Even in a place as bustling as the town of Garreg Mach, there can be found little secrets tucked away in forgotten alleys and abandoned streets. Among such secrets is a two-storey manor not far from the central square, average in all ways except for the fact that it’s stood empty for who-knows-how-long. Lacy drapes still frame the dusty, vacant eyes of windows, and the stone pots sitting along the porch hold the dried, dead remnants of what had once been flowers, suggesting that the house has never been fully relinquished to another owner. Although it’s gone unnoticed for quite some time now, rumors about hauntings and paranormal activity in this house have begun to circulate among the students of the Officers Academy. It’s said that this house - colloquially called the Lily Bolden House, after its last owner - contains the vengeful spirits of the Bolden family murdered by one of their own, and that they kill all those who dare set foot inside. So, naturally, as confident as you are in your own abilities to escape certain death, you’d want to see this for yourself, right? [Grants Authority +1]
The building looms over him, casting a shadow in the dying light. Julius has decided since arriving here that he would not come from the underground for anything less than dusk, and certainly would not go exploring in broad daylight. No matter how tempting, some things are meant for the darkness.
Whispers of this place had reached even the depths of the abyss, so its infamy piqued Julius' interest. He's not sure if he puts any faith in the ghosts that they proclaim haunt this home. He's not afraid either way, even with his powers greatly weakened after his resurrection. Any foe that he finds here cannot be as challenging as Seliph once was.
He enters the house. The door creaks, and he slips inside. He pulls up the hood of his robe and narrows his eyes in the dimly lit home.
Soon, it will be full-dark, and he will not have to worry about being seen from the outside as anything other than a ghost.
The floorboards creak with his weight as he approaches the stairs. They wind up, obscuring what is above him so he cannot see the landing of the second floor. That does not mean, however, that he cannot see the shadows that are cast on the wall across from him.
It's the shape of someone else. Someone human. So, he's not alone here. It's a slight disappointment, of course, but he did consider the possibility of there being others present. Either because they have made this their home, or because they are exploring as well -- it does not matter. He draws his tome out -- the only one that he's found he can wield here -- and approaches the stairs with a confident step. He has no fear in his heart.
@nagaficat && @virtuoustyrfing