Chapter 81 – The Test of ShadowsThe mansion was alive that night, though in a way Samkelo had not experienced before. The corridors seemed to pulse with anticipation, shadows deepening and stretching along the walls as he walked. Each step he took resonated softly, vibrating beneath his feet like a heartbeat that mirrored his own. The air was thick, almost tangible, carrying the scent of old wood, incense, and something darker — something patient, waiting, and intelligent.Samkelo’s small hands clutched the railing of the grand staircase. He had learned, slowly, to feel the mansion’s pulse, to sense the way it responded to intention. Yet tonight felt different. There was a weight pressing down on him, a tension in the air that made every shadow seem alive, every whisper deliberate.It’s watching me, he realized, heart pounding. It wants something from me tonight.The first sign came as he reached the west wing. A cluster of shadows gathered near the far end of the hall, swirling in s
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