Wow... Mine thought in awe, looking at the hallways' details.

"Star, we need to keep walking," a security guard softly spoke.

"Ah, my apologies," Mine quickly started walking again.

The mansion was formidably large and pompous.

Mine walked through the ivory hallways, accompanied by the Host security guards. Expensive and some even rare paintings hung on the walls along with crimson velvet fabrics, which contrasted with the gold of the frames and the whiteness of the ivory on the floor. The windows were large and had a Gothic aesthetic, with arabesques on the frames and long curtains open, letting the moonlight shine through the corridors, which were already well-lit by chandeliers and sconces.

The train of Mine's dress was being held by security guards so that he wouldn't get it dirty on the floor of the hallways despite them being as clean as the shining chandeliers. As he walked, two more security guards joined the group and showed another way by pressing the nose of a gargoyle statue on the wall. Mine wrinkled her nose and entered the mysterious corridor. It was darker compared to the places he had just passed through. Still, it had the same refinements and noble, opulent air.

The only thing that didn't match the place was the gargoyle statues that gave Mine goosebumps.

"Here," a bodyguard said, interrupting Mine's walk. "Boss, Star is here."

They stopped behind a red veil with small, shiny stones that tinkled when the slightest wind made the thin veil dance. Behind the veil, shadows of a large throne, dancers, and other glowing things made Mine's eyes shine behind the mask.

Indeed, he's the Big boss. Mine thought, dusting his dress and fixing the mask.

"Let him in," a pleasant voice called, and all bodyguards nodded. "Come inside, My beautiful Star."

Passing through the semi-transparent veil and feeling its cold, soft surface, Mine entered the room and bowed as she had done in her presentation. When she raised her face, Mine saw the throne figure slowly rising.

The man was tall and had a robust physique. His body was partially covered by a soft black, pure cotton robe with red details. His face was also covered by a mask adorned in gold and black, matching the ornaments he had in his ears and hair. His confident, welcoming posture had notes of mystery as Mine's eyes fixed on the jagged scars on his arms and legs.

Despite the warm smile on his face and the hand outstretched to Star, there was something about the man that left a brief chill in Mine's stomach.

"It's an honor meeting you, Mr." Mine smiled, shaking hands.

"I'd say the same. Getting to know Star is a unique opportunity I loved to enjoy," the Host bowed. "You look beautiful. Did you like your outfit?"

Mine smiled sincerely and nodded. "Yes! I loved the dress, but the performance mask was a bit… suffocating," he chuckled.

"My apologies," the Host said sorrowfully.

"That's ok! I loved the second mask you sorted," Mine smiled again, his eyes glancing at the gargoyle statuses behind the throne.

The Host cheerfully smiled and offered a hand, which Mine held gracefully as the man gently guided him along the opulent room. They stopped in front of a highly adorned wall with a single gargoyle's head on the bottom of it.

"Mind for a walk? I'd love to show our Star the hidden beauties of this mansion," the Host touched the gargoyle's horns.

A 'Don't' Immediately rang in Mine's guts, but he looked at the Host then to the wall.

"Oh…" Mine looked at the gargoyle.

A 'Don't do it,' rang once again, but more urgently.

"Don't worry, we'll only walk," the Host warmly smiled. "And don't worry about our business, I'd like to cancel. There are many more interesting things we could do instead," he offered, and Mine felt half of the weight lift from his shoulders.

A 'Don't, please' rang, and Mine felt his legs freeze.

"A-ah… then… that's fine for me," Mine said, ignoring whatever his guts were screaming.

They walked through the open corridors, and Mine saw how different that wing was from the rest of the mansion, which looked more like a patchwork quilt. The floor was covered in gray, slightly textured porcelain tiles; there were no walls, just a medium-sized black grid with arabesques and occasional green vines intertwining between the metal. Sconces adorned the pillars and illuminated their path, who walked in silence.

Despite the beauty of the place, it seemed as cold as the marble of the few statues with crystal-clear water fountains that sparkled in the moonlight. It was like visiting a fairy tale garden.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" the Host finally said something, touching a small flower near the fence.

Mine breathed, looking at the flower, and his eyes glowed. "It indeed is beautiful," he smiled, feeling his hair glow beneath the wig.

Get out of there.

Mine immediately felt all his hair stand on end when the host touched his waist and removed his mask, revealing a pair of cold eyes with ruby-red irises. Quickly, Mine looked back and saw that the door they entered through had disappeared along with what looked like a wall. He stared at the path in front of them, and the corridor seemed endless.

There's something wrong here. Find a way out.

"I thought you'd like this place," the Host smiled, his eyes not matching the warm smile. "Don't make this face, I'm no threat," he chuckled and traced Mine's cheeks, slowly attempting to take his mask off.

Mine grabbed his own mask and interrupted that man's actions. "What is happening?" he frowned.

The man in front of him chuckled eerily and looked at the fountain in the garden. He said nothing in return and didn't seem to be willing to do so. Instead, he smiled a simple yet ghostly smile.

"I think we don't need masks here. You should take yours off as well."

"What do you mean? What is this place?" Mine gritted his teeth.

"I thought My dear Chronos would love this den I personally made considering your nature… you're very different from your uncle and aunt, so I needed to put extra effort into shaping the stones…" as he said, Mine could feel his body turning colder and the hand on his waist turning heavier. "I needed to build something better and suitable for you, my dearest and shiny Star."

"This…" Mine chuckled bitterly. "This is bullshit…" he voiced, not believing what his ears heard or what that being was in front of him.

"Bullshit? Ha ha ha ha!!!" the Host cackled a burst of loud laughter, not releasing Mine's waist. "Is this all bullshit… Mine Karawaga?"

-- CHARACTER SHEET --