Every city in the Terian Kingdom was connected by roads with the rest of the land. Guyfast was no different, and by Alastar’s calculations, their group should have easily arrived within a month.

Unfortunately, Seth was not a fan of roads, signs, or logic. Whenever they passed through a forest, he would insist they decimate its population. Whenever they entered a city, he made it his duty to take down the criminal underworld. Seth would always find one, even when it didn’t exist.

As such, a month long journey by carriage took more than half a year. This was despite the fact that all three members of their group could fly.

‘If not for cloudy days, we’d be screwed,’ thought Alastar while stroking his beard. Between all the fighting and lack of sleep, he hadn't even had the time to shave.

“Where now, Gandalf?” asked Seth.

“The name is… Neverming.” It was pointless to argue. After gliding down to the nearby road, Alastar showed him a sign. It was placed right in the middle where the road split in two. Both arrows on the sign had Guyfast City written on them. It was clear the road was purposely split in order to avoid the fog covered, possibly haunted, mountain range further ahead.

“Hmm,” Seth frowned while considering his options.

‘Bloody hell, pick left or right. It’s not a trick question!’ Once again, the mage stroked his beard, though this time starting from the top of his face.

“I say we go forward,” decided their leader.

The mage’s palm let go of his face only to strike it just a moment later.

‘Why do I even try?’

“Oh, Great Overlord,” said Momo while bowing deeply. “Would it not be wise to avoid the creepy mountains and make haste towards Guyfast, as to save those poor souls the Spider Queen is likely devouring?”

These past few months were not lost on the squirrel. He knew his master was crazy but not necessarily unreasonable.

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“What about those who wander into these mountains?” Seth crossed his arms. “Would we not be abandoning them?”

“What?” the mage blurted while strangling the pixie inside his mind. “Nobody travels through the Devil’s Mountains. That’s why we have these roads and that sign.”

“We’re going in there,” Seth thought aloud. “And, if we’re going, then others must have gone there too.”

His logic was as irrefutable as it was moronic.

“There’s nothing there!” Alastar raged. “Not even beasts or tiny animals for you to butcher! There’s nothing but creepy woods and murderous ghosts.”

Suddenly, the mage put a pause on his thoughts. ‘Ghosts are immortal, aren’t they?’ A once in a lifetime opportunity had just been served on a golden platter.

“I think the map guy is right,” said Momo while hugging his tail. “How about…”

“F**k that, let’s go,” said Alastar. “Sir Seth, would you not like to fight ghosts? You could kill them… again, and save their souls all at the same time.”

“Indeed,” the warrior nodded. Momo was looking at both of them as if they had gone insane.

“We cannot abandon those poor souls. Let’s go fight them!”

Two grinning monsters and one terrified squirrel flew towards the creepy mountains. They knew no fear or reason. The moment their group entered the forest at the first mountain’s base, a deep fog enveloped them like magic.

“Who goes there?” a creepy voice resounded.

The still grinning mage and pixie nodded to each other. If anything, their mood was only getting better. Seth pulled out his light sword while Alastar grabbed a bunch of glass vials from his robe.

“Onwards, steed!”

“No thanks.” Momo shivered. Unfortunately, his movements were not up to him. With Seth’s wind magic propelling him forward, the poor squirrel might as well have been a broom.

“Stop,” the voice returned. “Advance no more.”

In response, Seth swung his sword. It emitted a beam of light which sliced the fog in half before melting it like butter.

“Stop! Please…”

“Show yourself, vile spirit!”

“You’re the vile one!”

“Na’ah,” Seth denied the accusation.

“Ya’ah,” said the creepy voice.

Suddenly, human-like phantasms came out of the nearby trees, bushes, and ground. There were thousands of them, each one looking more evil than the next. Some had large scars while others grinned maniacally as if their faces were frozen in time.

Many of them carried bloody weapons, especially knives and pliers. Of course, just like their clothes, these were semi-transparent too.

“What do we do?” Momo cried with his eyes closed.

“We fight them.”

“We shove them in vials and study their insides.”

“How about we just talk?” The ghosts’ already pale faces were turning invisible.

“”No!”” the two answered in unison. Between Seth preparing to swing his sword and Alastar looking for specimens, the evil souls on the Devil's Mountains were about to be cleansed.