We exit the third consecutive corridor to reach a staircase. Amber nods and the raiding trio lead the way. We climb the stair to space with three skeletons which the trio immediately finish them off. 

"This is basement. I live is on the left. I need to take some books."

Jowan says.

The basement has three doors and another  staircase. We enter the left and finds there are three doors. Jowan immediately open a door. I follow. 

There is a bed. The room is not that small. It accommodates a cupboard, a table, two chairs and a single bed. There is a hole on the ceiling probably connected to outside for air. Beside that hole, there is a crystal lighting. 

He takes something like bag. I could see books inside. There are also a boom on the mattress and table as if it was just read and left just like that.

"Hmm. Book on dark magic." Selena who also enters and picks it up.

"Sorry. We need to be quick." Jowan takes the book from Selene and another one from the bed. Everything is inserted into the bag.

"After this is solved. You can take these books." Jowan directs the words to Selene.

"Is there anything else?" I ask.

He shakes his head.

We head back to the staircase and climb up to the ground floor. This castle seems to be a lot bigger than Grand Forest Villa.

There is no skeleton here. I think I know the reason. Sunlight reaches here. There are three exits. One of them leads to bright area. 

"That's the maid, guards, butler and horsemaster quarters. I used to live there." Amber says while pointing to the sunlight.

There is grass and houses not connected to the castle but within the castle compound.

"Those houses are behind the portcullis."

I walk to outside. Indeed there are houses and a field. At Winterwatch Tower, there are five brick houses around it but here there are around fifteen brick houses of varying sizes.

I feel my share of surprise, of course, but there is something more concerning. Selene notices the same and pulls my sleeve.

“Hiro, the quarter is too quiet.”

“Yeah. Even if we’re during disturbance, it can’t be this dead.”

We walk from the back alley to a main street, but there is barely anyone around. I could tell there are people inside the buildings, but all windows are closed, all curtains pulled — at evening.

In the meantime, I take a better look at the quarter's main road. Walking straight down the street supposedly led to the court, but it is unnaturally empty. It feels like the whole castle is suppressing its breath, its sounds — it is a funeral’s atmosphere.

We finally arrive at other side of portcullis. 

At the opposite of the portcullis, there is straight path towards the main entrance. 

There are two fully equipped men standing. 

Not skeletons but human. 

"We are guarding here so nobody could lift up the portcullis." The men say but their voices are weird.

"They are possessed." Jowan steps up.

"Oi. They are dangerous." Clementine warns him but Jowan just advances.

"Aaarhh!!" The men run towards him but Jowan chants something and they fall. 

"Let's lift up the portcullis." Amber suggests and we operate the lever until it is fully opened. 

The two men wake up and are dizzy. 

"Hey. Don't ever enter the castle. Go out and find the church." I order them. I am not sure if they understand but we head into entrance. There is no skeleton in the lobby probably due to sunlight. We go deeper. 

There is a decorated and massive staircase.

"That's the main staircase. Main hall is on the next floor." 

Amber leads us, to climb to the first floor. 

There are twenty skeletons roaming.

"Attack!"

This time everyone except Selene and Jowan engage in melee combat with the skeletons. This fight ends within three minutes. 

"That's the main hall."

There is large door. We open it. There are about fifty skeletons in that massive area with a massive long table in the middle.

There is a luxurious cathedra at the end of the table. A woman is standing and a boy is beside her. Isolde and Connor ..

When Selene is about to chant something, I hold her hand.

"No, Selene. Save your energy. We might need it against the high demon."

"Attack!"

Everyone except Selene and Jowan fight. 

"Hahahaha!" The boy is laughing despite the skeletons being destroyed at fast pace. 

As the skeletons are quicker than zombies, we can't beat them unscathed. 

After about fifteen minutes, the skeleton is no more but each of us has two or three cuts on our body. 

Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap. 

Connor happily claps his hand.

Isolde wistfully turns her face at the other side. 

"Marchioness is not possessed. Only young master." Jowan says.

"I can see that clearly." I reply jokingly.

We approach them.

"We have visitors, mother." Connor utters with weird tone.

Isolde doesn't reply. She is just staring at the floor. 

"And they were the ones who defeated my soldiers that I sent to reclaim my village." 

Connor looks at us.

"I can't see one of them, mother. Is he a human?" Connor points his finger at me.

"He is a human, Connor."

If her gloominess is put aside, Isolde is indeed a beauty with alluring motherly body. Her hair is blond, no, to be precise, he has bunned-up dandelion coloured hair.

"He is just a man, Connor. Just like your late father." Isolde is trying to reason with the demon that possess her son.

"Get them out. He is nothing like father. Look at him..."

Isolde slightly touches Connor and persuades.

"Connor. I beg you. Don't hurt anyone.."

"Mother. What's happening? Where am I?"

Isolde kneels down in relief.

"Oh. Thanks the maker. Connor, can you hear me."

"Get away from me, you foul woman! You starting to bore me!" 

It seems at times the demon is dispossessed. 

Isolde stands up again and look at me.

"Please understand. Don't hurt my son. He is not responsible for he does."

"Shut up!"

Isolde points at Jowan angrily.

"Connor does not mean to do this. It is that man, Jowan. He started the whole thing. He summoned the demon. Connor was trying to help his father."

"And made a deal with the demon to do what... To resurrect his dead father. Foolish child." Selene voices up boldly. Please don't do that, don't provoke the demon, elven girl!

"It was a fair deal! Now it's my turn to conquer the land. No one can tell me what to do!" Connor bellows.

"Please Connor, don't shout."

"Since you chase the maids and guards away, you do nothing other than depriving me of my fun, woman."

*Anyway, the fun stops here." I interject him.

Connor run past us the stair. He climbs up to the upper floor. 

We are blocked by ten skeleton that enters from there.

"Damn it, attack!"