Ch 18: You're coming with me - Part 1

He took a deep breath and resolved to keep walking, pretending he hadn't seen anything. But before he could take another step, a firm hand gripped his shoulder.

Elias's breath hitched. He turned his head slightly and saw Fenrir standing behind him, his expression darker than Elias had ever seen. His sharp eyes bore into Elias, a mix of curiosity and something far more serious.

"What did you see?" Fenrir's voice was low and urgent, his fingers tightening on Elias's shoulder.

Elias blinked, caught off guard. "I—nothing. I didn't see anything."

Fenrir's brow furrowed, his gaze searching Elias's face for any hint of deception. He didn't release his grip.

"Don't lie to me," Fenrir said, his tone edged with warning. "What did you see?"

Elias felt his stomach churn. He knew lying again would only make things worse, but he couldn't just admit to seeing ghosts—especially not to someone as enigmatic as Fenrir.

"I just thought I saw... a servant," Elias said hesitantly. "But it must've been my imagination."

Fenrir's lips pressed into a thin line, and for a moment, he said nothing. Then he muttered something under his breath, too quiet for Elias to hear.

"It's too early," Fenrir murmured, his grip loosening slightly. "This wasn't supposed to happen."

Elias's heart raced. "What do you mean? What wasn't supposed to happen?"

Fenrir's eyes snapped back to Elias, his expression unreadable. "Nothing you need to worry about," he said curtly.

Elias frowned, feeling the weight of Fenrir's words settle uncomfortably in his chest. He couldn't shake the feeling that whatever Fenrir was referring to was directly tied to him.

He wracked his brain, trying to recall if there was anything in his role or the system's vague explanations that could explain what was happening. But before he could come up with an answer, the system's voice rang in his mind.

<"Don't overthink it, Elias. It's nothing. Move along.">

Elias scowled internally. The system had been increasingly dismissive lately, and its reassurance did little to quell his unease.

"I should go," Elias said, his voice unsteady. He took a step back, hoping to escape whatever strange tension was building between him and Fenrir.

But Fenrir's hand shot out again, this time gripping Elias's wrist.

"No," Fenrir said firmly. "You're coming with me."

Elias's eyes widened. "What? Where?"

"To the temple," Fenrir said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"The temple?" Elias echoed, his voice rising in alarm. "Why? I'm fine!"

Fenrir's gaze hardened. "You're not fine. And if what I suspect is true, then we don't have time to waste."

Elias's pulse quickened. "I don't understand—"

"You don't need to understand," Fenrir interrupted, his grip tightening as he began to pull Elias along.

Elias dug his heels in, panic bubbling in his chest. "Wait! I have responsibilities—I can't just leave!"

Fenrir stopped abruptly, turning to face Elias with an intensity that made him shrink back.

"This isn't a request," Fenrir said, his voice low and serious. "If you don't come willingly, I'll carry you there myself."

Elias's mouth opened and closed, words failing him. He knew Fenrir wasn't bluffing, and the thought of being hauled through the palace like a sack of potatoes was enough to make him relent.

"Fine," Elias said quietly, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

Fenrir nodded once, his grip on Elias's wrist loosening slightly but not letting go entirely.

As they made their way toward the temple, Elias's mind raced. What did Fenrir suspect? Was it connected to the ghost he'd seen? Or was it something else entirely?

The path to the temple was quiet, the only sounds coming from their footsteps on the cobblestone. Fenrir said nothing, his expression unreadable, and Elias didn't dare break the silence.

When they reached the temple, Fenrir led Elias inside and immediately began gathering items from the shelves—candles, herbs, and a small bowl that looked like it was meant for mixing.

"Sit," Fenrir instructed, pointing to a wooden bench near the altar.

Elias obeyed, his anxiety mounting as he watched Fenrir work with practiced precision.

"What are you going to do?" Elias asked hesitantly.

Fenrir glanced at him briefly. "Something that might help us understand what's happening to you."

Elias's stomach churned. "What do you mean? Nothing's happening to me."

Fenrir gave him a pointed look. "You saw something in the garden, didn't you? And it's not the first time."

Elias froze, his heart pounding. How did Fenrir know?

"I don't know what you're talking about," Elias said weakly, averting his gaze.

Fenrir sighed, his expression softening slightly. "Elias, you're not very good at lying."

Elias felt heat rise to his cheeks. "I just... I didn't think it was important."

"It's important," Fenrir said firmly. He finished arranging the items and turned to face Elias fully. "Now, tell me everything you've been seeing."

Elias hesitated, his mind racing. Could he trust Fenrir?

The system's voice rang in his mind again. <"Say as little possible. You don't need to tell him everything.">

Elias bit his lip, torn between the system's advice and the growing feeling that Fenrir might be the only one who could help him.

"I've been seeing... things," Elias admitted cautiously. "People. But they're not really there."

Fenrir nodded, his expression thoughtful. "How often?"

"Often enough," Elias said quietly.

Fenrir's gaze sharpened. "And do they ever speak to you?"

Elias hesitated but eventually nodded. "Sometimes."

Fenrir muttered something under his breath, his expression darkening.

"What is it?" Elias asked nervously.

Fenrir shook his head. "We need to do this quickly."

Before Elias could ask what "this" was, Fenrir lit the candles and began to chant softly. The air in the room seemed to shift, growing heavier, and Elias felt a strange warmth spread through his chest.

As the ritual continued, Elias couldn't shake the feeling that something was changing—something he didn't fully understand but could no longer ignore.

______

Elias watched uneasily as Fenrir began chanting, his voice low and steady, the rhythmic words reverberating softly through the room. The candles flickered, their flames elongating unnaturally as the air grew heavier, almost oppressive. Elias shifted on the bench, a nervous energy crawling up his spine.

He wasn't sure what was about to happen, but something deep within him screamed that this wasn't normal.

Fenrir's hands moved in intricate patterns, drawing invisible symbols in the air that seemed to linger faintly before fading. He reached toward Elias, and as his fingers hovered near Elias's chest, the strange warmth Elias had felt earlier intensified, spreading like wildfire.

"Relax," Fenrir said, his voice calm but firm. "This won't hurt."

Elias wanted to protest, to push the man's hand away, but his body wouldn't move. His muscles felt locked in place, frozen by some unseen force. Panic swirled in his chest, but before he could voice his fear, a sharp, electronic buzz rang in his ears.

<"Intrusion detected.">

The system's voice cut through the haze like a knife.

<"Unauthorized access to Host. Countermeasures initiated.">

Elias's vision blurred for a moment, and then everything seemed to explode at once. A surge of energy shot through his body, violent and unyielding, and Fenrir let out a startled cry as he jerked his hand back.

The candles extinguished themselves in an instant, plunging the room into dim twilight. Fenrir staggered a few steps away, cradling his hand, his face a mixture of shock and pain.

"What—" Fenrir began, but he stopped, his eyes narrowing as he examined his hand. The skin on his palm was reddened, almost burned, though there had been no flames.

Elias blinked, the oppressive weight in the room lifting as quickly as it had come. He felt dizzy, his heart pounding in his chest.

"Are you okay?" he asked hesitantly, his voice trembling.

Fenrir looked up at him, his expression unreadable. For a moment, Elias thought the man was angry, but then Fenrir chuckled—a low, amused sound that sent a shiver down Elias's spine.

"Well," Fenrir said, shaking his head as if to clear it. "That was unexpected."

Elias didn't know what to say. He watched as Fenrir flexed his burned hand before slipping it casually into his pocket, hiding the injury as though it didn't exist.

"What happened?" Elias asked cautiously.

Fenrir's gaze flicked to him, and for a brief moment, Elias thought he saw something akin to curiosity—or perhaps suspicion—in the man's eyes. But then Fenrir's expression softened, and he gave Elias a disarming smile.

"Nothing to worry about," Fenrir said lightly. "Just a... miscalculation on my part."

Elias didn't believe him for a second, but he didn't press the issue. Something about the way Fenrir was acting made him feel that asking too many questions would be a bad idea.

Fenrir leaned casually against the edge of a table, his demeanor shifting to one of relaxed amusement. "You're a very... interesting individual, Elias," he said, his tone almost playful.

Elias frowned, unsure how to respond. "I don't think I'm anything special."

Fenrir's smile widened, but there was a strange edge to it. "Oh, but you are," he said, his voice dropping slightly. "You may not see it yet, but there's something about you—something rare."

Elias shifted uncomfortably on the bench, his instincts screaming at him to leave. "I really should get back to work," he said, standing up quickly.

Fenrir held up a hand in a placating gesture, his smile never wavering. "Of course, I won't keep you," he said smoothly. "But if you ever find yourself bored—or curious—do visit the temple. You might find some answers there."

Elias hesitated, unsure if Fenrir's invitation was genuine or some kind of trap.

"I'll... think about it," he said noncommittally.

Fenrir chuckled, pushing himself away from the table. "That's all I ask."

As Elias turned to leave, he couldn't shake the feeling of Fenrir's eyes on his back, watching his every move.

___

Can I ask for some Power Stones?