A faint gray mist hung in every direction.
The pale white light of the moon barely reached the ground. Lanterns hanging outside the houses cast a dim yellow glow, just enough to reveal the path ahead.
Raijin, Sofiya, Ishan, and Kade followed closely behind Father Eldred.
In his hand was a lantern whose flame was far from steady. It didn't fully illuminate the path—only enough to keep moving forward. The way the flame flickered made it seem as if the cold fog itself was trying to extinguish it.
The mist around them shifted with every step, as if it were parting to make way for them… while also concealing everything behind them.
All of them had layered on extra clothes, yet even after wearing a thick coat, Kade was still shivering from the cold.
No one spoke.
The silence around them created an unsettling atmosphere. The only sound was the faint echo of their footsteps.
But within that sound…
Raijin heard something else—
a faint presence… as if someone else was walking alongside them.
He turned back for a moment—
but there was nothing except fog.
After a short while, a massive structure emerged before them.
It was neither overly large nor small.
Its walls were painted brown, embedded with multiple windows. Five tall pillars rose from different sides of the building, stretching upward toward the sky. Their tops were sharply pointed.
Each pillar had windows spaced along its height.
Among them, the tallest pillar stood at the center.
At its peak was a triangular structure, cracked like dry, barren land, with brass plating lining its three edges.
The entire building was wrapped in fog, as if it were hiding a secret within.
Looking at it stirred a sense of grandeur… and holiness.
But for some reason…
it also created an unsettling feeling.
As if the place was less sacred…
and more like it was concealing something.
Raijin and his team stepped inside the church.
The interior was magnificent.
The ceiling was high, and moonlight filtered through the windows, falling onto the heavy wooden tables below.
Everything carried an ancient calm—
but that calm felt unnatural.
Raijin's eyes suddenly stopped at a large mirror.
For a split second…
it felt like his reflection moved half a second late.
He blinked—
and everything returned to normal.
In front of the tables hung a triangular pendulum.
It was cracked, like barren land, and behind it stood a massive mirror reflecting the faint moonlight.
"Symbol of the Earth God…"
Raijin murmured.
Father Eldred returned with warm clothes.
Everyone removed their outer layers and wore them.
The biting cold that had once pierced their bones gradually faded away.
Raijin turned toward Father Eldred and got straight to the point—
"Now tell me about the Grim Howler Wraiths."
"Their weaknesses… their attacks… and how to survive them."
Father Eldred's voice grew heavier.
His eyes widened slightly.
"Follow me…"
Raijin and the others exchanged glances.
After a brief silence, they followed him.
Father Eldred led them into another room.
Round tables were placed at intervals, each surrounded by chairs.
He gestured toward one table for them to sit, then left the room.
None of them understood what was happening, but they quietly took their seats.
The silence in the room felt deeper than before.
After a few moments, Father Eldred returned, carrying a large tray.
Several cups rested on it, steam rising from each.
He placed the tray at the center of the table.
"Tea… for all of you," he said.
"It's very good for your throat… special ginger extract has been added."
As Raijin picked up his cup, he noticed something—
There was a cup placed in front of Father Eldred as well…
but he hadn't touched it.
His eyes were fixed on the four of them.
None of them questioned how he knew about their throats.
All of them had swollen, red throats… some even slightly torn.
They all took a sip together.
The first sip burned slightly—
but the next moment, a strange relief followed.
As if something inside was healing…
or perhaps… changing.
Sofiya and Kade immediately spat it out.
"It's too strong… bitter… and strange…"
Father Eldred smiled faintly—
"That's because of the special ginger extract… for you."
"If you don't drink it… your condition may worsen."
Hearing that, they reluctantly began drinking again.
Within seconds—
Raijin felt his body growing heavier.
His grip weakened.
Voices began to sound distant…
as if something was slowly pulling him into sleep.
Father Eldred's smile didn't change…
but now, it felt colder…
less human.
Then Ishan asked—
"Why is there no one else here besides you?"
Everyone's hands froze mid-air.
Father Eldred replied calmly—
"The others have been sent to different churches… for their safety."
"I stayed here because I am the priest…
and I was ordered to wait for those coming from Eldhavn…"
A brief silence followed.
Raijin asked in a low voice—
"Do all people become Wraiths after they die?"
A faint, gentle smile appeared on Father Eldred's face.
"When a person dies with unfulfilled desires," he said,
"and those desires are extremely strong, they merge with the negative energy of the graveyard and are reborn as Grim Howler Wraiths."
"They have no sense of self… no mind of their own.
That is why they attack anyone around them."
Raijin immediately asked—
"Then how do you control them?
Many people die with unfulfilled desires."
Father Eldred replied—
"When we bury the dead, we place a holy seal on their graves.
But sometimes… if the seal is not applied properly… this problem arises."
"The very problem… you are facing now."
Raijin was about to ask something more—
but his vision began to blur.
He looked toward Sofiya, Ishan, and Kade—
they were feeling the same.
Their eyes were growing heavy.
Raijin looked at Father Eldred one last time—
He was standing closer now.
And that same smile was still on his face…
but now—
it didn't look human.
Raijin tried to stand—
but his legs refused to respond.
His vision faded completely.
And the next moment—
everything went dark.
.
.
.
Thank You For Reading This Chaptar.
Author: Mohammed Zaid Saifi,