Win_Praise

Balance the debts... or become one. 

Gideon Harrow didn’t ask to inherit a haunted book, a cursed job, or an extremely hot ghost girl with cheekbones sharp enough to kill him. But life’s unfair, magic’s real, and the dead keep ignoring boundaries.

Now he’s stuck balancing other people’s afterlife debts, flinging chalk at angry spirits, and trying very hard not to fall for the mysterious girl currently stealing his clothes and sanity.

He’s not ready to be the next Keeper of Accounts.

Too bad the Ledger disagrees.

The Hollow Ledger

LOCATION: GIDEON'S ROOM – WAY TOO EARLY

She smiled down at him, casually like she was reading a menu.

"Morning," she said, like this wasn't a crime in twelve dimensions.

"W-What—why are you—can you—"

He was very aware that he was... well. Awake.

> "Personal space violation. Possible assault. Check with local authorities," the Ledger deadpanned from the shelf.

Vivienne ignored it. "He's not complaining."

She leaned closer. "Are you complaining?"

Gideon made a noise. It wasn't human.

She giggled. Like she hadn't just emotionally and physically obliterated his morning sanity.

Then she slid off him, like a cat dismounting from chaos.

He sat up, red as regret. "You're wearing another one of my shirts."

Vivienne twirled. "I like your shirts. They smell like soap and bad decisions."

"You're a ghost. Can't you, like, poof new clothes?"

She pouted. Like weaponized adorableness. "But I like your clothes."

> "Yuck," the Ledger muttered. "This is why I prefer necromancers. They don't flirt."

Vivienne plopped down next to Gideon on the bed, stealing his pillow and hugging it.

"You're cute when you're all flustered."

"I'm cute always," he grumbled, getting up and tripping over his own shame.

"Good afternoon," Cassian said, flashing his smile. The one he used to melt dignitaries and ruin engagement negotiations.

Vivienne turned slowly, tilting her head. "Afternoon to you too, Mr. Shiny Hair."

Cassian laughed. "I don't think we've met."

"No, we haven't," she said, brushing invisible dust off Gideon's shirt. "But I've heard of you."

Cassian's grin widened. "All good things, I hope."

She looked him over—slowly, like she was evaluating a menu.

"Mmm. Depends who's telling the story."

He stepped closer, flicked a rune into the air like a magician. It shimmered, clean, precise.

"Not bad," she said, sounding mildly impressed. "Definitely knows how to handle his… glyphs."

Cassian arched a brow. "And you are?"

"Oh," Vivienne said, hooking her arm through Gideon's suddenly, "I'm Vivienne. Gideon's girlfriend."

"Didn't realize he'd started dating," Cassian said, glancing at Gideon like he'd accidentally adopted a tiger.

"Neither did he," Vivienne said, grinning. "It's a fairly new arrangement. Very passionate."

Gideon flailed out of her hold. "We're not—it's not—she's not—"

> "Focus," the Ledger warned from behind them, hovering like an annoyed librarian. "Training time."

LOCATION: HARROW VAULT – GIDEON'S PRIVATE TRAINING

Gideon stood inside the Harrow Vault, surrounded by floating glyph rings and spectral targets.

The Ledger hovered nearby, judging like it was being paid.

He flung a rune. It swerved, missed, and hit the wall.

"I—I was thinking about seal alignment."

> "Seal alignment doesn't make you glare at imaginary kisses."

> "You're very jealous. It's adorable."

Gideon groaned and tossed the chalk. It bounced off the wall and hit him in the face.

Like actually walked into the Harrow Vault.

"You can't—this is—this place is sealed! Only I'm allowed in here!"

Vivienne smiled. "And yet... here I am."

Vivienne winked and smirked. "oh, you have no idea what's possible"

Gideon stared at her, brain full of questions and zero answers.

Inappropriate Wake-Up Calls & Vault Violations