PERFECT REINCARNATION : Being Invincible in Another World-Chapter 82: The Wraiths

The remains of several Stone Wraiths lay scattered among the ruins of the ancient sanctuary, their bodies reduced to shattered fragments after Rowan’s strikes and Sally’s fun time. There was dust in the air, increasing slowly through the purple glow of the dungeon moss that clung to the cracked pillars.

Rowan exhaled heavily. His arms ached. Fighting the Wraiths had been different from fighting wolves or rats and put more toll on his body. Their bodies had no flesh, no blood, only stone animated by dungeon mana. Every strike had felt like hammering against rocks. He wiped sweat which was dripping from his eye brows. "...These things are annoying." Sally was sitting casually on a fallen statue head nearby, swinging her legs back and forth. "...You’re slow." Rowan glared at her.

Rowan opened his mouth to argue but stopped. Technically she wasn’t wrong. Aurelion stood several steps away near the center of the chamber, his gaze was fixed on the deeper ruins where the ancient altar stood partially buried beneath collapsed stone.

Several Stone Wraiths had moved toward that area. Surprisingly, they were no longer attacking. Instead, they formed a loose perimeter around the ancient structure, as if they were guarding it.

Aurelion spoke quietly. "...THE ALTAR." Rowan looked over. "...What’s that? You think that’s important?" Aurelion replied ."Yes." Rowan studied the ruins again. The altar was larger than he had realized earlier. Carved from a single massive slab of dark stone, it stood elevated on a circular platform surrounded by broken pillars and fragments of collapsed walls. Ancient symbols covered its surface.

Even from this distance Rowan could see faint patterns carved into the stone. "...It looks like a ritual platform." Aurelion’s voice remained thoughtful. "This sanctuary likely had a religious purpose before the dungeon formed." Rowan looked toward the Wraiths standing guard around it. "...And those things are protecting it."

"Correct." Aurelion replied. Sally hopped down from the statue head. "...Then we should go there." Rowan hesitated. "...They don’t look friendly." Sally smiled."...Neither am I." Before Rowan could respond, something changed.

The Stone Wraiths suddenly stopped moving, all of them. Their glowing blue eyes shifted. Towards Sally. Rowan called. "...Wait."

The Wraiths began turning slowly. Their stone bodies creaked as they moved. But they weren’t preparing to attack. They were watching Sally. Rowan frowned. "...Why are they staring at you?"

Sally boasted proudly. "...Maybe they like me." The nearest Wraith stepped forward. Its long stone limbs moved slowly across the cavern floor. Rowan raised his sword immediately. But the Wraith didn’t attack. Instead, it stopped several meters away from Sally.

Then something unexpected happened. The creature lowered its head to deliver a blow to them. Rowan froze. Another Wraith did the same.

One by one, the creatures surrounding the altar lowered their heads slightly. Aurelion’s eyes narrowed. Rowan slowly turned toward Sally. "...Do you know these things?" Sally answered."...No."

The nearest Wraith raised its head again. Its glowing blue eyes fixed directly on Sally. Then it spoke. A voice like grinding stone echoed through the cavern. "...Heir..."

Rowan looked surprised and a little scared. "...Did that thing just talk?" The Wraith’s head tilted slightly. "...Heir... of the ancient flame..." Sally frowned. "...I don’t know what you’re talking about. "More Wraiths began whispering. The same words echoed through the ruins.

The sound of their voices filled the cavern like distant echoes through stone. Rowan slowly stepped closer to Aurelion. "...This is getting weird." Aurelion didn’t respond immediately. His gaze remained fixed on Sally. "...Do you feel anything unusual?" Aurelion asked. Sally thought for a moment and then answered. "...No."

The nearest Wraith took another step forward. Rowan raised his sword again. "Don’t come closer." The creature ignored him. Instead, it continued staring at Sally. "...The flame returns..." Rowan looked toward Aurelion. "...You hearing this? You know what it means?" Aurelion replied "...Nah, not a clue."

The Wraith lifted one stone hand slowly. It pointed toward Sally. Rowan looked back at her. "...You’re not secretly some ancient dungeon princess or something, right?" Sally did not answer.

The Wraiths began whispering again. Their voices echoed across the cavern. Sally rubbed the back of her head. "...This is confusing." Rowan muttered. "That’s one way to describe it."

Aurelion stepped forward slightly. The Wraiths’ glowing eyes shifted toward him briefly. But their attention quickly returned to Sally. "...Who created you?" Aurelion asked calmly. The nearest Wraith answered.

"...The sanctuary..."

"...The flame..."

"...The protector..."

The creature’s voice sounded ancient. Rowan looked toward the altar again. "...Guardians of the temple." Written on a pillar. The Wraith’s glowing eyes brightened slightly. "...The heir has returned..." Sally crossed her arms. "...I didn’t return from anywhere." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

The Wraith stepped closer. Rowan immediately moved in front of her. "Stop right there." The creature halted. Its glowing eyes flickered between Rowan and Sally. Then it spoke again. "...The flame recognizes its bearer..." Aurelion’s gaze sharpened slightly. "...I don’t see any flame."

The Wraith slowly raised its arm and pointed toward Sally’s chest. Silence filled the cavern. Rowan stared at Sally. "...You have something inside you?" Sally blinked. "...I don’t think so."

Aurelion didn’t say anything else. Instead, he stepped toward the ancient altar. The Wraiths did not move to stop him. Their attention remained fixed on Sally. Aurelion studied the carvings covering the stone surface. The symbols were ancient. Far older than the current kingdom. Runes representing flame, Life, and Rebirth. "...This sanctuary worshipped a fire entity," he murmured.

Rowan looked between him and Sally. "...You’re telling me these rock ghosts think she’s some kind of fire spirit?" Aurelion looked back at Sally again. "...Possibly." Sally frowned."...That sounds wrong. I AM THE HONORABLE ONE." But the Wraiths continued whispering.

"The flame returns..."

"The heir awakens..."

"The sanctuary remembers..."

The air within the ruins grew strangely warm. Rowan noticed it first. "...Is it getting hotter?" Sally looked down at her hands. A faint glow appeared around her fingers. A tiny flicker of golden light. Like the first spark of a flame. He slowly stepped back. "...That’s new."

Aurelion watched silently. The Wraiths bowed again. Deep beneath the ruins of Gloomfang Hollow, something ancient had recognized Sally. And whatever it was—

It had been waiting a very long time.

[To be Continued]