Chapter 17: The Ghost Busters

09/04/3122 YDB – September 5th, 3122

Archer Griffen glared at the ringing alarm on his phone. Rubbing his eyes he glared at the time. It was six in the morning, school started at eight and he didn't go to bed until after four-thirty. He spent all that time working on his tie that he wasn't even going to use yet. He knew that he couldn't keep doing this, it was bad for his health. But today was Friday and he could catch up on sleep on the weekends.

 Still, if it wasn't for the message that Electa Cowen had sent to him he would have had at least an extra hour of sleep. What's so important? He wondered as he got out of bed and quickly put on his school uniform. He was too tired to eat but grabbed a green apple in hopes that the tartness could wake him up a bit.

His trip to the school was the same as always, except the sun still hasn't fully risen yet and there were a lot fewer students heading toward the academy. As he walked, he wondered if it would've been better to have a room at the academy. Not that his late volunteering would have allowed him to have the choice of course.

As Archer made his way to the front gate he blinked to himself as he saw Esme Soto standing at the front watching and checking the few students arriving for any contraband and if they adhered to the dress code.

"Wow, you're here early." Archer said as he trudged his way up to her.

"Of course, I need to make sure that students are all following proper procedure." Esme said as she scanned Archer, "For someone clearly not a morning person you at least keep to school regulations." She praised as she allowed him to enter through the gate.

"I aim to praise." Archer said with a tired smile, "But the sleepiness is mainly from staying up too late." He said with a yawn.

"What were you busy with?"

"Oh, homework." Archer said with a shrug.

"Homework? Really on the first week?" Esme asked with a look of concern.

"I'm not very good. I'm struggling a bit on these subjects." Archer said as he scratched his head looking a bit sheepish.

"Don't worry, take your time and ask for help with students or join a study group and you'll find the classes easier." She advised.

"Oh, alright. Thanks, I'll definitely look into that."

 As Archer began to leave Esme called out to him.

"Why are you up so early?"

"Oh, I need to pick up some things before class starts."

"I see, it's good to see that you keep up with uniform requirements despite your fatigue. Have a good day." Esme said as Archer gave a wave goodbye as he headed into the building.

Archer then stopped at the doorway and called back out to her, "Hey, where do I throw this?" He said while holding up an apple core.

"Just throw it in the first garbage you can see."

"Alright thank you!"

***

It didn't take long for Archer to reconvene with Julia and Luna afterwards. The two of them in comparison to Archer looked far more well rested and gazed at the beleaguered Archer in concern.

"Are you alright?" Luna asked eyes brimming with worry.

"Oh yeah, just a bit tired. Stayed up a bit with my planning and a few other things tangentially related to this." Archer said with a tired smile.

"Are you going to tell us what the other things are?" Julia asked folding her arms.

"Nope." Archer said with a grin.

"Figures." Julia said rolling her eyes before all three of their phones vibrated as they received a message.

"The principal wants to meet with us?" Luna asked confused as she looked at her phone.

"Likely to go over what we're doing tonight." Archer said with a shrug, "Come on. She said the secretary isn't there yet." He said as he began to lead the group.

"Other way is faster." Julia called out.

"Thank you." Archer said as he was about to lead the group again before he paused, "Actually could you two lead the way? I forgot the way."

"Sure." Julia said with a giggle and began to take charge of the group.

As the three moved across the rather empty halls they passed by one of the many simulation rooms reserved for only the higher-ranked students to practice in. As Archer casually glanced through one of the reinforced windows he raised an eyebrow in interest as he saw who was in it.

Inside was the A rank that Archer met on his first day, Nicholas Aldis, if Archer recalled correctly, joined by two others, a girl and a boy. The boy he recognized, Evan Case, the E-rank that unfortunately messed up Archer's first try at exorcizing the ghost and another purple-haired girl the one that works with Ran.

What was her name again? Right, Selena Schenn. Julia noticing Archer trailing behind walked back to him.

"What's the matter?" Julia asked peering through the glass as well.

"Do A ranks usually give lessons to E and F ranks?" Archer asked.

"Huh, no." Julia said, "That's Nick right? I know him. He's a pretty good student, tries to help where he can."

"Bit strange how Evan doesn't seem to pay much attention to the lesson." Archer noted that Evan seemed to try and give Selena a few pointers despite having Nick there already.

"Evan. Why does that name sound familiar?" Julia murmured.

"Isn't he the one that messed up the exorcism?" Luna realized.

"Yep." Archer said nodding.

"Urgh. Great." Julia said rolling her eyes, "More reasons for me not to like him."

"More reasons?" Archer asked.

"He's trying to flirt with the girl while she clearly has no interest right now."

"How can you tell?" Archer asked squinting, trying to read their lips.

"From the body language. Now isn't the principal waiting for us?" Julia asked.

"Right, right." Archer said as they continued back to where they were needed. After a few more minutes, they moved past the empty secretary's desk and headed into the principal's private room. In their waiting, as always were both Phil Doyle and Principal Electa Cowen.

"Good morning to you all." Electa Cowen greeted them.

"Hello principal, why do you ask us to come here?" Archer asked in greeting.

"For two things, firstly you are planning to go down to the dungeon today correct?"

"Right after the school bell, get this all done before sunset." Archer said nodding his head.

"You're searching for the ghost's physical remains, do you know where to begin?" Phil asked.

"I have an idea." Archer said shrugging.

"Hmm, just remember to keep a low profile down there." Electa said as she handed out some cards to the three, "These will give you access to the dungeons."

"Thank you very much." Archer said as he took the cards and doled one out to both Julia and Luna.

"Oh, yes before I forget, I managed to get some of your equipment expedited early." Phil said.

"Wait really?" Archer said looking a lot more excited.

"Ah yes, I almost forgot." Electa said taking out a small box from a drawer, "This should prove useful to you." She said handing it to Archer.

"Oh thank you very kindly." Archer said taking the box with great excitement, "Oh, could I open it up right now?" He asked as he stared transfixed at the package.

"As long as it doesn't explode."

"Thank you." Archer said as he opened up the package.

"What is it?" Julia asked curiously peeking at it.

"Tape." Archer said with a wide smile.

"Tape?" Electa said in surprise having not seen what was box previously.

"Yep, special tape." Archer said flashing what was indeed a roll of white athletic tape.

"Your special equipment is tape?" Julia asked.

"What does it do?" Luna asked looking curiously at it.

"I use it to wrap my hands." Archer answered turning to her.

"What for?"

"For punching." Archer said with a grin before he glanced back over to Phil, "Just the one roll?"

"The only one I could get in time, you'll get the rest on Monday." Phil answered.

"Beggars can't be choosers I suppose." Archer said stashing the tape into a jacket.

"Now you three should head on out before first bell rings and good luck on your mission. Stay safe all of you."

Once Electa was alone with Phil she turned to him with curiosity, "Punching?"

"It's part of his fighting style."

"Uh-huh." Electa said nodding her head, "Do you think Archer will be convinced to participate in any of the upcoming competitions this year?"

"Oh, it won't be easy, but from what I've heard of him, he can be convinced." Phil said with a smile.

"Very good. I look forward to watching him in person."

***

After a run-of-the-mill school day the last bell sounded and an hour later Archer was striding down the dungeon with Luna and Julia at his sides. Both Julia and Luna were equipped with the best gear Julia had while Archer wore his basic school uniform with his backpack on his back.

"So we're going back to where I was thrown down to the fourth floor?" Julia asked as she looked around the dim caves of the first floor.

"That's right, don't worry I'll make sure nothing hurts you this time." Archer said giving her a grin.

"Chivalrous aren't you?" Julia said with a snort.

"Just glad that you're not scared after Luna throwing down a hole." Archer laughed.

"Hey, why am I getting picked on?" Luna complained.

"Why aren't there any monsters around us? Last time we were here there were plenty of monsters teeming the area." Julia said looking around as she kept a hand near her sheathed blade.

"Oh, I have what you could call a spell active." Archer said, "It's a basic fear spell, but only works only on monsters for me."

"Where did you learn the spell?" Luna asked.

"From an acquaintance, she's a witch." Archer said as he stopped and looked around, "Now was it left or right?" He wondered looking at both sides of the tunnel.

"Left." Julia said, "You work with a witch?"

"Yes, she's mean-spirited, but someone who you want to have on your side." Archer said looking back at the two of them as he took a left, "It's not fun dealing with curses and hexes you know."

Archer then stopped moving and motioned to the other two to stop. As they did Archer listened intently, "Fighting, monsters don't usually fight with one another right?"

"Not on the first levels. What do you hear exactly?" Julia said as she struggled to hear anything.

"Hmm… sounds of a person fighting against monsters." Archer said as he pressed his ears to the wall, "Just one."

"There shouldn't be anyone but us here." Luna said also unable to hear anything despite mimicking Archer and pressing her ear to the wall.

"I guess they're breaking the rules then." Archer said as he moved in the opposite direction of the fighting, "Come on, let's not stay any longer than required."

As curious as Luna and Julia were to see who exactly Archer was hearing, they both knew that this was way more important. A few more passageways and the trio finally made it to the area where the hidden shortcut was located.

"Huh, I told them about this thing, I'm surprised that they didn't bar it." Julia said looking around the empty area.

"Well it is a bit unlikely that someone will just stumble upon the thing and I'm sure that it does provide an interesting challenge to students." Archer observed as he felt the wall for a hollow area.

Tapping on one section of the wall there was an audible reverberation, indicating that this part of the wall was not the same. Archer then gently placed his hands on the place and pushed with the wall easily giving way.

From the false wall exposed was a long dark slide that led straight down to the fourth level. Archer turned to the two, "You two ready?"

"Are you sure Luna should be here? With equipment or not, she is an actual first-year F-rank." Julia asked.

"The extra pair of eyes and set of hands will be beneficial. Besides you'll keep her safe and I'll keep you safe. More importantly, you two shouldn't meet too much resistance as long as the plan works." Archer said.

"Julia, thank you for looking out for me but I need to do this and I trust Archer, don't you?" Luna said giving Julia a look of reassurance.

"You haven't lost my trust yet." Julia said with a deep breath.

"Alright then, I'll go down first and then I'll catch the two of you. Count to twenty and then jump down." Archer said as he leapt down.

"I feel like we should have asked him for more details on the plan." Julia said once Archer disappeared.

"We can ask once we get down." Luna giggled, "You want to go first?"

"Sure, I'll see you on the other side." Julia said and after a count of twenty leapt down. A number of seconds later she was caught gently in the arms of Archer.

"How do you do that?" Julia asked.

"Trick I learned to make sure people don't splatter in my arms when I grab them. Keep watch real quick." Archer said as he placed Julia down and readied himself to catch Luna.

Julia looked around the area, it was much calmer than the last time she was down here. No pack of dire wolves ready to eat her alive this time gave her a moment to appreciate her surroundings.

The fourth level was a strange one, there was an artificial light that mimicked the sky and the bright blue cloudless sky. The forest and air could trick anyone into believing that they were on the surface, these dungeons were something else. Only instead of normal forest-dwelling creatures beyond those trees held monsters.

"Alright then, here's the plan." Archer said once he placed Luna down, "Trinity Boen found out that her rival in love's boyfriend used that shortcut to come down here to hunt. She then tried to throw her rival, Caroline Song down here, failed."

"Just like what she had me do to Julia." Luna whispered.

"So did Trinity end up down there?" Julia asked looking around.

"I assumed so, but like you, she survived, at least initially." Archer said as he looked around, "Now we have a few minutes before Trinity realizes we're here so we should probably figure out where she crawled to."

"There, it's a tunnel." Luna said pointing over in a direction.

Squinting through the trees, Archer indeed saw a person-sized tunnel leading further through the dungeon.

"Good eyes." Archer said as they rushed towards the tunnel.

"Thanks." Luna said as she checked on her equipment.

"What are we looking for?" Julia asked.

"A body, or at least the remains of one. She would've crawled her way through the nearest exit from this area, and I don't see any others aside from where we're headed. From there she would have eventually succumbed to her injuries and wound up somewhere." Archer said before slowing his run to a slow trot before ceasing altogether.

The other two didn't need to ask why as they saw exactly what caused him to stop. Before them floated the ghostly visage of Trinity Boen, her cheeks were sallow, and her hands were unbelievably thin and elongated. She was a monstrous version of her living version. A pack of dire wolves growling and slowly stalking their way towards the students, blocking their way to the tunnel. Leading the pack was a familiar-looking white wolf appearing out of thin air.

As Luna and Julia drew their swords, Archer gave the cockiest of grins as he looked up at Trinity as he dug out his athletic tape from his jacket. Raising his eyebrows towards her, he began to goad her.

"Well if it isn't the loser coming back to try to haunt me."