Tree Spirit Possession

A little after ten in the morning, Green and Lola arrived by carriage in the northern district, near the small garden across from Old Jon's home.

By then, the situation had grown dire. Rampant plants had long since filled the garden, and thick vines reached out from it, spreading through the neighborhood like an infection. Greenery covered Old Jon's apartment building and more than half of Nancy's. Neither the hospital nor the small chapel next door had been spared. The Holy Light Church's chapel had the protection of the Holy Light, but it was far too weak. After just five minutes, countless vines smashed through its defenses, dragged out the Cleric and worshippers sheltering inside, and hung their bodies upside down beneath the tallest banyan tree in the garden, where they swayed gently.

When Green and Lola arrived, the Police had set up a cordon well back from the garden and driven away nearby residents and onlookers.

For all the political corruption in the Lorenzo Kingdom, the Police Station's training for dealing with Eerie supernatural incidents had clearly been effective. Even in a small city like Rhine City, the Police had handled matters fairly well. At the very least, their swift, efficient evacuation had kept most ordinary people from being caught up in it. Asking any more of them would have been impossible.

Sure enough, Director Asido and Barkley breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Green and Lola.

For various reasons, Rhine City had never welcomed the Anomalies Bureau, and its local branch had long since been stripped of any real authority. But in this situation, the bureau made the perfect scapegoat. Seasoned operators like Asido and Barkley were hardly going to pass up the chance. They greeted Green and Lola with earnest warmth, formally transferred the case