17. Spirit Society (VI)

“We’re so screwed,” hissed Raziel quietly.

How could a pair of mortals possibly stop these two powerhouses who were completely consumed in their duel?

Raziel rocked forward on his heels, teetering on the edge of intervention.

As he debated his options, a black blur vaulted past his peripherals.

“Father Linus,” he yelled, almost slipping in surprise.

The man moved like a bolt of lightning, his aura blazing with white flames. He headed straight for the ring of glyphs. Crouching, Father Linus pressed his hands into the glowing red runes, his fingers digging into the hard earth with the strength of steel.

Usually, Raziel didn't pay much attention to the [Priest]’s aura. Father Linus’s magic was calm and serene, like foam on a wave. It was a stark contrast to the [Wraith] whose darkness wreathed him like a cloak, and was as integral to Raziel’s perception of him as the color of his eyes, or the sound of his footsteps.

Father Linus channeled his magic and the air shimmered with heat. His aura was no longer tranquil but roiling like a summer storm. Fiery vines of mana left the glyphs and crawled up his arms, twisting over his skin, warping, blackening it.

What was that mad priest doing?!

Raziel leapt down the tree, running vertically along its thick trunk.

The presence of the two spirits grew steadily in strength. Whispering voices became shouting. Raziel’s heart raced, a primal urge to flee tightening his chest. Father Linus was somehow sapping the strength of the protective circle.

The [Priest], now standing, glowed red, his veins and muscles illuminated beneath his skin like embers through parchment. With a quick gesture, a card materialized between his fingers. He brandished it like a throwing knife. The red mana in his body transmuted into blazing white radiance, as if he were an avatar of holy magic.

“[Purify]!” Father Linus’s voice erupted with power. He hurled the card into the fray. The card was a brilliant star soaring across the night.

The [Wraith] effortlessly swatted the card as though it were an insect. The card spun into the ground, exploding in a burst of radiance. The [Wraith] stuttered backwards in shock. Last Wish screeched and clawed at her many eyes, the power of the Spell Card impacting her far more.

“Stop this!” commanded the [Priest] in his dissonantly loud voice. “You’re generating too much spirit mana!”

The [Wraith] flicked his eyes to the floating village for a moment and then his bloodthirsty expression softened.

“Priest,” Last Wish spat out, her determination palpable as she reached for the radiant Spell Card, seemingly intent on crushing it to dust. Father Linus raised his palm, and the card flashed into his hand,

“Your corruption runs deep.” The [Wraith] snarled at the [Phantasm]. “What sort of aberration did you eat?”

The tattoos snaking across Last Wish’s grotesque form increased in speed. “The seat of the Spirit Lord is empty. I will be the one to wear the mantle, and I will consume until we all are one.”

Her voice echoed with a dissonant chorus, grating against Raziel’s ears like nails on a chalkboard.

The [Wraith]’s red eyes glowed brightly. “Sorry, my dear, but that’s never going to happen.”

“Once you're a part of me, you’ll have no choice.” Last Wish’s voice grew louder. “Eat or be eaten!”

“You would give me terrible digestion.”

The [Wraith] was obviously loath to let Last Wish escape, but he had little choice. If they continued to fight, the veil would fall. As far as Raziel knew, they had no way of holding her hostage either. The air was extremely tense. Everyone understood that they would fight each other again in the near future - to the death.

Last Wish’s many limbs folded back into her and her form became mostly human again. With a reluctant growl, she fled the area.

The [Wraith]’s expression warped into something knife-sharp and hateful. “She needs to be destroyed.”

“All we need to do is kill off the more powerful spirits? That would fix Bramblebog?” asked Raziel.

Father Linus nodded hesitatingly. “Kill them quickly. No fanfare.”

There wasn't much room for error left.

Raziel looked at the disheveled [Priest]. “How many of your cards can be used to kill spirits?”

“Three.”

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“He has [Minor Purification], [Minor Clarity], and [Radiant Flame],” said the wraith remorselessly.

Father Linus’s voice was nasal and unimpressed. “Very good. Do you know their ranks too?”

“Judging by that little show you performed, your [Minor Purification] Spell Card must be at least B-Rank, and your [Radiant Flame] Spell Card is likely C-Rank. What you were able to pull off with them was admirable.”

The [Wraith] gave Father Linus an appraising look. “In a different life, you would have had decent potential. What a waste.”

Raziel interjected. “Old man, what do we have to pay you to get you to eat these spirits for us?”

“Nothing is worth the stomach problems that would cause me.” The [Wraith]’s wore a stoic expression, but darkness raised around his feet, swirling and agitated. “The next generation won’t get anywhere if everything is handed to them on a silver platter. Deal with this minor issue yourself. I’ll only help if the bashful bride makes a reappearance.”

Raziel had known his ancestor would say that, but he wanted to ask just in case.

“I need to find some dog bones. Then I can use my Beast Cards without them shattering.”

After watching the greatest duel he’d ever seen, Raziel itched to emulate those moves against an opponent. His newly forged body also required testing.

In short, he needed the bones of a dog beast, and someone to beat up.

During Raziel’s brief silence, the [Wraith] went to the ring of glyphs around the tree. Toeing the glyphs with his boot, his dark aura sputtered out like water evaporating on a hot stove.

“There isn't too much damage,” declared the [Wraith]. “What kind of body do you have, priest, which allows you to siphon mana so far above your level and transmute it into your own? A decent [Minor Purification] Spell Card helps, but you still should’ve exploded.” He paused. “I can’t think of anything which can be obtained locally.”

Father Linus looked at the [Wraith] from over swollen lower eyelids. “I don't know. I was given something as a toddler.”

The damage from siphoning power from the protective barrier had wounded the [Priest] greatly. He was exhausted and ragged and didn’t even seem to care that his cassock was in tatters. For a man so prideful about his appearance, that wasn’t a good sign.

Without the [Wraith]'s assistance and with the [Priest] weakened, Raziel felt the weight of Bramblebog on his shoulders.

A new chilling presence approached them, albeit hesitantly. It was a spirit they had encountered during the wedding.

The [Ghoul] made no effort to conceal himself, and from what Raziel could discern, he was alone. The [Ghoul] was somewhat flabby and awkward for his kind, a pair of golden goat horns cresting from his head. ‘I have nothing.’

"Please don't hurt me," were the first words out of Manavoid's mouth. He held his hands up defensively. "I don't want my spirit fruits back, I promise. I just want to talk."

The [Wraith] pointed one hooked blade at Manavoid. "Perfect timing. We were just about to go looking for a new practice target."

Father Linus said, "Curious to see how we fared against the phantasm?"

"Yes, and you've exceeded my wildest expectations. To be honest, Last Wish has been terrorizing us for years. First, she took over the Myriad Roots Faction, then the Wayward Moon Faction. Only the Fable Faction stood a chance against her, but she betrayed them and merged their numbers into her army. We need the help of an outsider!”

"How is she forcing you to bow your head?" inquired Raziel.

"Contracts," both Father Linus and the [Wraith] answered simultaneously.

Manavoid hung his head, wringing his hands. "Most of us ghouls pledged fealty to our Spirit Lord. In turn, he swore to keep us full. But our Spirit Lord has been gone for many moons now… anyone who can fulfill our contract can buy our allegiance. The faction leaders have been collecting contracts, forming armies, but when Last Wish killed the faction leaders all of the contracts became hers.”

Father Linus said, “Go on.”

“I can't betray her outright, but I can assist you in other ways. Any reasonable spirit will too. We fear she’ll consume the rest of us eventually.”

“When did she become so corrupted? Was it recently?” asked the [Wraith] coldly.

“One night she appeared with strange tattoos running across her body, her eyes black as witchstone, stinking of dark magic. I don't know exactly what happened but-“

“You're wringing your hands again,” said Father Linus. “You know.”

“Well,” laughed Manavoid nervously. “I can't talk about it.”

“Another contract?” asked Raziel.

Manavoid nodded.

Father Linus now looked truly frustrated.

“Other than Last Wish, who's causing the most trouble around here?” asked Raziel.

The [Ghoul] explained that the lieutenants of the factions she had overthrown were vying for Last Wish’s favor. Much of the violence stemmed from them. "Only the smallest faction still remains. If Last Wish conquers it, she’ll be eligible to claim the mantle of Spirit Lord."

Raziel felt a bit bad for this [Ghoul]. However, spirits were their enemy - [Ghouls] in particular. They hungered for human flesh and souls and there was no telling what they would do once they discovered Bramblebog was in such a precarious state.

His village might as well be a bag full of treats hanging over them.

"You said you’d help us, right? We want to stop her, but we need resources,” said Raziel. “Do you know of any beasts close by? Dog beasts?”

Manavoid nodded, warbling off a couple of options.

Father Linus cut the [Ghoul] off mid-speech. “Did you say [Devouring Manahound]?”

Bone from the [Devouring Manahound] would be enough to repair Raziel’s cards. Also, beasts were rarely born in an evolved form. It was likely that a simple [Basic Hound] had lived around certain dark path alchemical ingredients or creatures which caused it to evolve into the [Devouring Manahound]. If Raziel was lucky, perhaps he could also find those things near the beast’s home and use them on his [Elusive Dreamhounds].

"Where can we find it?" asked Raziel urgently.

"North. The walk is but a moon phase away, it’s near… The Rift.”

The mention of that place caused the Wraith's expression to darken, his eyes narrowing dangerously. The planes of his face seemed to grow more angular and menacing.