Chapter 12: The Totem

The estate buzzed with frantic activity as preparations for the engagement party reached their peak. I, in the midst of this whirlwind, was tasked with organizing the storage rooms, a duty that had me climbing ladders and maneuvering through dusty corners. I despised it. Amidst the chaos in the storage room, i stumbled upon an old, forgotten box. It was perched precariously on a high shelf, barely visible behind layers of accumulated dust and cobwebs. Curiosity piqued, i carefully descended with the box in hand and set it down on a nearby table, its age evident from the faded, wooden exterior. I brushed the dust from the lid with my fingers, revealing its worn surface. I hesitated for a moment before lifting the lid, my anticipation growing. Inside, nestled among various old trinkets, was an object that immediately caught her attention—a strange little box. It was tricky to open. After several trials, I succeded. Inside it was a carved totem adorned with an intricate symbol. It was