[Jack's POV]
The cobblestone under our feet gave a soft crunch as Ark and I stepped into the winding streets of Raventhorn. The sun was lower now, casting golden light across the rooftops and giving everything a warm, sleepy glow. I could feel the hum of the city—quiet conversations, creaking carts, and the distant clang of smithing in the market.
Ark stayed close, his fingers occasionally brushing mine as we walked, curiosity bright in his eyes as he glanced around. His ears twitched lightly at every new sound, and I could practically feel the questions building up behind his lips.
We walked in comfortable silence for a while.
But as we turned away from the busier center and moved into the outer districts, the mood shifted.
Ark tilted his head.
"…Are the houses supposed to look like that?" he asked.
I glanced over.
The buildings around us were older now. Weathered stone. Faded paint. Some had ivy growing up the sides, others had broken windows patched with cloth or wooden boards. The streets were still clean, but there was a sense of neglect, like the city had stopped paying attention to this place a long time ago.
"This is technically the outer edges of the slums. As you head farther in, the houses get worse and worse, though the current city lord has been rumored to be working on fixing that. We aren't heading there anyway, so I wouldn't worry about that right now." I said
Ark's steps slowed as his eyes scanned the alleyways.
"Where are we going then?" he asked.
I looked at him and gave a calm smile.
"A graveyard."
He blinked.
"…A what?"
I chuckled softly and kept walking.
"A graveyard," I repeated. "The spirit I need to talk to is there."
Ark furrowed his brow and followed. "Why would a spirit be in a graveyard? Wouldn't they avoid it? Isn't it… creepy?"
I shook my head, still smiling.
"Places where strong emotions gather are often where the odd beings that spirits and fae are, live. Graveyards hold grief. Mourning. Love. Remembrance. They're full of stories—of lives lived, memories cherished, regrets unspoken." I glanced at him.
"And spirits? Many of them are drawn to emotions. Especially old ones. Though thankfully the ones around here are good... normally"
Ark nodded slowly, taking that in. His gaze shifted again, more thoughtful now.
"So… there are spirits like that in other places, too?"
"Hundreds," I said. "Maybe thousands. The academy alone has dozens hiding in the walls, the woods, the classrooms. Most of them stay hidden—either by choice or by restrictions. But they're there."
He paused.
"…What kind of spirit are we going to see?"
I smirked.
"Showing is better than telling."
-
By the time we reached the graveyard walls, the sky had turned a dusky purple. The air had that strange stillness only twilight brings—neither warm nor cold, not quite light, not quite night.
Ark looked up at the tall stone walls. Iron gates framed the entrance, and torches flickered softly in the sconces. At each end of the gate, two guards stood armed and alert.
"…Why is there so much security?" he asked.
I opened my mouth to answer—
—but the sound of *laughter* cut me off.
Around the corner, a group of adventurers emerged. About six of them, dressed in light armour with a few weapons strapped across their backs. They were talking loudly, boasting, joking—getting ready for a fight.
One of them spotted us and raised a hand.
"Hey! You two heading this way?"
I gave him a polite nod.
"Yeah. Just checking out the graveyard."
The man raised a brow. "You're taking the rookie in there?" His eyes slid to Ark, who blinked in surprise.
I held up my guild card, showing the B rank insignia. "I'm B-rank. Showing him how graveyards can get dangerous at night. Figured I'd teach him what to expect in low-light encounters."
Ark didn't flinch. Smart.
The adventurer gave a satisfied nod. "Makes sense. We're doing the weekly cleanup. Mostly D and C-ranks in our group, but we should be fine."
I smiled. "If anything goes wrong in the next hour, just shout. I'll be somewhere nearby."
"Appreciate it," he said. The group peeled off toward the guards, flashing their guild cards.
Ark leaned closer and asked under his breath, "Your not B rank, why did you lie and how did you get a B rank card?"
I chuckled. "Officially, I'm still D-rank. But that illusion Lavender placed on my card should convince anyone otherwise."
He gave a slow nod, then looked back at the adventurers. "They're here to deal with the undead?"
"Yeah." I stepped forward as the guards eyed us warily. I raised my card with just the right flick of magic. It shimmered, appearing as a B-rank card.
One guard squinted, then nodded and stepped aside.
We passed through the gates.
Once we were out of earshot, Ark asked, "Do most people bury their dead?"
I looked over. "Didn't your village?"
He shook his head. "We burned them and scattered the ashes. But I've heard that people in cities prefer to bury theirs."
"Thats right. Burying the dead is common in most kingdoms other than Bestia, but it's riskier."
Ark tilted his head. "Riskier? Why?"
"There's always a chance they come back."
His eyes widened slightly. "You mean… like undead? I thought that could only happen with magic?"
"Yes and no. Necromancy is a type of magic that can raise the dead. It's outlawed almost everywhere, but… It's not the only way the dead rise. Graveyards hold necrotic energy, especially if the person died violently, with heavy regrets or a lot of magic. That energy can gather, fester, and eventually reanimate corpses, even without a necromancer."
He nodded, more serious now. "So… the adventurers are here to stop that?"
"More or less. Usually, Holy Magic is used to purify a graveyard. A priest can bless the area, or people can pour holy water on the graves. But…"
I paused.
"…The priests in this city? They only bless the noble graveyards."
Ark frowned. "So this part is unprotected?"
"Exactly. That's why adventurers come here. They clean up any undead that rise, rebury them if able, and check for signs of a mass rising. If too many rise too fast, it means something worse is brewing."
Ark nodded. "That makes sense. I've heard undead come out only at night. Is that true?"
"Mostly. Sunlight damages most undead. That's why they hide or rest during the day. The stronger ones can survive it, but they're rare."
I sighed.
"Of course, the Solarian Church uses that as proof that only they and their god can stop the undead, which just gives them more power and influence."
Ark gave a slow nod, quiet for a moment.
"…That's messed up," he muttered.
I chuckled.
"Yeah. It is."
We moved deeper into the graveyard. The torches ended here, and only the faint glow of the twilight sky lit our path. Rows of weathered tombstones surrounded us, overgrown with moss and weeds. The air had grown colder. Still.
Ark followed me through the narrow path between the graves.
"…Isn't this dangerous?" he asked quietly. "I'm just E-rank. What if something happens?"
I smiled gently. "You're stronger than you think, Ark. Based on your skills, you're already low D-rank. You just lack confidence and experience. But with training? You'll reach B-rank easily, especially if you can master your wind magic and... wolf bloodline and use them during fights."
He blinked at me, stunned. "Wait. Really?"
I nodded. "Absolutely."
His face turned pink, ears drooping slightly. He looked away.
"…Thank you," he whispered, "but I'm not so sure about my wer-"
CAW!
A crow burst from a nearby tree.
Ark jumped and latched onto me instinctively.
I laughed. "Even if you're not the strongest yet, you're still with the best person for this kind of thing."
He blinked up at me. "Why?"
"Because spirit magic—my magic—can target the lifeforce inside undead. I can snuff them out without fighting. Most mages can only cast spells, while I can target this reserve as long as it isn't protected. And when I do it on undead, it's permanent and they don't come back."
He stared at me. "…Seriously?"
I opened my mouth to respond—
SNAP.
I moved instantly.
A zombie lunged from behind a tree, half-rotted and snarling.
I locked eyes with it.
FWHMP.
A pulse of a dark golden light flared in my eyes.
I saw the core—a black knot of lifeless energy in its chest.
I focused.
SHHHHHK.
The zombie collapsed mid-air. Dead before it hit the ground.
I lowered my hand and exhaled. "Sorry. That one must've been dormant. I didn't sense it."
Ark looked down at the corpse, then back at me. A little shaken but physically ok.
"…What do we do with it?" he asked.
I glanced around.
"…Someone will come by in the morning to clean it up. It's better not to linger. If one's nearby, more could follow. And even I have limits."
Ark nodded quietly.
We stepped around the body and continued walking.