Ludwig moved through the manor's crumbling halls, his footsteps echoing hollowly against the warped floorboards. Just when he thought he'd explored every rotting corner of this place, one last door revealed itself—massive and imposing, nearly the size of Dante Bastos' study. The sight of it made his fingers twitch with anticipation.
"Now that's a door," Thomas remarked, his spectral form bobbing excitedly beside Ludwig's shoulder. "Must be one of the higher nobles of the house for them to have a room this big."
Ludwig ran a hand along the barricade's weathered planks. "Only one way to find out." With a few sharp tugs, the centuries-old wood surrendered, splintering apart like dry kindling. The door groaned open on rusted hinges, releasing a puff of stale air that carried the scent of mildew and something faintly metallic.
