Sorcerer they fear

I watched her go, a sense of satisfaction warming my heart. It felt good to be able to help someone, to use my powers for something positive.

IM leaned closer, a playful grin on his face. "Smooth move, Xian," he whispered. "You're quite the charmer."

I rolled my eyes. "Shut up, IM. It was just a friendly gesture."

"Sure, sure," he chuckled. "Whatever you say."

***

After the exam, school was finally finished. I and Lenna, who was seated behind me on the motorcycle, arrived at her home.

"Are your parents home?" I asked while placing my helmet on the bike.

"Nah, they're still out. My mother is probably shopping for groceries," she replied.

"Okay then," I said, taking a deep breath. "Let's go inside and see what we can find."

We walked up to the front door, and Lenna fumbled with her keys for a moment before unlocking it. The house was a modest two-story building, with a cozy living room and a small kitchen on the ground floor. Lenna led me to her bedroom.

"So, where do you feel this presence the most?" I asked, looking around the room.

Lenna pointed towards a corner of the room where a small bookshelf stood. "It's strongest over there," she said, her voice barely a whisper.

I walked over to the bookshelf, my senses on high alert. I couldn't feel anything out of the ordinary, but I trusted Lenna's instincts.

"Is it behind this bookshelf?" I asked, running my hand along the smooth wooden surface.

Lenna nodded. "I think so. But I can't see anything."

I closed my eyes, focusing my imagination. I can see through solid objects, I visualized, my mind reaching out to penetrate the bookshelf.

When I opened my eyes, the bookshelf appeared transparent, revealing a hidden door behind it.

"There it is," I said, a triumphant grin spreading across my face.

"...A door...?" Lenna said, completely confused and shocked. "Senior, how did you know?"

"...Instinct," I replied, trying to maintain an air of mystery.

I reached out and pushed the bookshelf aside, revealing the hidden door. It was old and dusty, its hinges creaking as it swung open. A wave of cold air washed over us, carrying with it the faint scent of decay.

"Be careful," I warned Lenna, stepping into the darkness.

The secret room was small and cramped, its walls lined with shelves filled with dusty books and strange artifacts. A single, flickering candle provided the only source of light, casting long, eerie shadows across the room.

As we ventured deeper into the room, the oppressive atmosphere grew stronger. I could feel a presence lurking in the shadows, watching our every move.

"I can feel it," Lenna whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "It's here."

Suddenly, the candle flame flickered and died, plunging the room into complete darkness. A cold wind swept through the room, and I could hear the faint sound of rattling chains.

Classic horror scene... I thought, trying to suppress a shiver.

A chilling laughter echoed through the darkness, sending shivers down our spines. "Welcome, intruders," a raspy voice hissed. "You have dared to enter my domain."

A pair of glowing red eyes materialized in the darkness, piercing through the gloom like twin beacons of malevolence. The air crackled with an unseen energy, and I could feel the hairs on my neck standing on end.

"Who are you?" I demanded, my voice echoing in the confined space.

"I've been trapped here with many others. They trapped me here," the voice replied, its tone filled with bitterness and resentment.

"Here... why next to my bedroom?" Lenna asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"At first, I was quiet. I didn't want to disturb you. I mostly just slept here. But then I sensed another ghost, and you talked to her. So I figured you could see me, and I could see you..." the voice explained.

This ghost is talking about Hana ghost, isn't it? I thought, a sense of unease settling over me.

"Yes, I can see you," I confirmed, my voice steady despite the eerie atmosphere. "And I can also see that you're not a ghost."

The red eyes narrowed. "Oh? And what am I then, in your expert opinion?" the voice challenged, a hint of mockery in its tone.

"You're a spirit," I replied, my gaze unwavering. "A powerful one, trapped in this room."

"You are right... I was trapped here for decades..." it said, its voice filled with sorrow.

"Why are you trapped here?" Lenna asked, her curiosity overcoming her fear.

"I was betrayed," the spirit hissed, its voice dripping with venom. "By the one I trusted most. He promised me power, eternal life... but instead, he imprisoned me here for years, even before this house was built and your family moved in."

"Who betrayed you?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

"A sorcerer," the spirit snarled. "A man named Rong."

My eyes widened in surprise. "Rong? The same sorcerer who enslaved Kuro?"

The spirit's eyes flared with recognition. "Kuro? Is he here?"

"Uh, no... he's at my house. So you know Kuro?" I asked, intrigued by the connection.

"Know him? He was my familiar, my loyal companion," the spirit's voice softened, a hint of fondness replacing the anger. "We were inseparable, until Rong tricked me, stole my power, and bound me to this prison."

A wave of sadness washed over me. I could sense the spirit's pain, its longing for freedom and the companionship it had once shared with Kuro.

"...So Rong sealed you here?" I asked, my voice gentle.

The spirit nodded. "But I heard he was killed, wasn't he?"

I nodded. "I heard from Kuro, yes."

"Then perhaps... there's a way to free me," the spirit's voice held a glimmer of hope. "If Rong is gone, the spell that binds me might be weakened."

"We'll help you," I said, my determination growing. "We'll find a way to break the spell and set you free."

The spirit's eyes shone with gratitude. "Thank you," it whispered. "My name is Tari. And I will be forever in your debt."

"So how can I release you...?" I asked, unsure of what I should imagine.

She pointed towards a specific spot on the floor, and as if on cue, the floorboards creaked open, revealing a hidden compartment beneath. Inside, a rusty iron chain was tightly wrapped around a skeletal ankle bone. "This chain has been shackled to my leg for years, and it's made of twenty layers of magic," Tari explained, her voice heavy with sorrow.

I knelt down beside the compartment, examining the chain with a focused gaze. It was thick and heavy, its surface etched with intricate symbols that pulsed with a dark energy. Even without touching it, I could sense the immense power that bound Tari to this place.

"Twenty layers of magic..." I muttered, my brow furrowing in concentration. "That's a lot."

"It is," Tari agreed, her voice filled with resignation. "Rong was a powerful sorcerer. He made sure I would never escape."

I reached out, my fingers hovering just above the chain. I could feel its power, its resistance to any attempt to break it. But I also felt a surge of energy within me, a spark of defiance that refused to be extinguished.

I can break this chain, I thought, my resolve hardening. I can free Tari from her prison.

I closed my eyes, visualizing the chain dissolving, its magical bonds unraveling like threads of silk. I imagined the rusty iron turning to dust, the ancient symbols fading into nothingness.

I opened my eyes and concentrated all my will on the chain.

"Break," I commanded, my voice echoing through the silent room.

A blinding flash of light erupted from the chain, followed by a deafening crack. The iron links shattered, crumbling into dust that scattered across the floor. The skeletal ankle bone, finally freed from its shackles, floated gently into the air, joining the rest of Tari's spectral form.

Tari gasped, her translucent body shimmering with a newfound vibrancy. "I'm... I'm free!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with joy and disbelief.

Lenna watched in awe, her face clearly saying, "How did he do that?"

"How can you be this strong...?" Tari asked, her voice filled with awe and wonder. She floated closer, her ethereal form shimmering in the dim light.

"Ah, it's nothing special," I replied, trying to downplay my abilities. "I'm just an ordinary kid."

Tari chuckled softly, her laughter echoing through the room like wind chimes. "An ordinary kid who can break a sorcerer's spell with a single glance?" she said, raising an eyebrow. "I don't think so."

I shrugged, a sheepish grin on my face. "Well, maybe I'm not so ordinary after all," I admitted.

"Senior is really extraordinary!" Lenna exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

"What is your power?" Tari asked, her curiosity piqued.

"It's called Imagination Manifestation," I explained, my voice filled with a newfound confidence. "I can create anything I can imagine, from simple objects to complex illusions."

Tari's eyes widened in amazement. "The Fool God?" she echoed, her voice hushed.

Lenna was still confused. "Wait, Senior... you have that power?" she asked, her voice filled with disbelief.

I nodded, a sense of pride swelling within me. "Yes, Lenna. That's my power."

< Chapter 150 > Fin.