What is it that you fear?

"The consequences of answering the riddle incorrectly involved making a human sacrifice every ten days. Our leader somehow became aware of the situation and realized it was me, so she decided to..."

"...depart," Herbert concluded.

Adrian couldn't suppress his curiosity. "She just left, just like that?"

Herbert let out a dry laugh, indicating that he, too, found her departure surprising. "I was just as baffled by her actions, but it's the truth. You'll have to trust me on this. The rest of the story is sadly predictable. I was forced to slowly eliminate all of them, even though they were aware of my involvement."

Adrian couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, and he wanted to confront Herbert about it. However, he refrained from asking further questions, knowing that Herbert had already lied to him.

As thoughts swirled in Adrian's mind, he maintained a stoic expression. Herbert, interpreting this as a sign that Adrian was becoming less skeptical, offered to continue.

"It's an incredibly powerful relic, I must admit. To gain control of this mansion, you'll be presented with a riddle that you must solve," Herbert explained, his reluctance to let Adrian go becoming increasingly apparent.

Adrian, trying not to reveal too much trust in Herbert, questioned, "How can it be that easy?"

Herbert didn't offer a detailed response, and instead, a white paper materialized in front of him.

Upon seeing the page, Adrian understood that he had little choice in the matter. He knew he was going to have to go through with it, even if he didn't agree.

Herbert handed the paper to Adrian, saying, "Just read it for yourself. You won't have much time to answer the riddle, as there are constraints with such challenges." His voice had lost its previous shakiness and vulnerability, sounding more composed and resolute this time.

. 

As Adrian held the paper in his hand, thoughts raced through his mind. "So, he needs more sacrifices? What have these sacrifices been up until now?" he pondered.

Despite being held by this old man and his claim that the relic was a 6-core equivalent, Adrian decided against attempting anything rash. He placed his trust in the Mother Gaze, which had remained composed and watchful from the beginning.

With a steady hand, Adrian opened the page and read the contents, keeping his expression unchanged.

"In nightmares' depths, I twist and coil,

A riddle of despair, a cryptic foil.

Beyond the veil, where shadows breed,

The answer's price is dire, indeed.

Answer me right, and treasures gleam,

A fortune vast, a waking dream.

But should you falter, lose your way,

A fate far darker, in my sway.

With venom'd tongues, I'll haunt your nights,

In endless dread, through endless frights.

So answer true, for hope remains,

To break my curse, and break my chains."

As Adrian read the riddle and noticed Herbert's trembling hands, he couldn't help but give a faint smile. The expression on Herbert's face seemed a mixture of anticipation and something else that Adrian couldn't quite decipher.

Just when Herbert assumed Adrian was about to provide an answer to the riddle, Adrian abruptly dropped the paper and seized Herbert by the neck, lifting him from the ground.

"You might not be aware of what I've been through, but let me share a secret with you," Adrian whispered into Herbert's ear, bringing his mouth closer to the older man's ear.

"You see, the riddle is indeed interesting, and I'll answer it shortly," Adrian began, his voice sending shivers down Herbert's spine. "But somehow, there's no mention of simply killing you and then answering it afterward."

Herbert couldn't help but tremble at Adrian's chilling words. This situation was not unfolding as he had expected, and it certainly wasn't how it had gone with him and his leader. The question lingered in his mind – why hadn't he confronted her the way Adrian was confronting him now?

"Wait, you can't kill me, or the mansion will harm the small girl you brought with you,"

Herbert hurriedly interjected. As he spoke, he observed a flicker of genuine worry and concern on Adrian's face, which gave him a glimmer of hope that Adrian might spare him. However, in the next moment, his world went dark, and there was nothing more.

Adrian allowed Herbert's lifeless body to fall to the ground after twisting his neck, choosing not to answer the riddle. As he did so, his aura began to expand, enveloping his body. When his aura finally receded, Adrian wore a satisfied expression.

"That tower significantly increased my aura," Adrian mused. "It's as potent as it was back when I used the needle, but now I can harness it without relying on it."

Adrian retrieved the riddle from the floor and made his way toward the door. As he attempted to open it, he realized it was firmly stuck.

"You really want me to answer? Trust me, you won't be pleased when you learn what I truly fear. Plus, I'm a bit shy," Adrian commented before delivering a powerful kick to the door.

A thunderous explosion reverberated through the mansion, its shockwaves slicing through the tranquil atmosphere that had enveloped Emilie as she delved into the pages of her book. The sudden and deafening bang shook her to her core, prompting a surge of questions that gnawed at the edges of her consciousness.

Emilie, her heart racing, felt compelled to abandon her book, the words fading into insignificance. She couldn't ignore the clamor that had pierced the serene veil of the mansion. With a mixture of reluctance and growing concern, she placed her book aside and rose from her comfortable perch, determined to trace the source of this explosive disturbance that had disrupted the mansion's unusual calm.

As she moved in the direction of the noise, each step felt laden with anticipation, as if the mansion itself held its breath, waiting for her to uncover the mysteries that dwelled within its enigmatic depths.

As Emilie left the library and stood in the corridor, she heard another, even more powerful bang, followed by the sound of footsteps approaching. Her curiosity grew as she tried to pinpoint the source of the noise.

"Man, this ruined my such pretty clothes that I painstakingly found in the desert," Adrian's voice grumbled. Emilie recognized the familiar mumbling, and a sigh of relief escaped her lips. She had grown accustomed to Adrian's quirks and knew that, despite the commotion, he was likely safe.