The pull was weak.
That was what scared me.
---
It wasn't a summon.
It wasn't faith.
It wasn't desperation sharpened into prayer.
---
It was a choice.
---
"…I feel it," I said slowly.
Mira's voice came tight through the link.
"…So do I. That signal shouldn't exist."
---
I closed my eyes.
For a ghost, that was mostly symbolic—but it helped me focus.
The pull wasn't dragging me.
It wasn't begging.
---
It was… waiting.
---
"…They're not asking for help," I realized.
"They're asking if I'll show up."
---
Silence.
Then Mira exhaled.
"…That's worse."
---
The city stretched beneath us.
Millions of lives.
Millions of reasons to interfere.
And one quiet point—flickering, uncertain, but deliberate.
---
I moved.
---
The world slid sideways as distance lost meaning.
Buildings blurred.
Sound lagged behind.
---
I reformed in an alley that smelled of rain and rust.
---
A woman stood there.
Mid-thirties.
Office clothes wrinkled, one sleeve torn.
Hands shaking.
But she wasn't crying.
---
She was standing between two people.
---
A teenage boy crouched behind her, clutching his arm.
Blood soaked through his hoodie.
And facing them—
Three men.
Hunters.
---
Not the ritual-heavy kind.
These wore tactical gear.
Human.
Professional.
---
"…Step aside, ma'am," one said calmly.
"You don't understand what you're protecting."
---
The woman swallowed.
"…I understand he's bleeding."
---
I hovered behind them.
Invisible.
Listening.
---
"…He's marked," another hunter said.
"If we leave him, more entities will come."
---
"That's not true," the boy whispered.
His voice cracked.
"I didn't summon anything."
---
The lead hunter sighed.
"Kid, that's what they all say."
---
Mira whispered in my mind.
"…They're using post-Authority protocol. Containment-first."
---
"…And she?" I asked.
---
"…No affiliation," Mira replied.
"No record. No training."
---
Just a woman.
Standing there.
---
"Ma'am," the hunter said, voice firmer.
"Move."
---
She didn't.
Her knees shook.
Her breath stuttered.
But she didn't move.
---
"…I don't know what's happening," she said.
"And I don't care if you think he's dangerous."
---
She glanced back at the boy.
Then forward again.
---
"But you don't get to hurt someone just because it's convenient."
---
The hunters stiffened.
---
"That's your final warning."
---
The pull surged.
Not power.
Not rage.
---
Responsibility.
---
> [System Warning:]
— Voluntary Intervention Detected
— No Authority Sponsorship
— Load Redistribution: UNSTABLE
---
"…Rei," Mira whispered urgently.
"If you act, the cost won't fall on you alone."
---
I knew.
That was the difference.
---
I manifested.
---
The air folded.
Cold rushed outward.
The alley lights flickered.
---
All three hunters spun.
Weapons raised.
---
"…Entity detected!" one shouted.
---
I didn't attack.
I didn't threaten.
I simply stood—between them and the woman.
---
"…Step back," I said calmly.
---
The hunters froze.
Not in fear.
In calculation.
---
"…It's him," one muttered.
"The Remnant."
---
The lead hunter's jaw tightened.
"…You're interfering with a containment operation."
---
"…You're bleeding a kid," I replied.
"And she chose to protect him."
---
The woman gasped softly.
She couldn't see me clearly.
But she felt me.
---
"…I didn't ask for this," she whispered.
---
I turned slightly toward her.
"…I know."
---
The hunter sneered.
"You think that matters?"
---
I faced him again.
"…It does now."
---
> [System Notice:]
— Voluntary Ally Registered
— Name: UNDECLARED
— Status: HUMAN / UNBOUND
---
Mira sucked in a sharp breath.
"…It accepted her."
---
The hunters reacted instantly.
---
Weapons up.
Sigils activated.
---
Pain slammed into me.
Not from the weapons.
From the weight shift.
---
The consequence didn't anchor to me.
It split.
---
The woman staggered.
Clutched her chest.
---
"…No," I growled.
---
I absorbed it.
Forced it back.
---
The alley cracked.
Concrete spiderwebbed beneath my presence.
---
The hunters faltered.
---
"…He's destabilizing!" one shouted.
---
"No," the lead hunter said slowly.
"He's compensating."
---
I looked at him.
"…You noticed."
---
The man's eyes narrowed.
"…You're protecting her from the cost."
---
"Yes."
---
"Why?"
---
I didn't answer immediately.
I glanced at the woman.
She was shaking—but still standing.
Still between me and the boy.
---
"…Because she didn't outsource her choice," I said.
---
Silence fell.
---
The lead hunter lowered his weapon a fraction.
"…This changes nothing."
---
"It changes everything," I replied.
---
I stepped forward.
Not aggressively.
Decisively.
---
"…Leave."
---
They hesitated.
Then—retreated.
Slowly.
Watching me like a natural disaster that might learn their names.
---
When they were gone—
The woman collapsed.
---
I caught her.
Carefully.
---
"…I'm sorry," she whispered weakly.
"I didn't know it would hurt."
---
"…You didn't make it hurt," I said quietly.
"The system did."
---
Mira spoke softly.
"…Rei. Her choice created a new vector."
---
"…I know."
---
The boy stared at me with wide eyes.
"…Are you… a ghost?"
---
I snorted.
"…It's complicated."
---
The woman laughed weakly.
Then winced.
"…Figures."
---
> [System Update:]
— Voluntary Ally: STABILIZED
— New Risk Introduced: HUMAN CONSEQUENCE SHARE
---
I looked at them.
A woman who chose.
A boy who survived.
---
"…This is how it starts," I murmured.
---
Mira's voice trembled.
"…Rei. If humans can share your burden…"
---
"…Then Authority loses its monopoly," I finished.
---
I helped them stand.
Careful.
Gentle.
---
"…You should go home," I told her.
"Don't talk about this."
---
She nodded.
Then looked at me.
---
"…Will they come back?" she asked.
---
"…Yes," I said honestly.
---
She swallowed.
"…Then I'll be ready."
---
The pull didn't fade.
It strengthened.
---
Not as demand.
As resolve.
---