A Threat

I glanced behind me and saw the buildings below us from a bird's eye view. It sent a chill down my spine as my mouth went dry. I walked away from the edge of the cliff, but the ghost came close to me, aiming her weapon.

What are the odds that I’ll be resurrected again if I die this time?! I should try to reason with her so that I can save myself.

“I can’t help but ask, you’re not here just for revenge, are you?” I yelled.

“Revenge it is! Revenge against you, revenge against the man who first swung the axe at me in the forest, and those who scorned me over the years!”

I gulped and stared at her, backing away from the edge of the cliff.

She died in a similar way like I did. I could have ended up as a ghost as she did. I should consider myself lucky.

“Suppose you do possess me. What good would that do?” I asked.

“I would start over and lead a brand new life. If you don’t give me that, I will destroy everyone and everything, including myself.”

Our hair waved in the wind, and she walked even closer. My breathing was heavier than before, and my eyebrows raised by themselves. I ran away until I was met with the other rim of the cliff. I gasped as I looked down at the buildings. Running to a different corner, I straightened my back and looked into her pale, whitish eyes.

“If you have that kind of power, why don’t you put it to good use? I’m sure there’s something you can do for the greater good,” I said.

My lips quivered as I said that.

“No, I can’t. I have killed far too many.”

I frowned and said, “That sounds like a habit! Can you guarantee that it won’t happen again, even with a new body? I’d say try your best with whatever you have.”

“You’re right. What hope is there for me? Please, kill me now! Let me disappear into the flames of my own soul.”

If a weapon that dug into her back doesn’t kill her, I don’t know what will.

“I will spare you, if you keep your word that you will harm no one from now on,” I said.

“You fool.”

She pointed her spear at my neck, and I retreated until I reached another rim of the cliff.

Just at that moment, a portal of black energy swirled and opened behind the ghost, and Amaranth, the pink-haired witch with braids and glasses from before, dropped out of it. She landed on her feet.

“Amaranth, what are you doing here?” I exclaimed.

She drew a magic wand that glowed with a cube of light at the end of it.

After aiming at the ghost, she simply said, “Boom.”

The cube of black and multicolored lights expanded into sparks of electricity. It hit the ghost, and she dropped her spear. Her screams hurt my ear once again as she was being electrocuted. Soon, she fell to the ground, on her knees.

Within seconds, she withered into dust.

I had no idea how powerful she is!

Amaranth tucked her wand into her belt and rushed toward me.

“My goodness! Janessa, what happened? I know that the fortune said you were in trouble, but I did not expect so much of it. You’re covered in blood,” she said.

She shook her head and clicked her tongue.

“I can fix it. Please don’t tell Prince Cassius,” I said.

“Oh, he is already watching us. So are Azalea and Carnation.”

I stomped my boot and said, “Dang it.”

Comet sat on Amaranth’s head and bounced up and down.

“We are saved! We are saved,” said Comet.

Amaranth looked up and tried to swat Comet away.

“Huh? Calm down, you little pixie,” said Amaranth.

“Wee!” she said, prancing on Amaranth’s head.

“You are getting pixie dust all over my hair!”

“Yes!”

Amaranth cleared her throat and said, “The prince awaits you on the other side of the portal.”

“Okay! At least let me change my outfit.”

“Fine.”

She crossed her arms and had a blank expression on her face.

I stepped into a new dimension as my body turned to light. My clothes and wig vanished while bubbles and foam surrounded me. A bolt of purple fabric wrapped around me and formed into a jumpsuit. The outfit was complete with a new pair of pumps.

As soon as I entered the cliff dimension, Amaranth pulled me by the arm at once. She dragged me into a grey portal. We slid up and down, and then side to side.

I could see Cassius at the other end of the tunnel. Amaranth was about to crash into him, but he dodged her at once, leaving her on the ground. Then, I crashed into the prince. He fell onto the ground, and I landed right on top of him. I said nothing as my face burned with heat.

“Janessa, do you have any sort of idea of how worried you made me?” he said.

“Yes, I’m sorry.”

I avoided eye contact with him.

“Umm, please get up, you two. It’s awkward for the rest of us,” said Carnation, the purple-haired witch.

“Oh, right,” I said.

Cassius’s face became red as I climbed away from him. I gave him my hand as he got up and brushed the dust off his black clothes.

“I have decided. You will be transferred over to the short course. Remember, I cannot have you leaping directly into danger so easily!” he said.

I swallowed hard.

To be fair, the short course might be easier to handle. I don’t want to admit it, but I don’t feel like I’m learning much.

I frowned and stared at the ground.

But why do I feel so defeated?

Cassius took my hands and held onto them.

“There, there, Janessa. I feel like it has been forever since I last saw you, and I have made you so upset. What is that you truly wish for?” he asked.

“The short course sounds like a much better idea.”

“Splendid!”

I made eye contact with the prince.

“But I want to do something on my own at some point.”

“That you will, dear Janessa,” he said.

I hugged Cass and enveloped myself in his scent. Our breathing was in sync. However, he soon let go of me.

“Please return her to the dorm. I will take care of the course,” he said.

“Argh, I am so exhausted,” said Amaranth.

“Heehee, I will do it. You must pay extra,” said Azalea, the blue-haired witch.

Cassius nodded, hugged me once again, and I had butterflies in my stomach.

“Please, please be careful,” he said.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take on more powerful characters for cosplay and….”

“Enough.”

“But, Prince Cassius!”

His fierce eyes locked with mine.

“As I said before, you have done enough!”

He turned away and walked to his horse.

“Did you forget how I saved you? Not once, but twice.”

He brought his horse near and said, “Yes, and thank you.”

He stared into my eyes with a stiff, wide-eyed expression. Then, he climbed onto the horse.

"Farewell, Janessa."

"Bye."

I sighed deeply as Azalea said, “Come with me.”

She grabbed me by the arm and we entered through the whirlwind of a tunnel. We spun in circles at a rapid speed.

“Ah! What is this?!” I said.

“Heehee, my powers are always unstable,” said Azalea, one word at a time.

By the time I reached, Comet fell out and collapsed onto the ground. I also could barely stand because of how fast that portal was.

“The Prince is simply concerned,” said Azalea.

“I know.”

“Well, goodbye, then!” said the blue haired witch.

“Bye.”

One of these days, I’ll get to a Goddess level of power. I’ll show everyone.