The sky shifted between shades of gray and yellow, covered with scattered clouds. Though not thick, the clouds were numerous enough to patch across the sky. Two suns were visible: one hung higher, casting a pale light; the other was lower, shining far more brightly.
Jiho sat at the counter, going through the papers one by one. He had nearly completed distributing supplies to all the villagers. The whole process had taken about five hours. After checking the last paper, he placed it neatly on top of the others. Then he took a deep breath.
"All supplies have been distributed. Everyone's information has been recorded, and fingerprints taken. Now I should deliver these to the young master," he muttered to himself.
He stood up, brushed the dust off his clothes, and started walking toward the castle at a slow pace. As he walked, he looked up at the sky. The clouds looked beautiful from down here.
Jiho kept walking. When he reached the castle path, he passed under the stone arch of the outer gate. His footsteps echoed against the stone floor. On his right, he noticed two people working on the ground. He slowed down briefly but didn't stop.
Bent over, placing stones carefully, were Haldvir—appointed by Ravien—and Ravien's first creation: XZ.
XZ resembled a human, but only in shape. Its body was long and unnaturally proportioned, more irregular than simply slim. Its skin seemed to be covered in a pale, flexible plastic rather than anything organic. It had no face—no eyes, no mouth, no nose.
It wore a dark servant's uniform, dressed by Ravien. The jacket sat neatly, and the pants almost reached down to its ankles.
At first, Haldvir hadn't been comfortable around the creature. Not being able to understand what it was thinking, and its constant silence without even a mouth, had unsettled him. But over time, he got used to it. He even started trying to talk to it, though it never replied.
Jiho watched them for a few seconds. XZ didn't turn its head, continuing its work in silence. As Haldvir adjusted a stone that XZ had placed, he noticed Jiho out of the corner of his eye.
"Master Jiho!" he called out.
Jiho slowed his steps and turned around. Haldvir had stood up, still holding a piece of stone in his hand.
"What is it, Haldvir?" Jiho asked, his voice neutral. "I have documents I need to deliver to the young master."
Haldvir hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to begin. Then he lowered his head slightly and took two steps toward Jiho.
"Um... sir, I noticed something while placing the stones," he said, scratching the back of his head with a slight smile, careful not to make eye contact.
Jiho's eyebrows knitted slightly. "What did you notice?"
"We've run out of stone, sir. And we're out of timber too. We've got no more materials left."
Jiho tilted his head slightly and paused for a second or two in thought. Then he took a short breath and nodded.
"I'll inform the young master," he said. "If you're done here, start cleaning."
He resumed walking the moment he finished the sentence. The documents were still tucked under his arm. His shoulders were straight, his head held high. One of the suns struck his back, casting his shadow long in front of him.
Haldvir gave a brief nod in understanding. He turned back and bent down again. XZ picked up another stone and silently placed it. The surroundings were quiet, with only the soft sound of stones clinking together.
After entering the castle, Jiho turned into the right corridor. The interlocking stone walls were silent; their surfaces had darkened over time, moss-covered and still damp. At the end of the corridor, the stairs to the old dungeon began.
Jiho paused, inhaling the stale air for a few seconds. Then, with heavy steps, he placed his foot on the first stair and began to descend.
With each step, the sound of the stone beneath his feet echoed deeper. Some of the stairs were worn down in the middle.
He slowed his pace. Darkness hadn't fully settled yet, but the light was fading quickly...
The stairwell was dimly lit by a weak yellow light from a gas lamp hung on the wall. The lamp's glass was coated with soot, and the light it gave off flickered weakly.
As he went lower, the smell in the air began to change. At first, there was only the scent of dust. Then came a sharp odor of flesh. It was stale and damp, having lost any hint of freshness. There was a metallic undertone to it.
Jiho descended two more steps. His nose wrinkled slightly, and then he raised a hand to cover it.
"What is this disgusting smell...?"
The area lit by the gas lamp was behind him now. The rest of the stairs were in darkness. Another lamp hung from the wall ahead, but it wasn't lit. Jiho continued down carefully, placing his feet with precision. His shoulders were back, spine straight. His breathing remained steady.
That's when the first sound came.
Thin, intermittent clicking sounds.
Tik... tik... tik...
Like something dry tapping against the stone floor.
Not from a single point, but from several directions.
It felt like the sound was coming from something moving within the stone walls.
Jiho stopped. He tilted his head slightly, listening closely.
"Are those sounds coming from inside the walls... or from further below?"
He stood still for a moment. There was no fear on his face, but his gaze had sharpened.
Then, without a word, he looked forward again and resumed walking.
The clicking continued. But now, another sound joined it: a low, deep hum.
It sounded like breathing, but it wasn't regular.
Not like someone's inhale and exhale—more like air being drawn through something.
Frrrhhhhhh...
It wasn't close. It came from deeper down.
It was constant. Unbroken.
Clik—clak.
Jiho's steps remained steady. Slow, but unhesitating. His eyes were adjusting to the dim light. His fingers were slightly tense, but his hands stayed calm. He hadn't loosened the grip on the documents under his arm.
The smell was heavier now.
Mold, rust, and dampness.
And something else—something worse. A sickening, indescribable density.
The stairs ended.
The floor was entirely stone. A lamp hung from the ceiling on a chain, barely lit. Its light was unstable. The walls were streaked with moisture; muffled footsteps echoed along the floor.
At the end of the corridor, a door stood.
The last door of the dungeon.
It was thick iron. Its surface was rusted, like it would stick to your hand if you touched it. A dark fluid had spread from its bottom across the stone floor. Thin, but dense.
There was something behind it. Moving.
The clicking returned. Closer now. Faster.
Like something bare and bony tapping the stone.
There was a faint wet sound beneath each step.
Then came a growl.
Low, irregular, and unsettling.
Followed by a short, strained swallow from the throat:
Glkk—
Jiho's brows furrowed slightly. His nostrils flared.
The stench was unbearable now.
Not just rust or dust—something hadn't been washed in a long time.
Sweat, feces, and rotting flesh mingled in a thick, warm stench that filled his lungs.
When he inhaled, it stuck to his throat. He felt the urge to gag, but swallowed it down.
The sounds from inside grew louder.
Short, irregular breaths. Each one deeper than the last.
Something in there was struggling to stay alive.
Jiho stopped. His eyes narrowed. He slowly lowered his left hand to his side.
His finger twitched—but he didn't pull back.
He was ready. If something happened, he'd act fast.
Step by step, he moved closer.
With every step, the sounds from inside became clearer.
Fsshhh... khrrhh...
Muffled breathing.
Sometimes shallow, sometimes deep.
Erratic.
Each breath released a wet, muffled hum from within.
The air felt tainted—every breath clung to his throat like mold.
Jiho didn't stop.
He reached the door.
Paused. Held his breath.
His gaze shifted to the gaps along the door's edge. No light leaked from within.
Then he reached out.
His fingers slowly, silently grasped the rusted iron handle.
And there—
He waited.