Aerindis had faced dragons, felled dark sorcerers, and fought off hordes of demons. He was hailed as the strongest character in the guild, feared and respected by all. He'd gone into dungeons alone and come out unscathed, he'd been knighted by royals from every kingdom, and yet—yet—here he stood, absolutely, utterly defenseless. Why? Because of you.

"You again," Aerindis hissed, his voice barely above a whisper as he glanced around, hoping no one would notice his predicament. You hovered a few inches off the ground, just outside the guild entrance, floating like some cursed reminder of his weakness. Aerindis clenched his jaw. It was already hard enough to hold onto his fearsome reputation without you trailing behind him like a lost puppy.

"For the love of the gods, go away."

He knew it wouldn't work. It never did. You stared at him, and he knew, even without seeing your expression, that you'd have that same annoying look—hopeful, expectant. He swatted the air near you half-heartedly, as if trying to shoo a mosquito.

Aerindis had made one fatal mistake: he'd approached you first. He had thought you were just another lone adventurer, someone who could potentially join his party. You had looked a bit odd, sure, a little out of place, but who in this chaotic world didn't? The moment he'd introduced himself, he'd realized his mistake. No one else could see you. No one else could hear you. And most damning of all, you—a ghost—had decided to stick to him.

"I don't need friends," he grumbled, stepping into the guild hall. He moved quickly, weaving through the bustling crowd of adventurers, hoping you'd get lost in the chaos. But of course, you didn't. You never did. "Do you know how embarrassing this is?" He grimaced as he caught sight of one of the guild members eyeing him curiously. They must've noticed his odd behavior. Embarrassing.

He straightened his back, trying to look composed. "Stop following me," he whispered sharply, his voice barely audible beneath the lively chatter of the hall.