Long ago, in the world of Altherion, the sky was bright. Children danced, farms thrived, everything was perfect. Until one day... the sky burned, meteors fell, and monsters plagued the lands. What happened that day? No one knows the truth. It lasted for days upon days—killing a lot of humanity.
"They say the world split, multiple veils separating continents and nations. That's why they call it the Sundering." an older man said.
"Split?" a young boy responded.
The sun shimmered in his small, curious amber eyes.
"This world is dangerous, Rene. You must understand that. That is why I cannot let you leave this place, at the very least until you're eighteen."
The child nodded. Soon after, a voice called from behind the garden wall.
"Rene, Lord Thorne!" she said.
He turned as a maid, Valerie, stepped out from the manor's side gate, her black hair flowing like ink, the cat ears on her head slightly twitching from the cold wind.
A second woman stepped onto the garden path. Younger, shorter, tail swaying. Her maid uniform was spotless and fresh. She had cat ears as well, her eyes crimson red and confident. She stopped just behind Valerie and gave a short, practiced bow.
"Oh—are you the lord's ward?" she asked, tilting her head. "Reen, was it?"
Rene flinched. Valerie didn't say anything.
The girl's ears twitched, uncertain. "Wait—is that not right?"
"It's pronounced Reh-nay." Valerie corrected.
The new maid's cheeks turned red. "Ah—I'm sorry! I'm new. My name is Silvia." She straightened her posture and rubbed the back of her head in embarrassment.
"Welcome to the crew, Silvia." Master Thorne said. "I trust Valerie will show you where you're needed. Take Rene with you."
Silvia bowed once again before following Valerie into the manor. High windows let in the pale morning light. She admired the perfectly polished stone floors and the carved walls.
"Don't lag behind." Valerie said without looking back.
"Ah—sorry." Silvia murmured, picking up her pace. Rene walked between them quietly.
"You'll be helping with cleaning, meal prep, and errands." Valerie continued. "No one expects perfection, but mistakes will be remembered."
"I'll do my best." Silvia said, her tail curling slightly behind her in a nervous flick.
They passed a library with doors of stained blackwood, its carved arch engraved with sigils Silvia didn't recognize. The scent of dust and old parchment leaked through the crack in the door.
"Master Thorne reads every day before dinner," Valerie said. "Don't enter unless called."
The next room was a sunroom, glass panels arching overhead like the ribs of a cathedral. Small potted trees grew along the edge, and a birdcage swung gently from a silver hook. Empty.
"Is that for a pet?" Silvia asked.
"No. It's decorative." Valerie said.
The kitchen, by contrast, was warm and alive. Pots hung from overhead beams, herbs dried in little bundles, and a soft clatter of porcelain echoed from within. Silvia's eyes brightened.
"You'll spend mornings here." Valerie said, not stopping. "The staff will give you your tasks."
A spiral staircase led down into a cellar-like corridor, where the temperature dropped slightly. They passed storage rooms, linen cabinets, then a locked iron door with a strange sigil painted on it in faded white.
"What's that one?" Silvia asked.
Valerie turned her head, just barely.
"Nothing you'll ever have business with."
There was no room for follow-up.
Finally, they reached a smaller hall lit with narrow lantern. A girl with olive-green hair stared out the window. She looked no older than Rene, perhaps a bit younger.
Valerie stepped aside, giving them space. "Silvia, this is Mari, another one of Lord Thorne's wards. She's been here for six years."
"Nice to meet you." Silvia said, bowing quickly. "I'm the new maid."
Mari tilted her head eyes scanning Silvia with no effort to hide it. "Another cat? Valerie, you're being replaced."
Silvia gave a nervous laugh, unsure if it was a joke. Mari stepped forward and stared at her—openly curious, but not hostile.
Mari blinked, then gave a small shrug and smiled again. "Welcome to the haunted manor, Silvia. Just don't go near the locked cellar room, or you'll die instantly."
Valerie sighed. "That's not even close to true."
"It's fun to watch people's faces when I tell them." Mari said, clearly pleased with herself.
Silvia laughed, still uneasy. "I'll... keep that in mind."
"That concludes your tour. Feel free to roam."
Valerie turned and left without ceremony. Mari looked back at Silvia once more, then took Rene's hand.
"C'mon, lets go play together." she said.
Silvia smiled to herself as she watched them run off. But the smile quickly wore off. She headed to the stairwell.