Kaiden 'Ghost/Spectre'
Undecided
Everlastia, Guild Courtyard


Kaiden locked the door to the café early, flipping a sign on the door that was clearly visible through the pristine glass. Inside were tables in pale greens and the walls were painted in warm, earthy tones. Windows lined the front of the store, letting in natural light and having the feeling of people outside without the terrors of rainfall or piercing winds. It had only been her second day back from her travels, and here she was sighing to herself and feeling like a lapdog.

River Town was mostly quiet, though the people who lived there were a great variety thanks to the Guild. Kaiden could see a few of them pass by and look at the ‘Closed’ sign on the door, and walk off with disappointment as she walked up the stairs to her room. The room itself had a small window and was rather sparse in furniture. There was a small, thick oak table with a pair of chairs, a desk off to the left side with an unused radio on it and a few candles. Opposite to that wall was a sofa, and to the corner of it, a side table with a bed on the other side. The only other doors were one to a bathroom and another to a closet. Shelves of books and racks of rolled up papers lined the walls between lamps and a piano with a chest next to it, was covered in ink blotted papers from top to bottom.

Kaiden pulled her black coat from the hanger next to the door, and swung her scarf around her neck with one motion. With the other hand she flipped her hair back and adjusted the glasses on her face. Somehow she always felt this moment of smug air around her when she put them on, but it always faded quickly. She had a few glasses to choose from, most of them identical replacements, but she liked these ones the most. She made sure the lavender wraps around her arms were comfortably tight before taking a deep breath, and exhaling.

Kaiden closed her eyes inside her room, and then opened them to find her on the other side of the bridge, leading to the Guild’s campus. Teleportation magic was useful, especially when she received urgent news from the Elder’s. Despite her special treatment, they were bound by word and oath and Kaien still had to do her job, as much as she preferred her freelancing tasks and research. Her steps were silent and she kept her eyes forward. With the time of day, she was no doubt going to run into the after school rush. She was left alone for many reasons, but she always heard the rumors and the muttering when they thought they were out of earshot. Kaiden didn’t mind it much; only when the assumptions were absolutely ridiculous did she make a point in correcting someone.

As Kaiden came closer to the Guild grounds, she noticed a lack of a rush that she came to know as a norm whenever she was told to visit the Guild. As she got closer, the source of the confusion became a bit clearer. There was a crowd around the tree, and everyone was looking up at something. She couldn’t tell from the angle she was at, and circled around at a distance. The brightness that was always emanating from the tree as usual, there wasn’t anything unusual about-

What is that...

Kaiden saw, and felt the dark presence as soon as she laid eyes on it. Her pace stopped dead in its tracks, knowing why there was such a group gawking at it. If people were attracted to anything, it was disasters, but this was one that had yet to happen. The woman’s eyes narrowed on it, and then on the on looking crowd. This was going to cause a mass of panic if someone didn’t say something, and she already felt herself walking towards the tree. Her pace quickened and she brought up her right hand, snapping her fingers and vanishing for a moment.

Kaiden appeared, standing on one of the thicket boughs of the tree with authority. Everyone was already looking up, so it was best to interrupt their line of sight rather than try to gain a new one. Even if she was only a Seeker to them, having the most enigmatic person in the Guild make a statement was going to turn some heads.

“The matter is being investigated, and there is no cause for panic. There Master’s and Elders are working on the matter at hand.” Kaiden spoke in a calm, yet strong voice that carried. “Please return to your activities.”

Kaiden may have lied but they didn’t know that. She may have said there was no need for panic, but there was a cause for alarm. Not many may want to listen to the Seeker who rarely showed up, but perhaps the fact she was the one saying it would get people’s attention. If the Master’s knew of this, then it was only recently, and it was no doubt the reason for why she was summoned. This wasn’t just a tree you could cut the unhealthy or half broken branch off of. This was something serious.