The Lingering Whisper

(The Spirit Realm - Mainland)

Edem, Leticia and Zanetor continued their journey to the Great Eye city and they had been on foot for about two days. The three cloaked individuals currently found themselves climbing a mountain littered with jagged rocks and sands that seemed to sparkle in the light.

There was little conversation between the three for that two-day span as all they wanted to do was reach their destination.

Well, all of them except Zanetor

A question still lingered in his mind

"If I may ask", he suddenly voiced out. "It still isn't clear to me. How sure are you that the Opaque responsible for stealing my mother's soul would be in the underworld by the time we get there?"

Edem stopped in his tracks and Leticia did the same.

"I mean", Zanetor stopped. "You did say that higher level Opaques don't stay in one place, right?."

The Shadow soul's teacher turned around and smirked, "Remember the uppermost plane I spoke to you about?"

Zanetor thought for a moment, "The Crown plane? What about it?"

"Well, you see, that plane houses many souls with extraordinary abilities", he began. "And a select few of those souls have the eyes to see anything and everything at the same time."

An expression of confusion appeared on the young boy's face, "See anything and everything at the same time?"

"Their ability has to do with extending their spiritual awareness across realms", Leticia suddenly chipped in. "They may have their eyes everywhere, but they don't observe everything. The information gets stored in their spirit energy though."

"Right!", Edem clapped and then continued to walk towards their destination. "I'm pretty sure you can piece the last bits together, Zanetor."

"You're trying to tell me that in order to find the person who has my mother's soul, we'll need to use the spirit energy of these special souls?", Zanetor followed both Edem and Leticia. "But, if those souls have eyes everywhere then-"

"Exactly", Edem interrupted in an ominous tone.

Surprise got hold of the shadow soul, "Tch, so we could be attacked at any time."

"Don't worry, that's why I'm helping you get stronger", the cloaked man laughed. "Plus, as long as I'm here, we're invisible on their map!"

Zanetor sighed inwardly, he wasn't too convinced.

Edem smirked as he took one more step, "Now then, we're here."

The three got to the top of the mountain and on the horizon, they could spot a large structure. It gently floated a few metres above the ground and it greatly resembled a cone-shaped mountain. Several buildings lined its sides and it was clear that the lower parts had a disorderly arrangement as compared to those close to the apex.

"The Great Eye city", Zanetor muttered and then spotted something unusual. "What's that thing?"

He pointed to the top of the city. There, a faint ring of light could be seen ominously rotating above a strange spiral-like building.

"That's the inter-realm transit", Leticia answered.

Edem then nodded in agreement, "Right, that's what we're truly aiming for. Your next set of training will commence on the plane above us and that is the only way we can get there."

The look in Zanetor's eyes intensified and Edem took notice of it.

"I like that look in your eyes. You already have an idea of what we're about to face, correct?"

"No one's stopping me from my goal, no matter how many they are", the shadow soul turned to Edem. "However, that doesn't mean I'm going to charge in blindly. How will we do it?"

"We'll decide all of that once we find ourselves in there", Edem placed his fingers on the sandy ground. "I've been to the city a few times so I've planted teleportation circles at my safe spots."

A familiar shimmer could be felt in the air as Edem's spirit energy began to surface. Soon, a golden circle extended from beneath his feet and surrounded all three of them.

Zanetor noticed his body slowly dissolving into particles of light and before he knew it, he was in an entirely foreign place. There was no mountain or jagged rock around but it was something far from those.

The three souls found themselves in a room that was lit by a soft orange light. The light came from a bulb that flickers every once in a while and the walls of the room were lined with many artefacts and ornaments from masks to necklaces.

It looked like he was in a storage room of some sort.

"Who still uses those light bulbs?", Zanetor loudly asked himself.

"Hmm?", Edem looked up at the bulb. "Well, I have heard stories of the material realm's advanced technology. Things must seem incredibly archaic to you here."

"Hmph", Leticia pouted. "Lots of stuff is possible thanks to the boundless spirit energy. The inhabitants of Great Eye city just happen to love this style of living."

Zanetor raised both eyebrows, "Really"

Just then, a voice could be heard coming from the other side of the wooden door.

*Bang!*

The door swung open and a girl stepped in.

"Alright, who is it THIS TIME!?", her eyes screamed 'ferocity' as they gleamed a menacing red.

She wore a grey tank top and a pair of beige trousers as well as short messy brown hair.

"Heya Ati", Edem waved at the energetic girl.

Her expression then changed immediately and a big smile was painted on her face.

"Weird ass magic circle guy!?", her eyes sparkled. "You're actually here!?"

Edem nodded with a grin, "Ahahahaha! Indeed!"

Leticia then removed her cloak and the look of surprise on Ati's eyes intensified. She clearly wasn't expecting such an unannounced visit.

"Awwwn! Little Leti baby!", she moved in and captured Leticia in a bear hug. "I've missed you so much!"

The blonde-haired girl struggled to escape from the attack, but it proved to be futile.

"C- Could you please l- let go?", she uttered with the little strength she had. "I- I can't breathe"

"Oop, sorry", Ati released her grip and then turned to Edem. "Circle Edem, if you're looking for old man Bob, I'm afraid he left to get new stock for the shop."

Edem scratched his chin and then walked over to Zanetor who was hidden in his hooded cloak.

"That's okay, while we wait for him…", he grabbed Zanetor's cloak and pulled it off. "You can help us with the city's current layout info."

"I would've preferred to observe the situation a little longer", Zanetor narrowed his eyes towards Edem.

Ati stared at the young boy in the blue black trench coat and couldn't help but feel a wave of murkiness wash over her. The energy that spewed from this stranger was so dark and ominous that the hairs on her arms immediately rose and her danger instincts flew into overdrive.

Without speaking a word, the energetic girl lunged at Zanetor and aimed a mini cannon at him in point blank range. The cannon seemed to engulf her right arm completely and crackles of energy could be heard emanating from it.

"What the hell are you?", she growled as the menacing look in her eyes resurfaced.

Zanetor stood his ground, unflinching in the face of the weapon aimed at his stomach.

His mind raced with questions. 'I didn't see that there before,' he pondered. 'Is that her awakening?'

"Woah, woah, woah there," Edem intervened, placing a gentle hand on both Zanetor and Ati's shoulders, creating a brief barrier between them.

"There's no need for you to be alarmed Ati", Edem smirked. "I brought him here with me, so we're all safe."

Ati's glare never left Zanetor's unconcerned eyes.

She clenched her left fist, "The form of his spirit energy. It greatly resembles that of a shadow soul."

Leticia walked to Edem's side and nodded towards her.

"That's because he is a shadow soul", the little girl answered.

"What!?", Ati pointed her cannon at Zanetor once again. "If that's the case then we have to blow him up here and now!"

'Ati was able to sense Zanetor's spirit energy even with my suppressive spell activated. Seems like his power is gradually increasing. If that's the case then i'll have to amplify the suppression', Edem thought as he sighed outwardly.

He then continued, "He may be a shadow soul, but he has more of a human side than that of an opaque. Trust me."

The red-eyed girl stared into Edem's heterochromatic eyes and then slowly let down her right arm. The cannon surrounding it then turned into particles of white light and soon, it dissipated completely.

"Hmph, fine", she turned away.

A line of thought occurred to Zanetor at that moment, 'Would I have to keep having to deal with edgy kids?'

Edem then placed his arm around Zanetor's neck, "Now then! While we relax, we'll have Ati help us with whatever we have to know!"

Ati scoffed lightly and then gestured for them to follow her, "Let's discuss things in the break room. The storage isn't really convenient."

The three followed suit

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(The Spirit Realm - Myra town, Mainland)

At a certain town surrounded by many highlands and lying in the far outskirts of the Great Eye city, a lone girl walked on its streets with an aura of mystery surrounding her.

Passersby only dared to look in her direction fleetingly as she held so much heaviness to her presence that anyone who gawked for too long was sure to have their legs shaking.

The girl passed her hand through her short braided silver white braids once and then stood before the door of an inn.

She was donned in a black top that had a small cloak hung over her bust and a black skirt that gently fluttered in the wind. She adjusted the long black sleeves she wore and then walked into the building.

"Ahh, Welcome to Frosty's inn and-"

The inn keeper's words died down his throat the instant he laid eyes on the silver-haired girl. His eyes then trailed off and briefly inspected something that stood out;

She had a white mask that completely concealed her face. There were strange red symbols etched onto it and it made her appear menacing.

The girl walked past the keeper as if he never existed and stood at the centre of the reception. She looked up and then slowly lifted her right hand towards the ceiling.

"Tell me", she spoke in a voice that could barely be heard. "What whispers do you bring to me this time?"

The air around a particular area on the ceiling began to rotate and move towards her, beginning to glow faintly and soon taking the form of a small bird.

There was an eerie silence that seemed to last for almost an eternity as she looked like she was 'listening' to something incredibly unclear.

After a few extra minutes passed, the bird disappeared into thin air and the girl walked towards the door. She stopped in her tracks the moment she was just inches away from the door.

Fear instantly gripped the innkeeper as he wondered why she had suddenly stopped.

The silver-haired girl finally opened the door and then left, gently closing the door behind her.

She proceeded to leave the town in the direction of the Great Eye city and wherever she went, the wind would follow.

Ever so obediently.