Rufus was looking at the scrying glass, seeing Leon's face.
"How are they?" Leon asked unbothered. He doesn't seem particularly sad about it for some reason. Rufus on the other hand, feel a semblance of pity.
"Violet is obviously traumatized. Amaryllis has been by her side and hasn't left at all. Her family is probably notified of this."
"Damn! I didn't expect this to happen." He said, "There is more bad news I have to tell you. Margaret Lune isn't the only new casualty that night. Her entire family was killed too."
Rufus's eyes widened at this piece of information and slammed his palms on his desk, "When did this happen?"
"Apparently the same time as Margaret's death. They were all found dead in their home after the news was passed on, but it wasn't just the Lune family. Almost all her relatives were found dead too. The Ripper got them all."
Rufus sports a look of irritation, a rare expression, "Everyone is saying that it could be a ghost though that leaves questions. You know anything about that?"
Leon tiredly rubbed his eyes, "I searched the archives of any mention of ghosts or spirits that went awol. It makes no sense, but we could at least applaud Ryllis for getting the idea right at least."
*
A week later, Amy was standing behind Boris, strengthening his magic. In front of them is a giant circle overlooking their hard work. It looks like a magic circle but the runes on the ring are completely written in Silvia of varying sizes. There are three pairs of blank circles spread out evenly, big enough to place their palms on.
Before leaving, Amy made sure to lock the door before teleporting to where Alabaster is. People are also gonna think she's still depressed and will decide to give her space. She rarely slept since that week as she placed her full focus on the task at hand.
"You sure this would work?" Boris asked with uncertainty. He also came to see the project and provide the bait. The bait being another poorly made clone out of the flesh and organs of some of the victims. The three of them together are not strong enough to kill the spirit with the ritual but should be enough to contain it.
"It took a while, but we should finally catch the bastard." Alabaster said.
As none of them are spiritualists, they neither have the training nor the proper equipment to catch it as easily as they do, especially powerful ones like this. The current active spiritualists are all old and incapable to be out in the field, so it is up to them to try it themselves.
"By the way, why are you wearing so many bangles? You look ridiculous." Amy commented on Alabaster's appearance. He is wearing bangles that reach up to his elbows, anklets that cover most of his ankles and so many other kinds of jewelry. He might as well be a walking gold statue.
"I lost my magic, so I have to compromise on this." He grumbled.
"Are you sure we should do this in the open?" Boris said, energized by the newfound power. Amy then walk to her spot.
"Relax! This place is a ghost town as the Ripper killed all the inhabitants here."
The ritual requires at least three people to activate. Their combined magic should be enough power. In addition, the timing needs to be perfect. It is a full moon tonight. The perfect time to capture a ghost.
After the set up finished, the trio went to their stations and place their hands on the small circles where their hands are supposed to be. The clone mindlessly walked into the middle of the circle. It is as deformed and unconvincing as ever.
As the first barrier is let down. They didn't have to wait for it. It's already here.
The circle activated immediately and before Amy could celebrate. The circle began to literally glitch. Amy began to put more of her magic into it since she currently has the most out of the three, but she failed as the circle combust underneath them. But before she could gather herself, she could immediately smell death. This is when she got a look at the Ripper, as it tore apart the clone with a fierce look on his eyes then it passes through the barrier inside the circle effortlessly.
It is still transparent and colorless, but the spirit is a tall young male, probably around his 30s, has hair so long that it is much longer than hers. His clothing is definitely foreign and noble. She cannot recognize nor identify what country it originated from though as it is a fusion between Damat and Karnei. The spirit then stared directly at her. His expression is angry but not murderous. It is the look of an adult wanting to lecture a misbehaving child.
"D-Don't t-t-t-t-ry to s-s-st-op m-me, little girl," he said to her.
Amy was puzzled to hear that it could speak, a bit incoherent but easy to put together when she read his lips.
"What?"
In a flash, the ritual is gone and the three of them are panting from this ordeal.
"Everyone okay?" Boris asked.
"I'm fine!" Alabaster angrily says as he tore off the jewelry, now useless and drained of magic.
"Same here." Amy sat back in disappointment.
"Sorry guys. We failed." Alabaster said.
*
Amy went back to her dorm, took a shower, and changed into a different outfit. Her eyes are heavy due to lack of sleep. She turn towards the whiteboard. She decided to look at the notes she took. Viola has never seen a spirit before but anyone who works with them always says the same thing, it is like a misty feeling. She should have known. Upon seeing it, she realized what it was. That was no vengeful ghost. It's a poltergeist.
The reason why this didn't occur to her is because Poltergeists don't exist in the story. It is a concept that exist in her world. No one would believe her if she explains what it is anyway. The ritual uses magic as bait but the clone was bait enough. He is not interested in the magic because the magic that poltergeist possessed is its own. In fact, it came out of its own volition just to warn her. Even if she tries the ritual again, it might not work
Out of anger, she destroyed the whiteboard. Pieces of yarn, paper and thumbtacks scattered and the whiteboard itself in punched in half.
She sat down to think what she missed. Ghosts and spirits in the story are quite clear-cut until she is right about the Ripper being a spirit. If it is a poltergeist, then it uses its own power, but humans are incapable of doing that. Only a demon or an angel is capable of that. This gave her an idea. She saw Ramiro staring at her. She pats the bird on its head then after looking at him for a moment and quickly left the room.
"No, absolutely not!" Alabaster roared.
We don't have time to waste. There is only one other person who has the power to capture it. You can play Devil's advocate later. We have no other option.
"As much as I hate to admit it, she may be right. That poltergeist chose to come at his own free will to warn us not to come after him. The ritual will not work again. We need someone who has the power to do both that and capture it. And-" Boris seemed determined, "You know that Amaryllis's power is the only one who has the power to destroy it."