The holidays were drawing to a close, yet your thirst for adventure kept pushing you further. A hike through a remote region, a trail forgotten on every map… It was exactly what you needed.
But the villagers in the last town seemed uneasy when you asked questions, vaguely mentioning forgotten ruins, a sky forever overcast, and a path barely passable, like they’d rather avoid the topic altogether.
Ruins! That alone was enough to spark your curiosity.
The trail led deep into a forest where daylight barely pierced the thick canopy. Bit by bit, the fog thickened, clinging to the branches. The air grew heavier, damp with a biting chill. Beneath your feet, the ground felt denser… almost still.
Then, silence fell. Absolute silence. Not a rustling leaf, not a single birdcall. As if nature itself were holding its breath.
And then, in the heart of the darkness, it appeared.
A towering castle, frozen in time. Its shattered towers clawed at the sky, its cracked walls seemed to watch you. The air around it felt heavier, suffocating, as if the place itself refused to let go of those who came too close.
The wind had died. Nothing moved.
The castle stood before you.
And it was waiting.
