The flickering torches of the adventurer’s guild hall cast dancing shadows over the rough wooden walls. Kalsei leaned across the table, his eyes wide with excitement as he pushed a flyer toward Seikan. It was adorned with garish pumpkins, bats, and a bold, almost comical font declaring:

The Most Haunted House in All Aurelia – Dare to Enter?

“Come on, Seikan! It’ll be fun! Ghosts, spooky sounds, maybe even a skeleton or two rattling around. Who knows what we’ll find?”

Seikan raised an eyebrow, giving the flyer a dismissive glance before returning to his book on arcane runes. “I’ve got better things to do than chase after fabrications designed to scare the gullible.”

Kalsei pouted, leaning even closer. “Fabrications? This is certified haunted! Besides, it’s All Hallows’ Eve – the perfect time for a little supernatural adventure!”

Seikan’s only response was a deadpan stare over his book, as though he could will Kalsei’s enthusiasm to vanish into thin air.

That’s when Steph, who had been quietly observing with an amused smirk, spoke up. “I’ll go with you, Kalsei. Could be... interesting.” She shrugged, her goth attire lending her an air of effortless nonchalance.

Kalsei’s face lit up, his excitement back in full force. “Really, Steph? You’d go?”

Steph gave him a half-smile, the faintest blush dusting her cheeks as she rolled her eyes. “Why not? It might be fun to see you jump at your own shadow. Besides,” she added with a sarcastic edge, “I’m sure you need someone to hold your hand.”

Kalsei laughed, the kind of laugh that was equal parts excitement and nerves. “Hand-holding aside, I’d appreciate the company!”

With an exaggerated sigh, Seikan waved them off. “Just don’t drag any curses back here. Last thing I need is to be haunted by whatever nonsense you two find.”

Later That Evening..

The so-called haunted house loomed before them, a decayed, towering structure at the edge of town, covered in creeping vines and barely held together by its own rotting wood. Shutters hung askew, and the windows were dark, save for a single, dim light flickering in an upstairs room. A chill ran down Kalsei’s spine, but he forced a brave grin. “So... Steph, you ready to face the scariest night of your life?”

Steph chuckled, crossing her arms and stepping forward. “Please. I live with you and Seikan. I think I’ve experienced scarier.”

With a dramatic sigh, Kalsei held the door open, and they ventured inside. Dust coated every surface, and an unsettling silence filled the air, broken only by the creaking of floorboards beneath their feet. Kalsei’s eyes darted around, trying to take in every cobweb-strewn corner.

“What’s the matter, Kalsei?" Steph asked with a teasing tone. "See any spooky ghosts yet?”

Kalsei grinned sheepishly. “I’m just... soaking in the atmosphere, that’s all.”

They wandered through the rooms, the silence growing more oppressive with each step. Just as they turned a corner, a loud crash echoed from a nearby room. Kalsei practically leaped out of his skin. “What was that?!”

Steph raised an eyebrow. “Relax, it’s probably just a rat. Or the ghost of one, if that’s more your style.”

She led the way, her footsteps calm and even, and Kalsei trailed behind, peering nervously into the shadows. They reached a grand staircase, the wood groaning as they ascended, and Steph made a show of walking extra slowly, as if testing each step.

Just as they reached the top, a gust of icy wind blasted through the hall, extinguishing the lone candle Kalsei had brought along. He gasped, gripping Steph’s arm. “Did... did you feel that?”

Steph rolled her eyes but didn’t pull away. “It’s just a draft, Kalsei. Old houses are full of them.”

But even she had to admit, there was something a little... off about the place. Shadows seemed to stretch and shift on their own, and more than once, she thought she saw flickers of movement out of the corner of her eye. But she wasn’t about to let Kalsei see her nervous.

They ventured into a grand parlor room, where a faded portrait of a stern-looking woman hung above a dusty fireplace. Kalsei squinted at it, tilting his head. “Does it feel like... she’s staring at us?”

Steph chuckled, but there was a faint unease in her voice. “Guess you’re not used to people actually paying attention to you, huh?”

Kalsei laughed, but his eyes kept darting back to the portrait. “You’re just jealous she likes me better.”

He reached out, pretending to shake the portrait’s hand, but as his fingers brushed the frame, the entire painting suddenly swung open, revealing a hidden passage. Both of them jumped back, eyes wide.

“Uh... I think we found the real haunted part.” Kalsei said meekly.

Steph smirked. “What, scared now? Thought you were the brave adventurer.”

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Kalsei shrugged, trying to regain his composure. “Yeah, yeah... I’m... just... saving my energy for the bigger frights. C’mon, let’s go.”

They squeezed into the passage, the walls narrowing around them as they shuffled forward. The air grew colder, and an unsettling chill prickled along their skin. Just as they reached the end of the tunnel, a ghostly figure appeared before them, its eyes hollow and glowing.

Kalsei squeaked, hiding behind Steph.

Steph smirked. “Looks like the brave adventurer finally met his match.”

The figure moaned, reaching out with a bony hand. “Who... dares... enter...”

Kalsei peeked out from behind Steph. “Uh... I-it’s just us! We’re not... trespassing or anything! Just here for... a little sightseeing?”

Steph, trying not to laugh, stepped forward. “Nice try, ‘Spirit of the House,’ but I don’t scare that easily.”

The ghostly figure paused, looking almost... confused. Then, with a huff, it folded its arms and slumped. “Honestly, this is the worst assignment. No one ever takes me seriously...”

Kalsei blinked, stepping out from behind Steph. “Uh... wait, are you... are you just... a ghost on shift?”

The spirit sighed, looking every bit the disgruntled employee. “Yes. Look, haunting houses used to be respectable work, but these days? Everyone just laughs or calls it fake.”

Steph exchanged an amused glance with Kalsei, and they both chuckled.

“Hey, uh... Mr. Spirit, why don’t you show us around?" Kalsei said, feeling a little bit braver now. "Might be fun to see the real hauntings, especially if you’re in the know.”

The spirit seemed to brighten at the suggestion, his glow intensifying a bit. “Really? I mean, yeah, I could give you the tour! It gets lonely haunting on my own.”

For the next hour, the ghost led them through hidden rooms, trap doors, and eerie apparitions, with Kalsei and Steph laughing at each new “fright.”

Finally, as they made their way back to the front of the house, the spirit floated beside them, looking almost... wistful. “Thanks... for the company. It’s been a long time since anyone really wanted to be scared here.”

Kalsei grinned, giving the ghost a thumbs-up. “No problem, Mr. Spirit. If you ever want to scare someone for real, come by the adventurer’s guild. I’m sure Seikan could use a fright or two.”

The ghost gave a ghostly laugh, his form fading as he waved them off. Steph smirked, nudging Kalsei’s shoulder.

“See?" Steph said, turning to look at Kalsei. "Told you it’d be fun. You and your ‘scary ghosts.’”

Kalsei chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. “Guess the bravest thing I did tonight was follow you up those stairs.”

As Kalsei and Steph stepped back out into the creaky entrance hall, they noticed something strange—the heavy wooden door, which had previously let them in with ease, was now shut tight. Kalsei gave it a tug, but it didn’t budge. “Uh…Steph? Did you close the door?”

Steph crossed her arms, eyebrow raised. “Nope. That ghost of yours isn’t letting us leave so soon, I guess.”

Kalsei let out a small, nervous laugh, giving the door another tug, then glanced back down the dimly lit hallway behind them. “Alright, Mr. Spirit,” he called, trying to sound brave. “If you’re just playing around, ha ha… very funny! Can we go now?”

A cold breeze swept through the room, and the faint sound of giggling echoed down the corridor. It wasn’t the moan of their ghostly guide but something else… something almost childlike.

Steph looked over her shoulder, smirking. “Kalsei, did you invite more ‘friends’ for the tour?”

Kalsei shook his head, forcing a smile. “Not that I know of… but, uh, let’s… check it out? It’s probably nothing… right?”

As they ventured deeper into the house, they passed a doorway leading into a dark dining room. Long-abandoned dinner plates, covered in dust and cobwebs, lined the table. Steph moved to inspect a set of silverware when one of the plates suddenly shifted, seemingly of its own accord.

“Did you… see that?” Kalsei asked quietly, his eyes wide.

Steph rolled her eyes but looked closer at the plate. “Maybe it’s just the floorboards settling.” But just as she said this, the plate flew off the table and shattered against the wall. “Okay, maybe not.”

Suddenly, the giggling grew louder, and a faint outline of a small, ghostly figure appeared at the head of the table, wearing what looked like a tiny suit with an old-fashioned bowtie. It looked like a child, grinning mischievously at them. “Play with meee…”

Kalsei’s eyes widened, and he whispered to Steph, “Is it just me, or does he look a little too happy to see us?”

Steph smirked, nudging Kalsei. “Oh, come on, what’s a little game? Besides, it’s just a kid.”

The ghostly child clapped its tiny hands, and instantly, all the chairs around the table started scraping across the floor, forming a circle around Kalsei and Steph. Plates clattered as the child’s eerie laugh grew louder.

Kalsei looked around, attempting a brave face. “Uh…what game are we talking about here?”

“Hide and seek!" The spirit child said with a giggle. "I’ll count to ten… better find a good hiding spot!”

The child closed its eyes, and without a second thought, Kalsei grabbed Steph’s arm and whispered, “Hide! Now!”

They darted out of the dining room, skidding down a darkened hallway. The house seemed even more labyrinthine than before, with doors that hadn’t been there earlier now appearing around every corner. They ducked into a closet and held their breath, listening as the faint footsteps of the spirit child echoed down the corridor.

Steph, biting back laughter, whispered, “So much for Mr. ‘I’m not afraid of ghosts.’”

Kalsei shot her a look, whispering back, “I’d like to see you try not to freak out with a haunted child playing hide-and-seek! This isn’t exactly a picnic!”

A long silence passed, broken only by the faint, singsong voice of the child. “Ready or not, here I come…”

The doorknob rattled, and Kalsei held his breath. The door creaked open just an inch… only for the footsteps to fade again as the spirit continued its search. Kalsei sighed in relief.

Steph, smirking, decided to nudge him again. “So, was this everything you wanted from your haunted house visit?”

Kalsei chuckled nervously. “Not exactly how I pictured it, but I guess it’s memorable?”

Just as they were about to emerge from their hiding spot, they heard a high-pitched screech from somewhere in the house, followed by the rapid thumping of footsteps. The sound was growing closer.

“Uh-oh. What now?” Kalsei asked in a whisper, his voice shaking.

A ghostly figure ran past the closet at full speed. It was their original spirit guide from earlier, now looking pale (or, well, even paler) and terrified as it sprinted down the hall. “Get out! It’s the ghost dog! Run while you still can!”

Kalsei and Steph exchanged a confused glance. “Ghost… dog?”

Before they could even begin to make sense of it, a deep, unearthly growl reverberated through the hallway. Slowly, they peeked out of the closet to see a massive, spectral hound prowling down the corridor, its eyes glowing a fierce green, and drool—if ghostly hounds could drool—dripping from its fanged maw.

“You didn’t mention there’d be dogs, Kalsei.” Steph said, letting out a long sigh.

Kalsei gulped. “Didn’t think I had to!”

The ghost dog sniffed the air, its head turning in their direction as if it could sense them. With one big leap, it started charging toward them, its barks echoing through the entire house.

“Run!” Kalsei yelled, and they bolted out of the closet, sprinting down the hallway with the ghost dog hot on their heels. The floors creaked and groaned under their feet, and the house seemed to shift and change around them, trapping them in a maze of endless hallways and dead ends.

At last, they burst into a grand, decrepit ballroom, with cobweb-draped chandeliers hanging low from the ceiling. Kalsei threw the doors shut behind them, leaning against them as he caught his breath. “That… was way too close.”

Steph brushed herself off, her voice laced with sarcasm. “See? I told you we’d have a fun night.”

Just then, the chandeliers above began to sway, dust raining down on them. Shadows danced along the walls, twisting and warping into grotesque faces that leered down at them. Kalsei backed away, gripping Steph’s arm. “Did… did you see that?”

Steph sighed, looking around the room with feigned boredom. “Oh yeah, just a bunch of ghosts trying to scare us. Amateur hour.”

Suddenly, the grand piano in the corner of the room began to play on its own, its keys moving as if an invisible pianist was performing a haunting, off-key melody. Kalsei tried to laugh it off, though his voice shook. “Oh wow, look at that… free entertainment!”

The piano’s music grew louder and more intense, filling the room with an eerie, overwhelming presence. They both backed away, only to realize they were standing in the middle of a massive, intricate pentagram etched into the floorboards.

“Uh… I’m no expert, but standing in a summoning circle in a haunted house doesn’t seem like the best idea.” Steph said quietly, looking around.

Before Kalsei could respond, the pentagram glowed a deep crimson, and ghostly hands emerged from the floor, clawing at their legs. The spirits cackled, their laughter echoing around the ballroom as they pulled Steph and Kalsei closer to the center.

Kalsei’s voice was almost a squeal. “Okay, okay, you got us! Scary, very scary! Can we go now?”

The ghostly hands paused, then one of the spirits spoke in a scratchy, disappointed voice. “You’re… not even a little bit frightened?”

Steph rolled her eyes. “We’ve had worse from monsters that aren’t dead. Honestly, you guys are just a minor inconvenience.”

The spirits sighed, their hands retracting back into the floor as the pentagram faded. One of the ghosts mumbled, “Well, that’s disheartening… we tried our best, you know.”

Kalsei, finally seeing an opening, smiled and patted the nearest ghost’s shoulder. “Hey, it was a great effort! You’ve still got it in you… just, you know, maybe try a bit less with the hands?”

The spirits nodded, looking a little cheered by the encouragement. As they faded back into the floor, the main doors of the ballroom swung open, revealing their original ghost guide, looking somewhat smug. “Did you enjoy the grand tour?”

Steph glanced at Kalsei, smirking. “Oh yeah. Thrilling.”

The ghost gave a little bow, the doors of the mansion finally opening up as if to release them. “Good. And do come back next All Hallows' Eve – I’ll make sure to save my best frights for you two.”

Kalsei chuckled, nudging Steph. “Guess we made a new friend?”

Steph shrugged, walking toward the open doors with a casual wave to the spirits lingering in the shadows. “Guess so. Now let’s get out of here before you find another ‘exciting’ haunted adventure.”

With one last laugh echoing through the mansion, they stepped outside into the cool night air, leaving the haunted house—and its disappointed ghosts—behind.