The Team’s First Trial

So here is a summary of what happened in the last 24 hours. I was searching for the answers and found more questions, and then Yumiko gathered everyone and gave a mission. It is not a routine mission to observe or spy but to eliminate 5 wraiths and even to find clues regarding those 5 people whose identity these wraiths have chosen. And I, who have been here for not more than 5 months without actual combat experience, was asked to observe not from the HQ but from the actual field. I always wanted to be a soldier. I mean, I liked their discipline, their willpower, and their mentality. But here we are talking about wraiths, beings that have the power to run over a city and destroy countries. If I am asked if was I nervous or scared, my answer would be none of these. I was excited, and this feeling in my heart was something I couldn't explain in simple words. " Look at you, smiling even in this situation. Maybe you haven't realized the seriousness of this mission." Lisa said. Yes, she was right, but I couldn't ease away this feeling right now. " Let him be, Lisa. I know that feeling, Rudra. But remember, we are a team, so don't do anything reckless." Kairos said, and Caelum looked at him and said, " Maybe we should record this, you know, like how that person can say and still do opposite of his own words." Everyone laughed, and I was confused. " You are new, so you don't know this, but it's always Kairos who messes up things and is reckless on this team, but since he knows to clean his mess, Yumiko lets him off. And maybe the reason he was made leader was to keep him down, otherwise, Lisa is the best choice for the leader." Lysandra said. " Maybe that loss made you change, didn't it? Otherwise, you usually don't speak much," Seri said, and everyone smiled at her, even Lisa. " Shut up, Seri. "But the damage was done. Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson, and she looked down shyly, her newfound openness momentarily overshadowed by her embarrassment. I was the only one who noticed the subtle change in her demeanor, a small but significant shift in the usually reserved Lysandra. " So what's the plan, leader?" Seri asks jokingly. " I know, you think I wouldn't come up with a plan, but sorry to disappoint you, I do have a plan". " You mean 'we' have a plan," Caelum said with his eyebrow up. "Yes, I meant to say we. Small error, but don't get into that detail.

Kairos gathered everyone around, his expression serious. "We need to monitor those five wraiths who have taken human disguises," he began. "We'll use the spirit field to lock them in and eliminate them without anyone else knowing. If they're in a condition to talk, we'll make them confess what they did to the humans whose identities they stole."

He paused, looking at each of us. "Each one of you will be responsible for monitoring one wraith. Rudra, you'll be with Lysandra."

Lysandra's reaction was immediate. "No," she said quickly, her voice firm.

Kairos raised an eyebrow. "Lysandra, you're his senior. Rudra has the least experience in combat and encounters with wraiths. He needs your guidance."

Lysandra didn't argue further, though her displeasure was evident. Seri, ever the instigator, smirked and added, "Just don't get in her way, Rudra, or it'll be terrible for you."

Lysandra's cheeks turned a deep shade of red. She pushed Seri aside, her embarrassment clear. "Don't mind her," she muttered, avoiding eye contact.

You glanced at Lysandra as you both prepared for the mission. "So, how exactly are we going to track these wraiths?" you asked, trying to sound confident despite your nerves.

Lysandra sighed, her expression softening slightly. "We'll use the spirit field to isolate them. It's like a net that traps their energy, making it impossible for them to escape or disguise themselves."

You nodded, absorbing the information. "And once they're trapped, we… eliminate them?"

"Yes," she confirmed, her voice steady. "But if they're in a condition to talk, we need to find out what they did to the humans they replaced. We must get that information."

You hesitated before asking, "What if something goes wrong?"

Lysandra looked at you, her eyes serious. "Stay close to me and follow my lead. I've dealt with wraiths before. Just don't try to be a hero."

You managed a small smile. "Got it. I'll stick to the plan."

She gave a brief nod, then added, almost as an afterthought, "And don't let Seri's words get to you. She's just trying to rile you up."

You chuckled. "I'll try not to."

For a moment, her stern demeanor softened, and she offered a faint smile. "Let's just get through this mission safely."

You and Lysandra crouched behind a cluster of trees, the spirit field humming softly around you. The wraith you were assigned to monitor moved through the crowded marketplace, its human disguise flawless.

Lysandra's eyes never left the wraith. "Remember, stay focused," she whispered. "We need to wait for the right moment to activate the spirit field."

You nodded, your heart pounding. "What if it senses us?"

"It won't," she assured you. "The spirit field masks our presence. Just be ready to act when I give the signal."

Minutes felt like hours as you watched the wraith interact with unsuspecting humans. It was unsettling how easily it blended in, mimicking human behavior perfectly.

Suddenly, the wraith paused, its eyes scanning the area. Lysandra tensed beside you. "It's getting suspicious. We need to move now."

You took a deep breath, readying yourself. "On your mark."

"Three… two… one… now!" Lysandra activated the spirit field, and a shimmering barrier enveloped the wraith, trapping it in place.

The wraith, now stripped of its human disguise, revealed its true form. It was a dark, shadowy entity, its body cloaked in tattered black robes that seemed to absorb the light around it. Its face was a skeletal mask with hollow eye sockets that glowed with an eerie, malevolent light. Long, bony fingers extended from its sleeves, ending in sharp, claw-like nails.

As it thrashed against the spirit field, you could feel the chill emanating from its presence, a cold that seemed to seep into your very bones. The air around it grew heavy with despair and hatred, emotions that the wraith exuded effortlessly.

Lysandra's voice was steady as she addressed the creature. "Tell us what you did to the humans you replaced," she demanded.

The wraith's voice was a raspy whisper, filled with malice. "You think you can defeat me? I will never reveal my secrets."

Despite its defiance, the spirit field held strong, containing the wraith's dark energy. You could see the strain in its movements, the frustration of being trapped evident in its every gesture.

Lysandra stepped closer, her eyes never leaving the wraith. "We will find out," she said firmly. "One way or another."