Two weeks had passed, and Alicarde had come to terms with his new reality. Though disheartened by the unexpected change in his name, he considered it a minor inconvenience. As long as his parents didn't mind or notice, it was fine.
To test the waters, he had called his mother, greeting her with, "It's your favorite son, Alicarde."
He repeated his new name a few times during the conversation, yet she didn't seem to notice anything unusual.
Alicarde was still somewhat bothered by the change, but he had accepted his circumstances.
"After all, it's not man who makes the circumstances; it's the circumstances that make the man," he sighed deeply, feeling as though he had been cornered into becoming a philosopher.
In the days that followed, he adjusted to life at the university, registering for electives and compulsory courses, and had begun to settle into his college routine.
He hadn't made many new friends, except for Anne, who had eventually become the class representative. It seemed more like she had been pushed into the role by the rest of the class; it was a stressful job, and no one had volunteered. Anne had been nominated and won by a landslide.
"She shouldn't have bombarded the professor with so many questions," he smiled, remembering her exasperated expression.
His life was surprisingly going well. He had finally explored most of the mansion, if not all of it, enough to find his way around. If he had to give a detailed description, it would be:
"The First Floor had a Grand Entrance Hall—a spacious foyer with high ceilings adorned with a chandelier and intricate molding. Next were the reception rooms: multiple elegant living rooms and a formal dining room furnished with plush sofas, antique furniture, and artwork, which, ominously enough, mostly consisted of weapons."
"Carrisa sure does love her weapons," he mused.
Still on the first floor, the entertainment areas included a large home theater with a state-of-the-art sound system, a billiards room, and a library filled with books and leather armchairs that stretched all the way to the third floor. The library caught his interest the most, well, second to the Game Room.
The kitchen was every chef's wet dream, with fancy gadgets, marble countertops, and a large island for casual dining. There was also an indoor swimming pool, alongside a fitness center and spa facilities complete with a sauna and jacuzzi. Staff quarters with separate living areas for the household staff. If he wasn't living here, he might have cursed the rich and their luxurious lifestyle.
Then there was the equally fancy Second Floor with suites—a luxurious retreat with a king-sized bed, a sitting area, fireplace, and a balcony overlooking the estate. Guest rooms and other posh accommodations filled the floor.
The Third Floor was mostly similar, although he hadn't checked all the rooms. The library extended all the way there, so there had to be places he hadn't seen yet—all in due time.
The Fourth Floor was where the real fun began. Carrisa seemed to favor this floor, which included an art gallery, a game room equipped with arcade games, PCs, and all sorts of other digital games—VR and some he didn't even recognize.
The true highlight was the Full Dive VR set, which he hadn't known existed. Although he could play with it, Amena prevented him from connecting to the network. After exploring a fully immersive world, he grew somewhat bored and switched to the regular games he knew, playing online.
Non-digital games included a ping pong table and other recreational activities, along with a sophisticated bar and lounge area with a selection of wines and spirits. Alicarde didn't particularly care for this part—he didn't drink, not at all.
The luxurious balcony that Carrisa favored was also on this floor.
The Fifth Floor housed an observatory—a domed room with telescopes for stargazing and panoramic views of the mansion's grounds, an alchemy room for Amena's maintenance, a music room, and a few more rooms he didn't bother opening.
Finally, the Sixth Floor featured the Master Suite—a cozy retreat where he lived with Carrisa. He had explored most of it, and there were many rooms, all posh and luxurious, befitting of a princess. Although he still couldn't see why he had to share a suite with her, he wasn't complaining—why would he when he was living the dream of every weeb, living with a beautiful woman?
Overall, the mansion was a marvel, boasting high-quality materials such as marble floors, rich wood paneling, and intricate moldings. Smart home technology seamlessly integrated systems for lighting, climate control, security, and entertainment, with a touch of something mystical—a feeling Alicarde couldn't quite put his finger on.
The elevators conveniently connected all floors, while the outdoor areas included meticulously landscaped gardens, a greenhouse, and two helipads for arrivals—truly extravagant in every sense.
During these days, Carrisa had been putting him through the basics of combat, teaching him how to sense his mana with breathing exercises. The mansion grounds were where he had been beaten up repeatedly during training.
'I would be dead if I could die' Alicarde wanted to curse
Alicarde didn't care to check the underground facilities, rumored to house an armory and sparring room built with reinforced and enchanted materials, along with a cellar and, deeper still, a dungeon.
He never bothered asking the maid where she parked the car. Carrisa had assured him he would be her immortal champion forever, so time was inconsequential—apparently, he had plenty of it.
Yet, amid all the grandeur, Alicarde couldn't shake a lingering sadness. Did this immortal existence mean he would outlast most of his human family—his parents, sisters, and other loved ones? Forever seemed like a lonely prospect.
Alicarde sighed, looking into the night.
He remembered what Carrisa had taught him. She had given him a basic rundown of the life he would now be living. She was from the Demiplane, a world different from Earth.
She had informed him that the world was divided into Earth, also known as the mundane world, and the Demiplane, a largely unexplored dimension inhabited by a myriad of supernatural creatures and fraught with dangers.
'The mundane world is influenced by various powers exerting their influence from the shadows, including the Order comprising all religious factions, the Magicians' Guild which is mostly mages—seriously, what did I expect? Of course, magic is real too—and last but not least, the Truth Association, predominantly alchemists.
They're more neutral, though, considering they trade with both worlds and are quite wealthy. There's also the World Government, clandestinely managing esper powers, along with various magic cabals, rogue esper groups, and lesser-known factions.'
She had taught him about innate abilities, more commonly referred to as esper powers in the mundane world. He had seriously considered them nothing but urban legends, including racial traits, fear, magic, ki, and finally, ether—supposedly his natural bane since it could affect the mind and soul.
She warned him that even if his body and soul were immortal, his mind was still his weakness.
Destroy that, and he would be as good as dead. She also mentioned enchanted weapons, potions, armor, trinkets, and charms with wondrous abilities. Whitewood Ash Tree and holy water, among other things.
"What a mess," he sighed.
He had been sitting on the balcony overlooking the estate grounds; his tea had already gone cold. Carrisa was also with him—it was, after all, the balcony on the fourth floor, a place she favored. He looked over the stone rails and spotted something moving in the mansion grounds. At first, it looked like a dog, but upon closer inspection, it seemed different—bigger, akin to one he had seen recently.
"Is that a wolf?" he asked, addressing Carrisa and the maid by her side. Upon hearing his words, Carrisa rose to her feet, followed by the maid, and soon stood by his side. Looking down at the approaching creature, she said,
"Amena, initiate a scan of that entity."
Her eyes flashed a light green hue, and a few seconds later, she answered,
"My scans have detected the presence of a supernatural entity, more commonly referred to as a skinwalker."
"Activate the defensive barrier," ordered Carrisa, her gaze never leaving the creature below.
Immediately, a thin, translucent blue light flashed around the mansion. Sensing this, Alicarde felt as though the mansion had been cut off from the outside world. Down below, the wolf stopped and sat on its hind legs, raising its head to look up at them, smiling eerily in a way a wolf should never be able to.