Kazimir's body felt strange, unfamiliar. Every breath, every movement was alien, as though he were inhabiting a form that was no longer his own. His limbs felt both weightless and impossibly heavy, his senses heightened to an almost unbearable degree. He could hear the faint flicker of distant candle flames, the slow, rhythmic creak of the castle settling, even the quiet hum of the very walls around him.

  Selisara stood beside him, her tall, commanding presence steadying him as he struggled to find his balance. Without a word, she placed a firm hand on his shoulder, offering silent support.

  "Now that you are bound to the castle, you will live here," she said at last. "I've already chosen a room for you—next to mine."

  They moved through the grand hall, past towering columns infused with swirling black smoke, past statues and sculptures so lifelike they seemed to breathe. Heavy, velvet curtains concealed the windows, blocking out whatever lay beyond.

  Each step was a battle. Every few moments, Kazimir faltered, his body still adjusting to its transformation. Yet each time he stumbled, Selisara was there—her touch strong yet careful, guiding him with an ease that spoke of centuries of practice.

  "You're doing better than I did when I was first bound to the castle," she mused, her voice calm.

  Kazimir looked up at her, the thought slipping from his lips before he could stop it. "You were bound to this castle too?"

  She hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes. I've been like this for centuries."

  Silence stretched between them as they continued walking, their footsteps muffled by the lavish carpets beneath them. Along the walls, portraits of long-forgotten figures loomed, their painted eyes watching like silent sentinels.

  Kazimir’s mind swirled with questions. "Does that mean you’re immortal? Does that mean I am?"

  Selisara’s gaze drifted upward, her expression unreadable. "In a way, all souls are immortal. They don’t fade when we die. They simply… move on."

  She paused, contemplating her words as they passed beneath the flickering glow of an ornate chandelier. "So, yes. I am immortal. And so are you—though not in the same way."

  Kazimir frowned. "What do you mean?"

  She exhaled softly. "If either of us were to die—if our bodies were reduced to ash—we would be reborn within these walls. The castle would restore us. But there are worse fates than death, Kazimir."

  A shadow passed over her face, her pale grey eyes darkening. "Out there, beyond this world, exist beings beyond our comprehension. Things we were never meant to understand. And though they cannot destroy our souls, they can ensnare them. Trap them. Twist them."

  She looked at him then, the intensity in her gaze cutting through the dim candlelight. "You are bound to this castle by blood. I am bound by soul. That is the difference."

  Kazimir took a moment to process her words. "So… if we ever encountered something that could enslave souls…"

  "Then you would be the one in danger. My soul is already sealed within these walls."

  They finally reached a massive black wooden door adorned with intricate carvings. Selisara placed her hand upon it, and from the point of contact, a silvery-white light began to spread, illuminating the engravings like veins of moonlight.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Kazimir stared, transfixed. Noticing his confusion, Selisara offered him a rare smile. "This is a security feature. Only those bound to the castle can open its doors."

  She pushed the door open for him, revealing a spacious, well-lit chamber. A grand silver chandelier bathed the room in soft light. One entire wall was lined with bookshelves, a massive black wooden desk sitting beneath them. A leather-bound book and quill rested upon it, a silver lamp casting a warm glow over its surface. To the right, a burning fireplace crackled, flanked by two plush couches. A crescent moon crest hung above the mantle—an emblem of the lost royal family of Umbrax. Crossed beneath it were two silver swords: one with a full moon pommel, the other with a half-moon.

  At the back of the room, two more dark wooden doors stood side by side. Between them loomed an ancient clock—not one that measured time, but one that tracked the position of the moon.

  Selisara gently closed the door behind them.

  "Welcome to your new home, my apologies for the mess. I don’t often have visitors. Please, make yourself at home."

  Kazimir took slow, deliberate steps toward one of the couches, his body still adjusting to its newfound state. Sensing his struggle, Selisara moved to help, steadying him until he lowered himself onto the cushions.

  His gaze lingered on the shield above the fireplace. "That’s the royal emblem of Umbrax, isn’t it?"

  Selisara’s expression shifted, her voice quieter. "It was. Once."

  Sensing the discomfort in her tone, Kazimir decided to change the subject. "So… where’s my room?"

  She gestured toward the doors at the back of the chamber. "Here. Mine is to the left. Yours is to the right. I’ll show you."

  Selisara guided Kazimir toward the doors, steadying him with a firm yet careful grip.

  Once again, she pressed her hand against the door, and like before, white light pulsed across its surface, unlocking it with a quiet hum. The door swung open, revealing the interior of her chambers.

  At the back of the room stood a grand canopy bed, its silver-embroidered silk sheets shimmering softly beneath the dim light. To the left, a tall bookshelf loomed over a sturdy wooden desk, its surface neatly arranged with scrolls and ink. But what caught Kazimir’s eye was the figure standing to the right—a statue, nearly identical to Selisara in both form and presence.

  Without a word, she approached it and unfastened one of her armor plates. The statue moved. Its hand extended, taking the piece from her grasp before securing it onto itself with mechanical precision. One by one, she removed the rest of her armor, and each time, the statue received the pieces and donned them in her stead.

  By the time the ritual was complete, Selisara stood before him in nothing but her silver garments, her figure no longer hidden behind the weight of steel. The statue, now clad in full armor, loomed silently in its place.

  Finally, she handed the statue her sword.

  She turned back to Kazimir, her expression as composed as ever. “This is where I will be sleeping,” she said calmly. “If you need anything, just knock.”

  She led him to his door and gestured for him to try. Kazimir pressed his hand against the wood, but nothing happened. He frowned.

  Selisara watched patiently. "You must focus on your connection to the castle. Feel it. Understand it. Become one with it."

  Kazimir closed his eyes, concentrating on the altar, the grand hall, the colossal door at the heart of the castle. Slowly, something stirred within him. A pulse, a thread linking him to the very walls around him.

  A soft glow spread from his fingertips, tracing the engravings on the door. The wood creaked and parted, revealing his quarters.

  The room mirrored Selisara’s in many ways: a grand canopy bed with silver sheets, a wooden desk beside a towering bookshelf. But unlike her room, there was no armor-clad statue standing guard.

  Selisara noticed his gaze and gave a small, almost apologetic shrug. "Those constructs are custom-made. I wouldn’t even know where to begin making another."

  Kazimir offered a tired smirk. "It’s fine. I never wore much armor anyway."

  Moving slowly, he approached the bed and sank into its silken sheets. The sensation was unlike anything he had ever felt—soft, smooth, yet strangely grounding. Sleep pulled at him almost immediately.

  Selisara stood in the doorway, watching him with an unreadable expression. "Before you rest, one last thing. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but all the windows are covered. For your own safety, do not open them. Never try to look outside without my permission."

  Kazimir frowned, about to ask why—but exhaustion overtook him. The last thing he saw was the flickering light of the chandelier before darkness claimed him once more.