Chapter 5 - The Library Had a Ghost Problem
The thing that crawled out of the library wall looked like a raccoon designed by a demon with budget cuts.
Too many teeth.
No fur.
Black smoke leaking from its eyes.
Eli whispered, “That is not OSHA compliant.”
Maya raised two fingers.
Golden light formed between them.
“Back up.”
The creature lunged.
Maya struck it with a paper talisman.
The talisman exploded.
Eli ducked behind a table.
His system displayed:
[SPIRIT RAT — LOW GRADE]
[WEAKNESS: SPINE]
[RECOMMENDED ACTION: LET THE STRONG WOMAN HANDLE IT.]
“Finally, good advice.”
Then a second rat dropped from the ceiling behind Maya.
She didn’t see it.
Eli moved without thinking.
He grabbed a heavy economics textbook and swung.
The book connected with the rat’s spine.
A wet crack echoed through the aisle.
The creature dissolved into smoke.
Eli stared at the textbook.
“Macroeconomics finally contributed to society.”
Maya killed the first rat and turned.
“You just struck a corrupted spirit.”
“It looked annoying.”
“With a textbook.”
“I’m improvising.”
His phone chimed.
[QUEST COMPLETE.]
[COURAGE +1]
[QI +5]
[NEW SKILL: IMPROVISED WEAPONRY I]
Maya’s expression became more serious.
“Those things shouldn’t be on campus.”
“Why?”
“Because Riverside is protected by a ward.”
The system flashed another message.
[LOCAL WARD INTEGRITY: 82%]
Then 81%.
Then 80%.
Maya saw his face.
“What?”
Eli swallowed.
May you like
“I think your protected campus is leaking.”
Related Stories
