Mysteries Stuck In Time

Noctis accepts a simple job as a gardener at the isolated Vexwood Manor, expecting routine work and quiet days. Instead, he finds himself trapped in a place governed by unspoken rules and unsettling silences. The servants are polite yet distant, the corridors unnaturally empty, and certain areas of the mansion are strictly off-limits—most notably, the third floor. While exploring the manor, Noctis discovers a diary belonging to the previous gardener. Its fragmented entries describe repeated explorations, strange warnings, and specific locations within the mansion that seem tied to hidden truths. What initially appears to be guidance slowly reveals itself as something more troubling—clues that suggest the manor is not merely a residence, but a trial. As Noctis investigates the corridors and studies the mansion’s paintings, he begins to notice recurring names tied to the Vexwood family, yet finds no information about them beyond the manor’s walls. His attempts to understand the place only deepen his isolation, as contact with the outside world proves impossible. His curiosity nearly costs him dearly when he attempts to climb to the forbidden third floor. Stopped abruptly by the head maid, whose sudden appearance and inhuman composure leave him shaken, Noctis realizes the rules are enforced not by words—but by fear. When she vanishes without a trace, the warning becomes clear: the mansion is watching. Left with unanswered questions and limited choices, Noctis decides to turn his attention to the one place left unexplored—the basement. Not because he wants to, but because the manor has quietly guided him there. And for the first time, he understands that every step he takes is part of something far greater than he imagined.