On the outside, the mansion had long surrendered to the elements around it. Weeds and vines had already grown up the outer walls and broken through the windows. Weeds and an array of sweet-smelling, kaleidoscopic wildflowers of varying shapes had long taken over the mansion's front lawn, where insects based and zipped about. The flowers were a nice touch, or so Aizen thought; he enjoyed their smell in the breeze as he approached the building. A tall wall surrounded the lawn with iron spikes at the top to ward off intruders. The grass was tall to his calves. Aizen imagined the grass was once kept short and pristine instead of its unkempt condition. Dark green bushes and once carefully spaced foliage lined the bottom of the home, the bushes now wild in shape from a lack of care and flowers grown into bunches.

"Snap!"

Aizen spun about, his hand clasping his blade and pulling it half-drawn. His eyes scoured the surrounding area until he sighted a nearby rabbit beneath a tree. Aizen sheathed his sword as the rabbit scurried off. To Aizen's pleasure, there were no signs of corpses. He looked about, and the coast seemed clear, with no corpse in sight from where he stood. Aizen looked back towards the broken gate entrance along the cobbled pathway leading up to the house's front door.

The mansion's outer walls were rotting and covered in slippery grime where the vines had not taken root. The exterior wall of the first-floor dining room had already collapsed. The hole revealed a long table with ornate dining chairs. The table was lain with a tattered red cloth, and the utensils and dinnerware of dazzling silver glimmered in the sunlight. Aizen entered the abandoned home through the front door.

He was pleasantly surprised to find the foyer primarily untouched by time, as opposed to the smell of stale air mixed with rotting wood. A crystal chandelier covered in grime and supported the hanging cobwebs hung from the ceiling. Where the grime allowed, it reflected the light from the large round window above the front entrance, glittering the walls and floors with specs of light. The foyer had a simple tan armchair and a little wooden round side table in the corner next to a tall window, all covered in years of dust. On the side table lay a water-stained book whose cover had faded to where Aizen could not read the title.

As he entered the neighboring lounge, his footsteps echoed along the ceiling and walls of the foyer. Aizen was happy that the smell of rotting wood had been replaced by a musty smell of dank furniture. The lounge room was filled with several cushioned chairs and couches around the room's edges, which were stained with time. The furniture sat on a smudged giant red carpet, covering the floor nearly from corner to corner. The rug itself was expertly crafted with meticulous patterns and intricate shapes.

The walls were decorated with portraits of the home's family but were now hanging by a thread, and the majority of them lay shattered on the ground, the pictures torn and stained beyond recognition. The only portrait unaffected by time was the giant family portrait that hung over a brick fireplace. Aizen recognized the older gentleman in a large family portrait. It was the same man who had sent him on this mission. The picture was of his client, his wife, and their three children. The eldest was a girl, and the two younger children were boys. They all seemed happy.

Aizen pulled a sheet of parchment from his pocket. Scribbled across it was a series of instructions. Aizen read the instructions to himself-

"Enter through the front entrance. Proceed down the passageway to the stairwell and ascend to the third floor."

Aizen looked back up at the man in portrait and smirked.

"Almost done, old man. Just be patient," Aizen said, giving him a thumbs-up. Aizen exited the room and went into a small library. The library had a large window extending from corner to corner and floor to ceiling; looking through it, one could enjoy a magnificent view of Mount Eskandar. Around the large window was a sitting area with withered armchairs and a small dusty coffee table before it with a single teacup atop its saucer. The insides of the teacup were stained black, and the bottom had gathered enough dirt and grime that it grew mushrooms amongst the fuzzy mold. Beneath the coffee table, Aizen could see an old book lying open on the ground. The other walls of the room were lined with shelves containing books on subjects ranging from history to fantasy.

Aizen walked before the large window and gazed upon the mountain in awe. He wondered what living in this magnificent house would have been like. Aizen hailed from Kaysar, a townlet northeast of Meold. The differences between the two towns were stark. Kaysar, a farming town, lacked defensive walls and only housed a small unit of guards ill-equipped to handle large raids of monsters.

In comparison, the mining town Meold was the largest city in East Ferrisia, excluding the Capital Meiarldorn. But the main difference was the great mountain Eskandar and its majestic beauty, standing taller than all the rest, its snow crown adorned atop its green trees and steep cliff sides. From Kaysar, Mount Eskandar is barely visible, but here, Aizen could take in the view, something he has only been able to do a few times in his life.

Aizen tore his eyes away from the mountain view. He had a job to do. Aizen inspected the large kitchen with a long island countertop in the center. The floors were covered in dirt. He didn't notice any signs of human life, but he saw some tracks of the local fauna that had been left behind in recent days. The old food, plate-ware, pots, and pans were strewn about the kitchen; some pans were dented on the flat side. An adjacent door leading outside was wide open, surrendering the kitchen to the outdoors and all that came with it. He paid it no mind and continued down the hallway, inspecting each closet he passed to ensure he would not be caught off guard.

Aizen peered into the rooms as he passed by. One room had been neatly maintained from the placement of little portraits on the bedside tables and a linen cover atop the dresser. The bed curtains were drawn back and neatly secured by a golden rope tied in perfectly. The bed was decorated with several small pillows, neatly placed before the larger pillows meant for sleeping. Aizen could not tell if this was a family member's room or a guest room, not that it mattered today.

Aizen went to open the adjacent room. He turned the handle, and the door opened slightly then quickly shut it. Aizen gagged. A sickening odor permeated through the doorway. A smell Aizen was more familiar with than he cared to admit. The stench of the corpses. A foul, rotting decay lingered in the air and stung the nostrils of all who caught wind of the stench. However, Aizen was determined to see the inside.

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Aizen took a deep breath, turned the handle again, and tried to open it before being blocked by something on the other side. Aizen noticed the door had scratch marks on the edge and along the frame. The gap was just wide enough for Azen to stick his head inside. The bed dragged from the opposite side of the room barred the door, judging by the scratch marks on the wooden floor.

Black stains smeared and spattered across the walls. The windows were busted open. The pillows were ripped, and feathers covered the floor like snow. Sheets were scattered in bunches, damp with mildew. One set lay upon the floor, stained black.

The white, unstained edges of the black-stained sheets wafted and waved with the wind coming through the window, revealing something beneath—a dark and motionless figure. Aizen focused more on it. The figure was slender and short. The arms were flayed, and the chest was sunken and torn asunder until he realized he was looking upon the body of a child.

Aizen shut the door quickly; dry-heaving, he could no longer stand the stench. He put his hands together and prayed silently to the Goddesses. He then placed his hand on the door, rubbed the rough wood with his palm, and proceeded down the hallway.

Aizen's eyes widened as he took in the sight of the rotunda stairwell, now a chaotic heap of shattered steps and crumbling debris. The stairs had collapsed into a pile on the rotunda floor, leaving a large pile of partially intact rubble. There were outlines of the stairwell along the walls of the rotunda. The walls were barren up to the once ornately crafted glass dome ceiling. Many of the glass panes of the dome had shattered over time, letting bright rays of light shined through the gaps like spotlights. The broken glass panes also allowed moss, vines, and other plant life to string through the gaps and droop into the empty open air of the stairwell.

The ruined stairwell would deter ordinary Voidling, but it was child's play for Aizen. With a jump and burst of energy from his force stone, Aizen could quickly leap to the next floor. The floor creaked loudly as he landed. The hairs on his neck stood on end, so he listened intently for any movement in the home. He could hear the wind howling through the holes and busted-out windows. The house creaked and felt like the building leaned as the wind pushed against its outer walls.

On the inside, he didn't hear a thing. Aizen took a large breath, relieved he hadn't alerted any corpses. He wondered if corpses were in the house but immediately shook his head. Corpses have excellent hearing. If the creak of his landing didn't alert them, then likely there were none present in the home-

"Still, I must be careful-"Aizen whispered to himself, "There could be others."

Aizen then immediately remembered the bell at the town's entrance. He did not get a chance to inspect it, but at a glance, it looked like a person had placed it recently. With the stairs being out, it would be easy for anyone to hide on the upper floors. Aizen drew his blade. He grew angry with himself. How could he have forgotten about the damn bell?

Aizen crept through the halls, examining each room he passed, making sure he was alone. He was not one to take risks if he could avoid them. One time, on an expedition to the ruins of Westeria to the south of Meold. He encountered a Voidling woman taking refuge in an abandoned temple on the outskirts of the town.

Aizen stumbled upon her by surprise, and of course, they engaged in combat under false pretenses. She was skilled with aetherite gems, even rivaling Aizen. Having misunderstood the other's intentions, it was too late to negotiate when a corpse horde was upon them. The two went their separate ways just in time to escape the horde, and Aizen had not seen the woman since. Aizen thought of the woman often. He wondered where she was now or if she still resided in that dilapidated temple.

Aizen had been checking every corner and examining every room since that day to avoid another unnecessary situation. Aizen examined the entire floor and inspected every room before moving to the next floor. Shortly after leaping to the third floor, he heard a loud "THUMP" and the sound of hurrying feet. The hair on Aizen's neck stood still. The noise came from down the hall. Aizen pulled out his instructions and read over them-

'-ascend to the third floor. Head right down and enter my study at the end of the hallway. It is in the top left drawer of the desk. Retrieve the box.'

Aizen stuck the instructions in his pocket and slowly began creeping down the hallway. He attempted to make as little noise as possible. He did not want to combat with whoever was in the building, so avoiding a fight was his top priority. There were three doors along the right side of the hallway before he could reach the study. Aizen questioned whether it would be wise to check those rooms. If he did, then it could startle whoever was there.

He noticed a hole in the wall as he approached the first door. He peeked through. It was a large bedroom with a canopy bed made with red and white linens, and the canopy hoisted red drapes. The fabrics were made from fine materials but had begun to wither with age and a lack of care. Otherwise, the room was quite bare. Aizen assumed it was a guest room. He approached the next door and listened intently. He did not dare to open the door. He couldn't tell if anyone was on the other side.

Suddenly, feet thumped in the room at the end of the hallway. Aizen tightened his grip around the handle of his blade. Aizen's heart raced, not with fear, but with the calculated caution of someone who knew the value of conserving his strength for the right moment.

He skipped the third door on the right and proceeded straight to the door to the study. Aizen was no longer concerned with checking the rooms. He assumed the rooms were empty, given the state of the stairwell. Aizen doubted a corpse could climb to the third floor even if it tried. He could hear something on the other side. Aizen drew a deep breath. Aizen concentrated on the amber jewel in his sword, and the blade began to hum. The blade started to change color, first to flame red, then to scorching white. The heat emitted from the jewel is absorbed into the conduit blade, making it hot enough to slice steel like butter effortlessly.

Aizen calmed his nerves and slowly reached for the doorknob, gripping it as delicately as possible. With a gentle turn of the knob, Aizen was able to open the door a crack and take a peek inside. The hair on his neck was as sharp as needles when he saw a human cloaked in black in the room. They were looking for something but searching calmly, keeping everything in its place as they looked. Aizen found this peculiar. Most scavengers tear the place apart, looking for anything that can make them some gold. This person, however, did not strike Aizen as the scavenging type.

Aizen calmed his breathing, preparing himself for the worst. His mouth felt dry from anxiousness. He had found himself in an unavoidable situation once more. However, Aizen trained his eye on the cloaked figure as they searched the room. Aizen was curious about what they were looking for, but that is when he saw the figure's glowing yellow eyes.

'I see...' Aizen thought to himself. Aizen focused more on the figure as they faced the door. Aizen leaned closer to the crack in the door, positioning his foot for better support. The cloaked figure turned their back to the door to inspect a cabinet. Aizen frowned and straightened himself, moving his foot - 'Creek!'

Stunned, Aizen felt cold sweat upon his brow. His foot pressed on a loose floorboard. The cloaked figure flinched and glanced at the door. Readying their hands that emitted a bright golden light. Aizen gulped. The figure turned its head forward, facing the cabinet, and Aizen could see it tense up. Their head turned to the door again. They knew.