The wave of living light tore across the heavens.
It struck the colossal eye.
The sky screamed.
Not thunder.
Not wind.
Reality itself cried out.
The enormous eye recoiled, black blood spilling into the torn heavens.
Far away—
Across the city—
Arjun Kashyap slept.
Or rather...
He tried to.
His penthouse stood silent beneath the midnight skyline.
Glass walls reflected endless city lights.
Everything was orderly.
Controlled.
Predictable.
Then—
He dreamed.
He stood upon an endless black sea.
No shore.
No stars.
No moon.
Only darkness stretching forever.
Across the water—
A girl woven entirely from light fought against impossible shadows.
Her sword carved suns through the darkness.
He couldn't see her face.
Yet somehow...
He knew.
He woke with a sharp breath.
The room was empty.
His heartbeat wasn't.
He stared into the darkness beyond the window.
"...What are you?"
Back at Lei Mansion—
Another shadow beast lunged.
Asiya met it head-on.
One clean slash.
The creature split apart into drifting ash before it could even scream.
Above—
The colossal eye bled darkness.
It roared.
LIGHT-BEARER—
"I know."
Asiya interrupted.
"You've mentioned it."
Her blade flashed.
Another arc of radiant light split the creature's manifested form.
The heavens trembled.
The crack in the sky began shrinking.
She was winning.
Then—
Pain.
Sharp.
Violent.
The jade mark around her wrist ignited.
She faltered.
Only for a heartbeat.
The colossal eye smiled.
It had been waiting.
A spear of condensed darkness erupted from the heavens.
Straight toward her heart.
Too fast.
Too close.
The child ghost screamed.
"ASIYAAAA!!"
The long-haired ghost abandoned every shred of dignity and disappeared behind a shattered pillar.
"I WAS NEVER HERE!"
Then—
Light answered.
Not from the staff.
Not from the heavens.
From her.
Pure white radiance exploded outward.
Brighter than dawn.
The spear struck the light—
And dissolved.
Like frost beneath the morning sun.
Silence.
Even the colossal eye froze.
Asiya hovered quietly in the storm.
Her hair drifted without wind.
Golden-white light flowed beneath her skin like living rivers.
The sword in her hand shifted.
Its form became clearer.
Older.
Alive.
She blinked at it.
"...I did that?"
From below—
"YES!"
The child ghost pointed frantically upward.
"PLEASE KEEP DOING THAT!"
"...Fair."
The giant eye roared.
WHAT ARE YOU?
Asiya frowned thoughtfully.
"...That was literally my question."
Then—
Something settled inside her.
Calm.
Ancient.
Certain.
The light wasn't lending her strength.
It was...
Her.
She slowly raised the sword.
Runes awakened along its blade.
One.
Then hundreds.
Then thousands.
Golden circles bloomed across the heavens.
Layer after layer.
Ancient seals.
The breach shuddered.
Too late.
Asiya lifted her gaze.
"Return."
One word.
Reality obeyed.
Chains of living light erupted from the sky itself.
They wrapped around the colossal eye.
Around its countless pupils.
Around its screaming hatred.
The eye struggled.
The chains tightened.
It screamed as heaven dragged it backward into the closing breach.
Below—
The child ghost jumped up and down.
"She's winning!"
The long-haired ghost openly cried.
"I always believed in her!"
A pause.
"...Except during the terrifying parts."
The colossal eye made one final attempt.
Black fire.
An ocean of it.
It ignored Asiya completely.
Instead—
It fell toward Lei Mansion.
Toward her family.
Toward home.
Something inside Asiya became very quiet.
Then very cold.
"...Wrong target."
One heartbeat—
She floated in the sky.
The next—
She stood before the descending flames.
Her sword fell.
A wall of living radiance unfolded around the entire estate.
Black fire crashed against it.
Shattered.
Disappeared.
Her father looked upward.
Speechless.
Her mother covered her mouth.
"...That's our daughter..."
Her eldest brother blinked once.
"...Apparently."
Asiya looked back toward the heavens.
Eyes glowing softly.
"...Leave."
She swung once.
A sun was born.
Golden light swallowed the breach.
The colossal eye vanished.
The heavens closed.
Silence returned.
The war...
Was over.
Morning arrived as though the night had merely been a misunderstanding.
Broken windows glittered beneath warm sunlight.
Half the courtyard needed rebuilding.
Ancient charms still hummed quietly beneath the walls.
And in the middle of all that destruction—
Asiya sat cross-legged on the front steps.
Eating mango candy.
Because saving reality was exhausting.
The child ghost sat beside her.
"We nearly died."
"Mhm."
"You fought an ancient horror."
"Mhm."
"You might actually be the Keeper of Light."
"Mhm."
Silence.
"...Shouldn't you be reacting?"
Asiya considered carefully.
"I'm processing through snacks."
"...Understandable."
Her father stepped into the courtyard.
He slowly looked around.
Broken pillars.
Collapsed walls.
Scorch marks.
Then—
His daughter peacefully eating candy beside an ancient glowing staff.
He pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Asiya."
"Yes?"
"...Why was there a monster in my house?"
She thought very seriously.
"...Bad feng shui."
Both brothers burst into laughter.
Her mother sighed.
"That is absolutely not how feng shui works."
Asiya pointed toward the damaged northern courtyard.
"Actually..."
"The northern spiritual current was compromised."
Silence.
That sounded disturbingly professional.
The child ghost whispered proudly,
"...She's working."
Later—
The morning market had returned to its usual rhythm.
People wandered between food stalls.
Children laughed.
Vendors called out prices.
The supernatural chaos from earlier had left no trace that ordinary eyes could see.
Asiya sat beneath her little parasol, chin resting lazily on one hand.
A handwritten sign leaned against the table.
FORTUNE TELLING — 50 YUAN
EXORCISM — EXTRA
The child ghost swung its legs while sitting on top of the sign.
"...Business is slow."
"It'll happen."
"...Shouldn't you advertise?"
"I am."
"...How?"
"I'm sitting here."
The child ghost stared.
"...She's hopeless."
Nearby—
The long-haired ghost quietly arranged talismans with the seriousness of a temple priest.
"It is, somehow, a surprisingly effective strategy."
Just then—
A sleek black luxury sedan rolled slowly past the market.
Asiya looked up.
"...Oh."
Inside—
Arjun Kashyap quietly read through business reports.
Without thinking—
Asiya stood.
The child ghost blinked.
"...Where are you going?"
She smiled.
"One minute."
She walked straight toward the expensive car.
The driver noticed first.
"Sir... someone's approaching."
Arjun looked up.
Before he could react—
Knock. Knock.
Two gentle taps on the tinted window.
He turned his head.
Outside—
Asiya stood there.
Sunlight rested softly on her face.
Then—
She smiled.
A bright.
Cute.
Completely unguarded smile.
"Hi."
For a brief second—
Arjun simply stared at her.
The driver looked between them in complete confusion.
"...Sir?"
Arjun silently lowered the window.
A warm breeze drifted inside.
Asiya reached into her hoodie pocket.
Then held out...
A small chocolate wrapped neatly in gold foil.
"This is for you."
The driver nearly forgot how to breathe.
A stranger...
Had just walked up to one of the most powerful businessmen in Ryan City...
And casually offered him chocolate.
Arjun looked at the chocolate.
Then at her smiling face.
"...For me?"
"Mhm."
Neither moved.
The silence stretched.
The child ghost peeked from behind the nearby mailbox.
"...Why is the serious human buffering?"
It blinked at Asiya.
"...Wait... wasn't that a spiritual chocolate?"
"...Why did you give it to him?"
The long-haired ghost nodded solemnly.
"I believe he has encountered emotional damage."
Finally—
Arjun slowly reached out.
And accepted it.
"...Thank you."
Asiya's smile immediately became even brighter.
"Good."
She pointed at the chocolate.
"Don't forget to eat it."
"It'll take away your bad luck."
Arjun looked at the little chocolate resting in his palm.
"...Bad luck?"
"Mhm."
"Think of it as..."
She searched for the right words.
"...Preventive maintenance."
The driver blinked.
Preventive maintenance...
For luck?
Before Arjun could ask another question—
The jade bracelet around Asiya's wrist pulsed.
A faint golden light flashed beneath the beads.
Her smile disappeared.
Instantly.
Something had entered her spiritual perception.
She looked toward the end of the street.
The child ghost floated higher.
"...Mask Beast."
The long-haired ghost's expression hardened.
"...Close."
Asiya looked back at Arjun.
"...I have to go."
Then—
Her warm smile returned for just a second.
"Bye."
Without waiting—
She turned.
Walked away.
Then disappeared into the crowd.
Arjun remained seated.
Still holding the chocolate.
After several seconds—
He quietly closed his hand around it.
"...Wait here."
He stepped out of the car.
Ignoring the driver's surprised expression.
And followed her.
Several streets later—
The crowds gradually thinned.
Food stalls disappeared.
Older buildings replaced busy storefronts.
The cheerful sounds of the market faded behind him.
Arjun slowed.
There was no sign of Asiya.
Only silence.
He frowned.
Had he lost her already?
Then—
He turned into a narrow alley.
Empty.
Or so he thought.
A soft voice drifted from above.
"...Searching for me?"
Arjun looked up.
Asiya was casually leaning against the brick wall.
Her back rested comfortably against it.
One foot was pressed lightly against the wall.
Her arms were folded.
Completely relaxed.
As though she'd been waiting the entire time.
She smiled down at him.
"What?"
A tiny pause.
"Were you searching for me?"
For several seconds—
Arjun simply looked at her.
Expression unreadable.
Blank.
Asiya's smile grew brighter.
"You actually followed me."
She tilted her head.
"...Interesting."
Then—
The smile softened.
Her eyes shifted past him.
Toward the darkness deeper inside the alley.
"...Though you're a little late."
Arjun frowned.
"...Late?"
Asiya nodded once.
"The show already ended."
She pushed herself away from the wall.
The child ghost floated beside her, swinging its tiny legs.
"...He missed everything."
The long-haired ghost sighed dramatically.
"...A premium performance."
A Few Minutes Earlier—
After leaving Arjun's car—
Asiya slipped quietly into a narrow alley.
She let out a small sigh.
"...You know..."
She spoke to the empty air.
"...Following people is rude."
Silence.
Then—
At the far end of the alley—
A man wearing a plain white mask stood motionless.
Too still.
Too quiet.
The child ghost immediately hid behind Asiya's shoulder.
"...It's him."
"The Mask Beast."
"Wearing another borrowed body."
The masked figure slowly tilted its head.
"...Keeper."
Asiya sighed again.
"I was having a nice day."
"The King calls."
"I decline."
"...You cannot."
"I just did."
"...You belong to—"
"I don't."
Silence.
Even the child ghost whispered,
"...He got rejected."
The long-haired ghost nodded solemnly.
"Professionally."
Dark mist spread across the alley.
The temperature dropped.
Windows frosted over.
Shadows stretched unnaturally across the walls.
The child ghost shivered.
"...It's expanding."
Asiya rolled one shoulder lazily.
"...You're making another mess."
Without warning—
The Mask Beast lunged.
Its claws tore through the air with enough force to split stone.
Asiya simply leaned half a step to the side.
The attack sliced through empty air.
She blinked.
"You missed."
The creature roared and attacked again.
This time—
Asiya caught its wrist.
Effortlessly.
"...Still rude."
A casual flick of her wrist—
CRAAASH!!
The creature flew backward, smashing through stacked wooden crates.
The child ghost clapped excitedly.
"Direct hit!"
The borrowed human body cracked apart like porcelain.
Dark mist exploded outward.
Something enormous emerged.
A towering creature wrapped in countless white masks.
Some laughed.
Some cried.
Some screamed.
All of them smiled.
Asiya stared for a moment.
"...Much uglier."
The creature shrieked.
Dozens of shadow tendrils erupted toward her.
Asiya lazily raised a single finger.
Golden light traced a tiny rune in the air.
"Tsk."
The rune expanded into a glowing circle.
Every tendril that touched it dissolved instantly into drifting ash.
The Mask Beast froze.
"...Impossible."
"No."
Asiya smiled faintly.
"...Just expensive."
She reached into her sleeve.
Pulled out a yellow talisman.
"...Exorcism."
She looked thoughtfully at the monster.
"...Extra charge."
Flick.
The talisman drifted gently through the air.
It landed on one of the creature's masks.
Nothing happened.
For exactly one second.
Then—
BOOOOOOM!!
Golden light exploded through the alley.
Every mask screamed at once.
Smoke poured from the creature's body.
It staggered backward.
"...You have awakened."
Asiya tilted her head.
"...Unfortunately for you."
For the first time—
Fear appeared behind the countless masks.
The Mask Beast turned—
And fled across the rooftops without looking back.
The child ghost blinked.
"...It ran?"
The long-haired ghost smiled.
"...She scared away a nightmare."
Asiya didn't chase.
She simply brushed the dust from her hoodie.
Walked to the alley wall.
Leaned against it.
Folded her arms.
And waited.
"...Three..."
"...Two..."
"...One..."
Footsteps echoed into the alley.
Arjun Kashyap appeared at the entrance.
Asiya smiled.
"...Right on time."
Present
Arjun's gaze lingered on the cracked pavement.
Broken wooden crates.
Black scorch marks.
The faint smell of burnt air.
Signs of a battle.
But no enemy.
No body.
Nothing.
His eyes slowly returned to Asiya.
"...What happened here?"
Asiya answered without hesitation.
"Professional pest control."
Arjun glanced around once more.
"...That didn't look like a pest."
"It was."
"...It escaped."
Silence.
The breeze drifted through the alley.
Finally—
Asiya looked at him.
"You should go."
"...This isn't your place."
Arjun didn't move.
Instead, he asked quietly,
"...Who are you?"
For the first time—
Asiya didn't answer immediately.
She blinked.
Then smiled.
"The fortune teller charging fifty yuan."
A beat.
"...Business has been slow lately."
The child ghost covered its face.
"...She dodged the question."
The long-haired ghost nodded.
"...Masterfully."
Arjun looked at her for another long moment.
Then...
He let out the faintest sigh.
"...I see."
"No."
Asiya smiled innocently.
"You really don't."
Silence settled between them.
Not awkward.
Curious.
Then the jade bracelet around Asiya's wrist gave a tiny pulse.
She glanced at it.
"...Looks like today's overtime is finished."
She turned to leave.
The child ghost floated after her.
"...Shouldn't we chase it?"
Asiya slipped both hands into her hoodie pockets.
"It won't come back today."
"...How do you know?"
She smiled lazily.
"It learned a valuable lesson."
"...What lesson?"
She looked back over her shoulder.
"...Never interrupt my snack break."
The child ghost nodded solemnly.
"...A terrifying moral."
The long-haired ghost agreed.
"...A lesson every evil spirit should remember."
Without another word—
Asiya walked away.
Leaving Arjun standing alone in the quiet alley.
His gaze slowly lowered.
Still in his hand...
Was the little chocolate wrapped in gold foil.
He looked at it for a long moment.
Then, without knowing why—
A faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
Almost too small to notice.
He quietly slipped the chocolate into his pocket.
And walked back toward his waiting car.