Oenhi and Mimya walked through expansive grassy fields beneath a brilliant blue sky, the fading stars still whispering from twilight. It had been nearly four hours since they left Toki-Toki Town, and with each step, the tree receded into a valley of rolling hills.
Oenhi idly swung the baseball bat she'd been given when a question sparked in her mind. "About these wraiths, what exactly are they? You said they're corrupted spirits, but I don't get it."
Mimya offered, "Wraiths are the spirits of ghosts that refuse to move on. Their hatred, relentless will. They aren't ghosts in the traditional sense, they've become something else entirely, a malevolent force tethered to the physical plane."
"Physical plane?" Oenhi echoed. "You mean everything we can touch?"
"Exactly," Mimya explained. "Sarahliza calls it Materia, the plane where normal life happens. Some even believe there's a mirror world for these spirits, known as Astriga, where all ghosts end up. But who really knows?"
As they walked, Oenhi's curiosity grew. "And how does ajam play into all of this?"
"Ajam is like a lifeblood for wraiths," Mimya said, her eyes glinting. "It sustains them, forms their bodies, and even gives them their power."
They paused as Mimya recalled, "Remember Mazaeta and the other wraiths? Their faces look like strange masks, almost as if they're not really part of them? The mask is essentially them, and they need bodies to operate"
"Oh," Oenhi replied with a laugh. "So wraiths are like parasites."
"Something like that," Mimya agreed, and they resumed their journey.
Before long, the hill eased into a small clearing where a modest house stood amid a scattering of dancing trees. A worn swing hinted at a child's presence, and a nearby farm, cows grazing peacefully, suggested life, though no one was in sight.
"Finally, a place to sit," Oenhi declared, bounding down the hill. "Wow, look at that real cow!"
Mimya tried to protest, "Oenhi, you can't just-" but the moment was lost as Oenhi darted into the yard, leaping over a fence to join the animals.
Following her, Mimya slowed near the house. Its peeling exterior and rickety veranda gave it an air of quiet concern. "Should I knock?" she wondered aloud. No sooner had she spoken than a sharp impact struck the side of her head.
"Hey! What the heck, Oenhi?!" Mimya cried, clutching her hurt spot.
Perplexed, Oenhi replied, "Huh? What did you do?"
"Don't act dumb- you hit me!" Mimya snapped, just as another rock landed squarely on her crown with an exasperated "Ow!"
Oenhi's eyes darted toward a nearby tree. "The rock, was that from the tree?" she murmured. Moving closer, her orange eyes widened at the sight of a dark figure lurking among the branches.
"I see you!" Oenhi called, addressing the shadow as if it were a friend.
Mimya blinked. "Why are you talking to a tree?"
A soft rustling answered, and a cascade of leaves fell from the limb. There, dangling from the branch, was a mask, and onto it, the body of an infant. For a moment, Oenhi's hand tightened around her bat as she mistook the figure for a wraith.
"Whoa, wraith!" she yelped, adopting a defensive stance.
"Get away from my house!" a voice commanded, and a slingshot was raised in reply.
"A wraith with a slingshot?" Oenhi quipped. The masked figure cocked his head. "Wraith? What's that supposed to mean?"
"It isn't a wraith, it's just another person," Mimya quickly clarified.
Embarrassed, Oenhi chuckled, "Oh! Sorry about that." The figure slid down from the tree, tilting his body as he maintained his aim with the slingshot until he relaxed slightly.
"Sorry we trespassed," Mimya said, raising her hands in peace. "We're just passing through." Minus examined.
"Yeah, what she said," Oenhi added, grinning.
The figure's cautious posture softened as he introduced himself. "I'm Jonah."
Hesitantly, Jonah removed his mask to reveal a boy of about four feet in height, with a mop of orange hair and worn down clothes. Mimya knelt to his level. "Nice to meet you, Jonah. Where are your parents?"
For a long moment, Jonah said nothing, his eyes shadowed with worry. Sensing his unease, Oenhi stepped forward, rubbing the bump on her head. "You've got a good shot there," she said cheerfully. "But don't worry, we're heroes. If there's any trouble, we'll handle it."
Jonah's face softened as he began, "Well, my-" but before he could continue, a warm voice called from the veranda.
"And who are they?" asked a woman stepping out, dressed casually with long brown hair and eyes mirroring Jonah's.
"Hey there, we're just passing by," Mimya explained.
The woman surveyed the scene, then smiled. "Good afternoon, girls. My son was just on duty protecting the yard, as usual," she giggled.
"And a pretty good slingshot shooter too," Mimya added with a sympathetic rub of her head.
"Sorry about that," Jonah mumbled.
Realizing what had happened, the woman apologized, "I'm sorry for his behavior, he's not that trust worthy of faces he has never seen before.
"It's all good," Oenhi interjected. "We're only looking for a place to rest."
Mimya exchanged a glance with Oenhi, this wasn't exactly what they'd planned, but the woman's upbeat tone was reassuring. "Of course you can stay a while," she said. "Plus, we could use an extra hand around here."
Mimya sighed with reluctant gratitude. "I'm honored, ma'am." With that, the woman led them inside, revealing a cozy interior that belied the house's worn exterior. As the door creaked shut behind them.