Darkness surrounds me, and I can't see anything.
I know I'm awake, I can feel my arms and legs, and I know I exist.
Yet, I can't see a thing, as if my eyes are still closed.
Miss Maid promised to give me some replica eyes that I can see with.
Yet the only thing I can see is that I can't see.
I should possibly be feeling mad or scared, but even the slight thought of getting emotional vanishes.
It's a disgusting sensation, like something is devouring my emotions, and I can't even feel that.
*Thud* *Thud*
I hear footsteps approaching.
"Are you okay?" A familiar voice asks.
I know this voice,it's my neighbor and my best friend, Rose.
I'm sure she's holding a bucket of water, ready to splash it over me to wake me up from this nightmare.
"Your eyes are..." she says, her voice trembling.
But the only thing she does is make me realize this nightmare is real.
I slowly rise from where I'm lying and crawl backward until my back hits the wall.
"I've seen better days," I reply.
"You're still joking even in that condition."
"I'm really calm and relaxed for some reason."
"That's to be expected," says another familiar voice.
I knew this voice,it wasn't my neighbor, nor my best friend. It was Miss Maid.
"In the living world, I can't directly change your emotions or read your minds." she explains.
"So, I just calmed down on my own?" I ask.
"No, remember I told you we can pass most things through the gate?"
"Yes."
"So, I simply created an air that calms down anybody who breathes it, passed it through the gate, and made it spread throughout the mansion."
"Why go to such lengths just to keep us on a leash?" I asked.
"I don't like noisy people or places. I don't want you screaming at me over small matters that don’t concern me." she replied.
"Is taking my eyes just a small matter to you?"
"Compared to what else I could have done... yes, it's a small matter. Believe me." she said, her tone disturbingly calm.
"You told us you'd give him replica eyes. Why is he still blind?" Rose interjected.
"Remember what I told you? You'll get the replicas once you complete the ritual." the maid reminded her.
"But how am I supposed to help with it if I can't see?" I asked.
"You don't need to help. It's not that hard. The place for the ritual is already prepared, and I’ve given you the water of regeneration. Miss Rose can handle it just fine on her own," she explained.
"The place for the ritual is in the basement. This is the second floor. How am I supposed to carry your body there by myself?" Rose asked.
"You can do it. Don't worry, I'm as light as a bird."
"I've no choice, I'll do it, but you better keep your promise," Rose said, her voice firm.
"I won't go back on my word," the maid replied calmly.
*Thud* *Thud*
I heard footsteps approaching, followed by a creak from the wooden floor.
Then I felt a hand gently gripping my shoulder.
Rose must have crouched next to me.
"You just rest here. I'll deal with this, and we'll return to Miss Pearl along with Angel, safe and sound," Rose reassured me.
"Is there really nothing I can do?" I asked, frustration seeping into my voice.
"How about growing a pair of eyes, then helping me?" Rose quipped.
"Look who's making jokes now," I said, managing a laugh.
Us joking like this must be the effect of our emotions being controlled by Miss Maid.
Otherwise, I doubt we could be having this conversation so calmly.
Not that I'm going to thank her or anything,she took my eyes.
I heard the wood creak again as Rose must have stood up.
"Just lay down and don't move a muscle. I'll come and get you once I'm done," Rose instructed.
"I... understand," I replied, feeling helpless.
I didn't want to accept not being able to do anything useful, but in my current situation, I doubted I could help.
I might even cause more trouble.
"Then I'll go ahead and lift your body now," Rose declared.
"Sure, go ahead," Miss Maid replied.
"Wait a second!" Rose exclaimed suddenly.
"What happened?" I asked.
"Can't you just carry your own body there or make it appear there?" Rose questioned.
"That's possible," the maid replied.
"Then why are you making me carry it?" Rose asked, a hint of frustration in her voice.
What a great question.
"I thought my body could use a little exercise after all that slumber." the maid replied, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Then wake up and walk on your own feet. You can do it, can't you? You're just toying with us." Rose retorted.
"Do you want the eyes or not?" the maid shot back, her voice cold.
She disgusts me.
"Fine, never mind," Rose sighed.
"Oh, you don't want the eyes?"
"No, I'll carry it," Rose replied, clearly annoyed.
"Good girl."
How did she even get hired as a maid with a personality like that in the first place?
"I wasn't always like this. But death changes one." the maid responded, startling me.
"Huh? I thought you couldn't read minds here?" I said, confused.
"So that's what you were thinking," the maid responded.
She got me.
"Hehe, I won't hold that against you." she added with a chuckle.
I heard a series of creaks as Rose prepared to leave.
"I'll be going then," Rose said.
"Sure, good luck," I replied.
"Wait, the stairs are blocked. How are you going to get her down?" I asked, suddenly concerned.
"I'm just going to drop her from above the ladder we climbed." Rose replied.
"I can't allow that!" the maid interjected, her voice laced with anger.
"What? It's not like it's going to die, and you can just heal it if something happens." Rose argued.
"I am not going to watch you hurt my body. Nobody will hurt me ever again!" the maid replied, her anger palpable.
"How else am I going to get it down then?" Rose asked.
"Don't ask me how I know this, but I think there are ropes somewhere in this room. You can use them to tie the body to yourself." I suggested.
"Yes, your friend made a great recommendation. There are indeed ropes in the lady's bedroom." Miss Maid replied, her tone calm once again.
"How did you even know?" Rose asked, puzzled.
"Just... took a guess. Don't ask me for details." I said, deflecting.
"Alright... regardless, that should be helpful. Where is it?" Rose asked.
"Hmm?" the maid replied with feigned ignorance.
"Where are the ropes?" Rose repeated.
"In the bedroom." the maid answered.
"Where exactly?"
"Who knows."
"But you just told us that there are ropes in the bedroom, so you should know where they are.".
"Do I?" the maid responded, still toying with her.
"Yes."
"Is that so?"
"So tell me."
"Tell you what?"
It was clear now,she was testing if her emotion control was working, using this moment to play with us since we couldn't get mad at her.
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"Rose, I’m sorry, but I don’t think she’s going to help us. You should search for them on your own. I would help, but...".
"That’s fine. I’ll start searching," Rose responded, far more calmly than she normally would.
This wasn’t the Rose I knew. She should have been furious by now, but instead, she began searching without a single complaint.
I could hear her opening and closing drawers, moving about the room.
After some time, Rose finally exclaimed, "Found it!"
"Great! Where was it?" I asked.
"Under the bed, but I still don’t know why they’re here in the first place." she replied, puzzled.
"You’re better off not knowing."
"I mean, there are already chains bound to the bed. What are the ropes for?" Rose wondered aloud.
"Who knows?"
"But you told me that I’m better off not knowing, so you must know."
"Do I?"
"Yes."
"Is that so?"
"So tell me."
"Tell you what?"
This is actually kind of fun.
*Whack*
Rose punched me in the gut, completely catching me off guard.
"I thought you couldn’t get angry!" I exclaimed, trying to catch my breath.
"Sorry, force of habit." Rose said.
So it was a reflex.
Her muscle memory was still intact, even if she couldn’t get angry.
"Never mind. We shouldn’t waste any more time. I’ll bind her body to me," Rose decided.
"Let me help."
We somehow managed to tie the maid’s body to Rose, though it took some effort.
Despite my lack of sight, I managed the final knot.
"I’m off for good this time," Rose said, her determination clear.
"Good luck," I replied.
*Thud* *Thud*
I heard her take a few steps toward outside of the room, then the sound of her climbing down the ladder.
"I managed to get her to the 1st floor. It's easy from now on." she shouted from downstairs.
"Be careful!" I called back.
"Sure! I'm off," she responded.
After a few faint steps, I heard nothing,she must have gone far.
Now, I was all alone in this eerie bedroom.
If what that maid said was true, then Father must have spent months or years in this very room.
The thought was unsettling, and despite the calm that had been forced upon me, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease.
"Hey, are you still here?" I called out, breaking the unsettling silence.
"I am," the maid responded, her voice as calm and composed as ever.
"Now that Rose is gone, tell me."
"Tell you what?"
"About my father. What you said, is it true?"
"Yes, he was a traveling doctor," she replied nonchalantly.
"I already know that. I'm asking about him being trapped in this mansion."
I clarified, trying to keep my voice steady despite the unnatural calm I was feeling.
Damn this feeling,I should be shouting at her right now.
"Oh, that. You didn't specify what you were asking about him." she said teasingly.
"Stop testing your emotion control. It works,I can't get mad at you at all," I said, once again in that same, unnervingly calm tone.
"I can see that. But I bet you can't." she remarked, her words laced with subtle amusement.
"Very funny. Get to the point, please."
"I feel like I'm helping you more than you're helping me."
"We can't help you much. There's hardly anything we can do that you can't anyway."
"Well, that's that. Very well, I shall tell you more. You would count as my master anyway."
"Does that mean I can order you around?" I asked, half-joking, half-serious.
"Don't test your luck," she warned.
"Fine. So tell me then."
"As I told you before, your father was a traveling doctor. He met the love of his life here and wanted to marry her, but he lacked the money to do so." she began.
"We're talking about my mother, right? Where is her family now? I never met my grandparents." I asked, curiosity piqued.
"I don't know much about your adoptive mother, more than you do. I can only tell what's in your memory." she explained.
"Then how do you know about my father lacking money to marry my mother? I wouldn't know that. What I know is that he was a famous doctor and was pretty rich."
"In the city where you were raised, yes, he was rich. He made a name for himself after treating wounded mercenaries and soldiers.
Even the duke heard about him and gave him the surname 'Wellman.' I gotta say, that's a 'well name, man,'" she quipped.
"Why can't I get mad at you?" I asked, frustration seeping through my words, though still dulled by the calm.
"Because I made it so you can't. And as for how I know he lacked money for marriage, he... told me himself when he was imprisoned in the mansion."
"You knew my father?" I asked, shocked.
"Yes, he would be released to the garden if he helped with the grandmaster's experiments, under surveillance, of course. Here and there, he would talk with the servants and maids of the mansion."
"And in one of your conversations, he told you about how he lacked money for marriage."
"Precisely. So he couldn't refuse when the Unut family offered him a great sum, unknown to what could happen to him."
"I still can't believe it," I muttered, more to myself than to her.
"I know it's hard to accept, but it's the truth,your father was a traveling doctor."
"Not that, and you know it." I said, the weight of the revelation pressing down on me, yet still unable to stir the anger or outrage I knew I should be feeling.
"Calm down. I'm just making jokes to keep the tension down." the maid said with a light chuckle.
"I'm already as calm as I can get... Wait a second!" I suddenly exclaimed as a thought struck me.
"What's wrong?" she asked, her tone shifting slightly.
"How did I end up in this village? You should know why. Why did he leave me here where I could be easily found by the Unuts?"
"By 'the Unut,' you mean your mother. Right now, the only Unuts alive are you and her. As for why you were left here..." she trailed off.
"Yes?" I urged.
"I don't really know, but I can take a guess. Lady Unut somehow heard about your whereabouts, and your father was forced to hide you.
His fame is what must have made him caught up, he should have kept a low profile, but he helped people and made a name for himself.
Of course, Lady Unut would hear of this. He must have thought he was an easy target to find, so he separated you from himself." she explained.
"But why this village? This is the first place they'd look." I argued.
"Not necessarily. You heard her story,Lady Unut hated this village, and your father knew that as well.
As you just said, this is the most obvious place to look, so why would he hide you here? They probably thought the same and decided not to search this village.
And they haven't found you yet, so I'd say he made the right choice."
"I knew he was a genius, but he should have kept a low profile as you said. Then we would still be living together." I muttered, a mix of admiration and regret in my voice.
"I guess he couldn't refuse to help when he saw someone in need. He had a personality like that, anyway." the maid replied.
Then it hit me,I had put my name on that list of villagers when we returned from searching for the elder.
"What's wrong? You don't look so good." she asked, noticing my sudden shift in demeanor.
"That list,I put my name on it. I basically told Lady Unut where I am." I said, the gravity of my mistake sinking in.
"Ah, yes, that's bad. You should retrieve it before the tax collector does and somehow erase your name or run away from the village." she suggested.
"For that, I need to hurry and leave this mansion." I replied, urgency creeping into my voice.
"Not that I'm not feeling sorry for you, but I can't let you leave before you help me." she responded, her tone firm.
I somehow had a feeling she would say that.
"Rose is taking her time with that ritual. Should it take this long?" I asked, worried about the delay.
"I don't know. I've never done it myself, and she left the eyes here as well." the maid said, almost casually.
"What!?" I exclaimed in disbelief.
"Didn't you hear me? She left the eyes necessary for the ritual here." she repeated calmly.
"Why didn't you tell me that before?"
"I thought she would come back for them, but she hasn't."
"Something must have happened. I 'm going to find her."
"Not a good idea,you can't even see." she said."
"Whose fault is that? Can't you just give me the replica eyes? It's an emergency." I pleaded, frustration bubbling up inside me.
"No can do." she responded firmly.
If something happens to Rose, I will... I hate that I can't do anything to her.
But never mind that,Rose's safety comes first. I have to find her, with or without my sight.
"Where are the eyes?" I asked, determined.
"They're right next to the bed." she answered.
I crawled toward the bed, carefully searching for the jar.
I pushed my hand along the floor until my nails hit something glass, producing a soft tink.
*Tink*
I found the jar. Now, I need to find Rose.
I got up from the floor and grabbed the iron stick that had been lying next to where I had been.
From what I could tell, I was standing on the left side of the bed.
The ladder should be on the opposite side, on the right.
I made my way around the bed, holding onto its frame to guide myself.
"This is really a bad idea. You're going to fall and hurt yourself," the maid warned, but her words were futile.
All I need to do now is walk straight until I hit a wall. I'll use the iron stick to feel my way forward.
I started walking, the sound of my footsteps echoing in the room.
*Step*
*Step*
*Step*
*Thud*
The iron stick hit the wall, signaling that I was now inside the closet.
To the right, there should be a fake wall that leads to where the ladder is or at least, there used to be.
I cautiously moved to the right, searching for the entrance.
After a couple of steps, I tapped the iron stick in front of me.
There was no wall, meaning the path was clear.
*Step*
*THUD*
I hit my head against the wall.
I'd forgotten that we had to crouch a bit to get inside.
"Told you it was a bad idea." the maid's voice echoed in my head.
"Just be quiet, please." I couldn't get mad at her, but I could still be annoyed.
"I don't think you're going to climb that ladder safely."
"I will do just fine."
"Remains to be seen."
I crouched and carefully entered the secret room behind the closet.
This room was mostly empty, serving as a passage between Lady Unut's bedroom and the master bedroom.
Somewhere in between, there was a ladder leading down to the kitchen on the first floor.
Now, I just had to find it.
"I can't just watch this. I'll help you. Come towards my voice; the ladder is here." the maid called out from in front of me.
There was no harm in believing her, I supposed, so I followed her instructions.
*Step*
"That's right, just take two more steps."
*Step*
*Step*
"Stop right there. The ladder is right in front of you. Crouch, and you'll find it."
I did as she said, feeling the ladder in my hands.
I first sat on the edge of the ladder space, letting my legs dangle down, then grabbed the ladder securely.
I managed to position myself on it without much trouble.
I was ready to climb down.
*Creek*
The iron ladder creaked as I put my foot down on it.
I hoped it wouldn't collapse beneath me, but I had to climb down with only one hand while holding the jar with the other.
*Creek*
I took another step down, and the ladder kept creaking ominously.
*CREEK*
Suddenly, the ladder gave way, and I found myself falling.
Yet, even in the midst of what should have been a panic-inducing moment, I remained as calm as ever.
It felt as though time had slowed down. I could sense I was falling from a height, but fear was absent,thanks to that maid, no doubt.
"Told you that you'd fall from the ladder, didn't I?" she said, teasingly.
"I don't remember the second floor being this high up. I should have hit the ground by now, but I'm still falling."
"That's because I've made a slight modification to the air you breathe. I've accelerated your thinking ability."
"So, time hasn't actually slowed down,I'm just thinking incredibly fast?"
"That's correct."
"You can do anything, can't you?"
"Actually, my powers are quite limited here compared to that other place. I can't actually control time."
"That's still amazing. And I believe someone as amazing as yourself could place a pillow or two where I'm about to land?"
"That's possible."
"So... pretty please?"
"I'm not going to do it. You need to learn to listen to other people's warnings."
"But if I fall hard, the jar could break, and you might lose your opportunity to get your eyes back."
"I'll hold it for you."
As she said that, I felt the jar slip from my grasp.
"You can thank me later."
"I'll just thank you in advance for letting me fall. Thank you."
"Anytime. Now I'll be returning your thinking ability to normal."
"Sure, go ahead."
As our lovely mid-air conversation came to an end, I suddenly felt a cold wind rush through me and—
*THUD*
I hit the solid floor of the kitchen hard.
Though nothing was broken, I lay there in agony for a while.
"Come on, get up. I know the pain has already passed." the maid urged.
"Thank you once again for letting me fall." I muttered as I slowly got up.
"You're welcome. Here, you can have this back."
The jar was handed back to me, somehow finding its way into my hand once more.
"I kept it safe for you."
"Much appreciated."
"How do my surroundings look?"
"The kitchen is filled with black and white ceramic tiles, and the walls are painted in a now-decaying blue color. If you look outside from the windows on your right, you can see a beautiful sunset."
"...Anything that could hit me while I'm walking?"
"Me, I can hit you while you're walking."
"Stop joking and help me, please. Where should I go?"
"*Sigh* You'll need to walk toward your left and exit into the corridor. You'll find the stairs to the basement just opposite the kitchen."
"Do me a favor and hold my hand. Guide me there."
"Very well."
"Huh?"
"Why so shocked? I'm not entirely a bad person."
"I thought you would refuse."
"Hehe."
I felt a force lift my right hand and gently pull it forward, guiding me.
It must be the maid's way of leading me. We made our way to the stairs.
"Here we are. You're standing right in front of the stairs. Watch your step as you go down."
"Thank you. I mean it."
"Don't mention it."
I put my right hand on the wall and carefully began my descent.
"Careful,don't step on Hope's head."
"He's still there? Tell me, why did you kill him in the first place?"
"Unlike you two, who came here to find a lost child or make a boat to run and call for help from the invaders, he was here to steal whatever riches were left by the Unuts."
"I thought you hated the Unuts. Why guard their riches?"
"I just don't like the idea of something being stolen from where I used to work. I have standards. Also, he was being very loud, and I hate loud people."
To each their own, I guess. But I can't keep wasting time here,I need to find Rose.
Without further delay, I turned the handle and opened the door to the basement.
There should be more stairs in front of me.
Once again, I placed my hand on the wall and made my way downstairs.
Once I reached the bottom, I called out,
"Rose, are you there?"
...
No response. Something must have happened.
Right now, the stairs are behind me, so in front of me:
There's the prison where Angel is locked up, and right next to it should be the door leading to the ritual room.
I should walk straight until the iron stick hits the iron bars of the prison.
Hmm...?
The iron stick?
Where is it?
Damn it all! I forgot it upstairs.
"What's wrong?" the maid asked, confused by my motionless state.
"I forgot the iron stick on the second floor. It's hard to find my way without it."
"Raise your arm and open your hand."
I did as she said. Suddenly, I felt something long and thin in my hand.
"Is this the iron stick?"
"No, it's a cane. Does it matter?"
"No, thank you."
"Just go and find Miss Rose."
"On it."
This cane should be as useful as the iron stick.
I'll use it to help me stay balanced and know when I'm close to the iron bars.
*Step*
*Step*
*Step*
*Thud*
I hit the iron bars.
Thankfully, the cane didn't slip between the bars and make me hit my head again.
Now, I'll just walk along the bars until I reach the door.
*Step*
*Step*
After a few steps, I found the wooden door.
I held the handle and turned it to open the door.
I yelled as soon as I opened the door, "ROSE!"
"You? Why are you here?" I heard Rose's voice.
I'm so glad she's safe.
I can't describe the relief I'm feeling right now.
"You took your time, so I got worried."
"I'm fine, but there's a slight issue."
"Yeah, you forgot the eyes on the second floor."
"I forgot them? What do you mean? I have them right here."
"Huh? Then what am I holding?"
"It's a jar filled with regular water. There's a leaf inside."
"But the maid told me it was the eyes in the jar?"
"Did I? When?" the maid's voice echoed through the room.
"Oh, dam-"
Oh damn you! what I wanted to shout at her, but my emotions got the better of me, making me calm as an emotionless rock.
"Why did you even make me walk over here for? I hurt my back coming here."
"You hurt your back? What happened? Are you okay?" asked Rose.
"Physically? The pain is gone, but emotionally, I'm in immense pain."
"Oh, don't exaggerate. I was just, hmm... how do you say it in youngsters' words? Oh right, 'messing' with you." Maid responded.
"What did I ever do to you?"
"You were born."
"That's harsh and out of my control."
"There's a part of me that wants to take revenge on you, but I've seen your memories and know you're innocent,so is your father. But I can't forgive your mother."
"Then take your revenge on her, not me."
"Alas, she's not here, so you'll suffice. Besides, considering what I could have done, this is just a joke."
Take your joke and shove it up your...
My emotions still kept me calm, restraining what I really wanted to say.
She continued,
"And you were going to come here anyway. I just made the journey more interesting."
You could make it more interesting by disappearing from the journey for good.
That would add some thrill for sure.
At least I managed to think that.
"Well, jokes aside, Miss Rose, tell us what you're struggling with," the maid asked Rose.
"It's your body,it refuses the eyes. I've already performed the ritual seven times."