Weekend, outside the Zeris Academy.
Eric walked with purpose, looking around at what the city where the Academy was located, Zeris City, had to offer. This wasn't his first time walking around the city, so he knew pretty well where he was going.
The buildings in this city are very diverse, with lodgings offering a wide range of services, shops selling various daily necessities, and restaurants and eateries serving cuisines from around the world. There's a saying that if you can't find what you're looking for in this city, then chances are you won't find it anywhere else.
"You know you don't have to follow me, brat," Eric said without turning to look at the person behind him. The wimpy boy, aka Jeremy, fiddled with his fingers, "It's-it's okay! I'm here on my own!"
Eric sighed and said nothing more. A few days ago, his homeroom teacher Professor Anthony dropped a shocking bombshell that if Eric couldn't keep up his grades, he would undoubtedly have to repeat the year.
He wasn't an academic person back on Earth, but hearing the term 'repeating a year' made his blood boil. Thus the glasses professor offered him 2 choices: taking some supplementary lessons or doing some research field. The professor said there were no restrictions on research topics and themes, so Eric chose the latter.
"Yo-you see..." Jeremy fumbled through his words, "...if my grade worsened, my father would reduce my allowance...so I'm here in hope fi-finding something worth researching..." the boy took a deep breath. "And coincidentally you also took it. It-it's better with 2 people, right...? I c-can help you write the report!"
Eric ignored him and strolled through the market. When he was in front of a small bakery, he stopped and entered without hesitation. The aroma of freshly baked bread filled the room, the clerk grinned and waved at him.
"Oh! If it's the old man Eric!"
"The unruly Jack, finally revived from his backache. Looks like the world will end tomorrow!"
"Gah! You got me there!"
The two men exchanged firm handshakes. Jeremy puzzled because of the contrast between a middle-aged man and a teenager, as if they are long friends.
"You've brought your friend here! I guess you finally made your debut, eh?"
Hearing the teasing, Eric only clicked his tongue but let out a small laugh. "Whatever, brat. Give me the usual. Also, I have something to ask."
The man quickly packed some buns and pastries into the bag. "Sure. What is it?" replied the man while giving the bag.
Eric slides his silver coin into the counter. "You see, me with this young brat here in a pinch. We're looking for something that is worthy to research. Got anything in mind?"
"Something to research? Hmmm...in my personal opinion, you have to go outside this metropolitan city...or you can ask some antique shops to research their displayed artifacts...most students did that."
"Taking too long." Eric crossed his arms. "We need to write the report today. I absolutely won't bother with permits and such."
"Indeed...hmm..." the man pondered deeply. "Oh! I just remember! You okay with creepy stuff? There is this abandoned mansion located on the outskirts of the city" the man leaned in. "Back then, the mansion was used by a rich merchant as the official branch of his company but after some strange events, the mansion has been abandoned to this day."
The man whispered, "Some people said the mansion became haunted, with strange noises coming from the inside. Some people claimed there had been a demon sighting! Hoohoo!"
"Hiieeekk!?" Jeremy jumped in fear. Eric furrowed his brows, contemplating about the mansion. "This could be worth it."
"I'll take your words. See you soon."
"Wait, you serious? Don't go blame me if you pissing your pants, okay!?" The man yelled at Eric, who was walking out of the store. Taking a quick carriage, the two of them finally arrived at the mansion around afternoon.
***
A three-story mansion stood before them. The paint on the building was peeled and worn, broken windows rattled in the wind, wild and unkempt bushes grew everywhere, and cracks along the walls added to the eerie atmosphere.
"Er-Eri-Eric! Y-y-you sure about this!?"
"We don't have much time to find another topic. Stop chickening out, get your ass here." Both of them squeezed through the broken front gate and stepped into the front yard.
The wind suddenly howled, sweeping the fallen leaves across the ground. The cold air touched their skin, and Jeremy shivered as he looked around. Eric stared at every window in the mansion.
Some windows still had torn blinds or curtains. Eric stared at a window on the third floor, with dirty white curtains fluttering in the wind.
A woman in a stained white dress with hollowed eyes stared back at him.
When he blinked, the woman vanished, leaving only a dark room behind the curtain. Eric smiled deeply, thinking coming here was the right choice.
Eric was in front while Jeremy walked behind him. The wimpy boy pinch Eric's jacket, trembling but still tried to follow him.
Opening the huge door, dust rose in the air. The main room was spacious, with chairs and tables to greet guests covered in thick cloth. On the right and left were staircases leading to the second floor. Standing in the middle, Eric could see the second and third floors from his current position. The mansion was very dark, and the two students were only aided by the sunlight from outside.
"H-how about we continue t-tomorrow morning, Eric? Soon night will come, y-you know?"
"Nah, told you this is our only chance. C'mon."
The two of them circled the first floor room and opened each of the doors. The doorknob hinged at the sudden twist, and the inner room was exactly like the main hall. With various wooden shelves, tables and chairs that had been eaten away by time.
"Looks like this floor functioned as a reception hall, for greeting guests." Eric said absentmindedly. Jeremy didn't answer and just nodded nervously.
They proceed to make their way to the second floor, choosing the stairs on the right. But when they arrived, they heard something.
Clutter…
The sound of metal falling from a distance.
Thump, thump, thump…
The sound of someone running.
"Hiiieeek!?" Jeremy squealed, "...wha-what is it!?"
"Meh, maybe a burglar or thief? Some dumb people must think there's still something valuable left in this mansion." Eric stepped forward as he said this. The second floor had various rooms and was in the same condition as the first floor, but what set it apart was that the rooms on the second floor had beds and wardrobes.
"Servants' quarters, I guess?" Eric murmured. When they had explored all the rooms on the second floor and were about to head to the third floor, they heard something else.
Hehehehehehe
The faint laughter of a woman echoing throughout the floor.
Fiuh…
And someone blowing air in their ears.
Come
"Hiieeek!?" Jeremy jolted and squeezed Eric's arm. The experience was so surreal, as if someone was laughing directly inside their head and blowing whispers right next to them. Jeremy was so speechless that on the way to the third floor, he just fell silent and trembled.
When they reached the third floor, they began to smell the sweet scent of flowers wafting through the hallway. "You smell that, brat?" asked Eric, fanning himself to make sure he wasn't mistaken.
"Ye-yeah, I smell it too... wa-wait, Eric. I have a bad feeling about this floor..." Eric ignored Jeremy's pleading and continued deeper into the main hallway of the third floor.
The third floor also had many rooms, and each room had the same features as the second floor but was more luxurious. "If I had to guess, this floor is for the merchant's main family...hmmm..."
When the two of them had finished exploring several rooms and entered the next room, they found something terrifying.
"Hiiieekkk!? Corpses!?"
A pile of skulls and corpses in a room greeted them. The corpses and skulls were wearing various clothes, and from their lightweight clothing, Eric could draw a conclusion. "Thieves and burglars..."
But the strangest thing about the corpses was that they had died unnatural deaths. There were no signs of wounds from magic, sharp objects, or blunt objects on their bodies. Only shriveled corpses remained, their skin looking fragile and dry.
"A sweet smell...unnatural corpses...! Eri-Eric! We have to get out of here!" Jeremy's tears pooled in his eyes with a pale expression. "These are signs-"
All the windows and doors in the mansion suddenly slammed shut, and some objects fell from the tables and the chairs suddenly moved on their own.
"Hiieekkk!?"
"Poltergeist..."
The two of them were locked inside the room, but Eric casually destroyed the door by blasting it to pieces. Stepping over the remains of the door, Eric and Jeremy returned to the main hallway on the third floor and saw a large door that was strangely still wide open, as if untouched by the recent phenomenon.
Eric approached the door without hesitation and entered the room. This room was more luxurious than the others because it had an expensive-looking chandelier, a king-sized mattress, and fancy wardrobes.
Some chairs and tables were still standing, covered in thick dust. There was no one else in the room except the two of them.
"Huh, what a letdown. Here I thought there was something interesting."
"No, no, Eric! We have to go! Y-you don't understand what is going on inside this mansion!"
"Okay, okay, brat. We go, alright? We already have enough material to make a report-"
They turned their heads in unison toward the king-sized mattress.
Because they saw a long black-haired woman combing her hair while singing a hymn.
Hmmm...~ hmmm...~
The hair was dirty, caked in grime and soot, yet the woman persisted in combing it. Her stained white dress was covered in dried blood and dust. The woman was sitting on the mattress with her back facing them.
"Prepare yourself, brat..." Eric smiled widely. "...looks like we're not alone here."
The woman stopped singing and silently turned her head. Her eye sockets were empty, and when she smiled, decayed teeth and squirming maggots came out of her mouth.