Chapter 197: The Spirit Realm (1)

For a brief moment, the suspicion crossed her mind, but Karin shook her head firmly. Dragons were beings of immense power. Each one was like a natural disaster—so formidable that even she, a Hero, could not guarantee victory in a direct confrontation. Dragons were not like bears to be hunted for their hearts. She could not imagine Ketal treating them as prey, pursuing their hearts as mere trophies.

No, surely not. He wouldn’t do that. Surely,

Karin thought. She forced herself to believe this, pushing away the odd premonition as she changed the subject. “Then, let’s begin preparations. Everything should be ready by tomorrow. Please wait just a little while. Arkemis, I’ll need your assistance.”

“Alright,” Arkemis replied.

“Thank you. Really, thank you so much,” Ketal replied with a broad, beaming smile. Anticipation radiated from his face, as if a long-cherished dream were finally about to come true.

***

Around the same time—while Ketal was waiting, practically buzzing with excitement at the prospect of entering the Spirit Realm—a group of worshippers from Ferderica church were arriving at the coastal city where Ketal had previously set foot.

“So this is the place. This is where the barbarian arrived,” Riltara muttered.

Having failed to uncover any leads at the holy land of Kalosia, the followers of Ferderica had scraped together what little intelligence they could find, eventually tracking Ketal’s trail to this port town. The journey had been a grueling one. Their clothes were caked in dust and sweat; their faces were smeared with grime. They looked every bit like weary travelers, far removed from their dignified reputations as an Inquisitor and holy knights.

“Let’s proceed,” Riltara ordered.

At the command of Inquisitor Riltara,[1] the holy knights gave a silent nod and followed her lead into the city. They formally presented themselves to the lord, requesting an audience. The city’s lord greeted Riltara with a polite—if tense—welcome, cold sweat beading on his brow.

W-why is an Inquisitor of the Federica Church here? In all my years, I’ve never seen one this far from their homeland!

Lord Bulkan wondered

His anxiety surpassed even what he had felt when faced with Ketal’s group. That was only natural. The Church of Ferderica was despised throughout the land, not because of old scandals like the Church of Kalosia, but for their ongoing brutality. Many estates and lands had been ravaged under the Ferderica banner. The devastation was recent and all too real, so fear came instinctively.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, my lord,” said Riltara, her voice even.

“Y-yes, of course... welcome.”

Riltara took a seat, maintaining formal decorum. Yet despite her rank, her appearance was less than regal. Her clothes were stained with dust; streaks of dirt marred her face. Even her hair, left unwashed for days, had lost its luster. She looked nothing like the noble Inquisitor that he knew of.

The lord, ever cautious, offered a suggestion, “Would you care for a bath, perhaps? The bath attendants can be called—”

“A bath attendant?” Riltara’s expression soured instantly.

The lord’s face drained of color. “Ah, n-no! That was thoughtless of me, please forgive my poor choice of words!”

He bowed repeatedly, sweating buckets, as if he had committed a grievous offense simply by offering hospitality. In truth, he had inadvertently uttered something deeply offensive. By suggesting bath attendants, he was seen as dismissing the sacred values of Ferderica.

Riltara eyed him coldly. “Please be careful with your words.”

“Y-yes, of course, my apologies...”

Despite her grim demeanor, the city’s prosperity did not escape her notice. She observed the bustling, healthy faces of its people—well-fed, clean, full of life.

When Aquaz, the Inquisitor of the Sun God, was here, she had looked around the city with a gentle smile, genuinely impressed by the vitality of the city. Riltara, on the other hand, looked at the lord with thinly veiled contempt. Compared to her, the lord seemed almost gigantic, but there was a certain venom in her gaze that needed no words.

“A city that prospers without knowledge of the True Value of our god... How can you all be so content with mere material comfort? I’d almost like to return you to a more appropriate state myself,” Riltara said. Her words made the lord’s heart skip a beat. “But that is not why I am here. So I will refrain from interfering.” “Thank you... thank you very much.” The lord let out a sigh of relief. His heart was pounding, and he could feel it in his throat.

Riltara continued, her tone businesslike, “The reason for my visit is simple. I heard that a barbarian passed through this city. Is this true?”

The lord stammered, “Oh... how did you...?”

“That is not your concern,” she said flatly.

There was no need to be courteous to a minor lord, not when he was neither king nor saint. The lord quickly responded, eager to stay in her good graces.

“The barbarian and his party went to the City of Merfolk. There’s a city nearby, under the sea, inhabited by merfolk, and they traveled there.”

“I see... Then may I trouble you for a ship? We would need to follow them.”

“Of course! Anything you need, please, just say the word.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

Consideration, my foot,

the lord thought darkly.

If I say no, they’ll just tear the city apart...

Of course, he was careful not to say any of that aloud.

With her request met, Riltara posed one last question. “Did the barbarian commit any atrocities while here?”

They had been ordered by the will of their god to hunt down the barbarian, labeled as an enemy of the faith. They needed evidence—proof of his evil deeds.

The lord hesitated, searching his memory.“No, actually... He was quite the gentleman. He didn’t damage the city, nor did he act violently. He actually helped us. Even his journey to the City of Merfolk was to assist us.”

A strange look crossed Riltara’s face. “You’re saying he helped you? That he did not attack or pillage, but instead went to aid your people?”

“Yes, that’s right. Thanks to him, the merfolk returned, and all has gone well. We’re grateful, really.” The lord seemed almost confused at Riltara’s growing discomfort.

“He helped you?” Riltara repeated.

“Yes, I don’t see any problem—”

Riltara could only stare, unable to process this contradiction.

***

The next day, all preparations were complete.

At the peak of the World Tree, the air twisted with unnatural warping, as if the very fabric of space was being wound tighter. Ketal stood in front of this distortion, his excitement plain to see.

“Are you ready?” Karin asked him.

“Of course! I’ve been ready for hours,” Ketal replied, nearly bouncing with anticipation.

“With your current reserve of Myst, you’ll be able to remain in the Spirit Realm for about thirty minutes,” Karin explained. “That should be enough time. Once inside, seek out a spirit and attempt to establish a connection. You’ll know when the moment is right.”

Her tone was oddly reserved, as if she doubted he would succeed. However, Ketal, so caught up in excitement, paid no heed.

Karin waved her hand. The wind gathered, spiraling around the distortion, expanding it further. With a ripple, space itself parted. On the other side was a world not of the Mortal Realm, but of something entirely different—a new dimension, vibrant and alive.

“The gate won’t remain open for long. Once you’re inside, you’ll return naturally when your time is up,” Karin said.

“Thank you. Sincerely, thank you.” Ketal flashed a bright smile and stepped through the portal, vanishing into the unknown.

The moment he set foot in the Spirit Realm, a strange sensation swept over him. The entire world felt different. The wind was no longer wind, the air no longer air. Even the moisture brushing his cheek was somehow foreign, heavier, and richer—like stepping onto another planet entirely.

Of course, that was exactly what this was. He was no longer in the Mortal Realm, but had crossed into the Spirit Realm itself.

“Ha... hahahaha...” A spontaneous laugh escaped his lips, his eyes sparkling with the wonder of it all. He had truly entered the Spirit Realm.

***

To think I’d live to see a place like this,

Ketal thought.

He looked around, awestruck. Entering the Spirit Realm was something he’d never even imagined—not because he lacked desire, but because it had always seemed utterly impossible. For him, this moment was beyond any fantasy. It was enough to make him tear up. He wandered, taking in every detail, savoring the surreal wonder.

The Spirit Realm, at its core, resembled a vast plain—but with one crucial difference: the landscape overflowed with colors, each more vivid and dazzling than the last. Rainbows shimmered in the very air, giving the entire space an almost dizzying beauty. It truly felt as if he was standing in the heart of a fantasy.

For a while, he simply wandered, dazed by the beauty of it all. But he quickly shook himself.

No, I’m not here to sightsee. I need to form a contract with a spirit.

He only had thirty minutes; there was no time to waste. Gathering his senses, Ketal started to move. It did not take long to spot the presence of natural energies clustering together in the distance.

Spirits, no doubt,

Ketal thought.

He approached, and before long he saw them—spirits of blue and green, flitting through the air like a living painting. He approached cautiously, remembering Karin’s advice.

She said I’d understand once I got close.

He figured the best approach was simply to greet them and build rapport, so he continued forward. However, as soon as he drew near, the spirits sensed him—and panic swept through them.

The spirits scattered at lightning speed, vanishing into the distance. The speed at which they fled far surpassed their playful earlier movements. In an instant, Ketal found himself alone.

What the...? They ran away?

He watched the spirits flee and realized that, contrary to his expectations, approaching them wasn’t enough.

Is this like hide-and-seek? Or maybe I’m supposed to prove myself through a test of strength?

It seemed possible. Maybe he needed to catch one first. He tried again, and this time, his attention was caught by a blue spirit—a water elemental, looking like a tiny, adorable slime. He dashed over and caught the spirit in his grasp.

“Got you!” Ketal shouted.

The other spirits shrieked in alarm and darted away, but Ketal paid them no mind, his focus locked on the one in his hands.

“Nice to meet you! My name is Ketal. Would you be willing to form a contract with me?”

The slime spirit convulsed, panic radiating from its fluid body. It thrashed desperately, wriggling and twisting to break free. “

Ki-kii-kiii!

”

And then, as if unable to take any more, the spirit burst apart—dissolving itself back into the natural energies of the realm and escaping his grip.

“Oh...” Ketal awkwardly lowered his hand, his plan having backfired completely.

***

While Ketal struggled in the Spirit Realm, Karin and Arkemis spoke quietly at the summit.

“How do you think it’ll go?” Arkemis asked her, concern in her voice.

“I think it will be difficult,” Karin answered, shaking her head. “Ketal managed to contain his presence, but his innate Karma—his rank, his existence—is still overwhelmingly strong. Spirits are creatures of nature, and they are especially sensitive to such things.”

While Ketal could hide his presence from a distance, up close he still radiated a force that would feel monstrous to ordinary spirits.

“He might have luck if he happens to meet a spirit capable of withstanding his energy, but in a realm this vast... it won’t be easy,” Karin noted.

“So my encouragement might have just set him up for disappointment...” Arkemis grimaced. She began to worry about how she would console Ketal if he returned empty-handed.

At that moment, in the Spirit Realm, Ketal was coming to his own realization.

Is this... Am I really unable to form a contract with a spirit?

He felt a heaviness in his chest, a sense of discouragement creeping in.

He stood there, motionless, mulling over his situation—when suddenly, a tremendous wave of fire surged toward him.

“Hm?”

This was no ordinary spirit. The power it radiated was on a completely different level, enough to distort the very atmosphere around it.

“Who dares intrude upon the Spirit Realm?” The booming voice rattled the realm, shaking the very ground. Flames blazed, forming a massive horned presence.

Ketal’s eyes widened with surprise, but then a smile broke across his face. “Oh! Isn’t that you, Fiego? I never imagined I’d see you again here!”

The Legendary fire spirit—Fiego—had arrived, roaring his challenge. However, the moment Fiego recognized Ketal, he recoiled in fear and immediately turned to flee.

1. She was described as a priestess in previous chapters, but I’m just going to assume she is both an inquisitor and a priestess. ☜