The Impatient Ghosthunter and Aristocat

It was a day like any other. Silas was sitting by the fireplace in his mansion. It was an old mansion that has belonged to his family for 5 generations now. Occasionally, he’d hear steps and talk when there shouldn’t have been anybody else around. As such, Silas suspected the mansion was haunted but never bothered doing anything about it. He enjoyed his comfortable life in the mansion with his wife Soleia who has left to go study new arts and would be returning in a month.

Today, he too heard steps, this time, it sounded as if they were approaching him from behind rather intently. Silas jumped from his chair and swiftly scanned the room, but saw no one. “Right… must be… has to be my imagination… Maybe I should go see the famous Kisvoos after all” He mumbled to himself as he took the last sip of his coffee and rested the cup on the table. He walked past where he heard the steps, making sure to step around the area respectfully.

He went out of the library and straight to his room to grab his jacket. On the way, he ran into Rick Jones who stopped him-“sire! Wish you for my performance during dinner?” Silas shook his head and smiled – “that won’t be necessary, take the night off for we might have a guest tonight”. Rick scratched his head and nodded – “uh…s..sure, but do let me know if it’s a beautiful woman and you need music to set the mood.” Silas gasped and shook his head – “n..no! It won’t be! I’d never, a..anyway!”

And thus Silas and Rick parted ways and Silas ventured to the town. It was but a 10-minute walk through the beautiful and calm forest. His residence was in the middle of it and the land all the way to the town belonged to their family. To him, this forest was his second home. He grew up playing in this forest and knew it like the back of his hand. It was early afternoon, and the weather was great. The wind gently rustled the canopy and the birds sang peacefully, it was incredibly soothing and pleasant.

10 minutes passed and Silas made his way to the town. It had some plain walls and a lousy half-asleep guard stood at the gates. The area and the entire continent had been at peace for over a century so the guard was there more for old times’ sake than actually any kind of protection. The town knew no crime or harm. Silas was greeted by the guard and ventured into the town making his way to the ‘Kedz Bookstore’. The streets were clean, laid beautifully with smooth carved stones.

Silas got to the store and went inside with a humble greeting “Good day” and heard but a grunt in response – “gaahh! what cha want?” Silas shyly approached the table where the shop owner sat and smiled – “my name is Silas Amaran… I am o….” the owner interrupted him – “yeah yeah aristocrats! What cha want I’m asking??” Silas couldn’t help but chuckle a little – “oh well.. I heard you’re a famous…” he was interrupted again – “ghost hunter! yes!! In the past though, mind you! So…?

Silas smirked confidently – “I’ll have you know I’m an artistocat, not aristocrat… My family are noble miqo’te, not mere ari…” the owner grunted again and opened a book ignoring him. Silas shrugged and took out a coin purse – “my mansion seems to be haunted, perhaps by a spirit that needs to be put to rest… I came to ask for your assistance”. The old man peered at him over the edge of the book – “listen, kid… money doesn’t solve old age, ughh.. so naive.  Fine, I know somebody who’ll help you” The old man told him the directions to the alchemy shop run by his student supposedly and Silas thanked him with a coin which the old man accepted with a grunt. 

As Silas walked out the door though, he bumped into a cute young female Viera who caught him before he fell and patted him on the shoulder – “Alright there, you look intact! Looking alive, how many fingers do you see? 3? great!” Silas had no chance to even respond and as he was about to walk past her he heard the old man shout for him – “Young man, she’s the one you need!” Silas turned and looked at the old man, and then at the viera – “uhhmmm…” and she just smiled at him – “what does he need pops?” the old man sighed – “I told you to stop calling me that… He needs an exorcist! Go help the lad out will ya?” She smiled at Silas and patted him on the head – “how could I ever say no to such a pattable aristocrat!??” Silas mumbled to himself- “aristo-cat… whatever…” he spoke up – “hi yes I am…”  she interrupted him  -“Silly something cat yes! Lead the way!” she said enthusiastically as Silas shook his head thinking -‘these people have no manners… I used to know another bun that also had terrible manners. Sometimes she’d use other people for her stories without permission.’ He smiled at the old memories and nodded at her, leading the way. – “So… miss..??? what shall I address you?” she chuckled as she enthusiastically admired his ears – “I am Vina, a student of great Kisvoos” she spoke calmly now.

Silas spent the rest of the journey thinking about where he may have heard her name before but nothing came to mind. As they traveled in silence Vina suddenly stopped and shouted – “OH MY EARS! I FORGOT!” Silas jumped from the sudden shout and turned around – “w..what happened?” she looked at him -“I forgot…” Silas raised his eyebrow – “forgot…what??? tools?” she shrugged – “I don’t remember… I forgot what it was that I forgot, I must’ve scared myself by suddenly shouting!”

“Alright whatever, let’s go! No time to waste. As pops used to say -ghost waits for no-bun… get it?” Silas turned around and walked on quietly… not understanding the joke, but a few moments later it hit him and he started giggling. She giggled alongside him. Time passed and they got to the mansion, Vina walked inside and sniffed the air – “it’s dusty… have you no maid of wife sir?”

Silas looked at her shyly – “w..wife left to study and…maid is on vacation and I’ve been… too lazy to clean, usually Soleia would force me to clean but she’s not here so I’ve been slacking.” Vina clicked her tongue – “tsk… your wife won’t be happy! Anyways! Buns, I smell freshly baked buns!” Silas shook his head and facepalmed – “so…the ghost appears mostly in the library by the fireplace…” he said hesitantly but the viera paid him no attention and kept sniffing – “are you hungry..??” she smiled at him excitedly – “YES I AM! Thanks for asking!” Silas chuckled at how simple she was and led her to the kitchen where a tray of freshly baked buns sat on the table. Silas took one and Vina took 2, munching them hungrily she squealed with excitement – “Gaahh! SHO GOOD!!” she said with her mouth full and Silas chuckled once again. However, a moment later Silas realized that no maids were in the mansion, and he had no cook…

He looked around – “so… can a ghost bake?”  Vina swallowed and nodded enthusiastically -“Oh yes! absolutely! Cook! clean! tell stories! sometimes even throw plates around… errr… your cook is a ghost? Why would you want to remove a helpful spirit?” Silas shook his head- “no… the 1 I hear seems rather ominous! It approached me fast but seemingly never does anything” Vina nodded as she took another bite – “mmmhmm Shounds like a venshful one mmmhhh” Silas shuddered – “a… vengeful spirit? sounds dangerous” Vina nodded – “mmh very! Mayhaps it’s..” she swallowed and looked around – “one of your relatives who passed without ever finding redemption, or being forgiven for something”

She thought as she chewed the last piece of the bun – “mmhhh anything comes to mind? A spirit must find redemption and be forgiven for all of its sins before passing on” Silas shook his head – “hmmm… not that I know of” she chuckled – “well, time to dig through family archives! You do that” but as she finished her sentence a romantic melody filled the room. In the doorway Rick stood with a violin, playing a romantic tune.

Silas shouted – “STOP!” as he shyly looked at Vina – “uhh.. that is my bard, he often gets the wrong idea…”  Rick shrugged – “and you said no pretty ladies tonight, I’m not even dressed in my best attire” Silas sighed – “go… rest Rick” to which the giant shook his head – “no! The ghost business sounds fun, I shall accompany you and provide worthy background music”

Silas sighed again and walked past him heading to the library – “family archives it is, let’s find a relative of mine that seeks redemption and let them move on to the afterlife” Vina – “no, you do that, I’ll raid your supply room for the ritual materials” Silas looked at her with a hint of confusion – “in the…supply room?” she nodded – “yea yea, salt, pepper, carrots… errr… yes! don’t worry about it, go go! No time to waste” she said, pushing him hastily forward.

Rick played a ‘suspense’ melody as they walked to the library. As Silas pulled the door open Rick pulled on the notes resulting in dramatic, suspenseful music then suddenly Silas pulled the door open all the way and Rock kept up the tune intact with his motions. Silas turned and glared at Rick who switched to playing a jolly tune now.

A moment later Silas walked into the library and went to the archives. Rick followed him in and the door closed behind him. Rick’s melody turned to a hesitant, worried tune and Silas spoke – “could you please maybe…stop…???” Rick put his violin down and nodded.

All the while, Vina continued to ‘raid’ their supply room and eat a carrot in-between finding the necessary ingredients for the ritual. To be totally she only needed some salt and candles, but she made sure to take her time to make sure she wouldn’t have to help dig through the archives.

Few hours of Vina was lost in an unfamiliar to her villa later until finally, she stumbled upon the library from which an action, fast-paced tune played. She swung the door open to see Silas chasing after a  floating book. The tune switched from action to cartoony chase music as Silas jumped after the book, missed it, landed on the table lost his balance, and tumbled down. 

Silas got up and grunted – “having fun?” he glared at Rick who just shrugged and smirked – “well… just doing my job sir” Vina stood in the doorway laughing – “I take it the ghost isn’t.. vengeful in the end.” Silas sat down and sighed – “Got to be my grandpa, mayhaps he seeks forgiveness that he never got to spend time with me when I was a little kid?” Vina looked at him with interest, as he started telling the story, the book flipped through pages on its own and Rick played a quiet, calm tune.

Silas told her that his Grandpa passed away shortly after he was born and his last words were that he wished he could spend more time with his grandson. Vina listened attentively and nodded – “well there we have it!” The book fell on the floor in front of Silas, and opened to the page of “Duke Normey Amaran, the biography”. Silas read through the page which described his grandfather and behind him, he could hear a quiet weeping sound. Rick stopped playing and stared into the empty seat behind him.

Vina scratched her head- “well… I think… Now that you know who the spirit is, and it’s desires are known to us, perhaps you should spend a week trying to get along with your grandpa and with that, he will likely find the redemption he desires, for his wish to spend time with his grandson will be fulfilled. Silas wiped at his eyes and nodded – “yes… thank you”

But Vina just shrugged – “I quite literally just simply enjoyed free food and did nothing else! Well, do take care, you know where to find me if you need anything” She said as she turned to leave – “Oh, can I have another 1 of those buns? they’re super tasty” Rick nodded at her – “I’ll have some too!” Silas shrugged – “they’re…not mine…so yes? help yourself..” Vina ran off excitedly and Rick followed her quietly.

A couple of weeks passed, Vina was hanging out at the old man Kisvoos’s shop when the door opened the old man peered over the book at Silas who walked in – “hmmm? back so soon? what… another ghost?” Vina looked over her shoulder and smiled – “No, I think he came bearing good news instead”

Silas nodded respectfully – “yes, I just wanted to thank you for the assistance in this matter. The spirit of my grandfather moved on in peace and I’ve not heard any signs of haunting ever since. But one mystery still remains…”  Vina raised her eyebrow- “who… baked those buns that day?” Vina shrugged – “wasn’t the spirit? maybe your bard then?” Silas shook his head and laughed – “hah.. can you imagine hi… maybe actually! Anyways…” Vina grinned – “well, seems plausible to me! Anyways, pops I must be on my way” But as she tried to walk past Silas he stopped and offered her a coin – “please, accept it as a sign of my gratitude” She took the coin and patted him on the head – “Sure sure whatever! I must run now!”

And thus the story of ghost hunting comes to an end. It is said that Silas is happily married to Soleia (Still waiting for my wedding invitation btw) and enjoying a peaceful life in their mansion, together, happily ever after.