David awoke with a jolt, his senses overwhelmed by the strange and oppressive atmosphere of his surroundings. He found himself sprawled on the creaky wooden floor of a desolate, abandoned house. The air was heavy with dust and decay, carrying an eerie, almost palpable sense of abandonment. Disoriented and grappling with fragmented memories of his death, rebirth, and the mysterious system he now possessed, David quickly realized that he had no choice but to understand where he had landed.
The house seemed to belong to a different era, its architecture reminiscent of a classic haunted mansion. The walls were crumbling, and the stench of decay permeated the air. Rising to his feet, David took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. As he ventured out into the main hall, the sight before him was both grand and grim. The ballroom-like space was vast, though its grandeur had long faded. Dust-covered chandeliers hung precariously from the ceiling, their shattered crystals scattered across the floor like forgotten tears. Twin staircases spiraled upwards, leading to the second floor, which seemed to contain a dozen or more rooms based on the layout. Despite its current dilapidated state, traces of the mansion's former opulence were evident in the intricate moldings and faded wallpaper.
David began his exploration with caution, stepping over broken furniture and debris. Each room he entered was a shell of its former self, filled with old, mold-ridden furniture that appeared ready to collapse at the slightest touch. In one room, he discovered a study with shelves lined with books written in a language he did not recognize. Among the dusty tomes, one book stood out due to its ornate design. After a moment's hesitation, David decided to utilize the system's store to learn the language at a basic level, spending 15 points. The ease with which he navigated the system interface, without the need for endless scrolling, provided a small comfort in this unsettling environment.
The book appeared to delve into magic theory, though many pages were marred by mold. David skimmed through it, his curiosity piqued but his frustration growing as he realized the information would be difficult to extract. He put the book back on the shelf and continued his exploration, moving through more ruined rooms filled with tattered sofas, rotting tables, and chairs that seemed to dissolve under the weight of time.
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In one of the first-floor rooms, David’s heart skipped a beat as he stumbled upon a massive skeleton. The bones were reminiscent of a dinosaur, but with the added feature of wings. Although the skeleton was far smaller than the colossal dragons he had imagined—about 20 meters long—the sight was enough to instill a primal fear. Overcome with dread, he hurriedly left the room, his mind racing with unsettling thoughts.
The next room offered a sight that was even more unnerving. A skeleton lay peacefully on a decaying bed, dressed in what appeared to be expensive clothes and adorned with jewelry. Clutched in its skeletal hands was a piece of paper. The sight of the skeleton, seemingly frozen in time, filled David with trepidation, but he steeled himself. He recalled the horrors he had faced as a firefighter—charred bodies, trapped victims—and forced himself to confront this new fear.
Summoning his courage, David approached the bed and carefully took the paper from the skeleton's grasp. The message was brief but poignant:
“To you who has come to this old man’s mansion, I would like to ask for a favor. Free this soul of mine from this world, and I will be utterly grateful to you.”
At the bottom of the paper was a chant written in a language David could barely decipher. He hesitated for a moment but then began to recite the words aloud. As he spoke, the paper ignited in his hands, burning away in an instant. An ethereal figure began to materialize before him—a bearded old man, his transparent form glowing faintly in the dim room.
"Thank you, young man," the ghostly figure said, his voice a soft echo. "I do not know how you came to this forsaken land and entered my humble abode, but know that I will be forever grateful to you. I have written a small diary in my spare time that may prove useful to you. It is located in the drawer to the right of the bed."
The old man’s form began to dissolve, his body turning into a fine powder that drifted to the floor, sparkling in the darkness. David stood motionless, his mind reeling from the encounter. The sight of the ghostly figure fading away left him in a state of shock, but he knew he had no choice but to press on.
Determined to uncover more of the mansion’s secrets, David approached the drawer mentioned by the ghost.