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Enjoy this sweet KaiHil fic *heart heart*

Title: "Whispers of the Old Castle" - Part 1

The group had been buzzing with excitement since their arrival in Europe. As part of their university's archeological study tour, they were staying in a quaint mountain village surrounded by history and mystery. The professors had given them the freedom to explore historical sites for their assignments, and the options seemed endless.

The night before their explorations, everyone gathered in one of the hotel rooms. Tyson and Daichi were already sprawled on the floor, arguing over which snacks to bring, while Max tried to mediate. Ray sat by the window with Mariah, who leaned against him, and Kenny and Emily were discussing their research methods with animated enthusiasm. Mariam joined in, occasionally nudging Emily playfully.

Hilary sat at the edge of the bed, her legs crossed, as she flipped through a brochure. "So, where are we all going?"

"We should split up," Ray suggested. "That way, we can cover more ground for our research."

Max, always up for an adventure, chimed in. "I heard there's a secret river near this mountain. I want to check that out."

Tyson's eyes widened. "Dude, that sounds awesome! Count me in!"

"Uh, no," Max corrected. "I'm not risking you getting stuck somewhere. You're going with me, but we're keeping it safe."

Mariah giggled. "I'll take Ray to the river trail on the top of this mountain. It's supposed to have ancient carvings along the way."

Mariam raised a hand. "Emily and I will explore the underwater caves. There might be remnants of ancient plant species and fossils of aquatic animals."

Kenny adjusted his glasses. "Daichi and I can also explore the secret river as well and find out about the types of rock and mosses found around the river."

That left only Hilary and Kai. The room fell silent for a moment, and Hilary's eyes darted toward Kai. He stood by the door, arms crossed, eyes closed, his expression unreadable as always.

She cleared her throat. "I was thinking of checking out the old castle on the hill. It's got hidden passages and an interesting history."

Kai's lavender eyes opened and finally met hers. "I'll go with you."

Her heart did a small flip, but she forced a casual nod. "Okay, great."

Tyson smirked, and Mariah nudged him before he could say anything. The room slowly emptied as everyone went to prepare for the next day.

When Hilary was left alone in her room, she let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. Sharing an adventure with Kai... This would be interesting.

The Next Day

The climb to the old castle was steep, the air cool and crisp. Kai led the way, his backpack slung over one shoulder, his movements purposeful. Hilary followed closely, taking in the dense forest and the eerie quiet that surrounded them.

After an hour of trekking, the castle finally came into view—an imposing structure of grey stones, partially covered in moss, with windows like dark, hollow eyes.

Hilary exhaled. "Wow. This place is... spooky."

Kai shot her a glance. "You're not scared, are you?"

She huffed. "Of course not. I can handle an old castle."

A smirk played at his lips. "Good. Because we're going in."

The inside of the castle was just as ominous. Their footsteps echoed against stone walls, and the air felt heavy. They walked through empty halls, peeking into dusty rooms filled with crumbling furniture and faded tapestries.

Hilary ran her fingers along the stone wall, feeling the grooves of old carvings. "I wonder what kind of secrets this place holds."

Kai stepped closer, his presence warm against the cold air. "Only one way to find out."

They continued exploring, and as they turned a corner, Hilary's foot caught on a loose stone. She stumbled, and Kai's arm shot out, pulling her against him before she could hit the ground.

She clung to his jacket, their faces mere inches apart. His lavender eyes were intense, and for a heartbeat, the world seemed to hold its breath.

"You okay?" he asked, his voice softer than usual.

Hilary swallowed. "Yeah. Thanks."

He didn't let go immediately, and she didn't step back. The silence between them stretched, thick with unspoken words and unacknowledged feelings.

Then a distant clatter broke the moment. Kai's expression hardened as he released her. "Stay close."

They moved cautiously, following the sound. It led them to a narrow staircase spiraling down into darkness. Hilary hesitated, but Kai had already started descending.

"You coming or not?" he called over his shoulder.

She steeled herself and followed.

The basement was damp and smelled of decay. Old crates lined the walls, some with labels in a language she didn't recognize. As they moved deeper, a gust of cold air blew out their flashlight, plunging them into darkness.

Hilary gasped, her hand finding Kai's arm. "What was that?"

"Probably just the wind," he said, though his voice held a note of uncertainty.

Suddenly, there was a scraping sound, like metal against stone. Hilary's grip tightened, and Kai pulled her closer. "Stay behind me."

As they moved forward, a door creaked open, revealing another dark hallway. The air grew colder, and a soft whisper seemed to brush against their ears.

"Did you hear that?" she whispered.

Kai nodded, his jaw clenched. "We need to get out of here."

They turned back, only to find the door they came through was no longer there. Just a solid stone wall.

Hilary's breath quickened. "Kai... what's going on?"

He didn't answer, instead tugging her along as they searched for another way out. The castle seemed to shift around them, hallways leading to nowhere, doors opening into the same room they had just left.

Finally, they found a small alcove with a stained glass window. Light streamed through, casting colorful patterns on the floor. They sat down, catching their breath.

Hilary leaned against the wall, her shoulder brushing his. "This place is... it's like a maze."

Kai's expression was thoughtful. "Or a trap."

She shivered, and he pulled his jacket off, draping it over her shoulders. The gesture was so out of character that she stared at him, her cheeks warming.

"Thank you," she murmured.

His lips quirked into a barely-there smile. "We'll find a way out. I promise."

And as they sat there, huddled together, the castle walls seemed to breathe around them, whispering secrets that only the dark would understand.

End of Part 1

The adventure is just beginning, with more suspense, mystery, and romantic tension to come! How was that?

Okay and, The secret river and river trail are to different places in case y'all are confused :)

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