THE GHOST HUNTER .

Ray, Emily, and Kael moved further away from the kingdom of Astravane, their shadows stretching long against the dimming horizon. The sun seemed to be vanishing along with them, as if it had never existed in the first place.

The landscape ahead was eerie—twisted trees without leaves, their blackened branches resembling skeletal fingers reaching out to the sky. The air felt heavy, as if it carried the weight of countless forgotten souls. These lands were devoid of divine blessings, forsaken by the gods and ruled by beings from other dimensions.

Kael walked ahead, scanning their surroundings with a sharp eye.

Emily, walking beside him, asked, "Kael, why don't the kingdoms do something about these forsaken lands?"

Kael sighed, "It's complicated, Emily. These lands have been abandoned for centuries. The kingdoms don't want to deal with beings from other dimensions unless absolutely necessary. As long as their own lands are protected by divine blessings, they prefer to avoid conflict."

Emily frowned, "But isn't this our continent? Shouldn't we take responsibility for all of it?"

Kael nodded. "Ideally, yes. But the kingdoms don't function as one united force. Even though they cooperate in world matters, they still have rivalries. Places like my homeland, which are barely surviving under the protection of a weakened divine being, are often overlooked."

Emily sighed, her usual cheerfulness dampened by the reality of the world they lived in. "So places like your home just... struggle to exist?"

"Exactly." Kael's voice was solemn. "Our protector, Vaelthys, is barely holding on. Without her, my home would be swallowed by the black fog just like the other abandoned lands."

---

The Lonely House

After hours of walking, a wooden house appeared in the distance. It stood alone, untouched by time yet carrying an unnatural presence. The worn-out planks creaked even from a distance, and the single cracked window reflected nothing but darkness.

Emily shuddered. "This place looks... wrong."

Kael narrowed his eyes. "One house, standing alone in the middle of nowhere? Suspicious."

Ray remained silent but instinctively placed a hand on his sword.

"We need to rest. Let's check inside," Kael finally said.

Emily raised her hand, summoning a soft green glow—the blessing of the Goddess of Love. The light formed into an orb, illuminating the front door. Ray, ever cautious, set his sword alight with black flames.

They stepped inside.

The ground floor was nearly empty, except for a single dusty mirror hanging on the wall. The house had a second floor with a single room, a narrow wooden staircase leading upward.

Kael glanced at the mirror. Its surface was cloudy, almost shifting as if something lurked beneath. He turned away.

"Nothing here. Let's go up."

---

The Shelter and the Whisper

The upper room was slightly better. The wooden floor was stable, and though the walls bore cracks, they still felt more secure than the unsettling emptiness below.

Emily clapped her hands together, chanting softly. A faint golden glow spread across the walls, forming a temporary divine barrier.

"Sorry, Kael," she said with a sheepish smile. "My power isn't strong enough to protect large areas."

Kael shook his head. "You're doing more than enough, Emi."

They dropped their bags, exhaustion settling in.

"Food first!" Emily declared.

Ray pulled out a plastic bag from his pack. They headed downstairs, gathering dry wood from outside to build a small fire.

Kael stopped Ray just as he was about to skewer the fish on sticks. "Wait. Let's make soup instead. It'll be easier to eat after a long journey."

He took out a small pouch of powdered herbs and mixed it with water in a pot over the fire. Soon, the rich aroma of thick, flavorful soup filled the room. The fish softened in the broth, absorbing the flavors.

Emily sighed in satisfaction after taking the first bite. "Ahhh, now that hits the spot."

Kael chuckled. "Told you."

As they finished eating, Kael stretched. "I'll keep watch. You two rest."

Emily puffed out her cheeks. "No way! We're all sleeping together."

Kael groaned but relented. They returned upstairs, settling onto the floor.

Ray, as always, slept with one eye open.

---

Midnight: The Whispering Mirror

A whisper crawled into Kael's ears.

"Would you like to play...?"

His eyes shot open. A cold sweat formed on his brow. He sat up, his breath uneven. The whispering continued, soft and persistent.

Kael swallowed hard and followed the sound. He descended the stairs, his fingers twitching slightly.

The mirror stood there, unchanged—except for one thing.

His reflection was missing.

Kael took a cautious step forward. He blinked, rubbed his eyes. Then, suddenly—his reflection returned. But it wasn't him.

His reflection grinned—a twisted, unnatural smile that didn't belong on his face.

Kael's body froze. His muscles refused to move. His mind screamed at him to run, but his legs wouldn't obey.

Then—his reflection stepped forward.

Panicked, Kael turned on his heel and bolted upstairs. But when he reached the top, his heart nearly stopped.

Ray and Emily were gone.

This isn't real. This isn't real.

His mind raced. He forced himself to think.

"I'm inside the mirror. That must be it. Emily's barrier should have prevented outside forces from entering, so whatever trapped me must have been inside from the start—the mirror."

He took a deep breath, his fear slowly shifting into focus. He needed to escape.

A small, glowing white orb appeared in front of him.

Kael hesitated, then followed it.

---

The Rescue

Meanwhile, in the real world, Ray sat up.

Something was wrong.

Kael had been gone too long. He stood and moved downstairs.

Empty.

His sharp gaze flickered toward the mirror. It seemed... wrong. A presence lingered around it.

Ray turned and woke Emily. "Get up. Something's wrong."

Emily groggily rubbed her eyes. "Huh?"

"Kael's missing. I think he's inside the mirror."

Her sleepiness vanished instantly.

She stood, holding out her hand. "We need to get him out."

Ray unsheathed his sword, black flames flickering to life. He pressed the blade against the mirror's surface.

The flames flickered unnaturally.

Emily chanted, placing both hands on the glass. The divine energy crackled, reacting violently to whatever lurked inside.

Then—a crack appeared on the mirror's surface.

Inside, Kael saw it. He saw the light breaking through.

He ran toward it.

"Emily! Ray! I'm here!"

A shadow lunged at him from behind.

But before it could reach him, Ray swung his sword—shattering the mirror completely.

Kael stumbled forward, collapsing onto the wooden floor. He gasped, his body trembling.

Emily knelt beside him. "Are you okay?!"

Kael caught his breath. "That thing... It wanted to trap me. To replace me."

Ray examined the shattered glass. The pieces reflected nothing but darkness.

"We're leaving. Now."

No one argued. They grabbed their belongings and left the cursed house behind.