"Follow me, mister. I have so much more to show you," the boy said, walking ahead of Vanitas.
But Vanitas didn't move. He stood still with his eyes cast down toward the stone floor of the manor. This place… This entire projection… was starting to wear on him.
The cognitive pressure was mounting, and he could feel the seams of the illusion begin to stretch. His mind was likely signaling it was time to wake up.
But he didn't want to, not yet.
This was a rare opportunity. A chance to understand Vanitas Astrea completely. The boy ahead of him, who hadn't once smiled during this entire sequence, turned slightly, glancing back with that same empty expression.
"There's one place I want to see," Vanitas said at last. "Take me to the basement."
The boy stopped. His shoulders stiffened.
"The basement?" he repeated, voice lower than before. "But that's… the end of this tour."
"I know," Vanitas said calmly, stepping forward. "That's why I need to see it."
