Cassandra woke up in the detention cell at the north gate, startled awake in the middle of the second night. After being detained because the Adventurer Guild had declared her dead, it really ruined her day, if not her entire week. Grilled for twenty-four hours and beaten several times, they had finally left her alone to wait for the Adventurer Guild representatives to show up. Word eventually reached her ears that someone from her hometown was on their way to verify her status. Feeling a slight panic and afraid she would be taken back and sold, she spent most of her time trying to figure out how she could escape. There was nothing on her that could help her pick the lock, and looking over the lock itself revealed that she could easily escape if she had something to pick it with. Other than that, there was nothing much to do but dwell on Sandra's memories because somehow, magic could not be used within the cells. Who would have thunk? Yeah, I know, I'm childish.
Groaning from the beating she had taken, she thought of the Magic House, and her life there made her wish she had a chance to say goodbye to the few friends she did have, glad now that she had no pet to leave behind or a family to miss.
It was at that moment that she noticed a shimmering light in front of the jail cell door. She watched as a red door slowly materialized through magic. Not just any door, but the Magic House's red door, with its dragon head knocker holding an iron ring in its mouth and the multicolored fan-shaped glass window above it.
Hobbling off the bed, she painfully made her way to the door and touched it hesitantly, afraid it would vanish like a dream. Her shaking hand fell upon a skeleton key that was in the door lock. She had always criticized her mentor for not changing the lock, but he would simply nod and smile, saying he would think about it. Taking a deep breath, she turned the key in the lock, and with a long, slow creaking noise, the door swung open as she pulled the key out.
Her eyes widened with surprise as she gazed through the doorway into the familiar foyer of the Magic House. The hardwood floors gleamed as if they had recently been polished. Fifteen feet in front of her stood the grand mahogany staircase, adorned with a red runner and gold trim running down the center of the stairs. Hallways ran on both sides of the staircase, leading to two beautifully carved doors that led further into the house.
As she stared at the top of the stairs, a white mist covered the end of the stairway on the second floor, obscuring and blocking access to the upper level. Even the chandelier was enveloped in fog high above her head, though its soft glow reassured her that it was still there.
Cassandra leaned back from the doorway and peered around the edge, catching a glimpse of the bars of her jail cell. Leaning back in, she stole one last glance at the jail cell behind her before timidly stepping into the foyer of the Magic House. As she closed the door behind her, it clicked, causing her to jump in fright. She quickly reopened the door and once again saw her jail cell. Determined, she closed and locked the door, unaware of the distant sound of shouting and fighting as it closed. Breathing a sigh of relief, she turned and leaned against the door.
The foyer spanned approximately fifteen feet by twenty feet. On the right wall, two doors stood. One led to the closet, which she opened to reveal a ten-by-ten-foot room filled with coats, hats, scarves, gloves, men's and women's boots, and umbrellas—everything that people had lost at the house over the past few years. Next to the closet, a beautifully carved door led to the study. Turning around and surveying the opposite wall, she noticed the glass French double doors that opened into the sitting room. Two small hallways flanked the staircase, each leading to another carved door. The door on the right hallway featured a carving of a couple performing a ballroom dance, leading to a large ballroom and dining hall she remembered. Beyond that lay the magician's stage and theater, with seating for a thousand or more people. The other carved door depicted an image of a woman in an old kitchen, bent over a kettle in a large fireplace. It led to the kitchen and staff quarters. Cassandra checked the doors and unlocked them with her key, only to find that both doors revealed blank walls behind them. Even the secret doors on the side of the staircase opened to blank walls instead of storage rooms and workshops in the basement.
Pausing in front of the French doors, she realized that the paintings on the walls had changed. Instead of previous magicians who had performed at the Magic House, the paintings now depicted places she had been, towns she had visited, and the rat infested dungeon she had explored since arriving in this world.
Shaking her head in wonderment, she pushed open the double doors into the sitting room. The scent of lavender filled her nostrils, and she inhaled deeply. For the first time since coming to this world, she could smell fresh air, albeit not entirely clean due to her lack of a proper bath in days and the absence of clean clothing.
The sitting room exuded an ambiance of elegance with its walls painted in a soft eggshell white, accentuated by delicate flowery trim borders. Sunlight flooded the space through large windows and double glass doors that hinted at a picturesque garden beyond. Flowery curtains were artfully drawn aside, allowing the room to bask in the natural radiance. Even the oval white flowery rug atop the dark hardwood floor added to the room's brightness, creating a harmonious contrast. At the center of the rug, a stunning Astoria Grand sofa graced the room, adorned with a charming floral print and accompanied by several matching flowery pillows. Facing a white brick fireplace, two exquisite Contessa Baroque Throne chairs completed the seating arrangement, their pristine white upholstery in perfect harmony. The crackling fire emitted a comforting warmth, casting a gentle glow throughout the space.
On the coffee table, two glass pitchers captured one's attention—one brimming with refreshing lemonade, while the other held iced tea, complete with real ice and four upside-down glasses awaiting use. Adjacent to the pitchers, a teapot stood at the ready, filled with hot water to brew a steaming cup of tea from a tin brimming with fragrant tea leaves. Upside-down teacups sat gracefully on saucers, placed alongside the teapot on the coffee table, beckoning for a moment of indulgence. A silver plate, covered by a delicate glass dome, housed an assortment of delectable cakes, their arrangement tempting Cassandra's appetite. Having endured the deprivation of food during her time in the detention cell, the sight stirred a hunger in her stomach, which growled in response. Recalling the guard's vile act of spitting in her food and the dirty water she had been given, Cassandra's realization that she had been unable to heal herself due to the ineffectiveness of magic in the jail cell heightened her concern about the potential presence of harmful bacteria within her body.
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Wincing in pain, Cassandra instinctively placed one hand on her forehead while the other rested upon her heart. Summoning her magic, she cast a healing spell that surged through her, momentarily blinding her with its intensity. Stepping back, she experienced the powerful energy of the spell enveloping her, but instead of feeling drained, she felt rejuvenated and energized. To her astonishment, the wounds and bruises inflicted during her ordeal began to fade, dissipating within moments, and leaving her pain-free.
A smile graced Cassandra's face as she concluded her exploration of the room, marveling at the empowering aura emanating from the house. Contemplating the word "empowering," she recognized the immense advantage this place could provide if only its doors opened to other locations. Pacing around the room, she perused the collection of magazines carefully arranged on the side tables. Among them were diverse publications, ranging from magician's magazines to home decoration, woodworking, hunting, fishing, wedding, and even a magazine dedicated to mechanical science. She recollected the existence of an entire room in the basement filled with a wealth of magazines covering woodworking, cooking, and fashion. It was in that storage room that she and others had found invaluable inspiration and patterns. While Cassandra appreciated the convenience of internet resources, she cherished the tangible collection she had amassed prior to the internet's dominance, as they held a wealth of knowledge from a bygone era.
The enticing aroma of coffee immediately captures Cassandra's attention, drawing her gaze to the back of the room. There, she spots a well-arranged coffee maker and coffee cups on a table against the wall. Hurriedly, she makes her way over, pouring herself a cup and adding cream and a couple of sugar cubes. She relishes the delightful aroma before taking a satisfying sip, a contented sigh escaping her lips. She reflects on the fact that she never thought she would taste coffee again. Placing the empty cup down, she decides to investigate the doors beneath the coffee stand, where she discovers an assortment of different coffee brands, teas, and even instant chocolate milk. However, her puzzlement grows as she realizes there is no electrical cord or outlet for the coffee maker. As she contemplates this, another realization strikes her—the machine is not connected to any water source. Her gaze wanders around the room until it eventually lands on a door positioned to the far left of the fireplace—the very door that leads to the bathroom. With wide eyes, she rushes excitedly towards it.
The Magic House, originally built in the 1800s by a renowned magician, had once served as a family home before transforming into the headquarters for local magicians and entertainment groups. Over time, it underwent several updates to enhance its elegance and amenities, including the addition of a bathroom complete with a sink and shower. Stocked with towels, medicine, toiletries, and, most importantly, a functional shower, the bathroom became a cherished sanctuary within the house.
An hour later, Cassandra emerges from the bathroom, wrapped in a towel and using another to dry her hair. She lets out a contented sigh as she settles down on the couch, curling her feet up underneath her.
"A real flushing toilet and running water! Hot and cold water in the shower stall!" She exclaims, expressing her gratitude for the modern conveniences.
"I could stay here forever!" she declares, addressing the room with a sense of awe.
Contemplating whether to get up for another cup of coffee, Cassandra's gaze shifts to a large blank canvas hanging above the fireplace. The painting appears shrouded in mist, with a faint hint of a woman's figure lurking in the shadows. Before she can delve deeper into her thoughts, the alluring scent of coffee once again wafts into her awareness. Turning her gaze to the right, she spots a steaming cup of coffee resting on an end table, accompanied by a saucer with milk swirled into the dark liquid.
Feeling a touch of trepidation, Cassandra scans her surroundings but finds no one present. Tentatively, she reaches for the cup and takes a sip, relishing the taste of the coffee blended with milk and sugar, just the way she prefers it.
Raising the cup in a toast, she softly says, "Thank you," acknowledging the mysterious gift. Although the appearance of a cup of coffee next to her may seem strange or even eerie, Cassandra cannot bring herself to abandon the allure of coffee or the luxury of a functioning toilet. For now, she chooses to overlook the peculiar occurrences.
Cassandra awakens from her slumber on the couch, greeted by the tantalizing aroma of coffee, accompanied by cinnamon rolls and donuts adorning the coffee table. For a fleeting moment, she entertains the thought that she has returned to Earth, until her gaze settles on the mist-covered painting above the wooden mantle, and the grandfather clock in the corner chimes six o'clock.
Realizing she is still clad in a towel, she hastily makes her way to the bathroom.
Once again, an hour elapses as Cassandra emerges from the bathroom, feeling refreshed after indulging in a shower. Her clothes emit a pleasant clean scent, a rare luxury since her arrival in this unfamiliar world. The discovery of a razor to shave her underarms and legs, brings her a sense of sheer bliss. To her surprise, the towels she had used the previous night have been magically cleaned, folded, and neatly placed back in the towel closet.
Additionally, her clothes have been washed and expertly pressed, awaiting her on the vanity.
While Cassandra had explored the bathroom earlier, she discovered bandaids, antibiotics, and other essential medicines typically found in a medicine cabinet. However, what truly delighted her were the toiletries. Knowing that her period was still a few days away, she couldn't help but thank whatever benevolent forces had opened up the Magic House, expressing her gratitude from the bottom of her heart.
Realizing it was time to return and test whether the skeleton key could unlock her cell door, providing her with a means of escape, Cassandra found herself once again in the foyer. Her gaze lingered on the intricately carved door depicting a magician performing a magic trick, which led to the office. Shaking her head, she turned away and opened the front door, only to be assaulted by a repugnant stench of burnt flesh and, well, let's just say an indelicate word for "feces." Horrified, she stared at the charred remnants of the jail, momentarily losing herself in the shock. Without thinking, she hurriedly stepped through the doorway, and as the door closed behind her, the impact jolted her out of her daze. Coughing from the lingering smoke, she surveyed the burnt timbers and crumbling walls, remnants of the inferno that had engulfed the jail the previous night. As she turned around, she noticed the door fading away, and a man in uniform emerged from the debris on the other side of the damaged bars, staring at her with a mix of surprise and relief.
"Baron! I've found a survivor!" he exclaimed.
Cassandra muttered to herself, "Oh, Frack."