Secrets of the Abandoned Mansion

The air grew colder as Judge and Orion ascended the creaking staircase, their light magic illuminating the eerie path ahead. The staircase led to a grand upper floor of the mansion, one that seemed frozen in time. Dust clung to every surface, and cobwebs stretched across corners like delicate veils. The mansion was enormous, its sprawling corridors and towering ceilings creating an overwhelming sense of emptiness and dread.

"This place is massive," Orion muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. Judge, ever vigilant, scanned the surroundings, his sharp instincts alert to any movement.

As they moved deeper, the artifacts of a bygone era came into view. Luxurious furniture, now faded and crumbling, hinted at the wealth of the mansion's former occupants. Paintings lined the walls, though their subjects were obscured by thick layers of dust. Judge stopped to inspect the barricaded main door, its wooden planks nailed crudely into place.

Orion's attention was drawn to a smaller portrait near the stairs. It depicted a noblewoman and her young son. Something about the boy's face struck him as familiar. Frowning, Orion cast a spell to clear the dust. His breath hitched when the image became clear. The child bore an uncanny resemblance to the man he and Haizen had fought at the riverbank.

"Judge," Orion called. Judge approached, his gaze narrowing as he examined the portrait. "This was the Revon noble family's mansion," Judge confirmed. "According to Brotherhood reports, they vanished decades ago. Their downfall was shrouded in mystery, but this… this might explain some of it."

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of movement from above. A faint creaking echoed through the halls, sending a chill down their spines. Exchanging a glance, they climbed further, the clanking of wood beneath their feet reverberating through the mansion. Judge's senses were on high alert, and Orion felt an uneasy weight in his chest. Something was guiding them, leading them deeper into the heart of the mystery.

At the top of the stairs, a dim light flickered at the end of a long corridor. The door there was slightly ajar. Judge and Orion advanced cautiously, their light magic casting long, distorted shadows against the peeling wallpaper. Inside, they found another grand hall—this one littered with desks, scattered papers, and peculiar instruments. It resembled a laboratory more than a living space.

Orion picked up one of the papers, his stomach turning as he scanned its contents. Sketches of grotesque, humanoid figures filled the pages, alongside detailed notes describing macabre experiments. Magnifying glasses, flasks filled with strange liquids, and bizarre tools were scattered across the tables. Judge walked further in, his hand brushing against an open book depicting the anatomy of demons and humans intertwined.

"A lab of horrors," Orion muttered. His gaze shifted to the massive arched windows along the walls, offering a view of the dense forest surrounding the mansion. The world outside seemed impossibly far away from the nightmarish reality within.

They continued deeper into the hall, their steps echoing ominously. At last, they came upon a locked door. Unlike the rest of the mansion, the area beyond seemed to have been intentionally concealed. The door bore a heavy iron lock, rusted with age but still sturdy. Without hesitation, Judge drew back his fist and punched through it, splintering the wood. The door creaked open, revealing a cavernous chamber.

The room was lined with cages. Inside them were decaying bodies, their forms twisted and grotesque. The stench of death hung heavy in the air, making Orion gag. In the center of the room stood a table, clearly used for dissections. The tools scattered around it were caked in dried blood. The sight turned Judge's stomach, but his expression remained hard.

Orion approached one of the cages, his eyes narrowing as he examined the corpses. On the tattered remains of their clothing, he spotted a crest—the same crest as the noble family depicted in the portraits.

"Judge," he said, his voice trembling. "These… these are the Revon family members. Someone experimented on them."

Judge's jaw tightened. "It's worse than I thought," he muttered.

Suddenly, a rotting hand shot out from one of the cages, grabbing Orion's leg. He yelped, stumbling back. The figure within the cage groaned, its voice faint and wet. Judge acted swiftly, pulling the figure out and laying it on the dissection table. The man's body was a ruin—half-rotted, his flesh barely clinging to his bones. Yet his eyes, bloodshot and filled with pain, focused on Judge and Orion.

"I'm… sorry," the man rasped. Blood bubbled from his lips.

Judge leaned closer. "Sorry for what? What happened here?"

The man coughed violently, tears streaming from his eyes. "I just… wanted my son's life. Not… not a monster." He choked on his words, his body convulsing before going limp. Blood poured from his eyes and nose, staining the table beneath him. Orion stared, his hands trembling as they dripped with the man's blood.

Judge's gaze fell to the man's tattered clothing. Among the grime and decay, the crest of the Revon family was unmistakable. "This was the lord of the house," Judge said grimly. "I remember him from old Brotherhood records."

Orion's stomach churned. "If this is what happened to him, what kind of nightmare are we dealing with here?"

Judge stepped back, his eyes scanning the macabre scene. "We need to move. Whoever orchestrated this is still out there, and they're not done."