Chapter 13

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In the darkness, there was a sudden sound. It was the noise made by a key, scraping against a lock. Kent listened with mixed emotions as the mechanism shifted and the doorhandle was turned. 'The moment of truth has arrived.' He thought apprehensively.

The old hinges creaked, a telltale sign that these chambers were seldom used. The threshold opened and a thin orange light shone onto the floor before a figure stepped into the room, holding a flickering lantern. The soft glow illuminated her outline and the lower half of her face.

Without hesitation, Kent launched into his planned performance. "Thank God, I'm saved!" He yelled joyfully, jumping to his feet. He practically ran over to the maid, looking like he wanted to give her a big hug.

Ms. Squint seemed taken aback by his reaction. When the scholar arrived in front of her with his arms outstretched, she shifted the lantern until it was between them."…Mr. Nelson, stop." She said emotionlessly.

The man's expression was embarrassed, like he hadn't realized what he was trying to do. "Oh, I'm sorry. I'm damn scared of dark spaces, if you'll pardon my French…" He said fearfully. "…and I don't understand how I got here!" He exclaimed.

He carefully glanced at the maid's face. The top-half was shrouded in darkness, revealing only two white, porcelain spheres. 'Those blank eyes are horrifying.' He thought. She was blind, or so he'd been told, but that excuse was so awful that he felt they were insulting his intelligence.

The maid regarded him for a moment before she extended a hand and opened the door all the way. "The mansion is old and full of hidden passageways. I suggest you refrain from wandering around unsupervised. It was fortunate that I was able to find you, this time." She stated with severity. "Now, come with me."

Kent's expression morphed into one of surprise. "It was like a nightmare! I knew there had to be a reasonable explanation, but it was like I'd just appeared in here." He said, seemingly relieved that it wasn't so. "I couldn't find the way back, no matter how hard I tried. I traced the wall, but I was only able to find that single locked door. It didn't make any sense!"

Frustratingly, Ms. Squint didn't comment on his observation. Instead, she changed the subject without even trying to assuage his worries. "The miss has invited you to join them for tea. That was the reason I went looking for you." She admitted.

While they were talking, they'd made it out of the room. One of Kent's eyebrows twitched, noticing that the hallway was made from the same stone as his cell. "I'll have to thank lady Mary, then. She may have accidentally saved my life, haha!" He said, laughing good-humoredly.

The maid corrected his false assumption. "It was Ms. Jane that invited you. She is Arthur's mother." She said plainly.

Kent looked pleasantly surprised. "That's great, I'd hoped to meet her. Arthur was such a polite, clever kid that I'm curious about the person who raised him." He said enthusiastically.

Thinking of something, he spoke to the maid. "That's why I left with Arthur in the first place, you know, but we must've gotten separated at some point. I was so shocked to find he was suddenly missing! Could it be that he'd told you where to find me?" He asked curiously.

"No." The maid said, not elaborating any further.

Kent was certain a question mark had appeared in the middle of his forehead. Of course, he was sure they had some mystical means of surveillance, otherwise they wouldn't have been able to find him in this huge house, but a normal person wouldn't know that. "How did you know where I was, then?" He asked, feeling a bit upset. If anyone else had been in his shoes, they'd still have a lot of doubts.

"I'm very familiar with the estate's layout." Ms. Squint stated, as if the answer was supposed to be sufficient.

Kent felt a vein throbbing near his temple. 'Did you forget you were supposed to be blind? That explanation isn't worth jack shit!' He thought irritably. She wasn't even trying to sound believable. However, he wouldn't call her out on it because they weren't ready to start a conflict yet. Nabu was busy doing God knows what, so until the spirit had given the all-clear, he'd continue to buy time for them.

He decided to fish for more information. "If you don't mind me asking, how long have you served the Grimms?" He asked inquisitively.

"Always." She said, giving a monosyllabic answer.

At this point, Kent realized her interest in the conversation was at sub-zero levels. "That's very impressive." He said dryly. He probed her a few more times, but it soon became clear he wouldn't be getting anything out of the doll-like woman. With no other recourse, he resolved to let their dialogue die its natural death.

Predictably, Ms. Squint remained silent for the rest of their journey, leaving Kent's mind to stew in its own thoughts.

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About thirty minutes had passed since Ms. Squint's departure. It wasn't that odd, given how massive the place was, and Arthur supposed that reanimating a dead body wasn't a quick thing either. Imagine his surprise when Mr. Nelson showed up, trailing behind the maid while looking as chipper and healthy as ever.

"Why, if it isn't my favorite student!" He said cheerfully when their eyes met.

Arthur gave him a once-over before he stood and replied. "It feels like I haven't seen you in ages, Mr. Nelson." He said honestly. The persistent, gloomy weather really messed with his sense of time.

The tutor smiled, but there was a glumness hidden within. "It does, doesn't it? I'm sorry about what happened, I suddenly found myself separated from you. Even now, I don't understand it." He said, sheepishly adjusting his spectacles.

To Arthur, his words appeared to be truthful. 'We seem to be in the same boat, Mr. Nelson.' He thought. He was just as clueless about what'd transpired, but he was certain it was on the 'super' side of 'natural'.

Not to be left out of their conversation, Jane stood and introduced herself. "Hello, Mr. Nelson. I'm Jane, Arthur's mother." She said, politely extending her hand for a shake. "Did you two get lost on your way here? I wouldn't be surprised, it's happened to me before." She said, glancing between them.

Kent smiled and gripped her palm. "It's a pleasure and please, call me Kent." He said. "Yes, we did. There was a dark room and, well…" He started before stopping, unsure of how to continue.

Jane gave an airy laugh. She'd gotten lost countless times and had needed Ms. Squint to come to her rescue, so she didn't need him to elaborate further. "Fortunately, you were able to make it. I was looking forward to meeting you." She said honestly. "Please, take a seat, although the tea has gone cold. It was a spur-of-the-moment invitation, so I didn't think far enough ahead." She said apologetically.

Kent hurriedly waved his hands in front of his chest. "Don't worry about it. I'm the one who should be sorry, since I'm interrupting your mother-and-son time." He said earnestly. However, despite his words, he still took the offered seat.

Ms. Squint, ever the professional maid, addressed the poor hospitality. "I will stop by the kitchens." She said dutifully.

Jane's expression turned guilty. "Please, I didn't mean to send you off again. I'd prefer if you stayed to chat with us." She said genuinely.

The maid politely refused. "Mr. Nelson has come all the way from America to teach Arthur. The least we could do is provide him with a warm cup of tea, don't you think?" She asked rhetorically.

Of course, Jane had no answer to that.

Since she'd be making the trip anyway, Kent decided to take advantage. "I'd prefer coffee, if you have it." He said. He heard 'very well' and, after the maid left, it was just him plus the mother and son.

"I hope Arthur didn't give you any trouble." Jane said, glancing between him and the boy.

Kent shook his head. "Oh no, he was the perfect student." He said honestly.

Jane smiled. She always enjoyed it when someone spoke well of her son. "I'm glad. His teachers always complimented him, but you're a different sort altogether." She said, referring to Kent's excellent education.

The scholar was quick to refute her words. "Don't think too highly of me, miss. There are people far more learned than I." He said humbly.

Jane made a thoughtful sound. "I was able to read your resume. It's nothing short of spectacular." She said.

Arthur listened on as they chatted, feeling like he'd become a third wheel. 'I'll have to ask Mr. Nelson tomorrow, when Jane's not around.' He thought, wondering what exactly had happened to the man after their abrupt separation. However, that brief misadventure was nothing more than an idle curiosity. More than anything, he wanted to return to his room so he could mess with the tablet.

Eventually, the maid returned, carrying trays of beverages and snacks. It was remarkable, how she managed it all by herself, travelling to and from the kitchens. At least, it would've been if she was a normal human woman.

Arthur wasted no time, devouring the biscuits and bite-sized-sandwiches with ravenous fervor. He wasn't going to be polite, since his survival depended on it. Unfortunately, his Potentia didn't rise, since the quantity was insufficient.

The gathering dissolved about an hour later. As always, the maid escorted Jane, while Mr. Fetcher came for Kent. Surprisingly, Mary made an appearance, inviting Arthur to go for a walk. The boy found it frustrating, wanting nothing more than some privacy. However, he didn't dare refuse.

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It was only later that evening, after his dinner with Jane, that Arthur was able to return to his room, escorted by the butler, as was their usual custom.

The youth had all but given up on his plan to map the manor. After what he'd experienced today, he realized that the doors didn't lead to fixed locations. 'Their destinations could be random, but it's more likely someone's manipulating their outcomes.' He thought glumly.

He and the manservant had exchanged farewells before Mr. Fetcher drifted out into the hallway. The last Arthur saw of him was his eyes, burning like two coals, before he dissolved into the shadows. 'Creepy fucker….' He thought, cursing the man inside his head.

When the door had swung closed on its own, he sighed in relief. Having interacted with his grandmother, the maid and the butler, he could say with certainty that the latter was the most unsettling of them all.

When he roused himself from his thoughts, he found that he'd been staring at the carvings on the dark, polished wooden door.

'But this imagery is really messed up.' He thought. In the middle of the swirling lines, engraved into the door, was an upside-down figure, laying in some kind of coffin with its arms folded. Countless tubes were embedded in its flesh, to the point where it was impossible to tell where it began and they ended.

The image-within-a-pattern style made him feel nauseous, so he eventually looked away. 'Since I can't figure it out, then forget it.' He thought. 'What I need to do right now is see if I can increase my 'Maleficia'.' He decided. Having made up his mind, he climbed on top of his comfortable, oversized bed and closed his eyes. Without wasting any more time, he opened the tablet.

Immediately, he looked at his Potentia, which had risen to [ 0.6 ] after this evening's dinner. 'Even if I mess around, I should still have enough to defend myself.' He thought. Decisively, he concentrated on his Maleficia, which was still at [ 0.35 ].

When he did, he experienced a strange pulling-force near the base of his skull. The best way he could describe it was like holding onto a ball while a child was trying to take it from you.

'This weird feeling should be related to the tablet.' He concluded. After deliberating for a few seconds, he decided to risk it. 'Nothing ventured, nothing gained.' He thought before he deliberately 'let go'.

The moment he did, it was like two electro magnets attracting each other. That clump of energy that'd gathered somewhere in his mind was pulled away and, in return, something else replaced it, like a rubber band snapping into place. Immediately, the tablet underwent a change.

'Potentia [ 0.6 ] –> [ 0.5 ]'

'Maleficia [ 0.35 ] –> [ 0.5 ]'

It felt like there was a soap bubble inside his skull, expanding until it pressed tightly against the bone, and that wasn't even the worst of it. When it'd gotten to the point where he was sure his juiced brains were about to run out of his ears, it abruptly burst. 'It's just like that time!' He thought, referring to when he'd absorbed the 'Libre Maleficia'.

Suddenly, an intense, burning pain assaulted his senses, like a brain freeze in reverse. He felt hot liquid gushing from his nose, eyes and ears. Within seconds, it had become so overwhelming that he was unable to string two thoughts together. Just like last time, the experience ended as it had begun, with him toppling over before passing out. It was a small mercy that, this time, he had a soft bed underneath him instead of a hard floor.

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Time passed, yet the candle on the bedside table didn't go out. It continued to burn dutifully, emitting a soft, orange glow without any smoke. Arthur's sleeping form was illuminated, still unconscious from the trying ordeal.

It was disturbing sight, the way his face was dyed with blood. Long, red trails started at the corner of his eyes, running down his cheeks. His nose, mouth and chin were similarly covered. The thick plasma matted the long hair that came down to his neck, as well as his clothes.

Unfortunately, his suffering was not yet over. Three hours after he'd fallen unconscious, it started. At first, it seemed to be nothing more than a twitch, like a jumping muscle. However, it soon escalated until the skin all over his body was faintly trembling.

It looked like he was about to have an epileptic attack, but then something grotesque happened. Thin, netlike veins, thick as pieces of twine, sprouted all over his body. It was like he'd contracted some unfathomable disease, yet his skin didn't become swollen or discolored. Instead, he seemed to be getting paler, like his blood was being siphoned away.

When it'd gotten to the point where every inch of him was covered in fine, root-like structures, there was a sudden burst of movement inside his flesh. The veins came alive, like a bag of leeches, madly wriggling and writhing under his skin. His body was like a puppet, being jerked around by countless strings.

It went on for ten, twenty, thirty minutes, throughout which Arthur remained unconscious. It soon became clear that the things were growing, thickening as they infiltrated every corner of his being. However, when they approached his brain, the tablet reacted. A glowing word was chiseled onto the surface and it emitted a burst of energy, accompanied by a decrease in Potentia, to pacify the outbreak.

This time, it was not completely successful. While the tendrils encroaching in on his mind were obstructed, the rest of the abnormal growth continued. He was like fruit, being drained of its moisture, shrinking and shriveling until there was nothing left but a desiccated corpse. When nothing remained except skin and bones, the parasites had become as thick as snakes. Arthur's body was beyond horrifying to look at, having turned into a paper-thin bag, barely containing the abominable, bloated creatures.

When there was nothing more to consume, they froze, lying still and unmoving inside him. At this point, anybody with eyes to see would've been able to tell that he was dead. Everything inside him had been devoured, except for his brain. He was nothing more than a sack of skin, housing a slither of parasites.

However, without warning, the Vermes suddenly burst apart, like a bundle of vines untwining. In the blink of an eye, they'd divided a hundred times over, instantly inflating his body, like a blowing air into a balloon. His organs, muscles, nerves and tissues were reconstructed out of countless alien fibers.

As his metamorphosis neared completion, the growth slowed. The whole process, since the first manifestation, took about an hour to complete. When it was done, he looked as he had before, but with a few differences. His skin, which had been pale, was now as white as porcelain. In fact, every part of him was flawless, from his nails to his hair. However, it was a lifeless perfection, something that appeared artificial, like a mannequin or a doll.

In the darkness of his unconscious mind, the tablet hovered. He wasn't able to see it in his state, but that didn't stop the text on its surface from being rewritten.

The first visible change was his Potentia, having decreased from [ 0.5 ] to a pitiful [ 0.1 ]! Nevertheless, the second change was far more interesting. Under the first heading, Particularia, a new word had appeared, replacing one of the others that'd been written there. Physica and Magica was gone and, in its place, Vermes was inscribed. That wasn't the end of it, since its value was triple what their total had been!

Potentia [ 0.1 ]

Particularia

Vermes [ 1.5 ]

Proficiendi

Spontanea Evocatio [ 0,1 ]

Maleficia [ 0.5 ]

It was only after two hours had passed that he finally opened his eyes. They were clear and lifeless, glowing with a rusty hue, the color of dried blood.

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