Chương 2: Chapter 2: Whispers of the Forgotten Mansion
The forest enveloped Reiji as he pushed deeper into its heart, the towering trees blocking out much of the night sky. The further he went, the more disconnected he felt from the world he had left behind in Nishi-Tokyo. Here, among the twisted roots and creeping vines, there was a silence that pressed down on him, as if the forest itself was holding its breath.
He didn't know exactly what he was looking for, but something in the air felt familiar. There was a pull, a strange sensation that tugged at his very core, guiding his steps even though he had no map, no sense of direction. Every step forward seemed both instinctive and alien, as if a deeper part of him had walked this path before.
As Reiji walked, his thoughts drifted back to the fragmented memories of his childhood. The image of the grand mansion, the one place he could still recall vividly, lingered at the edges of his mind. He had been young, too young to fully understand the significance of the place. Yet, it had always been there, like a half-remembered dream that refused to fade.
Why had his parents brought him there? What had happened in that mansion all those years ago? No matter how hard he tried, the answers remained just out of reach.
The path beneath his feet gradually shifted from dirt to cobblestone, worn down by time but still visible beneath the overgrowth. Reiji's pulse quickened. He was getting closer. He could feel it.
A faint mist began to rise around him, swirling lazily through the trees, and the air grew colder. The once-distant sound of wind rustling through the leaves now seemed muffled, as if the forest itself had grown still in anticipation of something. Reiji paused, looking ahead into the thickening fog. For a moment, doubt crept in—was he making the right choice, chasing after something so vague and elusive?
But the pull was undeniable. He pressed on, his footsteps lighter now as the mist swirled more densely around him. The cold seemed to seep into his bones, but he ignored it. He had come too far to turn back now.
Then, through the veil of mist, the shape of something massive began to materialize. Reiji slowed, squinting through the haze as the fog gradually parted to reveal towering iron gates. They stood before him, half-rusted and crooked, their once-grand arches now consumed by creeping vines and moss. The gates were ajar, as if waiting for him to pass through.
Reiji hesitated, his breath catching in his throat. This was it—the mansion. The place that had haunted his dreams for as long as he could remember. It looked different now, worn down by years of neglect, but there was no mistaking it.
With a deep breath, he stepped forward and pushed the gate open, the iron creaking in protest as he slipped through. Beyond the gates lay the overgrown remains of what had once been a sprawling garden. The cobblestone path wound its way toward the mansion's entrance, now barely visible beneath a layer of wild ivy and weeds.
Reiji followed the path, his steps tentative as he approached the mansion's façade. The building loomed above him, its walls cracked and crumbling, the windows dark and broken. Once, it had likely been a sight to behold, but now it stood as a shadow of its former glory—a monument to something long forgotten.
The closer Reiji got, the more his heart raced. There was something about this place, something that made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. He couldn't explain it, but the mansion felt… alive. As if it had been waiting for him all these years, biding its time for the moment he would return.
He reached the grand, rotting double doors and paused. His hand hovered over the handle, his mind racing with questions. What was he about to find inside? Was this mansion truly connected to his past, or was he chasing a phantom?
But there was no turning back now.
With a slight push, the heavy doors creaked open, revealing the interior of the mansion. A cold gust of air greeted him, sending a shiver down his spine. The entry hall was massive, though much of it was in disrepair. Dust and debris littered the floor, and the once-grand staircase at the far end sagged with age.
The ceiling stretched high above, its once-ornate chandelier now hanging precariously by a single chain, its crystals long shattered on the floor below. Tattered curtains flanked the broken windows, allowing beams of moonlight to stream through and cast eerie shadows across the room.
But despite the decay, there was an undeniable beauty to the place. It was a kind of eerie, forgotten elegance that seemed to whisper of stories long past. The mansion had clearly been abandoned for years, but it still held a strange allure, as if it had been frozen in time, waiting for something—or someone.
Reiji took a cautious step inside, his eyes scanning the room. His footsteps echoed in the silence, disturbing the stillness that had settled like a blanket over the mansion. The air smelled of dust and damp wood, the scent of a place long untouched by human presence.
As he moved deeper into the hall, Reiji couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. It was a sensation that crawled up his spine, making his skin prickle. But every time he turned to look, there was nothing. Only the empty, decaying mansion staring back at him.
His eyes were drawn to a hallway that led off to the right. Something about it called to him, and before he realized it, his feet were already carrying him toward it. The hall was narrow and lined with faded portraits, their frames askew and the faces of the people they depicted barely visible beneath layers of grime.
At the end of the hall, a door stood slightly ajar, a faint light flickering from within. Reiji swallowed hard, his pulse quickening. He had no idea what was on the other side, but he couldn't stop himself from moving toward it. Something was pulling him, drawing him closer.
When he reached the door, he hesitated for only a moment before pushing it open. The room beyond was circular, its walls lined with towering bookshelves, though most of the books had long since fallen apart or been destroyed by the elements. But it wasn't the books that caught his attention—it was the pedestal in the center of the room.
SUY NGHĨ CỦA NGƯỜI SÁNG TẠO 
Arsark
Arsark Welcome back! In this chapter, we start to delve into the mysteries of the Vongola Rings, a crucial element in Reiji’s journey. This chapter is where the story begins to unveil some of the deeper secrets and sets the stage for what’s to come. Reiji’s discovery of the abandoned mansion and the enigmatic rings marks the beginning of his transformation and the unfolding of his destiny. I’m excited to explore how Reiji’s encounter with the rings will shape his path moving forward. As always, thanks for your support and patience as I continue to develop the story!
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