A Scary Mission

"Master, I've got an unusual request!"

Master Merrick didn't look up from his papers immediately, but he gave a small nod of acknowledgment.

"With you, Kira, I've come to expect the unusual."

I smirked, leaning against the table.

"I've decided that we will help the dark elves."

Finally, Master Merrick looked up, his sharp blue eyes narrowing as he studied me.

The intensity of his gaze made me feel as if he were peeling back the layers of my intentions, trying to gauge just how serious I was about this.

"You've decided, have you?"

He said slowly, his voice carrying that calm, steady tone he always used when I came up with one of my brilliant ideas.

"Yup." I crossed my arms, giving him my best grin. "We're going to help the dark elves. It sounds fun."

Master Merrick sighed deeply, rubbing the bridge of his nose as if trying to alleviate an invisible headache.

"Kira, do you even understand what you're suggesting? The Council–"

"Yeah, yeah, I know, I know. Those geezers are going to have a meltdown. But think about it, Master. We've done crazier things before. What's a little quest for some dark elves?"

The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of my suggestion hanging in the air like a thick fog.

After a while, Master Merrick finally break the silence.

"You're assuming the Council will even entertain the idea, let alone approve it."

"So what if they don't? We'll just go rogue for a bit. Take matters into our own hands."

Master Merrick gave me a long, weary look. He'd seen this side of me plenty of times, when I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it.

Saying no to me was like giving me permission to do it anyway.

Master Merrick let out another sigh, leaning back in his chair. He knew there was no stopping me, but I could tell he was already thinking about the repercussions.

"And you've already decided that we will help, regardless of what I say?"

"Exactly!" I grinned, rocking back on my heels. "You know me. I'm going to do it anyway, so you might as well get on board."

Arienna, who had been standing silently behind me, finally spoke up, her voice hesitant.

"I don't want to cause any trouble. If this is too much—"

I turned to her, shaking my head. A wide grin form in my lips.

"Don't worry about it. Trouble is kind of what we do best."

Merrick pinched the bridge of his nose again, his patience clearly being tested.

"Kira, you're reckless. If you rush into this, you could start a conflict we aren't prepared to handle."

"That's why it'll be fun."

"You're not going alone, you'll need someone with you, someone who can keep your... impulsiveness in check."

I groaned inwardly. Of course, he'd say that. He never let me do anything without backup, and he always picked the most responsible, no-fun types.

"But my team's already on a mission!" I said, throwing my hands up in protest. "It sucks. They get to do cool mission, and I'm stuck here until they get back. I wanted to go with them, but Ren said nope."

Master Merrick raised an eyebrow at my protest but didn't seem moved.

"I had someone else in mind,"

A chill went down my spine, and suddenly, my bravado vanished. I stood up straighter, my grin faltering as I raised both hands in front of me.

"Wait, wait, wait... You're not talking about her, right? Not... the ghost girl?"

Master Merrick's lips quirked in the slightest of smiles, though his eyes stayed serious.

"I thought you weren't afraid of anything, Kira."

"I'm not!" I protested, but the nervous look I shot toward the shadows in the room probably gave me away. "I mean, come on, Master. She doesn't count. She's not... normal."

Merrick leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest.

"She's the most skilled spirit magic user in Arcane Brigade. I'm sure you'll do fine with her."

I stared at Master Merrick in disbelief. Whta is he thinking? That ghost girl is the most creepiest thing in this guild.

"Do fine? Master, She's... she's haunted. She literally floats around like a creepy ghost, and that whole vanishing act she does–"

"She's the best choice for this mission, and you need to learn how to handle things that make you uncomfortable."

"Uncomfortable?" I scoffed, trying one last time to get him to see reason. "Master, she doesn't even blink. I don't think she can blink. That's not 'uncomfortable.' That's nightmare fuel."

Master Merrick shrugged, clearly unmoved.

"You wanted to help the dark elves. You've got a mission now, Kira. Rescue those dark elves. She will be waiting for you at the west gate."

I opened my mouth to argue again but I caught the look in his eyes, the one that told me there was no point. My shoulders slumped in defeat.

"You're really just going to throw me to the ghosts, aren't you?" I muttered, more to myself than to him.

"She's not a ghost," Merrick said, returning to his papers, his voice already distant as if the conversation was over. "And you'll be fine."

With that, he waved me off, dismissing me with the same nonchalance he always had when I was about to get myself into trouble.

I groaned dramatically as I turned toward the door.

"Great. First dark elves, now ghosts. What's next, a dragon?"

Master Merrick didn't even bother to look up.

"You're dismissed, Kira."

I dragged my feet out the door, muttering under my breath.

"Yeah, yeah. Off to my doom."

Arienna followed behind me quietly, but I could feel her amused stare on my back.

"Not a word,"

I said to her, as we left Master's room.

But of course, she had a small smile when she replied, "I wasn't going to say anything. Just... thank you."

---

The streets of Caelumora bustled with the usual evening crowd, merchants closing up their stalls and travelers preparing for the night.

I kept my head down, avoiding eye contact, trying to come to terms with what awaited me.

Arienna walked beside me, her footsteps light and almost soundless, though I could feel her presence like a comforting shadow.

As we got closer to the west gate, I couldn't shake the feeling of dread creeping up my spine.

My mind kept flashing back to the ghost girl. Every few steps, I found myself glancing around nervously, half-expecting her to materialize out of thin air, her eerie, unblinking gaze fixed on me.

The sun had nearly set now, casting long shadows across the road, and my unease only deepened.

My fingers twitched slightly as I kept glancing over my shoulder, as if somehow, that would keep her from appearing behind me like a nightmare waiting to pounce.

Arienna walked calmly beside me, unbothered by my clear discomfort, her serene presence making it almost worse. She probably didn't believe in ghosts.

But me? I'd seen enough weird things in this guild to know better.

As we neared the west gate, I spotted her. My heart almost stopped.

There she was, standing right by the gate in the dimming light. But something was off... really off.

Instead of her usual eerie, floaty self, Esmeralda had taken on a different appearance. She looked almost... normal. Too normal.

She was wearing a bright, cheerful sundress, her hair tied up in playful braids, and her face was painted with a wide, innocent smile that absolutely did not belong on her creepy, ghostly visage.

Her eyes, though, were the same, those cold, unsettling eyes that seemed to pierce right through you.

I froze mid-step, my mind trying to process the bizarre image in front of me. Esmeralda, the Esmeralda, was standing there, smiling like some kind of village girl headed to a picnic.

That was it. I couldn't take it anymore.

"NOPE!" I shouted, spinning on my heel and sprinting in the opposite direction without a second thought. "Nope, nope, nope, nope!"

Arienna's confused voice trailed after me, but I didn't stop.

"Kira? What–what's wrong?"

"Are you kidding me?!" I yelled over my shoulder, still running. "She's cursing me now! Did you see her? That's way worse than the ghost thing!"

Arienna blinked and looked back toward the gate, frowning in confusion.

"Uh… Kira, all I see is a girl in a sundress. What exactly scared you?"

I slowed down just a little, realizing she wasn't following me in my panic.

I turned back cautiously, pointing dramatically toward where Esmeralda had been standing.

"That! That is not normal, Arienna! She doesn't do... cute. That's creepier than anything!"

Arienna raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

"Kira... she's literally just standing there. Are you sure you're not overreacting?"

"Overreacting? She's like a haunted doll come to life! I'm not sticking around to see what happens next!"

Esmeralda, who had been silently watching this whole exchange with her unnerving, too-sweet smile, finally floated... yes, floated, a few inches off the ground, the sundress flaring slightly as she moved.

I turned and ran again, no longer caring about appearances.

Behind me, I heard Arienna laugh softly, though I swear I could feel Esmeralda's ghostly eyes boring into my back as I bolted down the street.

Just when I thought I'd made a clean getaway, my body suddenly lifted off the ground.

My feet kicked wildly in the air as I realized I was no longer in control. I glanced down in horror to see that I was floating backward, back toward her.

"Come now, Kira," Esmeralda's voice was soft, melodic, but with that unnerving edge. "Leaving so soon? I thought you wanted to help the dark elves."

Her smile had widened slightly, though her eyes stayed just as haunting as ever. The innocent sundress was still so out of place it made my skin crawl.

"Let me down!" I yelped, flailing helplessly as I was levitated back to her. "This isn't funny, Esmeralda!"

"Funny?" She said, tilting her head slightly as if she didn't understand. "Oh, Kira... You should see the look on your face."

I could hear Arienna stifling laughter from behind me. Great. Just great.

"I swear, if you don't let me down, I'll—"

"You'll what?" Esmeralda's grin turned wicked. "Run away again?"

I shut my mouth, deciding that arguing with a spirit mage who could literally make me levitate at will was not the smartest plan.

After a moment of my silent suffering, Esmeralda slowly lowered me back to the ground, her expression never changing from that sweetly sinister smile.

As soon as my feet touched solid ground, I bolted behind Arienna, using her as a human shield.

"I am so not doing this mission if she's coming along!"

I declared, pointing an accusing finger at Esmeralda.

Esmeralda just gave a light, eerie chuckle.

"Oh, Kira. I've only just begun cursing you. The mission hasn't even started yet."

I gulped, glancing nervously at Arienna, who was no help whatsoever, stifling her laughter behind her hand.

"You two deserve each other."

I muttered, still standing behind her like a frightened child.

Esmeralda simply floated past us, her presence lingering like a cold chill in the air.

As she drifted ahead, she called over her shoulder, "Don't fall too far behind, Kira. I'd hate for something... unfortunate to happen."

Her words, though light, carried an ominous weight that sent shivers down my spine.

What does she mean by that? Is she going to curse me?

I glared after her, refusing to budge from my spot behind Arienna. This whole thing was turning into a nightmare way faster than I anticipated.

Arienna, still amused, turned to me with a grin.

"You really are scared of her, aren't you?"

"Scared? Pfft, no!" I crossed my arms, trying to look tough, though I didn't dare take my eyes off Esmeralda's retreating figure. "I'm just... cautious. You never know what she might do next."

Esmeralda was creeping me out more with every passing second, and now I had to spend who knows how long with her. Helping the dark elves suddenly didn't seem like such a great idea anymore.