After traveling through the dense forest trail for what felt like hours, we finally reached the edge of a quiet clearing.

  And there it stood.

  My Master's house.

  A traditional minka, perfectly preserved and quietly majestic. It didn’t just stand in the landscape; it belonged to it.

  Woah...

  A sloped thatched roof caught the filtered sunlight, straw gleaming gold. The wooden exterior was aged yet polished. Cedar etched with delicate patterns that whispered of the hands that shaped them long ago.

  The entire house radiated something I couldn't name. Presence.

  The woman in the kimono stopped at the front, standing like a guardian statue. Her gaze, as unreadable as it was patient, finally settled on me.

  "The Master is inside, waiting for you."

  Master... I bet whoever lives here loves order and cleanliness. Oh... Am I gonna get whooped.

  My heartbeat faltered, just for a second. The woman stared at me, clearly not a fan of wasting time.

  I swallowed the lump of nerves in my throat and nodded, a simple gesture of thanks. She turned, and I followed, my footsteps light but hesitant. The house loomed larger with every step, the anticipation pressing down like a physical weight.

  And then, my eyes caught something.

  A banner. Hanging quietly along the entrance wall. Its fabric fluttered in the breeze, painted with the image of a strange, elegant flower. Its petals curled with unnatural sharpness, vibrant in hue, as though stained in ink and blood.

  Blood? It can't be, right?

  I stepped closer without thinking. Sniffed a few times. Doesn't smell metallic. Safe.

  "What is this flower icon on this banner?"

  The kimono lady turned, her expression softer now, as though she had been waiting for that exact question.

  "The flower you see is called Aconitum, commonly known as monkshood or wolfsbane. It represents the emblem of the House of Aum."

  "Wolfsbane, huh," I muttered.

  Bane? Doesn't it mean poison, or ruin? Gosh. What did I get myself into?

  The moment stretched. Her silence returned. I felt her gaze shift again. Tight, calculating. I nodded quickly and followed her lead. Best not to linger.

  The doors opened. And behind them wasn't a hallway. It was a garden. A perfect garden.

  Stone paths curled through beds of strange, vivid flora. Bamboo fountains gurgled gently. Moss blanketed the rocks like velvet, and the sunlight fell like soft gold upon the scene. Everything here had been placed, shaped, and designed. The tranquility was suffocating in its perfection.

  This reminds me of Iz's mansion. A sharp sting pierced my chest. Iz...

  At the edge of my eye, I saw a familiar flower. I reached out, drawn by instinct, fingers mere inches from a violet petal.

  Her grip caught my wrist, gentle but unyielding.

  "Be careful. Unlike ordinary flowers, these are extremely poisonous. Just one touch, and you can die from a torturous death."

  I pulled my hand back slowly.

  Poisonous flowers. On display.

  I didn't ask questions. I just followed.

  Inside, the minka house embraced me with a calm so complete it felt unnatural. Soft light filtered through the shoji screens, casting intricate shadows across the tatami mats. The smell of wood and earth lingered faintly in the air.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Every surface, every object, was steeped in intention. The woodwork, hand-carved and unblemished. Scrolls on the fusuma walls showed scenes of nature. Cranes over lakes, blossoms in wind, snow on bamboo. It was all… beautiful.

  Too beautiful.

  We arrived at a spacious room. Low-set tables. Cushions placed with geometric symmetry. A sound, soft and constant, filtered through the walls: water trickling from a nearby fountain.

  The lady gestured. I sat, twisting in place, overwhelmed by everything I wasn’t supposed to touch. Normally, I’d scream. Instead, silence pressed my mouth shut.

  Then a subtle aroma wafted toward me. Incense. Sweet and clean. The air hummed with quiet.

  My thoughts were put on hold. I turned and saw she had already begun preparing tea. The traditional chanoyu.

  Her movements were deliberate. Precise. The sound of the whisk brushing against the bowl was like music. A rhythm that soothed the storm within me.

  She presented the tea with a smile. More like a take-it-before-I-lose-my-patience smile. I took the cup before she might shove it down my throat for being slow.

  I took a sip. Ah~ Warm. Earthy. Bitter, yet rich. Like my life. Except for the rich part.

  "Is the tea to your liking?" She smiled. A very serviceable smile, but I know... Inside her mind, she must be cursing me. That's what Ma always says. When someone shows you an unnatural service smile, it means they're cursing you in their mind.

  "Oh, yes. It's very aromatic," I replied, forcing composure.

  "I'm glad to hear that you find it pleasing," she said, smiling.

  I sipped again, letting the warmth crawl into my bones. The bitterness faded with each sip, replaced by a strange calm. Not peace. A trance. Like sinking slowly beneath water.

  Then, she rose.

  "I shall announce your arrival to the Master. Please wait for a moment."

  I watched her silhouette disappear behind the shoji. The moment she left, the quiet atmosphere pressed down on me. Even the water outside seemed to hush.

  In the meantime, I began scouting the room for treasure. I tapped for hidden rooms, rolling around to feel bumps on the ground when the doors opened again.

  She walked in. My Master.

  My breath caught as my body was curled in a ball. My view upside down.

  She's my Master? So pretty! I quickly rolled back to my seat and started bouncing slightly on my chair.

  The woman who entered wore a kimono that defied description. Blossoms of every hue danced across the silk, the fabric flowing like water. It wasn't just clothing. It was art.

  She sat across from me, her movements almost inhuman in grace. Her eyes, deep and unreadable, locked onto mine.

  She lifted her cup. Sipped. Smiled. She didn't speak right away. Didn't need to. Her presence filled the room. I felt something watching me. I turned. The guide lady's eyes were on me, sharp and unreadable.

  Her gaze lingered.

  Too long.

  Why... Ah! I forgot to greet the Master.

  I nearly leapt to my feet and folded myself in half, but Master beat me to it.

  "Welcome to the House of Aum. You may call me Master Sylph." Her tone was composed. Cool. "Lady Nozomi will be your guide and caretaker during your time here. She will assist you with your daily needs and ensure your comfort."

  I scrambled to respond, caught between panic and awe.

  Okay. Just reply like normal. Match the tone.

  "O... Oh...Hey."

  Why did I say that? This cursed mouth...

  Lady Nozomi bowed.

  "It's my pleasure to support you on your journey within the House of Aum, young lady Llyne."

  Young lady? Who's that?

  I blinked.

  Did she mean me? Why is she calling me that?

  I glanced between them, confusion blooming.

  Master Sylph noticed.

  "You must be confused at the moment since it is your first day. But not to worry, if you have any questions, feel free to ask. We will try to satisfy your curiosity and doubts."

  I nodded slowly. First day. I always hated first day... Oh right. What about the others? How could I forget about them?!

  "Where are my friends? Are they safe?" I leaned close.

  Master opened her fan and placed a boundary between the two of us. "Ah, the other two. They're safe at their Master's house."

  Relief hit hard. I felt my spine loosen, just a little. But the biggest question still clung to my throat.

  "Then... Why did you choose me? I don't have any medical or poison knowledge." I tilted my head.

  Master Sylph chuckled, her lips curling like ivy. "Oh, it's quite simple."

  I leaned in.

  "I needed an experiment subject and a slave."

  The world tilted.

  What…? Does that mean I'm an enslaved guinea pig?

  My throat closed.

  Then she laughed again. A sound too soft for the cruelty of her words.

  "Oh, I'm just joking. I apologize for the jest."

  I stared at her eyes. Doesn't seem like a joke to me.

  She continued. "What I truly desire is a sweet and innocent little daughter."

  I collapsed backward, heart hammering.

  "That's a huge difference," I muttered.

  Master Sylph's smile widened.

  "Why does that matter to you?"

  My voice broke free without thinking. "Of course it does! It's my body, my life!"

  Her shrug was maddeningly casual. "Only if you can pass the trials, then I'll consider your role here."

  "Trials?" I echoed.

  Master Sylph's voice turned clinical. "There are 444 tests. Each one measures your resistance to different poisons and serves a specific purpose. Fail, and the consequences will not be pleasant."

  Then her eyes softened, "Do your best. For your own sake... and mine."

  The blood drained from my face.

  444…? Then I remembered my bedside clock. 4:44. Was it a sign after all?

  My body couldn’t bear it. The room swayed, vision tunneled, and darkness swallowed me. I collapsed. Unconscious.

  Even as my consciousness slipped away, I heard her voice, casual, amused, cruel.

  "Is there anything else you wish to know, my dear?"

  Lady Nozomi's voice pierced the haze. "Master, it appears that young lady Llyne has fainted."

  "Oh dear. Please bring The Doctor here to check if she has any underlying health issues."

  Lady Nozomi bowed and turned, already moving.

  The last I saw was the rising steam from my tea.