Greta took a taxi from the airport, letting the driver navigate the winding roads that led through dense forest toward the Heelshire estate.
She sat quietly, observing.
The isolation of the land, the narrowing of the gravel path, the way the trees leaned inward, all registered instantly through her Nature Sense. The Totoro-derived ability (she got from completing her last mission) pulsed subtly in her body, giving her awareness of life, temperature shifts, and subtle energy in the environment.
The mansion appeared at the end of a long tree lined driveway just as dusk began to settle.
Gothic arches clawed at the sky. Shadows pooled in corners. Ivy twisted up the walls like veins, and the faint smell of damp stone hung in the air.
[ENVIRONMENTAL THREAT DETECTED — PSYCHOLOGICAL]
Her system highlighted the potential stressors: isolation, oppressive architecture, and unusual acoustic reflections.
Greta exhaled, grounding herself.
[MISSION #3 — Initiate Contact Without Alarm
Objective: Survive initial household entry and verification
Risk: Medium
Reward: 5,000 SC + access to first mansion-embedded items]
She exited the taxi and paid the driver, leaving him no reason to linger.
Alone now with her backpack and suitcase, she walked the final steps to the front doors.
Her Nature Sense picked up subtle anomalies: drafts along seams that suggested secret doors, slight vibrations in the floors, and faintly altered air currents—reinforcements built to contain and observe.
The doors opened almost immediately. The Heelshires were waiting, posture precise, eyes sharp.
Mrs. Heelshire's gaze went straight to Greta's forearm.
BRAHMS HEELSHIRE (1983)
Greta lifted her arm calmly.
"Hello I am Greta Evans." She said calmly "I am aware your son survived, I understand the precautions you've taken. I do not wish to disrupt the household unnecessarily. I only wish to meet him—and ensure he is not alone."
The parents exchanged a brief, measured glance. Recognition replaced skepticism. The mark did not lie, and Greta did not flinch.
Mr. Heelshire cleared his throat. "We can verify the mark. And… we can offer you compensation to take care of him."
Greta shook her head firmly. "I do not need money. I am here only for him."
A faint smile of calculation crossed Mrs. Heelshire's face. "Then perhaps a legal structure is preferable. Marriage would ensure proximity and oversight."
Greta considered the offer, her gaze steady. "I will agree only if he confirms it himself. He must speak, and he must sign the marriage certificate personally—not you, not by proxy."
The parents exchanged another glance, this one almost imperceptibly cautious. They had expected compliance, not this level of deliberate boundary-setting.
Greta's system chimed as soon as the arrangement was acknowledged.
[MISSION #3 COMPLETED — REWARD ADDED TO INVENTORY
• Stabilized Perception Potion (I Shall Survive Using Potions) — passive, prevents sensory overload in gothic spaces; stored in inventory for later use
• SC Gained: 5,000 (Current SC = 92,000)]
The HUD then offered an optional purchase:
[Nighttime Safety Aura (My Neighbor Totoro) — passive ability integrates physically, reduces fear in hostile environments
Cost: 3,000 SC]
Greta flexed her fingers confirming the purchase and felt the Nighttime Safety Aura settle seamlessly alongside her Nature Sense.
Shadows no longer threatened comprehension. Echoing halls no longer startled her attention.
Step by step, she entered the mansion. Calm. Observant. Methodical. She was determined to be present for Brahms.
And somewhere behind walls that had long held only silence, dark eyes followed her approach.