letter into an envelope, and placed a stamp on it from the drawer. He''d mail it in the morning.


    "Are you up?" Gale''s voice sounded from the other side of his door.


    "Come in," he invited.


    The man did, and kneeled to the seated teen''s level. "Just thought I''d see how you''re doing."


    Right... The near-breakdown on the couch. "About earlier... I-I''m fine. Honest. I thought I wasn''t, and that''s why I was frightened. Being scared of it is worse than going through it... B-but I wasn''t going through it! Again, I''m fine."


    "Are you sure...? Even if it wasn''t a breakdown, you seemed really upset. And then there''s Glacia''s room..."


    "W-what about her room?"


    "The last time you cleaned it was after a spirit destroyed your father''s staff...and, almost, you."


    "Aha--yeah! That was a couple months ago. It''s been a long time coming," he brushed it off.


    "Well, almost one month ago, a spirit at the resort nearly killed you...and now that we''re back you''ve cleaned that room again. I can''t help but see a connection."


    "...You''re thinking too deep into it," the younger male dismissed it. "I just hate messes, that''s all."


    "I know, but this is overboard... Even for you."


    Is it...? Maybe I''m cleaning as a means of distracting myself...


    "...Look. I''m proud of you for being brave, taking on a job so soon after getting home. And if you''re truly ready to deal with more ghosts, that''s great," he said wholeheartedly. "But if the thought of it scares you, like it did earlier...it''s nothing to be ashamed of. You can wait until you''re more prepared."


    The spook closed his eyes, placing a hand over his head, which now dully ached, as he wished his father would simply forget about it. I had a month to prepare myself. If I''m not ready yet, I''ll never be...! "It''s fine. R-really, it is," he said, forcing a slight laugh to prove it. To his disdain, it sounded more like a cough, obviously faked. The teen dropped the act. "Look... Lea''s nephew needs help right now, and I may be the only one able to do this. I... I''ll feel better after I get a good night''s sleep."


    "...Alright. Speaking of sleep, Glacia will make sure I''ll never wake up again if she finds out I''m keeping you awake, anyway," Gale joked.


    It was an attempt to end the conversation on a lighter note, and Gadalik gave an appreciative chuckle.


    The man turned to leave, then paused in the doorway for a few seconds. He glanced back at his practical son, his voice gentle but heavy with concern as he added, "I know Lea''s plight is important... But...your feelings matter, Gadalik. Same as theirs; same as Gretel''s."


    The teen froze and looked up at him, completely caught off-guard by his words.


    "...Good night." Gale closed the door on his way out.


    Gadalik stared at it, processing this. Finally he flipped the light out and moved from the desk to his bed. Of course my feelings matter... Everyone''s do. But right now, theirs matter more.


    The horse-drawn carriage stopped out front of a one-story house in a middle-class neighborhood a few towns over. Hedges formed a makeshift fence around the lawn that had two trees planted symmetrically on either end of it.


    Lea sat outside, watching two adults both maybe in their thirties wander around the house as if searching for something.


    Glacia paid and got out, Gadalik reached for his wallet, Gale stopped him and gave the coachman a tip before following her.


    Lea joined them at the curb as the carriage left. She called the others over. "Thanks for coming! This is my brother Robert," she said, gesturing to the tall man with dark blue hair. "The blond there is his wife Mary."


    "I''m Gadalik," he introduced himself. "These are my parents: she''s Glacia, and he''s Gale."


    "Your parents?" Robert echoed, sounding perplexed upon meeting the two in question. He gave them a once-over then looked to his sister, who shrugged and shook her head dismissively.


    "Nice to meet you," Mary greeted them. "Lea told us all about you, Gadalik. We hope you can help our son."


    Me, too, the spook thought, withholding an outward laugh.


    "I''ll leave you to it," Lea added. "I live right down the street if you need me. See you later." She waved and left.


    "Speaking of your son... Where''s Andrew?" Glacia wondered.


    Hearing his name, a boy around ten years old peered out from behind a tree. With his staff, Gadalik could tell he was a spirit currently invisible, even when he curiously approached the newcomers. The spook pretended not to see him.


    Robert shrugged. "We''re playing hide-and-seek."


    "Hide-and-seek...with a ghost?" Gadalik was amused. "Mind if I join the game?"


    "Go for it."


    The boy gasped and ran back to the tree.


    The young spook handed his mother the staff and explored the yard while everyone watched. Gadalik sandwiched the tree between them, then poked his head around it. "Found you!"


    Andrew leapt away with an excited squeal, becoming visible. "Wow, you could see me?! That''s so cool!"


    The teen laughed. "And you''re pretty clever! I''ve never seen a ghost use their power to be a hide-and-seek champion before."


    "Heh, thanks! That''s not all I use it for. Dad took me to an amusement park the other day, and I got on all the rides for free!"


    Gadalik gasped a bit dramatically. "And you didn''t get caught?"


    "No-one could see me," the kid snickered.


    "Impressive."


    "Thanks!" Andrew grinned and threw out his hand. "My name''s Andy."


    He shook it. "I''m Gadalik."


    Andy instantly let go and floated out of reach. "Gaydalike...?"


    "N-no... But close!" Wait. Why would he think that''s my name after I just pronounced it? Unless... Oh no--


    "I heard what Auntie Lea told my parents... You''re here to send me off...!"


    Gadalik''s heart sank, his suspicions ringing true.


    Andy took his shocked silence as confirmation. The look of betrayal on his face was like a punch to the older male''s gut, worsened by the fact that the ghost was right.


    "Th-there''s more to it than that," Gadalik stammered.


    Andy''s melancholic gaze travelled to his parents. The two gave him a motivational nod. "What exactly are you...? How come you can see me when nobody else could?"


    "I''m a spook. Almost everyone in my entire lineage was... I got my sight from them."


    The ghost turned away from him slightly. "I don''t understand why Auntie Lea wants me gone so much... I''m not hurting anybody."


    "Oh, I know that; you didn''t do anything wrong!" the spook assured him. "You''re not in trouble. She just wants to help you... And so do I. We want to ease the regrets from your lifetime that are keeping you from moving on. Without those regrets, you''ll be happier--you''ll be free."


    The spirit''s eyes locked with his although he was still facing the ground. There was an eerie level of cognizance in them. "My only regret...is dying."


    He winced. "Andrew... I believe you. Regretting your death is normal. Nobody truly wants to die, though, so I think that''s not the ''only'' thing holding you back. Am I wrong...?"


    The boy glanced once more at his parents, almost as if in hopes that they would answer for him. Then he narrowed his eyes at the ground with furrowed brows before finally facing the spook, his fists clenched with determination. "I''m not lying: I don''t regret anything else, so there''s nothing you can do for me."


    "That can''t be true," Mary chided him, before uncertainly turning to the spook. "Right...?"


    "Hm... Sometimes ghosts don''t know what their unfinished business is," Gadalik explained. To the spirit, he added, "It can be confusing and upsetting, not understanding why you''re stuck here... But it''s going to be okay. We''ll find out the reason together!"


    The kid''s resolve faded into something akin to fear. "I already told you I don''t have any regrets...! You can''t make me leave!" He spun around and skyrocketed to the treetop.


    "Wait!" the spook called after him, too late. Gadalik stood there for what felt like an eternity longer, gazing up despairingly.


    "We know our limits," Gale had told Glacia the previous night. Is this...all I can do...?


    "Sorry," Robert sympathized. "Let us handle this."


    Gadalik halfheartedly nodded and walked to the adjacent tree to let himself fall to a seat on its roots.


    Glacia returned the staff to her son. "It started out so well... What happened?"


    "I''m not sure... He seemed to be telling the truth about having no regrets. My best guess is he either doesn''t know, or he''s scared of the afterlife, and since I''m the one who''s gonna send him there, he ran from me," Gadalik inferred.


    "Oh... Well he can''t stay mad forever. And you''re not in this alone, remember? Gale and I are here for you."


    It wasn''t anger... It was fear, and...pain... He hugged a knee to his chest.


    "Are you okay...?" Gale crouched down on his other side.


    Gadalik tensed, slightly flustered by the question his father had repeated for the second time. Why ask me that? I''m not the one who''s dead! He shook the frustration away and sighed. "Yeah. Don''t worry."


    At this point Andrew had been coaxed down and was talking to his parents.


    "He came all this way," Mary told her son near the end of their conversation. "The least you can do is make friends with him."


    "Just try it... For us," his father pleaded.


    "...For you," the spirit reluctantly complied. When they lead him to the visitors, Andrew didn''t make eye contact although he mumbled "Sorry."


    "I-it''s okay," Gadalik answered. "I''m sorry, too. I should have been more open to you from the start."


    The kid gave a shrug, still not looking at him.


    "Andrew..." Mary''s tone fell hush with disappointment.


    He immediately straightened up and forced himself to face the spook. "Uh, it''s okay!" He glanced up at his mother again. "Right?"


    "Right," she praised him. He beamed.


    "Now then, what say we get to know each other over lunch," Robert suggested.


    "Can, uh... Can ghosts eat...?" Gale whispered to Gadalik.


    "Ghosts can eat!" Andy confirmed. "I haven''t been hungry since I died, though."


    "But you know we still want you with us when we eat," Mary reassured her son.


    The ghost smiled. "Yep!"


    They lead the visitors into their humble one-story house. The front door opened to the living room, the kitchen and backdoor straight across; on the left were two bedrooms with a bathroom in the middle, only accessible from either room.


    "How about some grilled cheese and tomato soup?" Mary prompted the guests. "That''s Andy''s favorite! Right, son?"


    "Sure is," the child said. Something about his answer sounded off to Gadalik.


    "Cute," Glacia giggled.


    "Sounds good," Gale agreed.


    Robert once again looked the two over, but began setting the table. This time Gale seemed wary of it.


    Glacia took note of her boyfriend''s subtle change in demeanor in regards to their host. Deciding to address it, she asked the oldest man, "Is everything ok?"


    "Huh? Oh--yes. Um..." Robert turned to the spirit. "Andy, the watering can is on the picnic table out back. Why don''t you water the flowers until the food is done? It won''t be long."


    "Okay," the kid complied, excited for something to do.


    Once the spirit was out of hearing range, Robert spoke his mind. "Forgive me for asking, but... When Lea showed us your advert, Gadalik, she recognized you; said your parents were admirable spooks who''ve helped a record-number of spirits ease their worldly regrets," he explained. To the other adults, he answered their question: "You two...don''t quite match their descriptions."


    Gale was relieved at that, but now it was Glacia who became defensive. "We''re not his blood-parents, but that doesn''t make us any less family," she said haughtily.


    "Oh, uh, o-of course! My apologies. It''s just...his ''blood-parents'' were a factor in our decision to hire him. I just want to make sure we aren''t being duped by some rookie; especially since he''s not nearly as expensive to hire as less reputable spooks are. Is he truly related to them?"


    "I assure you Trent and Vilodia are my blood-parents," Gadalik murmured. "But...even with the powers I''ve inherited, I''m nowhere near as skilled as they were. I''m still very...inexperienced. My prices reflect that."


    "But surely they''ve taught you a lot?"


    "Yes, but...I was still young, and they tried not to involve me, especially when it came to the dangerous aspects of it. I was almost Andy''s age when they first started bringing me along for the more violent spectors. They...died...not long after." He looked down at the plate, appetite fading.


    "...Do you like this career path?" Mary inquired gently as she passed the sandwiches out, empathetic.


    "Yeah...when I know how to help," Gadalik laughed.


    "Nobody knows everything, dear. Even the most knowledgeable are still learning." She poured the soup into their bowls with a ladle. "You''ll figure it out in no time."


    "How many ghosts have you helped before?" Robert asked, not completely satisfied.


    "Only seven so far," the spook replied.


    "I thought it was eight?" Gale said.


    "No... I didn''t ''help'' the one at the resort." He averted his eyes.


    The table fell into silence at that, the spirit''s parents exchanging a concerned glance.


    "But that''s only how many are on the record," Glacia stood up for her son. "I can''t tell you how many times he came to me as a child, introducing me to thin air, then later crying about how his new friends always disappear. I don''t even think he knew they were ghosts back then!"


    Gadalik was taken aback by this. Whereas his blood-parents had shielded him from spirits with wards around their home, Glacia''s had no such protection. The first year after she''d adopted him had nearly been completely blocked out of his memories, up until she made it mandatory for him to keep his father''s staff on his person to see the difference between the undead and the living. Probably because she''s right...and missing those friends is painful.


    Gretel was the first friend he made who was living, and even then it took him a while to stop asking others just to be sure.


    "Dad says it makes him sad when I cry," Andy commented.


    Everyone but Gadalik jumped at his sudden reappearance; he''d sensed the ghost returning.


    All eyes turned to Robert. Mary laughed.


    "That''s not to say crying is bad!" the blue-haired man said nervously.


    "I know!" the boy giggled.


    Gadalik used this opportunity to segue the conversation. "So, Andy... Is there something you''ve always wanted to do while you were still alive?"


    "Plenty of things!"


    "What did you want to do the most?"


    "Stay alive." He laughed a little, but his tone was genuine.


    Ouch. "Uh... Second to that?"


    "I wanted to go to this amusement park. Dad took me there a few days ago, though."


    "Sure did," Robert confirmed.


    "That''s when you used your invisibility to go on rides for free?" the spook said.


    Andy nodded.


    "You can do a lot as a ghost, huh," Gadalik stated in an attempt to keep him talking. "Do you like using your new powers in this world?"


    "Well, duh," the child replied.


    Doesn''t sound like his powers are why he wants to stay... "Hm. Is there a game you''ve never gotten to play?"


    "Nope. The only thing I haven''t tried before was hide-and-seek with invisibility! I got the idea after our amusement park trip, haha."


    "Ah. Were there any plans you made with friends that you didn''t get to do because of your death? Or any arguments you didn''t get a chance to make up for?"


    "Yeah, but Mom scheduled times for us to hang out, and we finished them all already."


    The list of basic questions was checked off.


    "I think I see what Lea was telling us about," Glacia murmured to her boyfriend, who hummed his agreement.


    So they weren''t pretending he was alive after all; they were trying to help him resolve his unfinished business, Gadalik understood. But...that means he has nothing left to resolve, other than his regret of dying. But dying can''t be your only regret... Can it...?


    "I''m sure you can help him, Gadalik," Mary said confidently. "Should we stay out of your way?"


    "No need; just carry on like normal. I''ll...stay on the sidelines and see if I can figure anything out by watching," the teen decided.


    "Alright."


    Andy finished eating his sandwich but his soup was left untouched. "I''m gonna save the soup for later," he announced as he took his plate to the sink and placed the bowl in the fridge.


    "Why not eat it now?" Glacia wondered.


    "Oh, he always saves his soup for later," Mary chimed in. "But it''s always gone by tomorrow, so we just let him."


    Glacia gave an uncertain hm but shrugged it off.


    After they all finished eating the day went on without anything unusual. Gadalik was at a complete loss for any reason that would keep the boy in this world, but he held out hope that perhaps tomorrow would uncover the issue.


    "We''re off to bed now. Andy, that means you, too," Mary commanded. "Gadalik, you can sleep on the couch if you''d like."


    "Thank you," the teen accepted.


    ***


    The blue-eyed teen found himself alone in a dark room. It didn''t bring him happiness nor sorrow; it felt natural, as though the space were made specifically for him.


    Suddenly he felt the presence of a spirit. Perhaps it was simply passing through? He waited but it began closing in on him. Soon it became overwhelming--


    Gadalik, waking from the intensity of it, instinctively gripped his staff and cautiously sat up to peer over the armrest in its direction.


    Andy, invisible, was getting into the fridge and took out the bowl of soup... Then he proceeded to dump it down the drain.


    The teen approached him stealthily to be sure. "Andy?"


    The spirit jumped, caught red-handed. He looked between the bowl and the sink, then ran the water over it. "H-hi! I was just...rinsing my empty bowl out!"


    "Really? It wasn''t empty a second ago."


    The spirit hesitantly turned the water off. He deflected, "How did you know I was there?"


    "Built-in ghost-detector," he answered with a laugh to try to ease the tension. "So... Why did you dump it...? I thought tomato soup and grilled cheese were your favorite."


    "I love grilled cheese," he huffed. "But tomato soup is gross."


    "So why don''t you tell your parents you don''t like it? I''m sure they wouldn''t want you to waste it, anyway."


    "I know I shouldn''t waste it... But they''re happy when they think I ate it! I don''t want to make them sad."


    That piqued the spook''s interest. "What about you? Does pretending to like it make you sad?"


    The boy shrugged. "A little, but I don''t mind it."


    "What about...staying here?"


    Andy eyed him suspiciously, and once again deflected. "If anyone shouldn''t stay here, it''s you! My parents don''t have a problem with me--only Auntie Lea does. So me being here is her problem, isn''t it?"


    "Andy... Your parents care about you. They want what''s best for you, just like Lea does."


    "...Yeah. But I know what''s best. So just...stop wasting your time here, and go help someone who actually needs it."


    Gadalik shook his head. "Talk to me," he welcomed. "Why do you think it''s for the best that you stay here...?"


    "Because my parents need me in order to be happy," the ghost finally confessed. There was a moment of silence. "I... I saw them, you know...when I was dying... They were screaming and crying over me, telling me how much they needed me to stay with them... I couldn''t stand to see them that way, but--I didn''t survive...!" Tears streamed down his cheeks. "That''s why I''m here. Maybe I won''t grow up; maybe I won''t be able to be with other living people... But I can''t let them get that upset again." He sniffled.


    Gadalik placed a hand on his shoulder, but the child went intangible to avoid the touch. He sighed. "That must have been so painful for you..."


    The spirit glowered at him now. "Who cares how I felt? I''m dead. They aren''t. How they feel matters more than how I do!"


    "No," Gadalik disagreed. "Your feelings matter... The same as your parents''." The conversation between himself and Gale a few nights before suddenly came back to mind. Is this what he was trying to tell me...? "And, besides, they would be sad if they knew you were unhappy, so you''re on the same page."


    "Then they won''t know. I''ll just pretend to be happy here forever!"


    "You can''t just repress your feelings like that..."


    "Why not?"


    "Because that would be...torturing...yourself..." The teen allowed his father''s words to to sink in. I think I understand... "Over time, you''ll only end up feeling worse and worse, until you can''t pretend anymore. And at that point...it''ll hurt everyone--not just you."


    Andy was exasperated. "So then what should I do...?"


    "...Move on," he said. That''s when he remembered what Glacia had told him about Gretel.


    "But won''t that still hurt them...?"


    Gadalik gave an ever-so-slight shake of his head. "If they really care about you, and know that you are hurting...then they would be happy for you to move on."


    "But I don''t want to leave them behind... That will hurt me, too!"


    "Moving on doesn''t mean leaving them behind," Gadalik replied gently, what his mother had meant by that finally registering. "It just means leaving behind the hurtful situation you''re involved in. Once that situation is over with, so will everyone''s pain be, so you''ll all be happier afterward."


    "And that''s why Mom and Dad are okay with you sending me off, isn''t it...?" Andy realized.


    "That''s right."


    The child seemed thoughtful for a while. He wiped his eyes and looked toward his parents'' bedroom. "Can I at least stay until morning...?"


    "Of course." Gadalik watched the spirit vanish to its own room, then the spook returned to the couch. Sleep overcame him almost instantly.


    ***


    "...We can let him rest a while longer," Mary was saying. "He deserves it after helping our boy."


    "Huh...?" Gadalik groaned as he opened his eyes. Everyone was awake and the sun was out. "What time is it?"


    "It''s almost noon," Glacia answered.


    "We thought you''d never wake up," Gale laughed.


    How did it get so late? He wiped the blear from his eyes. The events of the previous night came to mind and he glanced around, sensing no trace of a ghost.


    "Andy talked with us this morning," Robert explained. "He mentioned everything you told him last night, and...he agreed it was best for him to move on."


    "Oh..." I missed his sendoff...? "Well I''m glad I could help."


    "Us too. Thank you." Mary helped him off the sofa. "Go see Lea about your payment. Have a safe trip home, dear."


    "Thank you," he yawned.


    The trio visited their client and then returned home by evening.


    Gadalik checked the mailbox and opened a letter addressed to himself, skimming it over before pocketing it. There was a rolled up newspaper on their doorstep which Gale retrieved upon entering. The house was as clean as he''d left it, aside from a very fine layer of dust. For some reason, however, it didn''t bother him as much as before. I''ll dust tomorrow.


    Glacia made tea for them as the two sat on either side of the living room table, and she took her place beside her boyfriend on the couch.


    "Let''s see what we''ve missed out on," Gale said. He opened the paper, flipped a few pages, then read aloud: "''Man Overboard Drowns in Tenor Bay.'' Sounds like we may have a possible haunting soon, huh, Gadalik?"


    "Yeah... Err... Actually, I did some thinking about what you both told me the other day. I think I will take a break from ghosts for a while. And..." Gadalik took out the letter from his pocket. "I''m going to meet up with Gretel soon. You were right about my feelings for her being bad for me... And about my feelings in general. I''ll start putting myself into consideration more from now on."

 Episode 7: Right

    Colorful leaves crunched with each step Gadalik took toward the door of a modest suburban house; silence followed once he halted in front of it.  The teen fidgeted nervously with the strap of the duffle bag slung over his shoulder.


    He was wearing the same outfit he''d chosen to go on vacation in the previous months--his selection of casual clothes rather slim--but his striped green hair remained in its signature ponytail held in place by a red tie the same color as his plaid shirt.


    The teen drew in a breath of the chilly air through his nose, exhaling it in a thin mist from his mouth, as he conjured up a way to greet the girl who resided there¡­ despite them having been friends for five years.  After months apart, a simple ''hello'' couldn''t express how glad he was to hang out with her again.  A hug could, but would that be too intimate?  She had been direct about being attracted to nobody, including Gadalik, and he respected that.  His crush on her had waned over the past week, regardless.


    Before he could make his mind up, the door swung open, revealing the young lady who was wearing a knee-length white dress with a flowy sleeveless purple collar and a darker purple belt at the waist.  The bottom half was a darker shade of a white and each of its three tiers were tipped with purple as well.  Her curly white hair was pulled into a high ponytail with a matching purple scrunchy: glowing in contrast with her dark skin.  She threw her hands up and joyfully exclaimed, "Gadalik!"


    "Hi, Gretel--" he began, then froze awkwardly when she squeezed him in her arms for a few seconds.  He was scared to move, of giving the wrong idea or of overstepping any boundaries.


    Gretel hesitated upon his reaction.  Then she immediately released him.  "Oh my gosh, I am so sorry! I forgot about your cracked rib!"


    "N-No, it''s fine!  Glacia--err¡­ my mom--wouldn''t let me come home until it was completely healed," he assured her.


    "Oh!  Well in that case, what are we waiting for?"  She gripped his elbow and half-guided, half-dragged him into her house.    "That bag looks heavy," she remarked.  "What did you bring?"


    He placed it down and unzipped it, unveiling a first-aid kit and some spell-tags, as well as his spook''s robe and staff, among some cleaning products.


    "Are these¡­ necessary?" she questioned him.


    "I don''t plan on finding trouble," he stated for the record, "but that doesn''t mean I can''t be prepared in case trouble finds us."


    Gretel closed the bag.  "Dude.  We don''t want a repeat of what happened on your last ''vacation,'' if you could even call it that.  You only have so many ribs!" she pointed out, only halfway joking.  "Chances are, if you have your spook''s stuff with you, you''re going to use it sooner or later...  So leave it here."


    "I understand what you mean...  But I promise I won''t use it unless--"


    "Gadalik," she sharply interrupted.  "Leave it."


    "But--"


    "No ''buts''!"


    Gadalik looked pleadingly into her hot-pink irises.  "Can I at least take my staff...?"


    She tilted her head, resting a hand on her hip.  "Why?  You learned how to use that ghost sense now, didn''t you?  You don''t need the staff."


    "Well, it''s true I''ve honed my sense enough to know when there''s a spirit nearby, but¡­ I still have trouble picking them out of a crowd without my staff--"


    "Well you''re not gonna be picking them out!" Gretel rebutted.


    Gadalik shrunk.  "What if a ghost attacks us...?"


    "Oh, for crying out loud...  We''re going to the mall, not a graveyard."  She snatched up the duffel bag and marched to her bedroom, tossing it onto the mattress from the doorway and then shutting it in.  "We''ll be okay."


    His striped blue eyes fixated on the door.  He began to weigh the risks versus the reality.  "I¡­ guess you''re right."


    "Aren''t I always?" She grinned at the anxious boy as if hoping to cheer him up.  She took him by the wrist this time and they both headed to town.


    Shops were lined up as far as the eye could see.  The instant they entered the mass of people in the food court, the indistinct chatter and echoing footsteps engulfed Gadalik.  He wasn''t used to such populated areas, and the difference between the outside and in was more stark than he''d anticipated; his feet might as well have been glued to the ground.


    Then he felt her hand gently squeeze his wrist, reminding him of Gretel''s presence.  The familiar touch quite literally pulled him free as the girl ducked and dodged her way through the shifting maze of passersby.  Relieved, Gadalik focused entirely on his friend; everything else seemed to fade away.


    Their first stop was the seasonal store.  Fake cobwebs decorated the ceiling; shelves were lined with ornamental skulls and rubber insects, though Gretel went straight for the hats and masks the next aisle over, end-capped with plastic weapons and miscellaneous props.  "Look at these!"


    When he caught up to her, she spun around to reveal a black masquerade mask over her eyes and simultaneously put on a pale yellow cowboy hat.


    "Uh, cool," he responded with uncertainty as to what the costume was.


    She handed him a headband.  "You could be Tonto!"


    "...Who?"


    Gretel blinked.  "Oh...  You still don''t have a TV?"


    He sheepishly shook his head.


    She put the items back.  "Hey, no sweat.  Hm...  Oh!"  She ran to the more generic costumes hanging on circular racks.  She grabbed hold of one and melodramatically gasped.


    "What is it?"


    "You were right...  There are ghosts here!" she teased him, whipping out a cheap white cloth with eye-holes.


    He burst out laughing, then noticed the walking sticks on the end-cap and grabbed one, pointing it at her.  "Begone, evil spirit!  Else I must annihilate you!"


    "''You''ll never take me alive,''" she puppeteered the sheet.


    "Of course not; you''re already dead!" Gadalik joked, and it was Gretel''s turn to laugh.


    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Hey, you rowdy teenagers!  Buy somethin'' or get out!" an older man at the register demanded.


    "Is that how you treat your customers?" Gretel huffed.  "Or should I say... ''costumers''?"  She grinned at Gadalik, and he suppressed a chuckle.


    "You ain''t a customer if you ain''t buyin'' anythin''!"


    Gretel blew a raspberry at the shopkeeper and inspected the ghost costume.  "I could get this, and you can just go with me in your spook''s clothes," she offered.


    "That''d be fun," he agreed.


    ¡°Oh, but look at those!¡± she gasped, rushing to another, more expensive rack.  ¡°Some of these are on par with my school¡¯s theater outfits!  I''ll still go as the ghost with you, but while we''re here we might as well try things on.¡±


    ¡°Like a fashion show,¡± he agreed, amused by her enthusiasm.


    ¡°This pirate costume is so cool!¡± She sorted through the available sizes of it.  "They don''t have any petite," she muttered to herself.  She picked out a couple different sizes and asked the older man, "Can I try these on?"


    "Sure, if it means you''ll leave faster," the gruff man answered.


    Gretel rolled her eyes and headed for the fitting room.  "I''ll be right out," she promised Gadalik.


    He watched the door close between them, then glanced at the ground.  Without his friend, the background noise gradually came into focus.  So too did the underlying feeling of a spirit within the vicinity.


    Seconds turned to minutes and the sensations seemed to intensify all the while.  He couldn''t single out any full sentence from any one person, but random words and phrases seemed to pop out at him louder than the rest from all over the store, senseless without the various contexts he lacked.  There were too many people--dead and alive--and he felt strangely vulnerable.


    The teen instinctively reached for the staff he''d left behind, despite knowing it wasn''t with him.  Its absence added to his stress.  I need it...!  A spirit could be after us right now and I wouldn''t know where it is!  His heartbeat was quickening.  No...  It''s okay; Gretel''s here.


    But she wasn''t.  It had to have been about ten minutes, but the world seemed to be closing in on him the entire time.  People stood too near as they waited on others to come out of the dressing room or to go in themselves.


    Their voices were fluctuating between too quiet to draw attention and too loud to ignore.  He felt the air between them stirred from their movements.  There was nowhere to escape to; he couldn''t leave Gretel even if there were.  He suddenly felt overheated and damp with sweat; his heart pounded and his hands were trembling slightly.  He fought to keep his breathing steady.  Other shoppers began glancing his way, some concerned and others disgusted.


    His fists closed on empty air in place of his staff--which would allow him to differentiate the dead from the living--one thing that would protect him from the intangible.  I can''t do this--I...  I need to get out of here--


    "Sorry for taking so long," Gretel said as her door finally opened.  "I thought the smaller size would be shorter--and it was--but then I got stuck in it!  I could probably make a new dance out of how I was moving to get out of it!¡±  Her laughter petered out when she saw her friend''s condition.  "Gadalik?"


    "They''re here," he whispered.  "I don''t know where or how many, but we''re not safe...  I can''t defend us without my staff.  We need to go..."


    Her eyes searched his for any sign of this being a prank.  Seeing he was serious, she scoffed.  "You''re being paranoid.  Of the paranormal.  Paranoidal?  Para-point is, you told me yourself that not all ghosts are dangerous.  So what if there''s a few here?  Are they hurting anyone?"


    Gadalik bit his lip.  A flashback of facing the monstrous spirit in the cellar with his birth-father''s former companion played before his eyes.  "Hurry, kid...!  Before it...kills us..." she had told him as she bled out.  He placed a hand over his chest where the beast had crushed his rib shortly thereafter.


    Gretel''s gaze softened at the reminder of his now-healed injury.  "Come o-o-on...  We''re fine!  Let''s just buy some things, grab a bite to eat and then we''re outta here.  Ok?" she soothed him.


    Yet again Gadalik weighed the risks versus reality.  The chances of a violent ghost residing in such a populated place without causing a scene weren''t very likely.  As long as they stayed far from basements or abandoned parking lots and log cabins, they were safe.  "You''re right..."


    "I thought we established that before we left?" She nudged him playfully.


    He smiled.  "Right again."


    "Come on.  Let''s show those ghosts we''re living the life!"  She took his wrist and marched toward the entrance.


    "EH-HM!"  the shopkeeper purposefully cleared his throat.


    "...After we pay for my ghost costume," Gretel conceded.


    Although less bothered by it, the presence of a nearby spirit was hard for Gadalik to ignore now that he knew it was there.  Even as he listened to Gretel prattle on about the TV characters she had initially wanted them to dress as over lunch, he found himself searching the surrounding crowd.  Without his staff he couldn''t see who was unlike the others, and that made him more reliant on his newly-honed sense, whether he wished to focus on it or not.


    "And then the episode ended¡­ on a literal cliffhanger!  Can you believe they''re making us wait to find out what''ll happen?" Gretel was saying.


    "Sounds rough.  Maybe it''s better that I don''t have a TV; I won''t be left in suspense between episodes," he joked, but was still distracted.  It''s¡­ coming from this way, he realized, shifting his attention to a toy store.


    His friend curiously traced his line of sight.  "Thinking about getting Glacia a new stuffed animal to add to her hoard?" she guessed.


    "W-Well, actually, there''s..."


    She chugged the rest of her drink.  "C''mon!  I''ll pay for it."


    "Wait!" he cried ineffectively while she halfway-dragged him there.


    The inside was blocked by a janitor trying to sweep up a thousand pieces of a train set, the broken box of which was held in a crying child''s hands.  The few expensive-looking parts his mother had gathered into the box were suddenly spilled by an older boy who seemed to delight in the younger one''s misery, having smacked the box out of his hands.


    "Do you know how much this cost?!" the mother scolded her sniffling son.


    "I didn''t drop it!" he wailed, pointing to the other kid.  "Leo did!


    The older child grinned wickedly.


    "For the last time, Charlie...  Stop blaming Leo!  You''re the only one who could''ve done it!" the mom practically screamed.


    "Hey, give the little guy a break!  Everyone drops things sometimes," Gretel butted in.


    "What do you know?  Every toy he''s had since his brother died has ended up ruined in some way!  Every single one!  Now we can''t even leave the store with a toy in one piece!" the woman said, exasperated.


    Leo snickered and stomped his way through the mess to leave.


    Gadalik instantly held out a hand to barricade him.  "H-Hey, you shouldn''t leave your"--the kid passed right through his arm--"mother..."


    The two locked eyes, both realizing what the other just discovered.


    Leo made a break for it.  Gadalik gave chase.


    "Where are you going?" Gretel called, running after her friend.


    "Leo, come back to your family," Gadalik called.  The name got the mother''s attention so she stepped out to see who the teen was talking to.


    "Stay away from me!"  Leo roared over his shoulder.


    The spook lunged for the fleeing spirit''s elbow.  To his surprise, his hand connected.  Leo struggled violently, but Gadalik could feel the ghost becoming both tangible and visible from the point of contact; his grip held firm.  "It''s ok...  Calm down¡­¡±


    "...Leo?" the mother breathed.


    "I told you," Charlie whined.


    "Leo!"  She ran to embrace her dead son.  "You were terrorizing Charlie this whole time...?"


    Gadalik released him and backed up beside Gretel to give them space.  The young lady was awestruck.


    "Whenever I got a toy, you forced me to share it with Charlie.  I never had one of my own, and now that I''m dead, he gets everything!  It''s not fair!" Leo snarled.


    "I know, sweetie...  But for years before you died, I had been saving up for this train set..." the woman explained with teary eyes.  "It was supposed to be a gift just for you, that Charlie wouldn''t be allowed to touch.  Since you were gone and all of Charlie¡¯s toys were broken, I thought I''d buy it for him now.  I didn''t know you were still here as a spirit¡­¡±


    Leo''s eyes widened.  "It was for me...?  But... I broke it..."


    "Maybe you can put it together with your brother and I," she suggested.


    "Really...?"


    "Of course.  Come help us find the rest of the pieces."


    "Mama never saw you break it, but I did," Charlie grumbled.


    "That''s ''cause you''re just like Dad," Leo muttered scornfully.


    "Be nice," their mother chastised her eldest.


    Gadalik saw them off and then stared at his hand.  It was numb, barely mobile, and the tingling had slowly crept up his arm the longer he had held on to the spirit.  It was recovering steadily, at least.


    Gretel took it in hers and raised it like the winner of a medal.  "What was that?!  You said only your staff could make physical contact with a ghost, and you acted like you were so helpless without it," she teased him.


    "I''ve never done that before," he admitted.


    "You rely too much on your staff, that''s why.  You''re not as vulnerable as you think you are."


    "I¡­ guess you''re right."


    She smiled.  "Always am!"

 Episode 8: Mercy

    Smoke wafted from the kitchen to the second story, seeping through the frame of Gadalik''s closed door. The teen was asleep, and the scent was enough to shift his dream to that of flames, and he stirred.


    "Gadalik!" Glacia called from downstairs. "Get dressed and come down here!"


    His mother''s voice woke him fully. The thickness of smoke in the air was real. The sun was still on the verge of rising; there was no reason for a night-owl like her to be awake. His mind raced to one conclusion: Fire.


    No time to dress nice¡­! The spook traded his pajamas for an old, plain T-shirt and jeans, then stumbled toward the staircase, struggling to fit the outgrown shirt over his head and torso as he descended the steps with reliance on muscle-memory.


    By the time his face popped through--followed by his bed-headed striped green hair that was further messed up from the fabric--he was at the base of the staircase and saw two strangers staring at him: a girl perhaps three years younger than himself with short hair in an asymmetrical bob cut, and a freckled man almost Glacia''s age with long yellow-green hair, curls sticking out every which direction down to his waist, where it transitioned into a braid that trailed on the floor. His eyes of the same color narrowed, one eyebrow lifted, unimpressed by the sleep-deprived teenager.


    The girl''s face turned as red as her hair, her matching eyes quickly darting away from Gadalik--who then realized they''d all seen his bare abdomen on his way down. He felt his cheeks flush with humiliation.


    Glacia peered out of the kitchen. "Well somebody''s hungry! Smelled breakfast and couldn''t wait to get down to eat it, huh?" She grinned at her son, holding a plate of black, rock-solid toast and dripping undercooked sunny-side-up eggs. "Tea is in the making!"


    "Oh! It, uh¡­ It all looks great," he lied, "but eating this early will disrupt my whole mealtime schedule. I''ll have to pass on it." While he appreciated his mother''s efforts, the last thing he wanted was another trip to the hospital for food poisoning. When it came to housework, the duo had traded their chores as mother and son, one of which being that he''d do all the cooking and she would wash the dishes for this very reason.


    "Aw. Suit yourself."


    "So...who are they?" he asked about the guests.


    "Potential clients for ya. Maybe you should put your work clothes on," she suggested, giving his too-tight shirt a disapproving onceover.


    "I-I was planning on that!" Gadalik stuttered. When she laughed at his reaction, he rushed back upstairs and--after a fight to get the old shirt off--changed into his light green shirt and pants, then tied on his darker green robe over them. After he brushed his shoulder-length hair and pulled it back in a ponytail, he returned rather sheepishly to properly introduce himself.


    "Here, your tea is ready. It''s my own recipe, and it''s very healthy!" Glacia chimed, setting the tray on the living room table.


    The girl took a sip, choked, but swallowed and forcibly smiled. She never touched the cup again.


    The man politely declined it.


    "Hello. I''m sorry for my...indecency," the older teen chuckled nervously. "My name is Gadalik."


    "I-I''m Grace¡­ This is my father Gavin," said the girl.


    Father?


    Grace seemed to notice his perplexity. "I know he''s only eleven years older than me¡­ But he raised me since I was six years old. He''s taken care of me for eight years now."


    "Hey, we get it," Glacia soothed her. "I''m just less than a decade older than Gadalik; he''s adopted too. I''ve raised him since he was nine years old, and it''s been eight years for us too!"


    The girl eyed him curiously at that.


    "Regardless," Gavin spoke for the first time, "we have had an occult problem at our homestead. Our livestock is being slaughtered nightly, and I fear our safety is jeopardized. While I''m reluctant to consult a child on the matter, you happen to be the only spook who fits within our budget. I hope you''re more capable of doing your job than you are of...dressing yourself."


    Gadalik and Grace both shrunk.


    Glacia laughed. "Don''t worry! He''s got this."


    "I can''t make any promises," Gadalik spoke for himself. "How long have these attacks been going on for?"


    "For the past three days," the girl answered solemnly, gripping her pale-orange skirt tightly.


    "Are you sure it''s a ghost, and not, say, a wild animal?"


    "I''ve seen what wild animals can do¡­ and this isn''t it," Gavin objected, rather grimly. "Our livestock were killed cruelly, not eaten. And this has become a pattern every night."


    "Have you tried setting up spirit wards?"


    "We have," Grace answered. She dug through the brown pouch on her belt and handed the other teen a spell tag. "It hasn''t made a difference¡­"


    "Is it real?" Glacia wondered.


    "Well¡­yes," the spook replied. "But it''s a weaker variant. A ghost that''s strong enough to kill would hardly be fazed by it."


    Grace seemed mortified at that. "Ghosts have different strengths?"


    "Yeah. The majority of ghosts aren''t strong enough to interact with worldly objects. The more powerful the ghost, the more they can make physical contact. And killing is no easy feat."


    "You''ve dealt with worse," his mother pointed out.


    "True. I''m just saying that these general-store tags won''t work against them. You''d need something more like...this," he said, retrieving a similar tag from his robe''s right pocket. Although the difference was subtle to the untrained eye, it was stark in effectiveness. He handed both tags to Grace.


    She inspected them for a moment before giving them to her father. "Where would we find these?"


    "In a hex shop. They''re, uh...pricey."


    "Tell me about it!" Glacia groaned.


    "But they work well, and should last you long enough for the spirit to lose interest."


    "So their effects are temporary," Gavin muttered half to himself. "Hypothetically, if the spirit doesn''t lose interest, they will be a necessity for quite some time, and a costly one at that."


    "Well, kind of. Their power can run out, but they can also be recharged by someone who has magic."


    "Then we''re making the right call by hiring you. Thank you for the information, but I would prefer you get rid of the ghost instead." He returned the spelltag to Gadalik.


    To the spook''s surprise, it was the correct one. Was it a lucky guess, or can he actually tell them apart? Something about the man intrigued him. His blunt nature was odd, as if he were socially ignorant, yet he was undoubtedly knowledgeable and bright.


    "We left last evening in order to arrive here at dawn.  If we want to reach our home before tonight, we must leave within the hour," Gavin explained.


    "That is, if you accept the job!" Grace quickly added. "We don''t expect you to accept it, especially on such short notice¡­ We understand if you can''t do it."


    "It''s alright," Gadalik said. "I''ll definitely help."


    The property was of modest size, a relatively-small fenced-in pasture with a stable on one end beside an older, but well-maintained, house. A chicken coop and a pigpen were on the other side.


    "It''s a cozy little farm," Glacia commented.


    "Homestead," Gavin corrected her. "We don''t sell our crops or meat; they''re meant to feed us."


    "Geez. Touchy."


    Gavin unlocked the door and went in, leaving it open for the guests while he disappeared into a room.


    "Come in," Grace invited them.


    Glacia obliged, and her son began to follow--then nearly ran into Gavin, who had suddenly reappeared in the doorway with a camera hanging from a lanyard around his neck; he held rubber gloves in one hand and empty trash bags in another. Gadalik felt small and somewhat intimidated by the taller man blocking his way, and they both just stared at each other.


    "We travelled all night," Gavin stated, as if that explained everything.


    The younger man opened his mouth but couldn''t think of how to reply. He had no clue where this conversation was going.


    Gavin narrowed his eyes with a hint of annoyance. "The ghost strikes at night."


    It took him a second to process this. "You think it might have killed something while you were gone¡­?"


    "That''s what we''re going to find out." He passed the spook and strode toward the pigpen.


    Gadalik had to power-walk to keep up, and nearly ran into him again when he abruptly stopped at the gate, followed by the sound of the camera''s shutter. The teen reluctantly peered around him.


    Bits of flesh and bone were scattered everywhere in the pen, and the muddied earth was tinted red. Flies scattered from the remains as Gavin hung a pair of gloves on the gate, put on the other pair, and went in to pick them up.


    Gadalik couldn''t believe what he was seeing. A pig had been practically shredded apart, and the stench of blood and rot made him ill. Yet Gavin hardly seemed deterred.


    "Don''t just stand there," he called back to the teen, and pointed at the hanging gloves.


    He can''t be serious¡­! But he was. Once again, the two just stared at each other until Gadalik swallowed the rising bile in his throat and put on the gloves to help clean up.


    "What kinds of animals do you raise?" the spook asked after they''d disposed of it all.


    "Horses, cows, chickens, and pigs," he answered.


    "Can I ask why you checked on the pigs first?"


    "They''ve been the target for the last few nights."


    ¡­Strange.


    The two washed off out back, then Gavin led him inside the house.


    It was spacious and organized. Gadalik''s attention was drawn to the photographs hanging up. Pictures of exotic animals were on one side of the short hallway, and on the other were various photos of Grace, organized by date. She was with their horses and livestock in most of them, but surprisingly only a handful depicted her and Gavin together, and even fewer were of Gavin himself.


    What amazed Gadalik was how well most of the pictures looked. Even the ones of Gavin, which were rather candid, had great clarity, and more admirable were the angles from which the rest of them were shot. He''d never seen home photos of such high quality.


    Grace noticed his interest in them as she welcomed them in. "They''re great, aren''t they?"


    "Amazing," the older teen agreed. Gavin moved past them. Gadalik watched the man pull up the cellar door and go down.


    "That''s what I thought," Glacia commented, in response to Grace. "Y''know, I don''t see why you can''t just buy the spelltags, if you can afford to waste money on a professional photographer all of these years."


    "That professional photographer is my dad," the girl laughed.


    Glacia''s cheeks reddened. "Oh¡­"


    "Well, I took these..." Grace picked up one of the candid ones of her father. "It''s a bit ironic that he''s camera-shy."


    The more he learned of the man, the more Gadalik wanted to know. "So, Grace¡­ Has your dad ever spotted the ghost when you couldn''t?"


    "Well, neither of us has seen it," she confessed. "But there''s no other explanation for what''s been happening every night."


    He shuddered at the reminder. "What time do the attacks usually occur? Do you know?"


    "It''s inconsistent," Gavin answered for his daughter as he left the basement and walked straight back to his room, shutting the door just a bit too hard.


    "Wonderful," Glacia said sarcastically. "Sounds like we''ll be up all night waiting for it."


    "Actually, I think we can get it here sooner," the spook said. "Remember the ghost of the hex shop worker we helped, back by the beach resort?"


    "Oh yeah! Sheila, was it? We were with Gale and that fishy sailor."


    "Gentri."


    "Right."


    "Sheila gave me that spirit trap the same day you got the pocket watch. If we can set the trap and find a lure for the ghost, it shouldn''t take long." He reached into his outer right pocket, where he kept wards in bundles of various strengths. "I''ll set up wards around the farm, so the only animals it can reach would be the one we''ll use to lure it."


    "Sounds like a plan! So... where do we set the trap?"


    Gadalik drew in a breath to answer, but drew a blank. I didn''t think that far ahead...


    "Well, it came from the forest; that''s where its first kill was found. Ever since then, it seems to have a vendetta against our pigs," Grace recounted. "My dad takes pictures before he cleans everything, if that helps at all."


    "Yeah¡­ Sure," the older teen begrudgingly agreed.


    The girl opened a drawer and took out an album, handing it to the spook. Gadalik opened it where the book marker was to find pictures of mostly severed limbs--no, not severed¡­ it looked like they had been twisted and torn off of pigs while they were still alive. He felt sick. The more he turned the pages backward, the less gruesome the kills were, at least. He landed on the page of a chicken that had been nearly flattened. "What''s this one¡­?"


    She peeked over his shoulder. "The first thing of ours it ever killed was a hen that escaped our property. It wasn''t in such bad a shape as the pigs, though," she said softly.


    Gadalik exhaled, closed the book, and gave it back.


    "Wonder what it has against pigs," Glacia said. "And if it hates them so bad, why stop at one kill per night?"


    "It takes up a ghost''s energy for it to interact with worldly objects," her son reminded them. "To kill takes a lot of energy, probably all it has until the next night renews it."


    Gavin left his room and passed them to get to the kitchen.


    "Gavin, could you show me where the chicken was killed? That''s where I''ll set up the trap."


    "Alright," the man answered without so much as facing them.


    "Grace, you''re good with the animals, aren''t you?" Gadalik addressed her, remembering the photos on their wall. "Would you mind leading a pig out with us? We need it secured within the trap. I promise I won''t let it get hurt."


    She seemed reluctant to risk its life, but ultimately nodded.


    "Last but not least, I need someone to be on the lookout. Normally that''s my job since I can see ghosts even when they''re invisible¡­ But I''m going to be setting up the wards and the trap, so that leaves Glacia." He paused, then glanced at Gavin. "Unless somebody here besides me can also see invisible ghosts."


    It took a second for the man to catch on to the implication. "I''m a photographer. My eyes are sharp, but I have no magic."


    "...Rufus could probably help with that," Grace figured.


    "Rufus?" Gadalik echoed.


    "One of our pigs," Gavin specified.


    "I''ve noticed that our animals seem to get riled up before the attacks. I think maybe they can sense spirits, like you can," the girl explained.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Now that she mentions it, I have read about that before. Familiars were often used in the past for various reasons when magic was commonplace; ghost-detection wasn''t unheard of. "That could work."


    "I can still help. If the ghost does show up when the preparations aren''t complete, I can literally buy you more time," Glacia said, holding up the enchanted pocket watch.


    He smiled. "It''s settled, then. Whenever you''re all ready."


    With their property protected, Gavin led them to precisely the spot he''d found the chicken''s corpse in the nearby forest. Gadalik still couldn''t believe how accurate his visual memory was; it matched the photo perfectly, and who knew how long it had been since he even saw it.


    Grace hammered a post into the ground where her father instructed, tying Rufus'' lead to it and speaking words of comfort. Glacia kept an eye out, while her son reviewed the instructions to the trap.


    It was simple enough. Twenty-one tags; one in the center, and the rest surrounding it. Usually the centered tags were for the height and depth of the area it covered, so adding it in would be a requirement.


    However, the instructions revealed that those boundaries adjusted on their own based on how far apart the rest of the tags were. This centered tag in particular was instead included as a failsafe able to be used by the captured spirit to release itself from the inside. That''s how Sheila escaped, he realized. I''d better not chance it.


    He strategically placed the rest of the tags in as wide a circle around the pig as the instructions claimed they could be without losing effectiveness--creating a fifty-foot diameter. When the last tag was in place, they all briefly glowed at once, signifying the setup was successful. He then buried them with leaves and dirt.


    "The trap will trigger when a spirit is completely within the circle," Gadalik read aloud. "It detects the ghost by the otherworldly energy of its makeup, keeping anything with said energy enclosed, unable to escape from the inside unless the optional Phantom Tag is activated--which I didn''t include, to prevent that. The trap can otherwise be disarmed if any one of the tags in the circle are either deactivated, or misaligned."


    "How will Rufus escape?" Grace dared to ask.


    "Mortal beings can freely pass through the trap regardless of its activation."


    "But he''s tied up¡­"


    "I''m mortal. I''ll untie him."


    She seemed worried. "Won''t the ghost hurt you?"


    "I have shield tags," he informed her with a gentle smile.


    She exchanged a glance with her father. Gavin didn''t protest. "Okay¡­ I''m counting on you, Gadalik."


    "I won''t"--he yawned--"let you down¡­"


    "Aww¡­ Someone''s tired," Glacia teased him.


    "The ghost only arrives after nightfall. You can rest until then if you need to," Gavin offered.


    "I have spare bedding in my room," Grace added. "I can get it out for you!" Her enthusiasm dwindled as she glanced uncertainly at Rufus.


    Her father noticed. "Glacia and I will stay here to keep watch, just in case it comes early," he decided. "The instant Rufus gets anxious, I''ll stay to keep watch over him, and Glacia will come get you."


    "Since when are you in charge of this operation?" the light purple-haired woman huffed. Gavin looked her dead in the eyes until she grew antsy. "I mean¡­ It''s not a bad idea, so I''ll go with it." Under her breath, she muttered, "Touchy¡­"


    Relieved by that, Gadalik followed Grace back to her house. She guided him into her room, the door left wide open. Her floral-patterned walls were decorated by framed insects such as dragon- and butterflies. She gestured him toward her bed, and he sat there, surprised by how much he sank into it. The comforter was just as soft; it was like a cloud beneath him.


    He patiently watched as she sifted through a crate in the back of her closet. She chose a blanket and had set it aside, but now was striving to pull something else out.


    Gadalik hopped down after a moment to help her, taking one end of what was revealed to be a fold-up mattress wedged tightly in the bottom of it, so she could focus on the other. They pulled it simultaneously--then both overbalanced backward as it suddenly gave, being flung over them.


    The teens exchanged an embarrassed glance before laughing at themselves. Gadalik tucked the mattress under one arm and helped her up with the other.


    "Th-thank you," she said. "You can set it up in the living room whenever you''re tired."


    "That''s very kind of you. I appreciate it."


    Grace moved to pick up the blanket, then seemed distraught, standing there with it in her arms.


    "Something wrong¡­?"


    She drew in a breath. "You...were adopted, too, right¡­?"


    He tensed, caught off-guard by the question. "Y-yeah."


    The girl hugged the blanket tighter, her back still toward her guest. "Can I ask what led up to that¡­?"


    The spook didn''t know why he was beginning to feel backed into a corner, a strange defensiveness arising. He was normally open about the topic, but for the past several months it''s become somewhat of a sore spot. To be fair, I can''t say I''m not curious about her background, too... "I was orphaned," he answered as a matter of fact. "We--my parents and I--rented Glacia''s boat to confront a murderous spirit, and...I was the only one who survived; they died protecting me."


    "I''m so sorry," she gasped, looking over her shoulder at him. "That must have been horrible¡­"


    "Well...at the time, it didn''t seem real," he confessed. "I mean¡­ I know I was there, and I remember it happening, but it didn''t feel like it happened to me. It all felt like...a book--or a movie. Like I was some character instead of myself." Gadalik sat on the bed once more, setting the smaller mattress beside him. "That''s how I''ve viewed it for all of these years...like it was all a bad dream, so it didn''t matter. I just focused on my day-to-day life, not thinking about it. But...just a few months ago¡­hearing Glacia talk about how their deaths affected her...made the reality of it sink in."


    She folded the blanket on top of the little mattress, then seated herself with it between them.


    "After that, everything started hitting me at once," he vented. "Those feelings from back then--the fear, the...helplessness, of not being able to save them--come rushing back in full force, even when the cause is minor. Like...just a few days ago I was out shopping with a friend, and I sensed a ghost nearby. I didn''t have my staff to protect us--I didn''t need it; the ghost wasn''t after us, and it ended up being harmless anyway--but I still couldn''t relax until it was gone. I mean¡­we were both safe, but my body was screaming ''danger'' and ''useless'' because I had no way to protect her--like I couldn''t save them--I--" his voice broke. The silence, apart from his shaky breaths, reminded him that this was a practical-stranger''s room. "I''m sorry," he apologized, managing to get a slight hold of himself. He laughed humorlessly. "I don''t know why I''m telling you all of this..."


    "Have you talked to anyone else about it?" Grace prompted gently.


    "Kind of¡­ The first time it happened was in the middle of a big argument with this ghost, and I hadn''t been able to sleep that well beforehand. Glacia was there; she was very worried and made me go to a bunch of doctors to find out what was wrong with me, but they all told us it was normal to be overwhelmed in a stressful environment, and that not sleeping enough would''ve made it worse. And...that made sense, given the circumstances." He propped himself back on his hands and looked at the ceiling. "The thing is, every time after that wasn''t a stressful situation, and I''ve also been getting enough sleep since. Glacia cares but she tends to go overboard; if she found out I was still having issues, I''d never see the end of it." He sighed. "I know I shouldn''t be so afraid like that. I just...am. I don''t know what''s wrong with me...or if there even is something wrong with me. Physically, I''m fine."


    "I...think I know what you mean," she empathized. "Sometimes insignificant things bring back the feelings from when I was still with my mom. Like somebody opening my door uninvited, or if they''re coming toward me too fast, or even the slightest change of their mood for the worse...it''s like they might come after me. And I know Gavin would never hurt me¡­ I know I''m safe and I shouldn''t be afraid of such harmless motions, but I still am--same as you. It''s...like a reflex."


    "Your mother hurt you¡­?"


    The younger teen froze, as if she hadn''t meant to reveal that. Then she nodded ever so slightly. "My real father left before I was born, and my mother blamed me for that. She would...hurt me over the most trivial things, and yell at me for crying. One day, I guess she finally got sick of me."


    Gadalik leaned forward. "What do you mean¡­?"


    "She...abandoned...me, in the woods. I had been left there for days, until Gavin found me when he was on a business trip. H-he''s a wildlife photographer."


    "That''s truly awful, what your mother did," he consoled her. "You didn''t deserve that¡­ Nobody does."


    "Yeah¡­ But the same could be said to you," she pointed out. "And...trust me when I say things can get better. It''s hard to convince yourself that you''re safe when your body tells you otherwise¡­ My dad--Gavin--tells me to treat those fears and bad thoughts like they''re a fly buzzing around you."


    "How do you mean...?"


    "W-well, you can acknowledge it''s there, and, yeah, it''s a nuisance...but we all know it''ll buzz off after a while. The thing is, if you let that little fly get on your nerves, and waste your energy swatting at it, well¡­ It''s just prolonging the situation. You''ll be chasing it around for a lot more time than it''d take for it to fly away if you''d only left it alone."


    Gadalik narrowed his striped blue eyes thoughtfully.


    "Letting it buzz around you can be difficult, even if it''s only there for a minute or two. Maybe some days it will fly too close to your ear--and it''s okay to swat it if it does! But...it becomes easier to dismiss the more you manage to wait it out, instead of engaging with it."


    He let that sink in. "Thank you," he said wholeheartedly. "I''ve never thought about it like that--" Another yawn escaped him.


    Grace softened, somewhat amused. "Want me to help you set the bed up?"


    "Huh...?" He''d forgotten it was there. "Oh--that''s okay! But...maybe wake me up before dark, if you can."


    "Will do."


    He went to the living room and spread out the little mattress, took off and folded his spook''s robe, and lied down.


    Gadalik found himself back in the basement of a hotel. He was alone, which felt off for a reason he couldn''t pinpoint. Then the ground shook, and he turned to see the gigantic mole-like hand of a semi-transparent beast behind him. Its featureless head ripped open where its mouth should be, but instead of a roar sounding from it, there was a distorted human scream.


    Gadalik was strangely calm. He knew this wasn''t real because the actual event had played out differently. Without a second thought, he approached the enraged spirit. "You were right," he admitted. "I can''t understand what it''s like to die. I can''t understand how painful it must have been for you to be crushed and bleeding out, with nobody to save you¡­"


    It lifted its other clawed-hand in preparation to strike him.


    "You''re done asking to be saved¡­ Aren''t you," he realized. "All you want right now is to be understood."


    It shoved him against the cold stone wall and slowly pressed harder on his ribcage.


    The spook didn''t flinch. "Nobody can understand your death, and your anguish, unless they die the same way as you¡­ is that why you''re doing this?"


    It screamed again, its voice choppy as though coming from underwater.


    "I''m sorry¡­"


    The sound continued, as if Gadalik''s lack of suffering frustrated it.


    "Even though you''re dead, this is no way to live¡­ You''re suffering." He remembered the confinement and exorcism tags his companion at the time had planned to use before Gadalik had involved himself.


    "Gadalik?" A young girl''s voice made the dream dissolve.


    He awoke, somewhat curled, with his arms crossed protectively in front of his chest. "...Grace?" He sat up, then glanced toward a window.


    "It isn''t quite dark yet," she informed him, "but it looked like you were having a nightmare¡­ I-I couldn''t just watch."


    "N-no, it''s okay." Gadalik pulled his robe on and felt inside his pockets; there were several stacks of tags banded together: shield, stun, and disfigurement in his left outer pocket, kept on his dominant-hand''s side for ease of accessibility in combat. His outer right pocket contained wards and dispel tags''.


    In his inner-right pocket were his wallet and other such personal items, but his inner-left pocket was the one he was double checking: it contained the spell tags for confinement and exorcism. He could distinguish them all from how they felt.


    "I''m going to check on the others," Grace announced.


    "I''m coming with you," he decided.


    They arrived back at the trap-site to find Gavin on one knee, intently staring at Rufus, and Glacia resting with her arms crossed and back against a tree, snoring.


    The pig tugged on its lead, jumping toward Grace despite the distance between them. That got her dad''s attention. "Rest well?" he asked.


    "Yeah, thank you," Gadalik said.


    Rufus was practically choking itself trying to reach her, squealing loudly.


    "Huh--what?" Glacia came-to from the racket.


    Grace went over to her pig. "It''s ok, it''s alright," she tried to soothe it, and although it quieted down, it still struggled.


    At that moment Gadalik sensed a ghost nearby. He closed his eyes and tried to figure out which direction it was in. It''s...coming from their homestead. It''s only a matter of time before it finds us. "It''s heading this way," Gadalik reported. "Everyone get on the opposite side of the trap so it''ll get caught if it targets us."


    They did as told, although Grace didn''t budge. Gadalik gripped his speared staff and a shield tag. Once the spirit would be trapped, he''d free Rufus and then assess what he was up against from the safety of the outer side.


    "Grace," Gavin called.


    She looked at him and then her pig, obviously torn.


    The ghost seemed to be wandering around aimlessly, its pace rather slow. Then it stopped. Suddenly its presence was growing stronger--and fast.


    "Grace, get out of there!" Gadalik cried. "I''ll save Rufus--don''t worry about him!"


    She froze at first, but then scrambled to her feet and began to run. When Rufus squealed for her once more, she hesitated.


    "Go!" Gadalik cried.


    Gavin darted in to retrieve his daughter, but Glacia--who was closer--got there first.


    "Come on, girly; you don''t want to get caught up in ghost business," the woman halfway joked, pulling her by the elbow safely to her father. The three of them were headed out of the trap when the ghost suddenly shot through the trees and halted a short distance from the trap.


    It was maybe ten feet tall with broad shoulders that were hunched over, its arms and neck too long for its torso; the hands'' spindly fingers dragged in the dirt with each heavy step of its rather short legs. It had a snout much like a bulldog''s, which it used to sniff around. Its eyes were very small; Gadalik doubted it could see very well...not that it needed to.


    Overall it looked mostly humanoid, but there was no denying it had lost a lot of its humanity long ago.


    It stopped before reaching the trap and it briefly turned in Gadalik''s direction, its flat, wide nostrils flaring. Then it faced ahead toward the others. "Stockman," it moaned in an exhausted voice.


    For a moment, everything fell silent, save for Rufus snorting and huffing.


    The spirit swiftly launched itself at them. Gavin held Grace protectively and Glacia gripped her watch, but then it crashed into the trap''s barrier between them.


    Gadalik activated a shield tag by placing it on his staff, and charged in to free Rufus just as the ghost recovered and swung itself around. He used the speared tip to cut the lead, and Rufus took off, but the specter was faster; it threw its heavy hand like a lasso at the pig. No! The spook slashed at its arm with his staff, tearing out a cloud of its wispy body.


    It shrieked and dropped the pig, which then escaped.


    Gadalik followed suit...and then collided with the inside of the trap''s barrier and ricocheted to the ground. What¡­?


    "Stockman," the ghost said again. It lumbered toward the spook.


    Gadalik got to his feet and put a hand on the barrier. It didn''t let him through despite how much pressure he applied. Panic began to set in, but the fact that his shield spell was still active gave him a sense of security.


    "What''s the matter?" Glacia said, meeting her son from the other side of the trap.


    "I-I don''t know," he admitted, unable to hide the fear muddled in with his confusion.


    The ghost extended and swung its arm, batting against the teen''s shield, which--although didn''t hurt him--knocked him far to the other end of the trap, where he once more hit the inner barrier and then the earth.


    Unharmed, but shaken, he stood up and faced his attacker. "What is¡­"--he caught his breath--"Who is stockman¡­?"


    "Killer," the spirit strained to speak.


    Gadalik didn''t know if that was an answer or an accusation. "Stockman killed you?"


    "Pigs," it groaned.


    "I¡­ I don''t understand--"


    The specter shrieked with frustration and struck him a second time, harder than before; the impact shattered his shield and sent him flying. Glacia ran alongside the outer barrier to try to catch him, and this time he passed through the trap and crashed into her; they both tumbled down.


    The trapped soul shrieked and beat on the inside of the trap, to no avail.


    "...I''m out?" Gadalik breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Yeah," Glacia said. "But why were you stuck in the first place?"


    He thought it over. ''It detects the ghost by the otherworldly energy of its makeup¡­'' "My shield spell! It must have the same otherworldly makeup as a ghost¡­"


    "Does that mean using a spell will trap you?"


    "I guess so¡­"


    "Then what should we do? We can''t risk you going back in," Grace said as she and Gavin caught up to them.


    "I say leave it trapped there," Glacia huffed.


    "The trap won''t hold forever," her son disagreed.


    Gavin seemed distracted.


    "What is it?" the spook quarried.


    "...Keep it talking," he commanded.


    "Oh¡­ Alright." ...How?


    The spirit shrieked some more.


    "Y''know, I''m getting real tired of that sound," Glacia muttered.


    Me too¡­ Gadalik cleared his throat, and reflected on the few words it had managed to say. "Did the pigs kill you¡­?"


    "Consumed," the ghost answered.


    Gadalik''s brows furrowed. Yes, he''s clearly a consumed-category ghost. But what does that have to do with pigs? Maybe I''m reading into it wrong? Consumed could also mean ''eat.'' "Uh¡­ You consumed the stockman''s pigs, and were killed by it¡­? Like...poisoned?" He cringed at how stupid that sounded. The ghost''s flustered screeches suggested they were at least in agreement with that. "Never mind¡­ So how does this stockman fit in¡­?"


    "Killer!" it wailed again.


    This was going in circles. Gadalik was starting to feel as frustrated as the ghost.


    Gavin approached the barrier. "You were killed by a stockman¡­ and then consumed by his pigs¡­?"


    For once, the spirit quieted down. Its little eyes focused on the man for a moment. Then it roared, swung around, and began beating the barrier.


    Gavin and Gadalik exchanged a glance. Right¡­ Keep it talking.


    "Who is the stockman?" the spook questioned it. The ghost responded with another shriek.


    "It doesn''t know," Gavin translated.


    "Where is the stockman?"


    It shrieked again, beating the barrier more forcefully.


    "You''re making it more upset," Grace warned him from Glacia''s side. By now, Rufus had returned to the girl, albeit cowering at her feet.


    Gee, I couldn''t tell¡­ "Wandering spirits wander for a reason: they''re looking for something¡­or someone," Gadalik explained.


    "The stockman?" Glacia guessed. "But if it doesn''t even know who the stockman is, how would it find him?"


    Good question¡­ It wouldn''t be easy. Her son blinked. "How long have you been searching?"


    It shrieked.


    Okay, it doesn''t know. "...What year were you killed?"


    The spirit''s hands dropped back down. "Eighteen...forty-two¡­"


    Glacia winced. "Geez¡­"


    Grace looked at her father expectantly.


    "That was one-hundred-nine years ago," Gavin calculated. "Whomever this stockman is, he''s long dead by now."


    The ghost was still for a short while. Finally, it faced them again. Out of nowhere it roared and lurched at them again, more upset than it had initially been. "PIG!"


    Grace picked Rufus up and backed farther away.


    "Get back to the house," Gavin commanded, and she obeyed, taking Rufus with her.


    "Pig!" it continued to shriek.


    "It''s okay," Glacia comforted the spirit. "The pig is gone now. You''re safe."


    It continued whipping its long arms at the barrier, roaring like mad.


    "That''s the problem: it doesn''t want the pig to be gone; it wants the pig here to kill it..." Gadalik couldn''t help but think of the ghost he''d remembered in his dream. "To make it suffer and die the same way the spirit had..."


    Gavin eyed it pitifully.


    "The stockman is dead," the teen told it loud and clear. "You don''t need to search anymore. You can rest now."


    "Stockman!" it repeated. The barrier started flickering as it didn''t miss a literal beat on it.


    "Gadalik, do something," his mother prompted. "You said it yourself, the trap won''t hold forever!"


    There''s still time... the teen convinced himself. "What the stockman did to you wasn''t right... You didn''t deserve that."


    It hesitated.


    "Nobody deserves that," Gadalik pointed out. "Not even the pigs."


    "Pigs..." It growled. "Pigs....deserve. Pigs deserve!" It screeched and violently lashed the wall between them, more harshly than before. It flickered, threatening to give out.


    The spook panicked and looked at the only other adult in hopes that he would know what to do.


    Gavin was watching the spirit, his yellow-green eyes sympathetic. "You tried," he comforted the teen. "It can''t let go of its misery."


    Gadalik was taken aback by this. Once again his actual encounter with the ghost in hotel''s basement, and the dream he had about it, came back to mind. "It''s suffering¡­ It has been existing in pain for over a century." He reached in his left inner pocket, placing a tag on his staff.


    "Gadalik?" Glacia called worriedly.


    The spook inhaled sharply, then speared the ghost''s hand through the barrier; the tag activated, turning its target entirely tangible.


    Out of the same pocket, he placed a new tag on it. By now it had floated up to the extent the domed-shaped trap would let it, trying to keep out of reach.


    Gadalik stepped past the barrier, took aim, then threw the staff, unable to watch as the speared tip pierced the spirit''s solidified body, which then began to morph back into wisps that slowly faded.


    In a matter of seconds, his staff dropped.


    The ghost had been annihilated.


    Gadalik had recollected the trap''s tags; he''d recharge them later. The three of them made their way to the homestead in silence.


    Grace welcomed them back with initial relief to find they were okay, which transitioned back to worry when nobody spoke. "What happened? Did it get away?"


    "No," Gavin replied.


    "Then¡­?"


    "Gadalik put it out of its misery," Glacia said supportively.


    The girl softened when she noticed the aforementioned teen was silently packing his belongings, not looking at anybody. "Hey," she approached him.


    He swallowed uncomfortably, facing away from her.


    "It''s alright," she soothed him. "Acknowledge it''s there, and it hurts¡­ But don''t dwell on it. Let it pass on its own."


    Gadalik sniffed in a vain attempt to keep everything in... then tears ran down his cheeks, and wouldn''t stop. He sank to a seat on the floor, crossing his arms over his knees and burying his face in them, shoulders heaving in voiceless sobs.


    She gently rubbed his back.


    He breathed in deep, lifted his head and ran his hands down his face to wipe the tears. Then he sighed. "I''m okay¡­"


    "You''ve never killed a ghost before, have you...?"


    "I did, once¡­ in self-defense. This time, it was different."


    She hummed in acknowledgement. "You know... One time my horse escaped and was attacked by a wolf. He survived, but he was hurt...badly. Gavin said that even if he made a full recovery--which wasn''t likely--he''d never be able to walk or even eat properly for the rest of his life. Finishing what the wolf started was an act of mercy."


    Mercy...


    "The first ghost was killed to end your suffering," she guessed. "This time, a ghost was killed to end its suffering. In both cases, there''s now less suffering in this world."

 Episode 9: Talent

    A cold wind blew fallen leaves into the current of a nearby stream, and echoes of clacking of wood against wood repeated back from the morning sky.


    Janna stabbed at the spook with her stake-like staff; he dodged and blocked with his own, which more resembled a spear. While both were melee weapons, they were suited for different forms of combat, and Gadalik was determined to take advantage of that by keeping distance between them. He focused entirely on predicting her moves and countering them, the way his practical father had tried to teach him sword fighting a few years prior. Even Janna seemed impressed by how long the teen managed to keep it up...either that or her smirk meant she was planning something.


    The black-haired woman continued to go at him from different angles, and he refused to let up; if she touched him, it was all over. Then his heart skipped a beat when he suddenly lost his footing, slipping backward in the mud of the stream. In the split second he struggled to regain his balance, she disarmed him, then aimed for a finishing blow as he splashed into the shallows.


    Gadalik knew she wouldn''t hurt him, but his despair not to lose overtook him and he instinctively met her weapon with his bare hand...deflecting it by way of a small shield that had been summoned from his palm. It vanished just after.


    "Ah--geez!" Gadalik inhaled sharply through his teeth as he vigorously shook his hand. "Pins and needles..."


    Janna uncertainly retreated a step; her dark gray cloak enveloped her. "Since when can you use a shield spell without a tag?"


    "Since...now," Gadalik realized, just as surprised by what he''d done as his mentor was. "It''s not the first time I''ve used a spell without a tag, though... Last week I chased a ghost at the mall, and somehow caught it bare handedly, too."


    She slightly leaned away from him, her expression souring with disbelief.


    Why is she looking at me like that¡­? His striped blue eyes focused down on his hands worriedly.


    "Being able to make physical contact with a ghost is an ability innate to spooks, but with how much the bloodlines have thinned out in this age, it''s rare to be able to do that without a weapon or tag," she said. "But that shield..." She paused. "Then again, your mother..."


    "Um..." He felt like he was interrupting her, but she wasn''t making sense to him. "I don''t see what the big deal is. It''s just like the shield tag, isn''t it?"


    "It''s the other way around, kid. All of the tags were made from the actual spells, to be used regardless of the wielder''s magic--or lack thereof. But the actual spells require an amount of magic that descendants of witches have lost since their extinction. Most of those with enough to enchant items have retired their fieldwork to make and sell spell-tags for hex shops."


    "Oh," Gadalik softly replied, lifting his gaze out of respect but unable to meet her dark brown eyes; he feared seeing the disapproval in them again, however brief it had lasted.


    She sighed. "You''re powerful, boy. The magic in your blood is purer than most of those in this age. You just need proper training to bring forth that power, else it''s wasted on you."


    "Training¡­?" He perked up. It can''t be bad if she wants me to learn it¡­! "So you''ll teach me the rest of the spells without tags?"


    "...No."


    The younger spook''s spirit was shut down by the single word.


    "Namely because I can''t. And even if I could use tag-less magic, I''m a spook--not a witch--so I would not be able to help you learn witches'' spells. But, hey, don''t worry too much about it. You''ll be fine once you get the hang of it, just like you''ve honed your ghost-sense after I first mentioned it to you all those months ago. You''re a natural spook, just like your father."


    Gadalik detected a bit of resentment behind her compliment.


    "Well, it''s been fun sparring with you, kid, but I''ll be taking my leave now. Remember to be mindful of your environment at all times. If you can, get to know it before a battle. Use it to your advantage, alright?"


    "Alright. See you in a couple days...?"


    "That''s the plan." Janna lifted a hand in a wave of farewell as she left.


    Alone and with time to spare, Gadalik practiced summoning the shield. It was hard to replicate his initial fluke. Eventually he lucked out for a second time when he''d mustered up the same determination to protect himself as during their training, and then committed that feeling to his memory. He was able to summon it consistently now, but it had gotten smaller with each attempt, and soon enough it stopped appearing at all--at which point his arm had gone completely numb up to his elbow. He could barely lift it.


    The consequence of tag-less magic differed from using it to enhance enchanted items; the latter seemed to affect his entire body, while the former only affected the limb required. Gadalik couldn''t decide which was worse.


    Eventually the feeling and mobility returned, albeit sore and weak. He was tempted to experiment with how soon after recovering he could resume use of the spell, but ultimately opted against pushing himself that far, unwilling to gamble the loss of his arm. Instead, he went home.


    Glacia greeted her adoptive son at the door. "Hey, big guy! How was your training with Jenny today?"


    "Janna," he corrected her. "And I learned how to use a new spell without a tag."


    "Another one? I''m sure that will come in... handy," she joked.


    "That was terrible," he chuckled.


    "No, I''d say the spell tags are the ones that are tear-able!"


    He laughed. "Gale''s sense of humor has been rubbing off on you."


    "Hey, it''s charming," she agreed. "Oh, I was going to tell you to check out what''s in today''s paper."


    Curious, he went to the living room table and picked up the faced-down newspaper, reading aloud from the page it had been left on: "''Spooks Wanted for Rosepetal Lake Haunting. Following the death of 12-year-old Anna last week in a kayaking accident, multiple attacks on those who venture into the water have been reported.''"


    "What do you think, Gadalik?"


    "I''ve never seen an ad like this," he said, uncertain. "Usually clients would go through a list of spooks, and hire based on their skillset and price. Why the invite?"


    "Who cares? It''s a perfect opportunity to test out your actual spells, I''d say."


    Her son shied away from it. "If it''s asking for spooks, chances are someone more experienced than me will land the job. I''m not out to compete with anyone."


    "Experience, exshmerience. You''ve got your handy powers, and that''s all you''ll need."


    "Th-There''s still a lot I have to learn about using them, though..."


    "Hm¡­ Well, let''s say someone does get the job before you. That means, with the spirit gone, we can just have fun at the lake. It''s a win-win situation!"


    "You just want to go where it''s warmer, don''t you," he teased her.


    "You know it!" his mother laughed. "But it also seems to be the perfect job for you--if you want to take it while we''re there."


    He still was uncertain.


    "There''s a reward they''re offering, too," Glacia sang, pointing. "Some kind of spell booster?"


    The teen perked up at that. "The ring? I''ve read about those before," he remembered, getting closer to examine it. "It''s said that whoever keeps it on their person will be granted either more power to their spells and tags, or it will make them last longer. And, you know...that might help me after all."


    "It''s settled, then! Southern sun, here we come!"


    They arrived at Rosepetal Lodge on the verge of noon. It wasn''t very populated, which was expected given they''d publicly announced their haunting. The few people who were present were garbed in robes or cloaks. Gadalik found himself looking for Janna as they entered, but his mentor was absent. They stood by the doorway inside with the other spooks awaiting their turn in line.


    A young man, perhaps a year Gadalik''s junior, was leaning over the desk, waving a wooden baton in the air as he was yelling, "I don''t care if she''s your daughter! If she''s hurting people, she should be annihilated!"


    The interviewer--a man maybe in his early thirties, with graying black sideburns and a full beard, pushed his small, round glasses farther up the ridge of his nose. "I suggest you take your business elsewhere, Mr. Ben. Your... techniques are not what I''m looking for."


    Ben remained glowering at him for moments longer, but reluctantly straightened up, pushing his dark blond hair from his face. "With all due respect¡­ You''re going to regret this. That ghost will kill everybody unless I stop it. But...I''ll be in touch, so reach out to me after the other spooks fail. ''Kay?" He placed a card on the desk, then swung around, his navy blue cloak flying back dramatically from the motion, before he strolled out the door. He gave Gadalik an interested once-over as he passed.


    "Someone''s got issues with ghosts," Glacia remarked when Ben was gone.


    "He''s not the only one," a middle-aged man leaning on the wall not far from them replied. He had dark brown hair, bright green eyes, and wore a beige robe. "A lot of these youngsters seem to have a vendetta against ghosts. Mr. Bellard there isn''t too keen on that."


    Glacia seemed amused.


    They watched for the next one--a young lady, perhaps Gadalik''s age--who was wearing a pure white robe, with wavy golden hair down to her mid-back. She had a staff nearly as tall as herself, with a crystal fitted on the tip that shone as brilliantly as her amber eyes. She looked almost angelic. "I''m Sandra. I saw the paper and arrived as soon as I could."


    "My name is Ovius Bellard," he said. "The ghost is the spirit of my daughter Anna. I wish for her to rest in peace. Have you any plans on how to accomplish this?"


    "I assure you no harm will come to your daughter. Once I find Anna, I will simply convince her to come back here and talk to you."


    "I''m not sure if that''s possible¡­ She hasn''t left the waters since she drowned. She won''t so much as come to shore."


    Gadalik was listening. A poltergeist bound to the lake¡­?


    "And getting to her in the first place will not be easy, since she attacks those who go in the water."


    "I came prepared with aquatic wards," she replied, withdrawing a box containing blocks of wood from her pocket. "If we set them around the lake, she won''t be able to go into the water. The only issue is that they won''t work unless she''s out of the water when they''re set up. I just need something to lure her out first¡­"


    "What do you have in mind?"


    "That''s what I should ask you," Sandra laughed. "Does she have a favorite toy, or any such belonging?"


    "We''ve already tried that, m''dear."


    "In that case, the only thing I can do is go in to confront her¡­ But spell tags don''t work in water. I can''t risk going in without their protection. I''m sorry¡­ I''m afraid I may not be able to help."


    Mr. Bellard nodded solemnly. "I understand. Thank you for coming in." After Sandra walked out, he asked, "Who''s next?"


    A girl in her mid-teens stepped up from the bench along the wall, her short red-violet hood flowing behind her. She wore a gold chain necklace tucked into her collar, which seemed out of place with the rest of her dark gray attire. "Me. I''m Mira, and I have a plan. I''m going to need your help for it to work, though."


    "I''m listening."


    "If you go in the water, she might come to you--whether to attack, or simply to see her father. I''ll come with you with a shield tag, of course. As soon as I sense that she''s coming, I''ll hook her with a stun tag on my sickle and pull her to us for a little chat," she explained as she lifted her cloak to reveal a kusarigama at her side. "I have detachable chains of different lengths. I''ll get her before she can get close enough to hurt us."


    The beige-robed spook stepped a bit closer to inspect her weapon.


    "I''m sorry, but I''m not willing to bet on that. The lake is deep and she can come directly at us from below. You can''t strike her through the boat."


    Mira drew in a breath as if to argue, but released it and narrowed her violet eyes thoughtfully. "Fine. Let me just think..."


    "Err¡­ Not to rush you, Miss Mira, but I haven''t got all day."


    "W-wait, I''m sure I''ll think of something else--I swear!"


    "Yes, yes¡­ you can come back to me once you''ve gotten your ideas flushed out."


    Mira bit her lip. Then she straightened up indignantly to storm back to the bench, only to butt shoulders with the green-eyed spook as she passed him. "Keep out of my way, you," she hissed.


    "''You?''" He laughed genuinely. "I have a name, you know. It''s Vincent," he introduced himself, extending a hand for a shake. "A pleasure to meet you, Mira."


    "I know who you are," she spat, swatting him away hard enough to leave a bruise before taking her seat and crossing her arms and legs, fidgeting as she scowled at the ground.


    "Can I see who''s next?" Mr. Bellard called.


    Gadalik froze and looked at Vincent. "Aren''t you before me?"


    "Hm? Oh, I''m not applying," he answered. "Truth be told, I was the one they requested for this job. I just convinced Mr. Bellard to give these youngsters a chance to prove themselves as spooks."


    He''d give up a job for us¡­? Just who is he?


    "That means you''re up!" Glacia lightly pushed her adoptive son toward the desk. "You got this!"


    The teen stumbled forward. "H-hello," he stammered, cringing as his voice cracked.


    Mira snorted, unimpressed.


    He cleared his throat. "My name''s Gadalik. I... have never faced a ghost underwater before."


    "Can''t say many spooks have, m''boy," Mr. Bellard said comfortingly.


    "But where spell-tags fail, magic prevails. And I''m a strong swimmer. I can summon a shield to protect myself in the water. Then I''ll lure and pull her ashore. We''ll see what happens from there... Annihilating her is the last thing I''d want to do, but if worse comes to worst, I may not have a choice."


    "Hm." Their client addressed the previous spook. "What say you, Miss Mira?"


    She was staring, flabbergasted, at the other teen. Then she quickly shook her head. "Mr. Bellard, please, I know I''ll think of something soon!" she cried despairingly.


    "I''ll hold you to that. Mr. Gadalik, I''ll rely on you until Miss Mira has a plan. Whichever one of you ends up saving my daughter, is the one who will be rewarded. But rest assured, if both of you contribute, both of you will receive recognition for your efforts."


    "I''ll do my best," Gadalik promised.


    "Now if that''s everyone, I''ll be in the back. You can each stay in the cabins if you wish. The first one is occupied by Mr. Vincent, but the rest are available. May luck be with you." With that, he was gone.


    Upon being dismissed, the hired teen began to leave, only for the older spook to wave him over.


    "Gadalik? That''s a Karpritian name, isn''t it?" Vincent said, bearing a crooked but friendly grin.


    "Y-yeah," he confirmed. "I was born here, but my mother was from Karpritia¡­ She''s the one who named me."


    Vincent turned to Glacia, a bit addled.


    She took a step back with her hands partly raised in surrender. "I-I''m not his biological mother," the purple-haired woman informed him.


    "Figured as much. I knew you seemed familiar; I just wanted to be sure," Vincent said. "You look a lot like an old acquaintance of mine. What was her name¡­ Vilodia?"


    My mom?


    "You know each other?" Glacia asked, sounding somewhat hurt that this information was withheld from her.


    "Not exactly," the older spook said. "But he''s the spitting image of Vilodia...minus the darker green stripe in his hair. His eyes are a darker shade as well, but that lighter blue in them matches."


    "That''s her," Gadalik said.


    His adoptive mother looked between the two, then awkwardly backed away to give them space. She always was a bit odd when it came to Gadalik''s life from before the day she became a part of it.


    "H-how did you know her...?"


    "She once consulted me about our spook ancestors'' power, and mentioned she had a four-year-old whom she suspected had the potential to use it. That was, maybe¡­"--he counted on his fingers--"thirteen years ago." Vincent huffed with laughter. "Never thought I''d come across her kid after all this time! And with tag-less magic... And a shield? Wow. It sounds like you''ve proven her right about you."


    Gadalik shied away a bit. "I didn''t know tag-less spells were still possible until last week, when I stopped a ghost at the mall¡­"


    "That was you?" Mira interrupted.


    "...You heard about it?"


    "Every spook has!" she exclaimed. "Word travels fast about the potential return of natural magic. But if you can summon a shield, then it all makes sense: you''re a devil."


    His mind flashed back to Janna''s similar reaction earlier that day. She must have known about the incident too, then¡­


    "Devil?" Glacia jumped to his defense. "What does that even mean?"


    "I mean... he is... a witch," she spoke each word slowly as if they were too stupid to understand it otherwise.


    "I-I''m not¡­ I mean, witches are... extinct," Gadalik stammered.


    "Well, that''s the accepted truth," Vincent acknowledged, "but there were places in the world where witches sought refuge. Karpritia happens to be one of them. It''s said that the surviving witches stopped use of their magic to blend in with the commoners so they wouldn''t be hunted."


    Gadalik let that news register. "Are you saying my mother was one of them¡­?"


    "Vilodia may not be a pure witch--but her ancestors were, no doubt. Your father''s spook''s bloodline was exceptional as well, although I''ve never met him personally."


    "But...I''ve never seen either of them use natural magic."


    "That''s because they couldn''t."


    The teen looked down at his hands, not understanding how he could.


    Vincent explained, "Just as the magic in bloodlines can be muddled over generations, so too can muddled bloodlines regain magic the same way. Two halves could either cancel each other out, or create a whole. In your case, you''re not just half-spook and half-witch, but you''ve inherited both of your parents'' magic--the spook''s contact and the witch''s shield--and both of those require an amount of magic not found in this age. I''m not a witch-descendant, but I do have a strong spook heritage, and I''d say you lean on the whole side just as I do. That''s why Vilodia consulted me."


    "Ugh, it doesn''t take a rocket scientist to figure that out," Mira complained. "Just shut up already."


    Vincent laughed. "Alright, I''ve said my piece. I look forward to seeing what you kids can do."


    Gadalik nodded, but couldn''t concentrate on his job when his entire sense of self had been shattered. Witches? My own mother? ...Me?


    "Hey, that''s actually great news," Glacia tried to cheer him up. "Who knows how much stronger you''ll get with time!"


    Mira was seething. "That''s it!" she exclaimed, moving to confront Gadalik, despite the fact that he hadn''t said anything. "I don''t care who your parents were. Your blood doesn''t make you better than any other spook, especially when you''re such a novice! That ghost at the mall was laughable!"


    "He''s the novice?" Glacia scoffed. "You can''t be older than fifteen. He''s got two years over you."


    "Age doesn''t determine anything," Mira snapped. "I''ve been training since I was three years old, just to catch up to the ones who are as naturally gifted as him!"


    "What, you think you''re the only one who''s worked hard?"


    "Hey, let it go," Gadalik told his mother, trying to deescalate the situation.


    "You''re really going to let her talk to you like that?" she said, offended on his behalf. "Who raised you?"


    Her adoptive-son opened his mouth hesitantly.


    "...Don''t answer that," she quickly recanted. "Point is, this brat should know her place. She needs to respect her seniors!"


    "Your words, not mine. I was trying not to point out how old you are," Mira sneered, feigning innocence.


    "Why, you little--"


    Gadalik had to restrain the woman.


    "That''s enough, now." Vincent stepped between them. "I understand your frustration, Mira. You are a very bright young lady. But as capable as you are, dealing with water-bound spirits is a difficult task--for any spook. That''s why someone with natural magic, like Gadalik here, is necessary for jobs sometimes."


    "Yeah, sure¡­ ''Sometimes,''" Mira mocked him under her breath. She glared at the floor, pulled the hood over her short black hair, and walked out.


    Gadalik watched her leave, concerned but clueless as to how he''d console her. Even though they were strangers, she seemed to already hate him. Wait¡­ Maybe she can help me instead.


    "Okay," Glacia chimed, obviously trying to lighten the mood. "Let''s see what you''re up against, shall we?"


    "I... think you should stay out of it," he suggested, not wanting her and Mira in the same area.


    "But what if you get hurt?"


    "I''ll be supervising them," Vincent assured her.


    "Nn¡­ Alright. In that case, I''m gonna go claim cabin two." She picked up her luggage, then paused. "You''re headed to the lake, right? Here--take the towels and a change of clothes with you."


    The teen accepted them with a grateful nod. Planning ahead, he brought them to the bathroom and put on a tank-top and trunks. They parted ways outside; Vincent stayed by the lodge to keep watch as Gadalik tentatively approached the water. The blue-eyed spook could sense the presence of a spirit far fainter than he was used to, but he could still make out the general direction it was in. He placed a beach towel down and folded the drying ones in a neat stack on top. The fall air was chilly, but thankfully warmer in this southern region than it was where he lived. If what they said was true, Anna would attack whoever stepped foot in the water... so that''s exactly what he did.


    The lake was freezing. He stood waist-deep and unmoving so as to adjust to the temperature. The biting cold initially overpowered the rest of his senses. Then it was replaced by the ghost''s presence getting stronger. Gadalik gripped his weapon and held it with the speared end at the ready.


    The sensation stagnated. He couldn''t see her beneath the waves, but he knew she was still in the depths, waiting. So she won''t come to shore after all¡­ "Anna," he called.


    There was no response.


    Gadalik cast his gaze to the west side of the lakeshore, where Mira was expertly throwing her sickle at a tree before yanking it back to her hand with the chain. Then he looked to Vincent. He made it clear he wants us to figure things out for ourselves¡­ The young man sighed, then headed over to the cloaked girl.


    "What do you want?" she grumbled, her attention not leaving the tree. She had been striking precisely the same spot repeatedly.


    "I-I need your help."


    She gasped with mock-surprise. "Help? You? But you''re so"--she thrust her sickle so harshly into the tree that the weapon pierced nearly halfway through it-- "gifted!"


    He flinched. "I can''t risk doing this alone¡­ Please," Gadalik begged the other spook.


    Mira finally looked at him, brows furrowed in a mix of suspicion and confusion. Then her eyes narrowed. "Oh, I get it. You want all the credit for half the work." She withdrew the sickle and fit it to her hip, turning to fully face him. "Good luck with that."


    "The reward is the last thing on my mind right now¡­! Anna needs help, and neither of us can save her on our own. You can''t risk entering the water, but I can. It''ll be difficult for me to pull her ashore, but you can. We need to work together," he stressed.


    She considered this. "You have a plan...?"


    He nodded. "I''ll go under to try to push her up to the surface. When she emerges, use your kusarigama to hook and drag her to land."


    She was silent for a beat. "...Fine."


    "Thank you," he said wholeheartedly. "We just need a backup plan in case that fails. I can only use my magic so many times; if I run out, I''ll be in danger."


    She laughed. "So? What do you expect me to do about that?"


    "You said you had multiple chains for your sickle. Maybe I could use two: a shorter one to tether my staff to me, and a longer one to use as my lifeline. You keep hold of the other end; if I tug it twice, pull me out of the water." His blue eyes bore into her violet ones to emphasize the importance. "Can I trust you to do this...?"


    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    Mira hesitated, clearly understanding what was at stake, but then laughed it off with disbelief. "Heh. I bet you wouldn''t last a minute in there," she snickered. "But it''s your funeral. And with you out of the picture, that spell booster will be mine!"


    Gee, thanks for believing in me. "Alright. Well¡­ one last thing."


    "What?"


    "If something happens to me, please, don''t tell my mom--I mean... Glacia. Tell Vincent, but make sure he keeps it from her as well. If... she were to find I''ve gotten hurt, I''ll never live it down¡­"


    "Pfft. Sure. Whatever. Anything else?"


    "N-No¡­ That''s all."


    She handed him one end of a surprisingly lightweight silver chain, as promised. The rest of it was coiled in her grip, which she loosened enough to let unravel with the distance between them so that it remained taught. Gadalik secured his weapon to it, then sensed for the spirit as he stepped once more into the shallows. Anna had immediately taken notice this time and was heading for him at a leisurely pace. Thankfully she was coming from the east shore where he had previously stood, so there was time before she''d reach him.


    "She''s getting closer," Mira warned him in a sing-song voice, almost as if she wanted him to abort the mission.


    "That''s what I''m counting on," he replied. Taking a deep breath and holding it, he kicked off the sand, submerging not far under in hopes of gaining a visual on Anna. The farther out he swam, the deeper the water became, the bottom losing visibility where the sunlight failed to reach. The surrounding murkiness didn''t help his sight, either. The teen righted himself, head emerging from the water to regain his breath and to check on Mira.


    She held the chain up and waved it at him. Then she pretended to drop it, laughing as he started from the motion.


    He sighed heavily. With his lifeline ensured, Gadalik held his breath once more and dove, deeper down while still following his senses. Although warm enough when still, the chilliness was felt with each movement, and burned his eyes enough that he had to briefly squeeze them shut to alleviate the pain.


    When he reopened them, he saw a pale young girl with long dark hair flowing out in the current.  They both were at a standstill until she darted frighteningly fast at him, her lower half''s movements akin to that of an eel''s.  Her big eyes went completely black and her mouth gaped unnaturally wide as if to swallow him whole, revealing two sets of sharp teeth.


    Gadalik felt a wave of terror rush through him, but remembered the plan. He threw his left hand out, summoning a shield just big enough to deflect her from his palm. He felt the impact as a shockwave of pins and needles running up his arm, but thanks to his practice, he knew exactly how long he could last without incapacitating himself. The feeling in it returned within the few seconds it took for her to circle him and lunge from behind. He twisted around in the water--nearly tangling himself in the chain--to keep the shield between them while he readied the contact spell in his right hand. The next time she lunged at him, he dispelled the shield and dodged, striking her head with his right palm in one smooth motion as she passed. Anna jerked away from him when her form became tangible.


    Gadalik pulled his staff from his hip and then batted her skyward with all of his might. He couldn''t keep his burning eyes open long enough to see if she breached the surface. His chest was on fire. I can hold my breath longer than this. I shouldn''t be near my limit yet¡­! His eyes reopened to see his hands, both tingling but gradually regaining feeling, before his gaze followed the vanishing trail of bubbles.


    To his horror, Anna had recovered too soon, and was now torpedoing down at him. His heart missed a beat but he angled the speared end of his staff to meet her head-on. To avoid running into it, she instead shot past him--then abruptly lurched back up, both of her clawed, webbed hands tearing it from his weakened grip; she brought it as far as its tether would allow, then turned it at him, charging the spook with his own weapon.


    His head spun from lack of oxygen. There was no way he could dodge in this worsened state. Without time to reel in his staff, Gadalik held both hands out to block the attack. The instant his palms made contact, however, instead of shielding him, there was a huge expulsion. Millions of tiny bubbles swarmed him in her wake; she had been blown out of sight, swallowed by the distant murkiness. What was that¡­?


    The answer would need to wait. He couldn''t hold his breath anymore. The teen started for the surface, but found his arms now wouldn''t move at all--both had completely lost feeling and mobility from his fingertips up to his shoulders. There was no way for him to signal Mira with his lifeline.


    Gadalik half floated, half propelled himself upward with just his legs, when all too soon the last bit of air escaped his lungs. Against his better knowledge, instinct drove him to inhale despite still being several feet under. Upon water entering, he immediately exhaled, but again couldn''t keep from inhaling right after in a vain attempt at breathing. Everything went black.


    "...eathe¡­ Com¡­ Please¡­!" Vincent''s voice was fading in.


    Gadalik felt a rhythmic pressure on his chest, but he couldn''t move, not even to open his eyes. He had no desire to, regardless; his body was so heavy and tired that he wanted nothing more than to drift back into sleep.


    Then a breath that wasn''t his own briefly forced his airways open. Almost immediately, he choked and puked up a lung-full of water.


    All of his senses returned at full force. The teen pushed himself up on his elbows--Vincent helped him onto his side--and continued coughing out droplets. His nose drained down his face and dark clouds still shrouded his sight, but he could make out the shoreline he was on.


    "Oh, thank heavens," Vincent said, although it was difficult to hear when the rescued kid''s ears popped with every other breath. The man helped him sit up, then draped a towel over the quivering young spook''s shoulders. The lifeline was still around his waist, and thankfully he glimpsed his staff attached to it in the shallows.


    "He never tugged it," Mira was repeating, the other end of the chain tightly grasped in her hands. "I--I didn''t mean for this to happen¡­!"


    It''s not your fault, Gadalik wanted to say. All he could muster was a pitiful sputter. He brought his knees to his chest and weakly pulled the towel over them, his arms still numb but progressing to a tingling sensation. Cold¡­ It''s so cold¡­ He tipped over onto his side, a shivering heap.


    Vincent unhooked his lifeline and scooped him up, one arm supporting his neck while the other his knees, and carried him to the first cabin. He listened to the opening of one door, footsteps on wooden flooring, and another door. Gadalik managed to open his eyes upon being gently placed on a firm bed. His breath caught on another drop and he fell into a coughing fit.


    "You''re alright," Vincent soothed him. When the teen settled back down, the man covered him with a blanket.


    The warmth was immediate, even if his temperature didn''t increase right away. Exhaustion from the whole ordeal caught up to him. But before he succumbed to it, a sudden worry took its place. "Glacia¡­!"


    "Relax. Mira said you didn''t want her to know, and frankly your rapport with Glacia is none of my business. You survived--that''s all that matters to me."


    "Th-Thank you," he murmured wholeheartedly. He allowed himself to doze off.


    When he later stirred, occasional shivers still racked his body, but at least the feeling had fully returned to his arms--however weak and sore they were. He took in his surroundings: beside the bed was the change of clothes he''d left on the beach towel; a few books dotted the shelves of the cabin''s otherwise empty bedroom, along with a few travel bags. Posters depicting safety rules and curfews were along the walls. Then he noticed a mug of tea still warm on the nightstand. It was heavy in his hold and he barely could lift it to his mouth, but he managed, savoring it appreciatively.


    The door creaked open. Vincent stepped through it, carrying a tray of food. He brightened to see the younger spook sitting up. "Good, you''re awake." Vincent placed the tray on his lap, then held the back of his hand on the teen''s forehead. "You have a bit of a fever, but you''ll be alright."


    "Thanks¡­" Gadalik picked at the plate, although he had no appetite. "How long was I out¡­?"


    "Maybe twenty minutes."


    "And Glacia...?"


    "She thinks I''m telling you your family history." Vincent grinned. "She didn''t seem comfortable involving herself in that."


    "Good thinking," he chuckled. "So, uh¡­ How''s Mira holding up¡­?"


    "Oh¡­ She''s upset you didn''t follow the plan."


    "I see¡­ I wish I could have. By the time I needed her help, my arms were all but deadweight from using... th-that last spell"--he remembered--"what was it?"


    "Looked like a ward spell, to me."


    "You saw it?"


    "Of course. It was hard to miss the giant waves from her being blown across the lake."


    All the way across¡­?  "That was nothing like a ward tag¡­"


    "Well that''s because tags have their limits--as should you. What you did was impressive, yes, but also reckless. What happened?"


    "Everything was fine at first," Gadalik stated. His teeth chattered lightly as he tensed into a shiver. "But during her last attack, all I could think of was getting air--which she was in the way of. I intended to use another shield so I could escape, but...I guess the ward spell activated instead¡­? It was like a reflex; I had no control over it. After that it felt like my arms didn''t exist. Without them I couldn''t pull the chain to alert Mira; I could barely even swim, and¡­"


    "You drowned," Vincent finished his sentence, as a matter of fact.


    The kid felt uneasy from the finality of his words. There was no ''almost.''


    "When we reached you, you had no pulse, and you weren''t breathing. Mira was convinced you were dead. You''re lucky I know CPR--or else she would''ve been right," the man continued. Although his voice was stern, it stemmed from sincere concern. "Who taught you to use spells like that?"


    "N-nobody¡­! It just--happened. I had practiced the shield and contact spells, and I knew my limits with both of them on land¡­ But using them also made it more difficult to hold my breath underwater. I¡­ I''ll factor that in next time," he promised. "I''ll try to replicate the ward spell too, and master it. I''ll make sure this doesn''t happen again."


    "...You learned all of that by yourself?" Vincent was shocked.


    Gadalik nodded slightly, then braced himself through another chill. "Is¡­ Is that bad¡­?"


    He breathed out through his nose. "It''s great that you''ve gotten this far on your own. But it''s bad that you''re literally diving head-first into danger without any training. One mistake could cost you your life. But I''m sure you know that now, don''t you?"


    The teen was dumbstruck.


    Vincent stood up, turning his back on him.


    "W-Where are you going¡­?"


    "To talk to Mr. Bellard," the older spook answered. "You''re not ready for this. I''ll take care of Anna myself."


    Panic set in. "No--wait! Please¡­ I can learn¡­!"


    Vincent paused in the doorway. It was impossible to guess what he was thinking. "Just... try to eat, kid. And get some rest."


    The door closed between them.


    Gadalik was at a complete loss. I can salvage this. I just need another chance...! He set the tray aside and moved his feet to the ground. Standing was the hard part when his legs threatened to buckle under his weight. I need my staff to keep me up. He searched the room with his eyes once more, but it wasn''t there. The clothes he''d left on the beach towel were, at least. He changed, then put his spook''s attire over them.


    With one hand along the wall for support, he made his way out of the room and into the living area. By the front door was propped a wooden staff tipped with three steel claws surrounding a spearhead. There it is!  He moved away from the wall to hold on to the back of the couch in the middle of the room, the length of which ran out just a few feet shy of it. Reaching it would require two steps without support. I can do this.


    The door suddenly opened. "Hey, you old man," Mira called as she entered. "Any updates on--" she ended her sentence abruptly when she found herself face to face with the older teen. Both froze and locked eyes in an attempt to read each other''s motives.


    Then Gadalik dove for his weapon. Mira was closer and snatched it before he could, grinning as he lost balance and retreated to the couch so as not to fall.


    "What are you doing?" he cried.


    "That''s what I should be asking you," she countered.


    "I have to talk to Vincent¡­ Please, I need my staff."


    "You want it? It''s right here. Come and get it," she said, purposely holding it in the doorway out of his reach.


    It wasn''t much farther than it had been initially, but that lunge had taken a toll on him. He measured the distance and tested his weight on one foot. Then a chill gripped his body and he tensed, shivering momentarily.


    "Oh, come now," she pouted with mock-sympathy. "You already came all this way! Just a little farther."


    Fine. He gathered as much strength as he could to take a step forward again, but as he feared, his legs weren''t strong enough to support him on their own and he fell back against the couch. There was the expected ache from the strain of swimming, but the exhaustion had been doubled from his overuse of magic. He rested there. I just need a bit more time, that''s all...


    "Aww¡­ What''s wrong? Did the little devil run out of magic?"


    "I''m not a--" He sighed, realizing arguing would be pointless. Regardless of how determined he was, he wouldn''t recover soon enough. "Yes¡­ I ran out." Does she enjoy seeing me like this? "Please¡­ Just give it back to me."


    She twirled it between her fingers. "But you''re so powerful! Sending the ghost so far like that with your bare hands. What would a spook like you even need a staff for?"


    I don''t have time for this¡­! Gadalik was starting to get fed up with her antics. "I''m not some--some epitome of power¡­ I never said I was. You''re right to call me a novice; I''ll be the first to admit that I don''t have full control over my spells, or even the spell tags. I didn''t expect to be hired--I didn''t even plan on applying."


    Mira turned her head slightly with skepticism. "Then why did you?"


    "...I couldn''t sit by and watch," he said. "Not when I''m able to make a difference. That''s why I need my staff--so I can convince Vincent to give me another chance¡­!"


    She snapped to full attention upon hearing that last word. Her eyes narrowed indecisively. Neither of the spooks spoke for seconds that seemed to last forever.


    "But... I''m not able, am I¡­?" Gadalik reconsidered. "My inexperience almost got me killed¡­ A-And it''s not just me affected by it; this was my job, but I dragged you into it. I never should have put that responsibility on you¡­ I-I''m sorry, Mira." He slowly loosened his hold on the sofa until he slid to a seat on the floor, squeezing his eyes shut to stop the forming tears from falling, and as another chill gripped him. "I''m sorry¡­"


    There was silence for a moment. Then Gadalik heard his weapon drop beside him.


    "Sheesh. You really are pathetic, aren''t you," she muttered. He lifted his head to see her leaving him there without so much as a glance back.


    Gadalik held it securely in both hands but didn''t get up. It''s too late to stop Vincent now, even if I still wanted to. What''s the point¡­? After a few more minutes, the shivering finally faded for good. He hauled himself up with his staff, then walked around the couch to sit down on it. Mira never did say why she came here. What did she want an update on?


    He wiped his eyes and looked for a distraction, knowing no good would come from dwelling on his mistakes. That''s when Gadalik noticed a hardcover book halfway sunk between the cushions. Curiosity got the better of him; he pulled it out and inspected the covers that were worn with age. The title letters were raised and he traced over them with a finger: Enchanted Artifacts. There was a ribbon sandwiched in the pages, where the teen then opened the book to.


    The header read Section VI: Magic Manipulation. Category I: Enhancers. Below it were four photographs labeled as figures 151-155 and descriptions of each: the first two were of bracelets, one beaded and the other leather; the last two depicted rings, the first made of steel and the second of wood. He recognized the steel one as the spell booster Mr. Bellard was holding as a reward.


    He skimmed the description, confirming what it did, before looking at the wooden one below it. The latter seemed to be a lesser variant, the difference being it would only affect the wearer''s natural magic.


    The next page was what drew his interest: Category II: Nullifiers. Gadalik had never heard of those before. He read on, ''Nullifiers were created for witches whose powers lie beyond their control, especially children. A lesser variant simply caps the amount of magic able to be used at once; greater variants could prevent the use of magic entirely, and would later become tools to completely subdue or imprison witches.''


    Gadalik dismissed it after a moment, but kept a mental note for another time. He closed the book and then opened the first couple pages instead, skimming the glossary. Section III was labeled Magic Substitution. Category I was about spell tags, which was to be expected. Category II focused on enchanted items. A gold necklace with an onyx pendant framed by the crescent moon caught his attention; it felt familiar somehow, but its use was something he''d expect to come across: it was enchanted by a witch with the cooperation of a spook to give the wearer the basics of a spook''s natural powers, although it only included their sight and ghost sense. There were other accessories that could give the wearer a witch''s powers, too. Almost all of the enchanted items were compatible with each other, save for the ones that had opposite effects.


    The next section was called Enchantment. That sparked his interest; he flipped to the page and read over the basics of how witches could enchant an item with a spell to then let that spell be used by that item, much like spell tags. The items'' spells were single-use only, but more powerful witches could make them permanent. Curious, his gaze wandered down the text until it mentioned how a witch could gain more power, then tensed, feeling himself frown at the mention of blood pacts.


    That was one of the many reasons witches were hunted to extinction... or rather, went into hiding in remote places such as Karpritia. Blood pacts were more than simply borrowing power from the ones involved; they were a way to connect with someone regardless if they were another witch, a human, or a spook, and perhaps let the witch loan them power. But humans and even spooks began to fear that connection as a means for a witch to harm them. They eventually had associated pacts with bloodshed and violence. When the witches stood up for themselves, that just proved to humans that they were hostile and a threat, fueling the fear and leading up to witch hunts and massacres.


    He studied his hand, remembering both Janna''s reaction to his witch''s shield and Mira''s refusal to call him anything but a devil. This is my history, he realized, once again mentally grasping at the fragments of his identity, the shards too sharp to piece back together.


    "Who knows how much stronger you''ll get with time," Glacia''s words from earlier suddenly played in his head, snapping him back into reality. He gave it some thought. If witches can enchant things, and I''m half-witch, then...maybe I can enchant things too?


    He turned the pages until one showcased unique items enchanted by either naturally-powerful witches, or ones who have collaborated to enchant an item through blood pacts. His striped blue eyes lit up upon spotting Glacia''s time-warping pocket watch among them.


    Suddenly there was commotion outside. "You can''t do this to me!" Mira cried.


    "I was wrong to entrust children with this task," Vincent replied. "For what it''s worth, Mira, you and Gadalik did your best. You can go home now."


    "You--you--!" she couldn''t find an insult worse enough to call him. "I should have expected this. Why would I think this time would be different¡­?"


    "There will be plenty more chances in the future. You''ve your whole life ahead of you. Don''t risk it on jobs you''re not prepared for." Vincent opened the door and paused to see Gadalik on the couch. "Are you well?"


    The younger male nodded; he felt strong enough to stand on his own, at least.


    "Then you''d best be on your way. Glacia''s expecting you in her cabin. I''ll take care of the ghost tomorrow morning."


    Mira growled behind the man and stormed off.


    Gadalik set the book down and stood up, a bit wobbly, to comply.


    Vincent''s green eyes darted to the hardcovers. "You have potential, young man. Perhaps you could learn to enchant items, if that interests you."


    "You really think so?" the teen asked, his hopes being validated by that suggestion.


    "I mean... Anything''s possible."


    "...Would you mind if I borrowed the book to take notes? I''ll bring it back tomorrow."


    "Go for it."


    He brightened. That was one good thing that came from this whole ordeal. Gadalik collected the book and left for the cabin where his mother resided.


    He saw that Mira was seated by the lakeshore as he passed. She looked back at him just as he shut the door.


    The cabin had the same structure and furniture as Vincent''s.


    Glacia was eating a sandwich on the sofa. Upon seeing him, she brushed the crumbs from the cushion to the floor. "So," she swallowed, "how did everything go?"


    "Well we couldn''t get Anna out of the water. Vincent says he''ll do it instead," he said.


    "Good! Now you can relax for once." She hesitated. "So... did you learn more about your, uh, real mom?"


    "Hm? Oh--y-yeah," he stammered. "I mean, not about her specifically, but about witches in general."


    "I see." Glacia gave a slight nod, acting uncharacteristically meek.


    Gadalik sat beside her. "Are you alright¡­?"


    She shrugged.


    "Hey¡­ All of this talk about my blood-parents doesn''t change anything between us," he assured her. "You''re still my mother."


    "Yeah¡­ But... I feel like I don''t really know you like I should," she confessed.


    "What¡­? You know me better than anyone¡­!"


    "Tell that to Jenny and Benson."


    "Janna and Vincent," he corrected her. "And they don''t know me at all--they know my blood-parents, and about magic. That''s all."


    "But there''s a whole nine years of your life that I know nothing about. And... I don''t want to ask in case it would upset you. But everyone else can talk freely about it, because they knew you, and I... didn''t."


    "Glacia¡­ They didn''t know me; they knew of me. You''re the one who''s been there for me going on nine years now. If there''s something you want to know about my past, I''ll gladly tell you," he offered.


    "It''s not that simple," Glacia argued. "It''s not just one thing I want to know¡­ It''s everything. I want the whole story, from a parents'' point of view. All I really know is who you are now, after their deaths. How much different are you now, than you were before then¡­?"


    Gadalik sat back on the couch, giving it some thought. "When we first met, my parents were alive. Do you remember how I was before we rented your boat?"


    "You were... quiet. You hadn''t said a word the entire time you were there."


    "Right. I never really knew what to say, or when to say it. So I''d just watch and listen to everyone else."


    "Huh. That''s kind of how you are now, except you''re a bit more outspoken these days."


    "Well that''s because I had you as a role model," he chuckled, elbowing her playfully.


    "And just what is that supposed to mean, young man?" she huffed with mock-offense.


    Gadalik laughed, and when Glacia couldn''t keep a straight face, she joined in. Then he yawned and allowed himself to tip onto her shoulder.


    She stroked his head. They embraced the moment. "You would lean on me like this ever since you were a child," she murmured. "Did you do the same to Vilodia¡­?"


    "I used to," he answered, "but after a while she agreed with my dad that I should be more independent. When I''d get tired, she would carry me to my room instead. When I turned seven they would tell me to go to bed instead of carrying me. It was their way of trying to make me less reliant on them, but¡­ sometimes I didn''t do this out of exhaustion. Sometimes I was just sad, and wanted comfort. It kind of felt like they were rejecting me, if I''m honest."


    "But you''re such a sweet kid¡­ Why would they reject you?"


    "Dunno. Maybe because they were always expecting something great from me--always encouraging me to try things that I was either too scared or too clueless to succeed at." He shifted and pressed his forehead against her. "They kept saying ''it''s alright; you''ll get it next time!'' but... next time was just a repeat of the last. They never got mad at me, but I still... felt like I''d never live up to their standards."


    "Right now¡­ Is this for comfort, or exhaustion?"


    "...Both."


    She wrapped an arm around her son and held him close. "They would be proud of how far you''ve come since then."


    Would they really be¡­?


    "I am."


    "Yeah." He smiled. "I know."


    "Have you eaten yet?"


    Oh¡­ I forgot. Gadalik still didn''t have much of an appetite, though. "Vincent gave me food at his place," he replied honestly. "He also let me borrow this book." He sat up straight and pulled it from his pocket.


    "Enchanted Artifacts?" she read aloud. "What''s in it?"


    "Everything I could hope for," he replied. "Instructions on how to enchant, a guide on what''s enchanted... Oh--and look what''s in it!" He showed his mother the picture of her enchanted watch.


    Her eyes sparkled. "Well, I''ll be! Looks like there''s only three ever made. All by the same guy, too. He''s lo-ong dead."


    "Nobody but him knows how to make one, and he passed the ones he made to each of his three kids, who passed it onto their kids. The man who gave it to you said his late wife had it for generations. I wonder if any of his other descendants are alive today. It would be cool to learn something that even this book can''t tell us."


    "This is the only enchanted thing we own, isn''t it?" she said. "Would you like to hold onto it, to see what makes it...tick?"


    He acknowledged her joke with a laugh. "Can I really?"


    "Of course!"


    He let her drop it into his open palm and looked it over. "I don''t really know anything about enchantment, but this is a very good place to start learning. Thank you¡­!"


    "You have to return the book tomorrow, don''t you? I know how you can get about studying. I''ll let you stay up just this once."


    "Really? In that case, I''ll be in the bedroom studying, if you need me."


    "Good luck," she wished him. "But don''t stay up too late!"


    "No promises," he laughed.


    "Gadalik," she stretched his name into a half-playful warning.


    "Heh. Alright. How about three hours?"


    "Deal. But I''m starting the timer right now, so you''d better hurry!"


    The teen rushed toward the bedroom, but stopped in the doorway. "And, Glacia¡­ Mom, I... really do love you." He looked back at her. "As much as my blood-mother. I-I hope you know that."


    She seemed shocked at first. Actions always spoke louder than words, so the two had never outright said those particular words. "I love you too," she choked out, wiping her eyes. "The same as if you were my own."


    Gadalik nodded, and gave a slight smile. "I know."


    "Now off to bed with you! Time''s a-wastin''."


    Oh, right! Once in the room he tossed the hardcover onto the bed, unpacked his notebook, and copied some of the pages he hadn''t memorized.


    Mentions of how creatively spells could be used to enchant items with were what interested him the most. Using enchantments to enhance the use of existing items--like the watch and the compass--were common, but things with the opposite uses, like eyepatches improving your sight, made it hard to know what to expect. There were also spells that were illegal to enchant items with if those items were to be sold, such as elemental powers. Would I be able to do that, too?


    He spent the evening delving into details that may or may not come in handy later on, just in case.


    By the time night fell, he put the books on the nightstand and rested on his side. There''s so much to learn¡­ Vincent was right. I''m not ready for this--not yet. But I will be, eventually. For now I can help in other ways.


    Content, he drifted into a dreamless sleep.


    It couldn''t have been much later when a tapping at his window roused him. He dismissed it at first, but then it sounded again, stronger than before. Gadalik sat up and rubbed the bleariness from his eyes, only to jump when he saw the silhouette of a person.


    "Hurry, we need to do this before morning!" Mira''s voice was muffled through the glass.


    He slipped out of bed and lifted the pane. "What are you talking about?"


    "We''re going to take care of Anna. Tonight, before Vincent does. Let''s go."


    "W-wait! You saw what happened today. We''re no match for her. It''s better to leave it to Vincent--"


    She cut him off by slamming her hand on the window frame. "You said you wanted a second chance, right? Well, you''re not the only one. This is our chance--the last we''ll have to prove ourselves! Now come on."


    He retreated a step. "Of course I want another chance¡­ and I''ll have one--both of us will. Just...not this job."


    Mira seemed disappointed for a mere second before she narrowed her eyes with pure hatred. "For you. There will always be another chance for you!"


    "W-what do you mean?"


    She shook her head, and took a shaky breath. "What I mean is¡­ If you don''t help me with this, I''ll tell your mom what happened to you today."


    Gadalik froze. He couldn''t decide which was worse: drowning, or Glacia finding out about it.


    "I''ll give you ten minutes to get ready. Don''t keep me waiting."


    "I¡­ I''m not going," he spoke. "Maybe Glacia might overreact to what happened¡­ But she''s still my mother. She deserves to know; we''ll work it out like we always do."


    Mira stared at him with disbelief that quickly morphed into pure spite. "Fine. I''ll go alone."


    "What? Y-you can''t...!"


    "I can and I will." She headed toward the water.


    Gadalik, still in his pajamas, lifted himself leg-first through the window and gripped her by the elbow.


    "Let go of me!" she snarled.


    "I won''t let you go through what I did," he said, planting his heels in the sand to keep her from dragging him as she struggled to free herself. He maintained his hold. "You don''t know what you''re up against¡­!"


    "I can beat her!"


    "No, you can''t!"


    "Are you calling me weak?"


    "Wha--? No...! I''m saying the ghost is strong--stronger than both of us. Vincent was right--"


    "He was right about you failing, but not me," she said, turning to face him. "I''m going to prove myself, one way or another."


    "Prove yourself to... who, exactly? Vincent already sang your praises. I think you''re very capable, and so does Mr. Bellard, else he wouldn''t have given you this opportunity in the first place."


    She tore her arm away from the other spook''s hand despite his loosened hold. "That''s not what I meant¡­ it''s because I''ve gotten this opportunity that I need to prove myself able to succeed. This...is the first opportunity I''ve gotten."


    Gadalik couldn''t keep his gaze from drifting to her weapon, remembering how accurate her aim was. "You said before that you''ve been training since you were little¡­ If you had that early a start, why would you wait so long¡­?"


    "Wait? You think I''ve just been wallowing in self-pity all these years?!"


    "No¡­! I just don''t see what was stopping you--"


    "As if you don''t know," she spat. "It''s because of natural-magicked spooks like you and Vincent! You people never stop to consider how many others'' careers you ruin. You''re all...so...selfish!" Mira shoved him with all of her strength at that last word.


    Caught off-guard by his former comrade''s assault, she''d knocked him to the ground.


    After a beat to process what had just happened, Gadalik gathered his legs beneath him, but, upon seeing the sheer abhorrence in her eyes, he stayed down. "I don''t understand," Gadalik repeated himself. "Even with common magic and spell tags, there are plenty of jobs available," he encouraged her. "You just need to figure out which jobs are more suited for the magic you can use. I need to figure that out for myself, too. You''re not alone."


    "Don''t you get it? I can''t use magic!"


    He gaped at her. "But¡­ I-I mean¡­ Can''t you see the spirit? And sense its presence?"


    "No!"


    "Then... how¡­?"


    She growled and pulled the necklace out of her shirt, revealing an oval onyx stone framed by a silver crescent moon. Gadalik recognized that pendant from the book; particularly the pages on magic substitution. "You heard what Vincent said, about two halves either making a whole or canceling each other out¡­ Heh. You can guess which end I fell on."


    "I had no idea¡­"


    "For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a spook like my parents, so I dedicated myself to learning about enchanted items and other ways to qualify myself for the trade, but even still, the second my clients see a spook with natural magic, or recognize my pendant, I''m discredited before I even get a chance. Nobody wants to hire a fake." She slumped to a seat in the sand.


    Gadalik placed a hand on her shoulder to comfort her.


    She pulled away from the touch, glaring at him. "You guys have everything handed to you from the day you''re born," she accused him. "It isn''t fair."


    "It wasn''t like that¡­ Not for me. I still don''t even have mastery of the basics, like my ghost sense. It''s been a part of me for my whole life, and because I can see the dead as clearly as the living, I never made the connection between my sense and the ghost''s until my mentor pointed it out to me months ago. And even then I couldn''t use it to pinpoint where the ghost was, until a week ago," he laughed, trying to cheer her up even though he was being honest.


    She didn''t acknowledge him.


    He sighed. "I...like being a spook. I like being able to help spirits solve their unfinished business. But lately I''ve had to annihilate them instead, and...it''s been hard. And ever since my mentor taught me how to recognize my ghost sense, I can''t relax when a spirit''s nearby unless my staff''s with me. But...all of that is tolerable."


    "Then what''s the problem?"


    He looked down. "Other spooks would be blessed to have such heightened senses, or the ability to use tagless magic--with or without a witch''s spells. But... to me, they feel more like... a curse."


    She stared at him incredulously.


    "I never had a choice in what I was born with, but since I do have these powers, they''ll be wasted on me if I choose not to use them. If¡­"--he breathed--"If I could just give my natural abilities to someone who actually wants them, and who can use them to their full potential, then...trust me: I would."


    Mira was silent for a moment. Then she sniffled, and let out a huff of laughter. "You''re an idiot."


    "Huh¡­?"


    She stood up and stared down at him. "Either fully commit, or simply quit. You can''t do anything in life if your heart''s not in it. Yeah, I''d kill to have your powers¡­ But, wasted on you or not, they''re still yours. You don''t owe them to anyone else, either--not the dead, nor the living. If you don''t want to use them, you don''t have to. Try to find some nullifiers."


    Gadalik flinched when her hand moved toward him¡­ only to realize she was offering to help him up. He hesitated, then accepted, and the two of them cast their gaze over the ghost''s domain. Do I want to¡­?


    "I''m not going to give up," she continued. "I''ll show everyone I''m just as good as you guys. Better, even!"


    "You don''t have to risk your life on this ghost in order to prove that," he pointed out.


    "...So what do you propose I do?"


    "Start small. Take some jobs that don''t pay well--there''s less competition, and that way the clients who get overlooked by other spooks will get the help they need."


    "I''m worth more than that¡­!"


    "You are," he agreed. "But if you''re currently struggling to find work, taking on a smaller job is better than having none at all. And not everyone who''s haunted can afford to hire spooks with natural magic. Looking out for the minority is a great way to gain a reputation. Your true worth will be recognized in no time."


    "Is that how you started¡­?"


    "Well¡­ That''s where I still am," he admitted. "And even now, most of the time clients only choose me because they knew how great my parents were. And I''m...nowhere near their level. I doubt I ever will be. And after tonight, I''m not even sure if I want to be..."


    "Geez," she groaned. "You have serious self-worth issues. Stop putting yourself down all the time and figure out what you actually want--then just go for it."


    "...Is that how you started?"


    "That''s right. Although¡­ it''s funny how we both ended in the same place."


    "Y-yeah." He looked back to Glacia''s cabin, then dusted the sand from his pajamas. "Morning will come soon. I''m going to try to sleep for the remainder of the night."


    "...Wait," she called to him as he was walking away. "Dev--I mean¡­ Gadalik¡­?"


    "Hm?" He paused. That was first time she had referred to him by name.


    Mira seemed surprised he acknowledged her. The girl''s face reddened slightly as she held something out to him. "H-here."


    He inspected it. "It''s...your business card?"


    "If you find more work, let me know," the younger spook quickly explained. She briskly left for her cabin before he had time to respond.


    Having stayed up so late, Gadalik didn''t awaken until nearly noon. He panicked when he realized how late it was; the teen rushed out of bed and into the living area. Glacia wasn''t there. Looking through the window, he saw her talking to Vincent outside. He couldn''t hear a word they were saying, and the worst-case scenario filled in the blanks. He''s telling her what happened yesterday, isn''t he¡­ He groaned out loud.  This is just great. The ghost may not have killed me, but Glacia certainly will.


    That''s when he noticed something was different. The ghost--I can''t sense her anymore¡­! Did Vincent already¡­?


    Glacia gestured to her cabin and did a double take when she spotted her son. "Gadalik? Come here."


    He gulped but reluctantly obeyed. This is it. I''m dead.


    "Vincent was just leaving. I hope you don''t mind I returned his book; by those bags under your eyes, I''m guessing you stayed up all night studying it," she tsked.


    No¡­ Mira kept me up. He stayed silent, not wanting to drag the girl into his problems again.


    "Aren''t you going to say goodbye?"


    So he didn''t tell her¡­? Then... I should. "Goodbye, Vincent. Thank you for letting me borrow your book, and... thank you for saving my life."


    Vincent shrugged. "All in a day''s work. Maybe we''ll run into each other again someday."


    "I''ll look forward to it."


    The green-eyed man headed off.


    "Saving your life?" Glacia repeated, confused.


    "Yesterday, I overestimated my magic and messed up fighting Anna underwater. Vincent and Mira had to rescue me. I wouldn''t be standing here if it weren''t for them. And... that''s why Vincent took over."


    She stared at him in shock, covering her mouth. "Are you alright?"


    "Y-yeah! I''m fine. I just...thought you should know."


    His mother was silent as this sank in.


    This is usually when she''ll freak out and forbid me from spooks'' work for the rest of my life...


    "I''m grateful you told me," she finally spoke. "Nobody else did."


    "I asked them not to," he confessed.


    "...What? Why?"


    "I didn''t want to worry you¡­"


    "Well of course I worry!" she cried. "I don''t want to find you dead out there!"


    "I-I''m sorry¡­ I''ll take whatever punishment you give me."


    "Punishment? For what?"


    "You''re not... upset?"


    "Why should I be? We all knew it was dangerous, and Vincent did his part by looking out for you in the end." She hugged him. "I''m just glad you''re okay."

 Episode 10: A Normal Life

    Gadalik lay on his back, his striped blue eyes unblinking at the ceiling through the particles of dust slow-dancing within the sun-casted spotlight shining over him from the window above his headboard. Random scenes played in his mind, some memories and others imagined, neither staying long enough for him to recognize what they were; only the feelings attached to each one remained. There was a dull ache in his gut that he was starting to grow used to.


    Despite the hours he''d waited for morning, now that it had come, the teen still couldn''t bring himself out of bed. The longer he stayed put, the less he was willing to part with this small comfort before the day''s inevitable start. His adoptive mother Glacia wouldn''t wake for a while, at least.


    Every little thing seemed louder in the silence. That''s why Gadalik jumped at the sound of a door''s handle turning, followed by the creaking of its opening from downstairs.


    Silently, the boy slid off the mattress and retrieved his spook''s staff from its place on the adjacent wall. Then he stealthily moved toward the staircase; the speared point of his weapon and its three surrounding claws glinted as he held it at his waist, aimed straight ahead. Below, he heard a man''s faint groan, and was relieved when he recognized the voice as his practical-father''s. "Gale?"


    "Huh? Yeah¡­ it''s me," the bounty hunter confirmed. "Did I wake you¡­?"


    "N-No," Gadalik answered, leaving his staff at the base of the stairs to join the other male in the living room. Gale had plopped himself on the couch, one hand clutching his left side, the other dangling over the armrest; the spare key to their home that Glacia had given him was on the floor as if he''d dropped it and didn''t have the energy to pick it up. "Are you okay?"


    "He got me good," the bounty hunter laughed, voiceless. "Think I need stitches¡­"


    Gadalik swallowed with nervousness and went to fetch the first aid kit from the bathroom, returning to find his father slumped over with shallow breathing. The teen gently removed the man¡¯s hand from the injury, followed by his maroon leather vest, and the white tank top, to reveal that his dark scarred skin, spotted with fresh bruises, was wrapped around his flank¡­ and blood was seeping through.


    When he cut through the wraps, he saw a deep gash that, despite having been cleaned before bandaged, was still open. The spook wiped it off, took a breath, and sutured it. Afterward he taped gauze pads over the stitches.


    Gadalik threw away the old bloody bandages, then brought the vest and shirt--as well as his father''s blue-violet scarf he hadn''t needed to undress, just for good measure--to the hamper in the bathroom as he returned the first aid kit. He dragged the basket to the washing machine in the adjoining room and started the laundry. While there he took down a clean blanket folded on a shelf across from the machine, bringing it with him back to the living room to cover his father, then observed him until the man''s breathing was normal.


    This wasn''t the first time he''d had to dress the bounty-hunter''s wounds; at first, it was a relatively minor cut that Gale had instructed him through with Glacia''s permission as a learning experience. However rare the cases, though, recently they''d been more severe, as if he refused to stop by for it unless he had no other option.


    Glacia wasn''t going to take this well--she never did--so Gadalik could at least soften the blow for his mother by making breakfast as a distraction for when they woke. He brought out the bread and syrup from the counter and some eggs and milk from the fridge, then sifted through the cupboards for a container of cinnamon that wasn''t old and clumpy or carelessly left open from his mother''s rare attempts at cooking. Once he found a shaker that was still sealed shut, he threw the others out, then put everything together.


    As the French toast was cooking, he returned to the living room and again spotted the spare key on the floor. He picked it up with the intent to slip it back into his father''s pocket¨Cbut something was already in it, blocking the way. Unable to access Gale¡¯s other side since he was leaning against the armrest, Gadalik fished the object out; he''d replace it over the key so both would fit.


    The teen''s striped blue eyes widened when he recognized the item from the Enchanted Artifacts book he''d read a few days prior: a circular pendant with a stylized sun engraved on it, attached to a silver-chain necklace. This is a nullifier¡­! A stronger variant, too¡­ Gadalik was both tempted, and scared, to try it on. Where did he get this?


    He didn''t have time to wonder as he had to keep the french toast from burning. After sliding them from the pans to the plates, he shut off the stove off to study the necklace. Nullifiers this strong outright prevent the wearer from using magic¡­ At least until it''s taken off.


    Ever since his unintentional overuse of magic at the lake caused him to drown, Gadalik had planned to seek out a nullifier to prevent such a situation from reoccurring. He stared indecisively at the pendant. On one hand, a lesser variant would let the spook carry on his career without risking harming himself. With this variant, however, he could live a normal life outside of his work--free from the responsibilities his powers had placed upon him since birth¡­ Free to decide his own future.


    Gadalik nervously glanced toward the living room. His parents were still asleep, and asking permission to use it would mean waking his father, which he didn''t want to do.  I can always take it off, he reminded himself, so trying it on won''t hurt anyone¡­


    Without a second thought, Gadalik went upstairs to his bedroom and stood in front of the mirror on his closet door, using it to see the ends of of the chain as he put it around his neck. Then the green-haired boy hesitated, on the brink of changing his mind.


    ''...Figure out what you actually want--then just go for it!'' Mira¡¯s words echoed in his mind from their talk at the lake.


    He breathed deep, and finally clasped the necklace.


    Immediately, the pendant was drawn to the center of his chest like a magnet. He could feel his own energy gradually gathering there, leaving his extremities contrastingly hollow. The sensation grew stronger until he felt like his body was being torn inside out--by which time he panicked and struggled to lift the pendant off of him.


    It wouldn''t budge.


    Weaker and more terrified by the second, he fumbled desperately with the tiny clasp, when his vision faded and lightheadedness overcame him. He blacked out.


    "Are you sure about this, Trent¡­? Our son is only six years old¡­" A woman with light green hair and sky-blue eyes was seated on the bed, looking down with uncertainty at something in her hands.


    Gadalik, overhearing his mother while passing through, stopped to peer into his parents'' room from behind their partially-opened door.


    "That''s why he needs it, Vilodia," the black-haired man answered. "I can tell he has more power than both of us. Activating the spells without tags is no easy feat, especially after a seal. Giving it to him at his age will help him learn to control that power."


    "But he''s already struggling to control his power as it is¡­ Having to adjust to this at the same time will make it more confusing. I think we should wait until he''s older."


    Trent''s sapphire eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Alright. We''ll wait until his tenth birthday. By then he can decide for himself whether or not to use it."


    "...He''s waking up," Glacia''s voice faded in from beside him. "Gadalik? Gadalik!"


    Her adoptive son opened his eyes, but everything was still dark. He propped himself up on the mattress with one hand and rubbed his eyes with the other.


    "Are you alright?" Gale''s calm but concerned voice came from the other side of his bed. "Glacia found you on the floor¡­"


    Gadalik looked toward the sound. All of the colors around him were dull; everything blended into each other. "I-I can''t see anything¡­"


    "What?" his mother cried.


    He reached for the pendant and was relieved to be able to detach it from his chest, but lifting it didn''t improve his sight. "It''s all dark," he repeated a bit more frantically. "I put on the nullifier Gale had and it--it''s supposed to suppress my magic¡­"


    Glacia''s red irises bore into his. "Your eyes don''t look any different," she reported. "Gale?"


    "It is a nullifier," her boyfriend confirmed. "I sought it out for him after your letter said he was looking for one. I figured he''d know how to use it¡­ I have the instructions, but they don''t mention anything about blindness¡­!"


    Despite the sunlight usually being enough to see in the room, the purple-haired woman moved to the switch by the door and flipped it on.


    Gadalik winced from the sudden brightness. When his eyes adjusted, things were clearer albeit still rather monochromatic. The realization struck him. "Is¡­ Is this how you see?" he asked his magic-less father.


    Gale and Glacia exchanged an uncertain glance.


    Their son got out of bed. Vision aside, he felt...lighter, as though a thickness in the air had been lifted. "It''s--gone," he said quietly. "This is¡­ great¡­!"


    "What is?" his mother asked.


    "Come on; let''s go somewhere--anywhere! Let''s go to a graveyard!"


    "A¡­ graveyard?" Gale echoed, raising his pierced eyebrow.


    "Are you sure you''re alright?" she added.


    "I''ve never been better," the teen laughed. "My ghost sense is gone!"


    "Wait--are you saying my house was haunted all this time?!"


    "Not necessarily; I could feel them within a quarter mile, mostly just passing through--faint, but there nonetheless--and I had no idea how much they impacted me until now that I can''t sense them anymore," he explained. "Oh, and I started breakfast earlier! But I''m not sure how long it''s been sitting on the table¡­ A-And the laundry!" He raced downstairs. They started after him.


    "Gadalik--you were out for at least an hour and a half," the mohawked man informed him.


    The teen froze. "Really¡­?"


    "You should have waited for me, or your mother; that whole process was risky to go through alone. Look at this"--he took out a folded sheet of paper from the pocket Gadalik had failed to reach earlier, handing it to his son¨C"at the bottom. It says to remove the necklace if the nullification process doesn''t succeed after two hours, because suppressing too much magic could break the pendant. And if it breaks before the process is completed, you might never be able to use magic again."


    "I''m sorry¡­"


    "You''d better be sorry, young man," his mother chided. "The first thing you should have done when Gale got here was wake me up! But do you know what I woke up to instead? My boyfriend half-dead, and my son practically dying," Glacia huffed. "Now, I''m glad you''re both feeling better, but breakfast and laundry are the last things on my mind right now."


    Gadalik looked away guiltily.


    "It''s alright. I took care of the laundry once you had calmed down enough," Gale told him. Leaning in closer as if to keep his girlfriend from hearing, he added, "And the french toast was delicious."


    "Gale!" she scolded him. "How could you eat while our only son was suffering?!"


    "Hey, now; I knew he''d be okay. You were watching him at that time, after all."


    The woman seemed flattered by that, but she was still in her ''mother-knows-best'' mode.


    Gadalik looked over the page. It stated that after the nullification process to sync to the wearer''s magic, the synchronization will last until there''s a new wearer. So I can take this off and put it back on without blacking out again, he understood with a slight laugh, then looked down at how to remove it.


    If the wearer wished to regain use of their magic, warnings advised that the necklace be removed in a specific way: by first placing the pendant on the center of their chest, and second by attempting to channel magic into it. This will trigger the restoration process, which may take up to ten minutes. Do not remove the chain or pendant until the process is completed; doing so may cause a surge when their magic returns. Surges could result in an expulsion of magic that may be deadly to those in the vicinity and potentially incapacitate the wearer. "A surge?" Gadalik read aloud.


    His parents stopped their banter to listen to him.


    "I think that''s what happened to me at the lake... I''ll have to look into that. But, no, it doesn''t seem like the necklace could hurt me--at least not if I remove it correctly." If I ever decide to remove it. "Honestly, I feel great."


    "Well, that makes one of us," Glacia remarked.


    "Two," her boyfriend corrected her.


    "Not when I''m done with you, mister. You think it''s okay to come waltzing in here bleeding to death?"


    "...Would you rather I bleed to death outside?"


    "No, I''d rather you not bleed to death in the first place!"


    "Me too."


    "Ugh, you''re impossible," Glacia said, laughing lightly in surrender.


    "Eh. I knew Gadalik could patch me up. Right, bud?"


    "Of course," his son answered. He was still trying to adjust to having duller sight. Curiously, he picked up his staff, expecting the familiar edge to his vision which would allow him to differentiate between the dead and the living, but nothing happened. How much of my everyday life is tied to my magic...?  He rubbed his eyes again in a last vain attempt to see better.


    "Do your eyes hurt?" Glacia fretted.


    "No¡­ Everything just looks like I''m wearing brown-tinted sunglasses. I-I''m sure I''ll get used to it, though." It''s a fair trade off, I suppose¡­ His thoughts were interrupted by a growl from his stomach.


    "Want me to make us all something to eat together?" Glacia offered.


    "N-no!" both of them urgently declined at once.


    "I mean¡­ I''m the one who ate the first time around. So let me make up for that by cooking more for you two," Gale reasoned.


    Nice save, Gadalik silently congratulated his father.


    "Alright, if you insist," she agreed.


    Gale turned to open the fridge, then winced as he''d twisted slightly too fast and clutched his bandaged side from the motion. He was still for a second before he sighed and resumed giving them drinks as if nothing had happened.


    "How did you get hurt this time, anyway?" she inquired. "Have some sort of epic battle to share?"


    "If you mean a battle of wit, then sure." He placed peppers and onions on a cutting board and twirled a knife he''d grabbed from the dish drainer. "Long story short, I goofed off too long haggling a thief down on stolen goods--just for kicks, of course; I''d arrest him instead of paying." He chuckled, adding, "I got him down a hundred bucks before he recognized me--caught me off-guard with a knife and fled. He didn''t get far, though."


    Glacia spat out her drink, laughing. "Why am I not surprised?"


    "Stolen goods¡­ You mean the nullifier?" Gadalik asked.


    "Yeah, that was one of them," his father answered. "I turned him in with the rest of the items and I requested to keep the nullifier as payment; Glacia mentioned you were looking for one, in her latest letter."


    "There isn''t much worth in a nullifier these days¡­ People having magic itself is rare, let alone enough of it to need suppressing. Why would anyone buy it?"


    "He was saying something along the lines of how only the strongest witches would wear them in the past, making it out to be some kind of symbol of power."


    I never thought about it that way¡­


    "Anyway, I underestimated how bad I was injured; wrapping it wouldn''t stop the bleeding. I made it here in time for Gadalik to stitch it together, at least." He paused, then faced his son. "Thank you for that, by the way. You did great."


    "Well¡­ I did learn from the best," Gadalik replied rather bashfully.


    Gale placed the plates of his famous omelets on the table, affectionately fluffing up the teen''s striped green bangs with a proud head-pat as he passed. Glacia smiled warmly at the two.


    Gadalik felt completely at ease for the first time in forever. Not just from the lack of his ghost sense, but also from the comfort his father''s presence always brought. Sometimes he wished Gale would move in with them, but the blue-violet-haired man had stated before that he felt it his duty to clear the streets of criminals. I''m the same way about ghosts, he thought. Then his gaze drifted to the nullifier. At least, I used to be...


    "Something wrong?" Gale asked.


    His son snapped out of it and shook his head. "No. I was just thinking that I''m very grateful you went through the trouble of getting this for me. Thank you."


    "Hey, when it comes to you guys, I''d go to the moon and back." He gave them a reassuring smile.


    "Well, Mr. Spaceman, you''d better keep a first aid kit with you from now on," Glacia chided.


    "Roger that."


    "Mom has enough first aid kits to build a staircase to the moon for you," Gadalik joked.


    Gale laughed, but Glacia tensed.


    The teen tilted his head slightly with confusion at her reaction. "I was kidding... But you do have a lot."


    She blinked, then let out a breath of relief. "You meant me?"


    "Who else?"


    His adoptive parents both looked at him expectantly. Gale purposely cleared his throat.


    "Oh¡­ Should we stay on the first name basis¡­?"


    "I don''t mind either way," the bounty hunter replied.


    Glacia picked at her plate. "I mean¡­ I don''t mind it, either, but¡­with all of this talk of your birth parents recently, it can be a little confusing."


    Oh yeah¡­ Speaking of my birth parents, I dreamed about them, Gadalik remembered. But now probably isn''t the best time to bring it up.


    Gale looked between them. "Did I miss something?"


    "The spook who revived me at the lake knew my biological mother," the younger male explained. "And since my magic has been coming in so unexpectedly, my heritage has been the topic of discussion as of late."


    "I see¡­ That''s why you wanted the nullifier, then?"


    "Yeah. I''m¡­ still on the fence about what I want to do in the future. But as of right now, my powers are too unpredictable to be used safely; I''m not even sure what caused the surge at the lake. If something like that happens again, who knows what damage I could cause--to others and myself."


    "It can''t be worse than drowning," Glacia muttered.


    "Well, I''d say death would be a bit worse," her boyfriend stated.


    "That''s what I said."


    "Uh..." Confused, he turned to his son, who was very much alive.


    Gadalik shrunk into his chair. "Clinically, I was dead¡­ I-If only for a short time¡­"


    "What?"


    "She didn''t tell you¡­?"


    "She told me you''d drowned, but nobody said anything about dying¡­!" he exclaimed. "Gadalik, are you okay?"


    "I-I''m fine," his son stammered meekly. "I''m still breathing."


    Gale shook his head. "I can see that¡­ But how are you feeling?"


    He tilted his head slightly. "I told you both I feel amazing; my ghost sense isn''t weighing on me--"


    "Not physically¡­! I mean¡­ that must have been terrifying¡­! And to know you actually died--"


    "I''m alright," the teen reassured him. "I mean¡­ Not much could''ve been done to prevent it at the time, s-so why dwell on it?"


    Gale stared at him incredulously. Then his widened red- and blue-violet eyes shifted to his girlfriend.


    "Trust me, I already went through the five stages of grief after I found out he died instead of just drowning, too," she said for the record. "That''s why I trusted you to find a nullifier for him."


    Gale sat back and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. Then he laughed somewhat hysterically. "You¡­ You''re a champ, bud," he told his son, who shied away from the praise.


    "He really is. And so are you, Gale--for always coming through for us," she said wholeheartedly. "All of his powers suddenly manifesting at once, though¡­ I wonder if there''s a reason for it."


    "Hm¡­ Gadalik will be eighteen in December," he pointed out. "That''s barely two months from now. Maybe his age has something to do with it?"


    Is my birthday really that close? Wait¡­ My tenth birthday¡­ That present¡­! It still didn''t feel like a good time to mention it.


    "Aww¡­! Our baby''s growing up," she gushed.


    "Maybe a bit too fast," the man concurred. "He''s matured so much over these last five years. I can''t believe he''s the same person as the twelve-year-old boy who was too nervous to say ''hello'' to me."


    "Ha, I can''t fault him for that. You looked like a zombie getting thanked outside the police station: covered in blood and bruises," she reminisced. Playfully, she added, "Not quite so different than you look right now, actually."


    "And you fell for me anyway," he retorted. They both laughed.


    Gadalik finished eating and went to wash his plate.


    "Do you still want to go to a graveyard?" Gale asked him.


    "Hm? Oh--no," he chuckled. "That was an inside joke between me and Gretel. But¡­ I think there is a place I''d want to go. And you both should come with me."


    "What''s our destination?"


    "My old house."


    His father seemed interested, while Glacia grew antsy.


    "Have you been there before?" the man asked his girlfriend.


    "Well...no," she answered. "I offered to take Gadalik there first thing after his parents died, but he was adamant about leaving everything behind."


    "I see. Why the change of heart, son?"


    "I just remembered what my birth-parents had said eleven years ago," the teen recalled. "They meant to give me something on my tenth birthday, but they had died a year before then. Whatever it is must still be there."


    His adoptive-mother was fidgeting nervously. "Are you sure you want to go back after all these years¡­? Who''s to say someone hasn''t robbed the place?"


    "That''s impossible. With so many wards and barriers placed around it, nobody but my father¡¯s relatives--and whoever they let through with them--can even get close to that house."


    "Do you think they''ve held up after a decade?"


    "They have for generations, so I don''t see why not."


    "W-Well¡­ Are you ready to go back there?"


    "Sounds to me like you''re the one who isn''t ready, Glacia," Gale commented.


    "What? Of course I''m ready! Why, do you think I''m scared he won''t want to leave his old house once he gets there? Because I''m not!"


    "Huh?" Gadalik tilted his head, confused. "I''m only going to pick something up. I have an idea of where it might be, so we''ll just grab it and go."


    "But¡­ I-I mean¡­ You don''t know what kinds of memories will be triggered when you''re in there. I don''t think any of us can predict what they''ll lead you to choose¡­! I-I just¡­ I don''t want to lose you¡­"


    "We don''t have to go so soon," he said, kneeling on the floor so his head was level with hers since she was seated. "I''m perfectly happy with the nullifier Gale brought me. We can wait until you''re more prepared to get whatever my parents left."


    "N-No, don''t let me hold you down," she sighed. "Just¡­ promise me you''ll come back¡­?"


    He pressed his forehead against hers. "I promise."


    They made it to his hometown by late afternoon. It was rustic, and the only thing that seemed to have changed over the years were the residents'' ages.


    "I didn''t expect you to live in an old town like this," Glacia commented.


    "Well... technically I didn''t live in town. My ancestors built our home roughly half a mile from it. But since we''re here, we might as well get some food and travel supplies," Gadalik offered.


    "I''m game," his father said.


    Although still getting used to his worsened sight, Gadalik felt energized. He couldn''t slow from walking at a brisk pace, only stopping once he realized his adoptive parents were lagging behind. Eager to keep moving, he went back for them, just to repeat the pattern.


    "I''ve never seen him like this before," Glacia remarked.


    "Without a care in the world," Gale agreed.


    "Hey, Gadalik! Is that really you?" an older man shouted to them. "It had to have been eight years since we''ve seen you around! Where have you been all this time?"


    Gadalik squinted, rubbed his eyes instinctively, then remembered he was wearing a nullifier. "Reginald?"


    "Ah, so you haven''t completely forgotten about us!"


    "I''m sorry for disappearing¡­ M-My parents¡­"


    "We heard¡­ We thought perhaps you died with them, until we saw your ads in the paper over the years. Decided to follow in your folks'' footsteps, after all?"


    Gadalik''s hand moved over the pendant around his neck. "I did. Taking a short break from it right now, though."


    "I think someone was looking for you earlier," Reginald mentioned. "An older woman. Said she was looking for a spook who could use tagless magic¨Cand you''re the only spook from these parts that''s still alive.¡±


    "What did she look like?"


    "Tall¡­ thin¡­ black hair." The elderly man rubbed his chin. "My eyes aren''t as good as they once were. That''s all I could make out."


    "Could it be Jenny?" Glacia wondered.


    "Janna," her son corrected his mentor''s name. "And while the description matches, I doubt it''s her; she wouldn''t know we''d be here."


    "Perhaps it''s someone looking for anybody who can use tagless magic¡­ A potential client?"


    Gadalik swallowed uncomfortably, clutching his pendant tighter.


    His father noticed. "You don''t have to save everyone," he spoke softly.


    The teen nodded, though still stared at the ground. That''s when he spotted a shadow of something suddenly passing overhead: a vulture. It made a U-turn and disappeared above the trees and buildings.


    I don''t remember seeing vultures in the area¡­ Peculiar.


    "So who are these two with you?" Reginald asked.


    "They''ve taken care of me since my parents died," Gadalik explained.


    "I''m Glacia, and this is my boyfriend Gale," she introduced them.


    "Is that so? Well, thank you both, then, for keeping this young one safe. I''m glad to see your face after all this time, Gadalik. Come visit more often, will you?" the old man said.


    "Will do," the teen promised.


    Similar interactions happened around every street bend. Surprisingly, he remembered nearly everybody''s names. He was starting to feel like a child again, listening to his neighbors tell stories of their youth, even if he''d heard them countless times before.


    "Young Gadalik used to play chess with me every Saturday. He never lost a game! Made me feel like a fool, he did," an elderly woman chuckled after striking up a conversation with his parents.


    "You mean¡­ you weren''t letting me win?" he gasped.


    "No! Was I that easy to beat?"


    "W-Well¡­"


    Glacia and Gale laughed.


    When they went into a cafe, the burley middle-aged man behind the counter immediately recognized him, barking out, ¡°You?! You''ve got a lot of nerve coming back here, you little troublemaker!"


    Gadalik froze.


    "Who''s this?" Gale asked.


    "That''s¡­ Henry¡­" his son answered sheepishly.


    "Gadalik? A troublemaker?" Glacia seemed more curious than anything. She walked up the man. "What did he do?"


    "Where do I even start?" Henry groaned.


    "From the beginning," she said, sitting across from him on a stool. "I want every single detail!"


    "Well, in that case¡­ His parents would often go on spooks'' jobs without him as a kid. They entrusted me to keep an eye on him while they were gone. Well, I run a business, and so figured I''d use that opportunity to teach the kid some responsibility, see? I started him washing dishes in the back...and let me tell you, he broke one every single time."


    Gadalik tugged on his father''s vest. "Let''s get out of here¡­!"


    "Hang on, bud. I want to see where this is going," Gale teased him.


    "And so I figured, maybe he''d do better writing customer''s orders down, and bringing it to them instead," Henry continued. "Well, did you know the kid''s face-blind?"


    "You are?" Glacia asked her son, genuinely shocked.


    "Partially," Gadalik said defensively. "If it''s someone I''ve been around often enough, I can recognize their face! I''m just bad with strangers''¡­"


    "I can''t tell you how many times he''s delivered the right order to the wrong person. I even started numbering the tables for him, but when a couple moved tables after ordering, he nearly broke down trying to locate them."


    "My poor baby," Glacia cried.


    "Poor him? Poor us! Do you know how much he cost us in damages? I didn''t even mention how many times he''s managed to knock their glasses off of customers'' tables when he gave them their plates!"


    ¡°Glacia?¡± Gadalik called after a few more minutes of embarrassing tales. ¡°We should really get going¡­¡±


    ¡°Hm? Oh, go ahead. I''ll catch up,¡± she assured him.


    "Gale¡­!" Gadalik pleaded.


    "Alright," his father gave in, letting the former employee drag him outside. "Where to now?"


    "Let''s just get to my old house so we can leave this town forever¡­"


    "And Glacia? You know her sense of direction is bad¡­"


    "She''ll probably still be there by the time we get back."


    "True. Lead the way."


    Wanting to avoid being humiliated by anyone else, Gadalik took the back alleyway. It stretched farther than the main road, with a couple of bends, but the spook decided it was worth being out of sight.


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    A shadow once again passed over them; it was that same vulture from earlier. Gadalik was somewhat captivated by it, watching as the bird landed a short distance in front of them.


    "So¡­ you''re the witch I''ve heard so much about?" an unfamiliar voice sounded from behind them.


    The duo both turned to see a svelte woman with pale skin and black hair garbed in a robe of the same color. She gave the boy an unimpressed once-over, then glanced skeptically at the vulture.


    Gale looked expectantly at his son, who shrugged, not knowing who she was. "Who''s asking?" the man answered.


    "Oh, pardon me. My name is Luna," she said. "I''m also a witch, and that vulture is my familiar. There''s a task I''m not powerful enough to complete on my own, so he led me to someone who can help. He''s never been wrong before."


    "I¡­ wouldn''t call myself a witch. I-I''m a spook," Gadalik stammered.


    "Off-duty," his father added, standing protectively at the teen''s side with a hand propped on the hilt of his sword.


    "Ah, yes, I noticed the nullifier around his neck," she informed them. "Mind if I take a look?"


    Gadalik hesitantly held it by the clasp near the pendant.


    Luna approached him, her gaze shifting from the nullifier to meet his; her eyes almost seemed to look into his core.


    Gale forthwith stepped between them, sword drawn. "What exactly do you need help with?"


    She stopped and glared at the bounty hunter. "None of your business. Stand aside and let us witches talk."


    Gale didn''t budge.


    "...Fine. We''ll handle this the hard way." She turned around and rose her hand slightly as she began walking away.


    Suddenly talons clutched Gadalik''s shoulders from behind. Gale, who had been focused entirely on Luna, spun around a moment too late; the bird pulled the teen straight past him and to the woman, and during the time it took Gale to catch up to them, she gave a swift chop to Gadalik''s neck, causing the kid to collapse as it dropped him into her grasp. She grabbed the nullifier by its chain; Gadalik gripped it to lessen the tightness around his neck as she twisted it.


    "Make one move, and I''ll kill him," Luna said, threatening to strangle her hostage.


    Gale froze, sweat trickling down his temple.


    "Such a lovely little nullifier," she commented, her slender form contorting to loom over the boy. "I wonder just how powerful you are to need such a thing?"


    Gadalik''s voice failed him. He looked pleadingly at his father, who could only watch lest he risk his son''s life.


    "You''re a Karpritian child, aren''t you," she noticed. "Well, half Karpritian, anyway. But your spook¡¯s half is almost as impressive. Your blood could be used for many enchantments; if I don''t end up killing you, I could make a killing off of you. Either way, I have nothing to lose. So," she turned to Gale, "which would you prefer?"


    "Let him go¡­" the bounty hunter breathed, his sword held low but still at the ready. "Now."


    She didn''t seem fazed; rather, amused. "You speak as though you''re in a position to be bargained with. Let me make things clear: if you don''t walk away right now, well¡­" She twisted the necklace more.


    ¡°W-Wait,¡± Gadalik managed to say. The book he read at the lake was still fresh in his mind as he recalled what it said about blood pacts. ¡°If I make a pact with you¡­ will you let me go¡­?¡±


    Luna seemed shocked by the offer. ¡°Something tells me you have no idea how blood pacts work. If they¡¯re agreed to under duress, they won''t work.¡±


    ¡°I''ll¡­ volunteer it¡­ willingly¡­ if you let me go,¡± he tried again.


    She laughed. ¡°As if I''m stupid enough to fall for that.¡± She brought her attention to Gale once more. ¡°The clock is ticking. Your move.¡±


    The swordsman was clearly torn, weighing the risk to his son if he fought back.


    "Run¡­" Gadalik choked.


    "I''m not leaving you," his father argued. "I''ll figure something out¡­!"


    "Please," he begged, on the verge of passing out. His eyes darted to the hand he still had on the necklace.


    Gale looked between them, then reluctantly backed up a few steps.


    "K-Keep going¡­!" I don''t know how far this will reach¡­ he thought, remembering how his encounter with the lake-ghost ended. I can''t risk him getting hurt. "As far--as you can¡­!"


    The bounty hunter searched for a way around this; he could either chance fighting the woman who could easily take his son''s life, or he could abandon his kid. Both options were bad, but death was the worst of the two.


    "I''ll be--okay¡­" Gadalik promised.


    Gale hesitated a moment longer, his red- and blue-violet eyes trying to get a read on his intentions. Finally he released a breath, standing straighter and sheathing his sword.


    His son nodded approvingly.


    "You heard the boy. Run away so he can live," Luna instructed.


    The man turned his back to them, looking over his shoulder. "This isn''t over," he warned her.


    She laughed as he reluctantly walked off, rounding the nearest building out of sight. "Usually they put up a fight even when they know it''s futile. How sad it must be to know he cares so little about you," she said with mock-pity, slackening the necklace enough to let the teen speak freely.


    "You''re wrong¡­" Gadalik panted. "He cares enough to trust me¡­!" With that, he unclasped the nullifier; his vision brightened and sharpened as he quickly regained his powers.


    ...Far too quickly for his body to adjust to all at once.


    "Are you insane?" she cried, leaping back. "You''ll harm us both!"


    ¡­Just as he had planned.


    Gadalik launched himself after her with unnaturally-boosted speed, taking her arms in each hand. Then he braced himself, feeling as though ready to explode.


    Raw, directionless magic sparked from his fingertips. All at once, everything released in a bright blue explosion. He heard a scream, and his arms completely lost feeling just as they had at the lake.


    By the time the light faded, Luna was nowhere to be seen. He couldn''t think of what happened to her; exhaustion and numbness were replacing everything he''d expelled, and he hit the ground before he realized he''d been falling.


    Gadalik felt the undulation of someone walking with him in their arms. Their scent was familiar, and comforting. "Gale¡­?"


    "Bud?" came his father''s answer. "How are you feeling¡­?"


    "Tired¡­ a-and sore... My hands are numb," he mumbled.


    "Can you move them?"


    Gadalik managed to make a partial-fist.


    "Thank heavens," he sighed with relief. "You''re going to be okay." Then he took on a more stern tone when he said, "You really could''ve hurt yourself, taking the nullifier off like that¡­!"


    "I predicted this surge would be like what happened at the lake," Gadalik wheezed. "And it was--except there''s no water for me to drown in this time--" He coughed dryly. His throat ached where the necklace had cut off his airways; it bothered him to swallow or breathe too fast.


    "Hey, now¡­ Take it easy."


    He caught his breath. "That woman¡­ What happened to her¡­?"


    "I saw her escape just before the light of your power faded¡­ I had been hiding behind the building until then. I wanted to catch her, but I couldn''t just leave you there."


    Gadalik hummed in acknowledgement. Gale stopped walking.


    "Gale? I heard a scream and--what on earth happened?!" he heard Glacia exclaim.


    The teen opened his eyes for the first time since waking, to find his mother staring them down. My vision is back to normal...


    "The woman Reginald mentioned was there¡­ and she''s dangerous," Gale reported.


    "What? Who is she?!"


    "Luna¡­ She recognized the nullifier and targeted Gadalik for it. But it sounded like she recognized him even without it. I heard her say something about¡­ using his blood for spells...?¡±


    Glacia was enraged by this. ¡°Where is she?! I''ll kill her!¡±


    ¡°She escaped¡­ But right now, we need to take Gadalik somewhere safe.¡±


    The boy closed his eyes once more and nuzzled into his father, who in turn held him more securely. "My old house¡­"


    "You still want to go?" Glacia cried with disbelief.


    "Well¡­ it does seem like the safest option for now, if it''s as protected as he says it is," the bounty hunter stated.


    She couldn''t argue with that.


    They passed through the village, Gale keeping an eye out for Luna all the while, and entered the surrounding woods. There was a path worn down in the grass, which they followed for roughly half a mile.


    Gadalik drifted in and out of sleep the entire way. Gale had kept a close hold of him the entire time, walking straight toward the door of the two-story house once they''d arrived.


    The teen opened his eyes when his adoptive-mother crashed into an invisible barrier with a surprised yelp. "Only me and blood-relatives can pass through on our own," he reminded her. His practical-father set him down, and--unsteady on his feet but rebalancing--Gadalik reproached the outskirts of his property, reaching through the barrier to take her hand. With his physical contact, she was phased through.


    Then the world seemed to tilt under him. The effects of this surge were worse than the last, mainly because he''d intentionally unleashed the entirety of his magic at once. Previously he took roughly an hour to recover, but he was at least fully conscious during that time. It was hard to stay up when every sudden movement made him dizzy.


    "You don''t look so good," she said, concerned. "Think you can make it inside on your own?"


    I can try¡­ He took a few steps forward, only to trip from not lifting his feet high enough.


    She caught him. "Careful!"


    He fell limp in her arms, his full weight bringing the woman to her knees to keep him from hitting the ground.


    "Gadalik!" she cried, panicking when the boy was unresponsive.


    "Relax; he''ll be okay." Gale picked him up once more. "You have the keys, right?"


    "Yeah¡­" she answered, retrieving them from the bag her son had packed nearly a decade ago. She paused, seeing a small notebook inside, among other very personal belongings.


    "Glacia?" her boyfriend called from the porch. The second floor''s balcony cast a shadow along the pathway between them, as if in an invitation¡­ or a warning.


    "This feels wrong," she confessed. "We shouldn''t be here¡­"


    "We can''t leave him outside¡­"


    "Err¡­" She drew in a breath, then took out the keys and turned them in the handle. They walked into a spacious wooden-floored living room furnished by a couch sandwiched between a couple of chairs across from the fireplace. The left wall was lined with bookshelves on either side of the kitchen''s doorway, the right with music albums; a record player was in the corner. Disregarding the layers of dust that had gathered over the years, the place was extremely organized; not a single thing was out of place.


    The staircase began near the front door. Unable to find a bedroom on the ground floor, Gale carried the teen upstairs.


    Glacia didn''t follow right away. She wiped the seat of a chair clean and sat down, looking at the notebook. It was titled Gadalik''s Spook Book in a child''s handwriting, decorated with wizardly stars and swirls. Curious, she opened it.


    There were drawings of rectangles with vague markings in each one. ''Wards'' was written at the top, along with notes detailing their effects. ''Stronger ones feel heavyer.'' That last word was crossed out, with ''heavier'' rewrote under it.


    She turned the page to find more of the same, except with different labels. Then it had a page of notes on different ways to activate them.


    ''Focusing magic into the tag can boost its effects.


    ¡®It didn''t work for me yet, but I''ll keep trying!


    ''Wards are the easiest tag to activate, but I still can''t do it¡­


    ''IT WORKED!!!''


    She smiled and flipped through the book, noticing how the handwriting and spelling improved over the course of it, with the notes becoming more in-depth and the drawings neater.  Halfway through, on the right-hand page, it read,


    ''Everyone agreed to let me put my knowledge to use on my first mission, but now Mom and Dad are saying I can''t come with them to the river because they don''t want me to get hurt.  But I told them that if I have to stay with Henry again, that would hurt me worse than any ghost!  They seemed to consider it after that.  I''ll detail the trip when it''s over.¡¯


    She turned the page and felt a chill run down her spine when it was blank; that was the last thing written.  The realization that his first mission was his parents'' last was heartbreaking.  Closing the book and fumbling to fit it back in the bag, she left it on the chair and ascended the steps toward the second floor.


    A few photographs lined the walls parallel to the staircase: one of a man with long black hair tied back in a ponytail, and a woman with light green hair in a pixie cut.  Her eyes were sky-blue and his were sapphire.  She removed her crown and held it to her heart to pay respect.


    Then there was the little boy with them: light green hair with a darker stripe from front to back; medium-blue eyes with a sky-blue stripe horizontally through his pupils.


    They seemed to have traveled a lot; each picture was taken at vastly different locations, and Gadalik had been dressed suitably for each environment.


    ¡°There you are,¡± Gale greeted her from the top of the staircase. ¡°Everything okay?¡±


    She shrugged. ¡°How''s Gadalik?¡±


    ¡°He''s still out, but he looks a lot more comfortable to be in a bed.¡±


    Glacia stopped to look at a photo of the young spook crouched on his belly in the mud, his hand outstretched toward a pond to offer worms to a frog.


    He followed her gaze. "As much as he''s changed over the years, it looks like his heart''s stayed the same," Gale remarked, descending the steps to her level.


    "He seems so¡­ happy," she told him. "So why do I feel so sad¡­?"


    The man embraced her with one arm. "That''s natural,¡± he assured her. ¡°It''s hard¡­ knowing that we can''t compare to them. Maybe we are as good as they were, but we''re still¡­ different. You''re not alone, wondering if he''d be happier if he had his birth parents instead of us."


    She fully leaned into the embrace. "You''ve had those thoughts before, too¡­?"


    "Yeah¡­ But the fact is, we''re the ones here for him now--not them. And he loves us just the same."


    "...You''re right." She returned the hug.


    They held each other for a moment longer before going back to the living room toward the couch¡­ then pausing, deterred by the surrounding dust and spiders of the formerly-abandoned house.


    "Maybe we should clean the place before our son wakes up," Glacia suggested.


    "You? Clean?" he gasped with mock surprise. "Who are you, and what have you done with my girlfriend?"


    She playfully popped him on the shoulder. "It''s the least we can do."


    Gadalik awoke lying on his childhood bed made up as best as it could be with the blankets they had packed. He was well-rested but also on-edge upon feeling a far off spirit, especially since he wasn''t used to the sensation anymore. He sat up, surveying his old bedroom for a distraction from it, shocked by how immaculate it was: the floors had been swept and mopped, the furniture dusted and wiped¡­ Everything seemed smaller than he remembered.


    Then the teen noticed the nullifier on the nightstand. Luna''s attack instantly flashed before his eyes, and he placed a hand over his bruised neck.


    Who goes around hunting witches for their blood in this day and age? Are there others she''s after? Are all of the victims pure-bloods? Just how common are they--and are there more hunters? What if she''s hunting me specifically--what if they all are?


    Should I keep wearing the nullifier? What if they recognize it and target me if they aren''t already? No¨CLuna had been asking the villagers about me even before she saw the nullifier¡­ That means word of my heritage has been spreading.


    If there are more hunters, I''m no match for them¡­ I can''t rely on a surge to combat them when it also incapacitates me. And I can''t voluntarily cause a surge in the first place without the nullifier--but I can''t wear the nullifier if they''ll recognize it¡­!


    There''s nothing I can do--I¡­ I can''t--I can''t ever protect myself or anybody I care about¡­! Why? Why am I¡­ so¡­ useless¡­?!


    "Bud?" Gale said quietly as he walked in to check on his son, only to find him hyperventilating between stifled sobs with a hand clutching his throat. "H-Hey, now, it''s alright! Deep breaths¡­!"


    Gadalik gasped in a half-successful attempt to comply. His mind still raced with questions and glimpses of memories from the assault... But worst of all was the shame of how helpless he''d been in the situation, and how he was unable to prevent it from recurring. Feeling sick to his stomach, he scrambled off the mattress and stumbled into the bathroom, barely making it to the toilet before he puked.


    Gale had rushed to console him, then hesitantly watched from the doorway, unsure of how to help.


    The teen tried to regain control of his breathing, still wheezing with each deeper breath from nearly being strangled, and now through a burn in his throat from the bile that he''d thrown up. Why am I reacting like this now? I was fine when we got here! Why does this keep happening? What''s wrong with me...?!


    "Gadalik¡­"


    I need to calm down¡­ But how¡­? That''s when he remembered the conversation he''d had with a previous client. The red-haired girl had mentioned that intrusive thoughts were like a fly; engaging with it only prolonged its stay. Just stop giving it attention¡­ Let it go away on its own.


    The younger male looked for anything to take his focus instead. The cleaned floor beneath him was shining reflectively, but it wasn''t enough to distract him from the dread he felt.


    A hand gently rubbed his back; he jolted out of reflex, then relaxed some, focusing entirely on that single point of physical contact as a reminder of what was real in the moment. The floor felt cold beneath him, too, while the air was somewhat humid. Although still trembling and somewhat panting, he managed to slow his breathing and allowed himself to fall back against his father who was kneeling behind him.


    "Everything will be okay," Gale murmured.


    Minutes passed, and the tension and trembling ebbed to be replaced by exhaustion.


    "How are you feeling¡­?"


    "...Better," the boy replied honestly. "Thank you¡­"


    "Is¡­ Is this what happened at the mansion a few months back...?"


    He froze. There''s no denying it¡­ "Y-yeah¡­"


    "Does this happen often¡­?"


    "Not a lot--but¡­ sometimes. U-Usually from minor problems; not normally this bad." Gadalik sighed. "I don''t know what comes over me."


    There was silence for a beat. "...Does Glacia know this has been ongoing?"


    "I''m scared to tell her¡­ You were with us for the last few doctors she forced me to go to, after what happened at the mansion--only for them all to say I''m in good shape¡­ It¡­ It can''t be helped."


    Gale gave a faint hum. "Maybe¡­ you were seeing the wrong kind of doctors."


    "Huh¡­?"


    "If it was a one-time occurrence, they''d probably be right. But¡­ I''ve never seen you that bad before. It was scary, even for me; I can see why she''d be so determined to get you help. I just think¡­ if it has happened so often, perhaps we ought to find a specialist."


    Gadalik shrugged. "There''s been enough normalcy between episodes not to warrant one¡­ And someone told me a method to calm myself; I just didn''t remember it until now. If I can''t control it next time, I''ll consider going. Until then, well, I''ve seen enough doctors for a lifetime."


    Gale patted his head before standing and helping him to his feet.


    "You really fixed the place up," the spook remarked.


    "Sure did. Not just me, though," his father answered.


    "Glacia, too?!"


    He nodded, chuckling at his son''s shock. "I know, right! Come on; let''s thank her for helping."


    The woman was on her knees by the empty open refrigerator, scrubbing the inside of it.


    "Mom?" Gadalik called, then caught himself. "Err, Glacia? You don''t have to worry about the fridge--"


    "Don''t stop me now; I''m in the zone," she interrupted.


    "I''ve never seen her so focused on something in my life," Gale remarked.


    She finally finished, and they each took a trash bag she had filled and hauled it to the dumpster out back.


    "That''s the last of it," Glacia announced. When they went back in she plopped herself down on the couch. Gale sat beside her, and Gadalik remembered the whole reason they had come there in the first place.


    "If I recall correctly, the present should be in my parents'' room. I¡­ was never really allowed in there," the spook admitted. "The thought of going inside just feels wrong¡­ even though they''re gone."


    "That''s how we feel being in this house," Glacia laughed.


    "Really?" Gadalik was taken aback by the news. "I''m sorry¡­ I-I didn''t mean to make you feel that way¡­ I just wanted you two with me, wherever it is I''ll go."


    "Aw... Don''t apologize. You''re such a sweetheart," she gushed, stretching her arms out. "C''mere."


    He moved in and hugged her, then recoiled without fully breaking the embrace. "Oof, you''re all sweaty," he teased.


    "Me? No-o¡­ You''re the one who''s sweaty¡­ now!" she giggled and squeezed him tighter.


    "Gross! Let me go," he laughed.


    "Never!"


    "Gale, help!"


    His father went straight to tickle her exposed armpits. She squealed and released their son to playfully tackle the man against the couch.


    "Run!" he melodramatically cried to Gadalik. "Save yourself!"


    The teen gave a huff of laughter before racing up the stairs. He hesitated at the door of his birth-parents'' room. Drawing in a breath to prepare himself, he turned the handle, and it creaked open on its own.


    It had been cleaned just as the rest of the house. Although scared of what he''d find in there, he lightly pushed it open the rest of the way and pictured the scene in his dream. The layout of the room was almost exactly how he''d remembered it, despite only ever viewing it from the doorway.


    He sat down on the bed in the same place Vilodia had in the memory. The available places to put things from this position was limited. He checked the nightstand''s drawers to find nothing unusual. The underside of the bed was bare.


    He hummed thoughtfully and went to the closet. The inside space was divided in half, the right side being Trent''s and the other Vilodia''s, both organized by color and type. Gadalik took down a shirt from the right side, and compared it to the plaid flannel he was currently wearing. Dad''s clothes are still too big for me. He replaced it and took down one of Vilodia''s. Just my size, albeit shapely. Guess I know who I take the most after, he thought, half-grinning, before putting it back.


    Then his gaze was drawn to the top shelf of the closet. That was the perfect place a parent could put a present to prevent its premature opening.


    Just as he suspected, there was a suspicious shoebox that required him to stand on the tips of his toes to reach. Something rattled inside as he brought it down and removed the lid:


    A wooden bracelet.


    Gadalik immediately recognized it as a spell booster--a lesser variant than the one he would''ve been awarded had he not drowned at the lake.


    Lesser is better, he decided. He went back to his room and rummaged through the bags they''d brought for their journey. He took out his notes from the Enchanted Artifacts book and skimmed them, rereading the page he''d written about compatibility between enchanted items.


    He was hoping it would just lessen the nullifier''s effectiveness, but alas, the nullifier would completely cancel out the booster. Gadalik thought it over.


    This means I can wear the booster alongside the nullifier, so whenever I take the nullifier off, I can use the booster to fight if necessary.


    Still, he felt a sense of unease from his lack of preparation for another attack. Pocketing the pendant, he put the bracelet--which would only work if he used his magic--on his left wrist, then headed back downstairs to show it off.


    "It''s lovely!" Glacia complimented it.


    "What does it do?" Gale wondered.


    He briefly explained. "If there''s ever an emergency, I can rely on this instead of a surge," he concluded.


    "That''s great! So when should we head back?" she asked.


    "Oh." The unease grew; going outside scared him with Luna--and whoever else there may be--waiting to kidnap or kill him. "Uh¡­ Maybe we should lay low here for a while."


    Glacia tensed. "How long is a while¡­?"


    "A few days, maybe. Between what we brought with us and what we bought in town, we have enough food to last us. Besides, this is¡­ nostalgic. It''s nice to be back here after all this time¡­ I could get used to it again."


    She fidgeted nervously. "You''ll still come home with me, won''t you¡­?"


    "Huh? Of course¡­! I promised, didn''t I?"


    "Well, yes, but¡­ Things change, even if you meant it in the moment," she replied, growing more distressed by the second. "It already changed; you said we''d just grab the item and go¡­¡±


    ¡°I know, but Luna is still¨C¡±


    ¡°Now, days might turn to weeks, and weeks into months until I''ll never see you again¡­!"


    "Glacia," Gale called gently, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. She held her breath to listen. "Gadalik will be eighteen in December. That''s legally an adult. We should respect whatever choices he makes, even if it means we need to let him go someday."


    "He''s nowhere near an adult!" she snapped. "He''s seventeen--teen, as in teenager. Who cares if he''ll ''legally'' be an adult in two months--he''s still a child¡­ my child!  If you want to bring legality into this, you''re not even his father!"


    Gale''s breath caught in his throat.


    Silence befell the room, save for Glacia''s shaky breathing as she tried to calm down. Then she covered her mouth as she realized what she''d said. "Legally," she repeated. "You''re not legally his father. My point was that legality doesn''t matter¡­! I didn''t mean it that way¡­"


    "Y-Yeah," Gale murmured, but didn''t make eye contact.


    "I''m sorry¡­"


    "Don''t worry about it," he quietly assured her.


    "...I''m not going to leave you," Gadalik spoke up. "Either of you. When I ever move out, I''ll still visit, and you''ll both still be my family."


    His parents remained silent, his father distraught and his mother ashamed. The teen looked between them helplessly.


    Then Gale heaved a sigh and headed outside.


    "Where are you going?" Glacia cried.


    "To get some air." He closed the door the slightest bit too harshly between them.


    Glacia buried her face in her hands, hunched forward on the couch with her elbows on her knees. "I really didn''t mean it that way¡­"


    "I know," Gadalik said. "I''m going to go talk to him." He stepped outside.


    The man was leaning on the railing of the porch, gazing into the distance. His long blue-violet scarf was blown back by a light breeze.


    "Are you alright¡­?" Gadalik asked gently.


    He glanced over his shoulder at the spook. "Yeah," he answered halfheartedly and looked back at the scenery.


    Gadalik moved beside him.


    "You know I love you guys...right?" Gale said. "You shouldn''t need papers to prove that¡­"


    "Of course," his son responded. "Nobody said you did. I know how much dedication our jobs require; it''s hard to find the time."


    Gale tensed. He opened his mouth to answer, then shut it and rested his forehead in his hand.


    "What''s the matter¡­?"


    "N-nothing, bud. I just¡­ want to be alone right now. I have a lot to think about."


    "...I understand." Gadalik respectfully left him to go back inside.


    "How is he?" Glacia asked.


    "Not so great¡­¡±


    "I really am sorry for getting so worked up¡­ You have to understand that you guys have nearly died so many times before, and¡­ you actually did die at the lake, even if Benson--err, Vincent--revived you. Now your birth parents have become a reason I might lose you, and¡­ I''m trying to be accepting of it all, but it''s still terrifying. And I know Gale feels the same way¡­ I shouldn''t have said that to him. But it is partially his fault that he never legally adopted you when he had the chance, so he can''t blame me completely for saying that."


    "What do you mean¡­? I thought he was just too busy to get the chance to¡­"


    She froze, as if she never meant to reveal that. "That''s¡­ part of what I meant by ¡®partially.¡¯"


    "So what''s the other part¡­?"


    "He, uh¡­ W-Well, I mean¡­ It''s kind of the same reason he won''t move in with us. He''s not ready to sacrifice his career for a family; not even for me. No marriage, no adoption, no settling down until he''s retired¡­ whenever that may be."


    "I see¡­" Gadalik looked toward the door, unable to shake a feeling of betrayal. Paperwork won''t stop him from being a bounty hunter¡­ There must be some other reason why he wouldn''t want to go through with officially adopting me.


    Luna''s words echoed in his mind: "How sad it must be to know he cares so little about you."


    What if I was wrong¡­? Was he really okay with leaving me? Gadalik felt that familiar dull ache in his gut return. He stood and dragged himself upstairs to his room, shutting the door behind him.


    He lied down, curling up on his side, staring at nothing.


    The events of that day replayed in his mind, becoming warped within the new context that his father didn''t want him.


    Evening turned to night. By this time Gale had come back in, acting as his usual self, and made supper. Athough Gadalik didn''t have an appetite, he tried to eat as much as his stomach would hold just so it wouldn''t go to waste while the adults were cheerily chatting. He couldn''t focus on anything--not that he felt motivated to in the first place; his body was practically functioning on autopilot, and eating only worsened the persistent ache.


    Eventually Gadalik excused himself from the table.


    "Where are you going, bud? You barely touched your food," Gale said, concerned.


    The younger male looked him in the eyes in an effort to distinguish any sincerity there, but again couldn''t concentrate and gave up. "To my room¡­ I''m not feeling well."


    "Are you ok?" Glacia immediately got up and placed the back of her hand to her son''s forehead. "You have a slight fever¡­"


    I do¡­?


    "I packed medicine in my bag," she stated. "Let me go get it."


    As she left the kitchen, Gale started as if to check on the teen as well, but Gadalik retreated a step from him. The man didn''t pursue him further, respectfully giving him space.


    Glacia came back with a couple of capsules in hand, offering them alongside his refilled cup from the table to the spook, who obliged. "C''mon, let''s get you to bed," she beckoned him afterward, keeping a hand on his back as they ascended the stairs to be sure he wouldn''t fall.


    Once in his room he sat on the mattress as his mother unpacked a washcloth and dampened it at the bathroom sink to place on his forehead. Normally he would protest her doting on him, but he couldn''t bring himself to care in his current state. After he was settled in bed she turned the light out and left with the door slightly ajar.


    He drifted in and out of sleep throughout the night, catching sight of Glacia checking on him every couple of hours. Gale never stopped by.


    Sunlight filtered through the dark blue window curtains. Gadalik watched it glow brighter as the hours passed. Glacia should be waking up soon.


    As if on que, he heard someone push the door open. "Are you up¡­?" His adoptive mother''s voice was quiet so as not to wake him if he weren''t.


    With his condition hardly improving overnight, and having no willpower to climb out of bed, Gadalik remained silent until her footsteps were out of earshot.


    After perhaps a half-hour, he forced himself to sit up. There was a toybox against the wall directly in front of the bed. His closet was adjacent to the bathroom, the door still slightly open from when it was cleaned. Then he turned away, repressing his desire to go through his old belongings; he''d made his mind up about only moving forward since his birth-parents died. Everything he currently owned, he''d either bought himself, or was given to him by Glacia or Gale, save for his dark green spook''s robe that used to be Vilodia''s; a hand-me-down to help protect him on his first mission with them.


    Gadalik didn''t want to be reminded of that. It was pointless to dwell on the past. Pointless¡­ and painful.


    He left his room to head toward the kitchen, when he heard Gale''s voice responding to Glacia''s, and paused before the staircase. The thought of being around the man suddenly made him nervous. He began to return to his room, back on autopilot, when he wound up at his biological-parents'' door. He debated with himself whether or not to go in now that there was no reason to do so.


    He found himself inside regardless. The family pictures he''d purposely been ignoring finally caught his eye, and he couldn''t look away. Sitting on the bed, he held the one on their nightstand, wherein he was a six-year-old holding up a plastic staff with Vilodia and Trent crossing their real ones with his. He remembered posing for that picture, the child being jealous that he hadn''t a real staff like they did, but otherwise happy to be included at all.


    I wish I could ask for your advice¡­ he thought, then gave an amused smile. Heh. How awkward would that be for my old dad to help me with my new one? The corners of his mouth dropped. Gale''s¡­ not¡­ my new dad. Maybe I should respect that he doesn''t want to be¡­ But it still just¡­ stings.


    Gadalik set the photograph face-down where he''d found it and hugged their pillow, tightly shutting his eyes. I don''t know what to believe anymore¡­ And I can''t just ask Gale; how would one discuss something like this without stirring up drama?


    The room seemed to get smaller around him. Little things from the past grew bigger until he couldn''t ignore them; memories of his childhood resurfacing. Refusing to acknowledge them, Gadalik wiped his eyes and stumbled into the hallway, rushing down the steps.


    "There he is!" Glacia greeted him from her seat on the couch. He froze at her greeting.


    "Feeling any better...? I made breakfast if you''re hungry," Gale added from beside her.


    Gadalik stared at the two for a moment. Pained by the thought of being unwanted; ashamed for doubting the man who''d been a part of his life for nearly six years; the newfound grief of his birth-parents; the lingering sense of distant ghost; the ache in his gut worsening¡­ It was all too much. He quickly became overwhelmed and blindly ran outside to escape it all.


    "Bud?" Gale called worriedly after following him to the porch.


    No! I can''t take being around you right now! The younger male fled into the surrounding woods, subconsciously following an old route he used to take as a child until he was certain he couldn''t be found. Exhausted, he rested his back against a tree and slid down it to the ground. The sounds of rustling leaves and birdsong came into focus once he''d started to calm, the ache fading.


    "Are you alright¡­?" a soft voice added to nature''s music.


    Gadalik looked up to see a girl his age with light brown hair just past her shoulders. Her hazel eyes were gentle as she leaned forward with her hands on her lower thighs to get a better look at him, but he then faced away.


    "It''s...been a while since I''ve seen anyone out here," she continued, straightening out her long pleated skirt and sitting on her knees beside him. "My name is Melody. What''s yours?"


    "...Gadalik."


    "Oh, I''ve heard about you! A witch hybrid with pure magic; the first discovered in his generation. This is your hometown, isn''t it?"


    That got his attention. "How did you know that?"


    "You''ve become somewhat of a tall tale in my town a few miles away. Your parents were reputable spooks, after all--and their house is less than a quarter of a mile from here."


    Is that why Luna knew where to search for me?


    "You''re younger than I thought you''d be," Melody went on. "Rumor has it you''re a six-foot-tall muscular guy. But¡­ I''d guess you''re maybe five and a half feet tall. You do have a bit of muscle though."


    He couldn''t stifle a laugh. "Is that what people are saying about me?" At least I won''t have to worry about getting recognized outside of my hometown, then.


    "It''s¡­ nice to know you''re mostly average. Who knows, maybe an average girl like me could turn out to be something special too."


    "I wouldn''t call being a witch ''special.'' I don''t even consider myself a witch... especially since these powers are new, and I don''t have mastery over them yet." He felt for the nullifier still in his pocket for security.


    She shrugged. "Still beats getting overlooked by your peers for being normal. Even though I used to live far away, I often wander here to reflect on my life, hoping to find something worth seeing in myself¡­"


    "You''re already worth seeing," he said as a matter of fact. "It''s not your fault others don''t acknowledge that."


    "But it is, isn''t it? I mean¡­ People recognize you, because your powers make you stand out. I don''t have any."


    "Being recognized by people isn''t as important as having connections with them. Sure, you know my name¡­ But we''re still strangers."


    "Then I''m still in a pickle. I don''t know how to connect with others, either."


    "How so? You had no trouble approaching me, even though I was a bit standoffish."


    "Well, it''s more like a specific person I''m trying to connect with. It''s easy to initiate conversation with someone when they''re obviously in need," Melody pointed out. "It''s not so easy when I''m the one in need¡­"


    "Oh, man. I know what you mean¡­" He sat back. "So much has been happening lately, that I''d rather run than confront the people involved."


    "I understand. How can you talk to people about your problems if they''re part of your problems¡­?"


    He thought for a moment. "Well¡­ problems between people won''t get solved unless they talk to each other," he realized. Then he face-palmed. "What am I doing¡­?"


    She smiled. "You''re helping me, that''s what. Thank you."


    "No¡­ Thank you, for reaching out. I needed someone to talk to, same as you."


    "I''m going to tell him how I feel¡­ Hopefully it''s not too late."


    Why would it be too late?


    As if in answer, her body lifted off the ground and she flew off.


    A ghost¡­? He chuckled. I should''ve known¡­


    He stood and wiped the dirt from his pants, deciding to ask Gale directly about his decisions. Just as he''d begun walking off, he heard a sound behind him. "Melody?"


    He turned in time to see a tall figure garbed in black lunging for him. Out of reflex he swung his left hand out toward it; a shield far bigger than he''d intended was summoned between them.


    It dispelled after the impact. It was then that he remembered the booster worked at the cost of shortening the duration of each spell. I can just summon more, he concluded.


    The figure regained balance after being deflected and the hood of her cloak fell back. It was Luna, as he suspected.


    "I''m not going to let you hurt anyone," Gadalik said just loud enough to be heard.


    "Insolent brat," she cursed. "Using a ward spell but not letting your target be warded off is smart, I''ll give you that. If I hadn''t been wearing my protective robe, you probably would have blown my arms off, for sure."


    Was I really that dangerous¡­? No¨Cshe must be lying to mess with me. "Why are you after me? What do you intend to do with my blood?¡±


    "Enchantments. I make items with abilities that can''t be bought at hex shops. I have all the creativity in the world! My wares are one of a kind. What I lack, though, is enough natural magic to keep myself in business. That''s where other witches like you come in."


    Gadalik swallowed hard through his still-sore throat. How many others has she kidnapped or killed¡­?


    He didn''t have time to fully digest that before she suddenly slashed at him with a machete in her hand. He once again blocked with a summoned shield, but it dispelled all too soon and she came within inches of slicing his throat in her next move. I can''t get a consistent time frame of how long the spells last with the booster¡­! Can I force it to stay active?


    Her blade increased in length to a short sword. Gadalik summoned another shield and this time continuously output magic into it. The shield turned into a bubble around him, identical to that of a shield tag''s spell.


    It quickly began to flicker out of existence as she struck it.


    No! He forced himself to keep a steady flow of magic to sustain the spell, when after a few seconds, the bracelet burned his wrist and he let out a pained cry; the bubble expanded, then burst, the force knocking Luna a fair distance away. Gadalik fell weakly to one knee, clutching his hand.


    "Foolish child¡­ Do you not know how to use a booster?" she laughed at him. "All it does is compress your existing magic into each spell. Think of it like bending a garden hose; when it''s released after, the water pressure is higher, but it doesn''t give you extra."


    She''s right¡­ I should''ve practiced to figure that out beforehand. I just didn''t expect a fight so soon... That was his method of learning, despite the negative repercussions it sometimes resulted in. The teen tried to stand but his strength wasn''t recovering as quickly as it usually did, and Luna was much faster as she ran at him. Gadalik closed his eyes and braced himself.


    Then he heard her blade meet steel; Gale had parried her sword with his own, driving her away from the boy and standing protectively between them.


    Gadalik released a breath he hadn''t realized he''d been holding, then managed to get to his feet. Seeing the older male stand, back toward the spook, long scarf swept by the wind and stance assumed so many times that it seemed natural¡­ It was a wonder why Luna wasn''t deterred. "Dad--err¡­ Gale...? H-How did you find me...?"


    "I find people for a living," the bounty hunter reminded him.


    The woman darted at him with a swing of her sword. The instant Gale moved to parry it, her blade shortened out of his reach, then extended again for a stab under it while he overbalanced.


    "Look out!" Gadalik cried, grabbing the scarf and pulling him out of her reach.


    "Th-thanks, bud," he breathed. "An enchanted sword¡­ I haven''t seen one like this before."


    "I-I can help," Gadalik said. "Alternate between close- and long-range. I''ll let you know when there''s an opening."


    "Got it." When he''d move close, her blade shortened to avoid his, then lengthened, but he was prepared and leapt back; her sword lengthened more to compensate the distance between them. That''s when Gale moved in close with a stab, which she barely managed to dodge.


    Gadalik counted the seconds between when--and how many times--it transformed. Every enchanted item has a limit¡­ If I''m right, she can''t change it consecutively more than three times without needing to let it ''recharge'' for ten seconds. The numbers are consistent. Now we wait.


    This time her blade changed to a longsword instead. Gale dodged, focusing on her rather than her weapon so he could predict when it might change and how.


    As he swung again, she shortened the blade, but he was aiming toward the hilt this time so he''d hit it regardless of length. She noticed and leapt out of his reach, lengthening her sword to keep him from pursuing.


    "Now," Gadalik directed. "She shouldn''t be able to change it!"


    Luna gasped through her teeth at that reveal.


    Gale used that moment to disarm her. The enchanted sword reverted to a knife as it was knocked out of her grasp¡­ only for a familiar vulture to swoop down and catch the weapon in its talon. The bird brought it back to its owner.


    Luna grinned, then pointed to Gadalik, her long sleeve falling down to her elbow from the motion to reveal the dark bruising his surge had caused on her arm.


    Noticing it, Gadalik was overcome with guilt for having harmed her after all. The knowledge that he would have maimed her if her garments weren''t enchanted made it worse. His hand tightly clutched the nullifier in his pocket, his mind playing out scenarios of how badly his surge could have resulted in for those around him. He felt his breaths quicken and everything else went out of focus.


    "Gadalik, move!" Gale shoved him to the ground just before the vulture reached him; the bird missed, followed by a wind from how close its claws had come to raking him.


    The spook lay stunned from the impact for a few seconds.


    "Sorry for pushing you," the man apologized. "I know you can''t run with that beast after us... But you can''t freeze like that, either; they''ll kill you. We have no choice but to fight."


    "I can''t," Gadalik said. "What if we end up maiming or--or even killing them¡­?"


    "What do you think they''re trying to do to us? We do what we must to survive. If that means having a bodycount, sobeit."


    Gadalik shrunk against the earth.  "I-I don''t want anyone to get hurt¡­!"


    While Gale hesitated from his words, Luna thrust her blade at him and he was forced back into the fight.


    That''s when Gadalik noticed the bird was diving at them from behind. He got up and tried a ward spell; harmless since there was no physical contact. While the current of magic repelled it for a short time, it kept coming back.


    The teen couldn''t keep this up forever. He ran to Gale''s side, stretching a hand out at both Luna and her avian familiar. "Stop!"


    With that word came a spark of magic--and to his surprise, they were stilled¡­ though not of their own volition. While still conscious and unharmed, they both dropped, immobilized.


    "...What did you do?" Gale asked.


    "I-I don''t know¡­ A stun spell?" the younger male guessed.


    "In that case, let''s confiscate her weapons and bind her hands before the spell wears off."


    Gadalik did as told. Once again his attention was drawn to the unsightly bruises he''d given her. "Do you¡­ really think it''s okay to kill people¡­?"


    He tensed. "If it''s kill or be killed, there''s really no other option if you want to live."


    "Have you killed anyone before¡­?"


    "...Yeah." He looked away. "There are some truly evil people out there. Perhaps I don''t have the right to decide who should and shouldn''t live¡­ but if you want to know if I regret killing them: I don''t."


    The kid gulped.


    Gale pulled her weapons'' satchel over his right shoulder, and Luna over his left, facing behind him. "Bring the buzzard with us to town. We''re turning them in."


    Just before they made it to the sheriff''s office, her familiar suddenly struggled wildly until Gadalik couldn''t keep hold of it.


    Before Gale had a chance to react, it pecked its owner''s hands free; Luna kicked off of his side to launch herself out of his grip, snapping the strap of her weapons'' satchel in one smooth motion. She bolted.


    Gadalik started after her, then turned back when Gale had fallen to his knees, clutching his side and breathing hard. The teen recognized that as the stab-wound he had sutured the previous morning; she must have reopened it.


    "I''m alright," the mohawked man assured him. "It''s just¡­ sore¡­" After a moment, he managed to stand up, then looked in the direction their former captives had fled. They were nowhere to be seen.


    The two returned to Gadalik''s childhood home. The spook stopped before the door.


    Gale rested against the porch railings, still with a hand on his side. "What is it, bud?"


    "Can I ask you something¡­?" he replied.


    "Go for it."


    "Glacia and I¡­ Are we¡­ holding you back¡­?"


    "What? Not at all! Why would you think that?"


    "It''s just--I know how important your job is to you. You¡­ don''t have to let us get in the way of that."


    "You''re not in the way, and you''re not holding me back," the man assured him with pure resolve.


    Gadalik looked away uncertainly.


    "Alright, bud. Talk to me. What''s this really about?"


    He drew in a breath for courage. "Papers aren''t needed to prove anything, and that''s not what I''m worried about," Gadalik began. "I just accepted that you were too busy to find time to officially adopt me. But¡­ you did get the chance¨Cand you didn''t take it. Do you not¡­ want me as your actual son...?"


    Gale let out a short breath, seeming genuinely hurt by that suggestion. "Bud¡­ Gadalik¡­ You and Glacia mean more to me than my job. That isn''t it at all¡­!"


    "Then¡­ what is¡­?"


    "I¡­" He sighed, looking down guiltily. "I''m not as perfect as you guys think I am. The less you see of me, the better; that way you''ll never find out how vastly unprepared I am for relationships and fatherhood."


    "Are you kidding me¡­? You''ve always been good to us¡­!"


    "I try¡­ And I love you both more than anything. But there''s so much more to these things than the surface level¡­ I tried to keep it there, but it naturally progressed and I--I''m scared¡­ Scared that by making things official between us, you''ll see the parts of me I try to hide, and it would ruin what we currently have."


    Things like a bodycount¡­? "Gale¡­"


    "After the way things ended in my last serious relationship, I never planned to be in another until I met Glacia. And unlike her, I never planned on having kids, either. I¡­ I still don''t."


    "She planned to...? Has she said she wanted kids with you?"


    "We''ve talked about it before. You''re our kid; Glacia and I have been careful to make sure you stay our only. But she did mention that if she never adopted you, she would have wanted kids with me. And¡­ I just¡­ don''t know how to be a father, or a spouse."


    "What makes you think that¡­?"


    "I have a hard enough time keeping myself alive, let alone a family. I don''t know how to help when you''re anxious, or sick, or hurt¡­ I never know when I should comfort you or when to give you space¡­" He breathed. "Everyone depends on me to protect them--but when you were held hostage, Gadalik, I couldn''t do anything to save you."


    "But you did do something to save me," Gadalik argued. "You trusted me. If you had tried to fight her at that time, I''d surely be dead right now."


    Gale didn''t meet his gaze.


    Gadalik exhaled through his nose. "You don''t know how to help with everything else, because you haven''t been given the time to learn. Glacia only knows because I''ve lived with her for almost nine years now, and she''s still learning; we all are. That''s what having a family is about. Of course we''ll all make mistakes¡­ We all have a past, or problems that maybe we''d rather not share right away. But if we truly love each other, there''s no problem that we can''t learn to work through...together."


    He was silent for a moment to process that. Then he let out of a huff of laughter. "You make a compelling argument."


    "And¡­ for the record," the teen continued, "I think you''re a great father."


    Gale finally looked up at him, his eyes watered slightly with relief to hear that, even if he wasn''t fully convinced. "What say we make it so, legally¡­?"


    "We can¡­ when you feel ready."

 Episode 11: Intent

    Gadalik watched his mother anxiously pace around the living room in front of him as she fidgeted with a lock of her shoulder-length light purple hair twirled around her finger.


    "Gale''s taking so long¡­" she said. "You don''t think he got hurt out there again, do you?"


    "I''m sure he''s alright," the teen assured her from his seat on the couch. "He told us it might take some time. Dad''s only been gone for an hour."


    She plopped herself down beside her son and heaved a sigh. "You''re right. It''s just¡­ Ever since he was stabbed the other day, I can''t help but imagine the worst every time he leaves without us."


    "He can handle himself. And he''s made good on his promise to keep a first aid kit with him, if it does come to that."


    They both looked to the window when the clopping of hooves could be heard outside, to see a carriage drawn by two horses approaching.


    Gadalik moved to go out, but his mother stopped him. She opened the door and yelled, "Hey! This is private property; you''re not allowed here!"


    The horses stopped in front of her house. The teen worriedly tried to pull Glacia back inside, fearing for her safety, but the woman wouldn''t budge.


    A bronze-skinned man, wearing a maroon vest over a white tank, and with a blue-violet scarf the same color as his mohawked hair wrapped around his neck trailing behind him, stepped down from the coach''s seat. "Then why did you give me the key?"


    "Gale!" She raced to her boyfriend and jumped into his arms. "You had me worried sick! What were you doing all this time?"


    "Negotiating." He gestured to his ride. "It''s all ours."


    "The horses too?" Gadalik asked, leaving the porch to join his parents. He approached one, a dappled light gray stallion with white mane and feathering, holding a hand out to its muzzle.


    It sniffed him, then pushed its snout affectionately into his palm, nearly knocking him over from the force. He chuckled and scratched the sides of its head.


    "Yep. I think I''ll keep the mare for myself, but you can have the carriage and stallion," his father answered.


    "Aww! They''re so cute," Glacia gushed. "How much were they?"


    "I managed to haggle them down to a fair price. I named the mare Aristella. Gadalik, would you want to name yours?"


    His son gave it some thought, still petting the dappled gray horse. "How about¡­ Punsiv."


    "Nice."


    Glacia turned to her boyfriend. "Well? What are we waiting for? Let''s take them for a ride!"


    "Sure." The scarved man returned to the coach''s seat and took the reins in hand.


    Gadalik got in the back, and so did his mother. As they headed for the nearest town, he leaned on top of the door, admiring the speed at which they were travelling.


    His father noticed, then grinned, whipping the reins gently to send the trotting horses to a gallop.


    Glacia whooped as they raced down the worn, snow-fallen dirt road, her son laughing with excitement as the hooves and wheels kicked up slush around them. The wind swept his striped green hair back, and he breathed in the crisp cold air.


    He remembered treading through this route last winter, on foot, to help the spirit of a little girl the next town over. He was grateful to have his family with him this time, and that he now had new transportation.


    They passed through the town''s gates before they knew it. Gale slowed down to give the steeds a break. "What say we grab something to eat?"


    "Yeah, I was so worried about you that I forgot about lunch," Glacia admitted.


    "Then it''s settled. Let''s find a place." He got them going at a leisurely pace until they reached a three-star restaurant. He took care of the horses outside, and they all went in to be assigned a seat. Everything on the menu looked great and was priced reasonably. "It''s my treat."


    "You''re the best," his girlfriend chimed.


    "Hi, there! New faces, I see," the waitress greeted them. "Are you here for the performance, too?"


    "What performance?"


    "There''s a traveling stuntman setting up a course for this afternoon. Lots of tourists are coming to see him."


    "That sounds like fun! What do you boys think?"


    "Well¡­" Gale seemed hesitant.


    "I''ll pay for it," Glacia offered. "Gadalik, you''d like to see it too, right?"


    "S-sure," her son answered. He was confused by his father''s reluctance.


    They arrived at the site to find ramps lined up from lowest to steepest, the spaces in between increasingly more distant and elevated, filled with hoops to fly through. There were trailers stationed in the back, guarded by security. Workers were securing the ramps and obstacles, following the directions of a tall man dressed in a crimson leather jacket the same color as his hair. A short red cape hung from his shoulders, ending just past his red-buckled black belt, blown back by the breeze.


    "I''m counting on you all," he was saying.


    "Gadolinium, there appears to be bystanders. Shall I ask them to leave?" a security member asked him, gesturing toward the family.


    Gadolinium noticed them, his green gaze settling on the bounty hunter. For once, the stuntman seemed at a loss for words, trying to keep that confident grin despite the bead of sweat forming at his temple. "No, no, good sir; invite them over!"


    Gale let out a breath and turned his back to him, walking off.


    "Where are you going?" Glacia asked. "He''s famous, isn''t he? We should go meet him!"


    "That''s probably not a good idea¡­" her boyfriend warned her.


    "Alright, mister, what''s gotten into you?"


    Gale bit his lip.


    "Fine. Stay here if you want. I''m going to try for an autograph; maybe it''ll sell." She followed the security guard toward the celebrity.


    "Good luck with that," he muttered under his breath.


    Gadalik looked between his parents, indecisive.


    "Oh¡­ Go ahead if you want," his father encouraged.


    "No, thanks¡­ You seem to know something about him. I trust you," the teen said.


    Gale patted his head lightly. "It''s nothing for you to worry about."


    "Then what is it...?"


    "Gale, I got his autograph!" Glacia sang, running up to show it off.


    "Really? That''s unlike him," her boyfriend said, amazed.


    "And it''s unlike you to show up," Gadolinium retorted, having followed the woman to them. "It''s been a long time. You should''ve told me you''d be here; I would''ve sent a chauffeur."


    Gale froze.


    "What''s the matter? Have I left you speechless?" he laughed.


    "No¡­ The words I''m looking for, I can''t say, because they aren''t appropriate for my son to hear," the bounty hunter replied with a halfhearted chuckle.


    The corners of the taller man''s mouth dropped. "...Son?"


    The teenager raised his hand shyly. "Th-that would be me."


    Gadolinium gave the spook an unimpressed once-over. "Isn''t he a little old to be your son?"


    "Excuse you," Glacia huffed. "Gadalik is still our son even if it''s not by blood."


    The stuntman looked between the parents. "...Huh. I never took him for a family-man." There was an edge in his voice.


    Gadalik remembered what his father had revealed to him in a recent conversation: "And unlike Glacia, I never planned on having kids."


    "What would you know?" she said indignantly. "You''re just some stuck-up celebrity!"


    "What?" The green-eyed man seemed shocked. "After all those years, he''s never even mentioned me? Frankly, that hurts."


    "Years? Gale, what is he talking about?"


    Her boyfriend heaved a dismissive sigh. "Don''t worry about it. It''s over with¡­thankfully."


    The daredevil scoffed. "What''s your problem? Still upset about your father?"


    Gale didn''t bother looking his way, turning back to the horses. "Don''t you have a show to prepare for? Or are you here to apologize?"


    The taller man retreated a step, opening his mouth to respond, but then closing it.


    "...Did we miss something?" Glacia commented.


    Gadolinium straightened up. "Not at all!" he exclaimed, as if addressing a crowd. "He''s right: I do need to prepare. But you''re all invited to my trailer afterward. I''ll see you there, my good fellows!"


    After he strode away, she turned to Gale. "What was that all about?"


    He patted the horse''s neck, then finally faced them. "Remember what I told you before we got serious?"


    She looked at their son, unsure if she should share it. "Yeah. What about it? You trust me, don''t you?"


    "Of course. It took me long enough, after what he put me through."


    "You mean...that was your ex?"


    He nodded. "I''ll respect your decision to watch his performance, but count me out. Too much of my time was wasted on him already; I don''t need to add to it."


    "Ex?" Gadalik echoed. "What happened?"


    "Nothing, for the past eight years. And I want to keep it that way."


    "It kind of sounded like he wants to make amends¡­"


    "Don''t be fooled. He doesn''t know how to."


    "But eight years can change a person, don''t you think?"


    "Not him."


    "How do you know?"


    "...I guess I don''t. But I''m not interested in finding out."


    "What about closure? This might be something more important to you than you realize¡­ I''ve seen ghosts who''d rather be stuck on earth forever than make up with an ex partner, and I don''t want that for you¡­"


    Gale laughed genuinely, and ruffled his son''s hair. "You worry too much. If it''ll help you feel better, I''ll talk to him after the show, alright?"


    "You''re not trying to get them back together, are you?" Glacia asked her son, hurt by the thought.


    "They were friends before partners!" Gadalik reminded her. "Who says they can''t be friends again?"


    Gadolinium rode down the final ramp, the end of it sending him up towards the flaming hoop.


    The motorcycle didn''t make it far enough. It was falling just shy of reaching it. Gadolinium gasped through his teeth, then stood on the seat of the bike and launched himself off of it, diving through the fire and landing at a slight angle on his forefeet with his knees slightly bent before tucking into a ball to roll with the impact. He stood upright, then bowed as the crowd cheered. After thanking them for showing up, his crew collected the motorcycle and Gadolinium basked in the applause for moments longer before heading back to his trailer.


    Glacia clicked her tongue. "That was a bit overboard. He could''ve stayed on the motorbike and that would''ve sufficed."


    "I think that was the plan¡­ Something went wrong," Gale said quietly.


    "Well? Should we check on him?"


    "Err¡­" The bounty hunter glanced toward his son, whose big blue eyes shone pleadingly. "Alright."


    "This is the third time in a row something has gone wrong," Gadolinium was saying, frustrated. "Everything was prepared before we started. There''s no reason for this¡­!"


    "It must be the new-hire, sir," said one of the stage crew. "She found out your motorbike had a small leak in it. We believe it was intentional."


    "Of course¡­" he sighed. "Vanessa?"


    "Yes, sir?" answered a woman with olive hair.


    "I''ll have you know I checked everything before the show started, and there were no leaks. Things have been going wrong at the last second, ever since we hired you a few months back. Tell me¡­ Are you bad luck?"


    "Luck, sir? I don''t know if such a thing exists¡­"


    "I suppose you''re right. Now run along; go tell the others I''m on the verge of firing you, so they''ll quit telling me to."


    Vanessa let out a relieved breath. "Yes, sir. Thank you, sir!" She passed the trio coming in as she left.


    "Gadolinium?" Gadalik called as he and his family entered.


    "Hey, you made it!" The man tucked his longer bang behind his ear as he stood to greet them. "How did you like the performance? A slight setback, at the end, but it added to the stakes, I feel."


    "You sprained your ankle, didn''t you," Gale stated.


    "What?"


    "I can tell from how you were walking¡­ Trying not to limp, but you were still favoring your left foot."


    Gadolinium seemed shocked at first, then laughed. "I''m surprised you noticed."


    "Well¡­ When you find yourself facing off with people on the regular, you actively look for any disadvantage they might have for you to exploit."


    "Still a scrapper, huh?"


    "I''ve made it my career," the bounty hunter chuckled.


    "Remember that time you stood up to our neighborhood bully when we were kids? Twisted his wrist so hard he cried for his mother!"


    "It was either that, or let him punch your pretty little face in...which, looking back, I get why he wanted to."


    "Ouch. Well it looks like people have already punched your face in."


    Gale laughed. "I''m sure you do as well, underneath all of that stage makeup."


    He grinned. "That''s why I never leave without it!"


    "You seem to be having fun," Gadalik remarked, smiling at the two.


    "Err, yes¡­ Your...family," Gadolinium said, glancing uncertainly at them. "Forgive me; I don''t recall your names."


    The green-haired teen stepped forward, offering a hand. "My name''s Gadalik. I''m a spook...off-duty at the moment," he said, clutching the nullifier through his red plaid shirt''s collar with his other hand. "Gale''s been a father to me for five years...even if it''s not entirely official yet."


    Gadolinium shook his hand firmly. "Well met! Of course you all know my name. But you can call me Linny for short."


    "Sure thing, Linny. This is Glacia," he continued, gesturing to the woman with a short yellow dress under a long sky-blue cardigan with dark purple trim, her hands gripping the strap to her shining gold leather crossbody purse. "She''s been my mother for eight years."


    Glacia glared at the daredevil, suspicious, with irises as red as her lipstick.


    "My sincerest apologies for my behavior during our initial introduction, madam," Linny addressed her. "It is a great pleasure to meet you."


    "...Madam?" she echoed, caught off-guard by his sudden politeness. She glanced at her boyfriend.


    Gale gave an ever-so-slight shake of his head.


    "A beautiful one, at that," Linny added. He spun on his heel to head toward the door. "Well, it was wonderful to meet you all again. If fate will have it, I''ll be seeing you after the cleanup--ack!" The second he put weight on his right foot, he resiled.


    "Sir, are you alright?" one of the crew asked.


    "Peachy," the green-eyed man answered through gritted teeth. He sat down, massaging his ankle.


    Gale approached him, crouching to inspect his ex''s injury. "It''s a bad sprain...but it''s nothing serious. You''ll be fine. Just put a brace on it to prevent it from worsening, since you and I both know you aren''t going to stay off it."


    "A brace? Leave it to me," Glacia chimed in, withdrawing a first aid kit from her purse.


    "My, aren''t you the prepared one?" Linny said, impressed.


    She laughed. "With how often these two get hurt, someone has to be." The woman took a compression wrap from the kit and doctored his ankle. "That oughta keep it straight enough to let it heal, while also flexible enough to walk on."


    He stood, testing his weight on it. "This is miraculous! You have my wholehearted gratitude, madam. If there is any way I may return the favor, be sure to enlighten me."


    She smiled. "Charming, aren''t you?"


    "Only to those I deem worthy."


    Glacia blushed.


    "How much longer will you be in town, Linny?" Gadalik asked.


    "I planned on packing up at first light," the oldest man answered. "But with the saboteurs, and my ankle being...as it is¡­ I can postpone my next show and perhaps reconnect with Gale. If he will allow me to do so, that is."


    They all turned to the bounty hunter. Gadalik''s striped blue eyes looked pleadingly at his father, who gave a sigh of defeat.


    "Fine by me," Gale complied with obviously-forced enthusiasm.


    "We can help clean up if you''d like," Gadalik offered.


    "Be my guest," the Linny invited.


    They joined him on the set. From the crowd it looked much smaller. Gadalik was amazed by the sheer size of it; the ramp yet to be put away loomed over him. The hoop was being dismantled by the crew; others were wheeling the obstacles away.


    "Send my bike for repairs, my good man," the stuntman directed.


    "Right away, sir."


    As the spook took the jack to wheel the final ramp to the rest of them, he heard a faint creak, and paused to listen.


    It grew louder.


    He looked toward the sound to see the ramp tipping his way, slowly at first until gravity sped it up. His heart skipped a beat and he found himself unable to move.


    "Look out, kid!" Linny pulled him back just as the scaffolds gave way and the ramp toppled over with a loud crash where the teen had been standing.


    "What on earth happened?" Glacia demanded, embracing her shocked son protectively.


    "Someone must''ve loosened the bolts," Linny muttered.


    "Someone¡­ Y-you mean the saboteurs?" Gadalik asked.


    "Most likely. It''s strange¡­ I''ve been cautious ever since the first incident occurred. I made sure my bike had fuel and that the ramps were safe beforehand... Yet somehow everything goes awry at the last minute."


    "So abandoning your bike like that wasn''t part of the show?" Glacia concluded. "I knew that was a bit much."


    "I improvised."


    "Do you have an idea of who might want to sabotage you?" the youngest prompted.


    "I trust my team with my life," Linny said, "mainly because my life actually does depend on them keeping everything in order. The fact that I''m currently alive is a testament to their devotion throughout the years. So of course they blame the new-hire Vanessa, but¡­"


    "But?"


    "Since they started bringing attention to her, I''ve kept her at arm''s length from anything and everything crucial."


    "Hm¡­ Could it be a deranged fan?" Glacia suggested.


    "I doubt it. We travel, so unless they somehow followed us all this time unnoticed for the last three months, I''m going to rule that out."


    "Do you have any enemies, or people who might want to hurt you?" the teen wondered.


    Gale laughed. "Only everyone who''s met him personally."


    Linny scoffed. "Again, I trust my crew, and they''re the only ones who''ve been around during every incident."


    "Well, let''s get out of here before someone gets hurt," Glacia said, grabbing her son by the elbow to guide him off the set.


    "You don''t have to tell me twice." Her boyfriend followed suit.


    "W-wait!" Gadalik cried.


    Glacia paused, letting him go.


    "Linny, come with us," he invited. "I have shield tags, among others, to help keep you safe if your stalker comes after you. We would need to make a quick stop at our motel so I can grab them. That way, you could maybe join us for dinner¡­? I-if that''s alright with my parents."


    Gale hesitated. "¡­Sure."


    "If you insist," Linny obliged. "It would be a good chance to catch up on the years passed. I''ll even pay."


    Glacia perked up at the offer. "Sounds good to me!"


    "Uh... I''m not sure you''d want to do that," Gale warned him. "Our bill might be higher than you''d think."


    "Nonsense," Linny scoffed. "I can afford it."


    "If you say so."


    The horses greeted Gale with cheerful nickers as he gave them each an affectionate rub on their necks before getting in the coach''s seat. Linny moved to sit beside Gale in the front, but the latter quickly leaned over the seat to call back, "Gadalik, would you want to sit up here with me?"


    The teen looked between the two. He preferred staying in the back, feeling safer there. But he didn''t want his father to be uncomfortable, either. Although perhaps it would be a start at rekindling their past friendship, which he wanted to encourage.


    When his son didn''t to answer, Gale exhaled and freed the seat for Gadolinium. The others got in the back, and with a gentle whip of the reins, they were off.


    "So...how did you and Gale meet?" Glacia asked Linny curiously.


    "Hm. It was a bright summer day when Gale moved into my neighborhood. I was nine years old and he was eight. Would you believe he used to be taller than me?" Linny chuckled.


    "Really? Huh. Never underestimate the power of growth spurts," Glacia laughed. "I remember when Gadalik had one. It felt like it was overnight when he was suddenly half a foot taller."


    "You sure? He''s still short," Linny commented.


    "Excuse me?" she gasped, staring daggers at him.


    "Everyone is short compared to you," Gale defended his son with a dismissive laugh.


    "S-so about how you met," Gadalik interrupted, trying to keep things from escalating.


    "Oh, yes," Linny said. "Gale and I hit it off from the start. He was the only one who never seemed to get upset when I spoke. Every other kid on the block kept their distance from me."


    "Gee, I wonder why," she muttered sarcastically.


    "Well, there was Harry," Gale reminded him.


    Linny rubbed his chin. "Harry¡­? Oh! I''d forgotten his name."


    "Who''s that?" the teen prompted.


    "He was a twelve-year-old who used to torment everyone. And I''m not one to endure that, let alone sit back and watch others suffer," his father continued. "So of course when I first saw him go after someone--Linny--I fought back."


    "Heh. Harry was so humiliated to have lost the fight that he retreated to his house for an entire week," the other man laughed.


    "He hadn''t picked a fight with us since."


    "Well¡­ Yes, that is, when you were around," the older male corrected him. "When you weren''t, it was a different story."


    "...What? Why didn''t anyone tell me?"


    "The others were probably threatened into silence. As for me, I tried to fight back but realized I''m more nimble than strong. So instead I managed to avoid him until you''d return. Even then, he''d give me rather unsettling looks whenever he''d pass."


    "I wonder what drove him to act like that in the first place," Gadalik murmured.


    "Well it''s not like we can ask him. The unfortunate fellow grew sick and died a few months back, at the young age of thirty-one."


    "Thirty-one?" Glacia shuddered. "That''s only four years older than you are, Gale¡­"


    "And three years older than Linny. At least we know who will go first," Gale joked, quickly adding, "Sorry...that was in poor taste. None of us will be dying anytime soon, if I can help it."


    "I''ll take your word for that, what with my saboteurs still amuck," the stuntman said. "I could use your scrappiness to fend them off, if it ever comes to that...just like old times."


    "Count on it."


    They stopped at their motel and Gadalik hopped out of the carriage. "I''ll be right back," he promised, and went in. He paused at the door of his room, and felt tense. It was purely physical, however. Weird¡­ Usually this happens as an emotional response, but I''m in a good mood right now. He glanced over his shoulder, not knowing what to expect.


    Nobody was there.


    He shook his head and unlocked the door, grabbing the duffel bag containing his spooks'' supplies from the floor by the coat rack, and quickly shut it and left, not wanting to linger when the feeling unnerved him. On his way out, he spotted a woman with olive hair and golden eyes walking past him, going in. She looked familiar but he didn''t give it a second thought, climbing back into the carriage.


    "...Do you have any more things to tell me about Gale''s childhood?" Glacia was saying, leaning forward. Her boyfriend seemed somewhat embarrassed.


    "You know, it was the funniest thing," the oldest man answered, "that everyone in the neighborhood had respect for him but not me. And all the girls had crushes on him, despite how oblivious he was. I admit I was a tad jealous."


    "I wasn''t oblivious. I was just happy enough with you," Gale stated as a matter of fact, steering the horses back to the street.


    Linny seemed surprised by the revelation. "That''s the nicest thing you''ve said to me all day."


    "Don''t get used to it," the scarved man half-jokingly replied. "The keyword here is ''was.''"


    He leaned back and crossed his legs. "Why do you rebuke me?"


    "I don''t. I was kidding."


    "I could tell you meant it. I just don''t get why; I never did anything to you."


    The bounty hunter suddenly clenched the reins tighter, clearly disagreeing. They were almost past a fancy restaurant when Gale turned the carriage around, soothing the horses to a stop outside of it.


    Glacia whistled. "Looks expensive."


    "That''s the point," her boyfriend muttered.


    Their son winced, remembering who had offered to pay.


    They got out; Gadalik grabbed the duffel bag that his staff and tags were in, carrying it inside with him. Even with the nullifier, the tags could be used so long as they were applied to something enchanted, such as the wood of his weapon.


    "So...I think that''s enough about me," Linny said once they were seated. "Tell me, how did you meet Gale?"


    "Gadalik often travels far to reach haunted locations, and so I escort him," Glacia explained. "We first saw him turning some guy in the sheriff''s office and, honestly, I couldn''t get him out of my mind since. The third time we encountered each other, I asked him out. We''ve been together for five years."


    "Five years? Hah. We''ve had seven...unofficially."


    "We can''t make time go any faster," she said defensively. "Just you wait. We''ll be in this for life."


    "Yeah, that''s what I thought, too."


    The woman put her menu down to glare at him. "And you think you compare to me?"


    "I''m just sayin''. I don''t even see a ring."


    "And I suppose you had one?"


    "Of course."


    The purple-haired woman turned her boyfriend, speechless.


    "That''s exactly why rings don''t prove anything," Gale pointed out. "Just look at us now, with no contact for eight years. A ring couldn''t prevent that."


    Now it was Linny''s turn to be offended. "It proves intent."


    "Actions are more important. Seven years is a long time, sure, but I left when I was nineteen. Being young and naive, I overlooked a lot of red flags in hopes that things could last forever, that I never had to overlook with anyone since. We don''t need a ring to show we care. But we have the rest of our lives to get one."


    She clung to him and stuck her tongue out at the oldest man.


    He scoffed and crossed his arms. "Red flags? What are you saying? I never did anything wrong!"


    "Red flag number one: refusing to acknowledge wrongdoings," Gale laughed rather scornfully.


    "I beg to differ. I can acknowledge yours plenty."


    "Red flag number two: being combative."


    The green-eyed man leaned back in surrender. "Come on, now¡­ Give me a break."


    "Red flag number three: making me out to be the one in the wrong."


    "Are you done yet?" he huffed.


    "Dad...you kind of do seem to be the one on the attack, here... at least right now," Gadalik informed him.


    Gale shrugged. "Hey, he quite literally asked for it."


    "Well, what say we all enjoy our meals for now," Linny suggested, eager to shift the topic away from himself.


    Gadalik felt bad for how much every little thing cost. He ended up getting the cheapest item on the menu, and sipped on water after finishing it. While he waited on the others, he took in his surroundings, then noticed a lone woman, perhaps his mother''s age, discreetly watching them.


    He recognized her as the olive-haired female he''d seen at the motel. With a clear head, he finally remembered who she was: Vanessa, the stagehand who had passed them after the show. When she saw he was looking at her, she quickly glanced away, her golden eyes staring intently at the menu.


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    Gale got a basic meal of meat and potatoes, which wasn''t that expensive compared to everything else. Glacia, on the other hand, nearly bled the celebrity dry with the sheer amount of deserts she picked out. Even people from other tables were eyeing the growing stacks of empty plates and bowls she left.


    "This is--the best," she said between mouthfuls.


    Gadalik shrunk in his chair with embarrassment from the attention, while his father laughed and picked some cake off her plate to try.


    "I didn''t expect such a monstrous appetite from a small woman," Linny remarked, dreadingly counting the dollars in his wallet. "She eats like she''s rich."


    "My mom is rich, actually," the teen told him. "She''s descended from royalty, and the sole heir to their wealth and treasures."


    "Is that so? Then perhaps I should have offered to split the bill instead of covering the entirety of it¡­"


    "Too late," she sharply denied him.


    When she finally finished, Linny forked over a stack of cash, barely enough to cover the cost, and Gale added a generous tip.


    "Are you rich, too?" the stuntman asked.


    "Not quite," the bounty hunter replied. "Lately I''ve been working for artifacts instead of money. But you''d be surprised at how much the rewards can be for the wanted."


    They left the building, stopping just before reaching their carriage.


    "I''ll be staying at this hotel for the next few days, if you''d want to stop by," Linny welcomed them, fishing out a brochure from his pocket. "Farewell for now, my good fellows."


    "Stay safe," Gadalik called after him.


    "Well...I had a good time, at least after he stopped talking," Glacia chimed, patting her belly with satisfaction. "How about you two?"


    "It went better than I expected it to," Gale admitted, "although that isn''t saying much."


    "What were you expecting?" his son wondered.


    "Him to drive you two out of the restaurant. But Glacia handled him like a champ."


    "Why, thank you," she giggled.


    "I...think we should visit him tomorrow, if only to make sure nobody hurts him," Gadalik said quietly. "That ramp falling could have been fatal, especially had it happened while he was on it during the show. Whoever''s after him isn''t playing around¡­"


    "It could''ve really hurt you, too," his mother agreed, angry on his behalf. "That makes it personal."


    "Then we''ll check on him tomorrow," Gale gave in.


    They made it to their reserved motel, which was a bit run down, but cozy. Gadalik had his own room while his parents shared another.


    He went to lay down in bed, recounting the stories of his father''s youth. Unable to sleep for his curiosity--and hunger, from the small portion he''d eaten at the restaurant--he climbed out of bed and left his room, heading for his parents''.


    "Dad...?" he called in a loud whisper, knocking lightly. Unlike his mother, the bounty hunter was a light sleeper.


    After a few seconds, the door opened. "Gadalik?" the man yawned. "What is it, bud?"


    "I was thinking¡­ About Harry¡­ I mean¡­ What happened to him¡­?"


    "Linny said he died."


    Gadalik shook his head. "Before that. He terrorized the kids in your neighborhood, but did he ever stop?"


    His father rubbed his eyes, humming thoughtfully. "He and I did fight a few more times later on, mostly since I intended to--tried to, at least--protect everyone else. I managed to fend him off every time, but after news got around that he was moving away, he pulled a last hurrah."


    "How so¡­?"


    "I was taking the trash out as I usually did, the night before he moved. That''s when he ambushed me. Hurt me pretty bad. It was the first time he actually bested me," Gale admitted. "I haven''t told Linny about that, though, so keep it between us¡­"


    The spook nodded.


    "I haven''t seen Harry since. He moved, and that was that."


    "I see¡­"


    He yawned again. "Is that all you wanted to know?"


    "Y-yes, thank you¡­"


    "Then I''m going back to sleep¡­ Goodnight. I''m here if you need anything."


    "I know. Goodnight," Gadalik said, and returned to his room. His father made sure he made it inside safely before shutting the door.


    Upon his stomach growling, the teen went to the fridge and reached for the bag of apples he''d brought with him, rinsing one off at the sink to snack on. His nullifier glinted in the fruit''s reflection. Wait! Harry died around the same time Vanessa was hired¡­ If Vanessa really is innocent, then perhaps Harry''s spirit is to blame? The nullifier works so well that I forgot ghosts existed¡­


    Gadalik remembered the instructions on how to safely remove the enchanted pendant, and placed it on the middle of his chest as he attempted to channel his magic into it. It can take up to ten minutes. He was too high-strung to eat as he impatiently counted the seconds, his mind reflecting on that day''s events for clues. He remembered the ramp nearly falling on him; he had assumed it was a belated result of the saboteur''s attempt to harm Linny during the show, but now he wondered if he himself had been the target instead.


    "Geez, Gadalik, have you slept at all?" Glacia gasped upon seeing the dark rings around her son''s eyes the next morning. "What were you doing all night?"


    "Worrying," he answered honestly. "I can''t stop thinking about that saboteur. I have a bad feeling that Linny''s in danger¡­ Perhaps we all are. We need to check on him as soon as possible--"


    "Relax, bud. Accidents happen. That doesn''t inherently mean somebody caused them," Gale pointed out. "You know me: I''m always on the lookout. If someone were after us, I would''ve noticed."


    Am I reading too far into things? No--I can''t take any chances. "That''s just it: you can''t notice ghosts. Only I can, but the nullifier would prevent me from it as well. If he''s being haunted...I think the saboteur might be Harry''s gh--ughn¡­" His stomach growled rather loudly, and he winced from a sudden cramp.


    "Did you eat at all?!" his mother cried. "Forget about Linny and ghosts and saboteurs or whatever! Come on. There''s a cafe in the lobby." She practically dragged him there.


    "I''ll catch up," Gale called after them, seeming thoughtful.


    The spook sat with his mother at the table. Vanessa was also the one who found out the fuel leaked on the ramp...just before the ramp fell. And she''s the one who saw that the fuel leaked in the first place, when it nearly caused Linny to crash. Perhaps she saw the real culprit in action, ghost or not.


    "What do you want for breakfast?" Glacia asked him.


    Her son stared at the menu, then caught himself zoning out. He sighed and slid it to her. "You can order for me."


    She eyed him worriedly, but chose pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream for the both of them. "Would you want to take a nap after we eat?"


    He shook his head. "There''s no time. Who knows when--or who--they''ll target next. We need to check on Linny as soon as we ca--" a yawn escaped him.


    Glacia pulled out her enchanted pocket watch. "Time won''t be an issue if we slow it down enough."


    Right¡­ He remembered how she''d first used it to let him recover from overusing his magic. Without his nullifier, he could feel the faint presence of distant spirits as usual, and his eyes were keen to the plane of existence ghosts retreated to when invisible. Gadalik looked out the window toward the nearest one.


    "Don''t even think about it, mister," she chided. "You can''t face any ghosts if you haven''t slept!"


    "Err¡­ I guess you''re right. But we can''t use the watch either; it''ll shorten your lifespan, so we should only use it if we absolutely need to. We''ll check on Linny¡­ Then, once I know he''s okay, I''ll get some rest. Alright?"


    She sighed. "If that''s what it''ll take, so be it."


    The pancakes arrived.


    Gadalik felt better once he finally got some food in him. He paced himself since he knew that eating as quickly as he had the urge to would make it hard to keep down.


    Gale came in. "After I feed the horses, we can leave whenever you''re ready, bud."


    They finished eating and began to leave when he saw the golden-eyed woman take a seat a few tables away.


    "What is it?" Glacia asked, following his gaze.


    "The one, over there¡­ I''m certain she''s in Linny''s crew. M-maybe she knows something about the saboteur. I¡­ I''m going to go ask."


    She reluctantly agreed, keeping an eye on her son as he approached the woman.


    "Hi, there. Vanessa, right? I saw you leave Gadolinium''s trailer yesterday. My name''s Gadalik," he introduced himself.


    "Ah, yes, you''re the boy Linny mentioned. Gale''s kid, right?" she replied, gesturing for him to sit across from her.


    He hesitantly obliged. "Y-yeah. How did you know?"


    "Ever since the intermission, Gale was all he talked about. His mind was blown from finding out he had a family. ''Make sure everything''s perfect!'' he told us. ''I can''t afford any mishaps in front of them!''"


    "But...there was a mishap," Gadalik reminded her.


    "Oh...you noticed? He salvaged it wonderfully, though, didn''t he?"


    "Y-yeah. I was just wondering if you knew what caused it."


    "I found a leak in his bike''s fuel tank. It must have lost too much to reach the hoop."


    "S-so I''ve heard¡­ But...leaks don''t just happen, you know? Gado--err, Linny--said there was a saboteur. Do you...have an idea of who it might be?"


    "Not a clue," she sighed.


    "Is there any reason you can think of why one of your coworkers might have it out for him?"


    "Not at all! Linny may not be the most respectful guy, but he pays us more than enough to compensate for that," she explained. Then she looked down almost guiltily. "I''ve only worked for him for a few months, so maybe I don''t know him well enough to gauge this yet, but...it''s almost as if he doesn''t care how much he profits from his shows; a good percentage of it always goes to us."


    "I see¡­" That''s why she could afford to eat at that fancy restaurant. "So...what brings you to this motel?"


    "It''s the cheapest place that isn''t infested with bugs," she laughed. "I splurged on dinner last night, but normally I try to be frugal."


    "Why the splurge?"


    "W-well, to be completely honest¡­ I was following Linny. I-I just wanted to make sure he was alright--w-with the saboteur after him!"


    The spook tilted his head slightly. Is that really the reason?


    "Gadalik, your father''s waiting on us," Glacia called.


    "Coming," he answered. "It was nice officially meeting you, Vanessa. I''ll...see you around."


    "See ya."


    He followed them outside toward the carriage, when Gadalik felt the presence of a spirit grow closer. The spook opened the door to get in, then hesitated halfway when he realized it wasn''t changing direction. "W-wait, Dad¡­"


    "Hm?" Gale looked back. "What is it?"


    The teen found himself paralyzed. Instinct told him to run, but he wanted to be certain whether it was truly after him or not. He stared off, trying to get a visual on it. While he could tell which were closer and farther than the others, he hadn''t honed his sense enough to gauge how far they were location-wise.


    The man got out and went to check on him. "Everything alright?"


    The presence became overwhelming, but his father unintentionally blocked his sight.


    At that moment the horses panicked and charged forward at full speed.


    Gadalik was completely caught off-guard and didn''t have time to find a proper hold on the carriage; he felt his mother''s hand grip his sleeve from the seat beside him, but the fabric ripped and he fell out backward into oncoming traffic, hitting his head harshly on the road.


    He must have blacked out for several seconds; he came to, disoriented and shaken with his head throbbing. Rolling over and getting unsteadily on his hands and knees, the teen looked up to find Glacia had taken the reins to stop their horses, then got out and rushed toward her son.


    His relief was short-lived when he heard hooves from a stranger''s cart quickly approaching. He held his hand out toward it and attempted to summon a shield. Magic sparked from his palm, when his vision blurred and he felt too heavy to hold his position. Sinking to the ground, he squeezed his eyes shut, bracing himself.


    The next thing he knew, there was silence aside from the ringing in his ears. He felt someone take hold of him; he opened his eyes to find they were moving at normal speed through a world that was still. "Mom?"


    Time resumed when he was out of harm''s way, and he confirmed it was Glacia, the chain of her enchanted watch wrapped around her wrist. She set him down to check him over. "Are you okay?!" she cried. "You''re bleeding¡­!"


    "I am¡­?" He felt the back of his head; it was dry.


    She withdrew a handkerchief from her purse and pressed it under his nose. He held it there, then inspected it, surprised to affirm that the white cloth was turning red from the contact.


    "Are you guys alright?" Gale called as he ran to their side.


    "I-I think so¡­" his son stammered uncertainly.


    "You don''t look so good¡­ Come on, there''s a clinic up the road. Let''s get you checked out."


    Gadalik didn''t protest. He moved to follow them back to the carriage, but stumbled at the first step.


    "Careful," Glacia said, steadying him.


    Despite his mother''s help, he couldn''t balance. He didn''t make it very far before he was too exhausted to keep standing.


    She looked back at him, concerned. "What''s the matter?"


    "I''m just...really tired," Gadalik mumbled. The blood-stained cloth fell from his hand and he collapsed.


    "Whoa, there!" His father caught him.


    His sight became clouded and he felt Gale''s hold on him tighten.


    "Gadalik! Stay with me, bud¡­!" The uncharacteristic panic in his voice was enough to jolt his son out of it, if only briefly.


    Despite the teen''s effort to keep conscious, his injury combined with the lack of sleep made it impossible.


    Muffled voices became somewhat clearer. Gadalik recognized them as his parents''. He forced his eyes open, then groaned and held his aching head from how bright everything was.


    "Hey, bud," Gale said from beside him. "How are you feeling¡­?"


    The teen tried to sit up, but began falling back, propping himself on his arms. He was on a bed in a small room with medical equipment lining the walls. "Where am I¡­?"


    "The nearest clinic."


    "Is he up again?" Glacia called, then hesitantly approached their son. "Hey, big guy¡­! Do you know what month and year it is¡­?"


    What kind of question is that? "N-November--the sixth¡­ Nineteen fifty-seven. Why? H-how long was I out?!"


    Gale laughed. "I assure you it hasn''t been a year--only a couple hours. You did wake up a few times before now, but you were confused, and asked the same questions each time before passing out again," Gale informed him. "You were saying something about a ghost being nearby as well. I noticed you''re not wearing the nullifier; maybe you weren''t delusional."


    "Really? Huh. I don''t recall any of that..."


    "What''s the last thing you do remember?" his mother prompted.


    His mind was still hazy. "We were in the carriage¡­ A-and¡­ there was a ghost--coming right for us¡­!"


    "A ghost? Is that what the problem was?" Gale figured.


    The younger male nodded. "It must have spooked the horses...I''d fallen out of the carriage. We were going to check on Linny¡­! H-have we heard from him at all?"


    "Who cares about him," she snapped. "You''re hurt!"


    "I care¡­!" Gadalik forced himself to his feet. "None of these incidents were accidental¡­ His bike, the ramp...this--" He shook his head, then winced from the motion. "I think...that ghost is trying to kill us¡­ Gadolinium might be dead right now for all we know¡­! We have to--get going--" a wave of dizziness washed over him and he tipped over.


    "Relax, bud," Gale said, holding him up and gently guiding him back to the bed. "I called him and he''s on his way here right now."


    Gadalik sighed heavily. He didn''t sense a spirit nearby, so that was one less thing to worry about at the moment. Glancing once more at his surroundings, he wondered, "Why ask me the date¡­?"


    "You have a severe concussion. They want us to check your memory every now and then¡­ But you''ll be alright. Confused as you were, you answered every question the doctor asked correctly, and your reflexes are fine."


    "A little too fine¡­ Like you were on edge," Glacia added. "Almost kicked the doc''s face in."


    "I-I don''t remember seeing the doctor¡­"


    "That''s to be expected," his father assured him. "You''re doing great, all things considered."


    "Yes, but for how much longer?" she asked her boyfriend. "If a ghost really is after him¡­ Well, I''m not taking any chances. Gadalik, you''re staying in our room tonight. And if anyone comes near you, so help me, I''ll--"


    "We meet again, my good fellows!" Linny burst through the door.


    The woman yelped with surprise, spinning around to kick him with all her might.


    He managed to dodge. "Egads!"


    "D-don''t sneak up on me like that!" she cried. "I could''ve really hurt you--not that I care¡­!"


    "Well, he''s in the right place if he did get hurt," Gale jokingly pointed out.


    "I''m already hurt," Linny replied, gesturing to his ankle. "Now why did you call me here?"


    "My son was worried about you."


    The crimson-haired man turned to the spook, then lifted an eyebrow. "What on earth happened to you?"


    "Never mind me," Gadalik sighed. "Are you okay?"


    "Well, of course! She couldn''t touch me."


    "I don''t mean just now¡­! What about your saboteur?"


    "Not a thing since what happened to the ramp. Why?"


    "Thank goodness," Gadalik breathed. "I¡­ I think your saboteur is targeting both of us. Perhaps you and I could...lure them out, by sticking together for the next few days..."


    "...You mean in that rutty motel?" Linny gasped, disgusted. "And I thought Glacia was rich."


    "I''m rich, but not stupid enough to bankrupt myself on something we''ll only stay in for a few days," she said haughtily.


    "If you''re willing to pay for us to stay in a room at yours, Linny, you''re welcome to," Gale laughed.


    "The nerve! After how much your meals cost..." he grumbled.


    "S-sorry¡­" Gadalik murmured.


    "Huh? For what? You barely ate anything."


    "And just what are you implying?" Glacia huffed.


    "That you''re a glutton," Linny replied simply.


    She recoiled. "W-well you''re a jerk!"


    "Let''s not degrade ourselves with name-calling," Gale sighed.


    "Linny...I was thinking," Gadalik began, "that--if you and I are both targets--it would be better if I...stayed in the same room as you¡­ F-for protection¡­ That is, I''ll protect you, should it come after us. I-I have shield tags."


    Glacia scowled. "Uh-uh. Not a chance; he''s a bad influence."


    "How so? He seems like a nice kid," Linny said..


    She facepalmed and dragged her hand down to pinch the ridge of her nose.


    "You need to be resting for the next couple days," Gale sided with his girlfriend. "And even after that, you''re not meant to exert yourself for the next couple weeks. You''re in no condition to fight."


    I have to try¡­! He moved his legs off the side of the bed, then slowly slid down to stand. The second he was upright, the world seemed to tilt and he caught himself on the mattress.


    "Bed, mister!" his mother demanded.


    For once he didn''t obey her right away, looking up at Linny, who eyed him doubtfully.


    "Gadalik," his mother repeated, stretching the name into a warning.


    He swallowed hard, then righted himself, wobbling for a moment but then standing tall. "I''m alright," he assured her.


    "No, you''re not! You''re lucky I don''t make them keep you here. You think you can face ghosts in your current state?"


    "I can at least use shield spells," he answered, carefully walking toward the door. "All that matters right now is making sure he''s safe¡­"


    "Him? What about you?"


    "I''m fine¡­!" he insisted, turning to look at her. His vision blurred from the motion and lightheadedness returned at full force.


    Gale caught him as he fell over. "You can hardly stand up..." the bounty hunter pointed out quietly. "Know your limits, bud."


    Gadalik looked away from him, remembering the spirit of a little boy he''d helped move on. "How about this¡­ If a ghost comes, I''ll call you. You can use my staff to fight it, while I can tell you where it''s at; I can do that while resting."


    "That could work¡­" The scarved man looked at his girlfriend. "Are we letting him, on those terms?"


    "I guess, if it''ll ease his worries," she gave in. "That boy won''t relax until he knows everyone is safe."


    "Linny?" Gale asked.


    "Fine, he can stay in my room," the taller man agreed. "But what if Gale doesn''t get here in time to help? Mayhaps he should stay with us as well."


    The bounty hunter frowned.


    "Actually...that''s...not a bad idea," Gadalik said.


    "What? Me, staying in the same room as Linny?" His father stared at him incredulously. "You''re...kidding, right?"


    "Please¡­? I can''t do this without you..."


    Gale softened at that. "Alright, bud."


    "Why don''t I join in, while we''re at it?" Glacia threw her pretend-hat in the ring.


    "My place, my rules," Linny put his foot down, then winced from his ankle. "Gale and his kid can stay temporarily. Gale permanently, if he wants to--"


    "Not gonna happen," his ex interrupted. "I''ll stay as long as Gadalik does, but only because he wants me to."


    "Well I''m gonna visit so much I''ll practically live there," she growled at the stuntman.


    "Good luck with that," Linny scoffed. He turned to the other males. "Ready to head back when you are."


    Gadalik leaned on the wall for support as he made his way to the door.


    "I have some things to get from Glacia''s room, and then I''ll meet you guys there," Gale said. "Go on ahead, bud."


    Gadalik managed on his own, occasionally resting against the wall, to follow Linny to his room. The stuntman unlocked it and the spook immediately went to lie down on the red-cushioned golden-rimmed couch, unable to stand for much longer with how dizzy he was.


    "Yes. Sure. Make yourself at home," Linny muttered. "It''s not like I planned to sit there."


    "S-sorry..." The teen forced himself up on his arms, which trembled under his weight. His vision clouded. Gadalik closed his eyes and got to his feet...then collapsed to the floor.


    "Geez, kid, don''t die on me¡­ Come on. Up you go."


    Gadalik felt himself lifted off the ground. Then after a few long strides he was dropped onto a plush mattress.


    "If you''re this tired, you can stay on the bed until I''m ready to sleep," Linny said.


    Gadalik hummed in acknowledgement, then passed out once more.


    He woke up maybe an hour later, more mobile than before thanks to the nap. The teen noticed his duffel bag beside the bed, then retrieved his staff to prop himself up as he made his way back to the living room.


    Linny was on the couch, hunched over a large sheet of graph paper that was spread out on the coffee table in front of him. He was muttering to himself; as Gadalik neared, he could hear numbers and the degrees of angles.


    The stuntman noticed him. "If you''re looking for your father, he went to hang out with Glacia until you woke up," he informed the spook before resuming his calculations.


    The teen hesitated, then peered over the table. There were sketches of ramps, and measurements of them. He was writing out problems. "Is that for your next show?"


    "Yes."


    He isn''t as talkative now that it''s an audience of one, is he, Gadalik thought. He sat down in the chair and watched him do the math. "Trigonometry? And...physics," he recognized the equations.


    "Yes, and yes."


    I guess it''s something he would need to know if he''s dealing with ramps. "You seem like such a natural on set," he commented.


    "A natural? Heh... If only. I work hard to be good at what I do."


    "What motivates you?" he asked curiously.


    The stuntman placed the pencil down and stood up, gesturing widely across the room as if addressing a crowd. "The thrill of the risk! The pride of survival! The recognition of time and effort!" The answer sounded rehearsed.


    "...Do you ever worry about getting hurt, or worse...? I mean¡­ what with your saboteur and all?"


    He paused. "My good fellow¡­ What is death but part of life? Those who fear dying, are afraid of living!" he said in the performance voice Gadalik had grown used to.


    It was such a stark contrast between how he sounded when the teen had first awakened; he now suspected it wasn''t genuine. "Hey¡­ You''re not on set right now. Between you and I...are you okay? I mean...risking your life all the time must take its toll on you. A-and with someone actively trying to harm you¡­"


    Gadolinium exhaled through his nose after a moment, then sat back down. "The recognition makes it worth it," he said, dropping the act. "After all, I managed to draw Gale''s attention again."


    "You two seemed to be having fun together yesterday, even if my father was a bit sore at you. I can see why you''d stay a couple for seven years."


    "Unofficially."


    "R-right¡­ How many, officially?"


    "Six. It just took us until the second year to realize that the first year was romantic."


    "Can I ask what caused the breakup¡­?"


    "His father was killed when he was nineteen. Everything between us fell into a downward spiral after that."


    "Oh¡­"


    He sat back on the couch, arms folded behind his head. "So what''s your story with him?"


    "Me? My mom already told you how we met¡­"


    "Yes, but what made Gale change his mind about kids? Were you just a package-deal with your mother?"


    The spook gaped at him, dumbfounded. His first instinct was to argue, but instead the teen stared at nothing, his entire relationship with his father being put into question. Was I¡­?


    "What?" Linny seemed confused by his reaction.


    Gadalik shook his head, then whimpered in pain from the motion. He rested it in his hands. "It--it hurts¡­"


    "...Kid?"


    "I¡­ I need to lie down¡­" He got to his feet, then staggered, leaning fully on his staff to keep from falling, although he didn''t dare take a step.


    "Geez. C''mere, you. Back to bed." He moved to pick him up, but stopped when the door handle jiggled. Gadalik glanced up to see Gale come in, who stopped in his tracks at the sight, his blue- and red- violet eyes assessing the situation.


    The spook quickly looked away. Then he remembered what happened at his birth-parents'' house. It''s better to talk it out, he decided.


    "I got him," Gale said, picking his son up with one arm behind his shoulders and the other under his knees, then carrying him to the bedroom.


    Once he was settled in bed, the spook gulped, then dared himself to ask, "Why did you change your mind about wanting kids?"


    The bounty hunter was taken aback by the question. "I-I didn''t. I''d still prefer not to have any, for the time being. We''ve been over this before¡­"


    "What about me¡­? Was I just a...a ''package-deal'' with Mom¡­?"


    "Package-deal?" He couldn''t help laughing at how ridiculous that sounded. "What on earth gave you that idea?"


    "Err¡­"


    "It was Linny, wasn''t it," he guessed. "Sounds like something he would say. Don''t take anything that comes out of his mouth to heart; he doesn''t have a filter. As for the answer¡­ You''re different," Gale explained. "You were twelve when we first met--nearly a teenager--not a baby or a toddler."


    True...


    "Of course Glacia wouldn''t date anyone who doesn''t accept you¡­ But remember, I never wanted to be in a serious relationship in the first place, after what happened with Linny. Glacia''s the one who pursued me; if having you as my son were an issue for me, I would''ve rejected her--not the other way around."


    "Oh. Right¡­" Gadalik was slightly embarrassed for forgetting. "S-sorry¡­"


    His father patted his head. "You''re a good kid, Gadalik. As far as deals go with your mother, you''re like a bonus prize."


    The teen felt his cheeks grow warm. "Th-thank you¡­"


    "Now get some rest, bud. I''ll be in the living room if you need me; just say the word." He got up to leave, flicking the light out and glancing back at him in the doorway before exiting, the door partly ajar behind him.


    Gadalik woke up after perhaps a half-hour. He could hear the two men''s voices from the living room, and couldn''t help but listen.


    "...And then the car sped out of my control," Linny was saying. "I nearly ran someone over because the saboteur had cut the brakes. He was fine; I avoided hitting anyone. But, boy, did he make it clear I''d be the one in danger if we ever interacted again."


    "Heh. I''m sure he''s not the only one who made that clear," Gale replied.


    "I don''t get why he was so upset. Nothing hurt him. And if his daughter could forgive me, why can''t he?"


    "His daughter?"


    "Grace--a little red-haired girl. We''ve been penpals ever since. Honestly, she''s the only person besides you who doesn''t hate my guts." He hesitated. "You... don''t hate me, do you¡­?"


    "No. I don''t hate anyone; that takes too much energy."


    "Gee, thanks," he muttered sarcastically. "So...how do you feel about me?"


    "It''s...complicated. When it was good, it was great. But when it was bad, well¡­ Let''s just say the scale tipped too far in that regard. And I know you don''t intend to harm anyone, but that doesn''t change the fact that your behavior is harmful."


    "My behavior? What exactly about it is harmful?"


    "Things like...calling my son a package-deal with his mother. That wasn''t cool, Lin."


    "Well what else would you call it?"


    "Nevermind what it''s called--it''s bad to imply that I''m just tolerating him for the sake of being with his mom. You don''t know my relationship with them."


    "Of course not. That''s why I asked him."


    "That''s not the point," Gale said, frustrated. Then he took a breath and sighed. "You really haven''t changed at all, have you?"


    "Well, you''ve changed a lot," he countered. "Forgive me for wanting to know more about your current life."


    "That''s not how you--" the bounty hunter caught himself, then retried, "You can''t just ask someone if they''re--" He gave up. "Ugh. You''re impossible."


    "Where are you going?"


    "To make sure my son''s alright. And to get away from you."


    "Hey! What did I do?"


    Gadalik heard footsteps grow closer to the bedroom. He pretended to be asleep, not wanting his father to know he overheard anything.


    The door creaked open, and there was the brushing of wooden chair-legs across the soft carpet to his bedside, followed by a faint thud as Gale sat in it. He felt the blanket pulled up to cover his shoulders, and then tuck under him slightly.


    "Dad¡­?" Gadalik called.


    "Hey, bud," his father greeted him. "Did I wake you?"


    "N-no¡­"


    "Do you know what month and year it is?"


    "Yes¡­ November, of ''fifty-seven."


    "Good. That''s right."


    "How are things with Linny¡­?"


    "No sign of the ghost yet. Do you sense one?"


    "Not right now¡­ But I meant...how are things between you?"


    His father looked away, biting his tongue.


    "Is it that hard to make peace with him¡­? I think he really does want to be back on good terms with you..."


    Gale sighed. "I know he does."


    "Then why don''t you...?"


    "Trust me: I''d love to be on good terms with him."


    "But¡­?"


    "You might be too young to understand¡­ But time doesn''t always make things better, or worse. If something hasn''t worked in the past, it won''t work in the present, either, if nothing''s changed about it."


    "But what about closure¡­?"


    "Bud¡­ What''s there to close? There''s nothing between me and him anymore. Looking back, it wasn''t healthy when there was, either."


    "But you haven''t talked at all about your breakup," his son pointed out.


    "You''re really adamant about this, aren''t you...?"


    "Please¡­ Talk it out. F-for me." His striped blue eyes gazed into his pleadingly.


    "Ugh, I can''t say ''no'' to that face," Gale caved in. "Alright. We''ll talk about it...maybe at dinner. I''ll be cooking for everyone, so Linny can''t complain. Afterward he says he''s taking the bed, and you can have the couch."


    Gadalik pushed himself up. "The couch is surprisingly comfortable," he remarked. "Where will you sleep?"


    "I''ll make a pallet next to the couch."


    "You''re okay with being on the floor¡­?"


    "Well, there''s no way I''m taking the bed with Linny in it."


    "Oh¡­ Right."


    He leaned back in the chair and stretched his arms. "Well, I guess I''m gonna start dinner now."


    "Mom will eat with us, right?"


    "Of course. We don''t want her poisoning herself if she eats her own cooking," he laughed.


    Gale brought the food to the table and took a seat by his girlfriend, who was staring Linny down as she purposely took a huge bite.


    The stuntman didn''t seem to notice her at all, too focused on his meal. "Excellent culinary skills, as always!" he complimented Gale.


    "Thanks." The other man''s heart wasn''t in the reply. His light red- and blue-violet eyes kept flicking between his son and his ex, his mouth opening as if to speak but then shutting as he stared at his plate after each time.


    Linny noticed. "I know that look. What''s on your mind?"


    Gadalik and his father exchanged a glance. The spook nodded encouragingly.


    "I...think we ought to clear the air between us," Gale answered. "Maybe talk about what went wrong all those years ago."


    "Oh come, now. It rarely went wrong between us," Linny dismissed the idea.


    Glacia leaned forward in the chair. "Is that so? Tell me, what were things like when you dated?"


    "Hm. Well, Gale spent most of his time at my place, if we weren''t out camping or competing with each other."


    "Competing?"


    "Oh, just fun athletic things. Races, parkour, sparring¡­ One on one sports here and there. He was slower than me, but a lot stronger. He never slacked off when it came to working out."


    "Still doesn''t," she agreed.


    "We talked about our plans for the future¡­ I was okay with kids, but he was dead set on not having any, so forgive my reaction to discovering he has one after all."


    "It took a lot of convincing to get him to date me, and it''s not because I had a kid," Glacia said. "He mentioned an ex that hurt him pretty badly¡­ So forgive my reaction when I found out that was you."


    "All''s forgiven, m''lady."


    "What else did you plan on?"


    "Hm. We talked about where we''d live. He never moved in with me, though, no matter how many times I asked him to."


    "Ugh, tell me about it!" she related to him. "What was his excuse back then?"


    "He said his father needed him to help around the house." There was an edge to his voice.


    Gale froze mid-bite and glared at him. If looks could kill, Linny would have perished right then and there.


    "So...why your place?" Gadalik quickly chimed in to keep the peace.


    "Because my house was bigger...and I had maids...and I didn''t have parents."


    Gale set the silverware down on his plate. "My father welcomed you as his own."


    "No he didn''t. He kicked me out and said I wasn''t allowed back."


    "Yes--after you insulted my mother."


    "How could I insult her? She''s dead."


    "Saying it was disgusting to keep her urn is an insult," Gale stressed. "And that doesn''t scratch the surface."


    "But it is disgusting. You can''t be mad at me for stating facts."


    Gale took a breath, then released it, sitting back with a hand rubbing his temple. "I can''t deal with this right now. Please excuse me." He stood up and went for the door.


    "Wait," Gadalik cried. "This is progress¡­ You stayed even through all of that, right?"


    "Yes...and I regret it," his father replied. "You see what I had to deal with? He hasn''t changed at all."


    "And what exactly did you have to deal with?" Linny challenged him.


    "You, thinking there was never anything to deal with!" he exclaimed, exasperated. "I tried--so many times--to explain how your actions are hurtful, and all you had to say for yourself was--"


    "Stop stressing about it; I didn''t mean any harm."


    Gale laughed humorlessly. "Exactly. You always wanted things back to normal no matter how badly you messed them up. If you somehow caused the world to end, you''d say the same thing. Well let me tell you something¡­ I''m over my father''s death. And I''m over you. I only agreed to talk to you because my son asked me to, but honestly, I have nothing more to say."


    Linny got defensive. "Funny how everything was fine until it came to your father...!"


    "It wasn''t fine, and it wasn''t just him! This was a constant throughout our relationship. But his death was the worst thing I''ve ever gone through, and your blatant disregard for my grief was the final straw."


    "So I''m the bad guy for wanting you to stop moping around all day? What exactly was I supposed to do?"


    "Maybe try comforting him through it?" Glacia spoke up. "His grief is my grief. Just as we celebrate each other''s wins together, we also mourn together."


    "You want me to mope around with him? No, thank you."


    "That''s not it at all! Ugh. I can see why he left you. Under all that charm, you''re heartless." She left her seat to stand by her boyfriend, wrapping an arm around his flank. "Come on, Gadalik," she called to their son. "Let''s get out of here."


    "But¡­ The ghost¡­" the teen said hesitantly.


    "I''ll be back," Gale promised. "I just need some air."


    His parents walked out, Glacia nearly slamming the door between them.


    Linny glared after them, completely confused. "I don''t understand what their problem is¡­"


    "Healing takes time," Gadalik said. "We''re not saying you should''ve felt bad with him¡­ We''re saying you should have been there for him until he wasn''t feeling so bad. Nobody can bounce back to normalcy so soon after such a tragic event. Haven''t you ever lost someone you cared about before...?"


    "Not especially."


    Gadalik winced. "What about your parents? You said you didn''t have any?"


    He shrugged. "They''re famous actors with busy schedules that require them to travel to different filming locations. The few times they were home, they spoke more to our housekeepers than to me, if at all."


    The spook gaped at him. "How can you say that so casually¡­?"


    "How else should I have said it?"


    "I-I mean¡­ Their absence never bothered you¡­?"


    "Why should it? I''m not one to dwell, unlike your parents. It''s as though they enjoy being upset. If they don''t want to feel bad, they should just stop feeling bad. It''s that simple."


    Gadalik felt a pang of sympathy. "Is that how you live...?"


    "Of course, my good sir. Never let the world keep you down; the show must go on!"


    "This... isn''t a show," he said quietly. "Nobody can prevent themselves from feeling bad when it''s warranted¡­ Not even you. You''re choosing to repress it all, but sooner or later it''ll start manifesting itself when you least expect it. I know¡­because that''s how it''s been with me recently."


    "No offense, but you and I are nothing alike." Gadolinium had dropped the stuntman act. "I never repressed it¡­ It never went away. I''m just choosing not to dwell on it."


    "It never went away¡­?"


    "Nobody cares whether I live or die¡­ So I have to care. I have to keep going, else it''ll catch up to me. Every time I falter during a show, that part of me hopes I won''t make it. But I haven''t let it slow me down."


    "You... can''t keep running from your feelings forever¡­ That isn''t healthy."


    "I''ll have you know my health is of utmost importance to me. My ankle was the first injury I''ve gotten in a long time."


    "I don''t mean physically¡­! I mean..." The sentence trailed off when the spook suddenly was overcome by a sense of unease, which gradually strengthened from his core. "A ghost¡­" He stood up, wobbled, then fell to a seat again before he could reach his staff.


    "A ghost? Where?"


    "So you really can sense me? I was beginning to doubt you." The spirit of a burly man in his early thirties became visible. "You never noticed my presence before. Still, I couldn''t take any chances. You survived me scaring the horses, but it looks like it rendered you useless. Even with your sight, you''re no threat to me anymore. I could snap your neck right now and put you out of your misery..."


    "Harry?!" Linny exclaimed, quailing. "What''s your problem with the kid? He has nothing to do with us!"


    "If he''s truly a spook, then he''s the only one who can stop me. I have to stop him first."


    "Well, he''s barely alive, so I''d say you already succeeded. Forget about him¡­ Why have you been sabotaging me all these months?"


    "I never taught you a lesson all those years ago¡­ What better way for a stuntman to go out than during a show? Honestly, though¡­ You''re like a cockroach: impossible to kill. So I''ll just have to squash you right here and now."


    "S-stop!" Gadalik managed to reach his staff and moved unsteadily between them as the ghost made a fist that enlarged and hammered down at the two. He placed a shield tag on the weapon, and while it defended them, the spell shattered out of existence from the impact. "No matter who you are...a ghost''s unfinished business will never be murder."


    "Who says I care about my unfinished business?"


    "You''d rather stay on earth forever¡­? After your victims are dead, what next?"


    "Then I''ll find new ones," Harry laughed.


    He flinched. "Why...?"


    "Yeah! What''s your deal with me? I never did anything wrong!" Linny huffed, unafraid.


    The daredevil''s words seemed to anger the spirit. "You and the other snobby rich kids make me sick! I don''t know why your boyfriend defended them...he was respectful to me, unlike you and the others. But he isn''t here to protect you, now, is he?"


    "If you only target rich people, go after his girlfriend instead!"


    Gadalik looked over his shoulder to face him, shock overriding the pain in his head. "L-leave my mother out of this...!"


    "I don''t care if they''re rich; I care if they think they''re better than everyone else!" Harry corrected him. "I''m reminding them that they''re just as mortal as the rest of us."


    "Heh. You think I''m unaware of my own mortality?" Linny laughed. "Good sir, I live for the danger! And your attempts at sabotaging my shows have only made them more successful when I come out unscathed!"


    "This time I''m not toying with you," he said, swiping a giant flat hand at them. Gadalik prepared another shield tag, but due to lack of coordination from his injury he was just a moment too late; Linny pulled him back at the last second, and the spirit had instead swatted the staff out of his grasp. It landed across the room.


    "Now what?" Linny asked.


    "Ghosts require strength to interact with worldly objects¡­" Gadalik informed him. "He''s going to need some time to regain it. Keep him talking¡­ I''ll get the staff."


    He gave an affirmative nod. "So, you''re convinced we view ourselves superior?" Linny addressed Harry. "Whatever gave you that idea?"


    "Do you even have to ask?" the ghost exclaimed. "All of you were too good to give me the time of day when I first moved there. Nobody looked my way until I made them!"


    "Rich as I may have been, they avoided me too."


    "Not at first! They all flocked to you because your parents were famous. They only began avoiding you when you treated them terribly!"


    "Me? I was an outcast just as you were! They only came to me for my parents, but when they were never around, the kids lost interest. I was alone--until Gale came into the picture."


    Gadalik was halfway to the staff, moving as fast and carefully as he could without collapsing.


    "Don''t act like they never tried to befriend you! I watched you drive them all away with your rude remarks. You say the most disrespectful things, then act like you''re the victim when people react negatively to it."


    "You''re calling me disrespectful? You''re the one who threatened and beat up every kid on the block--including Gale, who you admit treated you well!"


    "That was after I was left with no other option!"


    Gadalik was three yards away from his weapon. That''s when Harry took notice of him, despite Linny''s attempt to keep him distracted.


    He readied a shield spell in his hand when the spirit moved after him. The shield once again protected him, but dispelled after. Gadalik''s head pounded from the strain of using magic with his injury. "I...I can''t¡­" the spook''s consciousness faded.


    "...id¡­ Kid¡­!" Linny woke him.


    He opened his eyes to see the ghost swinging down at him...but he was drifting off again. He felt the man pull him out of harm''s way.


    "C''mon, kid! Snap out of it!"


    "Th-the shield tag¡­" he managed to say, fishing it out of his pocket. "Just...put it on the staff¡­"


    Linny complied, blocking his next attack. He gave an interested hum, then twirled the weapon like a baton. "I could get used to this."


    "What''s going on in there?" Gale''s voice sounded from the other side of the door.


    Harry froze, then turned invisible, although the spook could still see him.


    "Dad!" Gadalik cried.


    "Bud?" The handle turned, but the ghost threw his hand back to lock it. "Linny, open up!"


    "I can''t exactly go to the door right now," Gadolinium answered.


    Gale growled and kicked the door open, to find the other man holding the half-conscious teen. "Lin, if you''ve hurt my son, I swear--"


    "It''s Harry," Gadalik interrupted.


    "...The bully?"


    "He''s a ghost--th-the saboteur¡­"


    "I can''t see him," his father replied with frustration.


    "I''m right here," Harry growled, shoving the bounty hunter aside. "Stay out of this. It doesn''t concern you."


    "If you''re trying to kill my son, it does concern me¡­!"


    "And what am I? Chopped liver?" his ex huffed.


    Gale rolled his eyes, then faced the ghost. "Everyone just calm down. We''re not children¡­ Gadalik is innocent; let him go, and we''ll talk this out like adults."


    "Yes, we aren''t children¡­ But the years haven''t changed us at all: you''re still butting into situations that don''t involve you. It seems your son takes after you in that regard. But we settled our score before I moved away... My issue lies with your boyfriend."


    "Ex," the bounty hunter immediately corrected him. "For good reason."


    "Huh. Maybe you have changed, by growing enough sense to leave him."


    "Um¡­ I''m right here," Gadolinium pointed out. "I hear every word you''re saying. And I still don''t get why you''re upset with me."


    "It''s probably because you insult everyone you come across," Gale stated as a matter of fact. "And if that doesn''t offend them, your insensitivity will."


    "Ugh. Are you talking about your father again? Get over it already."


    "No. I''m talking about you. Stop deflecting."


    Gadalik shrunk; he wasn''t used to seeing Gale so fed up.


    Harry awkwardly looked between the two. The teen saw this opening and, with the time his father and Gadolinium bought, he managed to recover and wrap a confinement spell tag on his weapon, aimed, then launched it at the ghost. A wave of dizziness washed over him right as he did so; his throw was sloppy.


    The spirit saw it coming, and dodged, not paying the injured spook any mind. "If you hate him so much, Gale, why are you defending him?"


    "I don''t hate him. But as insensitive as he may be, at least he has no ill intentions, unlike you," the scarved man answered.


    "Intent or not, he and I are both harmful. At least I have a reason to be. What''s his excuse?"


    "It''s...the same reason as you," Gadalik told the spirit. "You''re upset because nobody cared about you, so you made them care, by threatening them¡­ And¡­ Nobody was around to care about Linny, either, until he made them--by putting his own life in jeopardy. Neither of you had anyone to teach you better."


    "That''s wrong¡­ I cared," Gale disagreed, "about both of them. But they were too absorbed in their own problems to reciprocate." He turned to the other adults. "That''s why you had to ''make'' them care...because you felt entitled to their respect when you did nothing to earn it."


    They all stared at him, speechless.


    "You know how to gain respect? By actually hearing what people tell you, even if it goes against what you believe is true. Yeah, it might hurt, but it gives you the chance to learn and improve yourself. Be better, instead of fighting and justifying your behavior."


    Linny watched him a moment longer before looking away, brows furrowing as though he were trying to conjure an argument.


    Gale didn''t bother waiting on it; he passed the other men and helped Gadalik to his feet. "You alright, bud?"


    "I-I will be," the spook answered. He looked up at Harry, who seemed torn. "It''s...never too late to make amends with those you''ve hurt. Whether or not they forgive you, you''ll feel better having that closure."


    "What about the ones who''ve hurt me?" the spirit growled.


    "Talk to them. Torturing these people will never satisfy you, because the initial pain involved isn''t physical."


    "And what if they''re not sorry? When words fail, the only other option is to take action against them."


    "No¡­ There''s another way you can get your point across: by leaving them," the bounty hunter said. "If talking to them doesn''t work, hurting them won''t either. If you remove yourself from their life, though, they can never hurt you again."


    "But that''s only if talking doesn''t work," Gadalik reminded them.


    Gale looked towards Linny, then sighed. "You''re right, bud. It''s worth talking first...if they''ll listen, for once, without making excuses."


    "Making excuses¡­?" Linny echoed. "Is that all I''ve been doing?"


    "Yes."


    His green eyes shifted to the ground, as he reflected on everything. "I...suppose you''re right."


    "Suppose?" Harry laughed. "He is right."


    "I hadn''t realized¡­ It was never my intention to hurt anyone. And although I don''t understand why it hurts you, I do...feel bad...that it does." He looked up at the other adults. "I always did. And...I hate it. I hate that I hurt you, and I hate feeling bad about it¡­so I tried to stop doing both, but, somehow, I keep screwing things up." He fell to a seat, defeated. "I¡­ I''m sorry. Truly, I am."


    Gale softened. "Lin¡­"


    "Huh. This is the first time I''ve seen him remorseful," Harry commented. "I didn''t think he was capable of it."


    I knew he had it in him, Gadalik thought, relieved.


    "And if I''d squashed him earlier, I''d never get to see him like this." The spirit turned to face the youngest males. "I''ll take your advice¡­ I''m off to talk to the rest of them. If they''re as guilt-ridden as this guy, it''s much more rewarding than killing them. Thanks." Harry flew away until the spook couldn''t sense him anymore.


    "Linny¡­?" Gadalik called gently.


    The stuntman didn''t answer, hunched over in the chair with his forehead propped on his hands.


    Gale approached him. "Hey¡­ Talk to me, Lin."


    Gadolinium sniffled, then laughed humorlessly. "I really messed everything up, didn''t I?"


    "Heh¡­ Yeah."


    He ran his hands down his face to wipe his green eyes before sitting back, taking a breath. "You were right¡­ But¡­ It isn''t that I''m not hearing you. I just...don''t know how to be better. And I wish I could be. I still love you, Gale. If I could go back and redo everything how they said I should, maybe we''d still be together."


    "Well...we can''t go back. The damage has been done, and I''ve moved on from it."


    "I know¡­"


    "But we can still go forward, as friends," Gale continued, extending a hand to help him up. "This is a good first step."

 Episode 12: Talk

    "Ready, Gadalik?" asked the red-haired girl.


    "Ready, Grace," answered the blue-eyed teen as he climbed upon his dappled gray stallion.


    She mounted her own steed: a mare as white as the snow falling around them, and the two rode at a trot from her homestead past the spirit wards marking the end of her property, heading into the surrounding woods. The leafless trees danced in the chilling breeze to the percussion of hooves that had worn a path over the years leading them through a familiar clearing.


    This is where I trapped the ghost when I first met Grace and Gavin, Gadalik recognized it. The spook slowed to a stop, bringing up a hand to clutch the nullifier around his neck that prevented him from using his ghost sense and magic. He was tempted to take it off just to make sure there were no more threats, but it would take ten minutes for his powers to be restored upon removing it, and he wasn''t sure if it was worth holding his friend up during his short stay with her.


    Grace had brought her horse beside his, her red irises studying him. "Are you okay¡­?"


    ¡°Y-Yeah,¡± he stammered. ¡°I was just thinking about when I dealt with that ghost here.¡± Dealt? he second-guessed himself. No¡­ I annihilated that spirit¨Con purpose. I had no other options, though¡­ And we all considered it an act of mercy. That was the first time he''d used an exorcism tag to annihilate a ghost. He suddenly remembered, during his vacation at a beach resort, beating a monstrous spirit into annihilation when he should have used the tag instead. His hand trembled slightly around the sun-engraved pendant on his neck.


    The stallion stamped his white-feathered hoof on the slushy dirt, ears pinned back.


    "Gadalik, breathe¡­!" Grace¡¯s voice snapped him out of his thoughts.


    "Huh?" He hadn''t realized he''d been holding his breath.


    "Calm down¡­ Punsiv can pick up on your feelings," she reminded him. "It could be dangerous if he gets upset. Let''s take a break, and just¡­ talk."


    They both dismounted, and he absently ran his fingers through Punsiv''s mane. "Have there¡­ been any more ghost troubles since last time?"


    "There hasn''t, thanks to you and your wards. If there ever are any more ghosts, I''ll ask for your help again,¡± she assured him.


    He was relieved to hear that. "With Punsiv here, it''ll be a lot easier for me to travel, too," the spook said, patting his horse¡¯s neck. "Thanks again for having me. It''s been so long since I''ve ridden, I almost forgot how to."


    "Any time! I, uh¡­ I¡­ like spending time with you outside of business,¡± she managed to say, her cheeks reddening slightly more than they had been from the cold. Before he had a chance to answer, Grace quickly extended a hand to him, a woven bracelet with butterfly charms falling forth from under the sleeve of her hand-made orange winter coat. ¡°Let''s keep going.¡±


    ¡°Oh¨Cright,¡± he laughed, almost having forgotten they were still in the middle of lessons. Gadalik accepted her hand to help him remount Punsiv. ¡°That''s a pretty bracelet. Did you have that last time I was here?¡±


    ¡°No, it was a gift I got recently¡­¡± Her voice trailed off and she seemed distraught for a moment. Then she shook her head dismissively. ¡°It was very thoughtful, too; butterflies are my favorite insect,¡± she added in a cheerful tone.


    The older kid could tell her heart wasn''t fully in it, but she briskly beckoned him onward, so he dropped the subject. They continued on the path until it ran parallel to a half-frozen stream. He took in the scenery. "What''s that?"


    "Hm?" The red-eyed girl followed his gaze to a cottage across the water. "Oh, that''s where Guinevere lives. She''s an enchantress skilled with healing magic and potions. My dad brings me to her whenever I get sick, but she¡¯s practically part of our family."


    Gavin has a friend? It was hard for him to imagine the brusque man spending quality time with anyone besides Grace. Guess there''s a lot I don''t know about him¡­


    ¡°Shall we go on?¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Gadalik glanced once more at the cottage before he gently squeezed Punsiv with his lower legs once to start the stallion walking, and then again to escalate to a trot.


    "You''re doing great," Grace praised him. "Remember how to canter?"


    "It''s the same as walking and trotting, except I move my outside leg back a bit first, right?" he confirmed, doing so as he spoke. Punsiv obediently sped up.


    "Move your hips with his," she reminded him. "Keep your movements in sync!"


    Gadalik shifted accordingly, taking a few seconds to adjust.


    "Ready for a gallop?"


    "M-Maybe?"


    "Don''t be nervous. Just relax¡­ We''ll stay at a canter for now, alright?"


    He nodded. As they traveled north along the trail, the stream wound away and the bare forest trees grew further apart until there was nothing but an open field on either side of them.


    "This is the place; we can ride out here without any distractions,¡± she explained.


    They remained at a canter until his movements with the horse felt second nature to him. "I think I''m ready for a gallop."


    "Remember what I told you?"


    "Lean forward¡­ and use pressure on him with my legs to gradually speed up. Right?"


    "Yep! But while you''re forward, keep the reins between your thumbs and forefingers, and rest your hands on Punsiv''s neck. That''ll help you steer him better.¡±


    ¡°Um¡­ Like this?¡± He awkwardly lowered his upper body and hands against his steed without moving his legs. It felt unnatural after getting used to sitting upright all this time.


    She noticed his discomfort. ¡°It''s also for support, so you won''t fall off when he''s moving fast. It won''t feel right at our current speed, but once we take off, it will. Ready?¡±


    Fall off? He frowned.


    ¡°Don''t overthink it,¡± she soothed him. ¡°Just watch me. It''ll be fine.¡± She expertly positioned herself and signaled the white mare to speed up, passing him.


    He copied her and braced himself. To his relief, instinct to keep balanced during the increased pace helped him take to the new pose, and he was catching up.


    "You got this!" Grace cheered him on.


    The two rode faster until they were dashing for miles, kicking up puffs of powdered snow in their wake. His long light blue scarf shielded his face from the crisp, cold air for the most part.


    "Alright, let''s slow down," Grace suggested, once again seeming distraught.


    Gadalik sank his weight into the saddle and said "Whoa," pulling gently on the reins. Punsiv slowed to an eventual canter. ¡°What''s on your mind?¡± he couldn''t help asking his friend.


    ¡°Oh¡­ Um, we can talk about it later,¡± she decided. ¡°Right now we should head back before our companions get too tired.¡±


    The two brought their horses back to Grace''s stable, then proceeded to go inside her home, welcoming the sudden warmth.


    "Dad, I''m back," she called, hanging her coat up on the rack by the door. "It''s cold out there."


    "I''m frozen," Gadalik agreed as he unwrapped his scarf and hooked it on the peg below her coat.


    "You''re also filthy." A man with curly yellow-green hair that was braided from his waist to the floor had come into the living room from the basement. "Both of you take a lukewarm shower. Gadalik can use mine. You have a change of clothes, right, boy?"


    "O-Of course, Gavin!"


    "Then what are you waiting for?"


    The younger male gulped, then took his boots off, grabbing his duffel bag from the floor and bringing it with him into Gavin''s room wherein there was a second, albeit smaller, bathroom. Rolled up towels lined the shelf in it. After Gadalik stripped his outgrown plain white T-shirt, wishing his favorite hadn''t ripped, he correctly took the nullifier off from around his neck, hating that he had to wait for his power to return before he could remove it.


    Finally his vision sharpened and he placed the nullifier on the sink. He gripped the shower¡¯s knob to start the water, then became all too aware of a ghost so near to him that he felt suffocated by its presence. Grace said there haven''t been any more ghosts¡­! Where did this one come from? How did it get here? Is it after her?!


    Overcome with worry for his friend, he closed his eyes and tried to pinpoint its exact location. He left Gavin''s room and followed his senses to a closed door in the hallway by Grace''s bedroom. He could hear water running.


    ¡°What exactly do you think you''re doing here?" Gavin demanded from behind him.


    Gadalik jumped, then turned to face the older male. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Is the hallway off-limits to guests?


    His eyes narrowed into a glare as he gave the shirtless teen a once-over.


    With horror, Gadalik realized he was outside Grace¡¯s bathroom¨Cwhile she was in it. "It¨Cit''s not what it looks like! I swear! There''s a ghost, and it''s in that room¨C"


    "That''s impossible,¡± he interrupted. ¡°You should know that; after all, you''re the one who gave us the spirit wards to keep them from coming here. Now you''re saying they don''t work?"


    "I-I don''t know¡­! All I know is I sense it there! Honest!"


    The two stared each other in the eyes for a few panicked heartbeats. "...Fine. I''ll let you inside to look once she''s out and dressed. That is, after you''re out and dressed as well."


    Gadalik blinked, then crossed his arms over his bare torso with embarrassment. "S-Sorry¡­ I¡­ I''m going."


    He finished his shower and put on the change of clothes from his bag: dark gray shorts and a henley shirt of a lighter shade, the latter of which had belonged to his birth-father; it was rather large on him, but everything else in his wardrobe had been outgrown since his favorite plaid shirt had torn.


    Despite warming up from the shower and heaters, he felt himself shudder, and looked at the nullifier he''d taken off beforehand. He wanted nothing more than to put it back on and forget about the ghost. But if Grace is in danger, I''m the only one who can protect her from it¡­


    "Gavin, is she out yet?" Gadalik called.


    "Yes. Want to show me where this ghost is?" the man answered from the hall.


    "Right. Follow me." The spook threw on his protective green robe over his clothes and retrieved his staff, then honed his sense. This time it led him to Grace''s bedroom.


    "This isn''t where you said it was before," Gavin stated skeptically.


    "I know¡­ but this is where it''s currently at." He knocked on her door. "It''s Gadalik. Can I come in?"


    "Go ahead," she invited.


    He opened the door and closed his eyes. The closer he was to the spirit, the more he felt surrounded by it, making it harder to find. Thankfully he had practiced locating them ever since his encounter with the ghost at the mall a while back.


    Letting his sense guide him, he stopped where he felt it was strongest and pointed with his eyes still shut. "There."


    "Is this some kind of prank?" Gavin said, unamused.


    "No?" He opened his eyes, then hesitated to see he was pointing at Grace. "What¡­?"


    "What''s going on?" she asked, concerned.


    Gadalik shook his head. "This can''t be right."


    Gavin looked down at him. "Are you calling yourself a liar?"


    "I''m not lying: there really is a ghost..."


    "Ghost?" she echoed. "But what about the wards?"


    "I¡­ I don''t know. None of this makes any sense¡­"


    "That''s enough, boy," Gavin dismissed him. "No more excuses."


    "Excuses¡­? For what?" Then it hit him and he felt his cheeks flush. "I promise you that wasn''t what it looked like¡­!"


    "What wasn''t?" Grace was thoroughly confused.


    "I caught him trying to spy on you in the shower," her father explained.


    The girl stared wide-eyed at her friend, her face reddening before she hid it in her pillow.


    "I wasn''t!" Gadalik despaired.


    "Get out. Both of you, please get out," she squeaked through the pillow.


    The two complied, Gavin shutting her door on their way out before warning the younger man, "Try to pull a stunt like this again and you won''t be welcome here anymore.¡±


    "It wasn''t a stunt¡­!" Gadalik defended himself. He could still feel the spirit from within her room. With no proof, however, his words fell on deaf ears.


    Gadalik laid on the miniature mattress set up in their living room. He hadn''t put the nullifier back on, and the sensation of the nearby spirit kept him awake. There has to be something I can do¡­! But¡­ what?


    He tensed when he felt the ghost get closer. Looking up, he saw Grace pass him, heading for the kitchen. Grace isn''t a ghost! Is it following her? If so, I should be able to see it!


    "You''re awake?" she asked, stopping on her way back with a cup of water in her hands.


    He froze. "Y-Yeah."


    "I''m sorry about my dad¡­ He can be overprotective sometimes. Were you¡­ really trying to spy on me earlier¡­?"


    He respectfully sat up to reply. "I wasn''t. When I took my nullifier off to shower, I sensed a spirit. And I still sense it. It''s coming from¡­ you."


    "Me?" She took a seat beside him and sipped the water. "What does that mean?"


    "Either you''re a ghost¨Cand I know you''re not¨Cor the ghost has somehow¡­ attached itself to you."


    She hummed thoughtfully, then seemed distracted for the third time.


    "I don''t know what it''s planning on doing,¡± he went on, ¡°but if something were to happen to you because of it, it''d be my fault for letting it stay¡­"


    "N-No¡­! Not everything is your fault. And nothing bad has happened yet." She placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.


    He jolted, feeling completely overwhelmed by the spirit''s presence. That''s when he noticed what was around her wrist.


    "What''s the matter? Did I hurt you?" she fretted.


    The bracelet¡­ It''s possessed¡­!


    "Gadalik?"


    The spook shook his head. Now isn''t the time to exorcise it. I''m sure it''s aware of what we say, too. He tore his gaze away to meet hers instead. "Can we ride horses again tomorrow?"


    "Of course! But are you sure you''re okay?"


    He forced a smile. "You said it''s not hurting you, right? Then we''ll be fine for now. We both should get some rest."


    "Then I''m going back to bed. Goodnight, Gadalik."


    "Goodnight."


    Roosters roused Gadalik way earlier than his alarm clock at home did, but the smell of bacon and eggs causing his stomach to growl woke him fully. Lifting his head from the pillow, he saw Grace and Gavin in the kitchen.


    She smiled upon noticing her friend was up. "Good morning, sleepyhead! Breakfast is almost ready; come and join us!¡± She patted the chair beside hers.


    Gadalik began to oblige, then stopped and looked at her father, wary of the man¡¯s impression of him. The teen cowered when he was caught staring.


    ¡°Be at ease,¡± Gavin said. ¡°Grace told me about last night¡¯s conversation between you. Since there truly is a ghost, I apologize.¡±


    The spook gaped at him. ¡°...What?¡±


    The adult passed the plates out, setting Gadalik¡¯s next to his daughter''s in front of the seat she had patted.


    The teen hesitantly sat, looking between the family before his gaze lingered on her bracelet. He forced himself to focus on the food, then instantly brightened from how delicious it was. ¡°This is so much better than what I get from the store!¡±


    Grace beamed with pride. ¡°Everything''s fresher on a homestead. We also raise our livestock with love.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps a bit too much love, given she nearly let that lost ghost kill her to protect our pig,¡± Gavin added, referring to the spirit that had been annihilated.


    Was that a joke¡­? Gadalik wondered. He relaxed when the red-haired girl laughed, confirming it was.


    She shrugged innocently. ¡°What can I say? Their deaths should be humane¨Cand that ghost was anything but.¡±


    Humane¡­? Gadalik averted his eyes guiltily.


    ¡°Oh, yeah¡±--she turned to the older teen¨C¡°I already tended to the horses. They''ll be ready for us after we eat."


    "Really?¡± He was shocked. ¡°Just how early do you two start your day? The sun¡¯s not even up yet!¡±


    She laughed again. ¡°Chores don''t wait! Where do you think these eggs came from? I collected them on my way back from the stable!¡±


    Gadalik couldn''t help respecting them; they worked hard for everything they had, and the quality of their food was one of many payoffs. He finished eating far more quickly than intended.


    "If you''re going outside, change into something presentable," Gavin told him, eyeing the too-loose shirt with disapproval.


    "My father''s shirts are all I have that aren''t too small for me," Gadalik admitted. "My only good shirt ripped last week¡­¡±


    That got Grace¡¯s attention.


    "Then I''ll let you wear one of my old ones,¡± her father offered.


    "No need; I have my spook¡¯s clothes," he replied. It''s a perfect excuse to wear them so I can take care of the ghost, too.


    Grace tilted her head slightly, the shorter side of her asymmetrical bob falling away from her ear in the motion. "Will they be warm enough?"


    "They''re enchanted to withstand all types of weather," he informed her, finishing his plate and getting up to wash it. He took Grace''s as she emptied hers as well. "Let me change and I''ll meet you outside."


    Gadalik followed Grace into the stable, his hands in his robe¡¯s pockets to ensure he felt the tags in one and his nullifier in the other. I can put it back on as soon as the ghost is exercised off their property. Speaking of¡­  "You mentioned that your bracelet was a gift¡­ Can you tell me who gave it to you?¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ I did say I''d tell you later, didn''t I?¡± Grace chuckled nervously. ¡°It was from my late friend¨Ca little girl I used to babysit.¡±


    ¡°Late¡­? As in¨C¡± Dead?


    She nodded solemnly. ¡°That''s why I have an idea of where we can ride today.¡±


    "Where?"


    "To Molly''s place."


    They got on their horses and followed the same path as the previous day, except this time they kept going farther through the fields.


    "Think we can gallop?" she called to him.


    "Uh, yeah¨CI think so." He got into position and lightly kicked Punsiv, taking off ahead of Grace.


    She quickly matched his pace. "Great job!¡±


    He felt himself growing warm from the praise in spite of the surrounding snow.


    They eventually arrived at an old small house that, while made well, seemed to be unkempt. "Is this it?" Gadalik asked. It looks abandoned¡­


    "It was," she corrected him.


    "Grace?" sounded a woman''s voice from the door as it opened. She was the least bit chubby and had short brown hair in a perm.


    "Hi, Barbara."


    "Who''s your friend? Oh¨Cit doesn''t matter. Both of you, come in; it''s much too cold to be outside."


    The teens exchanged a glance before tying their horses and obliging.


    The inside was cluttered, and from the living room Gadalik could see a mountain of dishes in the kitchen sink. He fought back a sudden urge to clean the place.


    "Barbara, this is Gadalik," Grace introduced them. "Gadalik, this is Molly''s mother."


    "Nice to meet you," the spook said to the woman, although he was still distracted by the mess.


    Barbara noticed. "Sorry about the state of the house¡­ it''s been so hard being by myself; I barely have the willpower to get out of bed anymore."


    "Did something happen?" Gadalik asked. His friend looked away as though she already knew the answer.


    "Yes¡­ My poor Molly isn''t with us anymore. She died¡­ last week." Her eyes watered and her voice wavered. "I-I''m sorry¡­"


    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    "It''s alright," Grace murmured.


    "So¡­ the ghost¡­?" Gadalik whispered to his friend.


    Grace nodded. "That''s why I brought you here."


    "Can you tell me more about Molly?" the spook asked Barbara.


    "She loved animals and art and crafts. Such a sweet girl she was¡­ It was all so sudden," the woman answered. "Her father died years ago so I had to take his place as the provider for her. I was working when she was on her deathbed. I wasn''t there for her when she died. I¡­ I failed her, as a mother¡­"


    "That''s not true¡­ Everything you did was for her," Grace pointed out.


    "Oh, Gracie¡­ I don''t know what I would''ve done without you to look after her. She loved you very much."


    ¡°I can tell she loved Grace from that bracelet,¡± Gadalik said. ¡°She made that herself, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Molly was so talented¡­ And Grace is too.¡±


    ¡°I''m not so good with the arts, though,¡± she waved away the compliment with a bashful smile.


    ¡°Well, you exceed everywhere else! Your coat looks very warm.¡±


    She blushed.


    What does her coat have to do with anything? Gadalik shook his head. We''re getting off-topic¡­  ¡°Do you know if Molly had any lingering regrets before she died?¡±


    The others fell silent, and he felt a pang of guilt for being insensitive.


    ¡°I can''t think of any one thing,¡± Barbara said with uncertainty.


    There''s more than one? This might be harder than I thought¡­


    ¡°But I would say she took her father¡¯s death harder than anything. Ever since he died, Molly has resented me; the only one she trusted was Gracie.¡±


    ¡°Why did she blame you for her father dying?¡±


    ¡°I don''t know¡­ I asked her over and over but she refused to speak to me.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­¡± I guess I''ll have to ask Molly directly.


    ¡°Sorry I''m not much help¡­¡±


    ¡°N-No, you''re a huge help! I''m sorry for bringing it up¡­¡±


    ¡°No need to apologize for that. I''m glad I got to talk about my daughter at all. Thank you for visiting, dears. And, Gracie, do stop by more often; you''re always welcome here.¡±


    They said their goodbyes and, once the two were outside, Gadalik reached one hand into his pocket for the exorcism tags he kept there. ¡°Grace, can I see your bracelet for a moment?¡±


    She nodded, attempting to slip it off, but it wouldn''t budge. ¡°Um¡­ This is weird. I got it off when I showered last night.¡±


    This confirms she''s in the bracelet. ¡°Maybe just hold your arm out for me,¡± he suggested instead. When she did, he quickly slapped the tag on the bracelet, and a wisp was forced out of it.


    It shaped itself into a girl perhaps six years old, her brown pigtails unaffected by the icy winds. Her eyes were two blue moons staring at the spook, and she floated backward away from him.


    "Molly?" he guessed.


    Grace narrowed her eyes knowingly.


    "What do you want with me?" she demanded the spook, trying to sound fierce despite the terrified quiver of her voice.


    "My name is Gadalik. I help ghosts with their unfinished business so they can move on to the afterlife," he explained.


    "I don''t need any help," Molly shot back. "I know what you are: you''re a spook who kills ghosts. I won''t let you kill me!"


    Gadalik stepped toward her with a hand outstretched. "Calm down¡­ I''m not annihilating¨Cerr, killing¨Canyone¡­"


    "Stay away!" Molly cried as she got on all fours. Her shape morphed into that of a lioness and her giant paw swiped at him.


    He summoned a shield from one hand and blocked it. With his other he reached for a disfigurement tag in his pocket. When she struck again, Gadalik shield-bashed her to the side and thrust the tag against her head, causing her form to disperse into a cloud. "There''s no need for violence," Gadalik announced calmly. "I don''t know what you''ve seen of spooks, but not all of them want to kill ghosts.¡±


    ¡°Have you killed a ghost before?¡± sounded her sneering disembodied voice.


    ¡°W-Well I¡­¡±


    Her wispy form suddenly shot toward him, and he didn''t have the chance to defend himself as the ghost who had possessed the bracelet tried to possess his mind.


    With his staff, Gadalik swung, beat, and stabbed the ghostly monster in a flurry of movements derived from pure rage until it was pinned against the beach resort''s basement wall. The spirit¡¯s struggles to defend itself were weakening, its muzzle torn wide to emit endless wails that the teen couldn''t hear over the blood rushing through him. Its body was being ripped apart with bits of white fog clinging to the steel claws every time he withdrew the weapon only to strike again and again. Eventually, there was nothing left.


    Gadalik recoiled. ¡°N-No¡­ I didn''t mean to,¡± he said out loud, disoriented from the memory she made him relive.


    ¡°You can''t tell me you didn''t mean to do this,¡± she laughed, her voice now coming from his mind as clearly as his own thoughts.


    The spook inhaled sharply, then speared the ghost''s hand through the barrier; the confinement tag on his staff activated, turning its target entirely tangible. He placed the used tag with an exorcism tag, by which point the spirit had floated up to the extent his domed-shaped trap would let it, trying to keep out of his reach.


    Gadalik stepped past the barrier, took aim, then threw the staff, unable to watch as the speared tip pierced the spirit''s solidified body, which then began to morph back into wisps that slowly faded. In a matter of seconds, his staff dropped; the ghost had been annihilated.


    ¡°I had to,¡± he cried out. ¡°It was dangerous; there was no other way to help¡­!¡±


    ¡°Help?¡± she giggled. ¡°Just like you helped the ghost in the lake?¡±


    ¡°That was an accident¨C¡±


    To his horror, Anna had recovered too soon, and was now torpedoing down at the spook. His heart missed a beat but he angled the speared end of his staff to meet her head on. To avoid running into it, she instead shot past him--then abruptly lurched back up, both of her clawed, webbed hands tearing it from his weakened grip; she brought it as far as its tether to the spook would allow, then charged at him with it like he had her.


    His head spun from lack of oxygen. There was no way he could dodge in this worsened state. Defenseless without his staff, Gadalik held both hands out to block the attack. The instant his palms made contact, however, instead of shielding him, there was a huge expulsion. Millions of tiny bubbles swarmed him in her wake; she had been blown out of sight, swallowed by the distant murkiness.


    Gadalik was hyperventilating at this point, struggling not to re-experience drowning during that memory.


    ¡°Face it: all spooks are the same. They only want to kill ghosts!¡± Molly accused him.


    Is she right¡­? Is that all I''ve been doing¡­? he questioned himself.


    ¡°You can''t fool me¡­ I can see everything. I can¨C¡± Her voice was suddenly cut off as he felt paper pressed on his forehead.


    Instantly Gadalik came to, his mind fully returned to the real world. He looked around wildly to see Grace with his spell tags in her hand; he took one off his forehead and saw it was an exorcism tag. ¡°You exorcized her from me?¡± He was genuinely impressed. ¡°How did you know which tag to use?¡±


    ¡°That''s the same type of tag you used on my bracelet,¡± his friend explained.


    Molly was beginning to reform. He waited, preparing to summon a shield as he remembered what happened the last time he used this method. To his relief, she was a little girl again, sitting on her knees. Instead of the anger and scorn she had shown toward Gadalik, her eyes now gazed sadly at her former babysitter. "Why are you on his side¡­? He wants to split us apart¡­"


    "Oh, Molly¡­ Sweetie¡­ There are no sides,¡± Grace murmured, kneeling in front of her. ¡°We all just want what''s best for you¡­ including your mother."


    That triggered the ghost. "No! The spook wants me dead, and Momma never cared about me!"


    "That isn''t true¡­ Gadalik''s my friend; you can trust him. And your mother loves you. Maybe you should go talk to her¨C"


    "No!" She reshaped into a lion and lunged at the older girl.


    "Grace, here!" Gadalik placed a shield tag on his staff, where it formed a protective bubble, then tossed it to her.


    She managed to catch it and Molly hit the barrier. Dazed but recovering fast, the ghost returned her focus to the now-weaponless spook. Instead of attacking, though, the spirit glowered with frustration, then fled down the fields they''d come from.


    "Molly!" Grace returned his staff, untied her horse, and rode after her.


    "Wait!" he called, scrambling onto the saddle and whipping the reins to take off. Punsiv whinnied and bucked. I need to calm down¡­  "Easy, boy¡­ Come on." When the stallion snorted and backed up, Gadalik patted his neck until he settled. Then he started at a walk, steadily escalating in gaits until he was galloping, catching up to them.


    They chased her back to the woods, but this time they went in a direction Gadalik hadn''t been to before. There was a mesa up ahead and the ghost shot up to its top.


    Grace stopped abruptly and got off the white mare. ¡°Molly, come back," she pleaded. When there was no response, she attempted to climb up, but didn''t make it far before losing her grip and falling.


    "I''ll get her,¡± Gadalik said, flashing a confident smile at his friend. ¡°Rock climbing is a hobby of mine.¡± Finding footholds on the steep cliff side, he began his ascent, scaling it steadily. He hesitated when he felt it quake. What the¡­?


    He was nearly thrown off when it happened again. Before he could gather what was happening, a shadow suddenly eclipsed the sky and became larger until he realized it was a boulder falling right above him. Grace is down there!


    The horses ran before the younger teen had the chance to mount hers. Gadalik leapt down ahead of the falling rocks and pressed a shield tag on his staff, using his own magic to make the bubble big enough for the both of them right before the boulder crashed upon it; it cracked instantly, but held. Smaller rocks were tumbling down in its wake, and what they lacked in size was compensated by their numbers. Gadalik summoned his own shield and gave the staff to his friend; the barrier was still active, but without the extra power it reverted to its original size just big enough for one.


    "R-Run," he strained.


    Grace was reluctant to leave him at first, but when she saw that confidence still in his eyes, she accepted the staff and scrambled out from beneath it. The bubble acted as an umbrella against the rain of rubble, and she made it to safety just as it faded from the beating it had taken.


    The spook''s shield cracked more as the remainder of the rocks buried him between the boulder and the ground, removing his chance of escape.


    "Gadalik!" sounded Grace''s voice, muffled through the pile.


    He wanted to answer but was struggling for air, having both inhaled the plume of dirt kicked up from the impact, and been trapped within it. Instead, he summoned all his strength to lift the boulder with his shield, feeling his muscles strain past their limits. The shield was cracking evermore, but he continuously channeled his magic to keep it intact. With a strenuous shout, he managed to throw the boulder aside with the shield, flinching as it crashed next to him.


    The shield dispelled. He sighed and allowed himself to fall limp.


    Grace ran to his side. "Are you alright?!"


    "That depends," he breathed. "Do I still have my arms?"


    "Y-Yeah, why?"


    "Because I can''t feel them," he laughed.


    "What?"


    "Don''t worry; this always happens when I use tagless magic. Their feeling will come back in a little while."


    "Gadalik, I don''t think that''s normal¡­ Come with me, just to be safe."


    "Oh¨Cuh¡­ alright."


    The horses hadn''t gone far; Grace gathered them and helped him mount Punsiv before she guided the horse by his reins to keep beside her as they rode. They made it to the path by the stream, but instead of continuing to her house, she led them across it toward the cottage.


    Once there, she knocked, and a woman with long pale-yellow hair in a single braid down her back answered. She wore a short-sleeved pastel blue dress with a light pink apron and nearly elbow-length white gloves and boots. She had pink tattoos in the shape of a butterfly''s wing on each arm. Her golden eyes immediately looked at Gadalik, who shied away from her gaze.


    "It''s okay. You can trust her," Grace encouraged him, helping him dismount. "Guin, this is my friend Gadalik. He says he can''t feel his arms."


    "Gadalik?" she echoed, eyeing the older teen with a calm surprise.


    "W-Well they tingle when there''s pressure on them now," Gadalik updated them with a nervous laugh. ¡°It''s not a big deal¡­¡±


    "But can you help him, Guin?" Both of the red-haired girl''s hands were tugging the bottom of her orange coat down in her distress.


    "Let''s find out," the woman replied. They went in and sat him down on a stool by the kitchen counter. "I''m assuming this has to do with magic?"


    "Huh?" He was surprised. "How did you know?"


    "I''ve heard of you before, Gadalik; you''ve become the talk among witches, although your appearance doesn''t quite match their description."


    "Oh, right¡­ They think I''m built like some lumberjack, don''t they?"


    "Yes. But you only weigh about a hundred sixty pounds¨Cmostly because of your muscles."


    "Spot-on," he confirmed, impressed.


    "But the numbness concerns me. I can sense your power, young man, and there is something of note about it. Tell me, have you ever experienced a surge before?"


    His brows furrowed. Have my surges become part of their gossip, too?  ¡°A couple of times, yes¡­ The second was because I purposely removed my nullifier incorrectly."


    "And the first?"


    "It¡­ happened by accident. I was fighting to survive." He shook the memory of drowning at the lake away. "Why? Do you know what caused it?"


    "There is still untapped magic within you. It''s as though you can''t access it¡­ at least, not unless you''re ''fighting to survive.'' In fact, it seems like even the magic you can use is being stunted, hence the numbness. Those are clear signs that you have had your powers sealed off."


    "Sealed off?"


    "May I remove your robe and shirt, young man?"


    Gadalik hesitated, glancing at his friend.


    Grace blushed and turned away from him.


    He exhaled and allowed Guinevere to take them off, flinching when she placed her gloved palm on the center of his chest. Slowly, the marking of the sun within a circle appeared on his skin around her hand.


    Gadalik recognized the symbol. "That''s the same design that''s on my nullifier¡­"


    Grace was curious to hear that and looked to see it for herself. But something else caught her eye: a pink scar near the side of his chest.


    Gadalik followed his friend''s gaze, then instantly moved his numb arm as much as he could to hide it, ashamed.


    She remembered when she''d found him having a nightmare, protecting that spot in his sleep. Something bad must have happened to cause it.


    Gadalik didn''t want to bring it up. He turned back to Guinevere. "So that''s a seal¡­?"


    "Correct," the woman answered. "Just as a nullifier can stunt or seal away your magic, the sealing spells used to create them have the same effects."


    Gadalik looked at his hand. His mind flashed back to his biological parents discussing the booster he''d recently retrieved¨Cin that memory his mother had mentioned a seal.  "How do you unseal it?"


    "I''m afraid you and I can''t. Seals require a blood pact between the witch and whomever it is placed on in order to be cast or removed. Once a seal is placed, it would be difficult for anyone outside of that pact to remove it.¡±


    ¡°Blood pacts can be temporary, right¡­? What if I made one with you so you could remove it?¡±


    "Well¡­ I feel we should first determine why your powers were sealed in the first place. If there''s a valid reason, it may not be wise to unseal them.¡±


    ¡°How would we determine that? I have no idea who placed the seal to ask them¡­¡±


    She hummed thoughtfully. ¡°This particular seal is made for you to grow into, so with time I''m sure you''ll be able to access the whole of your power. Sealing spells are often used by parents on their children in place of nullifiers, the latter being more common in later generations as natural magic became rarer in bloodlines."


    "My birth-parents couldn''t use magic¡­"


    "Hm. Could it be a family friend, perhaps?"


    "I''m not sure¡­ Can you tell how long ago it was placed?"


    She narrowed her golden eyes and moved her hand to the center of his chest once again, studying the marking when it reappeared. "Let me see. Twelve¡­no, thirteen¨Cnearly fourteen years ago."


    He remembered the man who had revived him during his job at Rosepetal Lake. "Vincent¡­" he realized, unable to think of anyone else. If he didn''t seal my powers, maybe he knows who did. Or maybe he knows enough about why it''s there to unseal it, himself. "So if time weakens the seal, there''s a chance it will go away on its own, right?"


    "Yes. But in how much time, I can''t say for certain.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­¡±


    ¡°Regardless, I must warn you: it''s dangerous for witches to use their magic so casually."


    "Dangerous?" he echoed. "Oh¡­ I think I know what you mean. There was this witch named Luna who tried to kidnap me to use my blood for enchantments."


    "Really?" Grace was horrified by that news. "What other terrible things have you gone through?" She once again glanced at his scar.


    "It¨Cit doesn''t matter¡­!" He began redressing as quickly as he could with his tingling arms. "It''s all over with."


    "No," Guinevere disagreed. "With your name gaining as much popularity as it is, the dangers don''t only lie from other witches. I mean it''s dangerous if humans see you¨Cthose without magic."


    "Huh¡­? Why?"


    "Witches were deemed ''devils'' and were hunted down for a reason: because they had natural magic. Humans have always lived in fear of that power, simply because they lacked it, and in times where they couldn''t kill a witch, they instead searched for ways to level the playing field."


    He remembered the Enchanted Artifacts book he''d read at a lake, and dipped his hand into his pocket, wrapping his numb fingers around the enchanted pendant. "Nullifiers¡­"


    "Yes. Nullifiers, such as the one in your possession, originated for witchlings'' safe use of magic. But humans had turned them against witches in an attempt to take all of their power away."


    "But why is this still an issue? Nullifiers are rare these days¡­ and witches are believed to be extinct. Besides, there are spell tags now; humans can use them, the same as how a witch can use magic."


    "Even so, the power imbalance still exists, because spell tags can be used up, lost, or taken, while natural magic can''t¨Cnot without seals and nullifiers. Even if the difference is slight in this day and age, it''s reason enough for humans¨Cand even spooks¨Cto fear witches. Fear leads to hatred¨Cor worse: death."


    The spook-witch hybrid swallowed uncomfortably. All of those times I was called a devil¡­ I never knew there was such history behind it. No¡­ not history. This is the present day¡­ He reflected on her words for a moment. ¡°What about spook''s magic¡­?¡±


    ¡°Spooks are more accepted by humans because they can only harm ghosts with their magic.¡±


    The spook-witch hybrid looked away, recalling what happened during Molly''s mental possession of him. My witch half is hated by humans¡­ while my spook half is hated by ghosts. He let out a huff of laughter¨Cit was either that, or tears.


    "Be careful, Gadalik. You''re becoming well-known. Let not your witch''s power be seen, lest it be feared."


    "I understand¡­" He rotated his shoulders; the feeling had returned, but much to his dread, they were sore and aching.


    "Are your arms okay?" Grace asked.


    "They will be. I just need to rest them I guess."


    "Then let''s go back to my place."


    "But what about Molly?"


    She froze. "Do you sense her?"


    "N-No¡­ not anywhere close."


    "Then she can wait until you''re better. If she doesn''t want our help, there''s nothing we can do for her anyway, so there''s no reason to pursue her right now. You''re more important."


    He closed in on himself, somewhat honored by that last sentence. ¡°Alright.¡±


    On the journey back, Grace had tried to make small talk, but to her visible concern, Gadalik couldn''t concentrate enough to converse. All he could think about was what Molly had told him in his mind.


    Gavin welcomed them back, immediately worried by their uncharacteristic solemnity. "What happened?"


    "The ghost that Gadalik sensed really was Molly. She had possessed my bracelet," his daughter explained.


    I shouldn''t have given her a chance to run¡­ Confinement; I should''ve used a confinement spell to keep her in place.


    "When he got her out of it she fled up the mesa and sent boulders down on us. Gadalik saved me."


    Hearing his name snapped him out of it. "Huh?"


    "Gadalik¡­ thank you for protecting her," the man said wholeheartedly. ¡°Are you hurt?"


    "A little sore¡­ But I''ve been hurt before," he chuckled humorlessly.


    "Then what''s bothering you?"


    The spook tensed, feeling his heartbeat quicken. What''s bothering me? The fact that I failed to help Molly¡­ And the spirit that slaughtered your pigs¡­ And the ghost on my vacation¡­ and Anna at the lake¡­ He looked away shamefully.


    "Gadalik? What''s the matter?" Grace asked gently.


    Molly''s dangerous. I can''t risk her hurting Grace again. But how can I get through to her on my own? She hates me¡­


    Grace placed a hand on his shoulder.


    He jolted.


    "Talk to us," she pleaded.


    The older teen took a shaky breath. "Molly got away."


    "I know¡­"


    "Now it isn''t safe for you to leave your home past the wards. And I can''t just let her wander out there; she needs help¡­! But if she won''t let me help her, then what¨Cwhat can I do¡­? I didn''t bring my trap with me, and I don''t think she''d visit her mother willingly¡­" He held his chest, which now felt constricted. "I don''t even know if her unfinished business involves her mother. And I don''t know a thing about what caused her to be this scared of spooks. The only thing I have to go off of is that Molly was deeply affected by her father''s death, but her mother didn''t know why, so I can''t just ask her¨C" He was struggling to get a full breath in. "I just¨CI¨C"


    "Hey, now... Breathe," Gavin instructed firmly.


    The spook attempted to draw in a breath, barely managing through the tightness in his chest, when he wheezed from the dust he''d inhaled during the rockfall. He fell into a coughing fit.


    Grace patted his back. "Gadalik¡­"


    "Let me handle this," he told his daughter, who reluctantly nodded and left for her room.


    He let Gavin guide him to the couch, grateful that his trembling legs didn''t need to support him when he sat.


    "Look around you. Focus on a few things that you can see."


    Gadalik did as told, the photos on the walls catching his eye. There was one with Grace riding her white horse, the same she had ridden with him earlier.


    "Now something you can feel."


    He tightened his hold on the staff Grace had returned to him. The couch cushion felt soft beneath his other hand.


    ¡°Anything you can smell?¡±


    The scent of cooking pork chops wafted in from the kitchen.


    "Are you alright?"


    Gadalik realized he had calmed down enough to breathe, albeit still a bit faster than normal. He took a deep breath to regulate it. "Y-Yeah. Thank you¡­ I don''t know what came over me."


    "Looked like an anxiety attack," Gavin answered.


    "Oh¡­"


    "Have you had one before?"


    "A few times, yeah¡­ Grace told me what you said about treating intrusive thoughts as flies and to let them go away on their own. But in the moment, they''re so hard to ignore..."


    "I understand. It takes practice and a lot of willpower. For now, why don''t you tell me what''s the matter."


    "I already told you: Molly escaped and¨C"


    "That isn''t what I''m talking about. There''s usually always an underlying issue when it comes to these attacks. You shouldn''t let things boil over like that; we can help."


    "Well¡­ It feels like I always need someone to help and take care of me," he admitted, refusing eye contact. "It''s¡­ humiliating."


    "The reason you''re currently injured is because you helped and took care of Grace, in that you protected her."


    "Yes, but Grace is still young. I''m practically an adult¡­"


    "Are you saying adults can''t rely on others?"


    He froze. "Of course they can¡­! It''s just¡­ This happens so often¡­"


    "Hm. You should consider yourself lucky that you have a support system to help you."


    "I know¡­ A-And I''m grateful. But I should be able to repay them for their help, and¡­ I can''t. I-I''m useless."


    "I don''t help others for the sake of receiving favors from them. I''m sure your friends don''t, either. We help you for the same reason you helped Grace: because we care."


    Why care about me¡­? Gadalik wanted to say, but didn''t.


    "So tell me, why do you feel useless?"


    "I¨CI don''t know," he answered honestly. "I mean¡­ Maybe because I can''t¡­ save everyone."


    "You saved my daughter."


    "But not Molly. And not¡­" the ghosts I''ve annihilated¡­


    "If helping others is your goal, you must help yourself first¡­ which means accepting that some things can''t be helped¨Cat least, not at this time; not by you."


    He glared at the ground, then sighed, defeated. "Accepting it''s the hard part," he murmured. "My dad¨Cpractical dad¨Ctold me to know my limits¡­ I guess I ignore them too often, though, because I can''t stand being a bystander when something bad happens. I¡­ I don''t know why I never learn¡­"


    Gavin hummed. "Maybe we can find out. When was the last time you were a bystander?"


    Gadalik thought about it for a moment. "Almost nine years ago, when I was nine years old¡­ There was this consumed spirit that was murdering people, and my parents¨Cmy blood-parents¨Cdied protecting me from it. I was a child¡­ There was nothing I could''ve done to help. But I still feel like¡­ if I had stepped in to fight alongside them, maybe they would''ve survived. That¡­ the next time I stay out of things, more people will be killed. I can''t¡­ have that on my conscience¡­"


    He placed a hand on the young man''s shoulder. "You are brave. And while we''re all obligated to help those we''re able to, we''re not always able to," he pointed out. "And you''re no help to anyone if you get yourself killed."


    "So I should know when to give up, huh¡­"


    "Well¡­ perhaps. I''m merely saying you shouldn''t allow your past trauma to dictate your life. Initial perspectives can be skewed by it. Try seeing it from all angles to prove yourself wrong before you act on impulse."


    He met Gavin''s gaze attentively.


    "Every behavior that''s learned can also be unlearned. It may not be easy, but it''s doable."


    Gadalik let his words sink in.


    "It''s late. Go shower, then come and eat."


    The teen did as told, accepting Gavin''s previous offer to wear his old clothing. He hadn''t realized how late it had gotten.


    They ate dinner before he set up the small mattress on the living room floor and settled into sleep.


    Gadalik once again found himself in the basement of a beach resort. A monstrous ghost, its featureless face torn apart where its mouth should be, was bounding for him. Before he could react, it pinned him against the wall with its giant mole-like hand.


    He could feel his rib cracking, yet the spook remained calm, aware that this wasn''t real.


    "It''s your fault my parents died," he remembered accusing it.


    "Try seeing it from all angles¡­" Gavin''s words sounded in his head.


    "I''m sorry," he apologized to the spirit that was currently crushing him.


    It hesitated upon hearing those words.


    "You weren''t there¡­ You had nothing to do with my parents dying. And it''s not their fault; they had no choice but to fight back. And I had insisted on going with them when I knew it was dangerous. No¡­ It''s not my fault either¨CI was just a kid."


    The beast loosened its hold on him.


    "Sometimes bad things happen, and that doesn''t necessarily mean someone caused them," his practical father had told him.


    "It''s nobody''s fault."


    The spirit let him go, and Gadalik slid down the wall to the floor.


    "I was wrong to take it out on you," the spook continued. "Not all ghosts are the same. And you were wrong to take your frustrations out on me, too; I''m not the one who refused to listen to you. Not all people are the same."


    It retreated a step from him, and the ghost''s form shrank and reshaped into a human, his eyes staring at Gadalik¡¯s as if to gauge his sincerity.


    The spook extended a hand toward him.


    The spirit shook his head, gave a sad smile, then vanished.


    Gadalik woke up before the roosters crowed; it was still nighttime. He paused when he sensed a ghost near the edge of the property. Molly?


    He got up and took a deep breath, heading to get a drink from the kitchen. Then he went to his duffel bag where he kept his spook''s robe, tags, and staff, but hesitated, deciding against them; he threw on his scarf and sweater instead. The teen wrote a note detailing where he was going and left it on the table before heading out with his ghost sense as his guide.


    The wards marked the border Gadalik arrived at on foot. Just as he expected, Molly was floating there, glaring at the tags. Her gaze shifted to him when he was near enough.


    "Spook! Stay back!" she cried. "If you step past the wards, I''ll¡­ I''ll¡­¡±


    He calmly lifted his hands in surrender. "It''s okay. I don''t have any of my spooks'' supplies on me, see? There''s nothing that can hurt you."


    "I don''t trust you," she hissed.


    "Is it me you don''t trust? Or is it spooks?"


    "You are a spook!"


    "Yes¡­ but I just want to talk."


    "I have nothing to say to spooks," she spat.


    "Are you waiting to see Grace?"


    She gave up, and didn''t seem to have the energy to fight with him. "Yeah¡­"


    "You really love her, don''t you?"


    Molly nodded. "She was the only one left who cared about me."


    "What about your parents?"


    She sank to the ground. "Papa was the best. But then he died¡­ Momma hasn''t been the same since. That''s when Gracie came along."


    ¡°Can you tell me more about your papa?¡±


    ¡°He was the best! But he was always tired from working. He would try to stay up for me and Momma, but he always fell asleep. I didn''t mind it, though, because he made up for it on his days off. Momma was home all the time back then, and I was happy.¡±


    ¡°It sounds like you all loved each other.¡±


    ¡°We did!¡±


    ¡°So what changed? Why don''t you think your momma doesn''t care about you?¡±


    "When Papa died, he became¡­ an animal, like a giant bat,¡± Molly said quietly.


    "When you become a ghost," he explained, "you don''t have a physical body to keep your shape. Sometimes spirits take on a new shape based on their feelings. And sometimes, feelings are so strong that they take over the mind, too.¡±


    "I wonder¡­ what Papa was feeling to make him turn into that¡­¡±


    ¡°Maybe we can find out. What did he do after he transformed?¡±


    ¡°He was trying to take me and Momma away every night, and she got scared¡­¡±


    "It must have been hard on you to see your papa like that¡­"


    "No; I knew he wouldn''t hurt us! He would never hurt us!"


    "But¡­ trying to take you and your momma away is hurtful, isn''t it?"


    ¡°Maybe, but he didn''t deserve to die for it!¡±


    ¡°Die¡­ again?¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­ Momma got so scared, she hired a spook to help him. But instead¡­" She fell silent.


    "Did you see what the spook did to your papa¡­?"


    Molly nodded ever so slightly. "Momma didn''t want me to be there, but I had to be! I had to tell the spook that my papa was a good person, so she would leave him alone. But she didn''t¡­¡±


    There was a moment of silence as he processed this and gathered his thoughts.


    She glared at the ground. "I never forgave Momma¡­ for hiring the spook who killed Papa. She had to work after Papa died, so she had Gracie babysit. Gracie never did anything wrong¨CI just want to be with her¡­! Why can''t you let me?¡±


    "I don''t think your papa would ever want to hurt or scare you,¡± he said carefully. ¡°But when ghosts are consumed like that, it''s very hard for them to control themselves. If your Momma hadn''t called the spook to stop him, he could have really hurt you both by accident.¡±


    She said nothing, refusing to look at him.


    ¡°And now¡­ you might do the same to Grace¨Cuh, Gracie. No matter how much you love her, you already almost hurt her twice,¡± he pointed out. ¡°Once as a lion, and again with the rocks.¡±


    She faced him, her eyes watering with guilt.


    ¡°That''s why I''m here. I don''t know if the spook who killed your father had any other options¡­ But killing ghosts is the last thing I''d want to do. Because sometimes even consumed ghosts can become themselves again, if they have somebody to remind them of who they are. All they''d have to do after that¡­ is talk." He stepped past the wards, proving he trusted her not to harm him. "You understand, now, don''t you? Why your momma had to call the spook?"


    "Yeah¡­ But it still hurts."


    He crouched in front of her. "I understand. But I''m sure your momma hurts from it, too."


    ¡°Really¡­?¡±


    "You''ve talked to me," he pointed out. "Now I think you should talk to her."


    Molly narrowed her eyes at the ground. "Can I talk to Gracie first?"


    "Of course." He looked toward the rising sun. "She should be waking up soon. I left her a note so she knows where we are. I can wait with you, too, if you''d like."


    "...Alright."


    Later that morning Grace and Gadalik had went with Molly to the ghost''s home. Barbara was shocked to see her daughter and the two hugged.


    Molly apologized, and so did her mother. They''d both been hurting for so long¡­ but they finally gained an understanding of each other.


    The spirit disappeared from her arms.


    "Your dad was pretty tall, wasn''t he?" Grace remarked, looking at the gray henley shirt that Gadalik had changed back into later that day, for he had returned Gavin''s and was packing his own belongings.


    "Yeah... I take after my mother, mostly," he replied. "Her clothes did fit, but they''re¡­ shapely."


    "Why not just buy a new shirt?"


    "I should, I just haven''t gotten around to it. My work clothes still fit, and they''re all I really wear outside of the house." A bit sheepishly, he confessed, "And¡­ I was kinda hoping I''d grow into my dad''s shirts."


    She softened. "You''re only seventeen. There''s still time."


    "I''ll actually be eighteen in a week, on December twenty-eighth. You''re¡­ welcome to come to my party. A-Although it won''t be much of a party¡­ Gale¨Cmy practical dad¨Cwill be there, and it''d be nice if you and Gavin could meet him, since you''ve already met my mom¨Cthat is, my adoptive mom Glacia¡­ Uh¡­ My other friend Gretel will be there too. That''s about it, really." He scratched his head, embarrassed by his clumsy invitation. "I understand if you can''t, or don''t want to, go. You wouldn''t be missing much."


    "I''ll be there," she promised.


    "Really?" The teen was caught off guard by how easily she agreed to it. He glanced at Gavin, who had been supervising them in the living room from the kitchen doorway.


    "Fine with me," he said indifferently.


    "Thank you¡­!"

 Episode 13: Birthday

    "So you''ve come to me about a seal on your powers when you were a child?" Vincent asked the younger spook.


    "Y-Yes," Gadalik answered. "Was it you who placed it on me?¡±


    "It wasn''t me; seals aren''t something a spook is able to use, regardless of how powerful they are. Seals are a witch¡¯s spell,¡± he explained.


    ¡°Oh¡­¡±


    ¡°But I see you''re wearing a nullifier; I can tell you about that, if you''d like. I¡¯m not able to use witch¡¯s spells, but I do know about the spells themselves and items enchanted with them. Nullifiers are just seals in object form.¡±


    ¡°N-No, I only really wear the nullifier because I''d rather not sense ghosts when I''m off-duty or trying to sleep,¡± the teen admitted, embarrassed. ¡°I was asking you about it because you knew my mother around the same time it was placed.¡±


    ¡°Frankly, I wasn''t aware there was one on you. But I think it might have been placed on you after your mother consulted me about your magic, because she had asked me how to control it. I recommended you take it out on toys, but now that I think of it, a seal to cap the amount of magic you can use would be a good solution.¡±


    "...Do you know of any witches who would be willing to unseal it?"


    "Of course I do. But I don''t know how necessary removing it will be; this particular seal is designed to weaken and go away on its own over time. What happened to make you realize it was there?"


    "An enchantress named Guinevere noticed it when she helped me with an injury," the teen answered.


    "So you''ve been fine with it almost your whole life, but now that you know about it, it''s suddenly a problem?"


    "It¡­ It isn''t like that. I feel like I''ve never been able to use my magic to its full extent, and the seal would be the reason. Then there was the surge at the lake¨CGuinevere mentioned the seal played a role in that too. Please¡­ I want to know what I''m capable of. I want to learn to control my power."


    "...I understand. Given the circumstances and relationship to your mother, I do have an idea who might¡¯ve placed the seal on you. His name is Virniv. I could contact him and see if he has anything to do with it; if he does, I''ll have him pay you a visit. Even if the seal can''t safely be dispelled, he could at least explain the reasoning behind it."


    "I''d like that. Thank you. My birthday is coming up, so it would be a great present to have the seal removed."


    "True. Just know Virniv is¡­ Well, his methods can be a bit¡­ overboard."


    Overboard?


    "It''s getting late. Go on home, now. But be careful, alright?¡±


    Gadalik nodded. "Thanks for your time."


    Gadalik woke up the morning of his birthday with a splitting headache. It worsened when he propped himself up on his elbows. He was immobilized by the pain, wondering briefly if he was dying, when a few seconds later it subsided.


    Fearing it might return, he remained still before tentatively getting out of bed. It''s gone¡­ What was that all about?


    Deciding not to dwell on it, the teen went to his closet and instinctively reached for his usual plaid shirt, only to grip the seam of its missing sleeve. That''s right¡­ It ripped when my mom tried to keep me from falling out of our carriage. With a nasal sigh, he looked over his wardrobe and chose his birth-father''s large gray henley shirt, tying the back of it so it''d fit, and casual dark gray shorts; despite the snow outside, his mother kept the house a bit too warm, as she detested the cold. He put his shoulder-length striped green hair into its usual ponytail, then left his bedroom.


    The lights were off, but his muscle memory let him descend the staircase without them. When he reached the living room on the ground floor, he winced as they suddenly turned on.


    There were balloons and streamers strung about, a few presents in the corner, and a banner hanging from the second story that read Happy 18th Birthday!


    A woman with light purple hair came forth. "Happy birthday, big guy!"


    "Thanks, Mom," Gadalik answered, a bit embarrassed from the attention.


    "Gale made breakfast," she added, gesturing to a darker skinned man with a blue-violet mohawk and piercings on his left eyebrow.


    "Thank you, Dad!"


    "Glacia put the decor up while I was cooking," the man threw the credit back at his girlfriend.


    "It looks great," Gadalik replied wholeheartedly. His mother beamed from the compliment. He followed his parents to the kitchen whereat awaited them his father''s famous omelets. Just the smell was enough to make his mouth water, and brought a sense of nostalgia.


    "Well?" Glacia said. "Dig in! We''re expecting your friends over after lunch. Then after we have cake, open your presents!"


    "I''m also expecting Virniv to stop by any day now. He might show up today."


    "That''s right," she remembered. "Something about a seal he might''ve placed on you?"


    "Yeah. Be on the lookout for him."


    "Yes, sir, general."


    Just as he sat down to eat, the headache returned at full force; he dropped his fork and propped his forehead on his hand, holding his breath.


    "What''s the matter?" Gale asked worriedly.


    It grew worse, and a chill ran down his spine. He braced himself through it, releasing the breath and panting for a moment when it ebbed. "I-I don''t know. This is the second time I''ve randomly got a headache today¡­"


    Glacia went to his side and pressed the back of her hand to his forehead. "You don''t have a fever."


    "It''s gone now; I feel fine. I just¡­ don''t know what came over me." The teen carefully took a bite and almost immediately forgot about the pain. "Dad, this tastes great!"


    "Thanks, bud," his father replied, though he seemed hung up on the headache. "Are you sure you''re alright?"


    Gadalik shrugged. "Right now, yeah."


    "Any idea what might have caused it?"


    "No¡­ Not a clue."


    "Well¡­ as long as you''re okay now, that''s all that matters," Glacia decided.


    Her son was relieved to hear that. Normally his mother would rush him to a hospital without giving him a say, but she knew he didn''t want to miss his friends.


    It wasn''t too much later when one of them arrived: Gadalik answered the door to find a girl a year younger than him, who flew through the entryway to greet him with a hug around his neck.


    "Happy eighteenth birthday, bucko!" she said, letting him go and taking off her sweater in the newfound warmth. She frowned when the fabric had messed up her curly white hair; she pulled it up into its high ponytail with a purple scrunchie before turning back to her friend. "You''re an adult now! How does it feel?"


    "The same as always, Gretel," he laughed. Under his breath, he muttered, "Unless headaches are part of being an adult.¡±


    ¡°Headaches?¡±


    ¡°Oh. Uhh, yeah; I''ve had them on and off today. But I''m fine right now. And Grace should be here any minute¨C"


    "Grace? The farm girl you told me about?"


    "Y-Yeah. She and her dad were invited."


    "Her dad? Pfft. Parents are usually sticks in the mud."


    Glacia intentionally cleared her throat from the kitchen doorway. "Excuse me?"


    "You''re not his real parents; you don''t count."


    "Excuse me?!"


    "Gretel didn''t mean anything by that," Gadalik intervened, feeling tense. "Right, Gretel?"


    "What''s the big deal? It''s true, they''re not your real parents. And there''s nothing wrong with that," the girl answered.


    "You''d better believe there''s nothing wrong with that!" Glacia huffed. "We''re better parents than yours."


    "Mom, please¡­" Gadalik groaned.


    Gretel laughed genuinely. "True. I''m lucky mine are always working so I can go where I want."


    "Lucky? You''re only lucky that we allow you to come here with your disrespect," the woman snorted, crossing her arms. Turning to her son, she added, "I still don''t know what you see in her."


    "That''s enough, you two." Gale stepped between the females.


    His girlfriend harrumphed and walked back into the kitchen to finish decorating the cake.


    "You okay, bud?" he asked Gadalik. "How''s your head?"


    "It''s fine," the spook said. "Thanks for keeping the peace; I don''t like people fighting."


    "I know¡­ There won''t be anymore fighting today," he promised. Casting his voice out loud enough for Glacia to hear, he warned, "Right, girls?"


    "Yeah, fine," Glacia responded from the other room.


    "I wasn''t trying to fight with anyone," Gretel defended herself.


    "Glacia''s touchy about blood-relations," Gale explained. "If you don''t want a fight, don''t bring it up."


    "I''ll try not to."


    There was a knock on the door. Gadalik was still calming down, so Gale answered it for him; as expected a red-haired girl wearing her hand-made orange coat was behind it, a tall man in a turquoise athletic jacket holding a gift bag beside her.


    The moment she saw Gale and Gretel, she seemed to shrink nervously from the strangers, clutching her skirt at the sides. Then she focused her attention on Gadalik, and stood a little straighter. "Happy birthday," she managed to say.


    Gadalik approached, relieved by the change of topic. He beckoned her inside. "I''m glad you could make it, Grace!"


    "Is that your dad?" the farm girl asked, following him in.


    The mohawked man answered for him: "Yes; I''m Gale. I''m actually¡­ his adoptive mother''s boyfriend. So not legally his father¨Cyet, that is."


    She calmed down at that,


    "You must be Gavin," Gale continued, offering his hand to the tall man whose curly yellow-green hair, braided from the waist-down, would have reached the ground had it not been currently styled around his shoulders. "It''s nice to meet you."


    Gavin seemed to be studying him, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. ¡°You¡¯re a fighter.¡±


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    ¡°He''s a bounty hunter,¡± Gadalik explained. ¡°He fights for the law.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± The guest looked back at Gale, who by this point had awkwardly lowered his hand. They stared each other down for a moment that felt like an eternity before he continued, ¡°That¡¯s¡­ admirable.¡±


    ¡°Um¡­ Thanks?¡± the bounty hunter replied with a nervous chuckle. He watched the other man curiously as the latter moved to place his bag with the other two presents in the corner. Then Gavin took his place standing out of the way, but his yellow-green eyes were watching everyone.


    "My dad¡­ isn''t too keen on parties. Or people¡­" Grace rubbed her arm. "He only came to look out for me. It''s better if we let him be."


    ¡°Grace! How''s Rufus?¡± Glacia peered in the living room doorway with a smile.


    She visibly relaxed to see a familiar face. ¡°He¡¯s safe, thanks to you guys!¡± she giggled.


    "So? Are you going to introduce us?" Gretel asked her friend.


    "R-Right," Gadalik stammered. "Gretel, this is Grace. Grace: Gretel."


    "I''ve heard a lot about you, farm girl. He told me about the ghosts you''ve faced, and the horse riding lessons."


    "O-Oh," Grace mustered the reply, closing in on herself with embarrassment.


    "Don''t be shy! You''ve heard about me, right?"


    "A little¡­ He mentioned he went to the mall with a friend a week before we met."


    "Yep, that was me! Poor thing just about had a panic attack thinking he was helpless without his spooks'' supplies, only to catch a ghost with his bare hands!"


    "What?" Gale turned to his son. ¡°When was that?¡±


    Gretel covered her mouth with regret. "He didn''t know?"


    Gadalik winced, an unusual defensiveness arising. "It¨Cit wasn''t that important¡­¡±


    ¡°It is, if it''s been happening so often,¡± his father said, and although his words were quiet, their tone was stern.


    Grace opened her mouth as if to comfort him, but then closed it and looked away.


    Gadalik sighed. ¡°I''m fine. Really.¡±


    "Gale has a point, though,¡± Gretel disagreed. ¡°Mikey in my theater class has them, too, so I know how much they could impact your daily life. That was the first I''ve seen you like that, though; I had no idea you''ve had more."


    "I¡­ I don''t want to talk about it. Let''s just¡­ have fun. OK?"


    "Hm¡­ Alright, then.¡±


    ¡°Who wants cake?" Glacia sang.


    "Me!" Gretel piped up. "C''mon, birthday boy; let''s eat!"


    "I''ll be right there!" Gadalik said. He turned back to Grace, making sure she felt welcome. "Are you coming with us?"


    She nodded, blushing slightly before following a step behind him to the kitchen.


    Glacia brought out a circular double-layered cake with light blue frosting and a darker blue rim, blueberries decorating the top between the lit candles. "Make a wish, big guy!"


    Gadalik closed his eyes. I wish that everyone will get to know each other, so we can all be a family. He blew them out.


    His mother cut the cake and served out the plates.


    Gretel dug in. Her hot-pink irises shone with delight. "Best cake ever!"


    Gale rubbed the back of his head. "There''s enough for Gavin, too, if he wants some."


    "I-I''m sure he''ll take it with us for our journey home," Grace said, glancing at her father who was still watching from the living room.


    "Want to open your presents?" Glacia prompted after they''d finished eating.


    "S-Sure." Gadalik and the others gathered around the small stack of boxes in the corner of the living room. He picked up the first one on the top and unwrapped it to reveal a worn hardback book titled Spells and Enchantments.


    "Do you like it?" Gale asked.


    "Y-Yes¨Cthank you! It looks like it''s for witches, and that''s exactly what I need."


    "Open mine next!" Gretel encouraged him, withdrawing a small rectangular box from her purse and practically shoving it against him.


    He laughed, taking the lid off to reveal a silver-bladed knife inside of a pouch on a belt.


    "I found it in a hex shop. I was told it''s made specifically for repelling the supernatural," she explained. "Keep it on your person. That way if you''re wearing the nullifier but don''t have your staff, you have something to protect yourself!"


    "Thanks!¡± It could work against witches like Luna, too, he thought gratefully.


    There were two presents left: one fairly large box and a medium gift bag.


    "Open the bag first," Glacia told him.


    "Oh, okay," her son obliged her, taking the present Gavin had left on the pile. He pulled out a piece of fabric which he unfolded to find it was a black shirt with gray horizontal stripes across the chest of it. He took a moment to admire it. "It looks great¨CI love the stripes."


    Everyone looked at Grace, who shied away from their eyes. "My dad helped me with the measurements¡­" the girl said, as though not wanting to take all the credit for it.


    "What do you mean?"


    "She made that shirt for you," Gavin stated when his daughter was freezing up from the attention.


    "Grace¡­ You made this?" He was shocked by the professional quality of the stitching. "That¨Cthat''s incredible!"


    "Th-thank you," she stammered, cheeks turning rosy. "You told me about your favorite shirt getting torn, s-so I just thought¡­ I-I mean¡­ I''m glad you like it¡­!¡±


    ¡°Wait. Did you make your coat too?¡±


    ¡°Y-Yes,¡± she squeaked. ¡°But, um¡­¡±


    "Now it''s time for the grand opening of my gift," Glacia interrupted. "You''re gonna love it!"


    Gadalik hesitated, waiting for his friend to finish her sentence.


    Grace retreated a step in surrender, shaking her head slightly in response.


    He refolded the shirt and placed it by the knife on top of the book, then began to unwrap his mother''s gift. They watched with suspense as he crumpled the paper and opened the box. Inside was a brand new rotary phone. "It''s¡­ a telephone?!"


    ¡°Finally!¡± Gretel cheered.


    He stared back at Glacia with disbelief. "But I thought you didn''t want one?"


    "I didn''t, but you did. Everything''s already set up; all we have to do is plug it in,¡± Glacia chimed.


    "Where will it go?" he asked.


    "Here in the living room. It may be yours, but since we have it I''d like to use it too," his mother answered. "Here, let me put it up."


    "These are all amazing, you guys. Really, I appreciate it," Gadalik addressed them all wholeheartedly. "They''re very thoughtful gifts. I''m going to try on the shirt and belt. I''ll be right back." He went toward the staircase.


    At the first step, there was immense pressure in his head followed by another chill. The ache made him too weak and dizzy to keep a hold on the railing; he felt himself falling backward.


    "Gadalik!" Gale rushed toward his son, but Gavin was closer and caught him before he hit the floor.


    The teen fell limp in his arms, face flushed, breathing hard.


    "What happened?" Glacia demanded, joining them.


    "He has a high fever," the yellow-green-haired man reported. "Sweat and chills. The symptoms are common with a lot of illnesses, although the suddenness of it counts them all out."


    "W-What are you saying?!"


    "Shall I bring him to his bed?"


    "Wha¨C? Y-Yes, but--what''s wrong with him?"


    "That remains to be seen." Gavin carried him up the stairs, Glacia close by behind, and he stopped at the first room on the second floor with disgust on his face upon seeing the unkempt piles of stuffed animals and trash that littered the floor.


    "That''s my room,¡± Glacia corrected him urgently. ¡°His room is at the end.¡±


    Gavin glanced back at her, brows furrowed and mouth agape as if to confront the woman about the wreck in her room, but when Gadalik let out a pathetic whine, he refocused and went for the third door in the hall, opening it to find the room was organized and spotless. Gavin placed the teen on his bed beneath the window.


    Gale came in a minute later with a bowl of water that he dipped a washcloth in to then place on his son''s forehead. Gavin backed away but was observing them.


    Gretel pushed past him. "Geez¨CI can feel the heat from Gadalik all the way over here," she remarked, going on the other side of the bed. "Is he okay?"


    "I don''t know," Gale murmured, distraught.


    "Of all days to get sick, it had to be his own birthday! He can''t catch a break, can he?"


    "Gavin had a point: I don''t think this is an ordinary sickness¡­"


    "Then what is it?"


    ¡°Maybe Guinevere will know,¡± Grace suggested from the doorway. Once again she shrunk when everyone looked at her.


    "I''ll contact Guinevere and see if she can identify it," Gavin agreed, heading downstairs to use the new phone.


    "Hey, girly. You can come in," Glacia gently invited his daughter.


    Grace cautiously obliged, joining Gretel on the left side of his bed; the couple were on the right.


    "Who''s this Guinevere your dad''s calling?"


    "She''s an enchantress¡­ She helped Gadalik before, the last time he was with me.¡± Her red irises flicked back to her unconscious friend.


    "Then he''s in good hands," Glacia sighed, relieved. "Let''s not crowd him. I''m going to see if Gavin gets a hold of her. Gale, keep an eye on him and come get me if there are any changes." She left the room.


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    Gale cooled the cloth in the bowl before replacing it on his son''s forehead, frowning from how quickly they were heating.


    "What exactly is your relationship to Gadalik, anyway?" Gretel asked the younger girl.


    "W-Well¡­ We''re¡­friends," she said, speaking slowly as to think before each word.


    Gretel gave an amused smile. "Well, it''s about time he made another friend. How old are you?"


    "I-I''ll be fifteen in January¡­"


    "Aw, you''re a baby," she giggled. "I''ll be seventeen in March. I met Gadalik almost six years ago."


    "Are¡­ Are you his girlfriend¡­?"


    Gretel laughed genuinely. "He asked me to be his girlfriend a while back," she confessed, "but I''m not into anybody romantically. He accepts that."


    Grace released a breath she hadn''t realized she''d been holding.


    "Why? Do you like him?"


    Her face turned as red as her hair, and she opened her mouth as if to protest, but all that came out was a squeak.


    "Heh. I''ll take that as a ''yes.''"


    That got Gale''s attention. "Gadalik chooses his friends wisely. The fact that he invited you here says a lot. In a few years, when you''re older, who knows? Maybe you''ll end up together."


    Grace met his gaze, the slightest bit hopeful. "You really think so¡­?"


    "I don''t see why not."


    She looked back at Gadalik, who was sweating profusely despite his father''s efforts to cool him.


    "He''s getting worse," Gretel pointed out.


    "Gale!" Glacia called, barging into the room. "Is he wearing the nullifier?"


    The man checked Gadalik''s neck for the pendant. "Yeah. Why?"


    "Ok, that explains it. Put it on the center of his chest."


    Her boyfriend did as told.


    "Leave it there a minute¡­ Now take it off him."


    "Wait¨Cwon''t that cause a surge?"


    "Not in his current state. Hurry!"


    Gale removed the necklace.


    Instantly Gadalik relaxed.


    He felt the unconscious teen''s head. "His fever''s starting to go down," he reported, then looked at the pendant he had removed. "Did the nullifier cause it¡­?"


    "Yes, and no¡­" Glacia replied. "Guinevere said this is happening because there''s a sudden increase of magic within him. That wouldn''t cause a problem normally, but the nullifier has already been synced to his previous amount; it''s stopping his body from adjusting to the new amount properly."


    "What should we do now that it''s off?"


    "We wait. He should be fine in a little while. He can put the nullifier back on once he''s better."


    "Will it need to be resynced?"


    "Uh... Maybe? I didn''t ask."


    Gale stood up. "I''m going to talk to her. I''ll be right back."


    "Hang on, I''m not sure if Gavin will take kindly to you, having just met. Let me do the talking," she said, following him out of the room.


    Gretel glanced between her friends, then a mischievous sparkle shone in her hot-pink eyes. "I have to use the bathroom. Keep an eye on him for us, ''kay?"


    Grace nodded, watching her leave, then realized she was alone with him. For the moment she simply observed his still-heavy breathing and the slowly-fading redness in his face. Then she went to the other side of the bed, and removed the cloth from him to cool it.


    As if on cue, Gadalik turned his head, then opened his eyes partly. "Mom¡­?"


    She recoiled. "N-No¡­ I can go get her if you want¨C"


    He pushed himself up on his elbows, then winced and held his head.


    "Don''t strain yourself¡­!"


    "Grace? What are you doing here¡­?" he mumbled.


    "You invited me to your birthday party¡­"


    "My birthday isn''t until December twenty-eighth¡­"


    "Yes, but¡­ that''s today¡­"


    He blinked with confusion. Then he sank back into the mattress. "Where is everyone?"


    "Our parents are downstairs, talking with Guinevere. Gretel''s in the bathroom."


    "Guinevere? Is she here?"


    "No¨Cshe''s on the phone."


    "We don''t have a phone¡­"


    "You got one as a birthday present," she reminded him.


    "Really¡­?" He squinted as he struggled to recall the events of the day. "My head hurts¡­"


    "I know," she sympathized.


    He stared at the square of light cast down on his bed from the window behind him. "That''s right¡­ I remember now." Then he moved to get out of bed.


    "W-Wait!" she cried.


    "Huh¡­?"


    "You¡­ suddenly have more magic. Your body needs to adjust to it."


    "Magic, huh¡­ That means¡­" The seal has weakened. "We have a phone, right? Downstairs? I need to talk to Virniv." The second he stood, the world tilted under him and he caught himself on the mattress with one hand, the other holding his forehead.


    "Gadalik, you need to rest¡­"


    Then he let out a defeated sigh and climbed back on the bed. There was silence for a moment. "I hate this," he said quietly.


    "Hate¡­ what?"


    "Causing a scene¡­ Not just now, but also when I''ve had panic attacks so often. My mom doesn''t know about them, but I can see my dad pities me, and¡­ I hate it."


    "It''s not like you''re causing a scene on purpose¡­ There''s nothing to be ashamed of," Grace murmured, reaching for his hand to console him. Despite his lowered fever, it was fire to the touch.


    Gadalik pulled away from her out of reflex. She retreated a step to give him space.


    Gretel came back in. "Grace, your dad says Gadalik should be waking¨C" Her sentence ended abruptly upon seeing her old friend staring back at her. "You''re up!" She rushed to his side and took his hand in both of hers, squeezing it affectionately.


    "Y-Yeah." He let her hold it, the redness in his feverish cheeks increasing for a moment.


    It was subtle, but Grace noticed. She averted her eyes solemnly.


    "He''s up?" Gale overheard, walking through the doorway.


    "Oh, thank goodness," Glacia exclaimed as she followed him in. "How you feeling, big guy?"


    "OK, I guess," he replied with a halfhearted shrug. Then he looked up at her. "Can I use the phone?"


    "Of course; it''s yours! But you should wait until your fever''s gone."


    "Alright, let him rest," Gale suggested.


    "We''ll be downstairs if you need us," Glacia assured her son, who nodded.


    "I''ll bring your presents up here for you," Gretel offered.


    "Thank you¡­" Gadalik said, lying back down and staring absently at the wall after they left.


    As his fever ebbed, he felt stronger and lighter. For a moment he forgot about the spirits he could sense. Wait¡­ He felt his neck and realized his nullifier was gone. My ghost sense¡­? The spook let his guard down and the sense kicked in at full force, sending another chill down his spine. He could pick up on their misery and anger¨Cthe emotions that weighed on him long before he could recognize they weren''t his own¨Cand it was overwhelming.


    When he drew in a breath and focused on just his immediate surroundings again, the sense faded.


    I can control it now, the teen realized with a relieved sigh. What else can I do?


    Someone knocked on his door.


    "Come in," he permitted.


    Gretel stepped in with his presents in hand. She placed them on the foot of his bed. "How are you feeling?"


    "I feel great, actually."


    She skeptically placed the back of her hand on his forehead. "Your fever''s gone! That was fast."


    He glanced at the nullifier on the nightstand. He had been waiting to put it back on, although now he wasn''t so sure about it.


    "What''s on your mind?"


    "Oh¨CI was just thinking¡­ I wanted the nullifier to prevent an accidental surge in magic, like what happened when I drowned at the lake. But I feel like I have more control over my magic now."


    "Do you?"


    The spook held his hand out, casting a medium-sized shield spell. It summoned faster and with no numbness. He dispelled it. "Yeah. This is great¡­!"


    "That''s awesome! Well, I brought your shirt, knife, and book. I''ll let you change."


    "Thank you." With the door shut once again, Gadalik tried on the new shirt and belt, pleased by how perfectly they fit. The shirt¡¯s design suited his striped eyes and hair. He sheathed the knife and headed down the hall toward the staircase.


    From atop the stairs he could see his parents talking together by the phone, and Gretel trying to engage with the remaining two guests about their livestock and horses. Gadalik began to descend the steps.


    "Wow, you look good in dark colors," Gale complimented the new shirt.


    "Thanks; I think so, too," Gadalik said with a sheepish smile.


    "How''s the knife?" Gretel asked.


    He lifted the side of his shirt to show the pouch. "It''s right within reach."


    "The phone works great," Glacia stated for the record.


    "I knew it would. Thanks for the help after I passed out."


    "Don''t thank me; thank Gavin. He''s the one who brought you upstairs and called Guinevere for help."


    "Gavin¡­?" I didn''t expect him to get involved, he thought, softening as he approached the curly-haired man. "Thank you¡­ Really. I thought I was dying.¡±


    "No need to thank me," Gavin dismissed it. ¡°Calling Guinevere was Grace¡¯s idea.¡±


    ¡°Grace¨Cyou saved me,¡± he murmured, and with a slight laugh, he added, ¡°again.¡±


    The girl blushed slightly. ¡°There''s actually another present¡­¡± She nudged her father with her elbow.


    "Right¡­ Grace wanted me to give you this." The man withdrew a framed picture from his bag and held it out.


    Gadalik took it. It depicted himself and Grace on their respective horses together in the snow during the riding lessons. ¡°Woah,¡± was all he managed to say. I forgot he was a professional photographer¡­


    "Do you like it¡­?" Grace asked hesitantly.


    "I¡­ I love it," the spook said. "It''s a reminder of a great time we had together. I''ll put it on my dresser above my letter drawer."


    "You kept my letters?"


    "I keep every letter my friends send me," he admitted. "And with the new phone, I probably won''t be getting any more from you guys, so I''m glad I chose to save them before now."


    "I see¡­" She looked at Gretel, who was gesturing widely during her spiel on why Glacia should buy a TV next, much to the miserly woman''s displeasure.


    "Something wrong?"


    Grace forced a smile. "N-No¡­! Not at all. I''m¡­ glad you like it."


    "Thanks again," he said to both of them.


    "Gadalik, are you alright?" his mother called, desperate to escape the spiel.


    "Y-yeah, my fever''s gone. Oh yeah¨CI can control my ghost sense now!"


    "Really?"


    "Yep! Not only am I able to hone in on ghosts that are farther away, but I can stop my sense altogether. It takes a bit of willpower but I''m sure I''ll get used to it. My shield spell feels a lot more natural, too," he explained. "The seal must have weakened¡­ but speaking of, I want to call someone."


    After the call and later that day, they heard banging on the door.


    "I''ll get it," Gale said.


    "I''m coming too." Gadalik stood and followed.


    The rest of the party came with them and waited in suspense as Gale opened the door.


    Behind it stood a man with fair skin and short light green hair, wearing a deep red cloak. He was perhaps twenty years older than Gadalik. His sky blue eyes flicked to each of the party in turn as if assessing them.


    Gavin immediately stepped protectively in front of his daughter, eyes narrowed with distrust. Grace seemed worried about that.


    "Virniv?" Gadalik asked, weaving through the others to greet him directly.


    "Yes," he answered. "You must be Gadalik, correct? I recognize you from when you were a toddler."


    "Y-Yeah! Come in."


    "He looks like a genderbent version of your mother," Glacia remarked to her adoptive son.


    "Is that so?" Virniv responded, overhearing. "His mother and I are both pure-blooded Karpritians, so I guess it''s to be expected."


    "So if you and Gadalik are both Karpritians," Gretel wondered, "how come he has stripes in his hair and eyes when you don''t?"


    "W-Well¡­ I''m only half," Gadalik reminded her. "My father''s an Arcrittan, and had black hair and darker blue eyes."


    "Striped traits are common with mixed Karpritians. Even without having met his parents, his heritage is obvious," Virniv explained.


    "Are you also a spook?" Gretel inquired.


    "No, I''m a witch. Or rather, an ¡®enchanter¡¯ as they''re referred to these days.¡± He rolled his eyes. ¡°I specialize in seals and dispels, but they''re not all I know."


    "Are all Karpritians magical?"


    "A large percentage are, and some don''t even know it. During the witch hunts, Karpritia was a place of refuge. While most witches stopped use of their magic to blend in with humans, they still recognized their own kind and kept the magical bloodlines pure¡­ Generally speaking. Of course Vilodia decided not to keep hers that way."


    Gadalik recoiled at his scornful tone when mentioning his biological mother. "Is there something wrong with that?"


    "Well, when it comes to spooks, your father was the best she could''ve chosen. Besides, there aren''t many Karpritians here in Arcritta to find, so I understand her settling for him¨Chowever irresponsible having a kid with him was."


    "Settling? Irresponsible? Why would you think¡­?"


    "How dare you speak badly of his parents," Glacia defended her adoptive son.


    Virniv gave her an unimpressed once-over. "And who are you supposed to be?"


    "His mother! Well¡­ his new mother."


    "...Right. Say, aren''t you part of the royal Peakisan family?"


    "Huh? You actually recognize me?" She was shocked. "I-I mean¡­ of course you do. I''m the sole heir to the remains of their kingdom."


    "Such a shame that they were bought out¡­¡±


    Glacia gaped and glared at him. "You''re a real wise guy, aren''t you? You''re lucky Gadalik wants your help, ¡®cause you don''t know what I''d like to do to you right now.¡±


    "You talk as though you knew them," Gale spoke up to Virniv. "Do you have a history?"


    "With the Peakisans: no. With Gadalik''s blood-parents: yes. Vilodia and I both arrived in Arcritta together. Even though she didn''t have use of natural magic like me, she made the most out of spell tags and enhancing them. I respected her for that. What I don''t respect is her lack of taste in men."


    "What did my father ever do to you?" Gadalik confronted him.


    "He wooed her with his spook''s tricks, and had no regard for their son being at risk from his genes."


    "You''re calling me at risk? For what?"


    "The surges that nearly killed you and them when you were just a toddler, because your spook-half couldn''t handle your witch-half¡¯s magic. That''s why she had me seal it off."


    Gadalik sat down, processing this. "Surges? I don''t remember any of that¡­ or you, for that matter."


    "Well, duh. You were four years old at the time. Vilodia reached out to Vincent first to see how to safely use up your power so it wouldn''t overflow and surge, but he was too soft to make a difference. The seal was a last resort."


    "Well can you unseal it?" Glacia demanded, growing impatient and irritated by the man.


    "Of course I can. It''s only a matter of if I should. Gadalik might still be too underdeveloped to contain it."


    "The seal weakened already today, and I feel great," the hybrid spook said. "So I think I can handle the rest."


    "Very well. Let''s give it a try. Worst case scenario, I reseal it."


    "Really?" Gadalik was surprised by his cooperation. "W-What should I do?"


    "Have a seat and take your shirt off."


    The teen hesitated, looking at the three females in the room. Gretel seemed amused by his modesty, while Grace''s cheeks reddened and she looked away.


    "Well? You want me to unseal it or not?"


    "Maybe he''d be more comfortable in his bedroom," Gale stuck up for his son.


    "Look, I''m not a creep. He''s a man, isn''t he? What''s the problem?"


    "I don''t appreciate your disrespect," Glacia snapped.


    "N-No, he''s right¡­" Gadalik sighed with defeat. He swallowed hard and removed his shirt, not daring a glance at his friends.


    "I''m gonna slowly release the seal. You just be sure to warn me if you feel a surge coming on." Verniv placed his hand on the center of his bare chest and the same marking of the sun as on his nullifier appeared under it.


    Gretel tilted her head at the sight. "Huh. When did you get that scar?"


    Gadalik winced, having hoped that they wouldn''t notice it. "When that ghost cracked my rib, it punctured my lung. They¡­ had to fix it."


    "Does that mean¡­ you''ve seen him shirtless before he got it?" Grace asked the other girl, almost seeming scared to know the answer.


    Gale tensed with discomfort, while his girlfriend scowled.


    "I have," Gretel replied as a matter of fact. "I''ve had to pull thorns out of his back once when he fell into a bush. And that time when it started pouring down rain, and he took it off to dry it. Then there was the time when he spent the night at my house and I accidentally walked in on him changing¨C"


    "Can we not make this weird?" Gadalik interrupted. Addressing the others, he added, "Before you get any ideas, Gretel''s openly aromatic.¡±


    "Yep! I guess you can say I''m an ace,¡± she joked. ¡°But, Grace, you didn''t seem surprised by his scar. What does that imply?¡± Gretel teased the younger girl.


    "N-N-Nothing! I noticed it when Guinevere was helping him last week," Grace despaired. "I figured he had been injured there before that, though, because he was protecting that area in his sleep¡­"


    "Oh¨Cso you were just watching him sleep, then?¡± She laughed at Grace¡¯s horrified reaction.


    "N-No!¡±


    "Gretel, that''s enough," Gadalik sighed.


    ¡°Ah, man. Did I go too far?¡± Gretel took a moment to compose herself. ¡°Sorry, Grace. Hope you know I was kidding. For the record, you started it.¡±


    "Gadalik, how are you holding up?" Virniv asked.


    The birthday boy blinked, almost forgetting he was there. ¡°It''s kind of like the sensation of when I removed my nullifier incorrectly, except slower. My sight has improved a little bit too.¡±


    "Why on earth would you remove your nullifier incorrectly? Were you trying to surge?¡±


    ¡°Actually, yes¡­¡±


    ¡°It was either that, or let himself get kidnapped by some witch for his blood,¡± Gale defended him.


    ¡°Either way, that''s a bad sign,¡± Virniv stated. ¡°The sensation, I mean. We should stop.¡±


    The teen frowned. "But I don''t feel a surge¡­"


    "That¡¯s exactly the problem. Surges only happen for two reasons: suddenly having too much power, or acts of desperation. If you have too much power but it isn''t sudden, then you won''t surge¨Cyou¡¯ll die instead. So¡­ unfortunately, unless you want me to kill you by removing your seal, I''m going to have to stop and reseal it.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± He couldn''t hide his disappointment as Virniv did exactly that.


    "As you grow, the seal might weaken and even wear off on its own," Virniv said, as if trying to give him hope, ¡°but if you''re done growing by now, then your current power is your limit.¡±


    Gadalik fell silent, processing this.


    ¡°Well? Are we done here?¡±


    ¡°I guess¡­¡±


    ¡°You don''t sound too happy about the seal.¡±


    He shrugged. ¡°I was hoping I could master my full power. But now it turns out I can''t even use it¡­¡±


    ¡°You''re just not built for this amount of power, kid. You would have been if you were pure Karpritian, but you''re not. You can blame your parents for that.¡±


    Everyone tensed.


    ¡°That''s enough,¡± Glacia growled. ¡°If you''re done, I want you gone.¡±


    ¡°Wait. We might not be done,¡± Virniv realized. He turned back to Gadalik. ¡°If the seal did weaken today, I doubt you had a chance to test your new limits. They may not be as disappointing as you''d think.¡±


    ¡°Test them? How?¡±


    "Come outside with me."


    Gadalik reached for his shirt, but Virniv stopped him.


    "Leave it," he told the spook. "It''ll be easier if I can see the seal when or if it appears."


    "He''ll freeze to death out there without a shirt and coat!" Glacia butted in. "Not to mention those shorts!"


    "Do you not know of elemental magic? I''ll keep us warm with a flame spell."


    "Elemental magic?" Gadalik repeated. "They don''t sell tags like that in a hex shop¡­"


    "Tags for them are illegal. But that won''t stop powerful witches from using them without tags. Some even make and sell tags for them on the black market. Have you tried using an element before?"


    "No¡­ I¡¯ve only mastered a few spells: shield, ward, stun, and confinement. My dad got me a book that might teach me more, though."


    "Trent?"


    "No¨Cmy new, practical dad." His blue eyes looked at Gale, who waved in response to his introduction.


    "Whatever. Let''s go.¡±


    Gadalik followed him outside, where Virniv drew a wide circle around them in the snow. Then he filled in the indentation with old leaves and twigs from the surrounding woods.


    "Fire spells only work on things that are flammable. It¡¯s like your hand becomes a substitute lighter." He demonstrated, and with a spark of magic from his palm the twigs trapped them within a ring of fire. "Prepare yourself, boy."


    "Wait¨Care we going to fight?" Gadalik recoiled. ¡°I thought you were going to teach me!¡±


    "Fighting is how I''ll teach you your limits. And I won''t pull my punches, either. You can''t run away; there''s nowhere to hide; your only option is to fight me or die."


    When the spook was still reluctant, Virniv rushed at him. Gadalik casted a shield spell easily and blocked his attacks; it held out despite the beating it took.  It''s more durable now, he realized.


    Virniv spun and kicked the shield out of his grasp, then kicked him a second time on his way to facing him again before the teen had a chance to react.


    Gadalik barely managed to dodge the second kick and summoned another shield, the first one dispelling. "I don''t want to fight you, Virniv."


    "You should, Mutt," Virniv sneered, going for another kick. His attacks against the shield herded the spook closer to the surrounding flames. "I pity you. Your mother was a fool. She could have had a son with full control of his power, but instead she partnered with an Arcrittan and had you. Imagine how difficult you made her life, to the point where she was so desperate to fix you."


    His words caught Gadalik off guard. Was I really that bad to her¡­?


    Virniv didn''t wait for him to regain composure. He used a variation of the levitation spell to send the spook right into the fire.


    Gadalik came to from the attack, and out of reflex, his shield encapsulated him in a bubble, safe from the flames. He spent a second realizing what he''d done, which Virniv took advantage of by charging at him once more.


    Gadalik instinctively threw his hands out to block the attack, which inadvertently caused the bubble to expand and burst, knocking the witch back. As Virniv was about to rebalance, Gadalik went for a low sweep at his shins to successfully trip him.


    Virniv caught himself with both hands on the ground, and as he pushed himself to his feet, a spike of ice shot up from the half-melted snow between his handprints aiming straight for the spook''s heart.


    Ice elements? Gadalik barely managed to back out of reach in time, then stopped abruptly so he wouldn''t cross into the fire again. That was close¡­. He really doesn''t care if he kills me, does he? He grabbed the tip of the icicle and broke it off to use as a makeshift weapon. He moved to stab his attacker, but Virniv caught him by the arm and took advantage of his momentum to pull him past and overbalance him; Gadalik fell, hitting the snowy ground.


    The man stepped on his wrist to make him drop the icicle then stooped over him. "Your father wasn''t spared from you either, you know. He knew you inherited his limitations, and that''s why you were at risk from the surges. He carried that guilt to his grave."


    Gadalik''s breath caught in his throat. Long forgotten memories of his father gazing shamefully at him came to mind. But the pain in his wrist as Virniv increased the pressure on it snapped him out of it. With his free hand, the spook forced distance between them with a ward spell, then got up and summoned a shield with a spiked rim, throwing it after him like a blade.


    Virniv deflected it with his own shield and did the same, albeit without the spikes. Gadalik wasn''t fast enough to dodge; it hit him in the gut so harshly that he doubled over and couldn''t get a breath in. ¡°Finished already? Heh. I should''ve expected a mutt like you couldn''t hold their own.¡±


    The teenager managed to inhale, only to cough out blood. He really is trying to kill me¡­! He shook his head in a silent refusal to die, then placed both hands into the snow, concentrating on it as the man strode toward him. Come on. Just a little closer¡­ Now! Copying what Virniv had done earlier, an icicle jutted out from between his hands, but to his dismay it was tiny. Still, the witch appeared almost impressed that he summoned it in the first place. Gadalik took advantage of that by snapping it out of the ground and stabbing it into his foot. He cursed silently when it didn''t penetrate the snowboot, and Virniv laughed, kicking him under the chin so hard that he was knocked skyward.


    He braced himself for the fall, but found he was suspended in the air. I''m¡­ being levitated?


    "You have all the power a Karpritian can have, with the body of an Arcrittan that can''t contain it,¡± the man went on, lifting him so they were face-to-face. ¡°You''re a perfect example of what''s wrong with mutts: everything that could''ve gone badly, did."


    "Sh-Shut up," Gadalik finally snapped, angrily fighting against the magical restraint until he brute-forced his arm free and punched him in the jaw.


    The impact caused Virniv to lose concentration and drop him. "Looks like those muscles aren''t just for show,¡± he muttered, somewhat impressed. "But remember this is a test of magic, not strength."


    "I don''t care if it''s a test¡­ You''ve made it personal." He got to his feet and moved to punch him again.


    ¡°Aw. Gonna cry?¡± Virniv taunted, easily catching his fist and using a stun spell through that point of contact; Gadalik felt a shock through his body that paralyzed him.


    ¡°N-No,¡± Gadalik growled, once again on the ground but too angry to surrender. That¡¯s when he spotted the shard he had broken off of the witch¡¯s icicle lying not far from him. I can''t physically move¡­ but maybe I don''t have to. He once again concentrated, feeling hope ignite within him when it rolled slightly.


    ¡°Give up now and maybe I''ll spare your life¨C¡± Virniv¡¯s sentence ended in a sharp gasp through his teeth as the shard suddenly stabbed into his leg. ¡°Did you just¡­?¡±


    The hybrid located the smaller one he''d created and willed it at his attacker¡¯s head with the most force he could muster, hoping to knock him out. While it hit, it simply ricocheted back to the ground, and he was starting to feel lightheaded.


    ¡°Huh. I''d say ¡®nice try¡¯ but that was honestly just pathetic.¡± Virniv stepped closer to tower over the kid.


    Seething, Gadalik balled his hands into fists¡­ then realized that he was able to. The stun spell is wearing off...!  I just need a bit more time. ¡°Heh¡­ You know what''s more pathetic? Being jealous that my mom chose my dad instead of you, and taking it out on her kid.¡±


    ¡°...What?¡± Virniv seemed disgusted by that accusation. ¡°I had no romantic interest in your mother. A woman who placed so little value in her heritage is appalling.¡±


    ¡°That''s not what it looks like to me,¡± he lied. Take the bait. Keep talking until I can move enough to stun you. He had regained mobility up to his elbows.


    ¡°I don''t have time for this. I should crush your skull right now and get it over with.¡± He lifted his foot as if to do just that.


    Gadalik felt legitimate fear at that moment. The fire ensured that nobody could pass through to save him, and he wouldn''t regain mobility in time to save himself. No¡­ I won''t be killed. Not here¨Cnot by him! I have to escape¡­ right now, or I''m dead¡­! I have to escape¨CI have to escape¨C


    The world was momentarily engulfed by a bright blue light. When it faded, the hybrid found himself lying just outside the ring of fire. What¡­?


    ¡°Gadalik!¡± Grace cried with relief to see him. ¡°How did you get out?!¡±


    Gavin had been restraining Glacia from trying to run through the flames, and Gale was doing the same to Gretel. They all stopped to see what the youngest was talking about. Despite the stun spell having worn off by this point, Gadalik felt too drained of energy to move. Still, with Grace¡¯s help, he managed to stand as his other friend and adoptive father rushed to his side.


    Virniv overheard and dispelled the fire to locate his opponent.


    ¡°Big mistake!¡± The woman let out a battle cry, breaking free from the shocked photographer to charge at the witch.


    The latter casually summoned a shield and expanded it into a wall that he moved between himself and Glacia. ¡°This battle is over; he''s shown all he''s capable of. And for someone new to these abilities¡­¡±--there was a dramatic pause¨C¡°he did extremely well,¡± Virniv announced cheerfully.


    "W-What?" Gadalik was flustered by the sudden shift in his tone, currently lacking the patience to tolerate whatever slander he was gonna say next.


    ¡°You heard right. You picked up on the ice elemental spell and levitation spell just by watching me, and you even figured out teleportation on your own! That''s impressive.¡±


    ¡°You¡­ You mean¡­ this was a test¨Cthe whole time¡­?!¡±


    ¡°Obviously. And you agreed to that test before we even came out here. What did you think it was?¡±


    ¡°But I¡­ You¡­¡± Gadalik was too upset to form a coherent sentence. Frustration tears welled in his eyes. ¡°I thought you were really trying to kill me!¡±


    "I''m sorry for being so harsh¡­ But I wasn''t lying. You inherited both of your parents'' magic, but also your father''s physical limitations. It''s a potentially deadly combination¨Cfor you, and the ones around you¨Cand it was irresponsible for your parents to have risked you turning out like this."


    "You keep saying all this like it still matters!" Gadalik shouted. "My parents found a solution that worked for everybody with the seal, so what''s the problem?! Just let it go!"


    "You tell me the problem. You''re the one who wanted the seal removed."


    The spook opened his mouth to argue, then realized it was true. "Was this your goal the whole time¡­? To change my mind about the seal?" The absurdity of the man¡¯s motives infuriated him more. "If you think this being a test makes what you said about my parents okay, you''re wrong," he warned him quietly.


    "I had to say those things to get a rise out of you so you''d fight with your full potential."


    "I''m sure I could''ve done it my own way; you didn''t even give me a chance to try¡­!"


    Virniv shrugged. "My way worked, though, didn''t it?"


    "That''s not an excuse!"


    "Virniv, I think it might be best if you leave," Gale intervened.


    "...Very well. We both got what we wanted out of this meeting. Best wishes to you, and happy birthday, Gadalik,¡± the witch said with a friendly smile. ¡°Also¡­you can put your shirt back on now."


    Gadalik crossed his arms over his chest, the heat from the physical exertion being replaced by the cold from the weather, especially without the fire to warm him.


    Virniv dispelled the shield, and just before Glacia could attack him, he teleported away. ¡°Coward!¡± she yelled out, kicking the remaining ice shard harshly in the direction he had been in.


    ¡°That''s the worst way he could have gotten his point across,¡± Gretel muttered. She and Grace helped their friend walk back inside the house while Gale tried to calm his girlfriend down.


    Gavin followed them in and handed the older teen his new shirt. ¡°Are you alright¡­?¡±


    Gadalik slipped it on. "I regret wearing shorts," he answered jokingly, although he didn''t have the energy to fake positivity at the moment. That dull ache in his gut had returned.


    "We heard everything Virniv said," Grace murmured hesitantly.


    He froze, then dropped the act. "I just¡­ never considered that being a mu¨Cerr, half-blooded¨Cwould cause so many problems. I was too young to even remember what I put my birth-parents through. I wonder¡­ if they really were ashamed of how I turned out¡­"


    "Your heritage isn''t your fault¡­¡±


    ¡°And like you said, the seal fixed everything a long time ago, so there''s no use dwelling on the time before that,¡± Gretel added. ¡°You should focus on right now. Like, you can teleport¡­ Teleport! How cool is that?!¡±


    He chuckled. ¡°True¡­ I''ll be honest though, I''m pretty sure that my teleportation was a fluke.¡±


    "Regardless, it looked to me like you adapted to your new magic rather quickly during that fight,¡± Gavin said. The spook looked up at the curly-haired man, attentive. "The only thing that concerned me is when you seemed to let your anger dictate how you used it. I''m assuming this isn''t the first time, either."


    Gadalik¡¯s striped blue eyes looked down in shame. "...You''re right. On both counts." He placed a hand over the side of his chest. "This scar is a reminder of the day I annihilated a ghost in a fit of rage. I¡­ I''m not proud of it¨Cor today''s match."


    "Acknowledging it is the first step to overcoming it. You seem like a fine young man. You can go far if you learn to manage your negative emotions."


    "Thank you, Gavin¡­ I''ll work on it."


    Gale and Glacia finally returned, the latter still muttering to herself until seeing her son snapped out of it. ¡°Gadalik, are you hurt?!¡± she fretted.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­ Just bruised here and there.¡±


    ¡°Argh, if that guy ever shows his face here again, I''ll kill him!¡±


    ¡°Easy, now,¡± Gale said. ¡°He¡¯s gone, and we''ll probably never see him again. Let''s not allow him to ruin the rest of our son¡¯s birthday.¡±


    Gadalik paused, staring at the shirt he was wearing, reminded that his friends had given to him on a day that was supposed to be fun. He turned to face them. "I''m sorry you had to see that¡­ I shouldn''t have let my desire to breach the seal ruin our time together in the first place. You came all this way for¡­ a disaster."


    "The day''s not over yet," Grace replied. "We still have some time together before I have to leave."


    "Why not stay the night like I am?" Gretel suggested.


    ¡°...Can I?¡±


    Gadalik brightened. ¡°Yeah! Can she, Gavin?¡±


    The curly-haired man shrugged indifferently. "If she wants, but it''s up to your parents."


    "It''s fine with me," Gale said, giving the younger girl an encouraging smile. "Glacia?"


    "Sure,¡± the woman agreed. ¡°But your door stays open!¡± Gretel laughed and Grace hid her reddening face in her hands.


    "That''s fair," Gadalik agreed. "I''ve got nothing to hide. My room would be kind of small with all of us in there, but I mean, I have board games and my mom''s old record player, and we can always just talk if you''d prefer, or¨C"


    "Slow down, there. First you need to warm up. I can see you shaking like a leaf from being out there half dressed," Glacia playfully scolded him, taking the light blue throw blanket off the couch to wrap around his shoulders. ¡°Go sit by the fireplace. You can shower after you''ve recovered enough.¡±


    ¡°How¡¯s about I make some hot cocoa?¡± Gale offered.


    ¡°Yeah!¡± Gretel immediately answered for everyone. The three friends settled on the red carpet in front of the fire. Glacia took her seat on the middle couch cushion, and after her boyfriend handed out the steaming mugs, he took his place by her on the opposite end from Gavin.


    Gadalik relaxed from the warmth of both his drink and the presence of his loved ones. He hadn''t realized how tired he was until he caught himself dozing off.

 Episode 14: Illusions

    Gadalik was startled half-awake from the ringing of a bell. At first he thought it came from a dream, since the sound wasn''t one he was used to¡­ but then it rang again, jarring him enough to remember that his mother had recently bought them a telephone¨Cand that he had added their number to his work listings. The spook quickly scrambled out of bed, briefly checking on his heavily-sleeping mother as he passed her messy bedroom at the end of the second story hall, before descending the stairs and picking it up right at the third ring. "Peakisan residence; Gadalik speaking."


    "Gadalik?" The caller sounded like a middle-aged man. "You''re someone able to deal with ghosts, right?"


    "Yep. How can I help?"


    "Oh, good¡­ My name''s Hoss. You see, I just moved to this neighborhood a few weeks ago with my young daughter, but it turns out the house next door is haunted, and I don''t know what to make of this whole mess."


    "Is the ghost violent, or hurting anyone?"


    ¡°I can''t say, since I haven''t seen anybody go inside there¨Cand frankly I''m too scared to check, myself. But there are destructive sounds coming from inside that are loud and sporadic. It''s hard to ignore.¡±


    "Do you know anything about who lived there?"


    "No, not at all. I tried asking my landlord about it, but all he said was that they were ¡®harmless¡¯ as long as we didn''t go inside their house, and recommended using earplugs at night."


    "Wait. Did he mean ¡®they¡¯ as plural?¡± Usually a singular ghost of unknown gender is referred to as ¡®it.¡¯


    ¡°Not sure; that''s just the word he used. But if there are more, I''m willing to pay for you to get rid of all of them.¡±


    Dealing with multiple spirits at once might be difficult if I''m alone, even with my increased powers¡­ But I can¡¯t just turn a blind eye. That''s when a solution hit. "Do you mind if I bring someone to assist me?"


    "Uh¡­ I''m not sure if I could afford to hire two spooks. I sought you out specifically because you''re cheaper than the rest."


    "N-No, I''ll have her pay sorted, myself.¡±


    "I see. Then do what you need to.¡± He provided the address and contact information.


    ¡°Sounds good. I can be there around evening today.¡±


    ¡°Looking forward to it.¡±


    When they hung up, Gadalik eagerly strode back to his bedroom and opened a dresser drawer beneath a professionally-shot picture of himself riding horses through the snow with a friend, then sifted through the letters and unframed pictures until he found the thin banded stack of business cards given from people he worked with in the past, including Albert''s, Vincent''s, Janna''s, and¡­ Here it is!


    He brought the last one with him downstairs and dialed its number on the rotary.


    So this is her place? Gadalik confirmed at noon, double checking the address. He dismounted his dappled gray stallion, who snorted as if unimpressed by the moderately-sized two-story home before them in the suburbs of a village just miles from home. With an uneasy gulp, he dared to knock on the door.


    It took a moment, but a woman with red irises and black hair answered. "Why, hello there, young man! You must be Gadalik. Please come in!¡±


    He tied his horse outside, adjusting its blanket to keep it warm in the light snowfall, then obliged her. The inside was organized, and decorated with enchanted items he recognized from books he had read.


    "Lucia, is that the spook-witch from the lake we heard so much about?" said a black-haired man sitting on the couch, his purple eyes seeming to recognize the green-robed teen whose steel-tipped staff was attached at the hip.


    "Yes, Akio. He called earlier about our daughter joining him for a job,¡± she replied.


    "How old are you, son?"


    "I just turned eighteen,¡± Gadalik said, grimacing at the reminder of both his heritage and the fight that had occurred on his birthday because of it.


    Lucia frowned, muttering to her husband, ¡°A little old for her, don''t you think?"


    "Only two years difference," Akio brushed it off.


    ¡°...What?¡± Gadalik glanced between the two, not understanding how his age was relevant to anything.


    "Mom, Dad, who''s here?" a familiar voice called from upstairs.


    "Come see for yourself," Akio invited her, and his wife couldn''t suppress a mischievous snicker.


    Their daughter came down: a girl with short black hair. When her violet eyes met with the other teen''s she stumbled and nearly fell down the steps with shock, flustered. After a second she rebalanced and composed herself. "Wha¡­ What is he doing here?!"


    Gadalik shrank from her reaction. "Your mother didn''t tell you?"


    ¡°No! Unsurprisingly.¡±


    ¡°It must have slipped my mind,¡± Lucia giggled.


    ¡°Yeah, right.¡±


    "I-I''m sorry, Mira¡­ I didn''t mean to drop by unexpected,¡± the older spook said, backing up toward the door in preparation to leave.


    "Ugh, don''t apologize. Why are you here?"


    "You said to call you once I found a job¡­ Your mother was the one who answered. I thought she would tell you¨Chonest¡­! But since she didn''t, I understand if you don''t want to take it¨C"


    "Of course I want to take it! Now¡­ what is it?"


    "This family moved next door to a haunted house¡­ It''s actually not too far from here. The problem is there might be two ghosts¨C"


    "I meant: what is its pay?"


    Oh. "It''ll be my rates¡­ which are still on the affordable side. B-But I saw what you charge on your business card, so I''ll make sure you get the amount you usually would.¡±


    "Seriously? Don''t cut yourself so short! We''ll split it evenly."


    "Oh, uh¡­ alright," he stammered with pleasant surprise. "We can leave as soon as you''re ready."


    Mira headed back up the staircase and eventually returned wearing her red-violet hood, with her silver kusarigama at her hip. He could scarcely see the gold of her pendant tucked under her black shirt. "Well? What are we waiting for?"


    "N-Nothing. Do you have transportation?"


    "Yeah, I''ve got a horse. Do you? We also have a carriage we can both ride in if you don''t.¡±


    "I do! His name is Punsiv."


    "Good to know. C''mon." Mira went out back to retrieve her silver horse, and when she met with him in the front yard, she looked to and fro. "Where''s your mother?"


    "She doesn''t come with me for every job," he answered with a single-shouldered shrug, untying Punsive to mount him. After they were both aboard their steeds, he led the way toward the address Hoss had given him. It would be a five-hour ride at the least.


    "So you decided to stay a spook after all, then?" Mira remarked after a minute of traveling.


    "Y-Yeah. I feel like I can''t catch a break from ghosts regardless of being on duty, anyway," he halfway joked. "I took your advice and wore a nullifier for a while. I enjoyed not being able to sense ghosts, but now I can control my ghost sense so it''s not really needed¨Cexcept maybe to stop me from seeing ghosts."


    "You couldn''t control it before?"


    "No¡­ There was a seal placed on me and it stunted my magic. It only weakened enough for me to control it just recently."


    "Did you have the seal last time I was with you?"


    "Actually, yes; I just didn''t know about it. It was partly behind the surge that caused me to drown."


    Mira fell quiet at the reminder.


    "Thank you¡­ for helping save me back then," he added genuinely.


    "O-Of course! I''m not heartless." There was a brief pause, during which the muffled clip-clop of hooves hitting the cobblestone path through shallow snow came into focus. "So¡­ why didn''t you call me before now?" Her tone was uncharacteristically soft, as if she feared his answer.


    "I didn''t have a phone until my birthday a few days ago," he explained gently. "Besides, I never got a paying job since the one we shared at the lake."


    "What do you mean by that? You take jobs for free?¡±


    "N-No, I just mean I''ve dealt with spirits while I wasn''t on the job. Like, I was getting horse riding lessons from Grace, when it turned out a girl she used to babysit died and had been haunting her."


    "Who¡¯s Grace? Your girlfriend?"


    "What? No¡­! She''s still a kid. Besides, I don''t have a girlfriend. But that''s because¡­" The sentence trailed off.


    "...You''re gay?" she guessed.


    "W-Well¡­ I don''t really care about gender," he admitted. "But romantic love is¡­ hard for me to feel. The only one I''ve ever felt attracted to was my best friend Gretel, and that wasn¡¯t until years after we met. Of course we''re only friends; she doesn''t like anyone romantically¡­ But I haven''t felt the same about anybody since."


    "So¡­ you''re demi?"


    He thought for a moment, having never labeled himself. "Yes¡­ And pan, like my father."


    "You have a father?! Where was he when we were at the lake?"


    "He''s not legally my father; he''s my adoptive mother''s boyfriend. He doesn''t live with us¡­¡±


    "...Huh. Your family is weird."


    Gadalik laughed. "I guess. But we''re happy, and that''s all that matters, right?"


    The two had continued chatting on and off, Mira never letting the silence drag on for too long before starting up another conversation, until the spooks reached their destination by evening: it was a city, and vehicles seemed to be more common in it. Gadalik dismounted his horse; as Mira began to do the same, he offered his hand to assist her. She hesitated, her violet eyes studying him skeptically, but ultimately accepted. He tied Punsiv outside and knocked on the door.


    "Daddy, there''s someone out there!" a little girl''s voice shouted from the other side of it.


    A blond man opened the door, sighing with relief to see his two visitors were wearing spooks'' attire. "Right on time! I''m Hoss, and this¡±--he gestured to the girl waving excitedly at them¨C¡±is my daughter Claira. You''re Gadalik, right? And the young lady is your assistant?"


    "Assistant?" Mira echoed, turning to the other spook. "Since when am I your assistant?"


    Gadalik closed in on himself. "I didn''t mean it that way¡­ You''re here to help me, so I didn''t know how else to refer to you."


    "Try ''partner'' instead."


    "Well that might give off the wrong idea¡­"


    It took Mira moment to realize what he meant, and her face reddened. "Pfft. Whatever." Addressing Hoss, she asked, "So where is this haunted house?"


    "Right next door," the man answered, gesturing. "But first, why don''t you take a moment to rest after coming so far¨C"


    "Come on, Gadalik, let''s check it out."


    The older spook recoiled. "What? Wait! We don''t know what we''re getting into yet!"


    "I''m sure we can handle a couple of poltergeists," she confidently dismissed his concerns.


    He silently debated the risks, but when he saw her take out her sickle, Gadalik immediately blocked her way. "No,¡± he stated firmly, taking advantage of his authority over the mission. ¡°It does seem like they''re poltergeists, but they could be consumed. For all we know, they could kill us the second we step foot inside. Besides, we can''t just annihilate every spirit we come across.¡±


    She seemed astonished that he stood up to her. After what happened on his birthday, he had become more assertive to avoid falling into unwanted situations. "Alright, then," she finally agreed. "What''s the plan?"


    Gadalik looked to Hoss. "May we come in?¡±


    ¡°Of course! Make yourself at home,¡± he answered, closing the door when they went through it. The man guided them to the living room and took a seat with his daughter, inviting the spooks to sit down.


    ¡°On our phone call, you mentioned ¡®destructive noises¡¯ next door. Can you specify them?¡±


    "It''s like bam¡±--Claira stomped her foot¨C¡±and pssssht!"--she threw her hands down and then widened them as if to mime shattering a glass plate¨C"a-a-all the time! But at bedtime, I hear her crying¡­¡±


    "Her¡­?¡±


    ¡°That''s really all we know about them,¡± Hoss admitted.


    "Then going in at nighttime should be safer¡­¡±


    ¡°It''s already almost dark. Might as well go in now,¡± Mira insisted.


    "...Alright,¡± Gadalik caved. ¡°Thanks, you two, for the info. Your descriptions of the sounds were helpful,¡± he said to Claira, who beamed from the acknowledgement. ¡°Ready, Mira?¡±


    "Finally, some action! Let''s go!" She accompanied him next door.


    He lifted his hand to knock on the door at first, but reconsidered, opting to silently try the handle instead. Upon turning it, the door opened on its own accord. Mira pushed past him, but he caught her elbow. "You wait outside," he commanded quietly. "If I''m not out in fifteen minutes, come and get me, alright?"


    She crossed her arms, but thankfully matched his volume. "Why can''t I come with you?"


    "Frankly, I don''t trust you not to start a fight with the spirit.¡±


    "Trust?" Mira sounded hurt.


    "I haven''t forgotten how combative you were with me and my mother when we first met you... We may have ended things on better terms, but if we''re going to be in this together, I need to learn I can trust you first. So for now, just act as my backup."


    The violet-eyed spook looked away from him, guilty but too proud to admit it.


    "Can I count on you to save me if I don''t make it out, like last time?" he added a bit more encouragingly, emphasizing the importance of her role.


    "...Yeah."


    Gadalik gave a grateful nod. He drew in a breath and cautiously went inside, letting his ghost sense roam within the radius of the home and detecting two spirits which were both upstairs. I''ll explore the bottom floor first, then.


    It was dim, but the fading sunlight from the windows leaked across the soft carpeting in the living room thats slight parallel indentations indicated it had been vacuumed recently. Directly ahead of him a single fancy lamp stood tall beside a plush couch, the wall above which lined with photos that consistently depicted both¨Cor either¨Ca woman with long magenta hair and a balding man the same age with hazel eyes in various cityscapes and countrysides. The kitchen was on his left, its entryway within a wall making up the left side of a hall between it and the couch, ending in what appeared to be a backdoor; on his right was a staircase the same length as the hall.


    Gadalik neared the couch, glancing between the kitchen and the hall as he wondered which way to go first. That''s when he spotted stitches in the soft fabric, ranging from professional ones of same-colored threads that were hardly noticeable, to hastily-sewn with threads of various hues and thickness, as if whoever fixed it up had run out of time or materials to maintain its original quality. One look at the lamp from this close and he could see cracks in the bulbous glass shade.


    He couldn''t help wondering about the people in the photos in front of him. The spook still sensed the ghosts on the second floor, so he decided to go down the hall to find out more. The two appeared to be so happy together, and more pictures of them hung up on either side were in black and white, showing their bonds even as children.


    There were two doors on either side of him at the midpoint: a bathroom on the kitchen side, and a bedroom across from it that shared the living room¡¯s wall. From here he could also view a bench-swing by the fence surrounding the yard through the backdoor¡¯s window. He refocused his attention to the bedroom and opened the right-side door to a spacious room illuminated slightly from a window facing the backyard, then furrowed his brows when he saw its curtains had the same stitchings as the couch. The bed was made up, but unlike the carpet, it didn''t appear to have been touched in a long time.


    Gadalik checked the watch under his long robe¡¯s sleeve. It''s only been five minutes, he counted, relieved.


    The teen carefully made his way out and into the bathroom. The shower curtain had been halfway ripped off the rod; the half still hanging had five parallel slashes through it. Claw-marks? Was that what happened to the furniture?


    The mirror was fragmented, but the missing shards were nowhere to be found, meaning someone must have picked those up as well. He pressed gently on the glass, and when it moved back under his touch, he found it doubled as a medicine cabinet; opening it revealed countless half-filled bottles of prescription drugs he''d never heard of.


    Ten minutes.


    With nothing else standing out in the bathroom, he went to investigate the kitchen. Its floor was made of checkered tiles, and while the sink was empty, the drainer and cupboards contained surprisingly few dishes. He remembered Claira¡¯s gestures of breaking glass and figured they were the main cause of the sounds she had heard, but just like with the bathroom, there were no shards to confirm his theory.


    Suddenly his ghost sense alerted him to a spirit swiftly approaching. He instinctively summoned a shield as the spirit of an older woman with long translucent magenta hair flowing ethereally behind her phased through the ceiling to float face to face with the spook.


    "Oh, uh¡­ Hi,¡± he greeted her awkwardly, forcing a friendly smile despite his rising discomfort from her glare. ¡°I''m sorry for intruding¡­ My name''s Gadalik. I¨C"


    ¡°Get out¡­¡± She interrupted his introduction with a low growl.


    Gadalik hesitated from her open hostility, instinctively taking hold of the staff at his hip after single-handedly unstrapping it from his hip. ¡°I didn''t come here to cause any trouble. I just want to talk¨C¡±


    "Get out."


    He flinched at her sudden volume, but held his ground. "I¡­ I sense another ghost in this house. I''m assuming it''s your husband¨Cthe man with you in the photos. Is he¡­ still in his human shape¡­?" Or is he consumed, taking the form of a clawed beast?


    ¡°Get out!¡± she wailed, levitating silverware from the dish drainer and angling the sharp ends of the forks and knives his way before they suddenly shot at him.


    The witch hybrid expanded his shield to protect his full body, bracing himself until he heard the last of them clink on the floor with the others that had ricocheted to form a semicircle in front of Gadalik, who locked eyes with the ghost once more. ¡°Please¡­ I don''t want to fight.¡±


    They stood off for a few moments. Gadalik began to feel somewhat violated by her gaze, an odd sensation in his head that felt familiar though he couldn''t quite remember why.


    Finally the ghost backed away and lowered herself to all fours. He assumed a more defensive stance, but maintained hold of his staff just to be safe as her form slowly grew larger and reshaped: her face elongated and its features dissolved; her arms shortened from shoulder to elbow, hands enlarging to resemble those of mole; her legs fused into a floating tail.


    That''s when Gadalik recognized the monster standing before him: it was the same as the spirit from the beach resort. No¡­ But how?


    Its missing mouth ripped open in a roar as it slashed at him.


    Taking a few breaths to calm himself as it clawed at the barrier, his initial terror subsided as the recurring nightmares he''d had of reliving this situation prepared him for this. "I came to terms with you¡­ I understand you were hurting; so was I. But neither of us should have taken our issues out on the other! We were both in the wrong, and I''m sorry¡­ There''s nothing left for us to settle."


    It finally stopped attacking when it seemed to realize the spook was unfazed by it, and retreated a few paces. Then she began to change shape once more.


    Finally making the connection between the sensation in his head with the time Grace¡¯s deceased friend had possessed him, Gadalik rummaged through his pockets for an exorcism tag. Usually he could identify them by touch, but to his dismay, his pockets felt empty. He pulled it open to look inside and saw nothing; at the same time the walls of the kitchen began to melt away into something wooden. It''s too late¨Cshe''s in my head, controlling my senses¡­ I can only see and feel what she wants me to. He remembered how Grace had used his tags to free him last time, and cast a glance toward where the front door should be. ¡°Mira!¡± he cried for help as a last resort, then froze when the scenery had finished transitioning into that of a blood-stained log cabin.


    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    On trembling legs, he faced the spirit again, and his heart stopped when he saw what she had become: a monster with four talons and bat-like wings, all tipped with long, curved claws. A single yellow eye floated in place of its head, and long-suppressed memories of it killing two robed adults, the claws raking through them to paint the wooden logs red, resurfaced from the depths of Gadalik¡¯s mind.


    He stood frozen in the kitchen, his wide eyes staring with tears streaming down them. He didn''t notice his breath had caught in his throat; he was in too much shock to breathe.


    "Get out," her disembodied voice sounded from everywhere at once.


    The world tilted and faded to black as he collapsed.


    "Gadalik¡­ Hey, Gadalik¡­! Come on¨Cwake up already,¡± Mira complained. ¡°It''s been two hours!¡±


    The older spook opened his striped blue eyes partly. He realized he was on Hoss''s couch. "What¡­ What happened¡­?"


    "You tell us! I thought you''d never wake up!"


    "Hm¡­ I¡­ met this ghost¨Ca woman¡­ and then¡­" He drew a blank.


    "Then what?"


    "I don''t know; it''s all a blur." He thought for a second. "Oh, there were two ghosts in the house! I only saw the one, though."


    "Two? Then that''s one for each of us. But that doesn''t explain why I found you curled up, shivering and sobbing on the kitchen floor after you called my name like you were dying. You were even stressed out in your sleep this whole time! And you really can''t remember what happened?"


    Gadalik tried hard to recall the events after meeting the ghost, but all that came to him was an extreme sense of unease that he couldn''t bring himself to confront.


    "Ugh, you''re useless. Guess I''ll have to go in with you next time."


    "She doesn''t want us in the house,¡± he informed her. ¡°She told me to leave repeatedly, and when I didn''t¡­" He felt his entire body tense up to the point where he felt nauseous, and placed a hand over his chest as if it could slow his increased heart rate.


    "Hey, snap out of it! What did she do?"


    "I don''t remember," he breathed despairingly. Maybe it was so horrible that I don''t want to remember. Even the thought of going back inside is making me¨C The nausea overwhelmed him and he heaved, but managed not to puke.


    "It couldn''t have been that bad," Mira argued.


    The older teen didn''t answer, trying to redirect his focus to anything else around him.


    "Is everything alright?" Hoss approached with a tray of tea, offering them each a cup. "You seemed very upset when we carried you in."


    Gadalik accepted it but was still too shaken to drink. "Thanks¨Cto both of you¨Cfor getting me out of there. Really. I just¡­ I just need a moment."


    "Very well. We''ll give you some space. Come, Mira, I''ll show you the guest room."


    The spook watched her go before forcing himself to take a sip of tea, grateful when its warmth helped him relax. When he finally finished the cup, he lied back down on the couch and dozed off.


    A knock on the door roused him fully just a couple of hours later. Gadalik was feeling back to his usual self and stood up to answer until he remembered this wasn''t his house.


    Mira followed Hoss out into the living room and the latter opened the door. "Hey, there, Hoss," greeted an older man in a nice dress-shirt and pants.


    "Burney? What are you doing here? I already gave you the rent for this month," Hoss said.


    "Word got to me that you hired some spooks to get rid of the ghosts next door." Burney peered inside, seeing the two curious teens staring back.


    "Y-Yes, sir. My daughter was worried about the ghosts and I thought they could help¨C"


    "The only ones who would need help are those poor kids behind you. May I come in?"


    "Yes, yes, of course." Hoss sidestepped out of the way and went to pull up some chairs for everyone.


    Once they were settled, Burney bluntly told the spooks, ¡°Go home.¡±


    ¡°What? Why?¡± Mira demanded.


    "The ghosts were previous tenants of mine, named Brian and Francine. Brian was a good bloke but he was chronically ill, and eventually became bedridden until he succumbed to his ailments. Francine, who had dedicated her life to taking care of him, died naturally not long after¡­ presumably from a broken heart.¡± He addressed everyone when adding, ¡°I have hired multiple spooks to get rid of their lingering spirits, you know."


    "If that¡¯s true, then why aren''t they gone?"


    "These ghosts in particular are a very frightening pair. According to the first spook I hired, you''re dealing with mental possession."


    "Wouldn''t be the first ghost capable of that," the older teen muttered. They all glanced at Gadalik, and he covered his mouth, not intending to be rude.


    "He told me that Francine does this to find your deepest fears, nightmares, and memories, and recreating them with illusions to scare you out of the house,¡± Burney went on. ¡°After the second spook I hired was too scared to go back, I decided not to put any more through that again."


    ¡°Whatever she showed them must have been awful,¡± Hoss sympathized. ¡°Poor Gadalik really looked like a frightened child when Mira brought him to my door.¡±


    A child¡­? The memory of her second form struck him out of nowhere. The older teen leaned forward, clutching his stomach as it churned.


    "Gadalik?"


    "I remember now¡­ It was like I was none years old again¡­ She had turned into the ghost that..." The sentence trailed off as repressed memories from so long ago resurfaced, the pain they induced feeling just as bad as when he''d first witnessed his parents¡¯ deaths.


    Hoss placed a hand on his shoulder.


    "If I were you, I''d call this whole thing off,¡± the landlord advised his tenant. ¡°Don''t traumatize these poor children any farther.¡± He stood, said goodbye, and left.


    "...I''m sorry. I didn''t know what I was asking of you two," Hoss apologized. "You''re free to leave."


    "Daddy!" Claira called from her bedroom.


    "Be right there, Claira," her father replied. He excused himself to tend to her.


    "...Are you alright?" Mira asked the other teen.


    "I-I will be," Gadalik assured her, although he fought back the urge to weep. "But maybe you should sit this one out.¡±


    "What about you? Don''t tell me you''re going in there again!" When he looked away, she added, "Didn''t you hear Burney? He said he doesn''t mind the ghosts being there. Are you some kind of glutton for punishment?"


    "I have to go back in. I can''t let those spirits terrorize anyone else¡­ And if what Claira said is true about hearing her cry, Francine is suffering too. She needs help¨Cand so does her husband.¡±


    "Then I''m coming with you," Mira decided.


    "There''s no shame in leaving¨C" He paused when her words registered. ¡°Wait. What?¡±


    She propped her hands on her hips. "You heard me. We''re in this job together, right? I can''t let you keep all of the pay for yourself!"


    If Gadalik wasn''t feeling so depressed, he would have laughed at her joke. "You don''t know what you''re getting into¡­"


    "Uh, yeah, I do. Burney literally just explained it all. Get yourself together and let''s go."


    By now, the sun had long retired, the moon taking its turn in the sky. Gadalik stood immobilized before the steps of the haunted house''s porch. He planned on going in but his trembling legs wouldn''t budge.


    Mira looked back at him from the door, frowning at his condition. "Maybe you''re the one who needs to stay behind. You''re shaking like a leaf!"


    The older spook sighed heavily and steadied his breathing. Then he joined her, giving her a nod to show he was ready. She opened the door, and they stepped inside together.


    The inside was pitch black, but he sensed that both spirits were once again on the second floor. Gadalik went for the staircase now, Mira following close behind with a flashlight in her hand. The steps felt endless, yet his sense grew stronger, and so too did his anxiousness. Everything they can show me, I''ve already faced before, he reassured himself. I can face them again. I have to¡­!


    "There''s one spirit in the bedroom there," Mira whispered, pointing with the flashlight in one hand, her other clutching the golden pendant that allowed her use of the spook¡¯s abilities her companion naturally had.


    Gadalik gave a nod to acknowledge her. Carefully, he opened the door to see wilted potted plants decorating the room and a wheelchair positioned by an open window. Paintings of different birds and landscapes decorated the walls, but his attention was drawn to a lump under the blankets on the bed. "Brian?" he asked quietly.


    The blanket suddenly fell and what slowly turned to face them was a translucent beast with large pointed ears and black eyes; a quadruped whose forelimbs were burley and hind legs short. A mane extendedpk, v is from the back of its head down its spine. It let out a low growl and stepped toward him.


    "He''s consumed!" Mira cursed as she gripped her weapon.


    "Don''t hurt him," Gadalik stopped her. He put a shield tag on his staff and used his own magic so that the bubble covered them both, just as the beast moved to rake them with its claws. Gadalik withdrew a disfigurement tag from his pocket and slapped it onto its paw during its next attack.


    Its form dispersed into a cloud.


    "It''s going to be okay, Brian," the older spook promised. "We aren''t going to harm you."


    "Gadalik¡­" Mira tugged the sleeve of his green robe.


    "Hang on. Just give him a second to reform.¡±


    "No¨Canother ghost is¨C"


    "Get out." Francine¡¯s voice struck fear into Gadalik¡¯s core after their last encounter.


    "--right behind us," Mira warned him too late.


    Just then Brian''s spirit reformed, but his limbs were more unnaturally contorted than before. His muzzle was longer, drooling floating wisps from between his long lipless fangs.


    "We can''t handle them both at once," Gadalik said, trying his best to remain calm. "Mira, take my staff and run.¡± He held his staff behind him in her direction, but she didn''t take it. ¡°Mira?¡± He turned to face her, and his heart sank.


    His companion was staring wide-eyed at Francine, the chain of her sickle audibly rattling in her trembling hands.


    No! I can''t let her possess Mira the way she did me! He glanced back at Brian who was still scratching at his shield from the front. We''re trapped¡­!  We need to run¡­ We need to escape. We need to escape¨C


    He grabbed Mira by the elbow and then a flash of blue light engulfed them. The witch hybrid had intended to teleport them outside, but it must have been too great a distance; instead, they reappeared on the first floor at the bottom of the stairs. It didn''t take long before he saw Brian rushing at them from the bedroom at the end of the second floor¡¯s hall.


    Gadalik felt too drained from teleporting to move, and Mira was still dazed from Francine¡¯s possession, too, so neither were in good enough condition to fight back. Thankfully the shield tag on his staff was still active.


    The monstrous spirit continued to strike the barrier as he''d done during Francine¡¯s distraction. It roared with frustration when it held, then struck it again. The weakened teenagers could only brace themselves when its third attack shattered the battered barrier.


    Instead of killing them, though, they heard a whimper that grew more distant as Brian retreated to his room. Gadalik opened his eyes to find Francine had been herding him back upstairs. Then she rounded on the spooks and hissed, "Get out!"


    The hybrid hesitated, then snapped out of it and weakly scrambled to his feet, guiding Mira out the front door which then promptly slammed shut.


    "Are you two insane?" Hoss exclaimed, having emerged from next door after the roar had woken him. "What were you thinking, going back in there?!"


    The older spook winced from the scolding. "Someone has to save them¡­¡±


    "You two are the ones who need saving! You''re just kids!¡±


    "I''m an adult," Gadalik corrected him.


    "Barely! If the experienced spooks Burney hired couldn''t handle these ghosts, what makes you think you can?¡±


    "Are they gone?" Mira spoke up quietly.


    The others froze. "Who?" Gadalik prompted gently.


    She shook her head, coming to. "N-Nothing. Never mind. Let''s just¡­ take a break."


    Hoss brought them back to his place and Mira instantly took the bed in the guest room, still distraught. Gadalik settled on the couch.


    "I''ll let you two recover for the night," the man said, "but in the morning, you''re fired."


    A moment passed where nobody said anything. "...Alright. I''ll send Mira home," Gadalik murmured. "But you''re mistaken if you think I''m doing this for the money. Fired or not, I''m going to help them." His striped blue eyes met Hoss''s challengingly.


    The man sighed heavily. "You''ve been defeated by them twice now. Don''t you know when to quit?"


    "Next time will be different; I learned a lot from this encounter."


    "You''re really going through with this?¡±


    He nodded.


    Hoss shook his head disapprovingly, but gave up his attempt to dissuade him.


    Perhaps an hour later Gadalik awoke to the sound of a cupboard shutting a little too harshly. He heard the kitchen faucet run, and sat up when he realized it was Mira getting a drink.


    Their eyes met and she quickly averted hers, power-walking to the guest room to avoid him.


    "Mira!" he whispered loudly. She froze before the door but refused to acknowledge him. "Mira, please¡­"


    She sighed through her nose and faced him. "What¡­?"


    He sat up, moving over and putting the cushion beside him. She reluctantly sat down. "About earlier¡­ When Francine possessed you¡­ Are you okay¡­?"


    "O-Of course I''m okay," she snapped.


    Gadalik wasn''t convinced. "I don''t know what you saw¡­ but regardless of what it was, I do know how badly it must have scared you."


    She glared at the cup of water in her hands. Then her violet eyes flitted to his. "I''m not some¨Csome wimp, alright? Nothing can scare me that bad."


    So she doesn''t want to talk about it¡­ Fair enough. "Hoss spoke to me earlier... He''s firing us. I think it''s for the best if you go home in the morning¨C"


    The girl snarled at him. "I''m not leaving!"


    "Mira¡­"


    "You wanna know what I saw when I was possessed?"


    He recoiled. Not if you don''t want to share¡­


    "It was every past client who rejected me¨Cfired me¨Ctelling me I''ll never be good enough because I don''t have natural magic¡­!" She sniffled, then shook her head. "I refuse to let that happen again."


    "I''m sorry¡­ Truly, I am. But this just isn''t safe."


    "And I suppose you''re leaving?"


    He opened his mouth to answer, then looked away.


    "That''s what I thought. If you''re staying, then so am I."


    "We''re fired either way. If you''re doing this for the pay then there''s no point in staying¨C"


    "I don''t care about the pay¡­ not anymore. I just want to prove myself for once. I''m not backing out of this, Gadalik."


    "But¨C"


    "I''m staying."  She glared directly at him, daring him to tell her otherwise.


    "Hm¡­ Then we''re going to need a plan," he gave in. He was relieved when she visibly relaxed. "I''ve learned something from our last encounter: Francine can only possess one of us at a time. And she protected us when Brian attacked, which means scaring us out of the house is her way of keeping us safe from him.¡±


    "They said Francine was the wife taking care of Brian who was chronically ill, right? So her unfinished business must involve making him well again¨Cwhich means he''s the one we should be focusing on, not Francine."


    "What do you suppose we do?" Mira asked.


    "Hm. If I can get her to understand we''re trying to help Brian too, maybe she will let us? That would be one less ghost to deal with."


    "And if she doesn''t listen?"


    "That''s where you come in. You''ll be hiding as my backup; if she starts possessing me, use an stun tag on her, and we¡¯ll both escape."


    "What about Brian?"


    "If we can''t get past Francine, she''ll stop us from saving Brian. Our best option in that case is to retreat."


    Mira pursed her lips disapprovingly but didn''t argue.


    "Wake up! Breakfast is ready!" Claira chimed, prodding Gadalik¡¯s arm. He groaned and sat up and rubbed the bleariness from his eyes.


    When the front door opened, the morning light blinded him more until he adjusted enough to see Mira come inside. "I tended to the horses," she explained.


    "Th-Thank you," he replied genuinely.


    The three met Hoss at the kitchen table, who welcomed them to the food. "Good morning, you two. Gadalik, I''m sorry for being so hard on you last night."


    "It''s because Daddy cares," Claira chimed. "Right?"


    Her father huffed with laughter. "That''s right."


    "So we''re not fired?" Mira asked hopefully.


    "Oh, you two are definitely fired. I will not be encouraging you to get yourselves traumatized or killed."


    She frowned, then channeled her disappointment into determination. "Well that''s not gonna stop us!"


    He sighed. "I thought not."


    After eating, Gadalik helped clear the table and then excused himself. "Thank you for your hospitality, Hoss. We''ll be trying a new method to quell the spirits now, so please bear with us one last time. Mira?¡±


    "Jus'' giff me a shec," she answered around a mouthful of her pancakes.


    He couldn''t help but give an amused smile.


    The duo eventually returned to the haunted house, but this time Mira was the one who froze up at the porch steps.


    Who knew how bad being rejected so often could feel? he sympathized. I guess it really wears down on your psyche over time. I can''t imagine how sensitive she must be to it by now¡­


    She caught him staring, then scowled. "What are you looking at all pityingly?¡±


    "S-Sorry!" he stammered. "Are you sure you''re ready¡­?"


    "I was born ready. Come on!" Without waiting for a reply, she marched through the door.


    "Remember, try reasoning with her first."


    "Yeah, yeah, whatever. You just do what you can for Brian, Mr. I-don''t-want-to-annihilate-ghosts."


    He chuckled. Glad she''s okay enough to give attitude. That''s when he sensed a ghost descending through the ceiling.


    Mira had already caught onto it. She stayed back, pulling a stun tag out of her pocket with one hand while clutching her weapon in the other.


    "Get out," Francine''s voice echoed around them.


    The older spook gulped, trying to mentally prepare himself to witness the death of his parents all over again. "There''s no need to fight. We know you''re just protecting Brian, aren''t you? Well, we want to help him too."


    "I am the only one able to placate him," she snarled.


    "Yeah? And how has that been working out for you?" Mira retorted.


    ¡­And here is where that attitude might be a bad thing.


    "Get¡­ out!" This time Francine''s ghostly wail was forceful enough to blow the spooks backward, but they held firm.


    "Mira has a point: you can''t keep this up forever. This is no way to spend your afterlife; not for you, and not for Brian," Gadalik reasoned.


    "I will not let you annihilate him!"


    "That isn''t our intention¡­! I may have annihilated ghosts in the past, but that was always as a last resort¡­ You''ve been in my mind. You must know how much regret I have for what you''ve shown me. We only want to help¡­!"


    She wasn''t so easily convinced. "And how exactly do you plan on helping¡­?"


    "By using the disfigurement method, until he reverts back into his human form. That''s when we can talk it out¨C"


    "That''s what you did last time,¡± she pointed out. ¡°It only made him worse! If you have no other means of helping, then get out!"


    "I''m not giving up that easily. I''ll think of something else if you just let us see him¨C"


    The scenery morphed around him. He was in the log cabin once more, but the murderous ghost from his past was gone. On the floor lay his parents'' bloodied corpses.


    Grief, fear, and loneliness overcame him. No¡­ No, this is just a memory. It isn''t happening¡­!


    But the smell of blood was sickening, and he felt trapped in the small cabin. He couldn''t stand being near their bodies and so rushed out the door into the rain, feet sinking into the muddied earth. "Mira?" he yelled to the sky. "Mira, help¡­! I can''t take this¡­"


    When nothing changed, he fell to his knees and hugged himself around his aching stomach, tears adding to the raindrops flooding the ground.


    "...out of it¡­" a familiar voice faded in. "...lik¡­ Snap¡­!"


    "Mira¡­?" he recognized it.


    "Snap out of it!" The other spook shook him violently by the shoulders.


    He was back in the house, and Francine was stunned. "W-What¡­?"


    "Let''s go before the spell tag wears off. Hurry!"


    "But Brian¡­!"


    "You said it''s a no-go if Francine doesn''t cooperate."


    Gadalik looked between Mira and the ghost, then finally at the staircase. He was still shaken by the possession, so it took him a moment to process the present situation. Then his grip tightened on his weapon and he quickly hauled himself up with it. "Francine! Francine, I have a new plan¨Cbut I''ll need your help!"


    Mira shot him a doubtful look, preparing another stun tag as they awaited the first to wear off.


    "...You should have ran when you had the chance," the ghost warned them.


    "No¡­" He wiped his eyes. "I have faith in you to do the right thing¡­ provided you''re able to. I know you can see into our memories; maybe you can see into his, too. Make him remember his humanity."


    For once, Francine seemed to consider this. "...Very well. I''ll give it a try.¡± She floated through the ceiling to the second floor.


    Gadalik stood up and took a step, but his legs wobbled and he leaned fully on his staff to keep from falling. I guess I''m more affected by those memories than I want to be¡­


    "You alright?" Mira asked him.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± he breathed, although his stomach ached and his chest was tight. Tears were still falling despite how many times he dried them, even now that his mind was blanking in an attempt to move past the possession¡¯s vision.


    She offered her hand to him for both physical and moral support. Gadalik took it in his free one after a delayed realization that it was there, and she didn''t let go, the two ascending the stairs together.


    They opened the door to the bedroom wherein the Brian was on the mattress once again, this time with Francine stroking his mane from the bedside. The monster seemed calm in her presence.


    "He recognizes me¡­ sometimes," the woman said softly. "But the longer he''s been like this, the harder it is for him to see me. It''s gotten to the point where he has enough time to destroy the house before I can manage to calm him down and repair it¡­¡±


    Gadalik gave a slight nod of understanding.


    "Can ghosts really possess other ghosts?" Mira whispered to her companion.


    "We have to hope so¡­¡± he replied. ¡°It may be the only way to help him.¡±


    The ghostly beast sat up and turned to glower at the teens, a throaty growl vibrating the room.


    "Brian," Francine called to him, stealing his attention. She placed both hands on his shoulders and pressed her forehead affectionately to his. After a few seconds of silence, the growl resumed, this time directed at his wife. ¡°It isn''t working," she told the spooks.


    Gadalik tensed. What now¡­?


    "Instead of possessing him, why not cast an illusion for everyone, including him?" Mira suggested. "A ghost as powerful as you should be able to do that, right?"


    She blinked. ¡°True¡­ But unless I possess him, I won''t know which of his memories I''d need to recreate in the illusions.¡±


    ¡°But you do know that already,¡± Gadalik encouraged her. ¡°I saw your photos yesterday. You''ve known each other since you were kids, haven''t you? There''s so much you''ve been through together; I''m sure you know him well enough to bring him back to his true self.¡±


    Francine seemed taken aback. Then she closed her eyes and the scenery around them changed. The older teen reflexively braced himself for the worst given his first encounter with her, but to his relief, the four of them appeared to be standing in the corner of the backyard instead.


    It appeared to be spring, and a young boy with hazel eyes sat alone on the bench swing, rocking himself with his toe tips that barely reached the dirt as he tossed birdseed at the grass and watched the squirrels eat it up. He looked towards the chain-linked fence when a girl with short magenta hair climbed it to the top and hopped down on his side of it. He grinned and ran over to greet her. She playfully taunted him, and he pretended to be angry in response, chasing her around the yard when she ran. They were laughing and enjoying themselves.


    In the next scene, they were a bit older, sitting on opposite ends of a classroom. Brian was scribbling on a sheet of paper instead of paying attention. He tore the page from his book, folded it, and passed it to his classmate, who continued to pass it in Francine¡¯s direction. Halfway there, the teacher snatched it, and to its author¡¯s dread, between reading it aloud to the class. Francine blushed and turned to her friend, whose face was just as red. Then she balled up her own piece of paper that had been ripped out of a sketchbook she''d been drawing in and threw it at their teacher. Both of them were punished by being sent out of the classroom, where they had a laugh and hugged.


    Then he was on the bench swing again in summer, easily kicking off the ground to gain a bit of height in his boredom as he once again fed the birds and squirrels. Francine jumped the fence, and like before, he happily got up to greet her¨Conly for his legs to give out. She raced to his side, catching him before he could fall.


    The monstrous spirit who had been silent and attentive all the while suddenly let out a quiet growl, bringing Gadalik back to the present. The ghost of Francine narrowed her eyes solemnly, raising a single hand to soothe the beast.


    In the next setting, they were teenagers; Brian was waiting impatiently in the driver''s seat of an old car outside of a school, then brightened when Francine knocked on his window, showing off a new driver''s license and smiling the same way as she was in the picture on it. He switched to the passenger side and let her take the wheel, then obviously regretted it when she hit the gas and recklessly sped off.


    Now they were young adults in the many hotspots of each nearby city, going farther and growing older at each location until they reached the countryside. In the fields and forests, he t middle age, making their way up a hill to picnic at its top. On their way back to that same old car, Brian¡¯s legs once again gave out.


    In the present, his spirit snarled in spite of his wife''s attempts to comfort him. The spooks exchanged a worried glance.


    The couple returned to the house in fall, where Francine was helping him walk toward the bench out back. The two simply sat, embraced, feeding the squirrels together.


    Then it was winter. Brian had a walker and was slowly pushing himself to pass through the hall toward the backdoor, but didn''t make it far before he collapsed. Francine later found him sobbing in that same spot and rushed to comfort him.


    They were still the house in the next memory, so it was hard for Gadalik to tell what season it was. Brian was alone in the first floor¡¯s bedroom, gazing out the window longingly until Francine, wearing a white apron stained with different paints, entered the room. His hazel eyes focused on the canvas she had brought in with her, widening in awe as she turned it to reveal a painting of a bird. He sniffled, and the two hugged each other tightly.


    The following memories were similar in that they remained in the house and it was difficult to tell what year it was. The difference was that he had eventually moved to the second floor and more paintings and flowers were added around him. But despite Francine''s obvious attempts to liven the place up, Brian became more and more bitter as he was limited to the bed and the window. Eventually, he could only stay in bed.


    The next scene, Francine entered the room to water the plants on the dressers and windowsill. When she turned around to see the bed that was now empty, she straightened its covers before breaking down and crying into the pillows¡­ In the final memory, she was gone.


    The illusions faded back into the present. A chilly wind blew the stitched curtains away from the open window, and a dead leaf from one of the plants glided on the breeze to the carpeted floor.


    ¡°We had a good life, Brian,¡± the old woman murmured.


    ¡°For a time,¡± her husband added in agreement as the beast slowly reshaped into the hazel-eyed man. ¡°I missed when we would travel¡­¡±


    ¡°Me too,¡± she chuckled sadly, then reached down to pick up the dead leaf. ¡°The house wasn¡¯t too bad a place to stay in, though. We had great memories here, too.¡±


    "I felt the same way until I got sick¡­¡± Brian''s voice gained an edge to it. "That''s when this wonderful home became a prison.¡±


    Gadalik retreated a step and readied his weapon when the consumed spirit began to revert to a monster.


    ¡°I want out¡­ I want out!" he roared, tearing at the curtains with the claws growing from his transforming hands.


    His wife tried to restrain him. "Brian¡­ You were too sick to leave. I tried to make the house as comfortable for you as possible. I had no idea you felt so trapped¡­¡±


    The partial beast relaxed some as she took his hand.


    "But you''re still here¡­ and you''re not sick anymore¡­! We can travel again now¨Cjust the two of us," she promised.


    The monstrous features faded back to human. "Francine¡­"


    ¡°My love¡­¡±


    They hugged. When they separated, Francine turned to the teens. "This is the first time he spoke to me since he died," she said. "Thank you¡­ both of you. I''m sorry about the possession¡­"


    "Well¡­ I get why you did it," Gadalik comforted her. But that doesn''t ease the pain in my gut¡­


    "Come on, Brian. We''ll visit the rest of the places we never got to see.¡±


    The two spirits flew out of the house together.


    Mira turned to leave, then looked back at her companion when she realized he wasn''t behind her. "Are you coming?"


    "Huh¡­?" Gadalik was still distraught. "Oh¡­ Yeah." He followed her out.


    "I saw them go," Burney greeted the spooks. He was standing with Hoss outside, waiting for them. "I heard Hoss fired you, but I will gladly pay you for your help now that I''m able to lease their home out again."


    "You''d better, after what we had to deal with!" Mira harrumphed. "Right, Gadalik? ¡­Gadalik?"


    The smell of blood from the memory the possession had forced him to relive still lingered, and the older teen felt suffocated by it. The ache in his gut worsened and he doubled over and vomited.


    "H-Hey!" she tried again.


    "What happened to him?" Hoss asked, moving to his side and wrapping one of the spook''s arms across his shoulders to right him.


    "He was possessed again, but only for a few seconds!" Mira said defensively.


    The older spook leaned on his staff to stand on his own. ¡°S-Sorry¡­ I guess I''m still upset from having my past brought to the surface like that¡­¡±


    Mira took Hoss¡¯s place beside him. "So your parents didn''t give you up for adoption after all, did they¡­?"


    "No¡­ They were murdered by a ghost when I was nine years old. I was there when it happened¨Cthey were protecting me¨Cand¨C" his voice broke and he bit back a sob. "All of this time¡­ I''ve been focusing on the here and now. I have a good life, Mira¨CI do. But that''s not moving on from the trauma; it''s just¡­ running from it. I never thought it would catch up. It''s like I was forced to finally face it."


    "I''m¡­ sorry you had to go through all of that," she said awkwardly.


    "But I''m sure you felt the same way about being rejected, huh¡­? It never gets easier¡­"


    "Don''t say that. You just have to accept that that''s how things happened, and keep going with your head held high."

 Episode 15: Acceptance

    "Alright, big guy," Glacia said to her adoptive son, "Gale and I are having a date night.  I''ll be staying at his house until noon tomorrow.  You gonna be okay alone?"


    "Mom, I''m eighteen.  I''ll be fine," Gadalik assured her.  "You and him go enjoy yourselves.  I''ll take care of everything here in the meantime."


    "Well, okay, then, Mr. Adult," she huffed with laughter.  They heard a mare''s whinny come from outside.  "That''s him now.  Stay safe!  Keep the door locked if you go out on ghost business!  I''ll be taking the spare key in case you''re not home when I get back."


    "Of course.  Now do you have everything you need?  Change of clothes, toothbrush, hairbrush, wallet¡­"


    Glacia froze, thinking it over.  "Don''t make me second guess myself!  I packed everything in my bag last night.  Now I gotta go; he''s waiting on me.  See ya tomorrow."


    "Have fun."  He watched her leave from the doorway, exchanging a wave with Gale as the latter helped his girlfriend into the carriage.  The two took off and Gadalik went back inside.


    The house was unusually quiet without her, and when he shut the door, he couldn''t help feeling isolated.


    Gadalik shook the feelings away and went up the stairs toward his room, but paused at his mother''s, his striped blue eyes assessing the mess visible through her carelessly left-open door.  He''d had the urge to clean it ever since he returned from his most recent job where he and his companion Mira faced two powerful ghosts only a couple days ago.  Now that Glacia was gone it was the perfect opportunity to fix it up again, although he knew from experience after he had last done so¨Cwhich was when they''d returned from vacation¨Cthat she''d unintentionally trash the room soon after.  Upon growing more restless the longer he did nothing, he decided to go through with it regardless.  Then a memory hit him:


    "...And then there''s Glacia''s room..." Gale said.


    "W-What about her room?" Gadalik asked.


    "The last time you cleaned it was after a spirit destroyed your father''s staff¡­ and, almost, you."


    "Aha--yeah!  That was a couple months ago.  It''s been a long time coming," he brushed it off.


    "Well, almost one month ago, a spirit at our vacation''s resort nearly killed you¡­ and now that we''re back you''ve cleaned that room again.  I can''t help but see a connection."


    The teen presently looked down.  One of the two aforementioned ghosts from his recent job had mentally possessed him¨Cdigging up his repressed childhood trauma: the day his birth-parents were murdered by a spirit right in front of him.


    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    What am I doing¡­?  Am I really that desperate for a distraction?


    Gadalik shook his head and shut her door, then continued down the hall to his own room, sitting down in the patch of waning sunlight stretching across his bed from the window above its headboard.


    The silence was deafening.  He couldn''t stop his mind from drifting back to the incidents Gale had mentioned, and the mental possession.  The spook wanted nothing more than to forget about all of it and simply go on with his life, but it seemed that the memories were always in the back of his mind, whether or not he acknowledged it.


    ¡®All of this time¡­ I''ve been focusing on the here and now.  I have a good life, Mira¨CI do.  But that''s not moving on from the trauma; it''s just¡­ running from it.¡¯ That''s what he had realized at the end his mission with her.


    And I''m still running, by way of all these distractions¡­


    ¡®You just have to accept that that''s how things happened, and keep going with your head held high,¡¯ Mira had replied to him.


    Accept how bad it is¡­ Gadalik repeated in his mind.


    He rolled onto his stomach and propped his chin on the pillow, folding his arms between it and the mattress.


    How can you simply accept something like that?  It feels so bad just thinking about it¡­ and I don''t want to feel bad¡­!  I just want to feel normal.  Why can''t I just be normal¡­?!


    The teen tucked his legs in to sit up on his knees.  He once again glanced toward Glacia''s room.


    No!  he stopped himself.  No more distractions!  Just¡­ accept it.  Accept that I''ve witnessed my parents'' deaths.  Accept that the spirit had broken my father''s staff in its attempt to kill me.  Accept that I had brutally annihilated the ghost at the resort after it broke my rib.  Accept that I actually drowned fighting a spirit at the lake.  Accept that a witch nearly strangled me to death while trying to kidnap me for my blood.


    Gadalik laughed out loud humorlessly.


    Just accept it!  It''s no big deal!


    He continued to laugh hysterically, then fell forward, catching himself on his elbows and letting his forehead hit the pillow as his hands balled into fists on either side of it.


    His laughter then gave way to voiceless sobs.


    It was a big deal¡­ all of it.  How often he had come so close to a permanent death was terrifying.  Seeing his parents slaughtered before his eyes for the second time during his possession was just the final straw that finally broke him; until now, none of it had felt like it had happened to Gadalik specifically, but rather a character in a movie, wherein he had watched the events unfold from a safe place.  But now he was forced to remember that it was real life: he was the one there through it all, and he had been in just as much danger as the ones who didn''t survive.  He had to accept it.


    Teardrops from his tightly-closed eyes were absorbed into the pillowcase below.  Sobs racked his body and he released a silent wail.  All he could do was vent it all out.


    Gadalik woke up from a dreamless sleep on a pillow still dampened by tears.


    He wiped his eyes and sat up to look out the window, seeing that around an hour had passed.


    The spook turned around and leaned against the wall beneath it, staring at the ceiling.  He felt¡­ relieved, like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.


    He brought a hand up and inspected it.  I''m here, he concluded.

 Episode 16: Confession

    "Woah," Gadalik exclaimed, admiring the silver blade his father unsheathed as it shone in the ceiling light of the living room.


    "It''s so shiny!" Glacia chimed. "Silver can make contact with ghosts, too, can''t it?"


    "Sure can. That''s why I asked my swordsmith about buying it from him when I saw it at his place; I was picking up a new sword when my last one broke during a recent bounty hunt. Maybe now I can help our son out with his spook''s work," Gale explained.


    "I¡¯d appreciate that,¡± Gadalik welcomed him. "But you''ve already been helping with it."


    "I have?" The dark-skinned man pushed the front of his flowy blue-violet mohawk up out of his face with a hint of embarrassment from that revelation, the two piercings now uncovered on his left eyebrow glinting.


    "Yeah. What you told me about getting over my crush on Gretel¡­ it was the same advice Andrew needed to move on from the situation he was in with his parents. And it helped me, too; I¡­ I''m over Gretel romantically. She''s my best friend, but she''ll never be more than that, and it''s okay. I''m not gonna hurt myself pining over someone who doesn''t like me back."


    "Well look at you, finally moving on!" Glacia congratulated her son. "I''m happy for you!"


    Gadalik laughed. "Thanks?"


    "Even so," Gale replied, becoming more serious, "aside from talking, I was useless against Harry. I figured, with this, I can actually fight back and protect you."


    "But your talk with him was what saved everyone," his son pointed out. "Nevertheless, it never hurts to have the sword as backup if the next ghost doesn''t listen."


    As if on cue, there was banging on the front door.


    Gadalik moved to answer it, but his mother stopped him. "Whoever knocks that hard must be trouble," she warned him.


    "Or in trouble," the spook pointed out.


    "I got it," Gale said, opening the door with one hand, the other cautiously resting on the hilt of his sword.


    A girl of maybe sixteen years old stood behind it. Her violet eyes widened with surprise to see who answered. "You''re not Gadalik! Why are you in his house?¡± Then she covered her mouth. ¡°Wait. Are you his father?"


    The bounty hunter, while suspicious of her at first, couldn''t help laughing at her obvious contrition when she had realized who he was. "That''s right. My name''s Gale. Are you that spook Gadalik worked with a couple times before?"


    "I know that voice!" Glacia barked, barging past her boyfriend to confront their visitor. "You''re that brat from the lake!"


    Gadalik restrained the light-purple-haired woman. "Don''t forget: she helped save my life after I drowned¡­¡±


    "Yeah, but¨C"


    He shook his head at his mother in a silent plea for her to let it go, and when she begrudgingly did, he approached the girl. "Hey, Mira. What brings you here?"


    "You''re not gonna believe this, but I got us a job!" his old companion announced pridefully.


    "Really? That''s great! I knew you could do it!"


    "It pays really well, too," she added with a smug grin.


    Gadalik frowned. "Uhh, just what are we getting into here?"


    "Nothing we can''t handle,¡± she assured him. ¡°There''s just a ghost haunting this old shop.¡±


    "How strong¡­?"


    "Huh?"


    "The ghost¡­ The pay wouldn''t be that good if it was your usual poltergeist. We can''t do anything out of our league."


    "Pfft. We can take ''em!"


    "Now wait just a minute," Glacia butted in. "I will not let you throw my son''s life into danger!"


    "I''ll keep him safe," Gale offered, patting the hilt of his new sword to remind his girlfriend it was there.


    "You can''t be serious," she groaned. "You don''t know what Mira put us through. She pretty much bullied Gadalik the entire time we were at the lake, calling him a devil because of his witch heritage. And¡­ she called me old!"


    Mira couldn''t stifle a bout of laughter. "You''re still upset about that?¡±


    The woman glared at her, as if hoping looks could kill in place of her balled hands since her family prevented her from attacking.


    ¡°Geez. Chill out; I''m sorry. I''ll have you know Gadalik and I are on good terms now, too. We even went on a successful job just recently."


    Glacia gaped at her son. "She''s the companion you mentioned?!"


    Gadalik shrank. "This is why I didn''t tell you her name¡­"


    "Everybody calm down. If she''s one who helped save Gadalik''s life, I think we owe her a bit of trust, don''t you?" Gale intervened.


    Glacia scowled and sat on the couch. "Fine. There''s no stopping you, is there? Go ahead, then¨Cboth of you¨Cbut count me out! See for yourself how bratty she is. You boys only learn the hard way, I guess."


    The bounty hunter sighed heavily, clearly wishing they¡¯d all get along. "So you''ll have me?" he eventually asked the spooks.


    Mira looked between him and her coworker. "Uh, would we have to split the pay three ways¡­?"


    The man laughed. "Don''t worry about that; quality time is payment enough."


    "That''s great! Then the more the merrier."


    Gale peered outside around her. "Is that your horse out there?"


    She followed his gaze to the silver stallion behind her. "Yep! His name''s River. I have my supplies in his saddlebags. I recognize Punsiv, too¨CGadalik rode him on our last job. So that mare must be yours?"


    "Sure is. Her name''s Aristella."


    "What a pretty name! Does Glacia have a horse too?"


    "Punsiv is both of ours," Gadalik answered. "How about we take the carriage, and have Aristella and River pull it? That way my mom still has Punsiv if she wants to go somewhere while we''re gone."


    Glacia snorted, clearly unhappy her family was leaving with Mira, but didn''t protest.


    "Alright, then: it''s settled,¡± Mira said. ¡°Get ready, then let''s head out!"


    Gale had taken the reins while Mira directed him. It was around dark when they arrived at their destination: a fairly run-down city. "I brought a map with us," she said, unfolding it and pointing. "There''s an inn we can stay at around the corner here."


    They brought the carriage to a stop outside of it; the large building looked old, but seemed well-kept. The inside had navy-blue carpeting with a star pattern on it, and the walls were decorated with abstract artworks. There was a cafe in the lobby, the smell from which would have made Gadalik hungry if he hadn''t eaten the super his father had packed for their journey on the way.


    "It looks expensive," the older spook remarked.


    "It is expensive," Gale confirmed, looking over a pamphlet from a stand by the receptionist''s desk. ¡°But I can see why: even the cheapest rooms have two beds and a recliner chair, and they even have TVs.¡±


    "Wouldn''t this negate the pay we''ll be getting?" he asked his coworker.


    "I¡¯ll cover it,¡± his father offered, ¡°but if I want to budget for food and travel costs, it looks like I can only afford one room.¡± He turned to the younger spook. "Are you comfortable with that, Mira? I-I mean, you don''t really know me, so I understand if¨C¡±


    "Of course I''m fine with it!¡± she interrupted. ¡°Gadalik told me all about you on the way to our last mission, so I know you''re trustworthy.¡±


    Gale was taken aback by that, once again somewhat embarrassed to learn his son thought so highly of him.


    ¡°What I wouldn''t be comfortable with is cheaping out in a bad area instead; it¡¯s safer here. Come on."


    After paying and unpacking their things, Gale let the kids each have a bed while he moved to the TV, manually flipping through the channels in search of a program they could all enjoy.


    ¡°Wait¨Cgo back!¡± Mira told him when recognized a movie he had skipped over. He did, then raised an eyebrow with intrigue to discover it was a horror film. ¡°The ghost in this one is so-o-o cliche, it''s funny,¡± she explained.


    That got Gadalik''s attention. He wasn''t too fond of scary movies even though he knew his father liked them, but the thought of one being unintentionally humorous made him wonder just how badly it misrepresented spirits. ¡°I wanna see,¡± he admitted.


    ¡°You sure?¡± his father asked. ¡°I''ve seen this one. It can get gruesome.¡±


    He shrugged. It¡¯s not like I haven''t seen some gruesome things in real life¡­ ¡°You can let me know when to look away, then.¡±


    Gale chuckled. ¡°Alright. Don''t say I didn''t warn you.¡± He turned out the lights, then increased the volume enough for the others to hear it, before settling into the recliner chair. More seriously, he added, ¡°Really, though¡­ if you get uncomfortable, just let me know and we can find something else to watch.¡±


    The movie was about a ghost who had lost its family in life, taking out its grief on innocents who still had theirs. Like Mira said, the ghost relied on jump scares and the pointless levitations of household items to antagonize the main characters¡­ at least until they tried to fight back. True to his word, Gale have the heads up before the ghost violently killed each of them one by one. In the end, the surviving protagonist and the ghost turned out to be secret half-siblings. When the latter realized this, it apologized and promised to spend the rest of its time on earth meeting its new family and making amends.


    ¡°See what I mean?¡± Mira laughed as credits rolled.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ if a ghost that¡¯s strong enough to kill wants you dead, it wouldn''t waste its time with jump scares and levitation tricks,¡± Gadalik said.


    ¡°Huh? Oh¨Cyou''re right, but that wasn''t what I was talking about. I meant the ending.¡±


    ¡°Um¡­ What was cliche about the ending?¡± I kind of liked it¡­


    ¡°It was happy,¡± she answered simply. ¡°A ghost in real life who¡¯s that consumed isn''t going to pull a one-eighty like it did in the movie. If anything, it''d kill its new family, too. Besides, even in the off-chance that it would have a change of heart, it already killed like six people! And they actually forgave it? Like, come on! How unrealistic can it get?¡±


    Oh¡­


    ¡°Hey, now¡­ Everyone''s different, whether they''re humans or ghosts,¡± Gale pointed out partly in his son''s defense when Gadalik hadn''t replied. ¡°While I agree that some things can make one unforgivable to others, I also believe that a change of heart is possible for everyone, regardless if others forgive them. And sometimes¡­ self-redemption is enough to earn forgiveness.¡±


    Mira hummed in a tone that suggested she wasn''t fully convinced. ¡°If it were anyone else telling me this, I wouldn''t care. But I get the feeling you''re speaking from experience.¡±


    ¡°That''s because I am. I''ve made a career out of hunting down ¡®irredeemable¡¯ criminals, after all.¡±


    ¡°Oh yeah,¡± she remembered, then leaned forward some. ¡°Have you ever killed before?¡± Gadalik already knew the answer to that.


    ¡°A few times, yeah. But I try not to unless I know for sure they¡¯ve had no change of heart after their crimes.¡±


    Try not to? Does that mean he has?


    ¡°It''s late though,¡± Gale changed the subject. ¡°We should get some sleep.¡± He shut the TV off, the room dark without its light, before reclining the chair all the way and folding his arms behind his head in a makeshift pillow. ¡°Goodnight.¡±


    The next morning, Gale pulled the carriage into a parking space beside a shiny red car outside of an older building whose solid gray walls made the multi-colored notices on them stand out¨Csigns stating it was closed, private property, and warnings not to trespass. There were also the remnants of signage that had been removed from the front of it, with an unweathered ghost outline reading Sam¡¯s Butcher.


    Despite Gadalik¡¯s ability to suppress his ghost sense, it activated on its own, almost as if to alert him to the danger of what was inside. He glanced at Mira to find her clutching the golden necklace she wore under her short red-violet cloak. She must feel it too¡­


    ¡°Why, hello there!¡± a woman in a form-fitting crimson dress cheerfully greeted them after emerging from behind the former meat market. ¡°My name''s Samantha. You¡¯re Mira, correct? And judging by your robe, boy, you must be her assistant Gadalik.¡±


    Assistant? The young man playfully scowled at his companion, who snickered.


    ¡°I¡­ don''t recall you mentioning anyone else. Who''s this?" Samantha asked, eyeing the bounty hunter with a frown.


    "I''m Gadalik''s father,¡± Gale introduced himself carefully, wary of her expression. ¡°While I''m here to help, you don''t need to worry about paying me.¡±


    The two stood off, staring each other down a little too long for comfort. ¡°Very well,¡± she finally said, forcing a smile before facing the spooks once more. ¡°Now, this spirit is a powerful one, so I hope you''ve come prepared to deal with it.¡±


    "What''s its story? Do you know who it was in life?" Gadalik asked.


    "Oh, his name is Nate. He was¡­ you know¡­ a customer¨Ca regular at my father''s old butcher shop here.¡±


    "Hm¡­ Is that all?¡±  There are only two reasons a ghost would be stuck in one location. Nate either died there, or he had a more personal connection to the place¡­ or both. ¡°If Nate came here often, perhaps your father would be able to tell us more¨C¡±


    ¡°Sorry, kid, but my father''s dead too,¡± Samantha cut him off. For some reason, Gale seemed caught off guard by that revelation. ¡°That''s why I shut his shop down. I''ve been wanting to turn it into a boutique, but I can''t do anything with Nate¡¯s spirit haunting it. That''s why I reached out to young Mira here; someone''s got to get rid of that no-good rat¡¯s ghost.¡±


    No-good rat? That¡¯s a bit harsh. ¡°You speak of Nate like you did know him¡­¡±


    ¡°I didn''t; I just knew of him because my father¡­¡± The sentence trailed off.


    "Thank you. We''ll take it from here,¡± Mira said, withdrawing her silver kusarigama and approaching the door.


    ¡°Oh yeah, I forgot to mention: due to how violent Nate is, I haven''t been in there to really clear the place out,¡± Samantha added. ¡°The meat and such were removed before Nate¡¯s ghost showed up, but all of the tools are still around, y''know? Be careful.¡±


    ¡°We can handle it,¡± the black-haired girl insisted, reaching in her pocket to flash a myriad of spell tags at her client as if to prove it.


    "Hm. In that case, I''ll check back on you guys here this time tomorrow, alright?"


    "Sure thing."


    They watched Samantha get into the red car and drive off, then faced the building. "Mira, do you have a plan?¡± Gadalik asked.


    ¡°Of course I do!¡±


    ¡°Rushing in there to fight him doesn''t exactly count¡­¡±


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    She tensed, obviously caught, then pursed her lips. ¡°In that case, what do you think we should do?¡±


    ¡°I get the feeling that nobody has even tried to figure out why Nate is there¡­ so I want to ask him directly. If he cooperates, we can resolve this without the risk of fighting.¡±


    ¡°Eh... Fine; you can try talking to him first. Gale and I will just hang back until the ghost inevitably tries to kill you,¡± she half-way joked.


    He chuckled and rolled his eyes. ¡°Thanks.¡± The presence of the spirit became overwhelming the closer he got to the shop. Gadalik stopped his hands from shaking by tightening his grip on the steel-clawed staff with one, and the vertical door handle with the other, glancing back hesitantly at the others to make sure they were still behind him.


    Gale drew the silver blade and flashed him an assuring smile, while Mira tapped her foot; the other spook couldn''t tell if that fidgeting stemmed from impatience or anxiousness. Taking a breath to steady his nerves, Gadalik placed a shield tag on his staff to summon a protective bubble around him, then pulled the door¨Ca bell dinging as it opened.


    Instantly they were greeted by a throaty roar that, for a heartbeat, the force of which kept him in place. The source was a towering translucent beast with a head that resembled a bull''s, aside from the muzzle which was more akin to that of a rhino¡¯s. Its body stood on large leonine paws.


    The spook opened his mouth to initiate conversation, but couldn''t get a word out before the spirit batted at the spherical barrier that protected him, much like a cat would a yarn-ball. Gadalik planted his feet on the concrete ground and channeled his own magic into the shield to repair it from the impact, holding his ground.


    ¡°Nate¡­ I don''t want to fight. And I''m sure that, deep down, you don''t want to either,¡± he said calmly, in spite of flinching from each continuous strike aimed at himself. ¡°You can tell me what''s upsetting you.¡±


    The attacks didn''t stop. He heard footsteps as Mira and Gale both came in through the left-open door to aid him, but Gadalik waved them back.


    ¡°You visited this shop often, right¡­? Did you have a connection to its owner?¡± the older teen pressed. To his relief, the onslaught ceased. He gazed hopefully up at the spirit, only to find that it was now seething. ¡°Nate¡­?¡±


    The wispy monster suddenly bellowed, redirecting its anger at the empty display case and charging it with its rhino-like horn. The glass shattered, shards glowing in the dim space as they reflected the sunlight from the windows while scattered across the floor.


    ¡°I take it you knew him personally,¡± Gadalik interpreted that, though he didn''t drop his guard. ¡°Please, talk to me.¡±


    Nate didn''t respond at first. Eventually he turned back to the spook¡­ then lifted his paw and slammed it down directly from above in one swift motion.


    Gadalik gasped through his clenched teeth and leapt back in an attempt to dodge, but wasn''t fast enough to completely avoid it; the paw hit the enhanced shield... which, this time, shattered the barrier from the sheer force of the beast¡¯s rage. Its downward motion continued, shoving the spook backward head-first against the ground and pinning him there.


    Adrenaline let him endure the throbbing pain, more shocked than afraid. He broke my shield¡­? Gadalik didn''t have time to think of a plan as he felt the weight on him increase. What can I do now?


    He had a flashback to being crushed against the basement wall of a beach resort. Instead of feeling fear however, guilt overcame him. His only option¨Cboth now, and back then¨Cwas to fight back, yet he was scared¡­ not of the ghosts, but of himself. He refused to lose control of himself like he had when annihilating that spirit¨Ceven if it meant he''d die here.


    "Gadalik, run!" Gale demanded as he slashed clean through the ghost''s forelimbs with his silver sword, causing the disembodied paw pinning his son to become intangible until it began to reform.


    That reformation was interrupted when a tag attached to Mira¡¯s chained sickle stunned it. To her dismay, the spell only lasted a mere five seconds, as opposed to the thirty seconds it should have. ¡°This is bad,¡± she called to the others. ¡°Let''s retreat for now. Hurry!¡±


    It took a second for Gadalik to process what just happened. Then he scrambled to his feet and let his father pull him toward the exit. With a ding, they made it out the door where they couldn''t be followed. There was a moment of silence as they caught their breath and reflected on the encounter.


    Then Mira rounded on her companion. "What was that about?¡±


    ¡°Huh? I don''t know; Nate wouldn''t speak¨C¡±


    ¡°Not him¨Cyou! You just lied there letting him crush you. Did you want to die?!¡±


    The older spook tensed. ¡°Of course not! I just¡­¡± He gritted his teeth and looked away, too ashamed of his reasons to explain himself.


    "Hey, now. It''s normal to freeze when you''re scared," Gale defended his son, "and who wouldn''t be scared in that situation?"


    Mira scoffed. "That wasn''t fear. That was acceptance of his fate."


    "I just¡­ didn''t want to annihilate him,¡± Gadalik mumbled.


    ¡°Oh¡­ I should''ve known,¡± she groaned. ¡°You were the same way about Anna and Francine. What is it with you and annihilating spirits? You''re a spook! It''s part of the job!"


    "Not when it isn''t warranted," he argued. "Denying a spirit their right to an afterlife¡­ is a fate worse than death itself. It means the end of their existence. You shouldn''t be so eager to¡­ to¡­"


    ¡°Gadalik?¡± She became worried when he never finished his sentence, then even more so when he fell over.


    Gale immediately caught him. "Gadalik! What''s the matter?"


    "He¨Che''s bleeding!" Mira noticed.


    A patch of crimson was forming through his striped green hair on the back of his head. His father inspected the injury. "Don''t worry; it isn''t too serious. I''ll fix him up and he''ll be fine after a bit of rest. Come on¨Clet''s go back to the inn."


    Gadalik awoke on the plush mattress with a wrap around his head, and an ache where it covered the back of it. After piecing together what happened, he hesitantly sat up.


    "Hey, bud," Gale greeted him from the bedside. "How are you feeling?"


    "My head hurts," he answered, "but it''s tolerable... I don''t think I''m concussed."


    "No, me neither."


    "Where''s Mira¡­?"


    "She went outside to practice throwing her sickle. I''ve been keeping an eye on her from the window."


    He followed the man¡¯s gaze, watching as the other spook expertly spun and tossed the weapon, pulling it back by the chain to catch it and repeat. He couldn''t help but admire how fluid her motions were.


    "So, uh¡­ About what she said¡­¡± Gale went on, ¡°were you really prepared to die back there¡­?"


    Gadalik opened his mouth to answer, then shut it and averted his eyes. "Like I said, I don''t want to die¡­! But¡­¡±


    The bounty hunter sat back in the chair, attentive and patiently waiting for him to continue.


    There''s no reason to keep it from him, is there¡­? He sighed. ¡°Do you remember what happened on our vacation, when I had involved myself with the spirit in the basement¡­? You were there¨Cyou came for me after I had annihilated it¡­¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I remember that. But I also remember seeing Janna there, half-dead from the ghost¡¯s attack. I know you don''t like annihilating spirits, but if you hadn''t back then, she¨Cand you¨Cwould both be dead, as well as countless more people the ghost would continue to attack,¡± Gale said.


    ¡°That isn''t what I''m talking about¡­¡± he murmured. ¡°I was so upset, you had to restrain me even after it was over¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ Yeah. That''s true,¡± the man remembered. ¡°But anyone in your situation would''ve been upset like that.¡±


    ¡°N-No¡­ not like that. In that moment, I was overcome by a rage I''ve never felt before,¡± Gadalik confessed. ¡°I didn''t just fight back against the ghost¡­ I had beaten it into annihilation, and¡­ and then some."


    Gale was silent for a moment. Then he leaned forward slightly with concern. "Can I ask what triggered it¡­?"


    "I¡­ Well, at that point in time, I had blamed the ghost for my birth-parents'' deaths. Not just that one, but all consumed spirits. I dehumanized them into monsters, to¡­ justify taking out my grief on them."


    "Gadalik¡­"


    "It''s¡­ It''s the worst thing I''ve ever done. When Nate had me pinned, I couldn''t help but remember what I did, and¡­ I''m sorry. Dad, I¡­ I''m really sorry.¡± He bit back a sob.


    ¡°That was a long time ago,¡± Gale murmured soothingly. ¡°You''ve grown a lot since then.¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­ I''ve come to terms with my traumas and I know they''re nobody''s fault. But that doesn''t change what I''ve done in the past¡­ And it doesn''t change the fact that I''m still capable of acting that way. I just¡­ don''t want to make that mistake ever again¡­¡±


    "I understand your hesitation¡­ And I know how you feel.¡±


    ¡°You do¡­?¡±


    He gave a single, firm nod. ¡°We¡¯ve talked once before about how I''ve killed people in my career as a bounty hunter."


    Gadalik thought back to that conversation. ¡°Yeah¡­ But you told me you don''t regret killing people who are truly evil.¡±


    ¡°Yes, and I stand by that,¡± he confirmed. ¡°But¡­ not everyone that I''ve killed was truly evil.¡±


    ¡°What¡­? Then why did you kill them¡­?¡±


    ¡°For some, I had to in self-defense. For the rest, well¡­ I admit that once or twice I''ve done it strictly because my emotions got the better of me. Even if they had a change of heart by the time I found them, the things they were wanted for enraged me, so I couldn''t restrain myself¡­¡±


    Gadalik couldn''t help remembering what he had told Mira the previous night. So that''s what he meant¡­


    ¡°I wish I could''ve handled myself better back then, just like you,¡± Gale continued. ¡°But the fact is we can''t change what happened. All we can do is better ourselves to prevent it from happening again.¡±


    The spook gave a hum to acknowledge that. Despite both of their experiences being negative, he couldn''t help feeling comfort from the knowledge that he wasn''t alone.


    ¡°Preventing it from happening doesn''t mean accepting your death, though,¡± he added, looking his son in the eye to emphasize his seriousness. ¡°You''ve punished yourself enough for it. I can''t stress how important it is to defend yourself¨Cto fight back¨Cwhen necessary."


    "Y-Yeah¡­ But what if I¡­?"


    Gale shook his head. "Remembering what you did and regretting it is proof that you aren''t going to do it again."


    The teen narrowed his eyes, taking this in. ¡°I guess you''re right¡­¡±


    Just then, Mira burst through the door. "I''m not sure how much longer I can take waiting around here," she complained. "Are you better yet, Gadalik?¡±


    ¡°Y-Yes, but¨C¡±


    ¡°Then let''s go deal with that spirit once and for all!¡±


    "Hold on," Gadalik stopped her. "Last time, it broke my shield¨Ceven with my enhancements. And how quickly it recovered from your stun spell is concerning¡­ If we fight it, it''ll be very hard to win.¡±


    "So¡­ what, then? You want to talk to it again? Because the last time worked out extremely well,¡± she muttered sarcastically.


    He exchanged a glance with his father, then remembered something else. ¡°Dad, what was your deal with Samantha earlier?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± the man asked, confused.


    ¡°You looked like you recognized each other. And when she mentioned her father died, you seemed surprised by it. Have you met before?¡±


    ¡°Oh¨Cthat. No¡­ we haven''t met¨Cnot exactly. But¡­¡±


    ¡°But what?¡± Mira huffed impatiently.


    ¡°If I''m right, her father¡¯s Sam Harrington¨Cthe mastermind behind a criminal gang who spent his time scheming and profiting from his goons¡¯ dirty work. The butcher shop must have been a front to keep from drawing suspicion to himself.¡±


    ¡°You knew that, and didn''t tell us?!¡±


    ¡°Sorry¡­ I didn''t want to bring it up if I was wrong about it. And since he died, I didn''t think it was relevant.¡±


    ¡°Did you see how Nate reacted when Gadalik asked about him? There''s obviously some kind of connection!¡±


    ¡°Yeah; I can see that now.¡±


    ¡°Samantha must have known, too,¡± Gadalik figured. ¡°After all, she called Nate a rat. I wonder if Nate was killed for going against him.¡±


    ¡°That''s definitely a possibility.¡±


    ¡°Then that''s something I can lead with in our next conversation,¡± he decided. ¡°But if he still doesn''t listen, then¡­ it''ll take all of us working together to take him down. So I¡­¡±--he gathered his courage¨C¡°I won''t hesitate again, if it comes to that.¡±


    It was late afternoon when they returned to the abandoned shop. Gadalik had put on the wooden bracelet that would boost his natural magic, hoping it would be enough to fend off the powerful spirit. He braced himself at the door¡¯s ding as the three of them went inside, but by a stroke of serendipity, the ghost wasn''t in the main area to be alerted by it.


    Gale looked around. ¡°Is it here¡­?¡±


    ¡°I can sense it coming from the back room,¡± Mira said. ¡°Come on.¡±


    The two followed her, carefully treading the shards of glass while holding their weapons at the ready, until they reached a metal door with a sign that read ¡®Employees Only¡¯ under its window. It didn''t have handles, but gave no resistance when Mira pushed it open, swinging between both sides of the doorway after they passed through.


    The room was bigger than the main area of the shop, but felt just as small given how much of its space was taken up; a large steel table topped with cutting boards was in the center, with various knives in racks lining the wall nearby. The stench of rotting meat emanated from a grinder on the counter next to it. To the left was a packaging area consisting of smaller tables adjacent to the central one, and the entrance to a walk-in cooler was just beyond it, explaining the chill in the air.


    ¡°It''s in the freezer,¡± Gadalik detected the ghost.


    His father shuddered. ¡°Great¡­ As if it''s not cold enough out here.¡±


    The older teen blinked sympathetically as he realized the enchanted robes and cloaks that were spook¡¯s attire provided warmth for himself and Mira, while the bounty hunter had none. Thinking back to when a pure-blooded witch had demonstrated the use of a fire spell, the hybrid witch-spook brought his hand up and copied the motion from his memory.


    Mira cried out when, to Gadalik''s horror, the enchanted bracelet had condensed his power and resulted in a sudden wild flame momentarily scorching the ceiling from his palm.


    ¡°...I take it back,¡± Gale lightheartedly recanted after it extinguished.


    The commotion must have drawn Nate''s attention; the knives rattled and slowly levitated from the racks, their points angling at the intruders.


    Mira placed a shield tag on the chain in her left hand, a bubble encompassing her from it, while clutching the sickle on the other end of it in her right. Gadalik did the same with his staff, but handed it to his father for protection before using his witch¡¯s magic to summon his own shield from his palm. Had they been any later preparing, the countless sharp tools suddenly shooting at them would''ve ended more than just their mission.


    As the deflected knives clacked on the floor around them one after another, the teens sensed that Nate was approaching. This time, the ghost had chosen to be invisible to the naked eye, but the spooks could still see him.


    ¡°Dad, he''s on your left! Look out,¡± Gadalik shouted, knowing from last time that the shield wouldn''t hold against the ghost itself.


    Gale, unable to see or sense the spirit, slashed his sword blindly in the beast¡¯s direction, unaware when it snorted and lowered its head to charge at him like it had the case in the main area, meanwhile the fallen knives continued to rise and strike again.


    Gadalik panicked and grabbed his father¡¯s elbow, pulling him out of harm¡¯s way. Since the hybrid¡¯s shield stemmed from his hand, which he''d switched to his right side to keep from being stabbed, his front was briefly unguarded.


    That was all the time the monstrous spirit needed to redirect its charge at the vulnerable teen, ramming him at full speed in the abdomen with its blunt horn. He skidded back several feet, doubled over in pain; the impact had also knocked the wind out of him.


    Just as it raised its forelimb to finish him off, Mira attached a stun spell tag on her sickle and hurled it at the ghost. Unfortunately, since it was a head-on attack, it saw and easily floated out of the way. She cursed.


    ¡°I can''t tell where it''s at,¡± Gale growled with frustration, ¡°but since it obviously knows where I''m at, maybe I can distract it for you guys. Mira, tell me where to go.¡±


    ¡°Run toward the cooler,¡± she instructed.


    "Alright. Come at me!" the bounty hunter challenged it, leading the spirit away from the kids through the knives that continued to strike the shield from Gadalik¡¯s staff that the man still held.


    Gadalik, still stunned and unable to fully draw in a breath, saw the other spook reach for another tag. Then he frowned when he recognized it was for confinement. The next tag would be for exorcism, so she was planning on annihilating it. ¡°Wait!¡± he tried to say, wanting the chance to speak with Nate about the possible ties to Harrington first. Instead of his voice, though, all that came from his mouth was blood.


    Mira¡¯s kusarigama struck the spirit¡¯s back, the tag attached binding the ghost so that it became tangible, visible, and couldn''t shape-shift. The knives finally fell for good, and the enchanted sickle itself caused the ghost pain enough to interrupt its swipe at Gale. The beast turned around and roared at her, but she simply yanked her weapon back by its chain and added the exorcism tag to it.


    The bounty hunter, able to see the ghost thanks to its confinement, distracted it once more by slicing its back with his silver sword, so Mira threw her sickle at it once more.


    ¡°No¡­!¡± Gadalik tried to say, but once again only managed to cough out blood.


    Just like with the stun spell tag in their first encounter, the one for confinement didn''t last as long as it should have, wearing off before the exorcism tag could combine with it, which rendered the latter tag useless. The pain from the enchanted weapon on its own just made the ghost angrier, too.


    Nate took out his rage on the closest target, swatting at Gale so hard it shattered the shield. The man immediately leapt out of the way and sliced at its paw. While the two battled, Mira grabbed another confinement tag.


    ¡°It''s too strong to fight,¡± Gadalik finally managed to speak between shallow breaths. ¡°I know we can quell it by talking¡­ Please, just try¡­¡±


    She hesitated from his words. But they both froze when they heard a crash: the monster had levitated and thrown Gale head-first against a table in the packaging area, breaking it; the shieldless bounty hunter lay motionless in the wreckage.


    ¡°Dad!¡± Gadalik cried out weakly. Nate turned toward the older spook from the sound and menacingly approached, looming over the kids and readying another attack.


    Since confinement spells didn''t stop a ghost from moving, Mira replaced it with a stun tag and cast it at the ghost with her sickle. ¡°Get out of here!¡± she told her companion while it was immobilized. ¡°I''ll handle this!¡±


    Gadalik tried to stand, but the pain overwhelmed him and his legs buckled; he fell to his knees and vomited blood.


    The ghost recovered all too quickly. Mira panicked and crouched beside him, the bubble of her shield encompassing them both even though the ghost could easily break it.


    "This is it," Mira despaired. "You''re hurt and my tags are useless¡­ Gale is out of commission¡­ We can''t win, can we¡­?"


    Gadalik refused to accept that. He grabbed hold of her weapon¡¯s chain and channeled his own magic to enhance her shield; his enchanted bracelet boosted its durability. It held when the ghost rammed against it, but he could feel himself blacking out since his output of magic was draining him on top of his injury. It was only a matter of time before the beast overpowered them.


    ¡°It won''t last¡­¡± he mumbled.


    "If we die here, I just want to say I''m sorry for how I treated you and Glacia when we first met," Mira confessed. "I was jealous of your natural magic, but despite how mean I was to you, you never retaliated. You remained respectful to me through it all. So I¡­"


    The beast rammed into the shield a third time, and it was the last of his strength to keep the barrier from dispelling.


    "I think I like you, Gadalik," she blurted out.


    The older teen froze, staring at her in disbelief.


    The shield shattered, and they both braced themselves for the worst.


    With a strenuous shout, Gale slashed the ghost in half from behind it. ¡°Mira, take Gadalik and run,¡± he commanded.


    ¡°No¨Cit has to be stopped,¡± she argued. ¡°You take him¡­ I''ll finish it off.¡±


    ¡°But our tags won''t last long enough to annihilate it,¡± the other spook reminded her.


    "Then forget about tags," Mira shouted, throwing her sickle at the spirit before it fully reformed, then tearing it back out to cause further damage. ¡°I''ll kill it the old fashioned way: through brute force.¡±


    "Don''t¡­!" Gadalik cried, once again having a flashback to the resort''s ghost, more specifically the moment he had been beating on it. He reached up to stop her, but that''s when the pain caused him to black out.


    "...Bud, are you awake?" Gale¡¯s voice faded in.


    Gadalik opened his striped blue eyes to find he was shirtless in a hospital bed, his lower torso wrapped. He tried to sit up but grimaced and coughed out specks of blood.


    "Easy, now," his father soothed him. "Your intestine was ruptured. The doctor fixed you up, but don''t overdo it."


    The spook looked away for a moment, thinking. "The ghost¡­"


    "Mira and I took care of it."


    "Brute force, huh¡­"


    "That was our only option."


    Gadalik hummed in acknowledgement. He couldn''t help remembering how much he was impacted by using that method at the resort. "How''s Mira¡­?"


    "She''s sitting outside the room."


    The spook got out of bed, wincing with a hand on his gut, then lumbered through the doorway. Mira, seated in a chair with her back against the wall of the room, looked up at him¨Cthen quickly turned away when her face reddened slightly.


    ¡®I think I like you, Gadalik,¡¯ her words suddenly resounded in his mind.


    He shook his head. She couldn''t have meant that¡­ right? "Mira¡­" he began. "Are you okay?"


    "Why wouldn''t I be?" she huffed, crossing her arms and still refusing eye contact.


    "When I annihilated my first spirit, it was also through brute force¡­ it really weighed on me,¡± he murmured. ¡°I don''t know how you feel about it."


    "I told you, it''s part of the job. Besides, you were dying; I couldn''t just sit there and let it finish you off."


    Gadalik was shocked by how nonchalant she was about the whole ordeal.


    "Are you okay?¡± she asked, glancing toward his bandaged abdomen. ¡°That was a bad injury. And judging from that scar on your chest, I doubt it was your first."


    He swallowed uncomfortably. "This''ll be a new scar, won''t it?" he laughed, trying to lighten the mood. "I''ll be alright. But, uh¡­ There''s something else I want to talk to you about.¡± She froze. ¡°About what you said back there¨C"


    "What I said? What did I say?! I didn''t say anything!"


    He softened. So she doesn''t want to talk about it¡­ Even so, I feel like it should still be addressed. "I''ve told you before that it''s hard for me to feel romantic love toward someone¡­"


    "Look: I thought we were goners, okay? I wasn''t thinking straight! Just forget it!"


    "I wasn''t finished," he informed her. "I¡­ I''m willing to give you a chance¨Cif you really do like me."


    There was a pause; her eyes bore into his, questioning his honesty. "What¡­?"


    "I can''t say for sure that I''ll fall for you¡­ but I won''t know if we don''t spend any time together outside of work."


    "W-What are you saying¡­?"


    "I''m asking¡­ if you''d want to hang out sometime¡­?"


    She narrowed her eyes skeptically, not answering despite the movements of her mouth suggesting that she wanted to.


    He shrank. "Sorry¡­ I didn''t mean to put you on the spot. I''m fine being alone, really. I just thought¡­"


    "No¨Cdon''t apologize! I¡­" Her cheeks turned rosy. "Yeah. Yeah, I''d like to hang out sometime outside of work."


    "Glacia''s not gonna like that," Gale sang from the doorway.


    "You were listening?!" Gadalik felt his face flush with embarrassment.


    "I overheard. There''s a difference," he shrugged. "But it''s not really my business as long as you''re safe and happy."


    Mira seemed encouraged by his support.


    "But if you do him dirty, I''ll hunt you down,¡± the bounty hunter said melodramatically. He laughed when Mira tensed and Gadalik rolled his eyes, adding, ¡°Heh, I''m only kidding. Partly, anyway."

 Episode 17: Weakness

    Despite his surgery, Gadalik felt nauseous and cramped during the ride home.  The cold air coming through the horse-drawn carriage¡¯s windows wasn''t helpful.


    "You still look pale," Mira pointed out.  "Are you sure you''re okay?"


    Gadalik nodded ever so slightly, not having the energy to verbally respond.  He rested his head against the back of the seat and stared absently at the roof.  Even with my magic, I could barely enhance the spells and tags.  Was the ghost really that strong¡­?  Or was I just too weak?


    "The doctor said he''ll make a full recovery in a few weeks," Gale answered for his son, eyes not leaving the road.


    The younger spook prodded Gadalik''s shoulder.  "Come on," she tried again.  "Say something; you''re scaring me!"


    "I-I''ll be alright," the other teen breathed.


    "We''ve all been through a lot," his father reminded her.  "Just give him some time to recover, alright?"


    Mira hummed uncertainly but didn''t press him any further.


    Gadalik closed his eyes and drifted off.


    "We''re back," Gale announced, letting himself inside his girlfriend''s house with the key she had given him, followed closely by their son.


    "Gale!  Gadalik!  How was the new sword?" Glacia welcomed her family.  She froze when she saw a familiar girl in the doorway behind them.  "Mira?  Why is she still here?"


    "She has something to tell you," Gadalik explained, beckoning his friend forward.


    The two females locked eyes before Mira took a deep breath, finally speaking. "Glacia, I¡¯m sorry¡­  I was rude to you when we first met, even if I didn''t think it was a big deal at the time."


    "What?¡±  The woman was taken aback by this.  ¡°I¡­  I mean: good!  You''d better be sorry.¡±


    Mira bit her lip as if to stifle a retort, then glanced at Gale, letting out a sigh.  "I''m not going to make excuses for my behavior," she said instead.  "All I can do is ask for forgiveness."


    Glacia searched the girl''s violet eyes dubiously.  "You mean it?"


    "Of course I do!"


    She looked between the two teenagers.  Gadalik gave a subtle, encouraging nod.  "Alright...  Apology accepted."


    "That''s not fair¨C¡± Mira began, but stopped herself when Glacia¡¯s words registered.  ¡°Wait.  Really?"


    "Yeah.  If you''re not gonna treat us badly anymore, there''s no point in holding a grudge."


    "Th-Thank you¡­!  Then¡­ I guess I''ll be heading home now."


    "Hang on a minute; it''s getting late.  Are you sure you''ll be okay traveling on your own?"


    The girl again seemed astonished by her sudden care and acceptance.  "I have my kusarigama."


    "But you''re just a kid¨Cand a girl, at that."


    "Kid?  I''ll be sixteen in a month!"


    She shook her head.  "Gale, why don''t you escort her?"


    "Hm?"  Her boyfriend became attentive at the sound of his name. He had been distraught and staring absently at the woman.  "Oh, uh, sure.  I''ll take her home."  He turned to Mira.  "Whenever you''re ready."


    "Um¡­ alright.  Bye, Gadalik.  I''ll see you next week?" Mira asked the other teen.


    "Yeah.  I won''t be much company until I get better from that ghost attack," Gadalik replied, forcing a laugh that ended up more like a cough.


    "Ghost attack?" his mother echoed.


    "I''ll tell you about it in a bit."


    "Guess we''ll head out then.  I''ll see you guys later," Gale said, giving Glacia a hug and peck before he and Mira left.


    "Ghost attack?" Glacia repeated, more sternly.


    "It horned me in the gut¨Cruptured my intestine.  Dad and Mira had to rescue me.  They annihilated the ghost," Gadalik explained.  "I just need to take it easy for a while, that''s all."


    She frowned disapprovingly, then sighed, dismissing it.  "Well, rest easy.  Ooh¨Cyou''re shivering!  I could feel how cold it was outside from the door.  Sit down; I''ll make us some hot chocolate."


    Her son obliged her, sitting with one hand over his injury as he closed his eyes, fighting back nausea.  He couldn''t stop replaying the scene of their battle in his mind while he was alone in the couch.


    "What''s eating you?" his mother asked, sitting beside the teen and offering him the aforementioned chocolate in a mug.


    The spook accepted and took a sip.  "Thanks.  I was just thinking¡­ I was useless in the fight against the ghost.  Spell tags wouldn''t work on it, just like the one my parents died against¨Cbut if they were enhanced enough, maybe they would be effective.  The booster my parents got me is still difficult to use, too.  There wasn''t much that could stop it aside from brute force, which Dad and Mira had to use while I was hurt."


    "You said they annihilated it, right?"


    "Yeah.  I know my powers were sealed off for my own safety, but if only I were stronger, maybe the tags might have worked?  Then the spirit wouldn''t have had to be annihilated."


    "Maybe if you strengthen your body, you could use more of the sealed magic?" Glacia suggested.


    "I don''t know if it works that way.  Physically I''m pretty strong already.  I can even beat Dad at arm wrestling, and you know how strong he is."


    "True."  She blushed slightly.


    Her son sighed.  "Well, dwelling on it isn''t going to help, is it?"


    "I don''t know.  Sometimes it''s good to let yourself feel bad when it''s warranted. You know¡­ process your feelings."


    He remembered how he''d vented into his pillow when she had gone on a date night with his father just a couple of weeks ago.  Maybe I should do that again?  Let it all out?


    "Or we could talk through it," she invited.


    "Huh?"


    "If you ask me, you didn''t do anything wrong.  You weren''t even the one who annihilated the ghost this time."


    "I know¡­  And I know annihilating ghosts is part of being a spook, too.  I''ve done it willingly before on that homestead; you were with me for that.  But it still feels like¡­ it should stay a last resort.  Like we should keep trying to help it first."


    "First?¡± she echoed, ¡°Or forever?"


    The spook thought for a moment.  "You''re right¡­ forever.  I''d rather abandon a job than annihilate another ghost¡­"


    "Perhaps.  But that just means the next spook will annihilate it instead,¡± she pointed out.  ¡°At least you try to help them first¡­!"


    Gadalik blinked.  "Huh.  That''s true...  Not everyone can be helped, though, and I accept that.  But it''s worth making an effort to help regardless¡­ always."


    "Well, there ya go."


    "Thanks for the talk.  I''m feeling better," he said honestly.


    "Of course!"  Glacia hugged him with one arm around his shoulders.


    He returned the embrace.  "There''s¡­ something else I need to talk to you about."


    "Oh?  What is it?"


    "About Mira¡­  She and I will be hanging out soon, just to see how things go between us."


    Glacia froze, pulling away in order to face him, her red irises searching his striped blue eyes to make sure this wasn''t a prank.  "A date?!¡±


    ¡°N-No!  Well¡­ I guess?  But¡­ no.  It''s just hanging out to decide if we want to start dating,¡± he decided.


    ¡°Does she know you''re demi-romantic?"


    "Yeah.  I was very clear about that, so I''m not leading her on."


    "Gadalik¡­ You know I''m happy that you moved on from Gretel.  But you don''t have to rush into a relationship just to prove that.  Especially with Mira, of all people..."


    "It¨Cit isn''t like that," he stammered.  "She''s the one who confessed to liking me.  This is not even a date; just two friends spending time together."


    "Well, whatever you call it, don''t let her bully you again.  If she knows she can get away with it, she won''t stop."


    "Mira hasn''t been mean to me since we left the lake.  Besides, I won''t date her if she is."


    "Alright.  When are you going?"


    "Next week.  I told her to give me time to recover from my injury.  I¡­ I just thought you should know."


    She was quiet for a moment.  "Thanks for telling me.  I wouldn''t want to find this out the hard way."  They finished their drinks, and Glacia collected their empty cups to bring to the sink.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    He was glad she was taking the news so well.  Ever since he''d admitted to drowning at the lake from a magical surge, the trust between them had strengthened.  The only thing he kept hidden from her were his panic attacks, since he hadn''t had them in a long time now; bringing them up would be irrelevant.  He did, however, mention them to his father, since Gale had bared witness to the spook having one.  The teen counted himself lucky to have his parents as a support system.


    Just then he heard a crash from the kitchen.  Gadalik forced himself up through his pain and rushed to what happened: Glacia was leaning against the counter, one hand on her forehead.  One of their mugs lied in pieces on the floor.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± he asked, instinctively feeling her head with the back of his hand to check her for a fever, the way she often did to him.  To his relief, she didn''t have one.


    ¡°I''m fine,¡± she sighed.  ¡°It''s just a dizzy spell.  Guess I need more iron in my diet, or something.  You two were gone for a few days and I''m¡­ not the best at making food,¡± she confessed.


    He chuckled.  ¡°That''s fine.  You''ve been getting better at it, though,¡± he assured her, then moved to grab the broom and dustpan to clean it up.  Bending and reaching was painful, but he endured it.


    "So¡­ why Mira?  I know she confessed to liking you, but do you see anything you''d like in her?" she asked as they returned to couch, genuinely curious.


    "She helped save my life three times now," he pointed out.  "And¡­ I feel like there''s more to her underneath her tough-girl act.  She cares, she just doesn''t know how to show it.  That''s the impression I got from her, anyway.  But I could be wrong; that''s why I wanna get to know her better: to find out."


    "...Alright," she caved.  "Now it''s late.  You need to rest, especially to heal."


    "Yeah¡­  Goodnight, Mom."


    "''Night."


    Gadalik awoke the next morning and sat up, then winced, fighting back the rising bile in his throat.  Carefully he got out of bed, turned to make it, and sat on it to rest afterward, hating how sore he felt.


    After catching his breath he started his daily routine: getting dressed into his new striped dark gray shirt, combing his green hair which he pulled back into a ponytail, then heading to the bathroom both to brush his teeth and to redress his wound.  He paused at the door when he noticed it was partly open.  "Mom?  What are you doing up so early?"


    There was a beat before she answered.  "Nothing.  I¡­  I must have eaten something bad while you guys were out yesterday."


    Is she really that bad at cooking for herself?  Then again, there was a time she gave herself food poisoning¡­  Her son waited until he heard her approach the door, then sidestepped out of her way.  "Are you alright?"


    "Yeah¡­  Are you?"


    As if in answer, his stomach cramped and he doubled over in pain, resting against the wall with one hand while clutching his injury with the other.


    "Gadalik!"  She held him steady.  "Maybe you should go back to bed?"


    "I¡­"  He swallowed hard.  "I just need a moment¡­"


    "Gadalik¡­"


    He sighed as it faded.  "Let me tend to my wound, then I''ll make you breakfast, alright?"


    "You don''t have to.  I''ll make it."


    "After you just threw up from the last thing you made?" he halfway teased her.


    She huffed and lightly pushed his shoulder.  "Fine.  But if you get any worse, you''re going straight to bed.  Got it?"


    "Fair enough."


    She went to the living room and he finished his morning routine, following her down afterward.  He made a plate of bacon and eggs for his mother, but not for himself, since his appetite was practically nonexistent.


    "You''re not going to eat?" Glacia called after him worriedly as he left her at the table.


    "I''ve got some water¡­  That''s about all I can stomach at the moment," he explained.  He went to the living room without giving her a chance to argue.  That''s when the phone rang.  He picked it up.  "Peakisan''s residence; Gadalik speaking."


    "Hey, bud.  How are you feeling?" Gale replied on the other end.


    "Dad!  I could be better, if I''m honest¡­  How''s Mira?"


    "I got her home safe.  Is Glacia there?"


    "She''s eating breakfast.  Should I take a message for her?"


    "Hm¡­  Well, lately I''ve had a hunch that she needs me.  I''m thinking about coming back over for a few days.  Think that''ll be alright with her?"


    "Are you kidding?  If it were up to her, you''d live here," the spook laughed.  "I''ll let her know.  Safe travels."


    "Thanks.  I''ll be there soon.  See you."


    They hung up.  Gadalik went to tell his mother but froze in the doorway when the cramping started up again.  He coughed dryly and sank to a crouch, cringing.


    "Gadalik!"  Glacia rushed to his side.  "That''s it, mister.  Back to bed."


    When the pain subsided he slowly stood, leaning on the doorframe for support.  She helped him up the stairs to his room.


    "Dad''s coming over," he managed to say when she sat him on his bed.  "He wants to stay a few days."


    "Really?" she gasped.  "That''s great!  Usually I''d have to beg him to stay."


    "I knew you''d be okay with it.  Now I think¡­  I think I might need a bucket."


    "Hang tight; I''ll bring you one."  She left to do just that.


    The teen rolled onto his side and curled up slightly.  He was lucky to be alive, even if he felt like he was dying.  Unable to do anything else, he drifted to sleep once more.


    "...lik¡­!  Gadalik," Gale''s urgent voice woke him up.


    "Dad¡­?" the teen answered weakly, opening his striped blue eyes.  ¡°When did you get here?¡±


    The bounty hunter sighed with relief.  "Thank goodness¡­  You were really out; I was scared you wouldn''t wake up.  I got here around noon; it''s evening right now.  It''s not like you to sleep this long, so I was worried¡­¡±


    "I''m just really tired," he sighed.  ¡°I''m fine.¡±


    "I made lunch not long ago.  I can bring it to you," Gale offered.


    "N-No thanks; I''m not hungry¡­"


    The man placed a hand on his son''s forehead.  "You have a low fever¡­  At least let me get you some water?"


    When the spook nodded, he watched his father leave for the kitchen.  It feels like I''m always sick, or hurt¡­  I truly am weak.  I need to get stronger, somehow¡­  He placed a hand on his chest where the seal locked away his power, eyes narrowed in thought.


    Gale returned with the promised water, helping him sit up to drink it.  The spook took careful sips.  That''s when he couldn''t help but notice his father''s expression: a mixture between sympathy and¡­  Guilt¡­?


    "Dad, is something the matter¡­?" he pressed.


    "I¡­  Err¡­  It''s nothing," Gale said quietly.


    "You''re hurt too, aren''t you?"  He remembered the spirit throwing him into the table.


    "A bit.  Luckily I came out of it with just some bad bruising.  That''s nothing compared to what you''re going through¡­  You almost died.  The doctor said if it weren''t for your enchanted robe, that injury would have been lethal¡­"


    Now it was Gadalik''s turn to feel guilty.  "I know.  I hate this¨Cbeing so weak¡­  I should''ve been more prepared after it broke through my shield the first time."


    "No, you''re not weak¡­" he murmured.  "It''s my duty to keep you safe, and¡­ I failed you."


    "What¡­?  No, Dad¡­  You and Mira saved me.  That''s the opposite of failure¡­!"


    Gale wasn''t convinced, but didn''t argue.


    Gadalik sighed.  "I''ll be fine in a few weeks.  It''s not that big of a deal."


    The man nodded ever so slightly.  "I''ll be here¡­ as long as it takes.¡±


    ¡°Thank you¡­¡± he murmured gratefully.  Then he remembered their phone call.  "So what was that you mentioned earlier?  A hunch about Mom?"


    "Oh¡­  Yeah.  It was just a feeling that she needs me, even if she seems fine.  And of course I want to make sure you''re okay, too.  Two birds, one stone."


    "She has been acting a little off for a couple weeks now,¡± Gadalik admitted.  ¡°Sleeping in later than usual, for instance.  She''s been a bit more emotional, too.¡±


    ¡°Hm.  Well, she''s always slept in late, and her anger is kind of endearing¨Cit shows she cares,¡± he said with an assuring smile.


    ¡°Not anger¡­ sadness.¡±


    ¡°What¡­?  Do you think she''s been depressed?  I mean, if she''s also not getting out of bed, then¨C¡±


    ¡°N-No, nothing like that!  She has gotten sad more often, but it never lasts for long.  Nothing''s been too different from normal.  At least, not until last night.¡±


    ¡°Last night?  What happened?¡±


    ¡°She got dizzy¡­ and this morning, I found her vomiting.  It could be because neither of us were here to cook for her during our mission, though¨Cthat¡¯s what she''s saying it is, too.  So I''m glad you made lunch; that should help.  In fact, I''m glad you''re here even if it''s not to help.¡±


    Gale narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.


    ¡°Dad¡­?¡±


    ¡°Huh?  Oh, don¡¯t worry.  I''m sure she''s right.  Thanks, bud, for telling me,¡± he said.  ¡°Now, I''m off to clean Glacia''s room.  Yell if you need anything."


    "Cleaning her room?  I thought you valued your life," Gadalik laughed.


    "I do, but if she and I are sharing a room for a while, I''d rather it be hers than the guest room.  Besides, it''s due for a cleaning anyway.  Hasn''t been done since we came back from vacation all those months ago."


    "True.  I thought about what you said back then, too¡­ how I tend to clean it as a distraction from the bad things that happened. Thank you for telling me; you were right.  It''s still hard for me to process my feelings, but that helped me realize I really needed to."


    "Oh¡­  Are you alright?  I mean, emotionally?"


    "Well¡­ I know I should accept things as they are, but I still wish they were different."


    "I understand.  But as I''ve said before, all we can really do is work to change the future."


    "Yeah¡­  Thank you."


    Gale gave him a gentle pat on the head, then left for his girlfriend''s wrecked bedroom.


    The spook was alone with his thoughts once more.


    What can I do to prevent a situation like my last mission, going forward?  Do I just give up if I''m too weak to fight?  No¡­ I should just practice.


    Gadalik reached his hand out and cast a shield.  He exhaled, then poured more magic into it, expanding it into an encapsulating bubble.  Enhancing it further made the barrier larger.


    Changing the shape and size doesn''t change its durability, though¡­  The only thing my enhancement is good for is repairing the shield if it cracks.  That doesn''t stop it from cracking.


    He closed his eyes and concentrated on the shield, remembering what he''d learned about surges from the witch who had placed the seal on him.  Surges can happen because of despair, or because of a sudden increase in magic.  Despair must have caused it at the lake¡­  so maybe if I can feel that despair on command, but control it enough so it isn''t too sudden to surge, I can release more power?


    The witch-hybrid then was wondering how to make himself feel genuine despair.  His mind drew a blank as he stared absently at his shield.


    After a minute he shook his head.  This is hopeless.  I''ll never get stronger¡­  Everyone tells me how powerful I am, but just look at me: I failed to save the spirit and now I''m bedridden from its attack¡­  Why?  Why am I so weak?


    The bubble began to shrink and return to its original shape, flickering out of existence.


    No¡­! he argued with himself.


    Gadalik output more magic to restore it.


    I can''t keep beating myself up!


    He closed his eyes, breathing hard with emotion.  He strained to have it encapsulate him once more.


    I''m sick of feeling bad all the time¡­  I''m sick of getting hurt all the time¡­!  Just stop!


    The shield expanded and he felt a cold chill down his spine.


    Then he realized what he was doing.  Control it¡­  Control it¡­!


    He took a deep breath and focused entirely on the physicality of it all.  The more he concentrated, the colder he felt, but the shield was becoming thicker and more saturated than ever before.


    The cold was now transitioning into numbness.  This is fine¡­  It''s working.  I think I understand now¨C


    A cramp struck him out of nowhere, and he cried out in pain, the shield dispelling.  He reached for the bucket and retched dryly until specks of blood came out.  The teen was shivering from the numbing cold and curled up with his arms wrapped around his wounded stomach, blood dripping from his mouth, head pounding from fever.


    "Gadalik?"  Gale''s voice was getting closer.  That was the last thing the spook heard before the world went black.


    "Gadalik¡­can you hear me¡­?" a familiar woman''s voice sounded.


    "Guinevere¡­?"  The teen was awake but didn''t have the strength to so much as open his eyes.


    "Yes.  The day you visited me, I cast a spell that would allow me to speak with patients on their deathbed."


    "Deathbed¡­?  You mean I''m¡­ dying¡­?"


    "You were.  Believe it or not, your injury saved you.  Overusing your magic in that capacity would kill you if you don''t experience a surge."


    ¡°That''s what I was told¡­  Except I thought that as long as I let that extra magic out, it wouldn''t build up enough to kill me.¡±


    ¡°You must understand¡­ in order to ¡®let extra magic out,¡¯ your body has to have that extra magic coursing within it¨Cwhich it''s currently not able to contain.  That''s why your seal exists: to keep your body from accessing that power.¡±


    ¡°Did you know this back when we first met¡­?¡±


    ¡°No.  But right now, I can feel the physical state of your body, and that''s what I can gather from it.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡±


    "You must know by now that your seal exists for a purpose.  Breaching that seal is dangerous.  You either surge, or you die.  There''s no in-between."


    "But¡­  I¡­  I have to get stronger¡­!"


    "Only time can help you with your magic.  Choose your battles wisely, young man, instead of fighting with yourself."


    What¡­?


    With that, her voice faded out.


    "Gadalik!" Gale called him.


    The spook opened his eyes.  He''d stopped shivering at this point, and managed to sit up, wiping the blood from his mouth.  "Dad¡­?"


    His father breathed with relief and hugged him securely, not letting go for several seconds. "Your fever spiked and you were bleeding...  I-I thought you were dying¡­  Your fever''s gone back down, at least."


    "I¡­. I''m better now," the teen murmured, returning the embrace and simply taking in the feeling.  Maybe being strong isn''t what''s most important¡­  What really matters is having people you can depend on when you''re weak.

 Episode 18: Day Off

    Gadalik walked down the main street of his hometown, comforted by the familiar smiling faces at every turn.  It reminded him of a simpler time, before he had even begun his work as a spook.


    The blue-eyed teen stopped at the outskirts of town, gazing out at the trail leading to his old house.  He felt the nullifier around his neck, which let him live as a human instead by stifling his spook¡¯s magic.


    And my witch magic, he added silently.  I guess, given my mother¡¯s witch-ancestry, and my father''s pure spook¡¯s magic, my life had no chance at normalcy.


    While the witch-spook hybrid was grateful for his powers, he felt stuck between his want for a normal life and his need to hone magic in order to protect himself and others.  He glanced backward at the town, then felt uneasy as the residents were suddenly gone.


    That''s when a shadow passed overhead, and his heart sank.  No¡­


    He ran under the shade of the nearest building''s roof, but as soon as he did, it vanished.  He started for the next building but it too dissolved into thin air.  Gadalik felt his heart pounding in his panic.  What can I do¡­?  It''s only a matter of time before¨C


    The sudden cackle of a witch drowned out his thoughts.  Before he had a chance to react, the rest of the scenery faded to black, and the chain of his nullifier was twisted tight around his throat.


    Gadalik awoke, crying out as he sat up, one hand clutching his neck as he panted desperately for air.


    "Bud?" he heard his father call from the neighboring room.  "You alright?"


    Gadalik curled up tightly on his bed, hands trembling, and breathing hard.  It was just a dream, he told himself.  Except it was loosely based on a memory.


    A darker skinned man with a blue-violet mohawk and eyebrow piercings entered the room, knocking on the open door as he came in.  "What happened?"


    His son sighed heavily, sitting up.  "N-Nothing¡­  It was a nightmare."


    "Want to talk about it¡­?" he prompted gently, sitting on the foot of the bed.


    "It was¡­ Luna.  I dreamed she captured me again¡­"


    The man softened.  "I''m sorry¡­  I shouldn''t have let her get away."


    The teen shook his head.  "No¨Cit wasn''t your fault; you were injured.  And besides, we got away, too.  That''s all that matters."  Gadalik''s striped blue eyes flitted to the silver pendant on his nightstand.


    Gale followed his gaze.  "You''re going out with Mira today, aren''t you?  Will you be wearing the nullifier?"


    "I planned to, but after that nightmare, I don''t think I will.  I can disable my ghost sense now, so I don''t really need to wear it¡­ except maybe to stop myself from seeing invisible ghosts.  B-But it''s not like I''m going to a graveyard or anything!  We''re just going to an amusement park."


    ¡°Hm¡­¡±


    ¡°W-What¡­?¡±


    ¡°Are you sure it''s wise to go to an amusement park while you''re still recovering?  It¡¯s only been a week since that ghost nearly gutted you.¡±


    ¡°I''ve talked to Guinevere over the phone; she said it''ll be fine as long as I don''t do anything too strenuous.¡±


    ¡°Guinevere?  She''s the witch who helped you on your birthday, right?¡±


    Witch?  Gadalik hadn''t considered that a woman who used healing magic would be referred to what others called ¡®devils.¡¯  She was first introduced to him as an enchantress, and despite knowing enchanters and witches were the same thing, the latter had historical notoriety.  Maybe it shouldn''t, he thought.  Both my mother and Guinevere¨Cand even Virniv, how twisted as his methods of helping¨Chave always had good intentions, and they''re all witches.  So why do I feel so sick at the thought of calling myself one?


    ¡°You okay, bud?¡± Gale asked with concern.


    ¡°Huh?¡±  His son snapped out of it.  ¡°Y-Yeah.  I''ll be fine.¡±


    ¡°...Alright.  Well, I hope you two have fun.  Glacia and I will be here, so if anything does happen, just give us a call."


    "Will do."


    Gadalik dismounted his horse outside of a two story house in a village just hours from his own, and knocked on the door.


    The girl who answered it was wearing a black top tucked into a high-waisted dark red-and-black plaid miniskirt; just below that were thigh-high socks, and slightly-heeled boots.


    "Wow, you look great, Mira," Gadalik said honestly.  He couldn''t help but notice that the golden chain she wore for her spooks'' work was missing.  "You''re not wearing your magic substitution?"


    She blinked.  "Why would I?  This isn''t work."  Now it was her turn to  search his neck.  "You''re not wearing the nullifier?"


    "N-No; I have control of my ghost sense, so I don''t need it."


    She hummed doubtfully, then shook her head to dismiss it.  "Well, whatever.  Are you ready to go?"


    "Yeah!  I have everything accounted for."  They mounted their horses and took off at a casual pace.  "We can both get unlimited rides until closing, but we shouldn''t stay that late since we have to factor in the time for the journey home.  And¨C"


    "How can you afford all this?" she interrupted curiously.


    "I''ve saved up," he answered simply.


    "With how little you charge for being a spook?  That must have taken you a lifetime!" she halfway teased him.  ¡°Honestly, I don''t know how you can get by on your own."


    "I''m not exactly on my own.  My mother¨CGlacia¨Ccame from royalty so she inherited her family''s wealth, even if she''s a miser.  I''m lucky she takes care of the bare necessities for me."


    ¡°Royalty?!¡±


    ¡°It''s a long story,¡± he sighed.  ¡°Basically her parents were¡­ not the best rulers.  They cared more about money than their kingdom, so when the neighboring kingdom visited Peakisa to betroth Glacia to their son, they saw the poverty and unhappiness of its residents, and offered to buy the kingdom instead.  So her parents sold the Peakisa kingdom and fled here to Arcritta when they realized just how much the residents hated them.  Poor Glacia was only seven years old at the time; none of that was her fault.  Her parents didn''t even stay with her for long after they built her house in the woods, too.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, they didn''t stay?¡±


    Gadalik shrugged.  ¡°That''s just what Glacia told me¨Cher words.¡±


    ¡°Huh.  Well I guess, if her parents were so awful, that explains why she''s so protective as a parent to you.  Even though I apologized to her, I can tell she doesn''t trust me¨Cand I barely even did anything wrong to her in the first place!¡±


    ¡°Well, you did call her ¡®old¡­¡¯  And you also called me a ¡®devil.¡¯  A slight against me might as well be one against her.¡±


    Mira tensed, and her silver stallion snorted and stamped the ground when it picked up on her emotional state.


    ¡°Mira?¡±


    ¡°I''m sorry¡­ for calling you that.  A devil, I mean,¡± she said quietly.  ¡°Again, I was jealous of your natural magic.¡±


    ¡°I know¡­  It''s alright; you''ve changed a lot since then.  And even without natural magic, I think you''re a great spook.¡±


    She shook her head.  ¡°No¨Cit wasn''t just your spook¡¯s magic that I was jealous of.  Your dev¨Cerr, I mean, witch¡¯s magic.  Just having it in this part of the world is rare, especially in this day and age.  You should consider yourself lucky.¡±


    Lucky¡­?  To be a witch?  He had a hard time not considering that combination of words to be an oxymoron.


    "Even still, you should charge more,¡± Mira went on, soothing her horse and taking the lead to the park.  ¡°Your real parents were well-known, and you have a pretty good record of helping spirits instead of annihilating them.  I can tell you right now it''s a lot harder to talk to a ghost that''s trying to kill you instead of just fighting it to begin with, so why aren''t you raising your prices?  If I were keen on your methods, I''d be making it big!"


    "Is money all you care about?" he laughed, grateful for the topic¡¯s circle back to their career.


    "Being a spook is work, so we should be paid for it," she shrugged.


    "Yes, but it''s not just work; it''s also an obligation.  If we can help, we should, with or without pay."


    "That''s easy for you to say," she retorted.  "Your mother''s rich."


    Gadalik stopped in his tracks.  "You think that''s why I''m not concerned about pay?"


    She continued a few paces before realizing he wasn''t beside her, then turned to face him.  "Well, yeah.  If you needed the money, you wouldn''t turn it down."


    He exhaled through his nose.  "It''s true I don''t need it.  But it''s wrong not to help someone just because you''re not getting paid for it."


    "It''s wrong not to pay someone who helps you," she countered.


    "So you''re saying that people who can''t pay you don''t deserve your help?"


    Mira narrowed her eyes, looking away.  "Well¡­  It''s my choice whether to help them.  And, believe it or not, you have a choice too."


    Her last sentence¡¯s words struck a nerve.  He glared at the reins in his hands, careful to to maintain composure so as not to upset his own horse.  Everyone keeps saying I have a choice¡­ but do I really?  I can''t even wear my nullifier in public because it''s caused me to be attacked by a ghost like with Harry, and targeted by a witch like with Luna.  Not to mention it makes me oblivious to potential threats like with Molly¡­


    "You shouldn''t keep letting others drag you into their problems," she continued, drawing him out of his thoughts.  "If there''s one thing we spooks know all too well from our dealings with ghosts, it''s that we only have one life.  You should take control of your own life and let others take control of theirs.¡±


    "...I understand what you''re saying¡­" he finally said, and the two resumed riding.  "When I wore the nullifier, I got a taste of that freedom of choice.  It has its own risks, which is another reason I chose not to wear it today¡­  But aside from those, I liked not having to worry about everyone else.  But¡­"


    "''But''?"


    "That''s¡­ taking the easy way out," he murmured.  "I mean, it''s easy to mind your own business, and leave those in need to get help from somebody else.  But sometimes¡­ there is nobody else."


    Mira seemed to consider his words.  "How would we know if there is or not?"


    "That''s the problem: we wouldn''t know.  But if someone suffers or dies because we refuse to help them¡­ is that something you''re willing to risk?  Is that something you''re prepared to live with for the rest of your life?"


    She narrowed her violet eyes at him, as if trying hard to understand his motivations.  ¡°It sounds like you''re speaking from experience¡­"


    Gadalik fell silent for a moment.  "Yeah¡­ I am,¡± he admitted.  ¡°But this isn''t letting my past traumas dictate my life.  If we know someone else is there to help, then it''s okay for us to leave it to them.  And if it''s something that it turns out we can''t help with, sobeit."


    Mira seemed the least bit content with that answer.  ¡°You really have this figured out, huh?"


    "It took some doing¡­ and some help from a friend of mine''s father."


    "Your friend''s father?  What kind of company do you keep?" she laughed.


    "Heh.  That does sound strange spoken out loud, doesn''t it?  He¨CGavin¨Chelped console me during a panic attack when I was visiting his daughter."


    "Panic attack?"


    He froze, regretting that careless revelation.  ¡°Yeah¡­  But I haven''t had one in a while.  They range in severity, too¨Cand he helped me with some methods to ground myself if it ever happens again."


    "You have some kind of disorder?"


    "I don''t think so¡­  They aren''t random; they always have a direct cause¨Cusually related to trauma.  But that''s only when they''re bad.  Most of the time they''re minor, and just from my worries getting out of hand."


    "Huh.  Well, don''t stress yourself out.  We should just have fun today, alright?  Let''s go on every ride!"


    He relaxed, relieved that she didn''t seem bothered by it.  "Alright," he chuckled.


    The park was populated by children rushing to their favorite rides and their parents wrangling them back.  Teenagers hung in groups or as couples, laughing as one of the kids tripped.


    ¡°Where do you want to start?¡± Gadalik asked his companion.


    ¡°Maybe something casual, like the Rotor,¡± Mira said.


    ¡°You call that spinning UFO ¡®casual?¡¯  Heh. I''d hate to know what you''d call the Teacups, then.¡±


    ¡°Pfft!  Teacups are for little babies.  I¡¯m here for whatever I''m tall enough for!¡±


    ¡°That wouldn''t be much,¡± he teased her.


    She laughed.  ¡°You''re one to talk!¡±


    The duo went for the Rotor, and the closer they got, the more cross thinned; there wasn¡¯t even a line for it.  The gate surrounding it was closed with a sign reading Out of Order posted on it.


    ¡°What now?¡± he wondered.


    ¡°We move to the next most casual thing: Bumper Cars!¡±  Mira grinned when Gadalik shook his head with mock-disbelief.


    ¡°Why do I get the feeling you''d have road rage?¡±


    ¡°Ha!  What better way to take that rage out than by wrecking cars into everyone?¡±


    ¡°You''ve got a point,¡± he chuckled.  ¡°I''m game.¡±


    The wait times were surprisingly short.  After the bumper cars, Mira practically dragged him onto every major ride leading up to the tallest rollercoaster in the park.  At the peak of it, Gadalik took a moment to appreciate the view and the sensation of being at such a great height.  He turned to Mira, hoping she was enjoying it too.


    The younger spook seemed to be more excited on the way down instead, and he couldn''t help giving an amused smile at the look on her face during the drop: it was one of pure exhilaration.


    ¡°That was awesome!¡± she exclaimed, stretching as she left their seat on the coaster.


    ¡°Right?¡± he agreed.  ¡°I knew you''d have fun here.  The peaks on these rides are always my favorite part.  It reminds me of being on top of mountains.¡±


    ¡°Mountains?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.  I love to hike and rock-climb as a hobby¨Cjust for fun, and because it''s necessary to reach some haunted places.¡±


    Mira seemed interested in that, but changed the subject before he could ask her about it.  ¡°Ready for the next ride?¡±


    The second Gadalik stood up, he felt sick.  He glanced down to find himself clutching his sore abdomen, and realized his injury was the cause of it.  ¡°I think I need a break¡­¡±


    She hesitated upon seeing his reason.  ¡°Oh, uh, alright.  Come on, let''s get something to eat, then.¡±


    The duo visited a food stand and took their seats at a small table outside of it with burgers and soda.  Gadalik wasn''t sure if he could stomach anything, but was grateful for the moment to relax.


    ¡°How are you holding up?¡± she asked.


    ¡°As good as I can be,¡± he said with a single-shouldered shrug.  It was at that moment he realized Mira never let the silence last too long between them.  He was about to ask her about that, but something got his attention: a stifled sobbing in the distance.


    "Gadalik?"


    "Hang on," he told her, following the sound around the corner.  It was coming from a boy maybe twelve years old; he wore a baseball cap that covered his bowed head, the brim of which hiding his face.  "Hey, there¡­  Are you lost?"


    The kid didn''t acknowledge him.


    Mira caught up.  ¡°Gadalik, what''s going on?¡± she huffed impatiently.


    Her friend gestured to the boy in answer, ignoring the fact that it seemed to frustrate her more.  The child looked up upon hearing what she said, then retreated a step when his sky blue eyes met the older spook¡¯s, seeming almost horrified.


    ¡°What''s the matter?¡± Gadalik prompted.  Why is he looking at me like that?


    ¡°That''s what I should be asking you,¡± Mira grumbled.


    ¡°What?¡±  He shot her a warning glare.  I don''t get why she''s being so heartless; this kid is obviously in need of help!


    ¡°Your name¡­ and your hair¡­¡± the boy finally spoke, his eyes focused on Gadalik''s striped green bangs.


    ¡°Uh, what about it?  Have you heard of me¡­?¡±


    ¡°You''re Karpritian¡­¡±


    ¡°Well, yes...  I am half Karpritian.  Why does that matter?¡±


    ¡°You need to leave¡­¡±


    ¡°W-What¡­?¡±


    ¡°You need to go!¡± he repeated, raising his voice to an otherworldly wail.


    That''s when it hit him: the kid was a ghost, and without her necklace, Mira couldn''t sense him unless he wanted to be seen or heard by everyone.  She wasn''t being heartless after all, he realized with relief that only lasted a moment.  ¡°But¡­ I can help you,¡± Gadalik insisted.  ¡°I''m a spook, and so was my Karpritian mother, by trade.  My father was a spook by blood and by trade, and so am I.  I don''t think my Karpritian heritage defines me, if that''s what''s bothering you¨C¡±


    ¡°What you think doesn''t change what you are!¡±  The spirit appeared increasingly more desperate to be understood.  ¡°You¡¯re a devil¨Cand being half-spook just makes things worse for you!¡±


    Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    The witch hybrid opened his mouth to defend himself, then paused when his words registered.  For me?


    By now Mira seemed to catch on that her companion was talking to a ghost.  She watched the former curiously.  ¡°Who is it?¡±


    He shrugged slightly.  ¡°Maybe you''re just scared because we''re strangers¡­?  You heard my name''s Gadalik.  This is my friend Mira,¡± he introduced them to the spirit.  ¡°What''s your name?¡±


    ¡°...Lurlon,¡± the kid muttered.


    Huh¡­  Lurlon is also a Karpritian name.  So what is his problem with me?  ¡°Can you tell me why you''re here¡­?"


    "I''ve been waiting to ambush the one who killed me¡­¡±


    ¡°What?  Who?¡±


    ¡°He called himself Teren¡­  He was stalking us¨Cme and my family.  I was the first he picked off, and I know he''ll go after my brother next.¡±


    ¡°Why would he target you and your family?¡±


    ¡°Because we''re also devils.¡±  Lurlon¡¯s hat faded away to reveal his light green hair, and his blue eyes seemed haunted by knowledge someone his age should never have had to bear.  ¡°You have to leave, or else he''ll kill you, too.¡±


    The blue-eyed spook let out a sigh, a bit relieved that Lurlon¡¯s anger stemmed from worry instead of prejudice.  But the knowledge that yet another person was targeting witches made his heart sink.  Gadalik instinctively felt his neck to make sure he wasn''t somehow wearing the nullifier, then moved his hand to his belt, gripping the handle of the knife sheathed on it.  ¡°You said you were waiting to ambush Teren¡­ does that mean he''s on his way here?¡±


    Lurlon nodded.  ¡°I warned my family after I became a ghost.  I told them to come here¨Cwhere he kidnapped me¨Cto lure him out.  As soon as they arrive, I''ll kill him.¡±


    ¡°Are you¡­ able to kill?¡±


    ¡°...What?¡±


    ¡°Not many ghosts are powerful enough to physically interact with worldly things, especially the living.¡±  The spook allowed his ghost sense to activate, trying to get a read on the spirit¡¯s energy.  ¡°You''re capable of moving small objects, like opening doors and stuff¡­ but you won''t be able to stop Teren on your own.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ I have to!  Otherwise he''ll kill the rest of my family when they get here!¡±


    ¡°No¨CI¡¯ll make sure he doesn''t hurt anyone.  You can still help, though; just tell me when you see him, and Mira and I will handle it.¡±


    Lurlon seemed astonished by his willingness to help.  Then the ghost wiped his eyes and gave a determined nod.  ¡°I''ll be on the lookout, then.¡±  He flew up to get a bird¡¯s eye view of the whole park.


    ¡°Ugh, don''t leave me in the dark, here!  What is he saying?¡± Mira pressed.


    Gadalik breathed deeply to compose himself and gather his thoughts, then repeated the information back to her.


    "So this witch hunter will be here soon to kill another kid?  Then what are we standing around for? Come on, let''s use this time to prepare!"


    ¡°Right.¡±  The second he straightened up, though, he winced and held his wounded stomach; it felt sore from the sudden motion, if only briefly. The new stress of facing a killer didn''t help.


    ¡°Uh, you okay?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine.  I just keep forgetting I''m hurt¡­  But that''s because it doesn''t hurt much unless I move too fast.¡±


    ¡°Maybe you should sit this one out?¡±


    Her companion tensed.  ¡°Maybe,¡± he admitted, ¡°but I can''t.  If Lurlon turns visible, it''ll cause a scene by scaring everyone, and Teren would know he''s there and escape, just to target them again later on.  And without your necklace, you can''t sense Lurlon while he''s invisible¡­ but I can.  I have to be here to see him warn us about Teren before he and anyone else knows that Lurlon¡¯s involved.¡±


    ¡°I could go get my necklace¨Cand my sickle.  It''s only a ten-minute ride from here to my place if River gallops.  I could even grab a weapon for you to use, if you do think you''re capable of fighting.¡±


    Gadalik glanced up at Lurlon, who didn''t seem to have spotted anyone suspicious yet.  ¡°Alright.  Thanks, Mira.  I''ll hang back here in case Teren comes while you''re gone.¡±


    ¡°Alright.  I won''t be long.¡±  She waved goodbye before quickly making her way through the crowd of happy faces toward the amusement park¡¯s exit.


    Gadalik remained standing there, alone and still holding his injury even after the soreness had subsided.  Mira¡¯s suggestion for him ¡®sit this one out¡¯ replayed in his mind.  Am I really able to fight in my condition¡­?  If Teren really does have a particular hatred for witches, he won''t pull any punches against me¡­  But I can''t just standby and do nothing¡­!


    That''s when Gavin¡¯s words came back to him: ¡®When was the last time you were a bystander?¡¯


    The answer had been when Gadalik had witnessed the death of his parents.  He had opened up fully about how he was scared his inaction would lead to more unnecessary deaths, if taking action could prevent that.


    ¡®If helping others is your goal, you must help yourself first¡­ which means accepting that some things can''t be helped¨Cat least, not at this time; not by you. You can''t let your past traumas dictate your life.¡¯


    He narrowed his eyes, on the verge of deciding to let Mira handle it.  Just like with Lurlon, Gadalik was still helping in his own way by speaking for the ghost.  It''s okay.  Mira is capable; she can do this on her own.


    ¡°He''s here,¡± the spirit shouted down in a voice only the spook could hear, pointing.


    Already?!  But Mira won''t be back for another fifteen minutes, at the least¡­!  Gadalik felt that familiar sense of panic stir within him.  No¨Cnow is not the time for anxiety¡­!  ¡°Lurlon, is your family here, too?¡±


    The boy double checked, then shook his head.  ¡°Not yet.¡±


    Then there''s still a bit of time.  He tried to calm down, then looked in the direction the ghost had pointed in.  ¡°What does Teren look like?¡±


    ¡°He''s kind of tall, and has long-ish silver hair¡­ like, to his shoulders.  And his eyes¡­¡±--Lurlon visibly shuddered¨C¡°...they''re evil¡­¡±


    The teen softened, the horrors that the kid must have endured sinking in.  Those eyes must have been the last thing he saw before his death.  And he''s so young¡­  His sympathy for Lurlon slowly morphed into appall by the killer¡¯s cruelty.  It took all of the self-restraint he had not to confront the man when Gadalik spotted him leaned backward against a gate that enclosed the bumper cars.  It was an older man who was partially propped on a cane, but didn''t appear to have anything else with him.  Then he remembered how the ¡®fight¡¯ on his recent birthday had ended badly when he had let his anger take over, and once again tried to calm down.


    ¡°Don''t just stand there where he can see you!¡± Lurlon warned him.  ¡°Hide!¡±


    ¡°What?  Oh¨Cright¡­¡±  I''m liable to end up one of his victims too, aren''t I¡­?  The teen shook his head, then took shelter behind a food stall, where he could still see Teren without standing out.  He checked his watch.  Mira should be here in ten minutes.  If Lurlon''s family hasn''t arrived yet, they''re safe for now.  Hopefully Mira gets here before they do¨C


    ¡°There¡¯s my family,¡± the ghost reported.


    Oh.  So much for that¡­  He dismissed the sarcastic thought.  New plan.  ¡°Alright.  They''re just coming in?  In that case, I''m going to meet with them and explain the situation.  I still need your help, though, okay?  Please keep an eye on Teren for me; tell me where he is and if he''s heading toward us.  That way I can lead your family away from him until Mira comes back.¡±


    Lurlon brightened slightly.  ¡°Count on it!¡±


    The spook couldn''t help smiling at that.  ¡°Everything will work out.  I promise.¡±


    The two exchanged a more assuring nod, then Gadalik wove through the people until he spotted two adults with a boy who was younger than the ghost.  The man''s short green hair peeked out from under a cap just like Lurlon¡¯s.  The woman had hazel eyes with a lighter horizontal stripe through the pupils; her hair was long and ash brown, albeit with a darker stripe from front to back down the middle¡­ Like mine, he connected the dots.  The stripes show she has Karpritian heritage, but isn''t pure.  Her husband looks pure, though¡­  Their living son had similar hair in color to his mother¡¯s, just with a greener tint, and shared the blue eyes of his father and brother.   The three of them seemed somewhat on-edge; they were startled when they noticed Gadalik''s approach.  The parents immediately positioned themselves between him and their child.


    ¡°It''s okay¨CI¡¯m Gadalik, a spook¡­ off-duty.  Did you have a son who recently passed?¡± he asked just to be safe.


    ¡°Yes, but we''re not interested in hiring a spook to get rid of his ghost,¡± the man said.  ¡°We''ve been through a lot¡­ We don''t need spooks trying to profit from our loss.¡±


    ¡°Th-That isn''t why I''m here!  I just met Lurlon and he told me everything,¡± he explained, and they seemed to relax some.  ¡°Teren is near the bumper cars right now.  Lurlon¡¯s keeping tabs on him, and I have backup on the way to help take Teren down.  Until then, it''s safer for you and your kid to keep your distance from him.¡±


    The adults exchanged a wary look before finally facing him again.  ¡°...Alright.¡±


    Eight minutes, Gadalik counted down.  ¡°This way.¡±


    ¡°Are you a witch too?¡± the boy asked after a moment of awkward silence.  His mother immediately shushed him, but her husband couldn''t suppress an amused chuckle.


    ¡°Half.  Does your family practice?¡±


    ¡°No.  We''ve made sure our kids know our history, but for the most part we all just want to live normal lives,¡± the man answered.  ¡°Not many people here in Arcritta even recognize Karpritians¨Cnot that every Karpritian is a witch.  We thought it would be safe for us here¡­¡±


    The spook felt that pang of sympathy again.  He forced it down and decided to refocus on learning more about the situation afoot.  ¡°Did you know Teren before all of this?  Like, is there a personal reason he''s been stalking you?¡±


    ¡°No¡­ But after Lurlon warned us about him, we did some digging on Teren.  He is a normal human, with no magic, and he doesn''t use spell tags either.  But he does have an arsenal of weapons from ancient times used during the witch hunts¨Cand apparently he''s descended from a long line of witch hunters as well.¡±


    ¡°He murdered our sweet boy just because of the magic in his blood¡­¡±  The woman bit back a sob, and her spouse rested a comforting hand on her shoulder, despite also seeming saddened by the reminder of their loss.


    Gadalik felt his eyes well up.  Then he wiped them.  I can''t get emotional, too¡­  I have to stay on task.  ¡°What kind of weapons¡­?  I didn''t see any on his person¡­  Unless you count a cane, but he''s older, so that''s not unusual.¡±


    ¡°I''m not sure if has any with him; most of what Lurlon told us about were in a place Teren had taken him to after he was kidnapped¡­¡±


    So maybe fighting him here won''t be so dangerous after all, he thought with a sliver of hope, then checked his watch.  Five minutes.


    ¡°Run!¡± Lurlon cried out, and the spook turned toward his voice to see Teren had found and began following them discreetly.


    The older man walked with the cane, as expected, and if Gadalik hadn''t known better, he wouldn''t think Teren was any threat.


    ¡°Everything okay?¡± the grieving parent asked before she followed his gaze and froze.


    ¡°Keep going,¡± Gadalik instructed quietly.  ¡°I''ve got this.¡±


    After making sure the family was out of harm''s way, the spook moved to a nearby vending machine, pretending to be indecisive about a drink and fighting not to express being bothered by how close Teren was getting.  When eventually the older man was about to pass him, Gadalik turned to stop him.


    ¡°Excuse me, sir!  Could I get your opinion?¡± the witch hybrid asked with a friendly smile.  All I have to do is stall him until Mira gets here.


    Teren¡¯s dark eyes studied him for a moment so short that Gadalik was almost convinced he had imagined it.


    No¡­ He definitely took notice of my hair and eyes.  Maybe I should play into that¡­?  It''s better that he targets me instead of them.  ¡°I''m new here and haven''t heard of these snacks,¡± the teen lied.  ¡°Do you have any suggestions?¡±


    ¡°Hm.¡±  The man approached the machine.  Gadalik stepped away to give him room, and to avoid getting close, although he didn''t want the latter reason to appear obvious.  ¡°My eyes aren''t as sharp as they used to be.  Can you come here and read them off to me?  I''ll stop you at the good ones.¡±


    Once again, he was taken aback by how kind the old man sounded.  How rude would it be to refuse an aging man with a cane and poor eyesight?  Luckily my eyesight is great, and I can read from here.  ¡°I was thinking about the Galaxy bars since they have caramel inside.  But the Sniggers bars have peanuts, so it¡¯s a hard choice.¡±


    ¡°I see, I see.  Yes, I''m quite partial to caramel, myself.  But that''s only because peanuts are too hard to chew,¡± Teren chuckled.  ¡°Here, allow me to buy you both so you don''t have to choose.¡±  Before the younger male could protest, he put the coins in and selected both, as well as a second Galaxy bar.  ¡°That one¡¯s for me,¡± explained with a grin.  He bent down rather easily for someone his age, moving his cane from his right hand to his left before reaching into the machine with his right hand to retrieve them when they dropped.  He lingered a little too long, as if trying to find where the chocolates landed.  Then he pulled them out and offered two to the teen.


    What now?  I can''t just decline after making a big deal over it¡­  ¡°Oh, that¡¯s very kind of you, but since you bought them with your money, I can''t possibly accept them.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense.  It''s no trouble at all,¡± Teren insisted.  When Gadalik couldn''t think of an excuse in time, he placed the candy bars on top of the vending machine.  ¡°They''re there if you want them, lad.  Or you could simply give them to the family you were just with.¡±


    Something about that suggestion raised a red flag for the spook, but Teren turned away and took a seat at a table by a neighboring food stand.  Gadalik watched him for a moment longer before catching himself and turning to the candy instead, carefully picking them up and inspecting them.  He didn''t know what he was looking for exactly, but when he flipped up the plastic flap on the wrapper, he noticed a small puncture in it and the chocolate itself.  At first he thought maybe it was a natural tear, but the second one had the same thing in the same place; they had been tampered with.


    His mind wandered back to what Lurlon¡¯s parents were saying about him having the tools of a witch hunter.  Poisons were the most discreet way to kill off unsuspecting witches back then¡­  But where did he get the poison out from just now?  He never reached into a pocket or anything, if he even was the one who poisoned these¡­  Gadalik shook his head.  No¨CI can''t be fooled by appearances; he definitely is the one who poisoned them.  The fact that he suggested I give them to Lurlon¡¯s family proves this, since he''s after them too.


    ¡°Something the matter, young man?¡± Teren asked, his voice pulling the one in question back into reality.


    ¡°N-No!  I''m fine.  I think I''ll save these for later.  Thank you,¡± Gadalik said, pocketing them in his dark gray shorts.  My only goal is to stall him until Mira gets here.  As long as he stays put, everyone''s safe.  He checked his watch.  One minute.


    He looked up at Lurlon, who had been staring at Teren the whole time while the latter ordered food.  Although the ghost¡¯s plan was initially to kill him, the kid seemed too scared to move or risk drawing his attention in such close proximity.  His blue eyes were widened in a manner suggesting he was suppressing his fear, staring past the old man into perhaps a flashback.


    ¡°Well?¡± Teren prompted.  ¡°Why dilly dally here?  Go on, have fun.  This is an amusement park, after all.  Just don''t let those chocolates melt in your pocket!¡± he laughed.


    Yes, I''m sure you''re eager for me to eat them and die, the spook silently retorted, then got an idea.  ¡°You know, I''d love to go have fun, but I''m waiting on a friend.  Her name''s Mira,¡± Gadalik said loud enough for the ghost to hear.  ¡°I''m not sure if she knows where to find me, though, so I don''t want to stray too far.¡±


    The boy came to and picked up on what his ally was implying.  ¡°Is she back?  I''ll bring her to you,¡± he managed to say before flying off.


    ¡°Ah, I see,¡± Teren said, unaware that the spirit of the young witch he had hunted was ever present.  ¡°In that case, why not have a seat with me while you wait?¡±


    Great¡­  What''s he planning now?  ¡°My view of the entrance is better from here,¡± the teen said with an assuring smile he hoped didn''t look as forced as it was.


    ¡°Suit yourself.¡±  The older man received his order of a burger and  fries, then sprinkled some salt from one of the packets that came with his meal on the latter, flashing his teeth in a knowing grin at Gadalik when he noticed the witch hybrid was still watching him.


    Knowing what? he couldn''t help but wonder.  There''s no way he would guess we are after him¡­ right?


    On cue, Lurlon returned with Mira following close behind; her violet irises were focused on the spirit that she was now able to listen to thanks to the golden onyx-stone pendant around her neck as he explained the situation to her on their way.  She was still in her casual outfit, but with the addition of her short red-violet hooded cloak, which concealed the kusarigama on her hip.


    Mira found her companion and waved purposefully with one hand¨Cthe motion lifted her cloak enough to reveal a sword sheathed near her sickle.  ¡°There you are!¡± She ran to him.  ¡°Sorry I''m late.  Are we still going through with our plans?¡±


    ¡°If we can,¡± Gadalik replied.  He thought for a moment, then faced Teren.  ¡°Actually, can I take you up on your offer to join you there?¡±


    ¡°Of course!  You and your girlfriend,¡± the man invited them.


    Girlfriend¡­?  For a second he was taken aback by that label.  He enjoyed Mira¡¯s company, but this wasn''t meant to be a date.  Does Mira think that, too?  Scared, he glanced at his friend, who merely laughed it off.  He let out a relieved sigh.


    The two sat next to each other across from Teren.  She covertly passed him the sword under the table, then looked between the ghost and the spook, trying to piece together how they planned to deal with this seemingly-harmless murderer.


    I''m trying to figure that out, too, Gadalik silently admitted.  Finally, he decided to confront him.  ¡°We know who you are, Teren¡­ and what you''ve done to that child you kidnapped.  We''re here to put a stop to it.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Teren asked with disingenuous surprise.  ¡°Which child?  I''ve kidnapped hundreds.¡±


    The spooks were shocked by his nonchalant confession.  Mira leapt to her feet and forthwith drew her sickle, as if impulsively intending to enact Lurlon¡¯s plan.


    Teren didn''t seem fazed.  ¡°Now, is this the right place to murder a helpless elder?¡± he laughed, gesturing to the few people in the crowd who were startled by Mira¡¯s sudden reaction.


    She growled, frustrated.  ¡°If they knew what you did, they''d help me end you,¡± she hissed.  When his only response was a hearty chuckle, that made her angrier.  ¡°Is that how you get your kicks?  By picking out helpless kids?!¡±


    ¡°Not just kids, and they''re far from helpless,¡± he explained, the corners of his mouth falling into a more serious frown.  ¡°They''re devils¡­ just like your boyfriend here; wielding magic that has threatened humanity for centuries.¡±


    ¡°Threatened humanity?  How?¡± Gadalik asked calmly despite the ¡®boyfriend¡¯ label nagging him.  He had taken a loose hold on his friend¡¯s cloak to restrain her.


    ¡°As if you don''t know¡­  Your use of human blood in evil rituals is worse than anything I''ve done in retaliation.  But two can play that game¡­¡±  Teren lifted his cane and pushed the handle slightly up in what felt like slow motion; something small and shiny was hidden inside it.  That''s when the younger man realized the poison must have been stored there as well.


    ¡°Look out!¡± Lurlon screamed, using all of his limited strength to shove Gadalik.


    The rescue came a fraction of a second too late; Teren had out a tiny metallic weapon that shot something straight past Gadalik¡¯s face, grazing his cheek with nothing more than a slight sting thanks to the ghost knocking him out of its direct path.


    Confused, the spook brought his hand to the tiny cut, catching the blood leaking out of it on his finger¡­ only for more to steadily trickle over it, running down his jaw and forming an ever-bigger droplet under his chin.


    ¡°What was that?¡± Mira demanded the ghost.


    The answer was shown to them before the kid could reply; the small projectile was swiftly reeled back to Teren¡¯s weapon by a thin wire: a vial-like item, with a tip resembling a syringe, that had filled up halfway with the witch-hybrid¡¯s blood from just that small graze.


    ¡°Get away from him, as far as you can!¡± Lurlon told his allies.


    She grabbed her friend and rushed toward the exit, but the crowd hindered their speed.  They could distinctly hear Teren¡¯s laughter in the distance.


    ¡°What''s going on?  I''ve never seen a weapon like that¡­ and I mean, he''s human, isn''t he?  He can''t make blood pacts, so I don''t get why he wants my¡­¡± Gadalik¡¯s sentence trailed off when he suddenly began to feel warm.


    ¡°Ugh!  We don''t have time for these stupid people in our way!¡±  Her violet eyes darted in a desperate search for an alternate route to take, then spotted the Rotor.  ¡°This way!¡±


    The broken down ride had nobody around it, allowing them a clear path and a place to hide.  She let go of the other spook to climb the ten-foot-tall gate, jumping down on the other side and beckoning for him to do the same.


    Gadalik grabbed a hold of the chain links to comply, but realized he was somehow too weak to climb.  The strength in his extremities seemed to be slowly sapped as the warmth increased to a heated sensation.  Still, he managed to kick off the ground and pull himself up a few feet¨Cuntil he was lethargic maintain his grip and fell.


    Mira scowled.  ¡°What''s the matter with you?  I thought you said you climbed mountains as a hobby¨Cthere¡¯s no way a little fence should be an issue!¡± She paused with concern when he slumped to the earth, too weak and pained to keep standing.  ¡°Your cheek¡­ It''s foaming¡­ What did he do to you?¡±


    ¡°It''s the same thing he did to me,¡± Lurlon spoke up, tears of helplessness falling from his eyes.


    ¡°You mean Gadalik¡¯s going to die?!¡±


    ¡°No¨Cit won''t kill him¡­ but Teren will, since Gadalik¡¯s defenseless¡­¡±


    The cloaked girl climbed back over the fence to check on her companion.  ¡°How do we help him, Lurlon?¡±


    ¡°I-I don''t know¡­¡±


    The witch-hybrid felt like he was on fire, almost as though his body were a wound someone had coated in salt.


    Wait¡­  He remembered the packets Teren had received with his lunch, and that sly expression as he had emptied one.  Salt has been used to ward off witches in the past¡­  Is he using it to harm them through their blood¡­?  That''s unheard of¡­!


    Lurlon audibly gasped, and Gadalik barely managed to lift his head enough to see why: Teren casually strode toward them, twirling his cane like a bored majorette.  When Mira readied her sickle, he laughed and lifted the vial.


    ¡°You should think twice about attacking me if you want your boyfriend to live,¡± he warned her.


    ¡°What?¡± She turned to the ghost.  ¡°You said it wouldn''t kill him¡­!¡±


    ¡°It won''t,¡± Lurlon insisted, then blinked with realization.


    ¡°Lurlon?¡± she tried again when he didn''t elaborate.


    ¡°He''s bluffing to scare you¡­ because you can kill Teren.¡±


    ¡°Really?  In that case¡­¡±  Mira stood her ground and spun her kusarigama on its chain in preparation to throw it.  ¡°Looks like you''re not just a killer, Teren; you¡¯re a liar, too.¡±


    The witch hunter scoffed.  ¡°Is that so?  And just what do you plan to do with that sickle?  Ruthlessly kill a poor old man in public?¡±


    She narrowed her eyes into a frustrated glare.


    Gadalik couldn''t stifle a pathetic whimper.  I don''t know how much longer I can tolerate this burning¡­


    Something in Lurlon seemed to snap from his killer¡¯s words.  He let himself become visible, and his voice audible to all.  ¡°You''re not a poor old man,¡± the spirit hissed, slowly drifting toward Teren, who seemed petrified.  ¡°You''re a murderer¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡± the man breathed, retreating a step.  ¡°But you¡­?!  I killed you!  How are you here?!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here to drag you into the afterlife with me...¡±


    ¡°N-No¡­¡±  Teren began to hyperventilate.  ¡°How many others are there¡­?  How many more ghosts are around me right now?!¡±


    ¡°It doesn''t matter,¡± Mira spoke up, ¡°because all of the ones you''ve killed are waiting for you to join them in the next life to enact revenge.¡±


    ¡°No¡­ You''re lying.  Witches will burn in hell like the devils they are!  I''ve fed their hearts to hounds, and I''ve burned their corpses to ash!  There is no way their spirits would survive!¡±


    ¡°Lurlon¡¯s here, isn''t he?¡±


    ¡°No!  No, this can''t be!  I did everything right¡­!  I¡­¡± Teren leaned his full weight onto his cane with one hand and dropped the vial to clutch his chest with the other.


    The glass shattered on the ground, and instantly Gadalik relaxed as the burning sensation ebbed.


    ¡°Was I wrong¡­?¡± the man muttered to himself.  ¡°If the ones I killed weren''t witches, then¡­¡±


    ¡°No¡­ They were witches,¡± Lurlon said, ¡°and so was I.  But the myths you''ve heard¡­ and everything else you were taught about us¡­  It''s all wrong.¡±


    Gadalik swallowed hard and sat up, able to truly listen now.  Even though his mother had witch heritage, that part of her life and his heritage had been shielded from him until only months ago.  All he knew of witches came from the books he used for research¨Cwhich all stated the same things as Teren.  Was I wrong, too¡­?


    ¡°All my family wanted was to live our lives in peace,¡± Lurlon vented.  ¡°That''s all any witch has ever wanted¡­!  But people like you think that just because we can do bad things with magic, then that''s all magic can do¡­  Meanwhile you''re the ones killing us off!¡±


    ¡°No¡­ I''ve seen it with my own eyes¨Cthe ruin you''ve brought to our land!  Your flaming spells have burnt our crops; your earthquakes wrecked our homes!  Your lightning struck us one-by-one!  I''ve seen you devils kill hundreds of powerless humans with your vile spells!¡±


    ¡°That was after you guys killed thousands of us!¡±


    After? Gadalik felt mortified by that revelation.


    ¡°You''re wrong!¡± Teren cried, shaking his head in denial before doubling over, panting and clutching his heart.  ¡°Witches are devils¡­  The hunt began to end your wicked blood pacts with humans¡­ You tricked humans into corrupting themselves with your magic¡­!¡±


    ¡°What humans used their pact magic for was their choice¡­¡±


    ¡°You''re wrong!  You''re wrong! You turned them evil¨Call of them!  You''re all evil¡­¡± The old man collapsed.


    By now more bystanders had gathered and tried to help both Teren and Gadalik, but the spook felt too weak and exhausted to keep himself awake after the pain he endured.  To make matters worse, he found blood had seeped through his shirt from his healing scar; the strain on his body must have reopened it.  ¡°Mira, I¡­¡± he began to ask for help, but everything went black.


    Gadalik opened his striped blue eyes to find himself in a hospital room for the umpteenth time.  He sat up, wincing from the pain in his gut, but was otherwise fine.


    "You okay?" Mira asked from his bedside.


    He jumped, not having realized she was there.  "Y-Yeah," he stammered, then coughed into his hand.  "What happened?  With Teren, and Lurlon, I mean¡­"


    ¡°Teren had a cardiac arrest and, well¡­ he didn''t make it.¡±


    He sighed heavily and let himself fall back against the pillow.  "And Lurlon¡­?"


    ¡°He reunited with his family and let them know they are safe now.  After that, he moved on.¡±


    "I''m sure he can rest in peace now," he murmured.


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    There was a moment of silence as they processed the day¡¯s events.  What Lurlon had unveiled about witches'' skewed history really made him question everything he thought was factual.


    "I see what you mean about never catching a break from work, though.  It must be hard not being able to see the difference between ghosts and the living."


    Her companion shrugged indifferently.  "I''m used to it¡­  But I guess you aren''t, huh?¡±  He sighed through his nose.  "I''m sorry, Mira¡­  This wasn''t a good first outing for us."


    "Are you kidding?  It was perfect!"


    "W-What¡­?  You mean the rides, or us, or¡­"


    "Everything.  Dates¨Cerr, outings¨Care supposed to let us get to know each other.  If this is a typical day off for you, then I''d say I know you a lot better now.  I''d like to go on another¡­ ¡¯outing¡¯ when you''re better again, if you''d be up for that.  Hopefully the next one won''t have any interference.¡±


    ¡°Wow... I-I mean, yes!  I''m down.  But¡­ are you sure?¡±  He couldn''t help feeling honored that this didn''t deter her.


    "Yes, I''m sure,¡± she laughed, amused.  ¡°So¡­ do you have any money to cover your hospital visit?" Mira teased him half-jokingly.


    "I got my mom to invest in insurance for me and my dad, because we get hurt so often.  Don''t worry about it," Gadalik chuckled.

 Episode 19: Family

    "So, how was your date with Mira?" Glacia pressed her son as soon as he walked through the door.


    "It wasn''t a date," Gadalik corrected her, "it was an outing. And even though things went badly, she wants to go out again sometime, so I guess it turned out alright."


    "Things went badly?" Gale asked from beside his girlfriend.


    "Well, a witch hunter attacked us, and reopened my wound. But the ghost of one of his victims actually handled it, and Mira took care of me."


    "Are you okay?!" His mother fussed.


    "I-I''m back to square one with my injury, but I''ll be fine eventually."


    "Why don''t you go rest," she suggested.


    He yawned. "Alright."


    "I''ll bring your supper to you," Gale offered.


    "Thank you¡­ but I''m not hungry," his son answered.


    Gale watched him head up the staircase with concern.


    Once alone in his room, Gadalik changed into his pajamas and burrowed under the blankets on his bed. Exhaustion from the day''s events finally caught up to him and he drifted off.


    Gadalik woke up the next day and glanced up at the window above his headboard, shocked to realize how late it was. I must have been more tired than I thought, he concluded, sighing.


    He sat up, then grimaced and held his injured stomach. He could scarcely hear his parents chatting in his mother''s room down the hall. With Gale staying over and taking care of the chores, there really was no reason to bother getting up when feeling so nauseous. So Gadalik laid back down and stared at the wall until he fell back to sleep.


    "...Gadalik," Gale''s voice faded in.


    "Dad¡­?" the teen answered weakly.


    "It''s not like you to sleep this long¡­ I was worried. You have a low fever, too."


    "I''m just sore," he murmured.


    "Do you think that enchantress could help? What was her name¡­ Guinevere?"


    "Yeah. But she lives so far away¡­ I''ll get better on my own, so I don''t think we should have her come all this way just for me."


    "What if it''s not just for you?"


    "Huh?"


    "Glacia has been feeling fatigued lately, and throwing up. But she doesn''t have a fever or cough. I''m worried about her, too."


    She threw up again? "Alright. Guinevere might be our best option, then. Go ahead and give her a call."


    "Will do. Are you coming down to eat?"


    "I''m not hungry¡­"


    Gale sighed through his nose. "Alright. I guess I''ll let you rest, then. I''m gonna pick up Glacia''s room to keep it from getting bad again. Shout if you need anything."


    "Okay."


    The man walked out, leaving the door slightly open.


    Maybe I shouldn''t stay in bed all day, Gadalik decided. He got up, dressed, then grabbed a book and headed downstairs.


    "There you are!" Glacia chimed. "I was starting to think you''d never wake up!"


    "Mom, how are you feeling?" the teen asked.


    She tilted her head slightly. "A bit tired, if I''m honest. Why?"


    "Have you been eating too much?" Is that why she puked?


    "Uh...maybe. But you''re not eating at all. You should at least keep hydrated."


    "You''re right¡­ I''ll get myself some water¨Cnnngh¡­" he clutched his injury through a cramp.


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    "Gadalik! Sit down¨CI''ll get it for you."


    He took a seat on the couch once the pain subsided and watched her head into the kitchen. He took out the book and began reading just for something to do.  Then he heard a thud from the kitchen.  "Mom?"


    Silence.


    He forced himself to his feet and rushed to there to inspect the sound, then his heart missed a beat when he saw his mother on the floor.  "No! No, please be okay, please be okay--"


    She groaned and rolled over to sit up.


    Her son was too shaken and relieved to ask what happened; he immediately hugged her tightly and refused to let go for several seconds.  She was confused by his reaction but returned the embrace.


    "Gadalik...?" Gale asked, having heard the commotion.  "What happened?  Why are you guys on the floor?"


    "I think I hit my head," Glacia muttered, rubbing the back of it.


    Her boyfriend''s gaze focused on the countertop where there was a spot of blood.  "How?"


    She shrugged.  "I don''t know.  I think I got dizzy and fell.  But I''m fine now, really."


    "You can''t say you''re fine after weeks of this," Gale disagreed, but he was more worried than upset.  "Unless you think you''re fine for a reason.  Is there something you''re not telling me?"


    Glacia froze.  The tension in the air was palpable.  "I can''t say because I don''t know for sure, myself," she answered vaguely.


    The two stared each other down before Gale sighed dismissively.  "Alright.  I trust you..."


    Glacia got the water Gadalik had forgotten about, then the three of them hung out in the living room chatting about different things until nightfall. Gale made supper and Gadalik managed to eat some of it, while Glacia scarfed it down.


    Finally they went to bed after an uneventful day.


    Gadalik awoke the next morning to a knock on the door. He dressed and went downstairs, seeing Glacia on the couch and his father going to answer it; a golden-eyed woman with braided blond hair, wearing a blue dress and pale-pink apron stood before them.


    "Who is that?" Glacia called.


    "You must be Guinevere. Please, come in," he invited.


    "Guinevere?" Gadalik repeated, surprised to see her so soon.


    "Hello again, young man. Your father called me. I''ve brought you something that will help with your cramps and nausea." She set a few glass bottles filled with what he assumed were potions of sorts on the coffee table. "It should help speed up your recovery, if only by a few days."


    "Th-thank you," Gadalik said gratefully.


    "Oh¨Cshe''s the one who helped you on your birthday," Glacia remembered. "It''s nice to meet you in person!"


    "Pleasure to make your acquaintance." Guinevere moved to crouch by the latter''s side. "You said she''s been vomiting?" she asked Gale.


    "Yes, and she''s had dizzy spells, too," the man added.


    The purple-haired woman braced herself as Guinevere hummed and wrapped her hand around Glacia''s bicep. "Her blood pressure is low. That must be what''s caused her to feel faint."


    "But why is it low?" Gale pressed.


    The enchantress moved her hand to Glacia''s forehead, then downward toward her stomach.


    Glacia sat up quickly, pulling away from her and shielding her belly with both arms around it. "D-don''t!"


    "Mom? What''s the matter?" Gadalik prompted.


    "I-I¡­" Glacia looked to her boyfriend, as if asking for help.


    "Hey, don''t worry. Whatever''s wrong, Guinevere can find out," Gale assured her.


    Glacia opened her mouth to argue, then exhaled and moved her arms to either side.


    Guinevere gently placed her hand on her belly, when her golden eyes lit up with recognition. "That explains it. You''re the father, yes?" she asked Gale.


    He exchanged a glance with his practical son. "Yeah. But what does that have to do with Glacia''s condition?"


    "It''s not unexpected that she would have morning sickness and dizzy spells in the first trimester."


    "Trimester? You mean she''s¡­?"


    Glacia''s eyes widened.


    "You didn''t know?" Guinevere said. "She''s about four weeks along."


    "Four weeks¡­" Gale thought for a moment, then his cheeks reddened slightly with embarrassment. "That was¡­our date night. But we... I mean, I thought...we were safe."


    "Yeah," Glacia said quietly.


    "Nothing can guarantee safety," Guinevere stated, looking between the couple as they both fell quiet to process this.


    "...I know how you feel about kids, Gale. But I¡­think I want this."


    Her boyfriend took a shakey, distressed breath, but seemed at a loss for words.


    "Dad¡­. Talk to us. How are you feeling?" Gadalik prompted gently.


    "I''m shocked¡­and happy¡­and scared," his father admitted.


    "Scared?"


    "What if something goes wrong¡­? My mother died from childbirth¡­ I¡­ I don''t want that to happen to Glacia..."


    "I may be able to help spot any complications," Guinevere offered. "So far things seem to be fine."


    Gale sniffled. "But what if something happens afterward? There''s so much responsibility involved in raising a child¡­ What if they get hurt and I can''t save them¡­?"


    "You''ve always come through for me," his son pointed out.


    "But there were still close calls¡­ And babies are so much more fragile¡­"


    "Everything''s going to be fine," Glacia assured him. "I know you. You''re already a great father¡­ That isn''t going to change." She reached for his hand, and when he still seemed upset, she pulled him into a hug. "I love you, Gale¡­"


    "I love you, too," he murmured, holding her securely in return.


    Guinevere watched the two for a moment. "I''m glad things will work out. Is there anything else I can help with while I''m here?"


    "Maybe you could give us the recipe for the potions, if that''s okay," Gadalik answered while his adoptive-parents were sobbing in each other''s arms.


    "Sure." The golden-eyed woman wrote down the ingredients and instructions on how to brew them. "It was nice to see you again. Take care," she said before leaving.


    There was silence for a moment.


    "Mom¡­ You''re going to be a mom," Gadalik pointed out, trying to lighten the mood.


    Gale laughed at that, letting go of his girlfriend and wiping his eyes. "And you''re going to be a big brother. How are you feeling?"


    Gadalik blinked. "You''re not going to kick me out after it''s born, are you?" he chuckled.


    "Of course not," Glacia huffed indignantly.


    "Right; we need you here," Gale said.


    "Aww." The teen felt his cheeks warm.


    "...To babysit."


    The males both laughed at that, and Glacia playfully pushed her boyfriend''s shoulder.


    "So what are we going to name her?" Gale wondered.


    "Her?" Glacia echoed.


    He blushed. "Err¡­ Well, we already have a son."


    "We''ll have plenty of time to think of names. Gadalik can help, too."

 Episode 20: Relaxation

    "So where exactly is this ghost?" Mira asked the other spook as she rode her horse alongside his through a small-but-busy town.


    "I''m not too sure, but I''ll track it with my ghost sense. We passed through here the other day, and it went off," Gadalik explained. "I couldn''t do anything back then because I was with my parents, but now that I helped them set everything up, I finally have some free time."


    "Set what up?"


    "The nursery. I''m going to be a brother."


    The girl''s violet eyes shone. "They''re having a baby? I love babies; they''re so cute!"


    The older spook laughed. "Yeah. Still have roughly eight months to go, but they were too excited to wait." He slowed his horse as his ghost sense detected something.


    "I''d love to have a kid of my own someday," Mira continued. "I wonder what they''d be like? My parents both have magic, so even though I don''t, my kid might. Of course the chance is greater if the dad has magic too¨Clike you." She blushed, then looked toward him.


    "Uh-huh," Gadalik answered absently, distracted by the sense. Then he realized what she said. "Huh? Me?"


    "Well, yeah. We''re dating, aren''t we?"


    He froze. We''ve only officially gone out once, but we have been through a lot together so far¡­


    "...Aren''t we?" she repeated, a nervous bead of sweat dripping down her temple.


    The truth is, I want to like her, but I just don''t¡­not yet, anyway. So do I have the right to call this dating?


    The corners of her mouth fell. "Gadalik?"


    "W-Well, I¡­ I think you''re brave, strong, and pretty," he finally answered, truthfully. "Let''s just keep hanging out and see how things go."


    "So you''re interested in me and want to spend more time together? Yeah¨Cthat''s called dating."


    He rubbed the back of his head, embarrassed. "Alright. Then I guess we are dating. But we''re both too young to be thinking about kids, especially since I''ll be helping raise my little sibling." Eager to change to subject, he pointed to a small abandoned house as they rounded the bend. "The ghost is in there."


    Their horses grew antsy as they neared. They tied them outside a safe distance away, then cautiously Gadalik opened the door to see a teenage boy wearing a black hoodie and jeans staring out the window, who slowly turned to face them.


    "Hello," he greeted the spirit. "My name is Gadalik, and this is Mira."


    The ghost noted their attire: Gadalik''s dark green robe, and Mira''s short red-violet cloak. "Spooks? Are you here to annihilate me?"


    So he''s an aware ghost¡­ Now is he a roamer, or a poltergeist? "We are spooks¡­ but we just want to see if we can help you. What''s your name?"


    "Kris¡­"


    "Nice to meet you, Kris. Can I ask what you''re doing in here?"


    "Looking out the window."


    I can see that¡­  "Are you waiting for something?"


    The ghost sighed and moved away from it, not answering.


    "Or do you want to go outside, but you can''t?"


    Silence.


    "This is going well," Mira said sarcastically.


    Her companion gave her a warning glare. "Kris, we can help if you''d let us," he tried again.


    "There''s no helping me. I''ve been stuck here for weeks¡­ She isn''t coming," the ghost answered.


    Poltergeist it is¡­ "She?"


    "Tell us who she is and we can find her for you," Mira offered.


    Kris shook his head. "If she doesn''t want to come, let''s not force her. I''m fine here."


    "Great, he''s content," she groaned to her partner.


    "No ghost is truly content. It''s something that''s inherited from their lifetime: the ability to settle into bad situations," Gadalik reminded her. "I understand how you''re feeling, Kris¡­ That you''d rather be in pain instead of her. That you don''t want to share your pain with her. Am I wrong?"


    Kris gave a single-shouldered shrug.


    "Why won''t you talk to us? You plan on moping here for all eternity?" Mira huffed.


    Kris glowered at the ground.


    She crossed her arms. "Talking to him is a waste of time, Gadalik. Come on; let''s go enjoy our date before it gets too late."


    "This isn''t a¨C" the older spook stopped himself. He shook his head. "Alright. Okay, let''s get something to eat, then."


    The duo left, Gadalik glancing back to see Kris eyeing them curiously at her words.


    "You still seem distracted," Mira commented as they mounted their horses and headed for a nearby restaurant.


    "I''m not giving up on Kris that easily," he admitted. "I can tell you care, too, else you wouldn''t be mad about his uncooperativeness."


    "Well, yeah. But if he doesn''t tell us anything, how can we help?"


    "We know there''s a girl involved in his situation. Judging by his reaction to what you said about us dating, maybe she''s his girlfriend. That''s more than enough info to get us started on finding her."


    They entered the restaurant and took their seats, Mira going over the menu and Gadalik being too distraught about the spirit to focus on it.


    "What a cute couple," the waitress chimed as she approached their table. "What can I get for you?"


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    Couple? Gadalik thought, confused at first; Mira blushed before ordering.


    "And what about you, young man?"


    "Huh? Oh¨CI''ll have what she''s having," he quickly came to. "Speaking of couples, have you ever seen a particular one dine here before? A teenager named Kris and his girlfriend?"


    She fell silent at that.


    The spooks exchanged a glance.


    "I''m sorry. If you''re looking for Kris, he died last month," the waitress informed them solemnly. "Brit moved away after the fact."


    Brit? That must be the girl¡­ "Any idea where she went?"


    "She moved in with her aunt the next town over." She cleared her throat purposefully. "Anything else I can help you with?"


    "No¨Cthank you."


    "Don''t you ever relax?" Mira wondered, tilting her head slightly as the waiter left.


    "Huh¡­?"


    "Once you see someone in trouble, you tend to get hung up on it," she noticed.


    "We didn''t exactly come here to relax, Mira. It may not be a job, but as spooks, we''re obligated to help the spirits we encounter." He checked the time then reached into his robe''s inner pocket and withdrew a small bottled potion, drinking some and cringing at the taste before pocketing it again.


    "What was that?" she asked, curious.


    "I haven''t recovered yet from Luna''s attack on our last outing¡­ An enchantress gave me something to help, though. I''m supposed to drink it every couple hours to help heal and prevent cramps."


    "Hm. Well, just because we''re on a mission doesn''t mean we can''t have some downtime," she pointed out.


    "True. I''ll¡­work on relaxing."


    Mira eyed him doubtfully.


    The waitress brought their orders. Gadalik took small bites until the potion kicked in, unable to shake the thought that maybe Kris wouldn''t know or talk to them.


    "Hey, now. Look around us. Take in the moment. We''re safe," the younger teen told him. "It''s a nice restaurant, isn''t it?"


    He did as told, but got distracted by the patrons, particularly a couple that was arguing in hushed voices.


    "And the food is great, too."


    "Y-yeah¡­" he agreed halfheartedly.


    "You still seem tense¡­ Hey¨Clook at me. I''m here."


    He met her gaze, surprised by how genuine her concern was.


    "We have plenty of time to help Kris. Right now, just enjoy the moment¡­with me. Okay?" She smiled reassuringly.


    Gadalik released a breath he hadn''t realized he''d been holding. She''s right¡­ "Okay." He let his guard down and focused solely on their table, food, and Mira. For once, he did manage to relax.


    "The next town over, huh?" Mira recapped as they mounted their horses. "How do you suppose we find her?"


    "Maybe Kris can tell us where her aunt lives," Gadalik suggested.


    "What makes you think he''ll cooperate with us after last time?"


    "Sometimes people will open up more if you already have an idea of what they''re trying to hide," he explained.


    They made their way back to the abandoned house and went inside.


    "You again?" Kris greeted them, unamused.


    "You''re one to talk. You''re still here, too," Mira countered.


    "Kris¡­ The girl you''re waiting on¡­is Brit, isn''t it?" Gadalik cut to the chase.


    The ghost''s eyes widened. "You know Brit?"


    "We know she doesn''t live in this town anymore¡­ She moved in with her aunt after you died. That''s why you haven''t seen her."


    "Her aunt¡­ Of course. Ria is overprotective of her."


    "Ria? Is that her aunt? Can you tell us her address?"


    "I know her address, but why should I tell you? I don''t know what you plan to do to her."


    Gadalik blinked. "What do you mean? I plan to have her meet you here so you can be free¡­"


    "How can I trust you won''t hurt her?"


    "Kris, relax," Mira butted in. "Look at us: we''re spooks. Our business is with the dead. We made it clear from the start that we want to help you, and that was before we knew about Brit. Our intent hasn''t changed."


    The ghost looked away, thinking. "...Alright. I''ve been to her aunt''s house a few times. This is where she lives."


    Gadalik knocked on the door.


    There was a few seconds before the duo noticed an older woman peeking out through the window. Then the door opened partway, a chain lock keeping it in place. "We didn''t hire any spooks. You''ve got the wrong house," she said sternly.


    "This is Brit''s house, right?" Mira asked.


    The woman froze. "What do you want with Brit?" Without giving them a chance to reply, she glared at Gadalik. "You''re after her, aren''t you?" she accused him.


    "Excuse me?" Gadalik had no idea what she meant.


    "You boys are all the same! Be gone!"


    "Aunt Ria? Who''s at the door?" a girl''s voice sounded from inside.


    "No-one, Brit," Ria answered. Rounding back on the older spook, she continued, "I''m going to count to five, and if you''re not off my property, I''m going to call the sheriff!"


    Brit looked out the window curiously.


    "Please, we just want to help her reunite with Kris¨Caagh," he cried out as his stomach cramped and he doubled over in pain.


    "Gadalik!" Mira held him steady by the shoulders.


    "Kris?" Brit echoed. "Aunt Ria, help him!"


    "What if he''s faking it to get to you?" Ria argued.


    Gadalik coughed out specks of blood and fell against Mira for support.


    The door''s chain unlatched and Brit guided them inside to the couch. "What''s the matter with him?" she asked Mira.


    "He missed his dose of medicine," the spook realized; he hadn''t taken it in the three hours it took to travel. "It''s in his inner pocket¨C"


    Gadalik managed to move as the pain began to subside, and pulled out the potion.


    Mira opened it and helped him drink.


    Almost instantly his muscles relaxed. Then he leaned back on the couch, exhausted. "I-I''m sorry," he stammered breathlessly.


    "Wait¡­ You two are spooks, aren''t you?" Brit spoke up. "And you know about Kris?"


    "That''s right," Mira said. "His ghost is waiting for you back in his hometown."


    "Why should we believe you?" Ria shot her down. "You''re with him!"


    "M-Me?" Gadalik breathed. "What did I do¡­?"


    "You''re a male. The only reason a male would come here is to¨C"


    "Aunt Ria, that''s enough," Brit interrupted. "Gant was evil, but not every boy is like him. Kris wasn''t."


    "Who''s Gant?" the older spook asked, still unsure why he was being targeted. Kris seemed to suspect me too¡­


    "Gant¡­is my ex," she answered. "Kris was killed protecting me from him¡­"


    Mira tensed. "Is Gant still around?"


    "He''s in jail for murdering Kris¡­ But Aunt Ria didn''t want to take any chances with me being in the same town as him. And with Kris gone, there was no reason for me to stay, either, so I moved in with her to be safe."


    "Is there any reason you can think of why Kris would be waiting for you?" Gadalik asked, flinching as Ria turned to glare at him.


    Brit seemed thoughtful at that. "Well, there was this old house that we used to meet up at. We would go there after a bad day and cheer each other up¡­ I always planned to go there after he died, but¨C"


    "How many times do I have to tell you it''s not safe to go back there?" Ria shouted. "What if Gant broke out? What if someone else as evil as him tries to hurt you¨Clike him!" she gestured to Gadalik.


    The older spook shrank. "I don''t understand¨C"


    "Leave him alone! He''s not after Brit; he''s with me," Mira defended him. "We''re dating."


    Gadalik opened his mouth to argue, but there was no denying it.


    Ria looked between them with suspicion. "How can we trust you with my niece? You''re strangers!"


    "You¡­never relax, do you?" Gadalik spoke up.


    She stared daggers at him. "What did you say?"


    "I¡­ I get it. She''s your niece, and you''re obligated to protect her. Once you see a potential threat, you get hung up on it, don''t you?"


    "Why, I never¨C"


    "He''s right, Aunt Ria," Brit murmured, silencing her aunt.


    "Look around you. Take in the moment. She''s here; she''s safe," Gadalik assured Ria.


    Mira watched him proudly.


    "You can come with us, Ria. You''ll make sure I''m okay, won''t you?" Brit said.


    Ria took a deep breath. "...Alright."


    The four of them stopped outside of the abandoned house. The sun was beginning to set, casting the world into a reddish hue.


    Brit took a step toward the door, but Ria stopped her. "I''ll go in first to make sure this isn''t some trap," the woman said. She went in and looked around. "Is this a joke? There''s nobody here!"


    "He''s a ghost, silly," Brit laughed, going past her.


    On cue, the spirit turned visible. "Brit!"


    "Kris!"


    "I thought I''d never see you again!" the couple said at once, then laughed.


    "I''m sorry¡­ I always planned on coming here one last time," Brit explained.


    Her boyfriend shook his head. "All that matters is you''re here now." They hugged.


    "Let''s¡­give them some privacy," Mira said, guiding a shocked Ria outside and shutting the door.


    It was dark by the time Brit came back out, wiping tears from her eyes. "He''s gone¡­"


    That morning the spooks saw them off and began heading home, themselves.


    "Even if we came here on a mission, I still had a good time," Mira remarked.


    "Yeah¡­ Me too," Gadalik agreed. "You were right, what you said at the restaurant. I really needed to hear that. And...about us dating. I...I''m sorry I let myself get consumed by every little problem. For your sake, and my own, I''ll be more aware of that from now on."

 Episode 21: Fake it

    "Now that Gale''s moving in, and the nursery is set up in the old guest room, the place is starting to feel fuller, isn''t it?" Glacia said to her son, who had just come downstairs.


    "At least he''s keeping your room clean. That''s some space added to it," Gadalik answered. "Why? Are you thinking about getting a bigger house?"


    "No¨Cthis place is home. It''ll just be an adjustment, but I''m glad it''s not as empty anymore. Just seven more months to go!"


    He sat beside her on the couch.


    "Are you going out with Mira again today?" she asked.


    "Y-Yeah¡­"


    "You don''t sound too happy about it."


    "Well¡­I feel like things are moving too fast between us; she was so quick to put a label on our relationship," he said. "You know how many years it took me to develop a crush on Gretel¡­ I don''t know how long it will take for Mira, if I ever do fall for her."


    "Maybe that''s a sign that she isn''t the one for you. Gale and I clicked on the first date."


    "That''s just it¨Cnothing ever ''clicks'' for me, being demi-romantic. Love takes time, and maintaining a relationship until then is work that I don''t feel prepared for¡­"


    "Then ask yourself: is she worth putting in the work?"


    The green-haired teen fell silent. He remembered the other spook''s reassuring smile and genuine concern for him on their last mission. "Well, I don''t want to lose her¡­"


    "If you want my advice, you should fake it until you make it."


    "You mean¡­pretend to love her?" His striped blue eyes met hers doubtfully. "Wouldn''t that be leading her on?"


    "That''s not what I meant. I think that you''re scaring yourself into not even trying to reciprocate her love. I''m saying you should try, even if you don''t love her yet. Make some bit of effort."


    He considered her words. "You''re right. I...I''ll try. Thanks, Mom."


    Gadalik rode his dappled gray horse Punsiv into Mira''s town. He stopped by a flower shop and picked out a red-violet bouquet, since he knew that was his date''s favorite color next to black.


    He continued through and spotted couples holding hands as they walked down the street, and more with their arms propped over their partner''s shoulders while seated on a bench.


    Gadalik narrowed his eyes thoughtfully, and absently ran his fingers through his steed''s white mane.


    He dismounted and went to Mira''s door, holding the flowers with one hand and knocking with the other.


    She answered wearing a black and belted midi dress. "Gadalik, right on time," she greeted him.


    The older teen held the flowers out to her.


    Mira blushed and accepted them. "What''re these for?"


    "They''re a ''thank you'' gift for everything you''ve done for me," he replied.


    She admired them for a moment, then brought them inside to put in a vase. "So what are the plans today?" she asked as she returned.


    "I was wondering if we could just go to the local park," he suggested. "We could leave our horses here and take our time walking. Maybe feed the birds."


    "Oh, sure."


    The two tied Punsiv up with her own horse River, and then headed for the park side-by-side.


    Gadalik looked down at her hand. He''d held hands with his family when he was little, but never anyone since. Would it be too personal? He wondered. Everyone else had no issues with it¡­


    His striped blue eyes focused on her face. What is her view on it? Is it expected?


    She turned to face him, catching the older spook staring.


    He quickly looked away.


    "You''re acting a bit off today," Mira commented, slowing to a stop. "Is something bothering you?"


    I should just ask her up front if that''s what she''d want. But then again this is something that should be done naturally, without asking¡­


    "Earth to Gadalik," she called him.


    "Huh?" he snapped out of it.


    "Are you alright?"


    "Y-yeah."


    She eyed him skeptically, but resumed walking.


    He drew in a breath through his nose, and reached for her hand, taking it in his own.


    It was cooler than his since she''d recently left her house while he''d been traveling in the sun, although the breeze helped him not to sweat. Gadalik couldn''t help but look at her to make sure she wasn''t uncomfortable by the gesture.


    She met his gaze curiously, cheeks slightly reddened. He loosened his hold in an opportunity for her to let go if she wanted, but Mira squeezed his hand to keep it there.


    He sighed with relief. I''m doing this right.


    They stopped to get a small bag of birdseed on the way to the park. Once there they sat on a bench, where in front of, doves instantly landed with the expectation of being fed.


    Gadalik placed the bag between them and they both scattered handfuls on the ground, watching as more birds flocked down upon the sight.


    "You''re left-handed?" Mira noticed.


    "Huh? Oh! Uh, partly¡­ It''s cross-dominance. I favor my left hand for most tasks, but I can use my right for others."


    "That''s cool," she gushed. "Has anyone ever given you a hard time about it? I mean, they say it''s the Devil''s work, and you are a dev¨CI mean¡­witch."


    "I''m not a¨C" He stopped himself, accepting that it was a fitting term. "Well¡­no. I was pretty sheltered throughout my childhood. I was homeschooled, so I''m sure maybe they would have an issue with my handedness had I gone to a public one."


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    "Sheltered? How so?"


    "I rarely got to leave my hometown, and the few ''real world'' experiences I had from being left with family-friends¡­weren''t that great. There was the restaurant owner who still hasn''t forgiven me for how badly my job performance was under his care. Part of the reason is that being around a lot of people at once disorients me. Not being able to differentiate ghosts from the living didn''t help."


    "How are you feeling right now? We''re in a public park with a decent amount of people," she pointed out.


    "I can handle it right now because you''re with me."


    She blushed, surprised.


    "That is, you''re someone I can direct my focus on away from the crowd. And now that my ghost sense is under control, there''re less distractions."


    Mira gave a hum as she spread more birdseed, watching them peck at it. "What would happen if you used your ghost sense right now?"


    He tensed. "You want me to?"


    "Yeah. Can you control how far it reaches?"


    "Y-yes, but¡­ I thought you wanted me to relax?"


    "Getting used to your powers will help you relax. Confront your fears, or else you''ll be controlled by them," she said. "I brought my pendant with me just in case."


    The older spook closed his eyes and let his sense explore the area. As expected, there was a ghost, and instantly he felt its sorrow overtake him. He could tell it was there but he couldn''t make it out from the crowd. Searching for it meant honing his sense on everyone in its general direction to find out which person it was. Hearing all of their voices talk over one another began to overwhelm him. He felt a nervous bead of sweat roll down his temple.


    "You weren''t kidding, huh?" she remarked, his discomfort plain to see. "Tell me what you''re feeling."


    "There''s too much going on at once for me to keep track of¡­ It''s making me feel¡­closed in. Trapped." Before his girlfriend could reply, he shook his head and pointed at a woman sitting on the edge of the water fountain in the center of the park, which he chose to focus on before he could get too stressed. "There. A ghost."


    Mira put her enchanted necklace on and followed his gaze. "I see her! Come on, let''s talk to her." She pulled him up by his hand, continuing to hold it as she guided him over to the spirit.


    The woman eyed them curiously as they approached her, then covered her mouth. "You can see me?"


    The spooks nodded. "I''m Mira, and this is my boyfriend Gadalik," the younger teen introduced them.


    Gadalik looked away momentarily, still somewhat conflicted by the label.


    "I''m...Melonie," the ghost replied.


    "So, Melonie, are you waiting on something?" Mira pressed.


    "W-well, yes¡­ Every day at two in the afternoon, my best friend Chase stops by the park."


    "Oh, it''s one-forty-five right now. You don''t have much longer to wait." She turned to her boyfriend. "She might be a determined ghost. If so, she won''t need our help."


    "Hang on," Gadalik said. "Every day? How long have you been here?"


    Melonie froze, then shrank. "Three days."


    "What?" Mira exclaimed. "Why haven''t you talked to him?"


    "W-Well, I''m¡­scared."


    "Scared? Why be afraid of your best friend?"


    "Well¡­we''ve never met in person. We were penpals. We planned to meet up for the first time here, but I died on the way."


    "I''m sorry to hear that," Gadalik sympathized. "I imagine you''d be reluctant to meet him as a ghost, huh¡­?"


    "Well¡­it''s not just because I''m a ghost. It''s because¡­I fear he won''t like me once he sees how I am in person," she admitted. "I feel so much more confident when I''m writing¡­ What if when he sees me, he decides he doesn''t like me anymore? I''d rather leave things how they are than face his rejection¡­"


    The black-haired girl softened, looking away.


    If there''s one thing Mira knows about, it''s rejection, Gadalik thought pityingly. He stepped forward. "But if you don''t confront your fears, you''ll be controlled by them."


    Mira looked at him as he repeated what she''d said. "That''s right," she agreed. "I''d rather be rejected for being myself, than accepted for being someone I''m not. If he''s really your friend, he''ll like you the way you truly are. So go out there and be yourself."


    Melonie gave it some thought, though she still seemed uncertain.


    "It''s almost two," she continued. "This could be your chance."


    "Wait," the spirit stopped them. "Maybe you can help me¡­? Just¡­talk to him first. Ask him what he thinks of me."


    The spooks exchanged a glance. "Alright," they agreed.


    "There he is now," Melonie said, pointing to a taller man with black hair and green eyes.


    Gadalik took Mira''s hand and approached the man. "Excuse me, sir¡­ Are you Chase?"


    "Who wants to know?" the older male responded.


    "My name is Gadalik, and this is Mira. We''re¡­acquaintances with Melonie."


    He became attentive at that.


    "We only met her recently, but I was hoping you could tell us more about her."


    "She was your best friend, wasn''t she?" Mira joined in.


    "Yes¡­ We''ve written to each other since we were kids," Chase answered. "We promised to meet up here the other day, but¡­she died. I still come here hoping maybe it was just a bad dream, that maybe this time she''ll be here waiting for me."


    You have no idea, Gadalik silently replied. The spooks both looked back at the spirit.


    "It sounds like you have a strong bond," Mira said a bit too loudly, making sure Melonie would hear. "One that won''t break so easily."


    Chase seemed confused by her tone. "She never mentioned you two before. How did you know her?"


    "Again, we only met her recently," Gadalik answered honestly. "She seemed nice."


    "She was. And she was witty and confident and willing to try new things."


    "Are we talking about the same person?" Mira muttered to her boyfriend.


    Gadalik gave her a warning glare.


    Melonie came forward, turning visible. "Chase, I¡­ I''m here."


    The man nearly fell down in shock. "Mel? Is it really you?"


    "The one and only," she laughed, although Gadalik could tell she was faking it.


    "How long have you been here?"


    "That''s¡­not important. But since we''re both here, let''s try something new together."


    "Oh¨Cof course!"


    The two left together and the spooks exchanged a glance. "Is it me, or did she just pull a one-eighty in terms of personality?" Mira remarked.


    "Yeah¡­" Something tells me this isn''t going to end well for them, the older teen thought.


    "Come on, let''s enjoy the rest of the day."


    They set up a picnic and chatted about spook''s work for a little while. Then they lied down and watched the clouds pass overhead.


    "This is nice," Mira said. "If I could pause life at this moment and take a picture, I''d treasure it forever."


    Gadalik felt truly relaxed, and happy to hear that. "Thanks for earlier¡­ Making me face the crowd. I''m not completely over it, but I think I should try more to get used to it."


    "They aren''t so much fears as they are sensory overloads, I think," Mira said.


    "Sensory overloads?" He couldn''t help recalling the time when he''d gone to the mall with Gretel, and had gotten completely overwhelmed by the crowd and his ghost sense after she had left him to go in the fitting room. Was that what it was?


    "Yeah. There isn''t much you can do about that, aside from what you''ve already figured out: finding something to focus on. I feel like we''re opposites. I can''t handle silence, or being alone, for long periods of time. I need the stimulation or I get listless. I have to train, or do something in the meantime."


    He remembered her practicing with her kusarigama on the day they met, and on their most recent job.


    "I think I understand. As hard as crowds are for me to handle, being alone is just as bad. I had to clean or organize things to distract myself from thinking about¡­bad stuff."


    "Bad stuff¡­?" She faced him curiously.


    He turned away. She won''t let it go unless I tell her, huh¡­? "Feelings of¡­being useless. Feeling like I have to earn my keep, to¡­justify my existence."


    There was silence for a moment. "You''ve got some serious issues," Mira stated as a matter of fact. Then he felt her hand over his and they both rolled over to face each other. "Nobody exists on purpose, so life doesn''t really need a purpose to justify existing. People love you, Gadalik. I do. If anything, that alone should be a reason to keep going."


    She slowly moved closer to him, and he felt his heart skip a beat with panic.


    Just then they heard a familiar voice shouting from a distance.


    "I wasn''t lying!" Melonie cried.


    "Then why are you acting so afraid of me?" Chase responded with frustration.


    The teens got up and headed for the noise. "What''s going on?" Mira intervened.


    "She isn''t happy being with me," Chase explained.


    "That isn''t true!" Melonie argued.


    "What other explanation could there be?"


    "Chase, what makes you think she''s unhappy?" Gadalik asked.


    "She''s a nervous wreck under that confident facade she put on. If I''d known she wasn''t comfortable around me, then I wouldn''t have agreed to meet up with her in the first place."


    "It''s not you," Melonie said. "It''s me¡­ I''ve always been a mess in social situations¡­ At least when we write, I have the time to think of witty remarks or gather the courage to try new things. But in person, it doesn''t work that way. I tried¡­to fake it, for the sake of our relationship. But I can''t keep it up¡­"


    "I would''ve understood if you had just told me that in the first place¡­ But instead, you decided to lie to me."


    "Chase, I''m sorry¡­"


    "Forget it. I just need some space." He walked off.


    Melonie gave the spooks a sorrowful look before turning invisible and floating back to the water fountain.


    "Sheesh. I knew she should''ve just been herself," Mira said. "If you have to lie to make your partner happy, things are bound to fail."


    Gadalik fell silent at that.


    "Something wrong?"


    He drew in a breath. It''s not faking it if it''ll eventually be real¡­right?


    "Gadalik?"


    "N-no¡­. It''s fine."

 Episode 22: What the Future Holds

    Gadalik awoke around sunrise as usual. He got out of bed, made it up, then went straight for the bathroom to shower as he''d fallen asleep before taking one the previous night.


    Once inside he began to undress starting with his pale green pajama top when he caught a glimpse of his bare abdomen in the mirror, his striped blue eyes staring at the scars on his chest and stomach. His mind went blank as if shutting down to avoid remembering the incidents that caused them.


    He absently walked closer to the mirror, leaning against the sink in front of it and inspecting his reflection. It feels like it''s been years since I''ve actually seen myself¡­ Is that¡­really me¡­?


    There was a knock on the bathroom door. Gadalik recognized the short rhythm to be that of his practical-father''s. He grabbed his top and opened it.


    "Sorry, bud. Didn''t know you were in there," Gale said. "I can wait."


    "N-no, I was gonna shower. You go ahead first," the teen answered, stepping out so the darker-skinned man could enter. The door shut again and Gadalik leaned back against the wall beside it, spacing out.


    "Gadalik? You okay?" His adoptive mother had approached without him realizing it. She was still in her yellow night dress, the front of it the slightest bit tighter around her belly. Despite being twenty-four weeks along, she barely showed, although her medic assured them it was simply because she was so tall. Gadalik himself only stood just above her eye level.


    "I''m alright," he assured her, glad for the distraction. "Are you? I''m not used to seeing you up so early."


    "More like ''up all night.'' I''m so tired, but it''s hard to sleep. Especially without Gale next to me¨Ceven if he''s just using the bathroom," Glacia explained. "And he''s a light sleeper, you know. I pretty much kept him up with me."


    Everything was normal, but normal was still pretty crummy. Gadalik couldn''t help sympathizing.


    "I don''t mind it," Gale responded as he came out. Contrarily, as if on cue, a yawn escaped him.


    "You both need to rest," the teen told them. "Let me finish my morning routine and I''ll take care of all the chores today."


    "I just need a nap and I''ll help out," the mohawked man promised.


    "Don''t worry about it," Gadalik said dismissively. "I''ll be fine. Go get some sleep."


    "...Alright. Thanks, bud."


    Glacia yawned and leaned against her boyfriend. She really did appear exhausted. Gale held her securely with one hand as they walked back to their bedroom.


    Gadalik was glad his practical-father had moved in with them after six years. He couldn''t believe they had gone that long without having a child sooner. He wasn''t kidding when he told me they were careful about it. To think it just took one slip-up on their date night¡­


    The teen finally showered and dressed into his handmade black shirt striped with gray across the chest of it, and matching shorts, this time leaving his striped green hair down to let it air-dry. He once again stared at his reflection.


    Gadalik had purposefully kept his hair around shoulder-length, but it had grown longer over time. He was debating whether or not to trim it.


    "You''re Trent''s boy, aren''t you?" his mentor Janna had recognized him.


    While he mostly took after his birth-mother Vilodia in terms of his race, the resemblance to his birth-father was unmistakable.


    He mostly remembered their backs as he''d followed behind them; Vilodia had light green hair in a pixie cut, while his father''s black hair reached his mid-back. But he also recalled their encouraging smiles as they taught him how to read in both of their languages, or how to use spell tags.


    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    His chest began to ache. It had been a long time since he''d let himself reminisce about his childhood. It was easier to just forget about his youth and focus on his day-to-day life. Easier¡­and painless.


    The teen backed away from the mirror with a dismissive shake of his head. I''ll leave my hair alone and see how I like it.


    He was thankful that the chores gave him something to do¨Csomething besides falling into an existential crisis.


    That''s when his girlfriend''s words suddenly came to mind:


    "Nobody exists on purpose, so life doesn''t really need a purpose to justify existing. People love you, Gadalik. I do. If anything, that alone should be a reason to keep going."


    He let that sink in, feeling better knowing he had such great people in his life. Maybe he would take up his father''s offer to help later.


    He never did, however. When Gadalik had gone to check on his new parents, they were faintly snoring together, and he didn''t have the heart to wake them. He ended up going above and beyond with the cleaning of the stable out back, afterward taking care of their two horses, before moving on to the rest of the house. He pushed himself until he was nearly too tired to ascend the staircase, but managed to make it to his bedroom, where he sat on his bed and stared at the wall. Now what¡­?


    Nobody exists on purpose¡­so there''s no purpose for existing. That means¡­we can find our own purpose, doesn''t it?


    What should I do with my life? Am I going to be this indecisive forever¡­? He shook his head. One thing that''s never changed is my want to help others¡­be that ghosts, or anyone else. He thought for a moment. Just like with his hair, Gadalik decided to leave the topic alone.


    He lied down over top of the covers and felt himself drift off.


    Gadalik heard voices chatting from downstairs before he realized he was awake. By the sun he guessed a couple hours had passed. The spook got up and went to the first floor.


    "Hey, big guy," Glacia greeted her son from beside her boyfriend. Uncharacteristically, they were both dressed in rather formal attire: she was in a silky red dress matching her irises with a darker red cardigan over it. Gale had on a beige tux. "I didn''t think it was possible for this place to get any cleaner than you had it yesterday, but you sure proved me wrong!"


    He felt his cheeks warm from the praise. "Thanks. Did you sleep well?"


    "As good as possible," she replied. "I just keep telling myself: three more months and I won''t have to deal with these symptoms ever again."


    "Ever again? So no more kids after this?"


    "No more," his parents both confirmed simultaneously. They exchanged a glance and chuckled.


    Mom always did want a kid with him, even if he wasn''t ready, Gadalik thought. At least they''re on the same page now. "Why the fancy clothes?"


    "We''ve had an errand to run at the courthouse for a while now, and decided it''s about time we take care of it," Gale explained.


    "Is it something bad?"


    "Not at all! Just a few papers to file. We''ll be back before lunch."


    The younger male blinked, curious. "Should I come with you?"


    "N-No!" they both said at once.


    He shrank. "Oh¡­ Alright."


    "We need you to watch the house for us. We know we can trust you with that," Gale assured him.


    "Oh¡­ O-of course. I''ll have lunch made before you come back, too," Gadalik promised. He felt better knowing that was the reason for his exclusion.


    "We didn''t want to leave while you were asleep," the man continued. "So now that you''re up, we should get going. We''ll be back soon."


    Soon wasn''t soon enough. Lunch was getting cold on the table. Gadalik went back to his room and picked out a book to pass the time reading, but he couldn''t concentrate, as he was still hung up on his parents'' absence.


    It must have been important¡­ The only time Mom ever dealt with the court was over buying this house for us. And with Dad, it could be anything regarding his career as a bounty hunter. Did something go wrong?


    He jolted when he heard the door open, followed by a loud sigh from Glacia. "We''re back!" she called.


    Gadalik had already been halfway down the stairs before her words. "What happened?"


    "The lines were longer than expected," Gale said. "But we finally got these done." He shifted through a stack of papers and picked one out, handing it over.


    "A¡­marriage certificate?" Gadalik was shocked. He didn''t expect them to get married, but if he had, he pictured a grand wedding.


    "Glacia and I have been talking about it for the past few months. We decided on a civil marriage¡­just for now. After everything gets settled, we''ll have an actual wedding."


    "But that''s not all," Glacia added, taking the papers from her now-husband and picking one out to give to her son.


    Gadalik skimmed it, then froze, rereading it carefully to make sure he understood it.


    "Well? What do you think?"


    "They''re¡­adoption papers," Gadalik said hesitantly, still in disbelief.


    "That''s right. All we need is your consent, and you''ll officially be my son," the bounty hunter said.


    "But¨CI thought you weren''t ready? Are you really okay with this¡­?"


    "I''m not ready," he admitted. "I could never be ready¡­ Not for marriage, or fatherhood. I''m terrified of messing something up down the line. The thing is: life goes on, whether or not you''re prepared. I don''t know what the future will hold¡­ But whatever happens, we''ll face it¡­together."

 Episode 23: Breakup

    "This way," Mira directed her boyfriend, pulling him by the hand. "Come on!"


    Gadalik had always wanted to go hiking with her, but he didn''t expect the rush. He could barely keep up, which was a testament to how fast she was. Still, curiosity about her intentions drove him to try.


    They stopped at the top of a cliff overlooking a lake that sparkled in the afternoon sun. They took in the view for a few moments.


    "Do you like it?" Mira eventually asked the older teen.


    "I love it. It reminds me of where we met," he said.


    "Can you believe it''s been nine months since then?"


    "Has it really?"


    "Yeah. I figured, if we can''t go back to Rosepetal Lake for our six-month anniversary, that this would be the next closest thing."


    Six months? Gadalik couldn''t believe they had been dating that long. They hadn''t hit any of the milestones expected of a romantic relationship, after all. He felt a slight pang of guilt over his lack of affection toward her.


    "We can set up our picnic here and enjoy the view," she said. "Maybe even go swimming later."


    "That''d be nice," he agreed. She doesn''t seem deterred by it, at least.


    They unpacked their blanket and sat down on it to eat. His striped blue eyes caught her violet ones staring at him periodically, before she''d blush and look away each time.


    "Something on your mind?" he finally asked.


    "It''s just¡­really nice up here, isn''t it?" she said vaguely.


    He swallowed the last of his food. "Very. I''ve always liked being so high-up."


    "And¡­it''s really nice being up here together. Right?"


    "For sure."


    She seemed pleased by his answers. Then she moved closer to him.


    Gadalik expected her to lean on his shoulder as she had done on their last date, so he didn''t mind her motion until he realized she was aiming for a kiss this time.


    He panicked internally. Should I let her¡­? I promised myself I''d try to reciprocate her love, but¡­I just don''t feel ready. Will things be different after the first kiss¡­?


    She noticed his reaction and sat straighter. "Hey, it''s alright. Relax."


    Gadalik let out a breath he hadn''t realized he''d been holding. "Sorry¡­ I''m just¡­not used to this kind of stuff."


    "Don''t worry about it," she murmured, unable to hide her disappointment.


    That pang of guilt returned.


    "I have the whole day planned out for us. You love hiking, so we can cross that off the list now. We''re done eating, right? Let''s go."


    He once again followed her as she led him down the mountain trail on their way to the lake. Despite their lack of milestones, holding hands had become second-nature to Gadalik at this point, which did feel like progress to him, at least until the kiss setback.


    The couple headed to the tourist shops to browse the merchandise, but didn''t buy anything, since Mira declared it all overpriced. And he agreed with her, although it would have been nice to have something to remember their day.


    "Well, that was a bust. But there''s more we can do. Let''s go swimming!" she said, sounding suddenly encouraged.


    They changed to their swimsuits, Mira sporting a black two-piece while Gadalik more modestly wore a tank and trunks. They made it to the lake and while Mira ran straight for the water, Gadalik froze at the touch of the shore, suddenly getting intensely hot.


    It took his girlfriend a second to realize he wasn''t with her. "Gadalik?"


    He glanced down at his hands to find he was shivering¡­ Scarcely breathing.


    Flashbacks played before his eyes¨Cof being underwater, and striving¨Carms paralyzed¨Cto reach the light of the surface as his last breath escaped him¡­


    "Gadalik," she called again, grabbing his wrist.


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    He jolted, gasped, then struggled to catch his breath, clutching his tightened chest. He backed away from the water, shaking his head.


    "What''s the matter with you? Calm down!"


    He couldn''t. He felt sick. He ran.


    "Gadalik!" She pursued until he entered an outhouse, not having time to shut the door before she heard him vomit. "H-Hey! Talk to me¡­!"


    "I can''t¡­do it¡­" he managed to say voicelessly as he struggled to get a breath in. "I drowned¡­ I¡­ I died, Mira¡­"


    His girlfriend stared at him, then remembered pulling his lifeless body to shore with her chain, where their supervisor had only just managed to revive him. She covered her mouth. "I¡­ I''m sorry¡­ I shouldn''t have brought you to a lake after what happened. We can leave."


    The older spook didn''t have the strength to reply. He felt weak and dizzy from lack of oxygen. His vision started to fade and he sank to the ground as his body felt too heavy to support itself.


    "Gadalik?"


    He passed out.


    Gadalik awoke with a start on a bench. "What¡­ What happened¡­?"


    "You had another one of your anxiety attacks," Mira answered from the ground next to him, "except I''ve never seen you that bad off¡­"


    He lay there for a moment as he still felt exhausted, then managed to sit up.


    "Are you okay¡­?"


    He shrugged, staring at nothing in particular.


    She sat next to him. "I''m sorry¡­"


    "It''s not your fault¡­ I didn''t know it would be an issue until I felt the water. Everything came rushing back¡­"


    "It''s alright. We''re safe." She placed her hand over his.


    Gadalik couldn''t bring himself to respond. It felt like his body was on autopilot, his mind completely absent. He didn''t know how long the two sat in silence. Nothing felt real.


    "It''s getting late¡­ I don''t think we can make it home before nightfall. We should stay in a room here until morning."


    He nodded ever so slightly, forcing himself off the bench to follow her to the nearest hotel.


    The cheapest place only had one bed per room, so Gadalik took a seat on the floor, still spaced out.


    To his mild surprise, Mira sat down beside him instead of taking the bed. "Things weren''t supposed to turn out like this," she murmured.


    "I''m sorry¡­our day was ruined because of me¡­" he realized. First the kiss, and now this¡­


    "Don''t apologize. I still had fun up until now," she assured him. There was an edge to her voice, but it dulled as she said, "Take the bed. You need to rest."


    When he didn''t answer, she stood and pulled him up.


    Not wanting Mira to hurt herself lifting him, he complied. The bed wasn''t much better than the floor, but he didn''t complain. He just wanted to sleep forever. So he drifted off.


    Gadalik opened his eyes to find Mira sitting at the bedside, watching him. "Hey¡­ Feeling any better?" she asked.


    He did, actually. "Still a bit shaken¡­but I''m okay." I feel like I reacted worse to the flashbacks than I did at the time they actually happened¡­ "Did you sleep at all?"


    "A bit. I''ll nap later."


    He shook his head and climbed off the mattress. "You can have the bed. Get some sleep."


    She seemed surprised but didn''t protest. They swapped places and Gadalik took that moment to check the time. It was maybe four in the morning. We can sleep a while longer.


    Morning came and Mira was unusually quiet as they gathered their things and left for the mountain again.


    Gadalik was feeling back to his usual self, but now he was worried about her. "Do you want to stop and have lunch here?" he offered, trying to cheer her up.


    "No¡­ I''m not hungry." She didn''t even glance his way as she passed him.


    Now he was really concerned. "Mira, what''s the matter?"


    "Nothing went how I wanted it to yesterday," she confessed.


    "If I''d known I''d react that way to the lake, wouldn''t''ve gone," he said, ashamed of his attack.


    "I''m not talking about that¡­"


    Oh¡­


    "You...really weren''t kidding when you said you were demi-romantic," she laughed humorlessly. "I''ve been patient, but¡­I can''t do this anymore, Gadalik¡­ I can''t be with someone who doesn''t love me."


    "I-it''s a process," Gadalik stammered, a defensiveness arising as he realized where the conversation was going. "It just¡­takes time¡­"


    "Time? How long? We''ve known each other for nine months. We''ve been together for half a year. Yet we haven''t kissed or done anything romantic yet."


    "I¡­ I buy you flowers¡­ And we hug¡­ And I take you out¡­ I-I''m trying," he said honestly.


    "All of those things are useless if there''s no feeling behind it," she pointed out. "And it hurts, knowing that you''re doing this all out of your sense of obligation. This whole relationship is just work to you, isn''t it?"


    "M-Mira¡­"


    "Isn''t it?" she repeated, tears forming in her violet eyes.


    He couldn''t answer.


    "So you can''t deny it¡­ That''s all I needed to know." She sighed. "The day we agreed to go out, you told me there was no guarantee you''d fall for me. And...I guess that''s the case. So if there isn''t going to be progress, then we''re both wasting time on this relationship. It¡­" She sniffled and turned her back to him. "It''s for the best that we end it."


    He fell into a shocked silence. But things were going so well between us¡­!  He remembered the time they went to the park and when she had moved to kiss him back then; how he had panicked and was relieved it didn''t happen. Or¡­maybe they weren''t, he realized.  She''s sensitive to rejection¡­ Maybe this has been building up over the months and I''ve just been blinded by her optimism. I had no idea she felt this way¡­


    "I¡­ I''m going home." Mira began to walk off.


    "Mira, wait," he called after her.


    She hesitated but didn''t turn around.


    "Are we¡­at least still friends¡­?"


    "I don''t know what we are anymore," she answered, still not looking his way. "I just need to get over you... So let me."


    He could only watch her go, dumbfounded. That pang of guilt became overwhelming and he fell to a seat on the ground as she disappeared over the mountainside.


    He sat there for a long time after she left, processing the situation. He couldn''t think; all he could focus on was the pain of losing someone he cared about.


    She''s right¡­  Mira was the first person to say they liked me. I guess¡­I did feel obligated to return her love, even if it''s not something I have to give.


    He looked at his hand. Acceptance shifted to frustration.


    What''s wrong with me¡­? How could I fall for Gretel but not Mira? How long should it take to learn to love someone¡­? Will a relationship ever last long enough before ending like¡­this¡­?


    All he could do was go home.

 Episode 24: Hurt

    Gadalik turned over in bed until he realized the sun had risen. He had barely slept at all.


    If I can''t sleep, I should be up doing something, he decided. But what¡­?


    To his relief, he heard the phone ring.


    He rushed downstairs to pick it up before it could wake his parents. "Peakisan''s¡ªerr¡­ Khatri residence. Gadalik speaking."


    "Khatri?" a familiar girl''s voice sounded on the other end.


    "Grace!" He felt relieved to hear from her. "And, uh, yeah. My father made everything official between us. We took his last name."


    "That''s great! I''m happy for you."


    "So how have you been?"


    "We''ve been good, but I think the wards have run out of magic, though."


    "Have there been any new ghosts?"


    "Not yet. But we don''t want to wait around for one¡­ Instead of buying more tags, do you think you could come and recharge them for us? W-We''ll pay you!"


    "O-Of course! I''ll be there as soon as I can."


    Gadalik dismounted his horse and knocked on the door to the farmhouse after traveling nearly all day, arriving around evening. He retreated a step as it opened, and looked up at the tall man who answered. "H-Hello, Gavin¡­ Grace called me. I''m here to recharge the wards."


    His yellow-green eyes stared into Gadalik''s striped blue ones for a moment, before he stepped aside to let the visitor in. "I''ll take care of Punsiv," he said, moving past the spook to lead his horse to stables.


    "Is that¨CGadalik!" A girl with red hair and eyes rushed to greet her friend, then hesitated and backed off a bit, controlling her enthusiasm.


    The spook was a bit amused by that. "It''s nice to see you too, Grace," he chuckled.


    "You look different¡­ Are you letting your hair grow out?"


    "I have, for a month now¡­ Is it that noticeable?" He pulled his striped green ponytail, which now reached his mid-upper back, over his shoulder to see for himself.


    "It looks good," she complimented him.


    He felt his cheeks warm slightly. "Th-thanks."


    "My dad took the wards down and left them in a stack on the living room table."


    "Okay. I''ll get started right away."


    "Would you like a drink?"


    "Th-that would be nice. Thank you." Gadalik watched her head to the kitchen, then focused his attention on the tags. The marking on the bottom that indicated their effectiveness had vanished, meaning they had no more spiritual power left to work.


    I''ve practiced ward spells before¡­ This shouldn''t be a problem, he encouraged himself. I''ve read all about enchantment. It should be the same as enhancing spell tags, except it relies solely on my magic.


    He picked up a tag, holding it face-up in his palm, and closed his eyes both out of fear and to not be distracted. Then he finally used a ward spell, pouring his magic into the tag as he had done to enhance other tags before.


    When the spook opened his eyes, he saw the tag was glowing. The effective marking was slowly becoming visible. Far too slowly. Gavin came back in and eyed the tag curiously.


    At least it''s working¡­ "This might take a while," he warned them.


    "Take as much time as you need," Grace said as she returned and placed his drink on the table. "You can take a break anytime, too."


    "I appreciate it."


    "Is there anything we should do in the meantime?"


    "Y-yes, actually. Gavin, could you keep an eye out? Without the tags, you''re vulnerable right now. I''ll check with my ghost sense periodically, but if we want all of these tags re-enchanted, I''ll have to use all of my energy on them instead¡­"


    The man nodded.


    "I''ll¡­keep you company, Gadalik," Grace said.


    "Thank you." The older teen moved on to the next tag, starting a separate stack for the re-enchanted ones. He paused between each charge to activate his ghost sense. So far, so good.


    As the stack of re-enchanted tags grew higher, he felt more drained. He once again stopped to check his ghost sense. There was nothing.


    He sighed with relief, picked up his glass, and moved toward the kitchen to refill it. He staggered as soon as he stood.


    Grace caught him. "Are you okay?"


    "I will be¡­ I¡­ I just need a break." He grasped his staff in his free hand to lean on.


    Grace took the glass from him. "I''ll get it. And I''ll bring the mattress down, too."


    "Oh¡­ Alright. I appreciate it." He thought for a moment. "But first, give your dad the recharged tags. They''re not enough to cover your whole property, but it''ll provide protection on at least half of it."


    She nodded, accepting the wards and taking them to her father.


    He watched as Gavin left to set them up around the southern side of the property and his daughter came back inside. "Are you sure you''re okay?" she asked her friend. "You don''t look so good¡­"


    He wanted nothing more than to recharge the remaining tags, but he was completely drained of magic until he could rest to restore it. He placed a hand on his chest where the seal stunted his use of magic, narrowing his eyes with solemnity. Grace took his glass to the kitchen and returned with the water, which helped him a lot. Then she went to her room to retrieve the mattress, setting it down on the floor. He took to the bedding instantly with a wholehearted "Thank you¡­" The sooner I rest, the sooner I can finish recharging the tags. He closed his eyes and sleep overcame him.


    Gadalik sat on a picnic blanket alongside a girl with short black hair and violet eyes. She was leaning on his shoulder as they watched the sky together on the cliff of a mountainside.


    He was comfortable being there with her. Their fingers interlocked between them, a feeling that had taken getting used to at first, but was now something he missed when without her.


    He wished they could stay this close forever.


    Then she stood up and turned to leave.


    "Mira?" the older teen called, confused by her sudden change in demeanor. She seemed cold, distant, and didn''t answer as she began walking away.


    "Mira!" He tried to get up but found he was stuck in place as she continued to get farther away. "Mira, come back!"


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    Gadalik cried out as he awoke, sitting up immediately and biting back a sob. Tears were running down his cheeks.


    "Are you okay?" Grace prompted gently, having heard the commotion and gone to check on him. "Who''s Mira?"


    He froze, then roughly wiped his eyes. "She''s¡­ Well¡­"


    "I don''t know what we are anymore," Mira had said in one of their final conversations.


    More tears rolled down his face, and he growled with frustration as he tried to wipe them again, this time leaving his fists palm-facing over his eyes as they wouldn''t stop falling. Why am I this upset¡­? The whole reason she left me is because I didn''t love her¡­


    Grace crouched beside him and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Hey, it''s alright¡­!"


    "Gadalik''s awake? Does he sense a ghost?" Gavin asked as he came in. He hesitated at the sight in front of him.


    Gadalik took a breath and activated his ghost sense. "There isn''t one," he reported, sniffling and drying his face on the sleeve of his dark green robe to meet the man''s gaze.


    "Alright. Then continue recharging the remaining tags."


    The spook nodded and got up to sit at the table again. He picked up a tag and tried to output magic into it, but nothing happened.


    Gavin looked at him expectantly. "Well?"


    "I-I just need a moment," Gadalik stammered.


    "Maybe he should take a break to calm down?" Grace suggested.


    Gavin frowned. "Every second we spend idle, we also spend in danger of a ghost."


    "But, Dad¡­"


    "N-No, he''s right," Gadalik said. He breathed to steady his nerves. "I can do this."


    "I''ll leave you to it, then. Report to me if you sense a ghost." The man turned to leave, his long, curly yellow-green hair braided from the waist down trailing behind him as he left.


    "Don''t worry about him," Grace said when her father was out of earshot. "Take a break if you need to."


    "I''m okay," Gadalik said, having calmed down enough to be able to focus clearly on the tag as it began to glow in his palm.


    "...Do you want to talk?"


    I can''t break my concentration¡­ "Maybe later."


    She still seemed worried as she watched him recharge the tags.


    Recharge; stack; sense. Recharge; stack; sense. Gadalik kept that pattern going until the last tag was ready to go. "Gavin," he called, too weak to stand. "I finished."


    "I''ll give the tags to him," the girl offered, taking the stack and heading outside.


    The spook yawned and lied down on the mattress once more, dozing. He woke himself up before he started to sleep again, though, as he was scared of what he might dream¨Cor rather, his reaction to it. He sat up and sighed.


    Grace had returned and sat next to him. She occasionally opened her mouth as if to ask a question before changing her mind each time.


    Gadalik noticed. "Something wrong?"


    "N-No¡­ I just worry about you overdoing it. And about your nightmares."


    Nightmares, plural? That''s when he remembered the first time he had been to her place; he had dreamed of the moment his rib was fractured by a monstrous spirit. She probably thinks I have nightmares often¡­ Which¡­isn''t entirely wrong.


    "Are you sure you don''t want to talk about it¡­?" she pressed. "My dad''s setting up the tags right now. It''s just us here."


    He exhaled through his nose. "Mira was my coworker, who became my girlfriend until a month ago. But we could hardly call our relationship romantic¡­ That''s why she broke it off with me."


    "It sounded like you want her back."


    "Well¡­ We dated for six months. I''m just¡­not used to being without her."


    "Have you tried reaching out to her?"


    "She made it clear she wanted space at first, so I left her alone. I decided to give her a call recently, though, but she refused to talk to me." He looked away. "I feel like everything we''ve been through means nothing anymore¡­"


    "I''m sure she loved you in the moment."


    "I know she loved me. And I tried to love her, but I just¡­didn''t. I tried my best, hoping I''d learn to love her eventually. But ''eventually'' didn''t come soon enough for her." He felt a sting in his chest. "Even if I didn''t love her romantically, I still cared about her a lot. I guess¡­I really miss her. If only we had more time, maybe I would have fallen for her¡­ I¡­" His eyes watered and he wiped them before tears could fall.


    "Gadalik¡­"


    "Ugh¡­ What''s wrong with me? How could I be in a relationship for half a year and not love her? Am I broken¡­?"


    "No¨Cdon''t say that¡­! Love isn''t something we can force ourselves to feel¡­"


    He sniffed, then tried to regulate his breathing. "...Yeah. You''re right¡­ You either feel it, or you don''t. So if it doesn''t come naturally then I guess it isn''t meant to be¡­ The problem is, love doesn''t come naturally for me."


    "What about Gretel¡­?"


    "It took me years to develop a crush on Gretel. Nobody who would ever love me would want to wait that long for me to return their feelings¡­"


    "That''s not true¡­"


    "Huh¡­?"


    "I¡­ I can wait."


    Gadalik stared at her in shock when the implications of her words sank in. He shook his head. "Trust me: you shouldn''t. I really hurt Mira every time we went out, every time I rejected a kiss¡­and I didn''t even know it," he laughed humorlessly. "I¡­I don''t want to hurt you. Besides, you''re still young¡­"


    "I''m fifteen," she said somewhat defensively.


    "And I''m eighteen. You''d be surprised how much a difference three years can make."


    She averted her gaze, somewhat hurt.


    He winced guiltily. "I''m sorry¡­ I care a lot about you. I just¡­don''t want to lose another friend."


    "Well, I''m here for you, Gadalik¡­ I always will be. You won''t lose me that easily."


    He softened. "Thank you¡­" That''s when his ghost sense flared up. He stood and grabbed his staff, turning to ask her, "Do you think your father finished setting the tags?"


    "I don''t know. Why?"


    "There''s a ghost¡­about a quarter-mile north of here. Gavin set up the southern side first, so if he hasn''t finished the northern side, he might be in danger. I''m going to check on him."


    "I''m coming with you," Grace decided.


    He hesitated, not wanting to risk her getting caught in the potential fight with the spirit. But he didn''t have time to argue. "Fine. But hold on to this, and keep a shield spell tag active on it," he instructed, handing her his staff and a few shield tags. I have magic to defend myself with, so l''ll be alright without it.


    They arrived at the scene to find Gavin standing off against a ghost that resembled a svelte human with scythes for hands. Its face only contained void-like eyes that were too large for its head.


    It lunged at the man but he deflected it with a ward tag.


    No¨Cthe ward tags will instantly be depleted that way! He can''t keep this up!  Gadalik rushed between them, casting a shield spell to defend against the ghost''s next attack. But his magic sparked and the shield glitched out of existence.


    I didn''t get to sleep¡­ I haven''t recovered from recharging the tags, he realized with dread.


    Before he could regain his composure, the spirit batted the spook aside with one scythe and sliced at Gavin''s leg with the other in one swift motion; the latter fell back and couldn''t get up, blood pooling from his calf.


    "Dad!" Grace cried, running to his side and removing the wrap from her shoulders to bandage his wound.


    The spirit roared and slashed at the now-defenseless spook.


    Grace let out a battle cry, quickly getting up and swinging the staff at the ghost to protect him. Its claws collided with the shield. It recoiled and rounded on the girl.


    "Grace, you need to run, and get Gavin out of here," Gadalik said. "I don''t want you getting hurt!"


    "I don''t want you or Dad to be hurt, either," she argued. "I have your weapon, so I''ll fight!"


    The shield should hold, and she has more tags if it doesn''t. "Fine¡­ Right now we need to focus on driving it behind the wards that are already set," the older teen instructed. "Gavin, show me how far you''ve gotten."


    The man pointed. "I had to use the tags to defend myself, so we''re out of them now."


    This is bad¡­! Even if we manage to get it behind the set wards, if it isn''t dealt with swiftly, it''ll just come back¡­ He took a breath and charged at the ghost, hand outstretched as he cast a ward spell. It repelled the spirit toward the set wards, but not nearly as much as it would have at his full strength. He cast another one, but this time it failed and he felt too weak to keep standing.


    Grace followed his lead and swung at the ghost until it retreated behind the incomplete wards'' barrier.


    I have no choice but to rely on her for this, he realized. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a few confinement spell tags. Then, from his other pocket he withdrew the same amount of exorcism tags. "I''m going to give these to you, Grace," he said, handing them over. "Use them in order. There''s a five-second timeframe between them, or it won''t work. A ghost can still move while it''s confined, so don''t forget to keep your shield active. Think you can handle this?"


    She nodded with determination. "First, this one¡­" Grace attached the confinement tag to the staff and stabbed at the ghost through the barrier.


    Its body became tangible.


    "Then this¡­" Attaching the exorcism tag, she repeated the motion, except the ghost dodged this time. She stepped past the wards to pursue it.


    "Grace, get back here! It can hurt you now!" he cried.


    "First, this one¡­" the girl repeated to herself. "And now¡­" She managed to plunge the spear-like tip of the staff into the ghost a second consecutive time.


    Its body dissolved into nothing.


    Gadalik couldn''t help but respect her bravery, and her success even moreso. Exhaustion caught up to him, however, and he staggered.


    Grace was still staring at the spot the ghost was last in, as if making sure it was truly gone. Then she went over to the older teen and returned his staff, before helping her father to his feet.


    Gadalik propped himself up on it, barely able to keep standing on his own. With what little strength he had left, he collected the tags Gavin had used up and followed the two back to the farmhouse.


    The first thing they did was properly treat Gavin''s injury. With that taken care of, Gadalik managed to fall into a dreamless sleep.


    When he woke up he recharged the recollected tags, and Grace joined him to finish setting the ward barrier.


    "You did great to annihilate that spirit," Gadalik praised her. "That took a lot of courage."


    She blushed slightly from the praise. "I did what I had to, to save you guys."


    "Are you feeling okay?"


    "Yeah¡­ Still a bit shaken, but I''ll be fine."


    "I wish I could have done more¡­ There''s a chance I could have saved it instead. But we weren''t given a choice except to fight¡­"


    "Are you okay?"


    It was strange that he wasn''t as torn up about annihilation this time around. Maybe he was beginning to be desensitized to it¡­ No¡­ It''s because I understood that that was our only option. "...I''m alright."

 Episode 25: Time

    They picked a good one.


    They''re scared enough as it is¡­ If they knew about the ghosts, that would only exacerbate things. "I''m fine," he lied, and tried desperately to focus on his immediate surroundings and deactivate his sense.


    It''s probably because I''m so worried about my parents. When I''m this on-edge, my ghost sense activates on instinct, as if to protect myself. He sighed, wishing he had brought the nullifier with him as they unpacked into a rather spacious room with two beds. Usually Gadalik would have a separate room, but they all decided it was best to stick together. At least, that was before the teen had lost the ability to control his ghost sense; he paced the room, becoming stir-crazy. I need to get away from the spirits¡­ I don''t know how much longer I can tolerate them.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    I hate leaving them, especially when my sibling is so close to being here¡­ But I need to calm down, for their sake, too. He walked half a block away and sat on a bench, intentionally breathing slowly. When he had relaxed enough, he managed to deactivate his sense.


    I still don''t know if I''ll get used to a baby being around. My parents spent eight months preparing for it, but¡­ He remembered his father admit that he could never be ready for marriage or fatherhood. Gadalik couldn''t help but respect him for pushing through it all.


    "I don''t know what we are anymore," she had told him during their breakup.


    I know¡­that we never were more than just friends, he realized, even if she wanted to be, and even if we called ourselves a couple.  But I still lost a friend, and it hurts¡­


    That''s when he remembered his other friend''s confession to him. He had felt bad turning her down, but he had good reason to. What do they see in me? he wondered.

 Episode 26: Invincible

    why are you up at five-thirty in the morning?"


    bored."


    What?!"


    If you''re careful not to drop it."


    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    am your brother, but¡­I''m not related to you, or our parents."


    Maybe it''s time I moved out¡­ My birth-parents'' house is legally mine, and these three are a happy family without me.


    "Don''t you dare think that," Glacia scolded him.


    two moms and dads?!"


    win this time!"


    will hurt if you don''t rest it. Trust me: I speak from experience."

 Episode 27: Punishment

    We have wards around our property, but we''ve gone past them¡­ Punsiv must sense it, too.


    you''re acting weird, too."


    Stretching it might help, he convinced himself.


    can''t¨Cnot right now. I don''t think I can stand up."


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    you''re doing in your spook''s clothes this late? Are you going after the ghost?"


    She has a point¡­ But I''m not sure how much longer the spirit will stay in the vicinity. If it leaves, I won''t be able to help it; if it stays, it poses a threat to us. Either way I need to act now. "You''re right: I should go back to bed," he conceded. "But you should, too."


    Suddenly the spook was younger, playing out in a yard.


    Then he heard yelling coming from an unfamiliar man in the doorway of a house: "Get in here!"


    The next thing he knew, he was standing in the dark corner of a living room while he heard two adults chatting behind him. His legs were sore from standing for so long. Instinctively he crouched to relieve the pressure on them.


    The cracking of a belt near enough that he felt the air stirred by it startled him to his feet once more.


    "What did we tell you, Pete? You have to stand there until your punishment is over," said a gruff man''s voice.


    "How much longer¡­?" The child flinched when the belt struck again.


    "It was an hour¡­ But since you''re talking back, I''m making it two hours."


    The child opened his mouth to protest, but with the realization that anything he said would prolong the punishment, he stayed silent.


    "That''s better. Learn your place."


    Gadalik snapped out of it. He possessed me¡­? He shook his head. "I''m sorry you were treated so badly¡­"


    "I wasn''t allowed to live," Pete explained. "All my life I''ve been punished for the most trivial things¡­until I decided to run away. For the first time, I had a shred of hope that things could get better for me¡­ And then I was killed in a hit-and-run."


    anything, I get punished for it, so why try anymore? I thought death would finally be the end of it all, but now I''m still here, still miserable¡­! Why?!"


    chance to be¡­! Nothing can hurt you anymore."


    Adya?!" her brother cried with shock. "Get out of here! Now!"


    disfigurement spell tag on it. When the spirit lashed again, Gadalik caught the whip around his weapon, the tag''s activation dispersing the specter''s form into a cloud. "Pete, this isn''t you¡­! Get a hold of yourself!"


    run," Gadalik tried again, panicking at the sight of her blood.


    No! Gadalik threw his staff expertly at the ghost, knocking it off-target. Desire to protect his sister overcame his back pain as he took the moment it spent recovering to use a confining spell in his hand, grabbing hold of the spirit until its body became tangible.


    Pete isn''t responding anymore¡­ There''s no point in trying to save him when he''s this dangerous. My main priority is keeping Adya safe. With that in mind, he tried something he never thought he would.


    you?"


    okay," she said for the third time.


    What? " Gale exclaimed. "You should''ve at least waited until your back was better! And what were you thinking, taking your sister with you for this?"


    It''s easy to forget how much influence we have over kids¡­


    Punishments¡­? "W-Wait!"


    I''ve passed by that house before¡­ I had no idea about the cruelty of the owners. But now''s a chance to set them straight. "Dad, since you''re a bounty hunter, do you think you can take care of a few¡­bad guys¡­for me¡­?"

 Episode 28: Healing

    "Gadalik, you finished eating already?" Gale asked his son. The family was seated at the kitchen table, and the food had barely been touched except the single empty plate in front of a young blue-eyed man, who was chugging his drink.


    "He said he wanted to call his girlfriend after dinner," Adya giggled.


    Gadalik felt hot with embarrassment. "It''s just... We''ve both been busy lately. And with my back feeling better, maybe I could visit? Catch up?"


    "Go for it," his mother encouraged him. "Stay a few days if you want, since it takes so long to get there and back. Just don''t stay forever!"


    "Of course I''ll come home," he laughed. "Can I be excused?"


    "Alright," his father agreed somewhat uncertainly.


    "Thank you!" He took care of his plate, tucked in his chair, then went to the living room where he picked up the phone and dialed.


    "Hello?" sounded a familiar woman''s voice.


    "Hey, Grace," he greeted her.


    "Gadalik! You caught me at a bad time¡­"


    "Why? Are you okay?"


    "I''m fine, it''s just¡­ I have a lot of work to do on the homestead lately."


    "Would you like me to help out?"


    There was a brief silence. "Are you sure you''d want to?"


    "Of course. It might be too late by the time I get there today, but if you let me stay I can start working tomorrow."


    "Thank you¡­!"


    Gadalik arrived that evening, dismounting his dappled gray stallion Punsiv and knocking on the farmhouse door. When there was no answer, he knocked again, growing antsy.


    After a few minutes, a woman in her early twenties with red hair and irises answered. She brightened up upon seeing him on the other side. "Gadalik!" She greeted him with a hug. "I finished the chores for today. I must have fallen asleep waiting on you," she explained, embarrassed.


    "That''s only natural," he chuckled. His striped blue eyes searched the living room as she let him in. "Where''s Gavin?"


    "My dad went on an expedition for his work. He won''t be back for a week. That''s why it''s up to me to take care of the homestead alone."


    "You mean¡­it''ll be just us here? For a week?" He felt his cheeks flush. "Would Gavin be okay with this?"


    She shrugged. "I don''t really need his permission¡­ I''m an adult."


    Huh¡­ "Alright. Well, it''s getting late. Have you eaten yet?"


    "Yeah. Have you?"


    "I ate before I left. I''m alright."


    "Then make yourself at home. We have a lot to do tomorrow, so we both should get some sleep."


    The next morning Gadalik awoke from a rooster''s crow, to find he was alone. He could smell food though, and, after changing into his usual gray henley shirt and shorts, he headed to the kitchen, where he saw his girlfriend making breakfast.


    "Good morning, sleepyhead," Grace giggled, sliding the eggs onto their plates. "We have a lot to do, so eat up, and let''s get started!"


    The two began by letting the horses out to run so they could clean the stables. As Gadalik shoveled the soiled straw out of the stalls, he felt a familiar ache in his back and hesitated.


    Grace noticed. "What is it?"


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    "N-Nothing," he stammered, pressing on. They finished, proceeding to feed the animals.


    Gadalik picked up a bucket of water in each hand to refill their troughs. As soon as he lifted them, however, his back flared up and they dropped from his hands.


    "Gadalik! What''s the matter?" Grace asked, setting hers down and rushing to her boyfriend''s side, catching him as he fell forward.


    He took a moment to compose himself. "Punsiv threw me a few days ago¡­ Think my back hasn''t fully recovered from it," he figured, hunched over to rest his hands on his knees.


    "Why did you agree to help me with my chores if you''re hurt?"


    "Because I thought I was better¡­ Besides, I wanted to spend time with you," he admitted.


    The red-haired girl recoiled, blushing.


    "Don''t worry¡­ I just need a small break, and I''ll get back to helping."


    "Alright, then¡­ Let''s get you inside."


    Gadalik managed to follow Grace to her bedroom, where she guided him to her bed. He was still not used to how soft it was in comparison to his. He remembered how she used to set up a small mattress for him to sleep on in the living room.


    Grace came back holding a jar, which she opened and tapped out the contents of into her hand.


    He watched with curiosity. "What is that?"


    "It''s an ointment that Guinevere showed me how to make. It''s meant to ease the pain and promote healing," she said. "Now get comfy."


    He settled down, and she began applying the medicine over his back, thoroughly rubbing it in not unlike a massage, as she gently made her way down his spine.


    He relaxed. There was some unrelated tension and pain he''d never even noticed he''d been living with until she relieved it, as well.


    Then he yelped and jerked out of reflex when she pressed on a specific spot on his lower back, pain shooting through him.


    Grace retreated a step. "It''s that bad?"


    "N-No," he assured her. "The ointment is already helping. Thank you. I''ll be fine in a little while¨Chonest."


    She eyed him skeptically, but ultimately decided to trust him as she left to continue tending to livestock.


    Gadalik woke up, having not realized he''d dozed off in the first place. He got out of bed and immediately noticed his back wasn''t hurting anymore. Eager to earn his keep, he raced outside to help finish the rest of the chores.


    "Gadalik? Are you still hurt?" she asked.


    "N-no, I feel great," he assured her, "thanks to you."


    "...Alright. The ointment needs to be reapplied every few hours. Just be careful, okay?"


    He nodded. For the next couple hours they finished caring for the livestock and moved on to the garden.


    As he repeatedly bent over to help harvest them, though, the ache returned. It''s not as bad as before, he told himself and kept going.


    The pain only worsened until stars shrouded his vision. "Grace¡­?"


    "Hm?" The red-haired woman turned to face him, then gasped and rushed to his side as he collapsed.


    She helped him up and together they made it to the farmhouse where she placed him on the couch before fetching the ointment, then she pulled his shirt up to reveal the faint bruising on his back, gently rubbing it in once again from top to bottom.


    He cried out when she reached that same point on his lower back. He must have blacked out for a few seconds from how sharp and intense it was.


    "...lik! Gadalik!" she called desperately.


    He opened his eyes. The pain had lessened but he could barely move without it increasing.


    She sighed through her nose. "This might need more than the ointment¡­"


    Her boyfriend didn''t argue. He hadn''t realized the severity of his injury.


    "I''ll call Guinevere to help. You stay put, alright?"


    Gadalik stared at the ground after she left. I came here to help Grace, but so far she''s had to take care of me. I''m slowing her down more than if I hadn''t come in the first place¡­


    "You okay?" Grace asked after finishing the phone call in the other room.


    He couldn''t bring himself to answer.


    She softened. "Just hang tight until Guin gets here."


    It wasn''t too long before there was a knock on the door; a woman in her early thirties wearing a blue dress and a pastel-pink apron tied on with a white ribbon, with blond hair in a giant braid down her back, stood behind it. After being let in, she moved to inspect Gadalik''s back.


    "I see you''ve mastered the ointment," she said to Grace.


    "Y-Yes, but it''s not enough to help him, Guin," the younger woman answered.


    Guinevere lightly ran her hand down Gadalik''s back, stopping over the sore spot and narrowing her eyes. "Looks like a flexion¨Cor, more specifically, a compression¨Cfracture."


    He gulped. "F-Fracture?"


    "My normal advice to you would be to wear a brace for perhaps nine weeks, but you are not the type to wait and recover, are you, Gadalik?"


    The young man averted his striped blue eyes.


    "He''s not," Grace answered for him.


    "In that case, the alternative would be to heal him," Guinevere decided.


    "Can I help?"


    "If you want to."


    Grace leaned down to put her hands over her mentor''s and there was a faint glow from the pink butterfly markings on Guinever''s lower arms, which transferred down to Gadalik''s back.


    He braced himself, though he didn''t feel any difference¡­that is, until they were done and he could sit up without the pain from before. "You¡­. You did it¡­!"


    Grace stood, then staggered slightly.


    Gadalik jumped to his feet to steady her. "Are you alright?"


    "Y-Yeah," she assured him.


    "You don''t have magic," he realized. "How did you help?"


    "The tattoos on my arms act as the glyphs you''d see on a spell tag," Guinevere explained. "It creates ''magic'' through the user''s life energy instead."


    "Wha¨Clife energy?! You mean it shortens your lifespan?"


    "Only if the injury is life-threatening. In your case it''ll just weaken us temporarily¨Ceven less so since we combined our energies."


    Gadalik sighed with relief.


    "Even if it was life threatening," Grace said, "I would put my life on the line to save you. That''s why¡­when my training with Guin is complete¡­I''ll be getting my own glyphs, too."

 Episode 29: Closure

    Gadalik packed his spook''s supplies, including his steel-clawed staff, his dark green robe, and spell tags, into his duffle bag, although he stayed in his casual clothes.


    "Whatcha doing?" Adya wondered as she peeked in from the open doorway of her older brother''s bedroom. She followed him when he passed her and headed downstairs, where their parents were on the couch together in the living room.


    "I heard this house is haunted, so I''ll be checking it out in a little while," Gadalik replied.


    "Can I come with you?"


    He hesitated, then looked at the purple-haired woman.


    "She can, if we come, too," she answered. Then she turned to her husband. "Gale?"


    "I agree with Glacia. We''ll keep her occupied," the darker-skinned man assured his son quietly as he approached.


    "Alright, then," Gadalik agreed. He didn''t normally want his little sister involved with spook''s work simply because of the danger it posed. But with their parents keeping her safe, it shouldn''t be a problem.


    "It''s almost lunch time, anyway," Gale added. "Maybe we could eat out on the way?"


    "Sounds good."


    It was late afternoon when they arrived at a somewhat fancy buffet near their destination. It was busy, with waiters and patrons alike roaming the place to clean up and get their food from the stations respectively. Due to Glacia''s insatiable appetite that her daughter also seemed to inherit, buffets were the cheaper option to eat at.


    They sat down at ate, chatting and enjoying themselves.


    "Can I have ice cream for dessert?" Adya asked.


    "Sure. Let me walk you to the dispenser," Gale said, standing up to do so and wincing from a recent wound in his leg that a criminal had given him during his last bounty hunt.


    "I''ll go with her," Gadalik offered.


    "You sure? I could go," his mother pointed out.


    "It''s fine," he insisted. "C''mon, Adya. You want sprinkles too?"


    His sister beamed. "Yeah!"


    The siblings went ahead across the place to the ice cream dispenser. As she loaded up a cone, that''s when Gadalik saw someone: a young woman with short black hair and a red-violet hood.


    He just stood there, staring, until Adya tugged on his shirt. "Gadalik? Who are you looking at?"


    "Oh¡­ She''s, uh¡­someone I know."


    Her magenta eyes shone. Before he had a chance to react, she took off running. "Excuse me, miss! My brother knows you!"


    "Oh? And who might that be?" the woman replied, resting her hands on her knees to meet the six-year-old''s level.


    Gadalik caught up and, refusing eye contact, began shooing his sister back toward their parents.


    "Gadalik?"


    He froze. Adya bounced excitedly.


    "No way. Is it really you?"


    He released a defeated sigh and stood straighter, turning to face her. "H-Hi, Mira¡­"


    "Wow¡­you''ve grown," Mira commented, taking a step back and looking up at him.


    "Well¡­it has been six years, after all."


    "That''s how old I am!" Adya chimed in.


    "And who''s this cute little girl?" Mira asked.


    "This is my sister Adya," he introduced them.


    The other spook immediately softened. "Hello, Adya! I remember when you were still in your mother''s tummy."


    The girl giggled. "So why six years? You''re friends, aren''t you?"


    Both spooks fell silent. Adya looked between them, confused.


    "Hey, you two," Glacia called her kids. "What''s going on over there?"


    They tensed.


    "Gadalik''s friend is here," her daughter answered.


    He flinched. "W-We''re not¡­"


    "Adya, why don''t you head back to your parents and let us grownups talk?" Mira suggested. "Tell them we''ll be a while."


    The girl pouted but did as told.


    Gadalik watched his sister go. "You¡­want to talk¡­? But I thought¡­"


    "Thought what?" Mira pressed, propping a hand on her hip and raising an eyebrow expectantly.


    "That you¡­ I mean¡­ We haven''t spoken since our breakup."


    She narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. "You''re right. But¡­that was a long time ago. A lot has happened since then. You''re here for the haunted house, aren''t you? Maybe we could¡­work together for this, like we used to?"


    "Um¡­" I''m not sure how I feel about this¡­ Of course I missed her, but she outright refused to speak to me for all this time. The least she could have offered was a bit of closure¡­


    But I shouldn''t hold a grudge. She seems to want to reconnect. This could be the closure we never got.


    "Gadalik?" Mira tried again.


    "...Alright. Have you eaten¡­?"


    "Yeah. I was just heading out."


    Gadalik looked back at his family. Gale seemed suspicious of her, and Glacia scowled disapprovingly. Adya glanced between them, still thoroughly confused, but couldn''t resist taking a lick from her ice cream cone.


    Mira followed his gaze.


    "Maybe we should get going, then," he tried to distract his ex.


    Her eyes were narrowed solemnly, but she shut them for a second then faced the other spook with her usual determination. "Alright."


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    "Stay put for a second," he instructed, returning to his table. "I can see you recognized Mira¡­"


    "Oh, no. You are not working with her after how she left things with you," Glacia stated.


    "Mom, I¡­ I''m an adult. I can make my own decisions."


    "He''s right," Gale said. "You go on ahead with Mira, Gadalik. We''ll hang back and sightsee, and we can meet up later."


    "Can I go with them?" Adya spoke up.


    "No," her parents said at once.


    "Besides, you still have ice cream to finish," Gale added, wiping a sprinkle from his daughter''s cheek. She couldn''t help giggling at that.


    "Okay, Gadalik. I''m trusting you to make your own choice, but don''t think I won''t say ''I told you so'' when things end badly. You hear me?" Glacia warned her son.


    The spook sighed. "Alright. I''ll meet with you later." He went to the bathroom to change into his spook''s attire, then met with Mira by the door, leaving with her.


    "So that''s your little sister, huh? I remember when you first told me you were setting up the nursery for her," Mira reminisced.


    "Yeah," Gadalik responded halfheartedly. He still didn''t know how to feel about his ex acting as though nothing had happened between them. Should I bring it up¡­?


    "Over there!" She pointed at a small one-story house that had signs in the yard reading ''Keep Out'' and ''Haunted''. "Think it''ll be locked?"


    "One way to find out." The young man carefully approached the door, an older male''s sniffling and crying becoming audible as he neared. Gadalik knocked, and then there was silence. He gently tried the knob, but it wouldn''t turn. "Hello?"


    "Darn kids! Get off o'' my property!" The door flew open at the last word, revealing the angry ghost of a middle-aged man, transfigured with fangs and claws as if to scare off the intruders.


    Gadalik flinched, but only from the sheer volume of his voice. Instinct took over and he attached a shield tag to his staff, aiming the speared tip at the spector.


    Mira charged at the ghost straightaway, sickle at the ready.


    Her ex stopped her when the ghost paused and returned to his more human state.


    "Spooks, huh?" the ghost realized. "So someone wants me gone, do they? I can''t guess who¡­" He left the door open and went back into the dark house


    Gadalik picked up on the sarcasm of his last sentence as he and Mira followed him in. "Jon, was it? My name is Gadalik, and this is Mira. We''re here to help you."


    "Don''t kid yourself; you''re here for a paycheck. A fat one from the government if you can rid this house of me, huh?"


    Gadalik stopped in his tracks, offended. Then he shook his head. "I want to help," he repeated honestly.


    "What''s wrong with both?" Mira laughed, and picked something up.


    From the sound of her turning a page, Gadalik recognized it as a photo album. He moved to inspect it. There was Jon¨Calive¨Cwith a woman of the same age. She was in a lot of photos, and they were smiling in every one.


    "Don''t touch that!" Jon snapped, swatting it out of her hands.


    Mira growled and gripped her sickle as if to retaliate.


    Her ex stopped her. "Jon, is that woman the person you think wants you gone?"


    "That''s none of your concern, young man," the spirit hissed.


    "You seemed happy together¡­ Who is she?"


    "...Martha. She was my wife, many years ago¡­"


    "Years ago? But you''ve only been dead for a week," Mira pointed out.


    Jon snarled at her like a beast.


    "Mira, let me handle this," Gadalik said, stepping between them. "Jon, were you widowed¡­?"


    "No," the ghost said. "...Divorced."


    "Is Martha still alive¡­?"


    "I wouldn''t know. I haven''t heard from her since."


    The spooks exchanged a glance. Mira looked away almost guiltily.


    "I''ll find her, Jon," Gadalik promised. "And I''ll bring her here to you."


    "Don''t bother. She wants nothing to do with me. Now get out." The spirit shoved them out the door, which slammed shut.


    She wants nothing to do with him¡­? Gadalik once again looked at the other spook.


    "Well? What are we waiting for? Let''s find Martha!" Mira exclaimed.


    "My dad''s a bounty hunter. He might be able to help find her," Gadalik suggested. "Besides, I should check up with them. Maybe I can meet you back here in a little while?"


    "What? I¡­ I mean¡­ Alright."


    Her disappointment was hard to miss. "Err¡­ Would you want to come with me, Mira?"


    She perked up. "Yeah!"


    "Hey, bud," Gale greeted his son, then hesitated when he saw Mira there.


    Glacia pulled Adya protectively behind herself, glowering at Mira. The little girl puffed her cheeks out indignantly, wanting to be included.


    "Dad, I have a favor to ask," Gadalik announced. "Do you think you can find a middle-aged woman named Martha?"


    "Sure. I''ll ask around." His red- and blue-violet eyes shifted to Mira. Her violet ones quickly averted, almost in shame.


    It didn''t take long to pick up a lead, although there was an awkward silence the whole way.


    Apparently Martha lived on the other side of town. Once they managed to pinpoint her current home, Gadalik thanked his father and separated from his family once more to return to work with Mira.


    Gadalik knocked on the door of a modest sized house and hoped he''d get an answer.


    He saw the same woman¨Calbeit older than¨Cin the pictures, peeking through the window before she opened the door.


    "Hello. Are you Martha?" the spook asked, extending a hand. "I''m Gadalik. I''m here about your ex husband."


    "Jon? Sorry, he passed away last week," Martha answered, then paused. "Wait¡­ You''re spooks, aren''t you? Does that mean he''s a ghost?"


    "Yep. That''s why we''re here," Mira chimed in. "We think his unfinished business involves you."


    Martha covered her mouth in horror. "He''s been waiting there for me all this time¡­?"


    "Yes," Gadalik answered. "Have you never thought to visit¡­?"


    "I have, but then I just think about how unhappy I was when I was with him¡­ He was good guy but some little things he did hurt me to the point where I fell out of love with him. And it''s been so many years since the divorce¨Cwhen we last spoke. What is there for me to say to him?"


    "She¡­has a good point," Mira sided with her. "There''s usually a small frame of time you can mend a relationship, and after that time is up, there''s no relationship left to mend."


    "And that''s exactly worth talking about," Gadalik pointed out. "Why has it been so long that there isn''t a relationship anymore?"


    Mira clutched her sickle more tightly. "You can''t expect someone to be hung up on a situation like that for years."


    "You''re a spook; you should know by now that unfinished business can be from any point in one''s life, not just the most recent events. Some ghosts'' business is from so long ago that they don''t even remember what it is without help. And to help is why we''re here."


    "Well I don''t see how this would help anything," Mira snapped. "If she didn''t love him when he was alive, how is reconnecting now going to make a difference?"


    "It''s not like the endgame is getting them back as a couple," he defended himself. "There''s plenty else they can talk about. Not knowing what to say doesn''t stop her from listening to what he has to say."


    Mira started to argue but was at a loss for words.


    "You make a good point, Gadalik. I''ll go see what the old coot has to say," Martha conceded.


    The three of them made it back to Jon''s house that evening. He immediately opened the door upon seeing Martha there.


    At first the divorced couple just stared in disbelief at one another. Then he turned the light on and welcomed her inside.


    "Let''s give them some space," Gadalik suggested, stopping Mira from following them in.


    They waited outside, and Mira seemed anxious the longer it took. She kept looking at her ex and taking a breath as if to speak, before changing her mind.


    "Back at Martha''s¡­ What you said about relationships¡­ Is that how you felt about me¡­?" Gadalik dared himself to ask.


    Mira opened her mouth to speak, but then the door opened, distracting both of the spooks.


    "Turns out he just wanted to apologize to me, for those little things I mentioned," Martha explained. "And I owed him an apology as well, for shunning him all these years. And now¡­I suppose there''s nothing left to settle between us. He''s gone."


    "Oh¡­ Then our work here is done," Gadalik figured. This felt too easy¡­


    "I''d best be heading home, myself, now. You two take care," Martha said, waving goodbye as she got back in her horse-drawn carriage and left.


    "That was easy," Mira remarked.


    The other spook laughed. "I was thinking the same thing."


    "I think¡­we really make a good team," she stated.


    Gadalik would be lying if he said he disagreed. Regardless, he was still sore at her.


    "I owe you an explanation¡­"


    That got his attention.


    "I know I cut contact between us all these years¡­ But just like Jon did with Martha, the little things¨Clike you rejecting my advances¨Creally hurt me in the long run. You understand why I wouldn''t want to stay with you after all that, right¡­?"


    "I understand," he admitted. "I realized that after our breakup¡­ I''m sorry I didn''t reciprocate your feelings. I''m sorry that I hurt you. But¡­"


    "But?"


    "There''s a difference between breaking up with someone, and then cutting them off for six years. We could have stayed friends, talked on the phone once in a while, or even be penpals, or something¡­!"


    She looked away for a moment. "Do you remember what I said in our last conversation? I told you to let me get over you. And the truth is¡­I couldn''t bear the thought of seeing you, or even hearing your voice on the phone¡­because I knew you''d just draw me back in. And, yeah, I got over you eventually¡­but by then, it was too late to reconnect with you. What could I possibly say?"


    "...This," Gadalik answered. "Everything you just now said. That''s all it would''ve taken for us to reconnect."


    "What are you saying¡­?"


    "I''m saying¡­this is the closure we needed. And now we have it."


    "So where do we go from here¡­?"


    "We don''t have to go anywhere," Gadalik finally answered. "We''ve both been fine without each other for this long. Maybe¡­we can be friends again. Maybe not. You still have my number, so I''ll leave the choice up to you."

 Episode 30: Cost

    It was turning evening. A young man with striped green hair headed downstairs where his sister was complaining to their parents. "What''s going on?" he asked.


    "Hey, Gadalik. I don''t think I can cook tonight," said a darker-skinned man with a blue-violet mohawk and black fades, gesturing with one hand to his other, which was wrapped from a wound he had received during a bounty hunt.


    "I understand, Gale," replied his wife, who tucked her pale-purple bangs behind her ears and cracked her knuckles. "I can cook¨C"


    "N-No!" Gale and his two kids all said at once.


    "I¨CI mean, I can cook," Gadalik offered.


    "But there''s nothing to eat!" his sister whined. "That''s what I''ve been trying to tell you!"


    Her family checked the fridge to find it almost empty.


    "It''s too late to go grocery shopping¡­" her mother realized.


    "I''m sorry, Glacia," Gale said. "Usually I''m on top of these things¡­ I''ve just been trying to balance my responsibilities, and obviously I need to work more on it¡­"


    "I''m hungry," his daughter pouted.


    "I hear you, Adya. How about we eat out, and I''ll get groceries in the morning?"


    "Eat out? Only the expensive places are open this late!" Glacia huffed disapprovingly.


    "I''m hungry¡­" Adya repeated, throwing herself dramatically on the couch, her lighter blue-violet ponytail hanging off of it toward the floor.


    "Ugh¡­ Fine. Everyone, get dressed and we''ll go."


    It was a fancy restaurant, and the family was seated at a perfectly sized table. There was a band on a stage on the far wall, and it provided a nice ambience. They took their time ordering, but the wait staff were patient until they finished.


    They were waiting on their food, chatting, when Gadalik suddenly felt danger and his ghost-sense activated on its own. He turned toward the source and saw a black-haired man close to the spook''s age sprinkling some kind of powder into another male''s soup; the latter, with brown hair and eyes, was focused on his date and didn''t seem to notice as he picked up the spoon and moved it toward the contaminated food.


    "Don''t eat that!" Gadalik shouted, standing up so fast that he knocked his chair backward.


    Everyone in the restaurant paused and looked at him. Even the live music fell silent.


    The spook suddenly felt hot with embarrassment. But he couldn''t sit by and do nothing. He approached the seated man''s table. "I don''t know if you have any allergies, or if it''s some kind of poison, but someone just put something in your soup¡­"


    The brown-haired man looked expectantly at his date, who then got offended.


    "N-Not her," Gadalik assured him.


    "Sir, do we have a problem?" said another, older, chubby male approaching.


    Gadalik saw he was a manager. Everyone was still staring at the spook, including the ghost, who seemed skeptical. The young blue-eyed man swallowed uncomfortably. "N-No, sir¡­ I just¡­saw that¡­his soup¡­uh¡­"


    "If it wasn''t my date, then who was it? I didn''t see anybody else near here," the victim pointed out.


    "It was¡­a ghost," he confessed. "And he''s still here."


    "Preposterous! Ghosts aren''t real! And if they were, why would they be in my restaurant?" the manager exclaimed.


    "He can see ghosts?" a customer questioned the situation.


    "What a freak," someone else replied.


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    Not only was Gadalik struggling for words to defend himself, but he was growing hotter and finding it more difficult to breathe under all of the negative attention. He closed his eyes and tried to take deep breaths, but the uncertain and accusatory murmurs around him felt increasingly louder.


    "He''s a spook," Adya defended her brother, yelling from their table. "He''s telling the truth!"


    Glacia quickly shushed her daughter, as the girl''s words only made the crowd more upset.


    "Sir, I demand that you leave my establishment now," said the chubby man, grabbing Gadalik''s arm as if to escort him out, himself.


    His ghost sense detected the ghost was on the move.


    Oh, no, you don''t! Gadalik finally made use of the muscles he''d built up from hiking and climbing as a hobby, by jerking out of the manager''s grasp and lunging at the ghost with a confinement spell in his hand.


    The spirit gasped and struggled but couldn''t stop his body from becoming tangible¡­and visible.


    Customers screamed as they saw the ghost form before their eyes.


    The victim''s date stood up. "Jeff? What on earth?!"


    "That''s your ex?" her boyfriend cried. "Why would he try to poison me?"


    "If I can''t have Steph, then nobody can," Jeff snarled, still struggling against the confinement to the spook''s hand.


    Gadalik refused to let go despite how weak he was feeling. The chaos of fleeing patrons and their remarks were getting to him, and he realized he was starting to hyperventilate. No¡­ I have to keep it together.


    "How dare you summon a ghost into my establishment!" the manager was shouting angrily on top of it all.


    "Summon? I¨CI didn''t¡­. I can''t¡­" Gadalik shook his head, barely able to form sentences.


    Gale got up and took hold of the manager''s arm. "Gadalik didn''t summon the ghost. This is all a misunderstanding."


    "How dare you assault me!" the manager accused Gale, who forthwith let go and retreated a step. "Now take that ghost with you and get out!"


    "I-I can''t," Gadalik repeated, his free hand clutching his chest, which ached from a heart beating too hard and a lack of oxygen.


    That''s when the spirit broke free from his loosened hold and punched the victim in the face, knocking him to the floor, the spector''s body quickly becoming intangible again afterward.


    "Jeff, stop it!" Steph cried.


    The brown-eyed man tried fighting back but his fists went through the ghost, who remained visible and laughing at his failure.


    Gadalik couldn''t think straight. He wanted to run, but he had a duty to keep the world safe from ghosts. Without thinking, formed another confinement spell in his hand and punched the ghost with all his pent-up emotions.


    Not only did it connect, but with the spirit''s solidity, Jeff was sent crashing into the next table, breaking it.


    "Stop it, you freak!" the manager screamed.


    Gadalik glared at him momentarily, then turned to the victim. "You should run to safety¡­ If Jeff is a haunter, he shouldn''t be able to leave Steph."


    "I''m willing to fight for Steph," the brown-haired man spat.


    "You can''t fight a ghost," Gadalik argued. "Only I can. So run!"


    "You''d better go, Nathan," Steph concurred.


    Nathan looked between the ghost and his date, then scrambled up and fled. The manager backed off, still yelling about the damages and commotion, heading to the back room.


    "Jeff¡­ Steph isn''t an object that belongs to you," Gadalik said, rounding on the ghost. "She''s her own person, free to date whoever she wants."


    "No, she can''t!" Jeff growled. "We were a couple when I died. I''m still here, so she''s still mine!"


    "Actually, Jeff, the night that you died, I¡­was going to break up with you¡­" Steph confessed.


    "...What?!"


    "I couldn''t take how possessive you were¡­ And even in death, you haven''t changed."


    "Why didn''t you tell me? I can change! For you, Steph, I''d do anything!"


    "Then prove it to me!" she cried. "Let me go!"


    Jeff stared at her in complete shock. Then he took a deep breath and relaxed. "Alright. I''m sorry, Steph. I love you."


    Before anyone had a chance to react, the spirit faded from this world. Steph saw her new boyfriend through the window and left to reunite with him.


    Instead of feeling relief, however, without the ghost to direct his focus, Gadalik''s stress took a hold of him and he dropped to his knees, clutching his chest and gasping unsuccessfully for air.


    "Gadalik¡­" Gale knelt by his son, rubbing his back.


    "What''s wrong with him?" Adya asked her mother.


    "N-Nothing, sweetheart¡­ Just give him some space," Glacia replied.


    The manager came marching out from the back room. "You''re in a whole lot of trouble, young man, for breaking my table and scaring my customers¨C"


    "It wasn''t his fault!" Adya defended her brother. "It was the ghost''s!"


    "Well he''s the one who brought the ghost here!"


    "He didn''t bring the ghost¨C" Gale started.


    "Shut it, before I press charges on you for strong-arming me!"


    Gale bit his lip.


    "Whether he brought the ghost here or not, someone''s got to pay for this mess!"


    "I-I''m sorry," Gadalik said between breaths. He couldn''t calm down, especially since he felt responsible.


    "I''ll take care of it," Glacia spoke up.


    "What?" the chubby man said, turning his attention to the woman.


    "I''ll pay for it all," Glacia repeated. "Just leave Gadalik alone. Can''t you see he''s suffering enough?"


    Her son shrank under the attention, but was managing to inhale more deeply now.


    The manager went over to her to discuss the cost and Gadalik finally calmed down.


    Adya looked at her brother worriedly as she sat beside him in the back of their carriage, their parents in the front.


    Gadalik avoided looking at her, ashamed of his anxiety.


    "Gadalik¡­ You''re a champ," she said.


    He finally faced her, awestruck. "W-what¡­?"


    "You were scared¡­ And everyone was being mean to you... But you didn''t let that stop you from saving someone today."


    He felt his striped blue eyes water. "...Thanks, Adya."

 Episode 31: Royalty

    his parents. My parents.¡±


    your parents before¡­¡±


    What?!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough math for tonight. Gadalik, can you help her with language?¡±


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    I care about what happened to your parents!¡± Adya cried.


    you about them?¡±


    boring! I''d rather know about Grandma and Grandpa!¡±


    bought the whole kingdom?!¡±


    parents?!¡±

 Episode 32: Grounded

    princess?!¡± Adya exclaimed. ¡°What does that make us?¡±


    used to be a princess¡­¡± Gadalik corrected his little sister. ¡°She stopped being a princess when she was seven years old, because her parents sold their kingdom. None of us are royal.¡±


    everything!  A castle, and servants, and¨C¡±


    want to be here!  I want to be in a castle!¡±


    princess!¡±


    knew?!¡±


    I wanna be a princess, too! And I would be one if it weren''t for my dumb grandparents!¡±


    are dumb! They sold their own kingdom! What could possibly be worth more than a kingdom?!¡±


    ¡°Your mother may be a miser, but we can afford to live comfortably because of the riches she inherited from her parents. That money will belong to you and Gadalik when we''re gone, too. And after that, it''ll go to your future kids, and their kids, for generations to come. You''re lucky¨Cwe¡¯re all lucky¨Cthat we have this money to ensure we''ll never go without.¡±


    TV!¡±


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    now!¡±


    prince instead of Dad!¡±


    hate you!¡± With that, she ran out the front door.


    tell them who I am, they''ll let me stay at the castle with them!¡±


    were royal, I don''t think the kingdom will just welcome us into the castle.¡±


    own castle? Why don''t we have servants? Why can''t a prince be ¡®betrothed¡¯ to me?¡±


    sound like good ideas¡­ But that kind of life requires a lot of responsibility, too. And being betrothed isn''t necessarily a good thing, either, if you and the prince don''t love each other.¡±


    very hurtful things to them.¡±


    What? You can''t ground me,¡± Adya cried. ¡°You''re not my parent! You''re not even my brother!¡±


    Now,¡± Glacia snapped.

 Episode 33: Drama

    Namely, anxiety.


    I must sound crazy to them¡­


    But, I know you weren''t expecting me to have company over. Is everything okay? Did you come here to tell me something they shouldn''t hear?¡±


    any time, and we can talk in private.¡±


    six years?!¡±


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    so good! It has action and adventure, and the script and acting are great! I even worked my butt off to get a VCR and record some episodes, if you guys want to watch some? Oh¨Cbut I didn''t get every episode¡­it would be better if you saw them in order before I show you the ones I''ve recorded. Hmm¡­¡±


    That''d be nice, except I don''t have a TV to catch the rest of the episodes on, Gadalik thought, suddenly feeling out of place.


    ¡°I''m tellin¡¯ you, James¡­ This desert gets awfully dangerous at night. If you don''t let me go, I can''t help you face¡­them,¡± Eugene warned the sheriff.


    ¡°Heh. You mean bandits? They''re nothing I can''t handle,¡± James dismissed him. ¡°How''s a thief s¡¯pposed to help me, anyway?¡±


    ¡°You don''t know what I stole, do you, sheriff?¡±


    ¡°¡®Course I do. It was some custom-ordered silver. You took it and fled without paying.¡±


    ¡°It wasn''t just any silver¡­ If you don''t make use of it tonight, why, we''ll both be dead by dawn t¡¯morrow.¡±


    As the sun set, Eugene grew more desperate, but James was convinced he was merely trying to get the stolen silver and escape.


    here. As in, while I''m here.¡±


    you,¡± sounded a gruff man¡¯s voice from outside. ¡°Micheal! Get your scrawny butt out here, now!¡±


    Sissy boys?


    ¡°You don''t have to answer. I can tell just by looking at you: your stupid ponytail gives it away.¡±


    His mother is letting him take his brother''s bike? Just like that? What if he wrecks Mikey¡¯s bike, too? ¡°If he rode his bike here, how is he meant to go home without it?¡± Gadalik asked.


    Travis laughed. ¡°He can walk on those skinny legs of his. We don''t live far away; it shouldn''t be an issue. But I have other places I need to be.¡±


    You''re the one who should be walking, pal!¡± Gretel defended her friend. ¡°Mikey worked hard to get that bike. If you so much as touch it, I''ll¨C¡±


    me and I''m just trying to get it back. My mom will back me up. Maybe I''ll even press charges.¡±


    move!¡± Travis pushed at him again, but this time Gadalik ducked beneath his hands and head-butted his torso, knocking him backward where he teetered on the edge of the porch stairs. When he rebalanced, he seemed more impressed than mad. ¡°You''re tougher than you look. Maybe I got you all wrong.¡± He extended a hand. ¡°My name''s Travis.¡±


    Gadalik¡­ You should learn to mind your own business.¡±


    is my business,¡± the spook pointed out.


    are Michael¡¯s friend?¡±


    Oh¡­ He was the only boy here before I arrived¡­


    ¡°Maybe you can teach him a thing or two about defending himself, then.¡± Travis turned and walked off, leaving the bicycle unscathed.


    Gretel wasn''t kidding about everyone here having drama at home¡­ Suddenly my situation doesn''t feel as bad.

 Episode 34: Discussions

    Gadalik finished his morning routine, leaving the bathroom and heading for the staircase. Passing his adoptive-parents'' room, he hesitated when he heard the mention of his name.


    ¡°You''ve been a parent longer than me¡­ Did Gadalik ever give you trouble like this when he was young?¡± Gale was saying.


    ¡°No, never!¡± Glacia exclaimed. ¡°I mean, when he was ten, he had an issue sneaking out of his room if it involved seeing a ghost outside¡­ But whenever we did argue, it never escalated that much. We always made up within the hour. And he has never¨Cever¨Csaid that he hated me!¡±


    Gale acknowledged her with a hum. ¡°I suppose Adya got that attitude from us, then, huh?¡± he laughed, as if trying to lighten the mood. In all seriousness, he added, ¡°Give the girl a break¡­ She just found out that her family could have been royalty. This is big news for a six-year-old. It''s no wonder she feels like we betrayed her¡­¡±


    ¡°But to say she hates me? To say she''d prefer to have a prince as a father instead of you? She even said that Gadalik wasn''t her brother¨Cafter he helped raise her! We have been nothing but loving to her all her life, and this is how she''s treating us?¡±


    ¡°She''s just a kid, Glacia¡­ Younger than Gadalik was when you adopted him. I''m sure she didn''t understand what she was saying.¡±


    ¡°But it still hurt, Gale. And the worst part is: she thinks she''s in the right! She doesn''t understand a thing about how terrible my parents were. The first thing I did, when I was old enough, was start my own boat rental service to make my own money so I wouldn''t have to rely on theirs. The money they left me is¡­tainted by their memory. Sometimes I wish I didn''t have it at all.¡±


    ¡°Of course Adya doesn''t understand that. She''s a child. All she knows is that we have the money and are purposefully living middle-class despite it.¡±


    ¡°...Are you siding with her?¡±


    ¡°N-No¡­! I''m just saying that we should see things from her point of view, too.¡±


    There was silence for a moment.


    ¡°Were we too hard on her¡­?¡± Glacia finally asked.


    ¡°...I don''t know,¡± Gale admitted. ¡°I was expecting this behavior from her as a teenager. I wasn''t prepared to handle it so soon. At least teenagers are old enough to comprehend things if we sit down and talk to them, right? But Adya¡¯s still a little kid. I-I don''t really know how we can explain this in a way she¡¯ll understand. I don''t think she''s learning anything by being grounded.¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­ It''s been a couple days and she still seems sore at us.¡±


    ¡°I''ll try talking to her after we eat,¡± he decided.


    The bedroom door opened and Gadalik panicked and resumed walking toward the stairs, but it was too late.


    ¡°Gadalik? Is everything alright, bud?¡± His father stopped him.


    ¡°Y-Yeah,¡± he stammered.


    ¡°I''ve been meaning to talk to you, actually. Do you have a moment?¡±


    The younger male gulped uncomfortably. ¡°Uh, sure...¡±


    ¡°I don''t think it was appropriate to tell Adya about Glacia¡¯s past when you did. You can see why, now, can''t you?¡±


    His striped blue eyes looked away. ¡°I''m sorry¡­ I didn''t know she would react like this.¡±


    ¡°True¡­ But it also wasn''t your story to tell, Gadalik. You''re an adult. I expected you to know better.¡±


    His words cut deep. ¡°I''m sorry,¡± he said again. ¡°This whole mess is my fault¡­¡±


    ¡°I do appreciate you trying to fix the situation after the fact. And¡­I''m not mad at you. But I need you to understand that what you do affects everyone in this house, not just you. So next time you do something, especially involving Adya, you need to make sure that everyone else is okay with that first.¡±


    ¡°I¡­I understand that now.¡±


    There was a brief pause, the silence allowing their conversation to sink in.


    ¡°I''m going to make breakfast,¡± Gale finally spoke. ¡°Join us when you''re ready.¡±


    The younger man watched him descend the stairs. The tension in the air had been thick for the past two days. They used to be such a close-knit family, laughing and learning together. He never imagined how much damage one story could cause.


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    ¡°Gadalik, are you still there?¡± his mother called. ¡°Come here. I need to ask you something.¡±


    He braced himself for a scolding as he entered. To his surprise she patted the side of the bed for him to sit, and he obliged.


    ¡°Are you¡­happy, being here?¡±


    ¡°What? Of course I am,¡± he assured her. ¡°I¡¯m an adult, and I have my own house from my biological parents. If I weren''t happy here, I''d leave.¡±


    ¡°But¡­would you rather live more¡­luxuriously? Like¡­a bigger house, the latest technology, and servants¨C¡±


    ¡°A TV would be nice, but I''m already saving up for one. Mom¡­ If you''re asking me if I agree with Adya about how we should be living in the upper class: the choice is not up to me, or her. What you spend¨Cor don''t spend¨Cthat money on is your choice.¡±


    ¡°But that''s just it,¡± she cried, her voice breaking. ¡°I don''t know if I''m making the right choice by you two anymore¡­!¡±


    ¡°H-Hey! You and Dad provide us with everything we need. But most importantly, you love us. And genuine love is something that money can''t buy.¡±


    ¡°But¡­Adya¡­¡±


    ¡°She''ll come around. I promise.¡±


    ¡°...Thanks, big guy.¡±


    They hugged.


    ¡°Breakfast is ready,¡± Gale announced.


    Everyone gathered at the table where a hearty meal awaited them. Adya came out of her room, still in her pajamas, her pale blue-violet hair unbrushed.


    Glacia looked at Gale for an explanation.


    ¡°She didn''t let me in,¡± he said, glancing away with shame.


    Adya noticed, and Gadalik thought he saw a hint of remorse in her magenta irises, but she said nothing as she took a seat and picked absently at her plate.


    ¡°Adya, dear, your father worked hard making this food for us. Don''t play with it,¡± Glacia said.


    ¡°He wouldn''t have had to, if we had servants,¡± the little girl muttered under her breath.


    ¡°What did you say?¡± Glacia confronted her sternly.


    The two locked eyes. ¡°It''s your fault Dad had to make this. You could hire servants but you choose not to.¡±


    ¡°Adya, I don''t mind cooking,¡± Gale awkwardly defended his wife.


    She glared at him, now. ¡°Why are you on her side? She¡¯s using you for all the housework!¡±


    ¡°There are no sides,¡± Gadalik spoke up. ¡°We¡¯re a family. We all contribute in our own ways.¡±


    Adya opened her mouth to argue, then shut it and got to her feet.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°Back to my room,¡± she muttered. ¡°I don''t want to fight anymore.¡±


    ¡°Adya, come back and eat,¡± Gale said. ¡°Nobody''s fighting. We just want to talk.¡±


    She hesitated, then turned to face them. ¡°I just don''t understand why Mom hates us¡­¡±


    ¡°Me¡­? Hate you¡­? But you''re the one who said you hated me,¡± Glacia reminded her.


    ¡°Because you hated us first¡­!¡±


    ¡°Adya, I love you. I love this family. Why would you ever think I didn''t?¡±


    ¡°Because you never spend money on us¡­! You never buy us things we want, like a TV! I always thought they cost too much, but now I know you just don''t care about us!¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s more to love and care than money¡­¡± Gale said calmly.


    ¡°But what is she using the money for, if she''s not spending it on us? What''s more important to her than us?¡±


    ¡°She isn''t spending that money on anything, except the bills if Gadalik and I ever fall short.¡±


    Adya crossed her arms. ¡°I don''t believe that. Why wouldn''t she spend it?¡±


    There was an awkward silence.


    ¡°Well?¡± she pressed.


    ¡°Remember that story I told you?¡± Gadalik spoke. ¡°The one about Glacia''s parents?¡±


    ¡°...Yeah?¡±


    ¡°Remember how I told you they¡­didn''t take care of their kingdom? How they abandoned Glacia when she was young?¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­ They sounded like bad guys.¡±


    ¡°Y-yes! They were bad guys. And that''s why, uh¡­¡± He looked to his parents, unsure if he had the right to tell her story. Glacia nodded.


    ¡°That''s why what?¡± Adya prompted.


    ¡°That''s why Mom doesn''t use the money. When she sees that money, it just reminds her of how bad her parents were,¡± he continued.


    ¡°I don''t get it. Mom¡¯s parents left her the money, so it''s not their money anymore. They''re, uh, gone. I don''t see why Mom thinks about them when it comes to her money.¡±


    Glacia didn''t know what to say; she seemed to be searching for a way to explain how trauma worked.


    I can try, Gadalik thought. ¡°Let''s put it this way. Remember when we were out exploring, and you saw those passion fruit flowers? You loved them, didn''t you?¡±


    ¡°Yeah! And then a bee got mad at me for picking the flower. It stung me!¡±


    ¡°Exactly. Ever since then, you were scared to pick flowers, weren''t you? Because every time you saw them, you remembered the pain of being stung by the bee.¡±


    Adya made the connection. ¡°That''s different. Bees are still everywhere! Her parents aren''t. Why is she still hurt by them?¡±


    This is harder than I thought¡­


    ¡°Regardless of her reasons for not spending the money, your mother loves you very much,¡± Gale switched the topic to the original point. ¡°She plays with you, takes you out to sightsee, and helps teach you. All of that is easy to overlook, but they are acts of love that money can''t buy.¡±


    For once, Adya seemed at a loss for an argument. ¡°I¡­didn''t have those things after being grounded.¡±


    ¡°And how did not having them make you feel?¡±


    ¡°...Bad. I missed them.¡± Her eyes watered. ¡°I miss spending time with everyone¡­!¡±


    ¡°You want to spend time with us?¡± Glacia confirmed. ¡°So¡­you love us¡­?¡±


    ¡°Of course I do!¡±


    ¡°Even though we don''t overspend on you?¡±


    She opened her mouth to argue, then thought it over. ¡°Yeah. I guess¡­we''ve loved each other all this time without spending the money¡­so it¡­isn¡¯t really needed¡­¡±


    ¡°Adya¡­¡±


    ¡°Y-Yeah¡­?¡±


    ¡°...You''re ungrounded.¡±


    She sniffled, staring at her mother as if expecting this to be a joke. Then she started crying with relief.


    Everyone gathered around her in a hug until she calmed down. Afterward, they finally began to actually eat.


    Glacia seemed to drift into thought as they all brought the empty dishes to the sink, and Gale started washing them.


    Gadalik noticed. ¡°Mom? You okay?¡±


    ¡°Adya¡­had a point,¡± she confessed. ¡°My parents have been gone for over twenty-seven years¡­ Why am I still sore at them?¡±


    ¡°I mean¡­ They''ve put you through a lot. Your feelings toward them are valid.¡±


    ¡°Even so¡­ Why am I still letting their memory hurt me when it comes to spending that money? It isn''t theirs anymore. It¡­ It¡¯s mine.¡±


    ¡°Mom¡­¡±


    ¡°Gale? Kids?¡± Glacia raised her voice to be heard. When she got their attention, she announced, ¡°We''re getting a TV.¡±

 Episode 35: Open Arms

    think it was?!¡± he exclaimed, still shaken.


    To my dearest Grace,


    I know things have never been well between us. And I know that losing you as a child was difficult for both of us.


    I looked into the court records of your adoption and managed to find this address. I will be there by May 2nd, 1964 to hopefully reconnect and make amends with you.


    With love,


    Your mother


    Tera


    mother?¡±


    now to reach out¡­? Fifteen years after she abandoned me?¡± Grace whimpered, tightening her hold.


    is a long time. Maybe she''s gotten better since then¡­? Nothing seems malicious in the letter.¡±


    sickening.¡±


    not be leaving Grace unsupervised with her. Gadalik¡­ I''m trusting you will help me with this?¡±


    Dad!¡±


    ¡°Is my daughter up?¡±


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    baby? So o¡¯ course I went an¡¯ asked her. She said y''all got separated on a camping trip when you were little, and she never saw you since. But, you see, my buddy works with record-keeping down at the courthouse, and when I mentioned your name to him, Grace, he pulled your files up right away! Said you were adopted in 1949 by one Gavin¨C¡±


    hm! Point is: I''m glad to meet you, Miss Grace. And you, too, Mr. Gavin. Thanks for looking after this li¡¯l girl instead of leavin¡¯ ¡®er for the bears.¡±


    Gavin.¡± Tera and Gavin stared each other down. ¡°Funny. I barely noticed you were there.¡±


    What''s that supposed to mean?


    possibly¨C¡±


    I''ll take care of her.


    That one is my dad''s; the old horse has been in his family for twenty years so far! Dad was even riding him when he, uh, found me.¡± She paused awkwardly, then continued, ¡°And the dappled gray one is Gadalik''s. But the white one is mine! I''ve had her for almost eight years! Have you ever ridden before, Mom?¡±


    did say you were a spook! And seven years? Wow, you two must have quite the history!¡±


    please get on with the tour?¡± Tera interrupted.


    happy to hear what she has to share.¡±


    Excuse me, boy?¡± the older woman challenged him. ¡°She should be happy I agreed to go on a tour to see these¨Cerr¨Canimals. I did not agree to listen to endless blabber!¡±


    hot out here," she complained, flipping her hair off her shoulder. "And my feet are killing me; I didn''t think I''d be dragged everywhere outside in a long dress and heels.¡±


    Gavin¡­ What do you do?¡± Tera asked, despite clearly despising the man.


    love to see them!¡±


    yes, but¨C¡±


    Ian! We agreed to just pop by for a short visit to see how Gracie¡¯s doing. I''m sick of you prattling on and on! Now let''s go.¡±


    again.¡±


    right now.¡±


    date a single mother, either! I had no help!¡±


    me, all because of her!¡±


    had to discover I had a kid. I told him she went missing all those years ago, but instead of taking my word for it, he had his courthouse buddy pull up the files on her! What was I supposed to do after that? Tell him I didn''t want to see my newfound daughter?¡±


    exactly what you were supposed to do: tell the truth!¡±


    else!¡±


    What? What do you know?! You''re just some creep who picked up a little girl who was alone in the woods!¡±


    numerous times to reach you through the courts before he adopted me, but you¨Cyou never¡­¡± Her anger morphed to despair and tears fell down her cheeks. ¡°You never cared about me. And you obviously still don¡¯t.¡± She looked up at her adoptive father. ¡°I¡­ I think I''d like some milk, now.¡±


    dare you make me out to be the bad guy?! Now you''ve sabotaged another relationship of mine! You''re a curse! This is all your fault!¡±


    You did. I never knew how selfish and uncaring you were until today.¡±


    you¨C¡±  Tera was hyperventilating with sheer outrage at this point. ¡°Fine. Fine! You want to take their side? You can stay with them.¡±

 Episode 36: Ties

    ¡°So¡­  What now?¡± Gadalik asked, his striped blue eyes looking between Gavin¨Cthe lean man with curly yellow-green hair braided from the waist-down, who was watching out the window to be sure the car that had just sped away wouldn''t circle back¨Cand Ian, the stocky bearded man who was awkwardly left sitting on the couch.


    ¡°She''s gone,¡± Gavin reported.  He backed away from the pane and headed for his adoptive daughter''s room to check on her.


    ¡°...I didn''t think Tera was that way,¡± Ian said, almost to himself.  ¡°She had her issues, sure.  But to abandon her own daughter¡­?  To¨Cto scream at her right in front of us?  I''ve never seen her act like that before¡­¡±


    ¡°Don''t blame yourself, Ian,¡± Gadalik murmured.  ¡°You only tried to reunite a mother with her child.  Instead of being honest about not wanting to see her, Tera led everyone on just to save face.  She lied to her own daughter.  And¡­she lied to you.  Are¡­you okay?¡±


    Ian seemed genuinely shocked to be taken into consideration.  Then he downplayed it with a wave of his hand.  ¡°I''m alright.  I actually don''t live very far from here, so perhaps I should call a taxi and be on my way.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no rush to leave,¡± Grace spoke up as she and her father returned to the living room.  She was wiping the tears from her face, and her short red hair was the least bit messy, but she smiled reassuringly.  ¡°We still haven''t had lunch.  It would be nice if you could join us?¡±


    ¡°Oh, o¡¯ course¨Cif you''ll have me!  I can even help set everything up,¡± he offered.


    ¡°Very well,¡± the tall man agreed, and the two went into the kitchen.


    ¡°...Are you alright?¡± Gadalik gently prompted his girlfriend.


    ¡°I will be,¡± Grace sighed, her red irises looking down as if in shame.  ¡°I kind of expected something like this to happen, honestly.  But I held on to the glimmer of hope that fifteen years could have changed her.  If you all hadn''t been there as witnesses, I¡­  I''m sure¡­she would have gotten violent, too...¡±


    He couldn''t help but move in to hug her.  ¡°I''m so sorry it turned out like this¡­¡±


    She returned the embrace rather tightly, and after a moment he could feel her body shake with voiceless sobs.


    Gadalik continued to hold her patiently as she vented it out, not letting go until she pulled away first.


    She still seemed distraught, but took a moment to steady her breathing.  He gently ran his fingers through her hair to fix it for her.  She took his hand in hers and guided him to the kitchen, where they sat beside each other at the table.


    As promised, Ian was busying himself putting the food Gavin had prepared onto the plates.  When he turned to set them, the bearded man brightened.  ¡°Just in time, you two!  We were just about to come get you.¡±


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    Grace responded with a friendly smile that fell into a more neutral frown when she focused on her meal, taking small, absent bites at a time.  There was a deafening silence aside from the silverware against the dishes.


    The older man pushed his grayish-brown hair back nervously.  ¡°I¡­I apologize for bringing your mother here,¡± he began.  ¡°You know, Grace¡­  When I discovered Tera had a child, I was shocked.  She made it clear from the start that she didn''t want kids in our future.¡±


    Grace hesitated, then gave an ever-so-slight nod.


    ¡°But¡­I was also happy about it.¡±


    Her eyes met his, somewhat surprised.


    ¡°I''ve always been on the fence on having kids, myself.  But all of the sudden I realized I was a potential step-parent.  I admit I may have been a little pushy for details about you from Tera.  I really thought¨Cand hoped¨Cthat we could make things work as a family.¡±


    The woman softened.  ¡°Me too.¡±


    Gavin had sat back in his seat and was watching them both with narrowed eyes.  ¡°Ian,¡± he spoke up.


    The stocky man jumped.  ¡°Y-Yes?¡±


    ¡°Tell me.  What is it you plan to do, going forward?¡±


    ¡°Oh, well, I¡­  I s¡¯pose I will go back to work.  Of course I will be terminating Tera as my client.  Perhaps I should ban her from my modeling agency altogether.  Her behavior today was utterly unacceptable.¡±


    ¡°I meant in regards to Grace.¡±


    Gadalik listened curiously.  That was a similar question to what Gavin asked himself when he and Grace first began dating.


    Ian tensed.  ¡°W-Well, I mean¡­  You''re her father, yes?  If it''s alright with you, I would like to keep in touch.  Perhaps make up for what happened today.¡±


    ¡°Grace?¡± her father prompted.


    ¡°That''s fine with me,¡± the woman agreed.


    ¡°Oh, Mr. Gavin, that reminds me,¡± Ian said urgently.  ¡°Those albums you showed us looked wonderful.  Err, the photos, I mean!  You mentioned you''re a photographer?¡±


    The taller man¡¯s yellow-green eyes narrowed.  ¡°Yes.¡±


    There was a moment¡¯s pause; his daughter jumped with excitement at this opportunity to boast.  ¡°He''s a certified professional photographer, and a self-employed wildlife photographer!¡±


    Ian raised his eyebrows, impressed.  Gadalik was happy to see her so proud.  ¡°Photographing wild animals sounds a bit dangerous,¡± the older man remarked.


    ¡°It can be,¡± Gavin replied simply.  ¡°I have had a few close encounters in my career, but I''ve learned from them and take necessary precautions.¡±


    ¡°I see, I see.  But even if that''s your career, Mr. Gavin, you seem to be good with photographing people as well, judging by the albums.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Gavin once again said, his guarded expression unchanged.


    ¡°As you know, I work for a modeling agency.  Tera was my client, but we got together outside of work, and things took off from there.¡±


    The young woman once again averted her eyes upon the mention of her estranged mother.


    ¡°Well, I, uh¡­¡± He cleared his throat, somewhat awkwardly.  ¡°I was thinking¨Cabout those photos.  My company could use someone as skilled as you, Mr. Gavin¡­even if only for freelance work.¡±


    Gavin lifted a brow but said nothing.


    Ian dug through his pocket and fished out a business card, handing it over.  ¡°If you''re interested, don''t hesitate to give me a call.¡±

 Episode 37: Friendship

    Gadalik settled down in front of the TV, which was the only current source of light in the living room; his little sister was seated on the couch between their parents, and he had simply turned one of their chairs around and repositioned it between the couch and the staircase so he could watch too.


    They had gotten invested in a show about a family of four and their everyday lives in a town full of kooky characters. Each episode usually consisted of someone getting into a wacky scenario, exacerbating the situation on their own, and then working together with a friend or relative to get out of it. Gadalik had waited a week to discover what shenanigans would occur in this new episode.


    It began as usual in the family¡¯s house. Everyone was drooped over the furniture with multiple fans running on the highest setting directly on them.


    ¡°I think it''s finally starting to cool off in here,¡± the mom said hopefully.


    At that moment, their breaker blew, the fans stopping in the dark.


    ¡°...We need a vacation,¡± the dad decided.


    Cue a montage of the family packing their suitcases and loading them into the car. After a few hijinks on the road involving their flashy neighbor challenging them to a race, both subsequently getting ticketed by the sheriff for speeding, before they finally arrived at their destination: a vast lake.


    Gadalik tensed. He caught his parents sneak a glance his way as well. He shook his head. It''s just a show, he reminded himself.


    ¡°Oh, a lake?¡± his sister spoke up. ¡°I¡¯ve never been to one before. It looks like fun!¡±


    The green-haired man closed his eyes for a moment. He could hear the family on TV laughing and splashing in the water, but his mind substituted the visuals with his own experience. ¡°Excuse me,¡± he said, getting up from his seat.


    ¡°Gadalik? Where are you going?¡± Adya asked her brother, concern and confusion shining in her magenta eyes. ¡°Don''t you want to see what happens?¡±


    ¡°I''m not feeling well,¡± he replied as he moved the chair back. Reassuringly, he added, ¡°You can tell me about it tomorrow, alright?¡±


    They watched him go upstairs to his room, where he sat on his bed and tried to compose himself. He had never taken issue with lakes until he had a near-death experience drowning in one while fighting a water-bound spirit. If it weren''t for his fellow spooks pulling him ashore and reviving him, Gadalik wouldn''t have survived. This was nearly seven years ago, but it had left a huge impact on him, even if he had forgotten it until each time the memories were triggered.


    His striped blue gaze focused on the nightstand¨Cmore specifically, the drawer.


    One of the two responsible for his rescue was Mira. That was actually on the first day they''d met. They had worked together on ridding other spirits from the world after that, and eventually they''d even began to spend time together outside of work.


    Things turned sour when Gadalik hadn''t been able to reciprocate her romantic feelings for him, despite his efforts to maintain their relationship. It wasn''t until somewhat recently that they''d met up by chance on their way to a haunted house, after having had no contact for six years. They were able to make peace with each other, but neither had reached out since.


    Gadalik opened the drawer and dug through the letters and business cards he''d saved. By this time, the show was over and his parents would be putting Adya to bed, so when he reached the living room it was dark and he was alone. Without a second thought, he dialed on the phone. As it rang, he debated his choice to reach out, and with each passing second he came closer to hanging up.


    Then she answered.


    Afternoon the next day, Gadalik had rode his horse a few towns over, stopping just once along the way at a bakery he had called earlier, where he picked up an order to take with him to his real destination: a two-story home in the suburbs that he''d visited so many times in the past. Without thinking, he knocked with his free hand.


    He only had to wait a few seconds before a young woman with short black hair answered. She was wearing lipstick and eye makeup that matched her hair, as well as casual dark clothes: a sleeveless top laced around her neck, high-waisted pants upheld by a silver-studded belt, and laced ankle boots with a bit of a heel on them.


    ¡°Hi, Mira,¡± he began awkwardly, still doubting his decision to visit her despite her invitation the previous night.


    ¡°Long time, no see,¡± she greeted him with a chuckle. The box he was holding caught her attention. ¡°What''s this?¡±


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    ¡°It''s a thank-you gift,¡± Gadalik said, handing it to her, along with a note he''d written that read:


    Hey, Mira


    I''m sorry for ruining what we had all those years ago.


    You''ve done a lot for me during our time as coworkers, including saving my life more than once. I feel like we''ve been through too much together to end up with no contact for so long. Maybe we could leave our troubled past behind us and start over as friends.


    -Gadalik


    After reading the letter, she looked into his eyes as if to gauge the sincerity of it.


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­strawberry cake. With chocolate frosting,¡± Gadalik spoke up, feeling a bit tense since she didn''t respond to the letter. ¡°I also brought paper plates and plastic silverware. You mentioned you liked that flavor in the past, s-so I just thought¨C¡±


    ¡°It looks great,¡± Mira interrupted his nervous explanation with an amused smile. ¡°Want to share it with me?¡±


    He was caught off-guard by the offer. Does this mean she''s open to being friends again?


    ¡°Come on, let''s head to the park and eat there. Maybe catch up on life.¡±


    He let out a relieved breath that he hadn''t realized he''d been holding. ¡°Sounds good..!¡±


    After securing his horse at her house, the two left on foot. They chose a picnic table at the local park to set up their plates and cut into the cake.


    Her violet eyes shone at the first bite. ¡°Man, does this bring me back! I haven''t had this since I stopped celebrating my birthday.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Why''d you stop?¡± he wondered.


    She shrugged, wolfing down another slice. ¡°Guess I outgrew them. At some point my parents stopped surprising me with parties, and I never bothered asking them to start again.¡±


    ¡°Aw¡­ Well the best part of being an adult is that you can get your own cake to celebrate, if you still want to. In fact, you can get a cake anytime you want,¡± Gadalik laughed, proving his point by taking a bite of his own slice.


    ¡°True.¡± She grinned. ¡°So how¡¯s your family? Your little sister is just the cutest!¡±


    ¡°Well, we had a bit of drama recently¡­but yeah, she''s a good kid.¡±


    ¡°Drama?¡±


    ¡°I''m partly to blame for it,¡± he admitted. ¡°I told her about our mom¡¯s parents, and that''s what started the whole mess. Luckily we were all able to settle things. We even got a TV out of it, in the end.¡±


    ¡°...Huh. Your family is weird,¡± she laughed.


    ¡°I guess, haha. So how has your spook¡¯s work been? Any jobs since the haunted house we worked together on?¡±


    ¡°Only a couple. They were easy enough to deal with.¡±


    The two chatted about the ghosts they''ve encountered during the years they spent apart, as they finished the cake. They cleaned up and moved to sit on the bench they used to feed the birds from.


    ¡°So what about you?¡± she pressed. ¡°Any recent jobs worth mentioning?¡±


    ¡°Not really. Like I said, most of the spirits were encountered while I was off-duty. Besides, I actually only came back home a couple days ago, after spending almost a week at my girlfriend''s place,¡± he explained.


    Mira froze, then eyed him skeptically. ¡°...Girlfriend? Do you mean a girl that''s a friend, or¡­?¡±


    ¡°N-No,¡± he stammered. ¡°She and I have been dating for about two years now.¡±


    She stood up from the bench, glaring at him as if in betrayal.


    ¡°Huh? What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°If you have a girlfriend, then what are you doing here with me?¡±


    He tilted his head, utterly confused. ¡°I explained that already¡­ I just want to be friends again.¡±


    ¡°Friends? Really?¡±


    Was I not clear¡­?


    ¡°Friendship is how relationships start with you,¡± she pointed out. ¡°Why else would you want to be friends with me again?¡±


    Her words took a beat for him to process. ¡°You¡­ You really think that the only reason I want friends is to get with them?¡±  He shook his head. ¡°There are more types of relationships in this world besides romantic ones¡­! Does friendship alone mean nothing to you¡­?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d value our friendship if you weren''t leading me on the whole time!¡± she snapped. ¡°Calling me at night, bringing me my favorite cake, and your sappy words about our past and wanting to reconnect! Does that sound friendly to you?!¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± he cried honestly.


    The two stared at each other for a moment as they both realized it was a legitimate misunderstanding.


    Finally, she sat back down. ¡°So¡­a girlfriend, huh¡­?¡± Mira chuckled, but her heart wasn''t in it. ¡°I¡¯m shocked. I mean, aren''t you supposed to be demi-romantic?¡±


    ¡°...Yeah,¡± Gadalik replied as a matter of fact. He couldn''t tell where she was going with this.


    ¡°So¡­what, then? You just woke up one day and decided you liked this girl?¡± She sounded almost hurt. ¡°What did I do wrong?¡±


    He froze. ¡°Mira¡­ Back when you and I dated, my lack of affection toward you wasn''t personal. You didn''t do anything wrong.¡±


    ¡°It''s a wonder why you even agreed to date me in the first place, when you never loved me,¡± she went on.


    ¡°...I wish I hadn''t agreed to date you,¡± Gadalik confessed.


    She met his gaze, offended. ¡°Then why did you?¡±


    ¡°Everything you said when you broke up with me was true: I just felt obligated to give you a chance, because you were the first person who ever said they liked me that way.¡± He averted his gaze. ¡°If I knew things would end with us cutting ties, I never would have agreed to it. You did everything right. I just wasn''t prepared.¡±


    She narrowed her eyes solemnly. ¡°So what about your girlfriend¡­? What does she have now that I didn''t back then¡­?¡±


    ¡°N-Nothing! Just¡­time.¡±


    ¡°Time?¡± she echoed, somewhat indignant. ¡°You and I had known each other for three whole months before we dated for half a year¡­!¡±


    ¡°And my girlfriend and I had known each other for five years before I developed feelings for her,¡± he explained.


    She stared at him incredulously.


    He sighed. ¡°Mira, I''m sorry for how I handled things with you. Looking back, I know I hurt you something awful, and your feelings and your choice to end things with me are valid.¡±


    ¡°...And?¡± she laughed playfully, as if trying to lighten the mood.


    He relaxed some, the slightest bit amused. ¡°I''m not trying to get together with you¨Cor lead you on. I just want us to go back to how things were before we dated. I want our friendship back. That''s all I was hoping to accomplish.¡±


    ¡°...Alright. But ¡®friends¡¯ feels too personal a label after six years of no contact. Maybe we should start at the level we met each other as: coworkers.¡±


    ¡°Hm. That''s fair. Coworkers, it is.¡±