"If someone is different, they will surely be lonely.
Loneliness is not the absence of friends, nor is it the absence of purpose.
Loneliness is poverty of self, and solitude is richness of self.
The loneliness you feel is actually an opportunity to reconnect with others and yourself.
If you have never been alone, you cannot know yourself.
Sometimes you need to be alone, not for loneliness, but to enjoy your free time being yourself.
Sometimes you need to take a break from everyone and spend time alone to experience, appreciate, and love yourself.
No one can bring you peace except yourself.
When you start feeling lonely, that's when you will start living."
***
On the outskirts of the Herbertus kingdom's capital, there is a slum area filled with poor people and disabled individuals. The condition of the area is very concerning, with neglected buildings and dirty streets. The people in this area often struggle to meet their daily needs and live in very difficult circumstances.
The situation in this slum area is indeed very unstable, and fights often occur among the people who live there. Poor and disabled individuals often become victims of violence and harassment carried out by those who are stronger and more powerful.
Yesterday...
The Prosperous Era, Flammas, 16th Ignitia, 1412.
Kamishiro Zen, or Zen Valerius, a young man who had just survived an attack by a group of demons, had just arrived at the entrance gate of the capital. After passing the inspection, Kamishiro looked for a place to rest and found a large-bodied man with three of his friends. As Kamishiro tried to pass them, the large-bodied man intentionally bumped into him and triggered a fight.
"Damn it! What do you want!?" said the big man with anger.
"What...!? What do you mean, you bastard!?" replied Kamishiro.
"What did you say!?"
"You were the one who bumped into me first, asshole!"
The man clenched his fists and immediately punched Kamishiro. However, Kamishiro avoided the punch and immediately retaliated with a heavy punch to the man's face.
Blood spilled from the man's nose.
"You bastard!" shouted one of his companions.
His three friends surrounded Kamishiro. Kamishiro hit one of them, but the others attacked him from behind.
Kamishiro was attacked mercilessly by them. The big man rose and walked towards Kamishiro who was badly beaten.
The man smiled with a terrifying face and blood still pouring from his nose.
"I'll kill you!" The man immediately launched a punch straight towards Kamishiro's face. After they beat Kamishiro to their satisfaction, they left.
"Next time you show up in front of me, you'll die!" said the big man, pointing at Kamishiro lying on the ground.
Kamishiro's whole body was covered with bruises. Kamishiro slowly rose up while patting his dusty clothes.
After continuing his journey to find a place to rest, Kamishiro felt confused because he couldn't find a suitable place. At that time, he met a merchant who told him about a cheap inn. However, Kamishiro realized that he didn't have the money to stay there.
As he continued to search for a place to rest, Kamishiro met another merchant who informed him about a slum area inhabited by poor people. Kamishiro felt compelled to go to the area, even though he was hesitant.
Upon arriving in the slum area, Kamishiro found an old, uninhabited building that looked deserted. The surrounding residents also seemed reluctant to approach the building. Nevertheless, Kamishiro decided to enter and rest there.
This building looks old and worn out, it appears deserted and abandoned by the local residents. When looking at this building, a strong horror atmosphere is felt and it makes anyone shudder.
At first glance, the building looks like a big house with a rotten roof and large, shattered windows. There are wild plants crawling around the building, creating an even more eerie atmosphere. The entrance to the building looks tightly closed and seems difficult to open.
Upon entering the building, the creepy atmosphere becomes even more apparent. There are old objects lying on the floor and the walls have peeled off a lot of paint. Dim sunlight enters through the window cracks, creating mysterious shadows in every corner of the room.
Inside the building, there is a room that feels haunted and makes one's hair stand on end. In that room, there are notes and documents that indicate that the building was once used for unusual activities, such as black magic ceremonies and the like. There are also various mystical artifacts that add to the chilling impression of the building.
The horror atmosphere in the building became even more palpable as strange sounds were heard coming from different rooms. These sounds could be from creatures that lived in the building or perhaps just the wind blowing through the cracks in the walls.
However, Kamishiro only found out later that the building had a terrifying rumor attached to it. Supposedly, it was inhabited by a demon that preyed on humans who were in its vicinity. Not only humans, but the demon would even prey on other demons within its territory. That was why the building was abandoned and left empty.
Nevertheless, Kamishiro was not afraid and decided to stay in the building. He even tried to find out the truth behind the rumor. However, as night fell, Kamishiro felt an unusual presence around him. He felt that something was lurking and watching him from the darkness.
"Strange, even though I haven't eaten all day, I don't feel hungry," murmured Kamishiro.
As the night grew later, Kamishiro became increasingly uncomfortable in the old abandoned building. The air grew colder and the atmosphere became even darker.
"I can't possibly sleep tonight," Kamishiro thought to himself. "I have to remain alert in case anything strange happens around here."
The atmosphere in the old, uninhabited building became increasingly frightening and sent shivers down one's spine. Darkness enveloped the surroundings, with only a few stars in the sky providing illumination. The wind blew fiercely, rustling the leaves and branches of the trees around the building.
Inside the building, the atmosphere was even more eerie and dark. Only a faint blue moonlight entered through the broken windows. Mysterious shadows could be seen in every corner, as if creatures were hiding there.
Strange sounds could be heard at night, possibly coming from the creatures living inside the building or perhaps from the haunting wind. These sounds only added to the frightening atmosphere.
In one of the rooms, a window was slightly open. The blue moonlight that entered through the window cast even more mysterious shadows. Footsteps could be heard approaching, causing anyone who heard them to shudder. Sometimes, whispers could be heard, even though no one was visible.
Suddenly, Kamishiro sensed a foul smell in the air. He tried to hold his breath, but the smell grew stronger. Suddenly, a hand emerged from the wall behind Kamishiro and startled him. Kamishiro quickly took out the ring he always carried and pointed it at the hand.
That's when Kamishiro saw a terrifying head on the ceiling directly above him. The demon spoke words that made Kamishiro shiver, "This smell... there is no mistake. It's... Pure Blood!" The demon's eyes glared sharply at Kamishiro, and drool dripped from the ceiling.
Kamishiro's body shivered with fear, but he still tried to maintain his courage. He held his breath and quickly aimed the ring at the ceiling.
"Die!"
Suddenly, the demon turned into ashes and disappeared in an instant. Kamishiro felt relieved but still worried about the demon's presence in the building.
"It seems like you're the reason why people avoid this building," muttered Kamishiro as he pondered the incident. He felt more and more convinced that there was something wrong with the building and that he needed to stay alert. Kamishiro took a safe position and tried to sleep for a few hours to gather energy for his journey the next day.
Kamishiro lay down on a bed in one of the rooms of the abandoned old building. He fell into a deep sleep but was suddenly awakened by strange sounds. The sounds made him feel uneasy and unable to fall back asleep.
Kamishiro looked around the room and felt like something strange was happening. Suddenly, he felt an unseen force pulling him into a vision. He was trapped inside a vision that showed a tragedy that had occurred in the old building in the past.
"What... is this?"
Kamishiro saw images from the past, like a group of people celebrating a party in the living room, and then something shocking happened. There were screams and chaos that made Kamishiro shiver. He felt trapped inside the vision and couldn't get out.
When his vision reached its peak, Kamishiro saw a mysterious figure walking along the corridor of the old building. The figure looked like a wandering ghost, with a pale face and empty eyes. Kamishiro was extremely frightened to see the figure.
Kamishiro woke up from his vision and felt himself sweating cold. He thought for a moment, and then talked to himself, "What just happened? How could I see the past like that?" Kamishiro was scared, but at the same time, he felt compelled to explore the old building and uncover the truth behind the tragedy that happened in the past. He decided to investigate the old building, even if it meant facing the darkness and scary mysteries.
After experiencing a terrifying and mysterious vision of the past, Kamishiro became obsessed with uncovering the truth behind the tragedy. He felt that something was hidden and wanted to find the answers on his own.
Becoming more and more curious about the past tragedy in the old building, Kamishiro decided to conduct his own investigation. He began exploring every room in the old building, searching for clues that might help him uncover the truth.
After some time researching around the old building, he discovered several old books left behind in one of the rooms. From these books, Kamishiro learned that the old building had been used as a storage place for secret documents of the kingdom.
He began to search and collect evidence on his own, such as letters and diaries left behind by previous inhabitants.
On his journey, Kamishiro discovered a secret tunnel on the top floor of the old building. He was curious and decided to explore the tunnel. After overcoming various obstacles, Kamishiro found a secret room inside the tunnel.
"Bingo!"