He turned a corner. Then another. And another. Nothing.
The boy had vanished as if swallowed by the village itself.
Cesar came to a halt, chest heaving, frustration rising like a tide. He'd felt it—that instinct, sharp and undeniable. He had to follow that boy. Something was pulling him forward, and it wasn't just curiosity anymore.
Then, a thought struck him like lightning—the castle.
Almost out of breath, he began running again—faster this time—heading toward the great stone fortress that loomed at the village's northern edge.
The perimeter was vast, stretching far beyond what he had anticipated. He was forced to circle a large section of its outer wall before he finally reached what seemed to be the only way in.
A single, massive gate.
And to his surprise... it stood open.
He stopped at the threshold, legs stiff, breath shallow. A wave of unease washed over him, heavy and suffocating.
What if the stories were true? What if his grandfather really had come here all those years ago? What if this place was where he met his end?
Cesar backed away from the gate and pressed himself against the shadow of a nearby building. The silence gnawed at him. Seconds passed like hours. His heart thudded wildly in his chest, and each breath came short and sharp.
Then—footsteps. Familiar ones.
"There he is," Cesar whispered to himself.
The boy appeared, stepping confidently into the courtyard. He didn't hesitate. While Cesar lingered in fear, this stranger moved with purpose.
Despite his own dread, Cesar's legs began to move. Something stronger than fear carried him toward the gate. He peered through the opening, watching as the boy began to examine the area.
"You don't need to hide," the boy said suddenly, his voice calm but firm. "I heard you."
Cesar froze, caught in the act. But oddly enough, the words didn't feel like a threat. There was something in the boy's tone—cold, yes, but oddly steadying—reassuring, even.
Gathering his courage, Cesar stepped forward.
"I thought you didn't like me following you," he said, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment.
"Why would I?" the boy replied, still focused on the courtyard. "You're not a guard. And this castle doesn't belong to me. Entering is your risk to take."
"Well... yeah, that's fair," Cesar mumbled. "Uh, may I ask your name?"
The boy didn't look at him.
"Lefelob."
"Right," Cesar said with an awkward nod, filing the name away like a treasure. Silence settled again between them.
Then, after a few minutes of quietly scanning the surroundings, Lefelob asked, "And you?"
"Oh! Um... I'm Cesar. Nice to meet you."
The courtyard stretched out before them—silent, empty. Not a single guard in sight. The stone walls loomed above.
Cesar glanced around nervously.
"Lefelob... I've wanted to come here for so long, but... I never had the courage." He hesitated. "Can I... join you?"
Lefelob paused for a moment, then gave a single, silent nod. It was curt and emotionless—but it was enough.
[•••]
The entrance was there. Not nearly as grand as the gate they had passed through—but somehow, far more intimidating.
It wasn't the size that unnerved Cesar. It was the darkness. The way it seemed to breathe, like the castle itself was waiting.
Lefelob approached it and glanced inside.
"This one's already open too... Strange."
"Mmh... maybe most of the guards were pulled out to deal with that group," Cesar murmured, still transfixed by the yawning void of the hallway beyond.
"You know, the ones the robotic voice was warning about earlier..."
Lefelob didn't reply right away. He kept his eyes on the shadows.
Then, without turning, he asked, "Are you sure you want to come with me?"
Cesar hesitated. A pulse of fear ran through him. But then, like a beacon in the dark, a memory surfaced—Yuusaba's voice, the certainty in his words.
His grandfather had come here and had never returned.
Cesar clenched his fists.
"Yes. I'm sure. I have to know what happened. The village authorities... they've always kept everyone away from this place."
"Mmh. Then you really don't know anything," Lefelob said quietly. "I suspected as much."
"What?" Cesar blinked, confused. "What do you mean? Do you know something about this castle?"
For a moment, Lefelob didn't answer. Then, finally, a faint, almost amused grin appeared on his face—barely there, but enough to be seen in the low light.
"This castle? It's not the only one. There are others like it—scattered across the world. Most people don't even know they exist. And those who do... are told never to enter." He paused, then added with deliberate weight, "The Kormanys forbid it. Without exception."
"The Kormanys? What are they?" Cesar asked, his voice betraying his ignorance.
Lefelob gave him a sidelong glance, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly—somewhere between amusement and disbelief.
"Oh... right," he said slowly, as if only now realizing how little Cesar truly knew.
"They're the core. The highest tier of the government. The ones who actually pull the strings."
Cesar stared at him, stunned.
"But... my grandfather... Why would no one ever tell me this? Why would they hide it from me? About... The castles??"
Lefelob offered a faint shrug, still half-smiling.
"That's normal. Most people are kept in the dark. It's easier that way."
"That's not a reason," Cesar snapped, eyes narrowing.
"I know," Lefelob replied calmly. "But trust me when I say... you shouldn't know everything. I'm not being cruel. I'm trying to protect you."
Cesar's heart was pounding again, not from fear this time, but frustration. That sliver of information—it wasn't enough. And yet it hinted at something vast. Something that had been buried deliberately, hidden from him his entire life.
And now... he had stepped into the shadows of it.
The corridor before them stretched deeper into the castle, and the further they walked, the more the darkness seemed to consume them. No windows. No torchlight. Only silence and stone.
And yet, for the first time in his life, Cesar was inside—inside the forbidden place.
Whatever truth lay ahead, he was done running from it.