Ryan approached cautiously, positioning himself slightly behind and to the side of Riei.
He could feel the weight of unseen eyes upon him, the Wraiths assessing this newcomer.
Riei spoke, her voice cool and controlled. "You have delivered your message, Wraiths. Now leave my territory."
One of the Wraiths stepped forward, his mask fashioned into a grotesque grin.
When he spoke, his voice was like gravel scraping against silk.
"Are you certain you wish to defy us, Riei? The left district has always been... contentious. But now, it will be ours. You would be wise to withdraw peacefully."
Ryan felt a hint of disgust run inside his body.
The threat was clear, even if the words were couched in false politeness.
Riei's scales shimmered, a sign of her agitation.
"The left district has been under my protection for centuries. I will not abandon those who rely on me because of your baseless claims."
The lead Wraith tilted his head, the movement unnaturally fluid.
"Baseless? Oh, my dear Riei. Our claims are backed by power you cannot hope to match. The Under City is changing. The old order is crumbling. You would do well to adapt... or perish."
At this, Ryan felt something stir within him.
The power he had been struggling to control all day suddenly felt focused, sharp.
Without fully realizing what he was doing, he stepped forward, placing himself beside Riei.
"I think," he said, his voice carrying an authority he didn't know he possessed, "that you should reconsider your position."
The Wraiths shifted, shadows coiling around them like agitated snakes.
The leader's mask turned towards Ryan, his empty eye sockets seeming to bore into him.
"And who might you be, to speak so boldly?" the Wraith asked, a note of genuine curiosity in his rasping voice.
Before Ryan could respond, Migi was at his side.
"You stand in the presence of the Spirit King, I assure you, you'd be wise to tread carefully." she declared, her usual playfulness replaced by fierce pride.
A ripple passed through the Wraiths, their shadowy forms wavering like smoke in a breeze.
The leader took a step back, his mask now angled up to fully regard Ryan.
'Oh? Seems my name still has an impact on people… interesting.' A small grin formed on Ryan's face.
"The Spirit King?" The lead Wraith mused. "Interesting. Very interesting indeed. We had heard rumours, of course, but to find you here, under Riei's protection... This changes things."
Ryan met the Wraith's gaze steadily, even as he felt sweat beading on his brow.
He was acutely aware that he was out of his depth, but he couldn't back down now.
"I don't know much about the politics of the Under City, and quite frankly, i couldn't care less." he admitted, "but I do know that threats and intimidation are not the way forward. If there are disputes to be settled, surely there are better ways than war?".
The lead Wraith was silent for a long moment.
Then, to everyone's surprise, he laughed – a sound like wind whistling through a graveyard.
"Oh, this is delightful. A Spirit King who preaches diplomacy. How... refreshing."
He turned his attention back to Riei.
"Very well. In light of this unexpected development, we will withdraw. For now. But make no mistake, Riei – this is not over. We will be watching, and waiting. The left district will be ours, one way or another."
With that, the Wraiths began to retreat, their forms melding with the shadows until they vanished from sight.
The oppressive atmosphere lingered for a moment before dissipating like morning mist.
Riei let out a long breath, her rigid posture relaxing slightly.
She turned to Ryan, her serpentine eyes unreadable. "That was... unexpected, Spirit King. I thank you for your intervention, though I fear you may have drawn their attention to yourself now."
Ryan ran a hand through his hair, suddenly feeling the weight of what had just transpired.
"I couldn't just stand by and do nothing, besides, they were getting annoying" he said. "But... I think I'm going to need a lot more information about what's going on in the Under City."
Migi nodded vigorously. "Yes, darling, you certainly do. That was brave, but also incredibly reckless! Do you have any idea how dangerous the Obsidian Wraiths are?"
As the group made their way back into the house, the air was thick with tension and unasked questions.
Ryan could feel the eyes of Riei's household on him, a mix of awe, concern, and curiosity in their gazes.
Riei led them to a large meeting room, gesturing for everyone to sit.
As they settled around a low table, she fixed Ryan with a penetrating stare.
"I believe," she said slowly, "that it's time we had a very long, very detailed conversation about the current state of affairs in our world. And perhaps, Spirit King, about your role in shaping its future."
Ryan nodded, a mix of anticipation and trepidation swirling in his gut.
He had come to the Under City seeking refuge and training.
Now, it seemed, he had stumbled into the center of a brewing conflict.
As Riei began to speak, laying out the complex web of alliances and enmities that defined spirit politics, Ryan listened intently.
×××××××××××
In the heart of the Obsidian Wraiths' domain, where shadows danced like living entities and the air itself seemed to whisper secrets, the lead Wraith glided through winding corridors of polished black stone.
Each step brought it closer to the chambers of the second-in-command, a figure both revered and feared among their ranks.
The Wraith paused before a set of towering doors adorned with intricate carvings that seemed to shift and change when observed too closely.
Taking a moment to compose itself, the Wraith knocked three times, each rap echoing ominously in the hushed hallway.
"Enter," came a voice from within, smooth as silk yet sharp as a blade.
The doors swung open silently, revealing a vast chamber bathed in an ethereal blue light.
At its center stood Choi Sung-jin, the second-in-command of the Obsidian Wraiths.