"The most recent owner of Silver Veil Castle, from thirty years ago, had come into possession of a cursed antique, the specifics of which we're not clear on. This visit is specifically to investigate and perhaps uncover the hidden cursed antique," Tarry Mercury added.
Galon nodded in understanding. He had a hunch that the so-called cursed antique was likely the Copper Cross Medal he carried with him. Although the medal now offered him only a negligible amount of potential, a slight increase once a week was still better than none. His curiosity piqued about why potential antiques could enhance abilities and why some were dubbed cursed. Thus, he agreed to Tarry Mercury's invitation to visit Silver Veil Castle together.
The carriage rode from noon until the afternoon, stopping atop a yellow-green slope as the orange sun dipped halfway below the horizon. They disembarked and stood atop the slope, looking forward.
In the distance, amidst a stretch of dark green woods, stood a gray-white, dilapidated castle on a higher slope. The castle bore the scars of a fire, with no signs of greenery. Its exterior, the surrounding railings, and nearby trees were all a shade of soot-black, as if recently ravaged by flames.
"This is Silver Veil Castle. It suffered a fire thirty years ago and has been left in this state due to the subsequent owner's lack of funds for repairs. It's a shame; it used to be known as a famous garden castle, named for its dreamy beauty, as if veiled in silver," Tarry Mercury lamented.
Grace expressed her confusion, "That doesn't seem right, Mr. Mercury. How could the castle still be in this soot-black state thirty years after the fire? It's as if no greenery has grown back at all."
Miss Silan chimed in, "No one knows for sure. Some speculate the ash covered the growth of surrounding plants. Others guess the land itself is barren. There are even more bizarre rumors, but none are credible."
"Has anyone inquired with the locals?" Grace asked, frowning.
"There's no one living within thirty miles of the castle. The terrain around here is too rugged for farming, so the nearest farmsteads and villages are quite a distance away," Mercury explained, touching his faux beard thoughtfully.
"So, are we expected to stay here overnight? We have provisions, right?"
Mercury nodded, "No worries. Silan and I have been staying here for days. Aside from the inconvenience of communicating with the outside world, the environment here is quite pleasant and suitable for recuperation. Let's continue on; it looks closer from here but it's actually a good half-hour walk to the castle."
"What about the carriage?"
"We'll leave it here; someone will come to take it back. I've arranged everything. We arrived by carriage, but leaving will have to be on foot. It's nearly a four-hour brisk walk from here to the nearest town, Cornu," Mercury explained. "So, we should prepare to stay a few days."
"That sounds quite like a vacation. Grace, please inform the city on my behalf," Galon whispered, "just say I'm visiting a friend's house so my family won't worry. I'll return in a few days."
Understanding his intention to keep his whereabouts discreet, Grace agreed to convey the message, given Galon's status as a high school student. His prolonged absence would indeed cause concern.
"Then I might as well drive back, returning the carriage to town as well."
"Sounds good," Mercury agreed.
As they watched Grace drive away until she disappeared around the bend, they turned back to their journey.
"Let's move; it's getting late. The sooner we arrive, the better we can rest," Mercury suggested, carrying a long black bag, "I brought a hunting rifle. We can hunt some game for a barbecue later!"
"That sounds excellent! You've thought of everything," Galon smiled.
"Silan laughed, lifting the small red bag in her hand: 'I also brought some spices, tea, and coffee beans. There's a small river nearby where we can fetch water for brewing tea and coffee.'"
"Improperly ground coffee is no good."
"I have a secret weapon! Hehe..." Silan smiled mysteriously, "Mr. Kelly probably doesn't go out for picnics often, right? Unlike us, sometimes when chasing criminals deep into the mountains, we have to learn all these preparatory tasks."
"That's true." Galon shrugged, "I only brought some emergency tools and a set of casual clothes for changing. I did bring some spices, but I wasn't as thorough as both of you."
"Alright, let's go. It's better to get to the castle and settle in our rooms early. We'll have to use the oil lamps we brought previously once we're there," Tarry Mercury said, looking at the sun that had completely set, in a low voice, "Otherwise, it will be inconvenient if it gets too late."
"Indeed."
The three of them quickly made their way up the slope toward the Silver Veil Castle.
Entering the castle's iron gates, the ground was a strange color mixed with black, grey, and white powder, as if it was paved with ashes from a massive fire.
On both sides, there were triangular pyramid torches made of black metal, topped with a fire bowl of unknown metal. The torches connected to the black fences, dividing the castle from the outside forest, like two different worlds.
Outside was a dense dark green thicket, while inside the fence was a scene of post-fire devastation, with the castle's lawn showing a pale yellow hue, and several nearly dead black trees giving off a lifeless and silent vibe.
Carrying their belongings, the three walked through the gate, along the straight path paved with black and grey, all the way to the castle's main door.
The main door was a round arched wood-covered iron, dark and forbidding, with a slightly white circle in the center enclosing a large keyhole.
Tarry Mercury took out a brass key, twisted it several times with effort, then pushed the door hard.
With a whoosh, the door opened inward, revealing an empty and echoing hall.
Galon followed Silan into the hall, looking around. The entire hall was bare, without furniture, decoration, carpet, or even the wall lamp bases, which had been stripped and sold. Everything was in shades of grey and black.
Directly opposite the main door, a skylight cast a sliver of reddish sunlight onto the black floor, emphasizing the hall's emptiness and silence.
"Let's choose your bedroom first," Tarry Mercury closed the door, reattaching the key to his waist, "Pick a room to rest. Then, we'll have to prepare dinner ourselves."
"Making a campfire meal inside the castle, that's novel. Hehe."
Led by Silan, Galon chose a room on the right side of the castle as his bedroom, tidied up the iron bed, and laid out the spare bedding.
After a hasty dinner, as night completely fell, the castle lacked enough kerosene for prolonged illumination, so the three agreed to rest early and explore the castle thoroughly the next day.
Entering his room, Galon sat on the bed to rest.
The room was eerily quiet, with a rectangular floor-to-ceiling window on the side, resembling a door. The floor was paved with pale red hexagonal stone tiles, tightly fitted into a smooth surface. Apart from a large bed, the room had nothing else, not even a mosquito net around the iron frame.
Galon, careful not to disturb the potentially rusted iron frame, sat on the bed without moving too much. Just a slight motion might cause rust to flake off from above.
The kerosene lamp by the bed, placed on a makeshift stool, emitted a faint yellow flicker.
Wearing only his underclothes, Galon approached the window and looked down. Darkness enveloped the outside.
The night's dark lawn was deserted, and looking towards the distant mountains revealed no sign of life. The entire castle was silent, with Tarry Mercury and Silan having retired to their rooms early.
It seemed as if his room was the only place in the castle with light and life.
Galon opened the window, letting in the cool outside air, with the distant hoots of an owl barely audible. The dim moonlight barely illuminated the outside scene.
"Better sleep early and see what clues Tarry Mercury has found here tomorrow. This guy might have already noticed I'm in disguise. Not to mention his observation skills, which are extraordinary." After practicing some punches in the room, Galon slowly relaxed, closed most of the window, and lay down to rest.
Sometime later.
Galon turned over, half-asleep, when suddenly the room door creaked open as if someone had quietly pushed it from the outside.
Startled, he sat up and looked towards the door, which was ajar, showing nothing outside and no movement.
He got up, quietly closed the door, and muttered, "Maybe the wind blew it open."
Back in bed, he drifted off again, only to be awakened by another light sound.
Creak...
The door opened again.
Galon sat up abruptly, grabbing the bedside lamp, staring intently at the half-open door.
Still, nothing was visible.
"Who's playing tricks on me?" he raised his voice, "Tarry?"
His voice echoed down the empty hallway.
No response. Silence.
Galon got out of bed, put on slippers, cautiously held the lamp to the door, gently closed it, then locked it, fastened the chain, and slid the bolt into place.
Click.
With the final bolt secured, the door was completely locked.
Galon sighed, turned, and went back to bed. He didn't sleep, just sat up, alert to any sounds around him.
Suddenly, a rustling noise of someone tampering with the lock came from outside.
Galon jumped up, flung the door open, and the noise abruptly stopped.
The hallway was empty, nothing in sight.
Then he paused.
"Didn't I lock the door?" He looked back at the bolts, shocked.
"I clearly locked it, even put several bolts on!" He vividly remembered pulling the door, and it just opened!
"What's going on!!?" "What's going on!!?"
He slammed the door shut, his scalp tingling as he staggered back, hitting the bed and sitting down hard.
"If I find out who's playing tricks on me! You're dead!!" he yelled loudly.