Rubielle
After playing with the kids, we continued our search for a while longer.
"Haiz, no luck here either. Should we keep going?" Ethan suggested.
"Hmm... I want to track down one of my sisters to defeat them, but I have no idea where to start," I said, resting my chin in thought.
"If only they hadn't meddled with me, I'd still have everything!" I vented from impatience.
With each passing day, my condition steadily improves, and I'm almost done patching up the sky. Bit by bit...
I smiled as I think that everything would return to the way it was before, where innocent people are safe from danger. But another thought followed: when this is all over, I'll have to leave Ethan and Lillian behind. The idea makes me a bit lonely, leaning a strange feeling in my chest.
No! I shouldn't think like that! I'm just putting things back in their rightful place. I was never meant to be here in the first place!
"W-what's up?" Ethan asked, raising an eyebrow as he caught me slapping my cheeks to snap myself out of it.
"N-nothing," I replied quickly, avoiding his gaze.
"Should we head home now?" he asked casually.
"Sure!" I answered cheerfully.
"Ah, but this time, you're the one cooking. We agreed to split all the chores, remember?" he reminded me with a smirk.
"Che!" I pouted.
*Skreeeeeee!!*
Out of nowhere, something rushed toward us—a flying, transparent creature rush toward us with great speed. Without thinking, I stepped forward, instinctively shielding Ethan behind me as I reached out and grabbed the creature.
*CRASH!*
I slammed it forcefully onto the ground, causing a sharp crack on the ground.
"Ow..."
Looking at the transparent creature I'm holding, I feel a sharp pain in my hand—like the creature wasn't hurt physically.
"W-What is it?!" Ethan exclaimed, his eyes wide in shock.
Just then, Lillian and another figure appear—dark-haired, with a necklace of beads hanging loosely around his arm and eyes that seems to glow gold under sunset, rushing toward us from the distance.
"Huh! Rubielle, what a coincidence!" she calls out, catching her breath slightly from running.
"You can hold that?" Lillian asked, pointing at the creature I was holding.
"What do you mean by that?" Ethan asks in confusion.
"...He can't see this?" I turned to Lillian, puzzled.
"Well, not everybody can see the supernatural," she explained calmly.
"Only a handful of people can—those with strong faith in God, exorcists, or just someone with a naturally strong spiritual sense."
"I see..." I murmured, taking a closer look at the creature in my grasp.
"So this is the supernatural you've been talking about?"
"To be exact, it's a ghost," Lillian clarified.
"She has a strong attachment to this world, which is why she hasn't moved on. We've been trying to help her, but...she got scared when she saw us and ran away."
Feeling familiar, I realized it is similar to the one we fought against the alchemist.
"You're not gonna erase her?" I asked, my tone cold as I tightened my grip slightly.
"Hieeeee!!" the ghost flinched in fear.
"Waaaaaahhh! It's so unfairrr! I just want a boyfriend!! But, but!" The ghost breakinto tears.
"He killed me! How can I pass away peacefully after what he did?!" she wailed.
"He only wanted my money... but he never loved me!" She sank to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Don't worry, we'll help you—"
"Eek!" The ghost backs away as Lillian reach out her hand to help.
"I-I don't like you two! I know what you are! You're exorcist!" the ghost shouted.
Suddenly, her face darkened, a fierce determination taking over her expression.
"I—I won't pass away until I kill that man!" she growled, nibbling her fingernails in anger.
"What really is happening? Why do you guys keep talking to yourselves?" Ethan cuts in.
"Well, there's something called 'ghost' here," I explained, pointing at the translucent figure.
"Ehh? Even ghosts are real?? What's next? Aliens??" Ethan exclaimed, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Rubielle, hold her like that. Gabriel, go on—" Lillian instructed
"Gabriel?" she looked behind her, only to find the man standing there still staring at me, unmoving, and something about his presence felt... off.
"Grr! If that's how it is—"
"I'LL AT LEAST TASTE WHAT'S GRADUATING FROM VIRGINITY FEELS LIKE!!"
The ghost girl lunged at me, and before I could react, she slipped inside me. In an instant, I felt my vision blur, and everything went dark. I collapsed, unconscious for a moment.
After a second, I open my eyes seeing the ghost backs away.
"Eek! What's with you!" the ghost panicked, flailing wildly.
"You're not even a human! You are empty!" she shouted, glaring at me with frustration.
I stayed silent staring at her.
She said something unnecessary.
"Hmm? Why did I suddenly think that?" I muttered to myself.
"If not girls, then—"
The ghost rushed toward Ethan. She slipped right past me, catching me off guard, and entered him before I could react.
"W-WHAT THE HECK?!" Ethan's voice echoed in shock.
His body starting to tremble uncontrollably as a transparent Ethan was pushed out of his body.
We watched Ethan floating in the air as the ghost takes over his body.
"Is this the ghost you guys are talking about? Do something!" he yelled.
Suddenly, the ghost inside Ethan dashes toward the man standing behind Lillian—Gabriel. With surprising force, she shoved him to the ground.
"H-Hehe... Le-lets just m-make this q-quick! A-a man o-or a w-woman it doesn't m-matter!" the ghost panted heavily, with a flush face—like a pervert.
"NOOOOO!!! I DON'T WANT TO LOSE IT TO A BOY!!" Ethan shrieked, like a girl in pure horror.
The man on the ground suddenly lifted his arm, holding his forehead as he began to chant.
"By the light that binds and the will divine, I command you to be gone."
The ghost's voice screech, trembling before finally fading away, leaving Ethan's body. Ethan gasped, snapping back to himself.
"I'm back! I'm still pure!" Ethan exclaimed, tears welling up.
"Pardon my disgraceful impression, lady," the man stood up pushing away Ethan and suddenly bowed in front of me.
"I don't really care," I replied flatly.
"Oh, I'm a bit hurt, but let me introduce myself. I'm Gabriel Faustin, Lillian's cousin. I'm currently helping her around."
Gabriel lifted my hand and, to my surprise, kissed the back of it as a greeting.
"Wha—!" Ethan was shocked from the sight.
"Ah... I can't believe I'm able to see someone as divine as you! My eyes are truly blessed!" Gabriel's voice trembled as he spoke, his gaze fixed on me with an expression full of joy and adoration.
Gabriel's gaze lingered too long—something in his eyes are odd. I could tell he saw more than what was in front of him. I didn't like it.