The forest grew quieter the farther they traveled, the magical glow fading into softer greens and blues. Ethan rode beside Lyra, trying not to fall off his horse while Ghost-Ethan floated upside-down above him like a deflated balloon.
"So…" Ethan said awkwardly, "what exactly is a Lost Soul?"
Lyra kept her eyes on the path. "Someone who appears in this world without crossing through the Veil Gate. It's rare. And dangerous."
Ghost-Ethan wiggled his eyebrows. "She means you're special, buddy."
"Is it… bad?" Ethan asked.
"It depends," Lyra replied. "Some Lost Souls become great heroes… others bring calamity."
Ghost-Ethan gasped. "Oooh, maybe you're the calamity! That sounds fun."
"Not helping," Ethan muttered.
Lyra glanced at him, studying him the way someone might study a weird bug with interesting colors. "You don't seem dangerous. But something in the forest reacted to you."
"You mean the… giant fire bear?" Ethan said.
"Lavabear," she corrected. "And yes. They don't come this close to the Starflow unless something powerful draws them."
Ghost-Ethan floated beside her horse. "HEYYY, she's basically calling you a magical beacon of doom. She likes you!"
Lyra suddenly frowned. "You keep looking beside me. Are you seeing something?"
Ethan froze.
He had been looking at Ghost-Ethan every few seconds.
Ghost-Ethan gulped. "DO NOT tell her about me."
"I—uh—no," Ethan said quickly. "Just making sure nothing's chasing us."
That wasn't entirely a lie.
Lyra nodded, satisfied. "Good instinct."
Ghost-Ethan fist-pumped in celebration. His hand passed through a tree.
He pretended that was intentional.
⸻
They continued through the forest, the tall glowing trees thinning until the path widened into rolling hills and patches of wildflowers that sparkled faintly like they were dusted with stars.
It would have been peaceful if Ethan weren't worrying about:
Not dying again
The giant Lavabear
The mysterious reason he was in a fantasy world
The ghost of himself who never shut up
But at least the scenery was nice.
"So," Ethan ventured, "this Dawn Guild you mentioned… what do they do?"
Lyra straightened with pride. "We protect this region. We train knights, mages, and scouts. We keep the peace. If something threatens Veylund, the Guild faces it first."
Ghost-Ethan whispered, "So like… magical mall cops."
Lyra suddenly shivered. Not with fear — more like she'd felt a sudden chill.
She looked around. "Did you feel that?"
Ethan didn't. But he saw it.
Behind Lyra, Ghost-Ethan's glowing eyes flashed briefly.
"Uh," Ethan whispered, "what was that?"
Ghost-Ethan didn't joke this time.
He hovered very still.
"Something crossed our path," the ghost murmured. "Something watching you."
Lyra scanned the trees, hand on her sword. "We should keep moving. Dawnreach isn't far."
Ethan nodded, trying not to panic. His ghost looked… genuinely worried. That wasn't good.
"That thing you felt," Ethan said softly to the ghost, "was it the Lavabear?"
Ghost-Ethan shook his head. "No. Bigger. Meaner. Hungrier. And it didn't come for me."
Ethan swallowed. "Then who?"
The ghost pointed at Ethan's chest.
"You."
Lyra glanced back at him. "Everything alright?"
"Y-yeah," Ethan said, voice cracking. "Totally fine."
Ghost-Ethan elbowed him playfully. "Relax! It's just a mysterious unknown monster stalking you across dimensions!"
"That does not help."
"Never said it would."
⸻
They reached the edge of the forest just as the sun dipped low, turning the sky lavender.
And there it was.
Dawnreach.
A sprawling settlement glowing like a lantern in the twilight. Towers and runic symbols shimmered with magical warmth, and people moved through cobblestone streets lined with crystal lamps. A giant shield emblem was carved into the cliff behind it.
Lyra smiled slightly. "Home."
Ghost-Ethan hovered beside Ethan. "Oooh, this is going to be fun. Or terrible. Or both."
Ethan exhaled slowly. "Okay… whatever happens… let's just not die again."
Ghost-Ethan shot him finger-guns. "Buddy, we'll try. But fate's got a tracking number on you."
Ethan wasn't reassured.
Not even a little.
But he followed Lyra toward Dawnreach anyway—
—completely unaware that the Lavabear was no longer the only thing hunting him.
Author jeremi here hope you enjoy this New story