Traces of civilization crop up, and along the outskirts of wooden fences, squeaky wheels tread on.
From afar, the mountains seemed enormous. Now, they loom as tiny hills. The enchanting light blue grass bleeds back into its typical green and white. The wagon follows a trail that is merely lines of matted-down blades.
Sweet air brushes through the farmland, and fields of wheat-like grains dance amidst the dazzling daylight. Their golden figures shimmer under the sun, sharing a familiar, nostalgic scent.
For one reason or another, Sirius feels he could cry again.
Gazing out at the endless rows of harvest instills an idyllic bliss. Gentle wind caresses his skin, carrying a bygone childhood with it. He used to run through fields like these...
The footsteps of two wonics walk with the muted moans of the wagon. An old man manages the reins, peacefully piloting the ride. Two people, having only shown him kindness, sit with Sirius as he reminisces.
One is a beautiful girl with teal hair and gradient eyes. She is wrapped in a blanket that comfortably blocks the chill breeze. Her lips are curled into a subtle smile as her eyes amble around the painted landscape she's seen dozens of times.
The other is a boy of Earth, earnestly eyeing the world and its mundane marvels. Despite meeting others of similar descent, he remains the only source of relation in this sphere. He has a cheerful personality and, while hidden, shadows a dark, deeper disposition.
All of these factors and these two people produce a blend of senses and feelings that fit together perfectly. Sirius is unable to restrain his smile.
Moments like these are something he used to only be able to dream of. A fantasy, which he thought would never come to fruition, now stares back at him in the eyes.
It's almost too much. It's all happening far too fast...
-I don't even know these people...
Despite that, he smiles. A genuine smile with the thought that: maybe everything will be alright.
-Maybe my life is finally starting.
For too long has his life stood at a standstill. For too long was he waiting. Waiting for a life that never was... Now, it presses on quicker than he thought possible.
Meeting people, exploring, learning, feeling, crying...
All of it, while only occurring over the past couple of days, marks his heart. Never has he felt this way. Never has he felt this alive.
A new chapter is starting.
A new life.
-Don't waste this one.
But... that leaves the question...
...How do I do that?
⧗⧖⧗⧖⧗
The half-day voyage nears its end, and the abundant agriculture trickles out into open pastures littered with livestock.
Conquering over a steep hill reveals the destination.
"We are nearing the mansion," Wilphrey announces.
The old man had been quiet almost the entire trek, hardly a single peep lifting from his lips. But being in the front seat, he surely could hear the conversations behind him. No one occupies the carriage itself, meaning his only company is the two leopards pulling the vehicle.
Korlin jumps to his feet, jolting the flimsy wagon. He leans over the side rails and almost falls out. His face beams with brimming jubilation.
Aureole, already leaning her back against the railing, shifts her head to the same sight. Its grandeur doesn't have quite the same effect on her as it does on him, but she treasures it all the same.
Sirius stands, holding Korlin in place so that he doesn't fall overboard. A glimpse of the mansion graces his amber irises.
It stands at the end of a piedmont, surrounded by small mountains that morph themselves into an almost perfect crescent moon. The manor is nestled in the empty space of where a full moon would be. The natural walls make the massive house seem small.
-Is it inside a fractured caldera? It looks dormant, but wow...
Two dirt paths, one being the trail they follow now, slither into a stone path leading to the entrance. Even from this distance, comely colors decorate the trail. It's shielded as if a fortress, but is as welcoming as a flower shop.
However, calling it a mansion is an understatement.
It resembles something more akin to a small, solitary castle.
The structure is a wide, box-shaped building with spires elevating the roof. Dozens of rectangular windows with chiseled stone trims line the walls. The masonry itself is even more marvelous than that of the city; it is closer to that of the castle in the center. Large, maintained bushes decorate the perimeter, originating small vines climbing up the stone walls.
The surrounding area is humble and homely. Large beds of flowers and other beautiful plants are symmetrically rowed towards the entrance. Cupped, luminous flowers sprinkle the remaining land, filling in what would otherwise be a lonely space. Apart from the stone ones surrounding the flower beds, there is an absence of fences or barriers. Anyone could waltz right in...
Smoke plumes from the thin chimney, blowing quietly in the chill air. There's nothing else around for miles; the manor stands lone amidst the looming walls and pastures. The other path may lead to some sort of town, but from here... It's awfully isolated.
Despite this feeling of loneliness, the mansion's sight is magnificent.
-Who exactly is this lord? Who exactly is this girl...?
...
Don't think about it too deeply.
Just let nice things happen...
...
"We're going to live THERE?!" Korlin snaps Sirius out of his thoughts.
"For as long as you'd like," Aureole smiles. "Assuming the lord approves, of course."
"Are you really sure this guy will let us in there?" Sirius can't help but question. "It seems really... important. I'm not sure we'll fit in."
Korlin jabs Sirius in the side. His face is screaming at Sirius to shut up.
"I'm sure it'll be fine! He is a busy man, but as long as you don't get in his way, there shouldn't be an issue. His hands are full with me, and trying to find Witch Spawns."
...
...
The two boys' hearts drop in sync.
Sirius and Korlin turn toward each other, sharing a straining stare. Sirius pulls his guard up, immediately assuming the worst. He readies himself for some sort of betrayal or attack.
-Wilphrey knows Korlin is a Witch Spawn... did he tell someone? Is this all some setup?
"U-Um... He's trying to find Witch Spawn?" Korlin nervously asks.
"Oh..." Aureole's face displays a clear lack of awareness. "Yes... But I'm not really sure why he's so adamant about it. He's always reading books in the library about them. I wish he would just find one by now..."
"..."
"You don't know why he wants to find one?" Sirius questions, his voice weary.
"Nope," Aureole shakes her head. "I try not to pry into what he does." She seems to be sincere; this doesn't feel like an act.
"Do you," Sirius hesitates. "Do you know what a Witch Spawn looks like...?"
"No, I've never seen one before. Why?"
"..."
"..."
"..."
There is the faint sound of a forehead being smacked near the front of the carriage.
⧗⧖⧗⧖⧗
The flower beds along the path are even prettier up close, and the walkway leading to the front doors circles around a glorious fountain. The once lonely-seeming abode now takes up their entire vision, as if it were space itself. It is truly massive.
The knocking footsteps of wonics come to a halt, and the wagon's wheels end their turns. A creeping anxiety plagues Sirius as they finally arrive.
Before him is a large, wooden doorway, trimmed with even more impressive stone. Above the doors is a small sculpture of a face... A face resembling the bat-like assailant from before. A wailian.
Odd...
"It seems the lord is out," Wilphrey declares. "The other carriage and wonics are missing."
"Hm," Aureole sighs. "Well, it should be fine. I'll take responsibility regardless. Let's head inside!" The girl springs to her feet and folds the blanket neatly. She leaps out of the carriage and motions the boys to do the same.
Sirius's feet had fallen asleep at some point, so it feels strange to stand. He reluctantly hops out of the wagon after Korlin.
"I will tend to the wonics. You all enter and make yourself comfortable." Wilphrey drops from his post and begins walking the leopards to a stable. The stable is spacious and built into the walls of the mansion, akin to a parking garage.
"Alright, let's do it!" Aureole is awfully giddy. She skips up the few stairs and grabs the golden door handles.
Korlin is shaking with excitement. All of his anxieties have been replaced with elation. Sirius wishes he could feel the same, and firmly grasps the satchel of papers in his arms.
The handles cave and the two grand doors open a portal into elegance.
The girl gestures them inside the daunting abode. Korlin gleefully prances inside without a moment of hesitation. Sirius follows slowly, anticipating something to go wrong.
Immediately upon entering, one word comes to mind...
Spacious.
A bit excessively so...
He stands in a gigantic foyer with cloud-spanning ceilings. A dualling staircase trimmed with pristine wood ascends to a second floor with outcropping balconies. Finely polished floors and stairs are carpeted in a slick royal red. Barren walls are only decorated with flawless carvings depicting the moon.
Hallways split off at each corner on both floors, spanning far with curling staircases at their ends. Dozens of doors line the elegantly empty walls the whole way down. Small circular tables sprinkle the halls, housing flowerpots and other commodities. The mansion's expansiveness allows it to appear unending.
Though in its infinity, just as it appears from the outside, it carries an air of loneliness.
If one were to scream, surely their voice would echo endlessly down the halls, never reaching another's ear.
Its vastness makes it appear uninhabited. No paintings, no music, no shoes by the door... It's perfectly clean without even a speck of dust.
Sirius comes from lower-middle-class households. Primarily living with his single mother, who is getting by the best she can. Their home was on the smaller end, with just enough room for a second floor and rooms for both children.
When he was younger, Sirius would go to other people's homes to hang out. Their houses were always much larger, so Sirius always felt a tinge of envy. Over the years, he became aware of his family's financial situation, causing his envy to evolve into sympathy and spite for his younger self.
And now, standing in this grand space, it all feels redundant... While impressive, it feels like a waste of space. Does anyone else live here...?
An intricate chandelier hangs high above their heads from a chain even higher. The main stairway before him diverges at its base, only to wrap around and meet at the second floor's entrance. Between the staircase rests a stone statue of another wailian, meticulously crafted to look divine. The statue of the beast is in pure contrast to the one that attacked him.
"This is AMAZING!"
At some point, Korlin had climbed the staircase and is now sliding down its railing.
He repeats this process seven more times.
"What do you think?" Aureole asks, noticing Sirius's hesitancy.
"It's really nice," he says while continuing his scan.
"...But?"
"I don't know, it just feels kind of... empty. There's a sense of sadness to it..."
"Ah, you feel it too, huh? Ci- Or, the butler, is nonstop cleaning, so anything we leave out gets picked up instantly. He's a good guy, I just wish he'd let this place have some personality." A somber smile curls her lips. "This place isn't for you?"
"I don't think I can answer that yet. I haven't even moved." They share a brief laugh. "...What about you? I get the feeling that you don't really call this place home."
"I..." Her somber smile returns. "It's impressive... Way larger than some of my previous homes. But..." her voice trails off into a whisper. "I don't think this royalty thing is for me."
-So, she is royalty...
"...Does anyone else live here? Besides you and the lord?"
"Of course," her smile regains some light. "Pholy and Hyacinth should be around here somewhere."
"Who are they?"
"They're really nice people! They don't go out that much, so you'll see them sooner or later!"
-That didn't answer the question...
"Will they be alright with us living here?"
"Um... maybe? Pholy will warm up quickly... probably. And Hyacinth... Well, she's not the best with strangers."
"That's awfully foreboding."
"You'll be fine! They don't bite," she playfully nudges his arm. "Now then," she sighs heavily.
"Hm?"
"I unfortunately need to go study, so once Wilphrey comes back, have him show you to your rooms-"
"Can we go explore?!" Korlin, sliding down the railing, shouts. He falls off and stumbles down a couple of stairs. "...I'm alright!"
"Sure! Go ahead, we probably have a while before Rawlin comes back. Feel free to wander around, just stay away from his study. It's the room that looks like a big library."
"Yesssssssss!"
"Also, stay out of his office and anyone else's rooms! For courtesy's sake, okay?"
"Roger!" Korlin salutes and rushes off down the left hallway. "Sirius, I'm going to go find a bathroom!"
"Alright... I guess?" Sirius scratches the back of his neck. "How do I respond to that...?"
"Good question," Aureole giggles. "Well, happy exploring! I'll be upstairs and to the right if you need anything." She begins walking up the dualling steps.
"Um- Thank you again! Really..."
"Don't mention it," she smiles. After a quick wave, she ascends up and rounds the corner.
...
Now then...
Where to go...
⧗⧖⧗⧖⧗
The halls feel endless, as if walking in an infinite loop of doors and candlelight. The only counter to that idea is slender windows peering out into the courtyard. Sunlight pours in with dancing dust particles.
He opens doors sporadically, the majority leading to empty bedrooms with a single bed. Others occasionally enter into a large bathroom with five sinks and multiple holes. Holes refer to what appear to be toilets.
-Have I peed since coming to his world?
Thinking of peeing immediately gives him the need to.
The bathroom is well-kept and shiny. A large, oval mirror is positioned above a row of sinks, reflecting the entire room. Sirius approaches the hole.
Maybe hole is not the best term; the toilet is more along the lines of a funnel. Or a glorified latrine.
Polished stone is sunken into an upside-down cone, funneling down into an abyss. The material looks like it will be excruciatingly cold to sit on. One cannot see the bottom of the drain or any water.
-What am I even looking at?
Sirius concludes his business without flushing, due to the fact that there was no handle to flush. The sink he uses functions as a normal sink would, and it drains into a smaller dark hole. He dries his hands on a neatly folded towel and folds it again afterward.
He continues through the two-directional maze, the repetition of which is getting tiresome. Not a soul crosses his vision, and not a sound plays, besides his own footsteps and the wind gently rattling the windows.
Eventually, the hall ends with a mirror.
A staircase leads up to his right. But his eyes tend to his reflection.
It's his first time seeing himself since coming to this world. He had subconsciously ignored himself in the bathroom mirror, a habit of which he picked up back on Earth.
He looks well. Healthy.
The sight brings up an unpleasant recollection. Only once in the hospital had he seen his reflection. The memory still stands vividly.
Engravings of asphalt marked his entire body and face. His eyes were bloodshot and bruised, hair damaged in a mangled mess. His limbs were swamped with casts and tubes, but still, he appeared thin.
Now, standing in front of this mirror, he looks the best he ever has.
His skin is smooth and scarless. His body is intact, and even his posture has improved compared to before. His eyes are still slightly bloodshot, but much less than before.
Before the accident, his body was lean and well-defined. Now even more so. Awkwardly, he flexes his arms in the mirror. Korlin was right, my arms are veiny.
But the main thing that grabs his focus is his hair. He had been growing it out for the better part of an Earthen year. Even before the incident, it was damaged with split ends, tangled, and dry. Likely due to excessive hot showers.
Now his hair looks smooth. It feels smooth. Before, even brushing was a pain; he hardly even did it. But now even his tangles have untethered...
In fact, his dark, umber hair seems to have grown longer. I could probably put it in a ponytail...
The idea excites him. As a child, his hair was always cut short without exception. Only recently had he let it grow out.
Leaving his bangs intact, Sirius runs his hands through the strands near the back of his head. He creates a makeshift hair tie with his fingers and tests out the look.
...It's strange. It's foreign to him. But he likes it.
A smile threatens to form...
...
But...
Something isn't right.
His father.
-"You need a haircut."
The boy's hands fall from his hair.
Sirius's father has always cared excessively for appearances, he himself bearing short, spiky hair and a constantly shaved face. He also has a bulky chest and arms. The only hindrance to this obsession... being his gut.
Whenever Sirius's hair had grown too long, it would get buzzed. "Long hair isn't for men," he'd say. This carried on throughout middle school, but once in high school, the buzzing ended. Instead, he was taken to an actual barber to get a hairstyle akin to his father's.
After each haircut, he would always look pleased... Like the failure had been shaved off.
This is what you should look like.
Sirius has never cared about his outward appearance. So even he doesn't know why he's let it grow so much.
-Do I want this?
...
-I don't know.
...
His amber eyes diverge from himself.
-I don't even like looking at you.
...
Walking up the steps takes a lifetime. The steps spiral unnecessarily to the second floor.
This hallway is much wider. Pathways branch out from the main one into a much more diverse set of rooms.
A room of baths and hot tubs, a room covered with plants, one with a large meeting table, one filled to the brim with bizarre clothing... The first floor must be solely for guest rooms, or at least the side he explored is. Much larger bedrooms exist on this floor, filled with desks, bookshelves, nightstands, and lavish beds.
He hasn't spotted a library or anything resembling a study. Though the bathrooms on this floor are much nicer as well. They were already nice on the first floor, but the ones on this floor are borderline divine. Unfortunately, the toilets are still just funnels.
Sirius turns a corner and spots his companion at the end of the hall.
Korlin. He is spying on something around another corner.
The boy senses Sirius's footsteps and his head whips over to him. Korlin cautiously approaches, creeping like he's in a stealth section of a video game.
"Sirius!"
Korlin's hushed yell is followed by sporadic eye movements. Is someone watching him-?
"What's up? You alright?"
Korlin scooches in close and whispers in Sirius's ear.
"Do you know what a loli is?"
...
...
"...A loli? Like... a really short girl?"
"Yes! Sort of..." Something along the lines of regret makes up his expression. Interesting. "I think I just saw one over there."
The two peer around the aforementioned corner. And lo and behold...
A girl of small stature stands on the tips of her toes, watering an overgrown plant twice her size.
Messy, golden hair stretches down to her lower back, the ends fading into a pale yellow. Unruly bangs hang over her slightly-larger-than-average forehead (you could probably play a game of tic-tac-toe on it). She carries long, dark eyelashes that encircle her fuchsia eyes.
"She's as tall as my knee..."
Korlin's outspoken remark makes her eye twitch. She remains composed and continues watering the draping growth.
"It's like a midget had a child with an even shorter midget."
"What...?" Sirius can't believe what he's hearing.
"I feel like I could punt her across an entire football field."
"???"
The girl's grip on the watering can is getting more and more unsteady.
"I bet she can fit in my pocket."
"Why are these your thoughts?"
Water is splashing all over the walls.
"I bet if she lays on the floor she can slide under doors-"
"WHO EVEN ARE YOU PEOPLE?!?"
The short girl's watering can barrels into Korlin's forehead, sending him flying backwards into the wall. He slides down into a seated position, revealing a fissure in the wall behind him. Sirius barely dodges the assault, only to witness the gash in the boy's skin. A faint trail of smoke emits from the can.
"Ow..." the boy struggles to say, appearing as if he's passed out.
The small girl marches forward, her eyes burning a brighter pigment.
Sirius slaps Korlin repeatedly across the face to snap him out of it. Miraculously, it works, and the boy blinks erratically. Sirius swiftly helps him to his feet.
"I'm sorry about him," Sirius tries to defuse. "He doesn't know how to talk to women. Or anyone for that matter."
Korlin remains dizzy, a thin stream of blood running down his nose.
"Yeah, I can tell..." She stops directly in front of Korlin. Her eye level reaches to his upper chest.
The boy shakes his head and comes to. He obliviously looks around to the sides before realizing he needs to peer down to see her.
Korlin snorts at the fact.
This time, the boy is backhanded into the wall.
"Ow..."
His cheek is faintly singed with the imprint of her hand.
"Dude, she's not even that short."
The girl glares briefly at Sirius.
"Sorry, sorry..." Korlin stands himself up with the assistance of the cracked wall. "I might have gone too far."
"..."
The girl sneers at the boy with the full intent to whack him again.
Both the girl and Korlin's eyes lock. Up close, her eyes blaze in beautiful heterochromia, like bleeding dyes of pink and white.
Within less than three seconds, the boy's expression morphs into one of awe.
Her expression softens as a result. Mostly due to confusion.
Up close, the girl's childlike features appear much more mature. Her large eyes blaze with a radiant flame. Her nose is short and her lips soft. Even her once intimidating forehead is tame. While lacking in the height department, her fiery beauty more than makes up for it.
She's very pretty, adorable even.
The boy produces a face that perfectly encapsulates the phrase "lovestruck." Her face in his eyes is nothing short of flawless. If this isn't the face of someone in love, there is none.
Without hesitation, his thoughts pour out from his lips.
"You might be the cutest girl I've ever seen."
...
...
Everyone takes a moment to process what he has said.
Once processed, the girl's cheeks burn a bright red. She is taken completely off guard. Her mouth tries to form words but fails miserably. Her hands tremble, likely with the urge to smack the boy into the wall.
"Wha- Why- Wh-Who even..."
"Wait."
...
The boy's expression completely shifts, folding into a fully serious one. No joking, no ulterior motives, just pure and utter business.
"...What-"
"How old are you?"
...
...
Sirius presses his fingers into his eyelids and rubs them.
"You were doing so well... I mean, not really, but still..."
"What? It's a valid question!" Korlin tries to defend himself. "Look, man, I'm not catching a case-"
"Twenty-four," the girl butts in.
"Twenty-four..." Korlin enters deep thought. He tries to compute that age in Earth terms but is unable. "...Sirius?"
"That's like eighteen in Earth terms. I'll teach you age conversions later."
Instantly upon hearing those words, the boy's eyes widen as if an angel is descending before him. It's as if the grace of a celestial being is washing over his mortal body. Pure bliss covers every pore of his skin.
"Yes... Thank you... Thank you, gods above..." A single tear rolls down his cheek, cementing his victory. He can truly die happy. "Wait, that means you're older than me..."
...
He enters an even deeper bliss.
The girl and Sirius watch on.
"What is he doing?" she asks.
"I have no idea."
"How old are you guys?"
"Twenty-three, believe it or not. He's a little... mentally deranged though."
"I can hear you!" Korlin chops Sirius on the foot. "Anyways, I apologize... I just haven't felt this way before."
"Right..." the girl nods her head reluctantly. "And what about the whole calling me short thing?"
"...Huh? Well, you are really short, but personally, I think it only adds to your charms-"
Her palm drives itself into his forehead, and the boy is smacked down the hallway into a different wall. Her brute strength is no laughing matter.
"Is he always like this?" she sighs.
"Yes. Yes, he is," Sirius nods his head. "But, he means well. I don't think he was joking about the compliments."
"Hmm..."
⧗⧖⧗⧖⧗
Sirius departs from the short girl without catching her name. She simply stated she had plants to tend to and left.
Sirius now carries Korlin, who has two handprints on his face, over his shoulder.
"She's so cute..." the boy mumbles.
"Don't start obsessing over her, please. You'll scare her off."
"Who do you think I am?"
"A guy who almost fainted because of a loli."
"I should have never taught you that word..."
Sirius bends down and plants the boy on his own feet. They continue searching the mansion together.
"Is all you care about looks?" Sirius asks. "I mean, she smacked you across the hall just for calling her short."
"And I savored every bit of it."
"...Are you into that?"
"I will neither confirm nor deny... Seriously though, why is everyone here so hot? Everyone I have seen in this world is absolutely beautiful for no reason. Apart from Gary."
"Hm..." Sirius's thoughts drift toward Aureole.
"I mean, dude, she was probably thee most attractive person I've ever seen. She surpasses main heroine status. Don't you think so?"
"She was cute..."
"I know..." A hint of his blissful state returns. "But don't get any ideas, she's mine."
They share a short chuckle.
"Calling her 'yours' is a bit of a stretch. But fine by me, besides, I've already seen the prettiest..."
Further down the hall, a girl exits a nearby door, stepping into the open hallway.
She wears deep, braided, purple hair that, if any darker, would be black. She wears an oversized sweater that only covers one of her shoulders. Her gorgeous, violet eyes shine like amethyst.
Holding a timeworn book in her slender arms, she shifts her attention to the two boys. The deadpan expression she wears wavers.
Amber and amethyst meet once more.
-Isn't that...
Before a single word is spoken, she steps right back inside of the room she just left. The door shuts carefully, hardly making a noise.
The interaction leaves them speechless.
But only for a moment.
"Oh my god?!?" Korlin's mouth is gaping. "She was gorgeous! What the hell?!"
"She was..."
"I swear if the master is also hot, I'm going to flip out."
"..."
"You good?" Korlin asks, nudging him in the arm.
"Yeah, but I think I've met her before."
"Really? Where?"
"At the bookstore, when I got our journals. I helped her grab a book and then..." Sirius's tone sours.
"...Then?"
"...She hurt my feelings."
"..."
"..."
"Wha-"
"Anyways, let's go find the old guy."
Sirius is already halfway down the hall.
"Alright," the boy sighs. "Let's get him to teach us magic!"
They wander the maze of windows and walls. Korlin glides his hands against the wallpaper, admiring every detail of it. The boy's footsteps echo through the empty halls as he runs down them.
Occasionally, the boy sniffs the carpet. And occasionally, he'll lick the walls.
Eventually, the halls loop back into the foyer.
Climbing up from the bottom of the main stairwell is Wilphrey. His hazel eyes soften at the sight of the boys.
"Ah, there you are. I was just beginning my search for the two of you."
"Oh, right," Sirius feels the need to be very polite to the man. To not disrespect. And to be... a perfect person in front of him. "You're going to show us to our rooms, right?"
"That will have to wait, I'm afraid."
"MAGIC TRAINING?!?" Korlin almost falls over the railing.
"Nay, that will also have to wait."
"What's up then?" Sirius pats a sulking Korlin on the back. Sirius gives the man a bright smile.
The man's kind features stiffen into fret.
"The lord has arrived. He wishes for a meeting with the house."