Once upon a time, in a quiet little town called Masaka, lived a boy named Xiyan. He was just seventeen years old, a high school student with a seemingly ordinary life. Xiyan belonged to a respected family with six members and two loyal servants.
His father was a mid-level noble and a strong swordsman, while his mother was an alchemist. His grandparents were honored board members of the Shpecked Magic Academy. Xiyan also had a mischievous younger brother, who often irritated him.
But this story isn't about his family—it's about Xiyan himself.
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Hello, I'm Xiyan. Just an ordinary high schooler living an ordinary life—or so I thought.
Today, I was on my way to school when suddenly, a fool tapped me from behind. That fool happened to be my only friend at school—Kai. He had a mischievous grin plastered on his face.
"Let's skip class today," he whispered, his eyes glinting with excitement. "I found a haunted mansion online. Let's go check it out!"
Normally, I would have rejected his ridiculous idea, but today… I wasn't in the mood for classes either. So, with a sigh, I gave in. "Fine. Let's do it."
We hailed a taxi and headed toward the so-called haunted mansion. On the way, Kai eagerly told me the rumors—that the mansion was once used as a magical treasure house, but was abandoned after terrifying incidents.
When we finally arrived, the sight that greeted us was chilling. The mansion stood in ruins, more than fifty years old, its former glory long lost. The taxi driver frowned and muttered, "You both shouldn't go in there," before driving away.
We stood at the gates, hearts pounding, then slowly pushed them open. The iron creaked, echoing in the silence. Inside, the hall was dark, dusty, and suffocating.
Kai lit a torch, and together we began exploring. With every step, the mansion seemed to whisper secrets of the past.
Suddenly, a strange sweet smell drifted from somewhere deeper inside. Curiosity led me forward, and then—it happened. My foot pressed against something hidden on the floor. A click echoed, and a secret entrance slid open beneath me.
I tumbled down, landing hard but unhurt. "It's not too deep!" I shouted upward. "Find a rope and pull me out before something else happens!"
As Kai scrambled to help, a faint sound spread through the air, echoing in my ears. I turned—and froze.
Before me lay an open box. Inside, a black ring sparkled faintly, pulsing with a strange aura. My heart raced with excitement. I reached out and picked it up.
But the moment I did, the ground shook. Out of the shadows emerged a monstrous creature, its body composed entirely of mossy rocks. With terrifying speed, it grabbed me, trying to crush me like a toy.
"Xiyan!" Kai shouted, hurling a brick at the creature. Then he tossed down a rope. With all my strength, I climbed up, clutching the black ring tightly.
Together we sprinted toward the exit. The moment we crossed the threshold, the mansion's gates slammed shut behind us—locked as if by magic.
We made it home safely that day. But as I held the mysterious black ring, I couldn't shake off the feeling that my ordinary life had just ended.
That day, many conspiracies were planted deep in my mind.