Chapter 2
Shu let out a sigh and began to explain. "Okay, let's start with the numbers. They're not rankings - they simply indicate a Mystery's age and how long they've held their position. The smaller the number, the older they are. And they also indicate how hard it’ll be to take their yorishiro."
Valt looked more confused than ever. "Yorishiro? I'm lost here. Can you dumb this down for me?"
Shu nodded patiently. "Right, my bad. A yorishiro is basically an object from our past lives that's been brought back to life through magic. Mysteries use them as a connection between the spiritual and human worlds to boost their powers and mark themselves as the top dogs in their territory."
Valt's eyes went wide. "Wait, so if I destroy one of these yorishiro things, the Mystery will lose power but I'll get some kind of spiritual super-powers??"
Shu held up a hand. "Whoa there, hotshot. That's a dangerous game. Destroy a yorishiro and the Mystery will fight back hard to fix it. You'd have to be insanely powerful to even survive that. But yes, in theory you'd gain a lot of spiritual energy. Just...don't try it, okay?"
Valt nodded solemnly. "Understood. But I have to ask - just how powerful are the Mysteries we're dealing with here?"
Shu shifted uncomfortably. "Let me put it this way - even the weakest Mystery has the power to lay waste to an entire kingdom, though it would cost them the majority of their strength and strip them of their powers. And their defenses around the yorishiro are impenetrable. Trying to take one down would bring the full, merciless wrath of the Mystery upon you, Valt. I can't stress enough how unwise that would be."
Valt looked at Shu, his mind feeling muddled, as if someone had just flipped a switch inside his brain. "Alright, so can you tell me about the rankings now?" he asked.
Shu cleared his throat. "The rankings haven't been updated in about a century, Valt, so please forgive me if my memory's a bit hazy. But here's what I know..." He began listing off the holders of the top spots and their remarkable abilities.
"The Truth or Lie Mirrors - that's Number 1 on our list of legendary school mysteries," Shu declared, shooting a pointed glare at the snickering Valt. "The rumors say that if you gaze into the covered mirrors in the old school attic on the brightest night, you'll see your one true reflection. But if you look with even a hint of fear or a flaw in your soul, the mirrors will immediately swap you out with an imposter - and no one will be the wiser!"
Valt couldn't contain his laughter. "Wait, the 'Truth or Lie Mirrors'? So if someone's name is Phi Kuromi, does that mean-"
"Valt!" Shu snapped, silencing him with a withering look. "This is no laughing matter. Phi Kuromi, our oldest and most dangerous Mystery, will flay you alive and hang your corpse for the charontes if you so much as breathe wrong in his realm."
Valt quickly zipped his lips, though the mirth still danced in his eyes. If only Shu knew what Phi's last name meant in the modern world - the reaction would be priceless.
Clearing his throat, Shu continued. "Now, Number 2 is the Toymaker. Twist the doorknob thrice and double-lock it, and you just might spot the Toymaker himself. He'll craft you anything imaginable...but at the price of playing his twisted games. Refuse, and you'll be turned into one of his playthings for his collection. They're tasked with supplying materials and devouring stray souls, though I don't know who holds that title these days. My apologies, Valt."
"And Number 3 is the Ghost Painter. Legend has it that on a blue moon, you might spot a mysterious painter in the third art room, brushing reality into existence on his canvas. But be careful not to get noticed - if he erases you from the painting, you'll be erased from history itself! The current holder is Free De La Hoya, who uses his powers to erase dangerous demons and souls while fixing everyone's memories. Anything he draws becomes real, and whatever he erases is gone for good."
Valt raised his palm, cutting Shu off. "Okay, okay, hold up. What about Number 4?"
Shu let out an exasperated sigh. "The Misaki Stairs - they say if you step on the fourth step to the fourth floor, you'll be cursed with bad luck for the rest of the year. Wakiya Murasaki is the current holder, and he controls the soulless husks of the In-Between, guarding people from being consumed and replaced by them. And get this - his weapon of choice is a trusty pair of scissors."
"Scissors?" Valt blurted out, baffled. "Why scissors? Aren't there way cooler weapons out there than a pair of scissors?"
Shu rubbed his temples, looking tired. "Hell if I know. Can you please stop interrupting me? I'm trying to remember all the details, since the last time we gathered was 3 centuries ago."
Valt held up his hand, eyes wide. "Hold it. 3 CENTURIES?"
Shu met his gaze, expression weary. "We're dead, Valt. When you're a spirit, your age stays the same as when you die. Same with our human appearances - we get something like eternal youth. Can I keep listing the details now?"
Valt nodded, and Shu continued his lecture.
"And Number 5 is the Ghost in the Swimming Pool. They say a mysterious merman will drag you down to the depths and steal your soul if you visit the pool at night. Even normal people can fall victim, and the school's apparently covering it all up. The holder is Lui Shirosagi - an actual merman, Valt, believe it or not. He's tasked with capturing and eating spirits, and fighting off demons. Oh, and he's also an abusive jerk who doesn't deserve Lain, if you ask me."
Valt held up a hand. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Lain's involved in this too?!"
Shu rolled his eyes. "Lain's my disciple. He's talented and powerful, one of the youngest Mysteries here. That shark-toothed creep Lui saw him as 'boyfriend material' and took him in. Lain deserves better, if you ask me."
"What about number 6?" Valt questioned him.
"The Elemental Mistress. If you collect 4 items representing all 4 elements of nature and sacrifice it with a pure heart, she'll appear to you and grant you tremendous power if you're worthy. If you're impure, she'll cast you off into true oblivion. Holder's Pri Forsythe and she's quite young for a Mystery. She got promoted because she's powerful, and her brother keeps her in line. Her job is backing up in sealing spirits away and fighting on the front lines."
"Anyway, 7 is the Music Room Siren. Holder's Kristina Kuroda and she's one of the few who still has their sanity intact. She'll appear and sing for you if you play every song in the scribbled piano music book. Her song is so beautiful that your soul will pull itself out to get near her if you're not careful. She's responsible for dealing with normies and settling arguments."
"Alright, what about Number 8?" Valt prompted, eager to hear more.
"The Spectral Librarian," Shu replied. "Use a non-existent key from a disappearing key chain, and you can unlock a library filled with any book imaginable. But you can only read the black and white ones - touch the red books, and...well, let's just skip that part. Silas Karlisle is the current holder, controlling people's futures and making sure no one strays too far down the path of darkness. He uses his books, an enchanted sword, and a three-headed dog to maintain his power."
“Number 9 is Lain's, The Chemistry Room Wraith. If you mix all the chemicals together and smear the concoction on the door, a wraith will appear and guide you through any experiments you desire. But mess up even one step, and you'll be stuck in a loop, forced to repeat the experiment until you get it right. And if you fail, you'll be tossed into a fiery abyss. Lain's job is to clean up the aftermath and fend off the nasty spirits that escaped their confines. Real big job, if you ask me.
“Number 10 is The Lovey-Dovey Tree. Valt, are you laughing again? Confess your crush under the tree, and your love is all but guaranteed. The holder's Suoh Genji, shark-creep's disciple. He's weaker than a kitten - even an Akabane exorcist could take him down. Mostly he's a distraction who helps erase minds. He's currently trying to date Fubuki, but over my dead body until he can even see him.”
Valt had no idea whether to laugh or cry over Shu's reactions. He'd never been in a relationship, so this was all new to him. Still, he felt bad for the people involved. This must be a real headache for them. And also, isn’t Shu already dead?
“Number 11 is The Genius in The Bell Room. Complete the framed test in the teacher's lounge with a perfect score, and a spirit will appear to grant you 100% marks as long as you stay at the school. But cheat, and you'll be doomed to a time loop of endless studying until you get it right. The current holder is Gwyn Reynolds, smart enough to build a nuclear bomb with just the school's materials. Valt, are you okay? You looked shocked.”
“N-No, I'm fine.” Valt shook his head. “Continue on.”
Shu sighed, resigning himself to yet another future round of Valt's endless questions. "Anyway, Number 12 is The Gate of Death. Rashad Goodman, one of the few Mysteries who isn't completely insane, is in charge of escorting lost souls to the Underworld for judgment and reincarnation."
Valt's eyes widened. "The Gate of Death? So he's like a grim reaper, guiding spirits to the afterlife?"
"Yes, Valt," Shu replied, pinching the bridge of his nose. "And before you ask anything else, I'll have you know my number 13 is considered unlucky, not the biggest or most powerful. I'm about as old and strong as 'shark-teeth creep' over there. Not that I'm allowed to kill and eat him, according to the Soul Challenge rules."
Valt zipped his mouth, but Shu could see the gears turning in his curious mind, desperate to pepper him with more questions.
Valt piped up, much to Shu's endless agony, "What's this 'Soul Challenge' anyway?" Valt asked, perplexed. "And how come I can see and touch you? I thought ghosts were supposed to be, y'know, see-through. And who are these 'exorcists' you mentioned?"
Shu looked defeated as he explained, "The Soul Challenge is a set of rules we Mysteries have to follow. We can't kill, eat, absorb, or destroy each other's yorishiro unless we issue an official challenge overseen by the eldest Mystery. It keeps us from going totally berserk and murdering each other over petty disagreements." Shu paused, then added dryly, "Count yourself lucky you haven't seen us Mysteries argue about something - it's not a pretty sight."
Valt nodded, processing this information. "Okay, got it. But what about these exorcists? You said something about an 'Akabane family'?"
With an annoyed wave of his hand, Shu replied, "They're one of the few clans that practiced secret magic to ward us souls off. Most of them just lump us in with the nasty spirits and try to scare us away, but their spells are pathetically weak. They think they can banish us to other realms forever, but it never works. It's just so damn annoying to deal with."
Valt stared at Shu in awe, his mind racing to comprehend what he had just learned. Shu took this as a good sign and plopped down on the toilet, his patience worn thin for the day. He hadn't expected to encounter someone with such endless curiosity and formidable strength when he emerged to scare off any foolish enough to test the myths - it had left him thoroughly drained.
"Um, Shu?" Valt piped up again. Shu internally groaned and turned to face him. "What?"
"The myth says you have to grant a wish if I call you out, right? So how the heck does that work?"
Shu's eyes went wide. He had completely forgotten about that part, having been so preoccupied with explaining everything to Valt. Granting wishes and dealing with the potential consequences was one of the worst aspects of his role. Panicking, he schooled his expression to appear nonchalant as he faced Valt.
Shu sighed, trying to find the right words. "It's complicated, Valt. Granting wishes isn't as simple as it seems. The outcome can be...unpredictable. Sometimes the wishes don't work out the way you'd expect, and the consequences can be, well, less than ideal."
Valt's eyes went wide. "Wait, hold on! You're trying to cheat! I haven't even made a wish yet, so you still have to grant it!"
Shu cringed, already dreading the impending eardrum-shattering shrieks. "Valt, think about this. What could you possibly wish for that you don't already have? I really don't think my services are needed here." He quickly made a beeline for the glowing portal, eager to escape.
"No, wait! Shu!" Valt yelled. "Fine, I'll wish! I wish for you to be my personal genie-ghost...whatever !"
Suddenly, a strange starry chain manifested, wrapping around Shu and Valt's wrists. The room erupted in a golden glow, and Valt swore he saw a fancy scroll contract with their signatures before they disappeared in a flash.
When the light faded, Valt stared at the star ring on his finger, then at Shu's new starry collar. They both wore matching expressions of stunned disbelief.
Shu slowly raised his head, his mouth opening and closing as if he'd just been condemned to the devil. Valt stared back, terrified and confused - what the fuck had just happened?! He hadn't meant to yell that out, but now they were trapped in a situation not even a god could fix. Shu was having a full-blown panic attack beside him.
Shu had just been bound to an official contract with a human - a normie, no less! The others had surely heard or sensed the news by now, and were no doubt gossiping about his fate. His reputation might as well have hurled itself off a cliff, because he'd just violated one of the most important rules of the Soul Challenge. The repercussions would be deadly.
Making an uncertain contract with a normie was strictly forbidden - it left too many loopholes and dangers, as the normie could exploit the Mystery however they wished. The last time this had happened, three Mysteries had been killed before another new Mystery murdered both the human and the bound spirit. If they were tried in the Challenge Court, Shu and Valt would likely be executed immediately.
A long, torturous howl suddenly echoed in the distance. Shu's heart froze - they shouldn't have been able to arrive that quickly. But these were the Mysteries, the 13 most powerful magical beings ever existed, able to manipulate their boundaries at will. Shu was almost shocked Phi hadn't already emerged from a mirror to order his charontes to drag them back.
Shu tugged at his collar, pulling a dazed Valt to his feet. "We have to go, now."
Valt struggled up, his mind foggy. "Go? Go where?"
"I don't know, but we have no choice." Shu scooped Valt into his arms, muttering under his breath as another portal materialized beside them. "If we don't leave, they'll catch us and kill us both."
A bone-chilling howl echoed, growing louder. Shu flinched - they were running out of time. Bringing Valt to his realm was risky, but it was their only hope. The Mystery's boundary would keep them safe, for now.
"Shu?" Valt squeaked, "I'm sorry."
Shu glanced at him, baffled. What could Valt possibly be apologizing for? It didn't matter now - he could feel their pursuers closing in, their powers radiating menace. Gripping Valt tightly, Shu steeled himself and leapt into the portal.
The howl's owner skidded to a stop, confusion etched on its features. Its prey had vanished, leaving only a glowing golden scroll in its wake…