Adam tucked his fingers around his chin, brooding over Louis' words on his way out of class. "To guide ghosts back to where they belong," he repeated, enlightened by the exorcist's noble purpose.
More than agreeing, he embraced it wholeheartedly. Even after thirty-one years, he had never forgotten Rachel's distress in her last breath. In her final moment of clarity, she regretted what she had become and feared the horror she might turn into—so much so that she thanked him for ending her ghostly existence.
Ghosts were once people, lost shadows as Louis had called them. They deserved peace in the Netherworld. But was it really peaceful? As the souls' last destination, it must be. At least, that's what he told himself to chase away somber thoughts. Still, a deep furrow creased his brow.
Something didn't add up about the lesson.
They had learned about living beings turning into ghosts. What about the natural-born ones like Ossian and his Soul Society nestled far from view in the depths of the ghostly canyon? The Ghost King had also forged the Reapers: an army of artificial souls dedicated to protecting sane ghosts. And he was just one among the Nine Ghost Kings.
Yet not a word about it...
A few explanations flashed through his mind, and he settled on two he believed most plausible—the college didn't want them to know, or didn't know about them. Though it sounded absurd for this cathedral of knowledge to have such a glaring gap, he could explain it easily.
'They've suppressed ghosts and soul affinity wielders, never giving it a moment to flourish like in the magic world. I guess they hate them so much that even if they ever met a natural-born ghost, they've just treated it as a regular one.'
Massaging his temples, Adam sighed. 'I'll find how to counter the Magus in the magic world itself, not the college. Unless...' A steely glint flashed in his eyes. 'They have spells to free souls—to propel them to the Netherworld. How fantastic it would be to wave my hand and be done with the Magus!'
The idea made him chuckle heartily as he emerged from the building. The colorful garden greeted him with a sweet scent of nectar and drifting petals caught in his hair.
"Did Teacher Louis' boring class bring you any amusement? Surprising."
A cynical voice drew his attention, and he saw Desmond pushing himself off the wall he had been leaning on. The teenager shook his head, purple hair fluttering. "Ghosts, ghosts, ghosts. He talks about them so much that it feels personal. Who cares about them anyway?"
"You clearly don't." Adam shrugged.
"Not one bit. I mean, Louis made sure that anyone who could turn into one would never risk it, so why bother with learning how to kill things that won't form?" Desmond answered with a heavier shrug.
"Well," Adam chuckled. "Did you wait this entire time just to tell me that?"
"Of course not." Desmond moved closer, a hand over his lips. "I found a crazy room while toiling for Louis. Well, I suspect it's not the room, but the door," he whispered as if he had brought to light an ancient mystery.
Adam rolled his eyes. "What are you even talking about?"
"Shhh!" Desmond placed a finger over his lips, then pulled Adam behind the building. Even though they were away from the other students, he still whispered. "Narrow passage between dusty shelves, flasks filled with who knows what, and that awful stench of half-rotted parchment—it had been just a storage room when Teacher Louis opened it yesterday. But when he sent me today, I found a strange room."
"Someone cleaned it, or did you just open the wrong one?" Adam mocked.
"Hahaha, funny," Desmond clicked his tongue. "This is not a prank, you know?"
"I would prank you, though."
With a satisfied smirk, Adam watched Desmond open his mouth, then close it for three heartbeats.
"I'm not! The storage turned broader with torches crackling against the walls. I couldn't make everything out with this archaic lighting, but I saw a red carpet passing between square columns like in a hall." He twisted his lips, his voice barely audible. "At the end of the carpet, there was something on a platform—a sphere, I think."
"Why didn't you check it out?" Adam leaned forward, frowning.
"There was something planted on it. I don't know what it was, Adam, but it gave me the creeps, not like the Oozebloom—worse." Desmond stretched his arm in front of him, showing how it still trembled lightly. "This is so weird. I almost felt it calling me."
Now engrossed in the story, Adam's eyes sparkled. "What did you do?"
"What any smart man would have done." Desmond shook his head. "I slammed the damned door and ran here."
Sizing Desmond up with a raised brow, Adam clicked his tongue. "You mean what any coward would have done." He paused, then slapped Desmond's back, laughing. "Just kidding. Could have been a cursed or demonic artifact. Perhaps touching it would have thrust you into a world of unnamable torments. You could have died on the spot, too. I'm sure Quintella would have felt saddened by the death of her dear sleep wrecker."
"That pipsqueak? She would have been the first to celebrate," Desmond snarled before realisation struck him. "Wait! She would be sad, but not you?"
"I would dry myself up crying on your grave, trust me," Adam grinned. "Anyway, why did you tell me?"
"I regret I did. You bastard can only mock me." Desmond crossed his arms over his chest, turning his back on a smiling Adam. Silence lingered for a moment before he sighed.
"Will you help me explore this room?" he asked hesitatingly, his pouting front crumbling when an icy shiver ran down his spine at the mention of cursed artifacts.
"Mhh." Adam tucked his fingers around his chin. "Why me, though? You could have asked Teacher Louis. Ah, I see. You'd rather have us both cursed."
"Damn you, Adam. Forget I ever told you anything." Desmond stomped the soil, his heavy steps overwhelmed by his rueful breathing.
"Wait," Adam called out, chuckling. "When did I refuse?"
Desmond turned slowly, hope returning to his voice. "You'll accompany me?"
"A mysterious artifact in a mysterious room," Adam smirked. "Did you think I'll pass on? Count me in."
"Great!" Desmond's lips curved into a delighted grin. "Meet me here in two hours. I'll set everything up so you can enter the Reward Hall with me."
Adam winked and waved. "See you in two hours."