The Hollow Ledger

LOCATION: GREYHORN ABANDONED MANOR — PROBABLY CURSED

Gideon was running.

Again.

Which, okay, was becoming a pattern.

But this time, it was because the ghost had wings.

And claws. And probably a soul debt older than plumbing.

The ghost shrieked and glitched through a wall. Gideon screamed and dodged left, nearly tripping over a broken chandelier.

> "STOP RUNNING," the Ledger yelled in his head.

"YOU DON'T RUN. QUIT EMBARRASSING ME."

"Nope," Gideon shouted, throwing a chalk rune behind him and missing the wall entirely.

The ghost dove again — claws scraping stone, wailing like a choir of banshees in a blender.

> "YOU'RE A HARROW, NOT A HIKER."

"I'M A SURVIVOR, THAT'S WHAT I AM!"

He tripped on a loose floorboard. Skidded. Landed in a pile of dust and betrayal.

The ghost closed in.

---

FIGHT: GIDEON VS. THE THING FROM THE FAMILY LEDGER

He tried to cast Bindroot again.

It fizzled.

His chalk snapped.

His backup chalk exploded in his pocket. (Why was that even a thing?!)

He rolled onto his back, flailing with a dagger he barely knew how to hold.

The ghost hissed, raising its claws—

Then suddenly, the air shimmered.

A streak of golden light slashed through the ghost's form.

The creature howled and vanished in a burst of ash and static.

Gideon coughed. A lot. "Please tell me that was divine intervention."

> "No," the Ledger growled. "It was Smug Boy."

Cassian stepped through the smoke, brushing imaginary dust from his coat.

He didn't even look at Gideon.

Just said, "You're welcome."

---

LOCATION: BACK AT HARROW HOUSE — THE AFTERMATH

Gideon sat on the steps outside, wiping blood from his nose.

Cassian leaned on a nearby pillar, arms folded, looking like someone had cast a glamour spell called Superior Attitude +3.

"You keep doing this," Cassian said.

"Doing what?" Gideon muttered.

"Trying. Failing. Making me look good."

"Glad I could help your ego."

Cassian chuckled. "You're not completely hopeless, you know."

Gideon looked up. "...Wow. Another compliment?"

Cassian shrugged. "Don't get used to it. You still smell like chalk and panic."

---

LOCATION: HARROW HOUSE — DINING ROOM, MOMENTS LATER

The long table was set. Alar stood at the head, cane in hand. Seraphine hovered like a storm cloud in pearls.

"You embarrassed the House," she said quietly.

"I almost died," Gideon replied.

"Same thing," she snapped.

Alar raised a hand.

"The Ascension Trials begin in two days," he said.

Cassian nodded. "I'm prepared."

"You both will go," Alar said.

Gideon blinked. "Wait. Both?"

"You are a Harrow. The Ledger chose you. Whether you're ready or not, the world must see what kind of heir you are."

Gideon rubbed his face. "The kind that bleeds a lot and forgets half the glyphs?"

Alar stepped close.

"The kind that doesn't quit."

He left the room.

Gideon sighed and dropped into a chair.

The Ledger appeared above the table, floating like a smug bat.

> "If it helps, I only partially want to abandon you."

"That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me."

> "Enjoy it. The Trials will eat you alive."

"…Great."