Entering through those doors placed at the front of the entire grand structure—a vast and towering building standing before the slaves—they stepped into a new place. A place they would see for the rest of their days in this mansion.
Their new home. The new house they would serve.
Reviewing the whole of their history as slaves, they arrived at a new chapter. The cycle repeats, returning to where it began. Everything feels like that first time—that first time so far away.
Once again, there they were. All the slaves being guided, about to step into a new cycle of life.
It repeats…
and repeats…
It will repeat until the end.
"…"
Crossing through that door that connected the outside with the inside, the demihuman slaves were being guided by a crimson-eyed elf. A maid in the uniform of that very profession, she walked through the entrance and crossed it.
Two doors—dark brown—with gray handles and faint golden details along the edges.
The sun shone strongly outside, the sky was clear, and birds could be heard singing and singing.
At last, they were about to enter.
They crossed the door, and what followed was a very different sight from what they had imagined.
Simple, yet incredible.
A curved staircase of refined wood rose ahead, with decorated railings. A red carpet, embroidered with blood-red patterns and small golden accents that stood out at first glance. The floor was checkered with gray-scale patterns, polished and gleaming, reflecting the sunlight that slipped in through the large windows.
Plants and flowerpots stood on both sides, decorating the view and giving life to the first impression, together with a giant chandelier hanging above the place just described.
On both sides stood two very large wooden doors, accompanied by marble walls painted in navy blue, giving the place a rather subdued aesthetic.
Those very windows that could be seen both from outside and inside had wooden frames with refined and carefully crafted designs—surely carved by hand given the high quality.
From here, balconies could also be seen on both sides of the curved staircase, which itself split into two paths, continuing to the sides. Two corridors opened on the second floor, though beyond a certain point nothing more could be seen.
To decorate the entrance, Helmet's mansion had several statues placed at both ends of the staircase—white, sophisticated, finely crafted, and completely spotless. They broke slightly with the somber aesthetic, giving more freedom and meaning to the decorative plants.
White pillars could also be seen accompanying the statues. At the same time, they served a structural role.
It was somewhat simpler compared to Eidoriku's.
But it was no less impressive than the other mansion.
First of all, the space was giant—incredibly large—and it gave off an uncomfortable vibe that fell upon the slaves. The place was very complex for it to be only the entrance hall. It could contradict what was said about it looking simplistic, but in reality the architecture of the place was first-rate. It was not a very welcoming place to say the least; it doesn't simply receive you with an embrace and ask you to come in. One has to keep seeing the whole place. This installation, this home, was much larger than anyone would imagine. At the sides of the same staircase there were large windows that gave a view toward an exterior place. For this reason—and much more—the area had to keep being discovered.
Everything described was the first sight. The white-haired maid kept walking while the slaves revealed their thoughts through their reactions. Some of them remained without moving since they were observing and admiring the first view of the place. It was like entering an instant state of shock.
[Lylia: Girls...]
Lylia called their attention. All of them realized their lapse and came back to themselves. They quickly walked toward the door the crimson-eyed elven servant was heading to. In line, each slave walked.
"..."
The maid opened the door and gave way for all the girls to pass, including Lior. Looking around, the cat boy—somewhat lost—also noticed this, following and passing through the wooden door. He checked the new area while hearing the sound of the door closing behind him.
The maid walked ahead, to guide Lylia along the path. A large corridor opened with the next step.
Blue walls, with some white decorations. The same pillars in the corners, like the ones seen in the previous hall. There were also many decorative plants; on both sides there were large windows. From one side there was a view toward the previously mentioned garden, and on the other side the exterior garden could be seen—the same one Lior saw a moment ago. The frames were white, with carved designs just like the others, very sophisticated and quite beautiful to be honest. The corridor extended toward a long end, where at a corner another one opened.
The slaves were guided by the elven maid, walking through that long and wide corridor. There was not much to say; it was simply the corridor of a mansion—only that this one had no rooms. They walked and walked, through that corridor, through that corridor. Admiring everything mentioned before, and the decorations, which—even though they were not as exaggerated as those in Eidoriku—were not lacking enough detail to be ignored.
It is beautiful, to be honest. The vibe it gives is not very pleasant, but it certainly still gives a sense of calm. The silence that runs through the corridors makes its way into the ears of the girls; nothing feels out of place, as if everything were quite calm. There is a view that opens to a garden at the side. Even though the exterior garden is beautiful, on the other side there is also something like a small central garden. That cube-like garden can be seen through the windows, and the other end of the mansion can also be seen in the distance.
Passing and walking through that long corridor, the view of the inner garden can be admired. It is surrounded by several windows just like these ones, and from the second floor the pattern repeats. The mansion apparently is more like a giant square—perhaps that is what defines it and what makes it special. That may be the vibe one feels when passing through the silence and the environment, as if everything were connected to each other. The uneasiness comes from the feeling that you are always being watched, through all those windows at the other end—or from outside and from inside.
Something like that could not be transmitted in the Eidoriku mansion, since the closed and very rectangular place was more claustrophobic than liberating, as it is in these corridors. From inside you could also see the garden through its giant windows, which were a nightmare to clean. Comparing this garden with the other one, it could be said that Akuma's was more beautiful. Helmet focuses more on order and structure, even though he also decorates certain places. But what changes between Eidoriku and Helmet is the simple fact that Helmet has a mansion to administer lands in a more orderly way; Eidoriku did not have more lands. At least Chiyo told me that—I don't trust it, but at the same time I do trust her word.
It was more pleasing to look at the exterior of the other mansion, but here the interior feeling it gives feels much more alive. Being a somewhat more open place, it is as if you could breathe a little more.
Already reaching the end of the corridor, each slave looked to the front, where the guide of the place was walking. The path ended, and the elven girl simply turned to one side—to the right. With grace and care, she made a characteristic movement of maids, slightly pulling her skirt and moving forward efficiently. The slaves noticed this, understanding that the girl in front was no novice in all this. They followed behind her while they admired and observed—admired and paid attention to the guide's actions, careful not to do something that might displease her.
Looking over the new corridor that came after the turn, a somewhat drastic change could already be noticed in the structure and mental construction of the establishment. The end of the corridor consisted of a straight inner turn, but at the opposite extreme—the outer side that separates the interior from the exterior—the wall was placed vertically in that area. With a window that once again gave a view toward the exterior, with the gate visible from inside. There was also a separation that was probably grass; since the window was elevated, the outside ground could not be seen, but the gate was far enough away for there to be something separating it. The most obvious would be grass fulfilling that separation.
On the right side, already past the turn, a corridor opened that was twice as long as the previous one. One has to consider that the previous corridor was a little less than half of the full corridor, since the entrance area occupies a considerable rectangle within all this, and the door opposite the one they crossed probably connects to another similar corridor.
Looking again, a different vibe could be felt. The corridor contained several rooms along the way, while still leaving the windows toward the inner exterior. Long—very long—the end could be seen far away, very far away. A curious smell of ink could be sensed in the air, very probably coming from some of the rooms mentioned before. Along its length that corridor extended, marked by the same sensation, colors, and decorations.
The maid made her way through that corridor, followed by the slaves. Walking and walking through that corridor. From outside it could be seen—through those windows that connected toward the garden—the slaves advancing along that corridor.
From this vantage point, the garden could be seen in its entirety. The square aesthetic that could previously only be completed through logic was now visible through the girls' eyes. Even so, it was not exactly as originally imagined; there were small changes that made it far more interesting and far more splendid at first glance.
The inner garden—central, internal, however one might want to call it—could be described that way. It held multiple plants, shrubs, trees, flowers, and everything else one might expect. It also contained a small but functional fountain, located at the opposite end of the garden.
At first glance, it was a very complete garden. There were also white stone paths connected to four doors. Those doors were made of wood—brown in color, somewhat large but not overly imposing. The stone path had small decorative borders that made its outline more pronounced.
That path connected to three of the previously mentioned doors, the ones that led to the other hallways—except for the one that contained the staircase. The paths extended toward the opposite side and toward the left end where all the girls were heading.
Like the saying "all roads lead to Rome," this mansion seemed to have its own version of it. The path led to a central area, something like a small roundabout that contained something very special and fascinating—something that caught the eye the moment you noticed it.
At the center of that roundabout stood nothing less than a garden gazebo.
It was very beautiful and white in color, made of the same stone that covered the ground. It was fairly large and extremely clean; it was obvious that it was constantly maintained. Its roof was blue—slightly lighter than the tone of the surrounding walls—and had a decorative shape, with darker indentations and white protruding edges. It matched the tone of the garden perfectly, and it was built with remarkable care.
It could all be seen clearly from the hallway the girls were crossing. That long, long hallway.
The entire garden looked beautiful from there. The fountain created just enough sound for it to be faintly heard from the other side. It wasn't loud—it was simply that soft sensation of falling water.
From here, from the far corridor, the whole garden could be seen perfectly. Passing window after window, the girls could admire the entire area. It was honestly beautiful. Peace could be felt in the atmosphere; it was a gratifying and calm feeling, something simple and pleasant.
Looking through that window… through those windows.
Appreciating the view.
Noticing everything that was happening.
That living aura that green places always seem to give.
Very beautiful. Lovely. Precious.
Everything could be seen from here—from there—everything.
And while admiring it from inside, something peculiar could be noticed. Something that, in truth, no one would have expected to see in a moment like this.
Peace and tranquility spread throughout the entire place—those same feelings filling the air. The girls walking along the hallway were not the only ones experiencing it.
In the middle of it all, inside that gazebo… there were two people.
Two people—two women.
They could be seen through the windows as the girls passed by one after another. There, in the distance, inside the gazebo.
One of them was a servant with long, thick black hair tied into a bun shaped almost like a tomato. Her hairstyle was covered by a small maid's headdress, very similar to the one worn with Eidoriku's uniform. The servant had gray eyes and a tanned complexion, dressed in the same manner as the girl leading the group. Her hair covered part of her face, but her eyes were still visible.
She was standing there, near a seat where another woman was sitting.
From here, it could be seen that the seat had a backrest meant for leaning comfortably. The lady seated there held her belly, gently massaging it with one hand while her gaze remained directed toward the garden.
That lady—her belly, to be honest, was quite large. The dress she wore was open around the abdomen so it could breathe more freely. The garment also suited its wearer well, as the fabrics used were somewhat translucent and not very tight, though they still covered her entire body.
She had long chestnut hair and bright blue eyes. A small red brooch rested upon her loose hair, and a gentle smile was drawn across her lips. Her clothing was pale pink, combined with light blue in the more translucent fabrics. Her skin was dazzlingly fair. There was a serene air about her, though her eyes looked tired, marked by faint dark circles.
That lady sat there, pregnant with a child, quietly observing and appreciating the view around her.
It was an image no one truly expected. That serene and beautiful lady watched the water fall from the fountain—the statue of an angel releasing a small stream from its mouth, the water falling onto the stones that held the flowing pool. Everything around the place seemed alive. The scent of the flowers must have been surrounding her as she sat there in the middle of it all.
Beside her stood a maid, attentive to her, though glancing sideways at the slaves passing by the windows. Just in case. She waited there, next to the pregnant lady, standing in the most comfortable resting posture for a servant.
Through those windows, the beautiful face soon disappeared from view, leaving only her back visible. The slaves, together with the guiding servant, were already crossing almost the entire length of the hallway. Some looked out the windows, simply watching life pass by, admiring the surroundings and everything that came with it. Others kept their eyes forward, not wanting to see too much or involve themselves in other matters, though still somewhat curious about what was coming and what they would be tasked with.
No one showed any reaction out of the ordinary for their position—except for one particular "girl."
Though calling that person a girl would not be accurate. In truth, it was a boy.
A cat-boy. Short and thin.
He looked through those windows at his side while walking along the hallway that was already nearing its end. His diamond-like eyes lit up once more as he gazed through those same windows. He saw that belly. He saw that woman sitting there.
For the first time, he saw this world offer something that was not suffering—something new. A new life.
He saw something different from what he had known before, from the world he once came from, that world with no return. He saw a pregnant woman resting in peace and calm, sitting there quietly before him.
Lior, the cat-boy, touched his collar.
He touched it because his hand had unconsciously moved to his neck. He had remembered something he was not supposed to remember. He felt it—touched it, rubbed it—that collar around his neck. The black collar with a golden tag.
He felt it now that he remembered he was wearing it. That collar that represented who he was… his current feelings… the status he now lived under.
He had seen a new life forming. He had seen it there, in the belly that carried the fetus.
It could no longer be seen from his position—they had already crossed the entire hallway—but somehow he could still feel that extra presence lingering in his mind.
Lior lowered his gaze while still touching his animal collar. He lowered it until he found the floor. He kept looking down, beneath him, at what he stepped on.
There it was—the floor. That was what he saw.
They were arriving. They were arriving. They had arrived. They had reached the end.
They had reached the end of the long hallway that held multiple rooms.
"That lady is still sitting there… and I…
I've already reached my destination… Right?"
"… "
All the slaves had finally reached the end of that giant stretch—an incredibly long, almost endless hallway. At the far end, where they now stood, there was a door of normal size. To the right, another seemingly endless corridor opened again, with an intersection visible from where they were standing.
It didn't matter.
What truly mattered was the room behind that door.
The servant had stopped there for a reason. She stood in front of the door, in a section where there were no longer any windows looking outside. It was a darker area than the others, yet it still shared the same atmosphere that filled the entire place.
The slaves stood there, all of them waiting for some order or command.
The servant stepped forward and raised her hand in a signal—a gesture that clearly meant "stay." She extended it while glancing back. The slaves had already been standing still, but they remained even more motionless than before.
In a line.
One behind the other.
The maid with long hair stepped toward the door in front of her. There she stood, directly before it. She extended her hand toward the doorknob.
Turning it.
Opening it carefully at that very moment, with that delicate motion so typical of a servant.
Click.
The door opened.
She opened it fully, allowing the girls behind her to pass once again. Beyond it waited a new room—very different from the previous ones. One by one, the slaves crossed the doorway, until the last and shortest of them had entered.
The elf servant simply looked to both sides of the hallways around her, glancing quickly down each direction. Then she turned back toward the room they had entered.
Her hand took hold of the doorknob again.
At last, everything had led to this point. There was nothing else to worry about for the moment except what was happening inside.
She moved with gentleness, almost like a small dance, as she stepped into the room. Holding the knob firmly, she looked back one last time—turning her head, briefly observing the empty corridor.
Then she pulled the door closed behind her.
Careful not to slam it, she shut the wooden door softly, leaving nothing behind.
Finally, they had arrived.
They had reached the maids' dressing room of the Helmet mansion.