The Exalt [Cultivation Fantasy]

Wraiths.

They were the remnant wills and desires of a person amalgamated into a singular presence that could influence the outside world. It was similar to the sword intent that Oscar faced, but the sword intents were from the lingering emanations from the sword that carved the True Sword Peak.

On the other hand, Wraiths were born of extreme emotions, unwillingness to die, and deep dark hatred. It was unknown what exactly facilitated the birth of a Wraith, but these factors had to be present. The downside was Wraiths were bound to the person or place that was the cause of their madness.

"Kan died, but his remnant desires to destroy me and become the head of the clan was so strong they formed a Wraith. It is not Kan, but at the same time, it is. Kan's Wraith is bound to this manor because of his obsession." Abe explained Kan's status as a Wraith.

Oscar looked around the illusion manor. "Then what illusion is this?"

"This was the illusion Kan made to seal our souls and slowly eat us; it was inactive for a time due to the seal. He was only a Greater Knight Exalt, but he somehow got his hands on a powerful poison that affected us. He has a sadistic nature and did this to torture us." Abe answered.

"Can't he attack us in here right now?" Oscar was wary that they were still in Kan's illusion.

Albert heartily laughed. "I was the previous clan head. Do not worry; I have made a layered illusion that shows the Keeper, child Abe, and you. Kan will not suspect a thing, especially in his depraved state."

Oscar felt admiration for this old master. Truly an expert in illusions that led an entire clan of illusionists. To erect an illusion within someone else's illusion was a mind-boggling feat.

"Thankfully, Kan's Wraith was too weak to do anything until recently. This manor must have come as a shock, suddenly appearing from the ground." Abe looked around and touched the walls.

"It was. There was no record of this in any books, so it caught us off-guard. Lord Elire, can you find my friends?"

"Lord Elire? Oscar, you can call me Abe as before. Don't mind that I'm a Marshal Exalt. Right now, you are my benefactor and a great older brother." Abe smiled similarly to how his child form did. "I have found a girl with orange hair and eyes but no one else."

"That must be Emily. Can you take us to her?!" Oscar was relieved to find that she was alright.

"I can do better." Abe grinned cheekily and focused a mass of purple Ein around his hands. The Ein fluxed and expanded until he clapped. Then Emily showed up out of nowhere in the middle of them.

"What the hell? Where am I?" Emily was confused.

"Emily!" Oscar hugged Emily in joy.

"Oscar!" Emily was delighted; her eyes beamed brightly. "I was so worried. You were suddenly flung away and locked behind a door."

"Huh? Weren't you the one flung away?" Oscar was confused.

"Illusion." Abe stated.

"Of course…." Oscar sighed. "Were we placed under the illusion from the start?"

"The moment you entered the manor." Albert nodded.

Oscar filled in everything that happened to Emily, as well as Kan's existence. Her face changed many times from the revelations.

"It was all an illusion?!" Emily looked around and felt the floors; the feeling was too real. "Even the boy and the monster?"

"How did she see you two?" Oscar asked.

"The illusions are split into individual pockets for each person. We exist in every pocket and act out our roles. It's a way to hasten the absorption." Albert sighed.

"Illusions are so confusing." Emily's face twitched from the complicated means of illusions.

"Correct, young lady. Which is why they are so much fun." Abe chuckled.

"Hold up, what about Fred?" Oscar recalled Abe's words. "You said you only found Emily."

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"Where's Frederick?" Emily did not mind her manners in asking these two Marshal Exalts.

Abe pondered for a moment, looking back into the recesses of his memories. It had been so long that shifting through all of it was quite the task. Finally, he found something and opened his eyes in shock.

Oscar and Emily grew worried, seeing Abe's intense face; it did not seem good for Frederick. Albert slapped his grandson and yelled, "You're scaring the kids. What did you remember?"

"I remember seeing the boy with green hair and yellow eyes," Abe spoke to Oscar's relief, which soon turned to despair with his next words. "But Kan dragged him out of this illusion to a completely different one."

"A different illusion?" Oscar was confused why Frederick was singled out.

"Kan was yelling out in joy. He said he finally found his host." Abe said darkly. This was not good news at all.

Oscar cursed out loud against Frederick's misfortune. Emily was confused, so they explained.

A Wraith was powerful enough to influence the outside world, but they could never leave the place of their haunting unless they had a host. This host should have the same depravity and hatred that the Wraith can connect to.

The idea was in the Exolsia Core's state. The Exolsia Core not only filled itself with the Ein the Exalt absorbed but also connected to the Exalt's inner emotions.

Any whimsical emotions would not fill an Exolsia Core. If an Exalt held great hatred down to his soul, the hatred would fill the Exolsia Core. A Wraith would forcibly enter and take adobe in the Exolsia Core of one that carried such dark emotions.

Frederick had desired revenge all his life for the one he loved. He cast aside his friends and focused on his vengeance. An Exolsia Core filled with such isolation, hatred, and grief was perfect for Kan to possess and inhabit, allowing him to take control of Frederick.

"Our Exolsia Cores work like that?" Emily was astonished.

"The Exolsia carries the Anima, which is a representation of ourselves. It's little wonder it's also a mirror of our strongest emotions." Albert lectured. "But if what you're saying is true, then your friend is lost. He's most likely already possessed by Kan."

"Is there anything we can do to free him?" Emily shook Albert, who allowed it due to her distress.

"There is one way." Abe's words gave Oscar and Emily a ray of hope. "But it depends on Frederick himself. He must expel Kan with his strength, but if he is full of hate, it's hard to get rid of the Wraith who feeds on it."

Oscar and Emily fell silent.

"Can we somehow talk to Frederick inside?" Oscar asked for another way.

Abe pondered for a moment. Albert suddenly interjected and said, "I have a plan. It is risky, but if we pull it off, we can defeat Kan and save your friend."

Seeing that everyone was paying attention, Albert continued to speak. "I can take one person, and we can enter Frederick's Exolsia Core and find your friend's locked-up soul. The person inside must convince Frederick to fight back, to expel Kan."

"The other must wake up outside with Abe, who will provide support. They will fight Kan in Frederick's possessed body and keep it away from the other's unconscious body. What do you think?"

Albert's suggestion was met with silence; even Abe looked unfavorably at the chances of success. This plan was too dependent on Frederick. The only thing they could do was nudge him in the correct direction.

"This is our only chance; if so, I'm in." Oscar stepped forward.

"Me too." Emily followed along.

"Good children. You are worthy of being Exalts. Abe, get ready. We will break out of this world and confront Kan from both sides." Albert turned to Oscar and Emily. "Which of you will go to meet your friend?"

Emily looked at Oscar, knowing it would be him, but Oscar slapped his hand on Emily's shoulder. "She will go."

"Oscar?" Emily looked at Oscar strangely. Wasn't this the chance for him to convince Frederick?

Oscar could tell what Emily was thinking and sighed. "I already had my chance at the Grand Gathering. Perhaps he needs to hear it from you. Besides, I think I have the best chance of holding on. I'm more defensive than you."

Oscar sounded fine, but Emily saw he was not alright. However, he was firm that he had already given it a shot earlier and failed.

"Oscar, thank you. I'll make sure that dolt wakes up, and he'll owe us a large meal at the Azure City." Emily smiled.

Albert watched the two with a sad smile. What if Abe and Kan had gone along? Perhaps it was his fault as the one who raised them.

Their parents were dead, and he had to raise them while working as the clan head. If he could return to that time, he would choose to retire and focus on the children.

"Ready?" Abe was finished preparing.

""Ready!"" Oscar and Emily shouted.

…….

Oscar opened his eyes and stood up. He stared around him and saw Emily's body lying on the floor next to him.

"Oscar." Abe's voice resounded from his head.

"Abe. Where is Kan?" Oscar asked in his thoughts.

"He's approaching!"

"What is this? How did you wake up from my illusion?" Oscar heard a familiar voice, but it was filled with arrogance and disdain.

Oscar saw Frederick. The same green hair and yellow eyes with a large scar over one of them. The twin-leaf swords were by his hips.

But this wasn't Frederick; the face was completely different, twisted by vile cruelty and venomous hate. This was Kan, inhabiting his friend's body.

Oscar's brow popped some veins as he strode forward. "That's my friend's body you're inhabiting. Get out."

Oscar charged ahead and slammed his buckler, which was blocked by Kan's swords. He heard the maniacal laughter of the depraved Wraith.

"I don't know how you got out, but I'll put you back in." Frederick or Kan's eyes became black everywhere as a swirl of Ein warped around them.

"Now!" Albert's voice shouted.

Oscar's eyes shone with a bright light. Albert and Emily shot out in miniature soul forms and entered Kan's blackened eyes.

"What?!" Kan retreated and cried in agony. "What the hell is this? Abe and that old devil? What are you doing out of your cells?!"

"Finishing what started a thousand years ago." Abe's voice as his form appeared next to Oscar.

"It's time for you to pay for your sins, Kan. Now. Get. The. Hell. Out. Of. My. Friend."

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