Far across the ghost city, the ancient creature continued to move through the fog.
Slow.
Patient.
Watching.
But inside the temple, Rive and Vikram remained unaware of the eyes that had been following them.
Rive sat on the edge of the broken courtyard wall, staring at the strange skyline of the In-Between.
Floating buildings drifted like lost ships in the gray sky. A highway hung upside down in the distance. Somewhere far below, water flooded half a city block.
Rive scratched his head.
"You know," he said, "if city planners from Earth saw this place, they would cry."
Vikram leaned against a pillar.
"They would probably quit their jobs immediately."
"Understandable."
Rive pointed toward the floating school building again.
"That still bothers me."
"You'll get used to it."
"I don't want to get used to upside-down schools."
Vikram sighed.
"This world reflects Earth, but it's unstable."
"Reality here bends around spiritual pressure."
Rive blinked.
"So ghosts are basically bad architects."
"…That is still the worst explanation you've given today."
Before Rive could reply, Vikram suddenly straightened.
"We should move."
Rive frowned.
"Why?"
"Because staying in one place too long attracts attention."
Rive glanced around nervously.
"You mean monsters?"
"Yes."
"And devourers."
Rive immediately stood up.
"Okay. I support moving."
Vikram gestured toward the rooftops beyond the temple.
"There's somewhere we should go."
Rive tilted his head.
"Where?"
Vikram smirked slightly.
"The Phantom Bazaar."
Rive blinked.
"That sounds illegal."
"Technically it is."
"Now I'm interested."
The journey across the ghost city took nearly an hour.
They moved across rooftops, broken streets, and narrow alleyways filled with drifting fog.
Along the way, Vikram occasionally pointed at different structures.
"Memorize this place."
Rive looked up.
A large shrine sat between two collapsed buildings.
"Safe zone?"
"Yes."
"Got it."
A few minutes later they passed a subway tunnel entrance.
"Danger zone," Vikram said immediately.
"Why?"
"Devourers like dark spaces."
Rive backed away from the tunnel instantly.
"Thank you for that information."
Finally they reached a large open plaza surrounded by broken skyscrapers.
Rive frowned.
"This place looks empty."
"Wait."
A strange ripple passed through the air.
Then suddenly—
The entire plaza changed.
Ghostly stalls appeared.
Lanterns lit themselves.
Dozens of spirits emerged from shadows.
Rive's jaw dropped.
"What the—"
Vikram crossed his arms.
"Welcome to the Phantom Bazaar."
Ghost merchants stood behind glowing stalls.
Some sold weapons made of condensed soul energy.
Others traded small crystal bottles filled with memories.
One stall even displayed glowing monster claws.
Rive walked slowly through the market.
"This place is insane."
A ghost walked past carrying a bag full of floating eyeballs.
Rive paused.
"…I'm not asking."
"Good choice," Vikram said.
They stopped near a stall covered in purple lanterns.
Behind the counter sat a woman.
She looked completely human.
Long dark hair.
Sharp eyes.
Confident smile.
And she was definitely the most normal-looking person in the entire ghost market.
Rive leaned toward Vikram.
"Are all ghost merchants this… stylish?"
Vikram sighed.
"Try not to embarrass us."
The woman noticed them and smiled.
"Well," she said smoothly, "Vikram the Guardian finally returns."
Rive blinked.
"You know her?"
Vikram nodded.
"She's an information broker."
The woman leaned forward on the counter.
"And who is the adorable new ghost?"
Rive coughed awkwardly.
"I feel like I just got evaluated."
Vikram gestured toward him.
"This is Rive."
The woman's eyes immediately sharpened.
"Ah."
She studied him carefully.
"Interesting energy."
Rive scratched his head.
"People keep saying that and it's starting to worry me."
The woman extended her hand.
"Name's Lysara."
"Merchant of rare knowledge."
Rive shook her hand.
"Nice to meet you."
Then she tilted her head.
"Although you are… strange."
Rive groaned.
"There it is again."
Lysara walked around the counter and circled him slowly.
"Your soul structure is unusual."
Vikram spoke quietly.
"That's why we came."
Lysara nodded slowly.
"Yes… I can see it."
Her voice lowered.
"This boy isn't a normal ghost."
Rive froze.
"…Please tell me I'm not cursed again."
Lysara smirked.
"No."
"You're something rarer."
She tapped his chest lightly.
"Your soul exists in three layers."
Rive blinked.
"Three?"
"Yes."
"The world of the living."
"The world of the dead."
"And the space between them."
Vikram crossed his arms.
"That confirms it."
Rive looked confused.
"Confirms what?"
Lysara smiled.
"You have what ancient ghosts call a Tri-Vessel Soul."
Rive stared.
"That sounds expensive."
"It's extremely rare."
She continued explaining.
"A Tri-Vessel soul can move between worlds."
"The living world."
"The ghost world."
"And even the deeper afterlife layers."
Rive slowly processed that.
"Wait."
"You mean…"
"Yes," she said.
"You're not trapped here."
Rive blinked again.
"I'm not?"
"You can travel between realms."
His brain stopped working.
"So I could technically go back to Earth?"
"Possibly."
Rive turned to Vikram.
"…Why didn't you mention that earlier?"
"I wasn't completely sure."
Rive pointed dramatically.
"I could have visited my house!"
"After mastering your power."
"Oh."
"That part is important."
Rive lowered his hand.
"Fair enough."
Lysara smiled again.
"And that's not your only ability."
Rive sighed.
"There's more?"
"Yes."
"Tri-Vessel souls can also pass through spiritual barriers."
"Travel long distances."
"And access hidden places in the afterlife."
Rive blinked.
"So basically…"
"I'm a walking teleport pass."
"That is an extremely simplified explanation."
Vikram looked thoughtful.
"That ability could change everything."
Rive nodded slowly.
"Yeah."
"Especially if Arin finds out."
Lysara's smile faded slightly.
"Yes."
"The devourer boy."
"You've caused quite a disturbance in the city."
Rive groaned.
"I'm very popular lately."
"Not in a good way."
The merchant crossed her arms.
"If he learns about your Tri-Vessel nature…"
"He will hunt you endlessly."
Rive sighed.
"Great."
"Another reason for my friend to eat me."
Vikram placed a hand on his shoulder.
"That's why we train."
Rive looked back at the chaotic market around them.
Ghosts trading memories.
Weapons glowing with soul fire.
Strange creatures wandering between stalls.
"Okay," he said slowly.
"This afterlife thing just got way more complicated."
Lysara leaned back against her counter and smiled.
"Oh, Rive."
"You have no idea."
Far beyond the Phantom Bazaar—
In the darkest part of the ghost city—
Arin opened his glowing eyes.
And somewhere deep within his mind…
A new hunger awakened.