The mission that captured Eustace’s attention happened to be another Haunted House Investigation but with an interesting twist.

The mission description highlighted that the victim had seemingly fallen victim to a malevolent spirit that had drained or extracted their life force.

The presence of this spirit suggested the possibility of a Whispering Wraith, a particularly formidable entity known for its ability to absorb human life force.

“A Whispering Wraith…” Eustace mused, his thoughts drifting back to his class.

He was recalling his studies on the subject. The Whispering Wraith indeed possessed the ability to consume life energy, making it a formidable opponent.

‘This might be a good start…’

The allure of extracting the life force that the Wraith had stolen from its victim piqued his curiosity. He couldn’t help but wonder if he could confront this entity and reclaim the life energy it had taken.

With no explicit restrictions on accepting the task, Eustace made up his mind and decided to take the mission paper. 𝓪.𝒄𝒎

However, as Eustace reached out to claim the paper, a voice from behind him interrupted his actions. Startled, he turned to find a gentleman clad in a trench coat and emanating the aroma of roasted chicken.

‘Ugh… Why did I notice that? I’m probably getting hungry again.’

“Young man… That particular mission might prove to be quite challenging for a Summoner like yourself. Are you absolutely certain about accepting it?” The gentleman cautioned, his tone laced with concern.

Eustace offered a wry smile, surprised that his decision had garnered such attention. “Is there something I should be wary of with this mission?” He inquired, genuinely intrigued by the gentleman’s remarks.

The well-dressed man leaned closer, his voice lowered. “It’s not necessarily a problem, but considering you’re newly registered, it may be wise to wait. Perhaps the reward will increase, or more information about the mission will come to light, especially once the man who made a request dies… Patience can be a valuable asset in these situations.” He advised with a hint of ‘wisdom’ in his words.

Eustace pondered the gentleman’s advice, considering the possibilities.

“Why the caution for a mere Whispering Wraith? Even a dozen of them shouldn’t pose a significant challenge to a prepared Arcanist. Though, if there were truly a dozen, the person who posted the mission wouldn’t have stood a chance… So this might be just a lone wraith.” Eustace murmured, his confidence remaining steadfast.

The gentleman nodded, acknowledging the truth in Eustace’s words. “You make a valid point. However, what if this mission is a trap set by a Necromancer on the run from the Holy Arts Faction? Surely, you’ve heard of the ongoing conflict between the two factions. It’s crucial to exercise caution when accepting missions associated with Dark Arts in these times.” The man said as if he knew more about the conflict between the two Factions.

Eustace’s frown deepened as he considered the gentleman’s words. The conflict between the Holy Arts Faction and the practitioners of Dark Arts was indeed a matter of great significance, and he could not afford to overlook the potential dangers lurking within the mission.

Though he was also a Dark Arts Practitioner, it doesn’t mean that he wouldn’t get attacked by other Dark Magicians.

“Thank you for your reminder, Sir… However, I will still accept this mission.” Eustace replied as he took the piece of paper and proceeded to get the complete details of the mission from the Guild Attendant.

There, he learned the name of the person who had made a request. His name was Theodore, and the location of his house was at Locust Lane. It wasn’t that far from the hotel where he was staying at.

***

After accepting the mission and receiving all the necessary details from the Guild Attendant, Eustace wasted no time in setting out to investigate the task at hand.

This would be his first encounter with a Whispering Wraith, so he was looking forward to this mission. He swiftly arrived at Locust Lane, easily identifying the house he needed to inspect after spreading his Magic Zone.

The lane itself bustled with various stalls. There are many shops like tailor shops, hatters, watchmakers and barbers.

Anyway, positioned in front of the targeted house was a cobbler’s stall. A middle-aged man, whom Eustace suspected to be Theodore, stood there, his gaze lost and filled with worry. It was evident that he felt helpless, as no one had yet accepted his plea for assistance.

“Well, let’s see…”

Eustace muttered to himself, before utilizing his Divine Sense to confirm the presence of any Dark Arts Practitioners or other Arcanists who might be involved with the Whispering Wraith.

“There’s none… That gentleman was really overreacting on this.

Satisfied with his findings, he approached Theodore.

“Are you Sir Theodore? I am from the Arcanist Guild and have accepted your mission,” Eustace declared, his voice carrying reassurance.

Theodore’s eyes lit up with hope upon hearing Eustace’s words.

His face brightened with relief as he immediately replied.

“Finally! My prayers have been answered! Sir, please purify my house!” He pleaded, his desperation was evident. He must have suffered a lot because of that wraith.

Eustace nodded, understanding the urgency of the situation.

“Of course, that is precisely why I am here. Please remain here while I inspect your house.” He instructed, his gaze fixed on the haunted dwelling.

“Thank you! I will eagerly await good news!” Theodore expressed gratefully.

With those words, Eustace confidently stepped into the house.

However, Theodore couldn’t help but worry after seeing that Eustace didn’t seem to bring the ritual materials that could be used as a sacrifice to either speak with the spirit or send it away.

Nevertheless, he couldn’t help but feel impressed at Eustace’s calm demeanor despite the potential dangers that lay within.

***

Before entering, Eustace skillfully utilized his ESP Spell to conceal his aura as an Arcanist, ensuring that his presence would remain undetected.

His enchanted necklace further aided in masking his magical energies.

As he stepped into the house, a wave of eerie sensation wrapped over him, confirming the immediate presence of the spirit suspected to be the Whispering Wraith.

𝘪𝘳.𝒸𝑜𝑚