A dense fog blanketed the Saint Hiller Castle as Brian arrived.
But this was no ordinary mist. It was ash-gray, drifting in thin, spiraling layers that danced without direction. If one stared too long, faces began to emerge—floating, silent visages. Eyes wide open without lids. Mouths agape, not screaming, but frozen in the moment before a cry. As though every particle of air carried memories—abandoned, forgotten—now forming an invisible wall that both guarded and cursed the castle.
Brian’s footsteps were heavy but resolute. His cloak, soaked by the mist, clung to him like spiderwebs. His sharp eyes scanned the tall towers, glinting with restrained bitterness. The castle still stood—but its aura had changed. No longer a sanctuary of learning, Saint Hiller now felt alive, and it was watching back.