Footsteps echoed softly along the empty street as the night air began to sap the lingering warmth from my skin.
The city had grown quiet, the kind of heavy, expectant silence that makes every sound feel like a gunshot.
The rhythmic scrape of my boots against the cobblestones, the faint, hollow rustle of the wind whistling between narrow brick buildings; it all felt too loud.
I slipped my hands into my pockets and kept walking without a destination, the events of the day replaying behind my eyes.
[Where are you going now?]
I paused for a beat before answering.
'Where else? Home.'
It had been a hell of a day.
I'd started it with a routine and ended it by dying, being resurrected, and getting cursed, all before dinner. I could use a century or two of rest.
Well, at least I gained something, I thought, trying to find the silver lining in the massive storm cloud that was my life.
I could still feel the phantom pressure of the Korga's will. I could use that taste of power to refine my Colorless art.
Third, I made a binding vow with the very person who dragged me into this mess in the first place.
'Am I actually crazy?'
[Rationally speaking... everything does sound a bit unhinged,] Gisella said, her voice sounding like a criminal trying to convince a judge they'd committed a "mercy" robbery.
[But look on the bright side! You managed to find a clue about your Spirit Body.]
I narrowed my eyes at a passing streetlamp.
'Clue? You said "clue," not "cure." Was I actually scammed... by a stick?'
"Haa... we'll save that talk for later." I was too exhausted to even properly enjoy my own indignation.
I kept walking, but my feet felt like they were made of lead.
'Scratch that. I'm not walking another inch.'
I emerged onto the main boulevard and spotted a lone carriage parked under a dying gaslight.
The coachman caught my signal and steered the horse over with a weary click of his tongue.
"Good evening, lad."
"Evening," I replied shortly, hauling my tired bones into the cabin. "District A, house 234."
"Right away."
Hieee!
The carriage lurched forward. I sat back, placing my battered gear, my weapons, and the cloth-wrapped staff beside me, watching the few remaining city lights blur past. It was well past eleven.
I actually managed to get my gear back from Alex in exchange of vague promise.
'What a headache!'
[Why did you agree to bind with me?]
Gisella asked suddenly. Her voice was low, devoid of its usual snark.
I frowned at my reflection in the window.
'Aren't we already past the 'getting to know you' phase?'
[I know... it's just that any sane person would have run the other way.]
'Oh, so now you're calling me insane? 'I raised a mental brow.
[Don't get me wrong... I'm grateful. I just want to understand you better.]
I watched the city get consumed by the velvet darkness of the outskirts.
'I don't have a better reason than the ones I already gave you. But sure, if you're looking for the fancy, philosophical version... let's call it fate.'
[Fate...]
she whispered.
'My master once told me,' I continued,
'that the only thing that makes humans different from animals is our defiance of fate.'
[But then... shouldn't you have rejected me?]
I let out a small, tired smile.
'That's the fun part. If I had rejected you, that would have been my fate, too.'
[Then where is the defiance?]
My smile sharpened, turning a bit dark.
'There is none. Let me correct the statement: The only thing that makes humans different from animals is our delusion. The beautiful, stupid belief that we can actually change the script.'
Gisella remained silent for a long time.
[And that belief is what makes you human.]
I didn't answer. There was no right one.
[So you accepted me because you believed... you deluded yourself into thinking I can help you survive.]
I shrugged. Maybe.
She didn't reply, but the nagging feeling in the back of my mind told me she was chewing on that thought.
'What?' I demanded.
[Nothing. Just... that was a more thoughtful answer than I expected from someone... so young.]
'What do you think of me? I might look young, but I've inherited the wisdom of ages. You're looking at the most enlightened person you'll ever meet,'
I replied, letting a thick layer of smugness coat my thoughts.
[...Never mind.]
Gisella chose to ignore that.
'And don't worry,' I added,
'if you fail to hold up your end of the deal, I know a very talented exorcist. Getting rid of you would be a fun weekend project.'
[...Woah. Scary! But let me dispel your little delusion. It's impossible to get rid of me now. For better or worse, Kai, we're stuck together.]
This time, it was my turn to be silent.
She was stubborn, I'll give her that. It made me wonder just how many centuries of loneliness it took to make someone cling this hard to a stranger.
"Here we are. That'll be three pale coins."
The carriage slowed to a halt. I hopped out, paid the man, and turned toward my gate.
A small, elegant manor stood behind a low iron fence, its pale stone walls gleaming softly in the moonlight.
To the side lay a quiet training yard, the dirt packed hard from years of my Master's "lessons." The wooden practice posts stood there like ghosts of my past failures.
[...]
"Well, at last. Welcome to my humble abode."
[Is... this your home?]
I pushed open the iron gate. "Yep. My sweet, quiet sanctuary."
[Are you a prince?]
her voice was filled with genuine shock.
I snorted as I reached the front door and fumbled for my keys.
'Prince? Please. Look at me. Do I look like I spend my time at balls?'
[Then how do you afford this?]
"It belonged to my master. He left it to me in his will," I said, swinging the door open.
"Along with the 'pleasant surprise' of being engaged to his granddaughter."
[What?!]
"So, no, I'm not a prince. I'm more of a 'Princess Consort' in waiting. Though, considering she hasn't spoken to me in a year, I might just be a squatter with fancy titles."
The interior was warm and smelled of old wood and beeswax. Polished floors, simple furniture, it had dignity without being gaudy.
[Could it be you're a bigger deal than I thought?]
"That's what I've been trying to tell you all night," I muttered, a massive yawn catching me off guard.
I trudged up the stairs, my muscles screaming for mercy. I reached my bedroom, tossed my gear into the corner, and collapsed onto the bed without even pulling back the covers.
"See you in the morning. Good night, stick-lady."
[Wait! I have a few more ques—]
I didn't hear the rest. The darkness pulled me under, I didn't dream of leaking essence or white gorillas.
But something far worse happened.