Leon paused in front of the massive wooden doors. Carved with intricate reliefs and figures of creatures that seemed to scream in silence, the doors stood like sentinels guarding a world alien to everything he knew. He felt the familiar surge of adrenaline pulse beneath his skin: the warning that he was crossing the threshold into hostile territory, into the unknown.

He pushed the doors open with force, and the creak reverberated throughout the castle interior, like a roar announcing his arrival. He entered slowly, his eyes scanning the surroundings as the darkness seemed to close in around him. The foyer was vast, with high ceilings and opulent decorations, but covered in a layer of decay. The stone walls, barely lit by the dim flames of the candelabras, were adorned with ancient paintings and faded tapestries that told stories of violence and power. It was a place designed to intimidate, to remind anyone daring to enter that this was not human territory.

His senses were on high alert. Any movement, any whisper could mean the difference between life and death. And then, when he stepped into the grand hall, he saw her.

Leon noticed the slight glimmer of amusement in her eyes. An amusement that told him she already knew why he was there. He felt the weight of that gaze, the way it seemed to delve into his mind, searching for his doubts and fears. But he didn’t look away. He kept his expression firm, unyielding.

— “I’m here because of the disappearances,” he replied dryly. “I need answers.”