The darkness swallowed the entire Vermillion castle, leaving only faint flickers of light from a lone candle flickering in the night breeze. I snuck away in silence, each step feeling as heavy as the weight on my chest. This was my only chance. Failure was not an option.
The back gate had long been unused, now appearing before me like a door leading to freedom. No guards, no light—everything seemed to be conspiring with me. My hand trembled as it touched the thick wooden door, and the sound of it opening was like the sigh of time itself.
I escaped outside, standing before the path leading into the forest. The cold of the night enveloped me, but that wasn't what made my heart race. In front of me, the forest loomed, dark and dense, like a beast with a thousand eyes watching. The thick canopy blocked the moonlight, leaving only faint streaks of light on the ground. I took a deep breath and stepped into the darkness.
The wind whistled through the trees, creating a sound like the forest's breathing. I could feel the cold earth beneath my feet, my heart beating in rhythm with the darkness. But that silence didn't last long. Suddenly, a scream ripped through the night. The sound was bone-chilling, terrifying—not like any animal or human, but cold and deadly, as if it came from another world.
My heart stopped for a moment. The darkness around me seemed to thicken, heavy, pressing down on every breath. I stepped back, my eyes fixed on the shadows ahead.
And then, from within the dark trees, a pair of fiery red eyes appeared. They glowed like fire, piercing through me, cold and threatening. A creature emerged from the shadows—a giant fox, its fur black as coal, and its eyes reflecting the mystery of the night. It stood there, silent, staring at me.
My body froze, unable to move. My heartbeat thundered in my chest. The beast howled, a horrifying scream that shook the entire space. But it didn't charge at me, didn't attack. It simply stood still for a moment, then suddenly turned and disappeared into the darkness, as silently as the wind.
I stood there, cold sweat running down my face, my heart still racing. Why didn't it attack? And why did it appear here? These questions swirled in my head, but I didn't have time to answer them. I had to keep moving. This forest did not allow hesitation.
After escaping the treacherous forest, I knew the slum ahead wouldn't be any better. Pausing by a small stream, I washed my face and began to change my appearance. My silver-white hair, the distinctive mark of the Vermillion family, was covered with mud, turning into a messy black mane. My luxurious cloak was replaced by a tattered piece of cloth, and my fine leather shoes were now worn-out rags, transforming me into a wretched soul like the people here. From now on, I would no longer be Lancelot Vermillion, but a nameless wanderer.
As I entered the slum, I quickly realized the harshness of this place. The makeshift houses, crooked and decayed, were built from scrap wood and stone, crammed together in the shadows. The stench of garbage and dead animals filled the air, mixed with the smell of sweat and disease. The muddy, cracked road stretched through narrow, dark alleys, barely wide enough for one person to pass.
The people lived in extreme poverty. Their eyes were hollow, filled with despair, as if they had long given up hope. Some sat huddled in corners, heads bowed from hunger; others wandered aimlessly, muttering nonsense. But no one spoke loudly, and no one stepped out of their own shadow. Everyone here was crushed by an invisible force—the very thing I was searching for.
I stopped in front of an old, one-armed man, leaning against a stone wall. He held a half-broken bottle of wine, his cloudy eyes staring into the distance. The air around him reeked of alcohol and gloom.
I approached him and quietly asked, "Do you know anything about the witch Gin?"
The old man didn't turn around, remaining silent for a long time before replying in a hoarse voice, "The witch Gin... Are you looking for death?" His voice was dry, bitter, as though he had endured too much pain. "She's the darkness of this place, a demon disguised as a human. She doesn't just take lives; she takes the souls of fools who seek her out."
I remained determined. "I must meet her, even if I have to face the devil."
The old man lifted his head, a wild glint flashing in his eyes. "If that's what you want, go to the harbor. There are people there who know more about her. But remember, don't expect to return whole."
I nodded, thanked the old man, and left, my eyes scanning the desolate scene of the slum. His words echoed in my mind, but I knew this was only the first step in uncovering the truth about the witch Gin and the curse of the Vermillion family.
When I reached the harbor, the sound of waves crashing against the shore filled the air. The salty scent of the sea spread through the atmosphere, making me feel slightly more alert amidst the growing worries in my heart. The dim light of the setting sun was fading, making way for the night to envelop everything.
Suddenly, amidst the people coming and going, my eyes caught a sight that I couldn't look away from. A girl stood alone by the sea, her golden hair flowing like the last rays of sunlight, cascading down her shoulders. The strands of her hair swayed gently in the wind like blooming cherry blossoms, reflecting the golden-orange glow of the sunset. Her face was delicate, her skin as white as jade, with deep blue eyes like the vast sea, filled with an enigma I couldn't fathom. Her crimson lips curved into a smile, creating a beauty both gentle and fierce.
She stood there, her gaze distant as if looking toward some horizon, unaware of my presence. I hesitated for a moment, her alluring beauty making me momentarily forget why I had come. But as I regained focus, I remembered my purpose: to seek information about the witch Gin.
As I moved closer, the people around me suddenly turned hostile. They shoved me away, their eyes filled with menace. "Get lost, kid! This isn't a place for someone searching for a witch!" one of them shouted, forcing me to stop.
"Please, don't make this hard for me! I just want to ask about Gin!" I quickly explained, but my words only made them sneer.
"You have no idea what kind of fire you're playing with!" another mocked, and they all turned their backs on me, unwilling to listen any further. Their eyes were filled with disgust and contempt. I suddenly felt like I was being pushed out of this world again, just like when I left my family.
Amidst the cold crowd, I suddenly sensed a different presence. The golden-haired girl was now standing in front of me, her eyes radiant and deep. Even though we were strangers, I felt a strange connection between us.
I furrowed my brows, curiosity stirring in my heart. "Do you know anything about Gin?"
She only smiled, her eyes seemingly wandering off into the distance, as if contemplating something beyond my reach. "Caution is necessary. Darkness can blind you, but you have the ability to see what others cannot."
Before I could ask more, she stepped back, creating a distance between us. The fading light of the sunset reflected on her face, but her presence felt like an illusion. "If you need me, find me in the forest. But remember, not everything you seek is easily attained."
And then, like a breeze, she vanished into the crowd, leaving me standing there, filled with confusion and hope. Her words echoed in my mind, like a reminder of the wonders and dangers waiting ahead. Though the harbor couldn't give me what I sought, maybe it was alright. Yes, perhaps the forest earlier held the answer?
As nightfall covered the harbor, I stood there, feeling as though the space was closing in, swallowing all hope. The faint light from the distant lamps flickered like beckoning souls, but none of them were strong enough to warm my cold heart.
The silence around me rang like the sigh of buried secrets. The darkness didn't just cover everything; it pressed down on me, reminding me of the failures I couldn't erase, of the things I had lost and could never regain.
The whispers of the waves seemed to carry painful memories, tightening my chest. This darkness wasn't an enemy I could defeat; it was a part of me, a part of my very soul, weighing down every step I took forward. I knew I had to keep moving, no matter how heavy the burden of the past. The forest might hold answers, but it also held unimaginable dangers, and I couldn't turn back now. The darkness, the uncertainty—it was all part of the path I had chosen.
With a deep breath, I steeled myself. My feet began to move again, carrying me toward the looming trees in the distance. The witch Gin might be waiting there, or perhaps something far worse. But whatever lay ahead, I was ready to face it. The curse of the Vermillion family, the mysteries surrounding it—nothing would stop me from uncovering the truth.
As I walked away from the harbor and back toward the forest, the shadows closed in around me, whispering secrets I could almost grasp but never fully understand. My heart raced, but it wasn't fear anymore—it was resolve. No matter how dark the road became, I would find the answers I sought.
And so, with the memory of that strange girl fading into the night behind me, I entered the forest once again, ready to face the unknown.