The air hung thick with the scent of mildew and decay, a suffocating blanket draped over the ruined manor. Dust motes danced in the single shaft of sunlight piercing the gloom, illuminating jagged stonework and crumbling walls. Hunter Dragan, his mage's robes billowing around him, felt a shiver crawl down his spine, a chilling premonition that something wasn't right. Iris, her bow slung over her shoulder, her sword at her hip, maintained her usual stoic composure, but even her gaze seemed sharper, more focused.
They'd been tracking the spectral wraith, a tormented soul tethered to the castle, for days. Local whispers painted a grim picture – a child, tragically lost to her father's greediness and the Beast King's wrath. Now, a tormented ghost, she sought vengeance, her spectral form flickering with an angry energy. The air around them crackled with unseen power. And now, they were facing her.
The ghost materialized in a swirl of grey mist, its form shifting and swirling, a ghostly echo of a woman in her prime. Her eyes, glowing embers in the darkness, locked onto Hunter and Iris. A chilling wail echoed through the ruined halls, a sound that seemed to vibrate through their very bones.
"You!" the spectral voice shrieked, her voice thin yet piercing. "You monsters in the King's likeness! You must pay for what he did!"
Hunter and Iris exchanged a quick glance. This wasn't going to be easy. The ghost, clearly enraged, hadn't recognized them as anything other than the Beast King himself. Their plan needed to be swift and decisive. This wasn't just a monster hunt; it was a conversation with a tortured soul.
"Wait," Hunter said, his voice calm amidst the wailing, trying to convey a message of peace, "We're not the Beast King. We're here to help."
The spectral form wavered, flickering as if the words had brushed against a fragile flame. The noblewoman's eyes darted between Hunter and Iris, as if studying them, not believing them, and not believing anything any more than that. "Liar! You both are his minions! You all serve him!"
"We're not, lady," Hunter replied, trying to keep a friendly tone, "We're trying to bring peace to this realm."
"Peace! Lies! He brought only death and despair!" The ghost lunged, spectral claws slashing at the air. Hunter and Iris quickly ducked and dodged, a flurry of sparks erupting in the air.
"Right, then," Hunter muttered, "Let's show her we're not like him." He channeled his magic, weaving a protective shield around them. Iris, meanwhile, notched an arrow and released a carefully aimed shot. The arrow, imbued with a surge of arcane energy, impacted the spectral form, drawing a brief but visible spark of light.
The fight dragged on, a frustrating dance of spectral attacks and physical countermeasures. The ghost, clearly powerful, kept finding ways to elude their attacks, and their usual tactics seemed ineffective against her spectral form. It was more of a game of patience than a battle of brute force. They couldn't hit her, and they couldn't hurt her. The only answer was to find a weakness in her.
"We need to trap her magic," Iris whispered. Hunter nodded, an idea sparking in his mind. They needed to target her essence. "But how?" Iris asked.
"Her lingering aura is tied to the world," Hunter said. "If we can contain it, we might stop her from hurting others."
Hunter smiled. An idea flashed in his head, a clever plan that had just blossomed in the chaotic battle. "I've got it. We need to trap her energy. This isn't going to be easy, but if we trap it we can weaken her."
Using their combined knowledge of magic and swordsmanship, they devised a strategy that involved deflecting her attacks and guiding her spectral energy into a glass vial. A vial they discovered hidden near the battleground, somehow, miraculously intact.
Hunter chanted a series of arcane words, drawing upon the power of the crystals he'd gathered, while Iris carefully positioned herself to capture the released energy. The air around them shimmered with concentrated magic, swirling and twisting. The ghost's spectral claws lashed out, but Hunter managed to channel her power towards the vial.
The ghost, furious at being trapped, screamed, but Hunter focused on keeping her energy towards the vial, her powers beginning to fade. With a final roar, a torrent of spectral energy surged into the vial. The light within diminished, the spectral form wavered. She collapsed with a soft thud, becoming nothing more than a wisp of grey mist before dissipating entirely.
The vial, now filled with a shimmering, ethereal energy, hummed softly in Hunter's hand. They had done it. They had calmed a troubled soul. They'd trapped the wraith's lingering torment.
A sense of profound relief washed over Hunter. The air in the ruined castle seemed to lighten, the oppressive gloom giving way to a faint, comforting glow. They had faced a challenging opponent and emerged victorious, but now the most important part of the quest came.
"Now that's done," Iris said, her voice laced with a touch of weariness. "Let's search if there's more of it around."
Hunter chuckled. "Agreed."
As they turned to leave, a faint whisper echoed from the darkness. "Thank you..." It was the spectral voice of the noblewoman, barely audible above the sounds of the wind whistling through the crumbling walls.
Hunter and Iris exchanged a look. This was a ghost that truly wanted to be set free. They had not only saved the realm but they had somehow helped a soul in need.
"How sad," Hunter mumbled, "A vengeful spirit trapped here in this glass vial, I'll be sure to cleanse your aura once I find a spell in my grimore."
"What would that do?" Iris questioned.
"It'll give the ghost a higher chance of going to the afterlife."
Iris peered into a room filled with dust and really old furniture, "Why did she stick around the living world then?"
"A soul cannot move on to the afterlife if they still harbor extreme negative emotions... like sadness, anger, regret, jealousy. It make it harder for them to move on." Hunter explained, still looking around.
"How tragic..." Iris muttered, her eyes dimmed. "How can a kid feel that much negative emotions, poor kid. I wonder what happened to her when she was alive."
"Me too." Hunter said looking at the glass vial, "But it's over now...she can finally rest."