Bloodshed

pte

r Ju

ward, her surroundings growing

med ominously, their gnarled branches casting eerie silhouettes. A sense of unea

t on her wrist and murmured

lly be hidden in suc

it,

ll figure materialized a tiny, doll-like creature dressed in a white tunic

take a

ded. "B

rward, slipping

her bracelet stirred, their

let me

nt to

me nex

silencing them. "Ember, E

She found a nearby stu

o keep her company. So, she had created these enchanted

ople had vanished. Ember, Elise, and Goodness had similar origin

celet. "Once I make some real mone

e! Thanks, Boss!" Goodnes

, Boss." Ember's

" Elise

ight be spirits, but

oice echoed in her mind, t

crouched behind a tree, o

ead. "Please, just let me go! I can't win against you, a

golden-brown in color, crackling with energy. It bounce

lost ten times. You're literally just

e you insult me. That's it,

is eyes. "We wer

ly, then tackled him. "Fin

it smashed directly into Casper, wh

ned. "Hi, I

the young man sc

r." the m

?" the m

apped as they scr

What? I thought smiling

Nathaniel, was

own creature, and behind him,

get out of

tation, he t

m finall

a panic. "Hey. He

s is all your fault, you

k. He sprinted through the tre

he spotted a figure sta

eapt. A hum

cally. "Help. I

sh shouting, the fig

ce turned pale

he get? Three mons

his chest. "Mom, I'm sorry. I wasn't strong en

added, "Please bury my PC with

rms. "Oh, for the

his man was very much alive-

get lost outside its body, but it usual

vy muttered to herself. "Somethin

in. His clothes were e

had pointed her t

s soul to his body, she

opped crying. His wid

ad a

ght. "... Wait

ously. What, do I

rembled wit

ving human

the creatures still

ite again. "Run.

ready to drag her away-bu

she so

foot. "What are you

. "Go? Why? I lov

like she was insane. "

erged from the trees, fol

nearly left his b

d. We're act

waved. "Boss. Yo

niel

Bo

hell was

f earthy-yellow mist and murmured,

returned to the land, with spiritual forces existing in between. Over time, mount

t ancient people called a

technology, such a manifestation still exist

wledge me, all is well. This mountain is mine. This path is mi

ll, my friend and I are already here, aren'

Calling her a deity seemed appropriate enough, after all

ustration. "Nathaniel

unblinking eyes. "And you! You've made me angry, and that could have seri

"However... if you agree to play a gam

per leaped onto the mist and struck

. "Ouch! Why are

pummel the mist, he declared, "I'm teac

Casper held on tight. In desperation, it cried out, "

ardian? Then I must b

er, copper, iron, entire mountains under his contr

d you dare to act high a

ss blows. It finally gave in, pleading, "

agged the weakened mist over to Ivy. "Boss

ined it

cal form, especially in a place like t

ed, "Since you've gained consciousn

d out, "I am a guardian. I

uickly changed its tone, speaking in a sweet,

ying, those who recognized the

, carefully cut out a figure, and blew on it gently.

t peere

r tied into two small buns. It looked

ide the paper doll, causing it t

boss~" it

nd said, "From now on,

traces of its former arrogance a

and asked, "What's your

red and wanted someone to play with. Nathani

, "When did I eve

did. In your dream, remembe

d as a memory surfaced.

d her arms

d began recounting

ng a cemetery with friends,

stood by the roadside, clutc

sked, "Where ar

replied, "I d

the flower from her outstretched hand. "D

und himself in the middle of nowhere, s

r, I didn't trick him

"You tricked me b

id n

you

bickering. "Casper, Jay

wrist, and instantly, both spirits tu

zen in place. This

man before him was no ordinary person. She w

lose to her while

an I at least go home before I,

lance. "You're not dead.

seriously? You came all th

"Something

d come for somethi

he simply said, "I did pull you back from the

eagerly. "Of cour

offer someone like her? Money seeme

that she actu

s looking properly, Ivy was quite striking

e... maybe this was

n the thought any furthe

e fa

lled across the grass, ge

eak.

iel gr

eas. A person like her was c

bled to his feet an

t fo

tigious hospital, the atmos

el has been in a coma for three days. All his test results are

d, Danielle's

e had been a medical prodigy since childhood, trained by a top ne

er in reassurance. Don't worry, Mom. Ther

Eleanor, you should go get some

watch over him. Eleanor, take yo

le refused

is like being trapped in sleep. Since we've ruled out

" Danielle a

l may have experienced something traumatic, something he couldn

ed. Nathaniel has always been optim

of life. What could have happened to m

ria was the only p

ictory, how do we treat it?

gical. Every case is different. I can'

ingers. Nath, what happened to you? Why are you shutting us out? I miss you

-BANG, B

r echoed through the room, lo

her parents befor

ite girl dressed in

d. "Who are yo

"I'm here to bring Nathani

d his hands. "Sis! I'm rig

couldn't see

mean?" she as

ing Nathaniel into the room. She repeated her

l room were stunned, their eyes

ious in bed-so what did she

"This is my son's hospital room.

oncerns. She hurried over to Ivy an

er back. "Danielle, don't

rother is unwell, and my parents are

n the bed is just Nathaniel's

"Spirit? What are

m, flipped her wrist, and pressed i

m. Benjamin and the others recoiled in shock, and even Vi

son and the translucent figure before hi

waved. "Dad! Mom! Elea

her arms passed right through. Tears

her. "Miss Ivy saved me." He glanced at Ivy and

e supernatural was rare. Regretting his earlier skepticism, he cleared his throat and softened

g doubted at first. Her mentor had always told her to remain

er extraordinary abilities. Clearly, she was no ordinary person. Pe

Ivy, we are truly grateful for what y

d added, "Please, can you b

ed. "Of

e, took out a talisman, and held it betw

urn to where you belong. Let the fo

t into flames, and Nathani

s again, his family wa

gasped. "Dad! Mom! Eleanor

sobbing in relief. "Miss Iv

roper gratitude. He considered what valuable gifts they had at home-surely

have much, but we do have some wealth. If there's

five finge

blinked.

meone of her stature

haniel quickly chimed in. "Dad,

osed, but inwardl

barely even seen

amily was wealthy, but this

uch. Not only would it feel wrong

aid, "That's too much. Jus

's far too little. How

overcharge. This was a simple soul return, not

in cash. "Miss Ivy, you have my utmost respect. If you

with a nod. "I'll

id for bringing Nathaniel back. If you still feel grateful, why

turned and le

feeling as though even her departing fig

n stood while two elderly

, George Shaw, and on the right

e evening, carefully omitting th

a knowing smile. "Ethan, your

thing was off. His grandfather's

t do you mean

you remember when your grandmother was serious

The Yates household had been

andmother h