Episode 1

Where is this? Where am I? Why is it so dark? The girl thought to herself, her mind racing as she struggled to make sense of her surroundings. She couldn't remember how she got here, or where "here" even was. Panic gnawed at her chest as her hand reached out, fumbling in the darkness, desperate for some sign of light. 

Her breath hitched as she forced herself to open her eyes. The first thing she noticed was the ceiling—a strange one, unfamiliar and cold. It was ornate, with intricate carvings that she didn't recognize. It wasn't her bedroom, not in the least.

She sat up quickly, her body stiff and unsteady, trying to gather herself. The room felt strangely distant, as though she were an outsider peering into someone else's life. She glanced around, searching for clues, but found none. The room was sparsely furnished, with only a large four-poster bed beneath her and a small wooden shelf near the corner. There were no windows. Nothing to tell her where she was or how she got there.

The silence pressed on her chest. She had to leave. She needed to get out.

Standing shakily, she approached the door. It was old and wooden, with a brass handle that gleamed faintly in the low light. Her hand reached for the handle, but it wouldn't budge. Desperate, she scanned the room, looking for a key. There—on top of the shelf, hidden behind a stack of old books. She grabbed it, her fingers trembling as she inserted it into the lock. The door creaked open.

The first thing she saw was a long corridor, dimly lit by sconces on the walls. The floor was polished wood, the air thick with the scent of age. She felt a strange pull to move forward, as though an invisible force guided her steps. 

As she walked down the hallway, the portraits on the walls caught her eye. Faces, eyes staring back at her, frozen in time. She didn't recognize any of them. The faces blurred as she walked, her mind struggling to find meaning in them. But one portrait, in particular, made her stop.

It was a painting of a man and a woman. The man was striking, with pale blue-violet eyes and messy mauve hair, the tips fading to a soft lavender. He was smiling brightly, his eyes alight with something she couldn't quite place. The woman beside him was equally captivating, with long dark blue ombre hair cascading down her back, but there was something strange. Her face—her face was blank. There was no expression, no features. Just a void.

Her heartbeat quickened.

What is that noise? she thought, her ears catching an odd, distant sound. It was faint at first, but as it grew louder, she turned her head instinctively.

The sound came from somewhere to her right, a rustling like footsteps—or something else? She looked toward the source, her eyes narrowing in confusion, but when she turned back to the portrait, it was gone. 

Her breath caught in her throat. She stepped back, looking around the hallway. Had she imagined it?

The strange noise returned, closer this time, almost like a whisper. She hesitated but followed it. The noise led her to a large wooden door at the end of the hall. Hesitating, she pushed it open.

She stepped into a grand dining area, and the sight that greeted her made her stop dead in her tracks. The room was grand, with a long dining table set with fine china and silverware. The smell of food lingered in the air, rich and inviting. It seemed freshly prepared, but who...?

Before she could take another step, a voice startled her.

"Hmm... It's been so long since I've spoken to a human..." The voice was smooth, melodic, and somehow familiar.

Renee froze. Slowly, she turned to see the man standing in the doorway. The man from the portrait. His smile was warm, but his eyes—they were the same eyes from the painting. The same sadness lingered behind them, and yet, there was something different in the air between them now.

"Say, " the man spoke, his voice playful. "Would you like to have some tea? " He gestured toward the table, motioning for her to sit. 

Renee, still wary, didn't respond with words. She didn't know what to say or if she could even trust him. But after a moment, she felt an odd sense of calm settle over her, as if she could sense no immediate danger from him. Tentatively, she took a seat at the table.

The man pulled out a chair and sat down beside her, a look of curiosity in his eyes. He seemed unbothered by the silence that hung between them. "I see you're silent. Can't speak, huh? "

Renee just nodded, her fingers gripping the edge of the table. She was still trying to process everything—where she was, why she was here, and why this man looked so familiar.

"Oh, you can't talk? " he asked again, his voice tinged with a soft, amused lilt.

She shook her head.

The man gave her a gentle smile and then pushed a notebook and pen toward her. "Here. Use this. I'll understand whatever you write. " 

Renee hesitated for a moment, then took the pen and began to write.

'Who are you? Why am I here? ' she wrote, her hand trembling slightly as she handed him the notebook.

He read the words, then chuckled softly. "Why you're here? Well, I guess it's fate that brought you here. "

Renee frowned, unconvinced by his vague answer. She waited, her eyes fixed on him, demanding more.

"As for who I am... You'll know soon enough, " he added with a bright smile, but there was a flicker of something—something sad—beneath his cheer.

Renee continued to stare at him, her patience unwavering. She needed answers.

The man, sensing her silence, sighed. "Do you at least remember your name? "

She thought for a moment, the name tugging at the edges of her mind like an echo from the past. It took longer than it should have, but finally, it clicked.

Renee. That was her name. 

She quickly wrote it down and showed him.

"Renee, " the man repeated the name softly, his eyes narrowing with a strange expression. For a fleeting moment, his face softened with a sadness she couldn't explain.

'Where is this place? ' Renee asked, her fingers writing the question down on the paper.

"This mansion is in Eudaemonia, " the man answered, his tone more serious now. "You remember about Eudaemonia, right? "

Eudaemonia. The name sparked something in her memory. She remembered hearing it before—an old kingdom, known for its grand academy, Daylight Horizon College. It was the second largest kingdom in the land, known for its influence and power. But that didn't explain why she was here.

'So… you're telling me that we're in Eudaemonia? ' she wrote again.

"Yes, " the man answered casually, his eyes twinkling. "But, you don't have to keep writing. I can understand sign language and lip reading, you know. "

Renee's eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed with annoyance. 'Then why didn't you say so earlier? ' she signed, her hands sharp and fluid. 

The man grinned at her reaction. "Well, it's more fun this way, " he chuckled.

Renee huffed, clearly frustrated, but curiosity continued to fuel her questions.

"Do you remember anything else? Other than your name? " the man asked gently.

Renee shook her head. The emptiness in her mind was overwhelming. 

The man leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the table as though in deep thought. Finally, his eyes lit up. "I know! You can stay here! " he exclaimed, as if he had just solved a grand puzzle.

Renee blinked, taken aback. 'Stay here? ' she wrote. Why would a stranger offer her a place to stay? What if he wanted something in return? There had to be a catch. 

"Well, since you don't remember anything, " he continued, "it's safe to assume you don't remember where you came from, right? "

He had a point. She couldn't deny that. But there was still something uneasy about the whole situation.

'How did I get here? ' Renee wrote, her eyes wide with apprehension.

The man's smile faltered slightly, and he looked away for a moment, almost regretful. "Well, I guess that story is for another time..." he said softly. "You must be feeling sleepy now…"

"But I just woke up, " Renee thought, but her eyelids began to grow heavier. Sleep, no matter how much she resisted, took over her mind.

"Goodnight..." the man's voice whispered, his words laced with an oddly soothing tone. His voice faded into the soft hum of a lullaby that seemed to fill the air around her.

And with that, Renee's world faded to black.