The Place He Started

"…and so, he appears, as foretold in the scriptures," said the Bookkeeper Spirit as it looked at him with interest that lacked the previous craziness when Arthur met him in the spirit realm. At that time, he just wanted to find Gaia, but the spirit did not help him. "You were right, Seref. He visited us."

"Leave," commanded Arthur without looking at the spirit, who got confused and offended. However, Seref gestured for him to follow that command without objection, and it did. As it rode its bicycle through the forest, it left the father and son alone. "Three more seconds and you would have lost your spirit."

"We are not contracted," said Seref with a smile as he picked a stick and dug through the dying embers, eviscerating the orange color within them. "I thought you wouldn't visit me in this realm."

"Your spirit said otherwise."