Lin says "Mulan, what were you even thinking?!"

Mulan says "We were just trying to get some shadow beast cores. We were being careful!"

Lin says "Why sneak in? Why not wait and go with the elves?"

Mulan says "The elves won't go again for days. Besides, the elves take all the stuff we get."

Lin says "Did you even ask the elves to give you a share? They probably assumed that you didn't need anything if you didn't speak up."

Mulan blushes and says "No."

Lin says "I'm sure the elves would be fine with giving you guys a fair share. They probably just think you don't need anything, being Ash's kids. But why do you need shadow beast cores?"

Mulan says "We wanted to get them for Ekard. He told us that's the only way he can get bigger and stronger."

"That's because that's what I told him. I also told him that I would take care of helping him once we reach the peninsula."

Mulan says "Oh. He didn't tell us that part."

Lin says "You would have known if you had talked to us about wanting to come to the shadow plane. It's not like we would have stopped you. We would have just taken steps to keep you safe."

Mulan says "For some reason, being sneaky just felt more exciting!"

Lin says "I get that, but was risking your siblings lives worth it?"

Mulan says "I wasn't risking their lives, I am strong enough to protect them. I am much stronger than the beasts here."

"Oh? So, you are stronger than a full grown drake?"

Mulan says "A drake? There is a drake here?!"

"There are dozens. Where do you think Ekard came from? And the drakes might not be the strongest things here. Never think that you are the strongest thing around, I've made that mistake a few times."

Mulan says "Surely there is nothing here stronger than you?!"

"That is an assumption that I won't make. They may be rare, but there are definitely things stronger than me."

My answer seems to stun Mulan, she really didn't think things through. I completely understand her wanting to be adventurous, I just want her to think things through first. I think we have given her enough shocks to get that point across, for a while at least.

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"By the way, what possessed you to take an untested golem with you?"

Mulan says "That was an accident! Albion bumped into it and it activated. It followed us when we used the gate and wouldn't go back when we ordered it to."

"Did it just follow you, or did it heal you when you got hurt?"

Mulan says "It healed us. It even helped in one of the fights."

"Good. Sounds like it is working properly."

Lin says "Ash, that's not the point! What is their punishment going to be?"

"You four are grounded for a week and that includes no cartoons. Lin, I trust you can find some educational books for them to read?"

Lin says "Oh, absolutely!"

The kids let out groans and start complaining, but I ignore them and open a gate back to the castle. I don't really want to punish them, but it is the only way I can think of to make sure they don't do it again. Just a lecture isn't enough to outweigh the fun of sneaking off on an adventure.

Once we are through the gate, I let Lin watch the kids while I turn my attention to the golem. It shouldn't have activated just from being bumped, in fact the kids shouldn't have been able to activate it at all. However, when I take a look at its programming and body, I can't find anything wrong.

Other than the golem activating, the other thing bothering me is that it didn't obey the kids. Not that I mind it staying to heal the kids, but it shouldn't have been capable of ignoring orders. When I can't find anything wrong with the golem, I do a mana scan and use detection.

Honestly, I was just being thorough and didn't expect to find anything. However, detection finds a mana signature within the golem that isn't a part of the golem. When I focus on it and take a closer look I find that it is in control of the golem.

"Who are you? What are you? How did you get control of my golem? For that matter, how did you get into the castle?!"

??? says "My apologies. It wasn't my intention to invade your castle or to take control of this golem. I was drawn to the golem by a power beyond my control. In answer to what I am, I guess the closest answer I can give is that I am a ghost."

"A ghost? Then how did you get here? We are pretty far from land."

??? says "In life I was a cleric of the goddess of healing and also a member of a group of adventurers. We were hired to defend a ship that was looking for a route around to the southern ports. Such a route would greatly expand trade and make a fortune for the one to discover it."

"I can understand that. I am guessing that the mission didn't go well?"

??? says "Not at all. We were attacked and overwhelmed by a swarm of demonic beasts. Despite doing everything we could, the beasts wiped us out and sank the ship. I am not sure why, but all of the ship's crew and our group became ghosts after we died. However, we couldn't leave the wreck of our ship, that is until something pulled me to this golem."

"What did it feel like?"

??? says "Like something reached out, grabbed a hold of me, and dragged me straight into the golem. To be honest, I am not even sure where I am, but when I saw how those kids were acting I couldn't ignore them. They were obviously up to something and I got the feeling that they would be in danger."

"Well, I appreciate you protecting them and keeping them safe. For that, I am willing to try and help you, but I don't really know much about ghosts. Do you have some kind of unfinished business that is keeping you in this world?"

??? says "No, not really. I believe enough time has passed that everyone I knew has already passed on. About the only thing I would do if I could would be to find a way to release my friends."

"Honestly, I don't know enough about ghosts to know if that is even possible. I will do some research and see what I can find out. For now you can stay in the golem until we figure out what is going on. Oh, you never did tell me your name."

??? says "That is because I haven't been able to remember it yet."

"Oh. Then do you want me to give you a name?"

??? says "No. For now just call me golem. I can feel that staying in this body will allow my memories to return. Remembering my name should only be a matter of time."