"Wooooaaaahhh!!!"

    I murmur, unable to contain the awe swelling in my chest.

    We stand at the edge of the field, surrounded by a sea of glowing crimson. The flowers shimmer faintly in the eternal dusk, their red petals flickering like scattered embers. They seem almost alive, breathing in time with the wind, their soft glow casting faint, dancing shadows across the dark grass.

    Above us, the sky is a dim shade of blood-red, veiled with thin, wispy clouds that stretch lazily across the horizon. The last light of a sun that never truly sets lingers there.

    And before us, standing tall and silent, is the mansion, a gothic mini castle.

    It takes my breath away.

    No projection from the orb could ever have captured this. No illusion could render the sheer presence, the weight of its beauty.

    Pale stone walls, rise from the earth like a cathedral carved into the bones of the world. Sharp, pointed spires pierce upward, some crowned with wrought-iron gargoyles, others wrapped in black ivy and blooming red flowers that cling like veins.

    Gothic arches frame tall stained-glass windows, some cracked but still gleaming faintly in the low light.

    Dark balconies curl around the upper floors, and a winding path of cobblestones leads up to a grand set of iron double doors, half open, as if waiting for us.

    For some reason, I can''t help but imagine bats flitting across the tower windows, and the distant howl of wolves echoing through the forested hills…

    It feels like we''ve stepped straight into a dark fantasy novel, a world of ancient bloodlines and forgotten magic.

    A little eerie, yes, but breathtaking.

    So dark. So cool.

    A little scary.

    But I smile to myself.

    After all, I have Eris! Even if there is a vampire or a werewolf there, she will beat their asses and protect me!

    Anyways, the air is crisp and clean, cool in the best way.

    A soft breeze brushes past us, rustling the leaves, stirring the flowers. It dances through our hair.

    I take a deep breath, inhaling the new air.

    And together with the air, the scent from thousands of red flowers fills my lungs. It''s sweet, soft, and vaguely rosy, like a luxurious body mist. It''s subtle, not overpowering. Just enough to curl at the edge of my senses and lift the corners of my mouth.

    "Mmmhn, it smells amazing!" Eris says, closing her eyes briefly.

    "Indeed," Alvero agrees, stepping up beside us with a faint smile. "I''ve actually considered commissioning alchemists and herbalists to study the flowers further. Their fragrance might make for exquisite perfumes, once properly refined."

    I nod absently, still half-lost in the scent.

    But then… something clicks.

    Wait.

    My sense of smell…

    Hasn''t it been dulled?

    That''s right! Ever since I sacrificed a part of my soul for Sheol, I haven''t been able to smell things. Not really.

    So how…?

    How can I smell these flowers?

    Does that mean my soul has recovered?

    Still, my gaze drops to the glowing red blossoms.

    There''s something strange about these flowers, something beyond their scent, though I can''t quite place what it is yet.

    I brush my finger against a petal, and a faint tingling sensation prickles my skin.

    "Are you sure these flowers aren''t dangerous?" Eris asks, glancing sideways at Alvero, her tone lightly cautious.

    "Well," Alvero says, folding his hands behind his back, "while we''ve yet to identify the species or determine any uses beyond their beauty and fragrance, we''ve also observed no harmful effects among the caretakers and staff assigned to this property."

    "Hmmm, is that so?" Eris asks, still a bit skeptical.

    Seeing that, Alvero then produces a folded report from his storage ring, offering it to her. "Here, this is the most recent field report from our staff."

    Eris takes the papers, flipping through them.

    She frowns slightly in concentration, then offers the report to me.

    I skim the pages alongside her.

    -———————-

    Hearthcarvers Guild – Property Condition Report

    Location: Noctis Sanctum, Southern Mistvale, Umbrafrost Expanse

    Caretakers and Investigators Assigned:

    Lillia Umbric, Head Groundskeeper

    Magarete Majre, Alchemical Botanist

    Lisa Hollow, Environmental Mage

    Duration of Observation: 2 years, 4 months, 13 days

    1. Environmental Conditions

    The region is under the constant effect of the Moongloom Halo atmospheric phenomenon. This results in a state of perpetual twilight—there is no discernible day or night cycle. Light levels remain consistent, resembling early evening. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Weather remains temperate and stable throughout the year. Rainfall is minimal and humidity is low. Winds are gentle and regular, with no record of storms or magical weather anomalies.

    2. Structural Integrity & Pest Presence

    Mansion interior and exterior remain structurally sound with only minor cosmetic aging. No evidence of magical erosion or decay.

    There are no signs of vermin, insects, or magical pests within the structure or surrounding grounds.

    3. Local Terrain & Magical Anomalies

    A complete perimeter survey reveals no active dungeon gates or hidden rift activity within a 25-kilometer radius.

    Mana density is above average due to ambient flow influenced by the Moongloom Halo, but remains stable and non-hostile.

    No space-warping phenomena or planar interference detected within the property limits.

    4. Floral Analysis – "Crimson Duskblooms" (provisional name)

    These red-petaled, bioluminescent flowers grow abundantly across the estate grounds. Current estimates place their growth density at 3.5x that of natural wild flora.

    Attempts to clear or thin them have proven ineffective; the flowers regenerate within 24–36 hours. However, they do not spread beyond the estate, removal and replanting attempts elsewhere failed, even with identical soil transference. We suspect that these flowers need Moongloom Halo to grow.

    Fragrance: Soft, rose-like scent with faint sweet undertones. Lingering in the air at all hours.

    Edibility: No toxins detected in short-term consumption tests. The petals possess no discernible taste but carry the scent when steeped in hot water, potential use in perfumed teas or herbal brews.

    Side Effects: When exposed for prolonged periods (10+ minutes), test subjects reported mild dizziness, dreamy sensations, and lightheadedness. These effects are temporary and dissipate fully within minutes of moving away.

    Toxic Flora Classification: Class V

    — No threat from short-term contact or ingestion. Long-term effects under study.

    Conclusion

    The property is safe for habitation and remains in excellent condition. The surrounding area is stable, and while the flowers exhibit unusual properties, no hostile traits have been observed. Continued monitoring is advised, particularly if the estate is to be occupied full-time.

    ———————

    "Ahhhh… Eris…" I groan, slumping forward as I clutch the report in both hands. "I''m so lost. This thing''s like… a whole different language!"

    "Hehe," Eris giggles beside me. "Well, me too!"

    Honestly, there are too many technical words for our silly catgirl brains to handle!

    "Guildmaster," Eris says, turning toward Alvero with a dramatic sigh, "help us out here. Can you, like, give us the short version?"

    Alvero smiles with patient amusement. "Of course."

    "In simple terms," he begins. "The estate is in excellent condition. There''s no day or night cycle, just an eternal dusk, as if time itself is paused. You won''t find any pests or bugs, so no spiders to worry about. We also checked for dimensional rifts or dungeon gates within a 25-kilometer radius, and there''s nothing. The leyline is stable, and the mana in the air is a touch high, but perfectly safe. In fact, it''s in an ideal range to help you cultivate mana more quickly."

    "Hmm, that sounds pretty good so far," Eris says, nodding slowly. Her tail flicks with interest, and she glances at me with a grin. "No spiders is a big win, right?"

    I giggle, nodding back. "Yeah, definitely."

    Alvero continues, his voice steady and calm. "As for the flowers, they''re perfectly safe. The only caution is not to stare at them for too long, or you might feel a bit dizzy, but it fades quickly. Oh, and they''re edible, with no toxicity."

    "Ooooh, edible?" I ask, my ears perk up at the mention of a potential snack.

    "Yes," Alvero replies, a hint of amusement in his tone.

    Eris then nudges me with her elbow, her grin turning mischievous. "Hey, Felicia, you wanna try one?

    I blink, caught off guard, but my curiosity sparks.

    "W-well… yeah, sure!" I say, my voice a mix of excitement and hesitation. I''m not sure what to expect. The report mentioned the flowers are tasteless, and my tongue now needs something really spiced up to register flavor.

    Still, I wonder about the texture. Are they soft like silk? Or maybe crisp like a leaf?

    "Feel free to try them." Alvero plucks one gently from a nearby vine and pops a petal into his mouth.

    Eris follows suit, picking a petal and chewing on it thoughtfully.

    "Mmm, yeah, tastes like nothing," Eris says, shrugging. "Kinda boring, honestly."

    "Yeah," Alvero nods. "The report does note they can make your tea smell wonderful, though."

    I take one too. It feels delicate between my fingers. It is thin, like fine tissue, soft as velvet, almost translucent when I lift it toward the sky. It shimmers faintly in the light, glowing faintly red.

    Then I press it to my lips and nibble.

    And—

    "Eh?"

    I blink.

    Because what I taste… is not nothing!

    It''s… sweet?

    A sweetness blooms on my tongue, warm and rich, like honey.

    My eyes widen, and I gasp, my hands flying to my cheeks. "Mmmmmnh! This is delicious, nya!" I pluck another petal and pop it into my mouth, savoring the candy-like sweetness. "Mmmmmnnn! It''s like eating sugar! This is amazing!"

    As I say that though, Eris and Alvero freeze, their eyes locked on me, looking at me like there''s something on my face.

    "Eh?" I blink, my tail twitching nervously.

    "Ppfffft!" Eris bursts into laughter, clutching her stomach. "Oh my gosh, Felicia, that''s hilarious! You almost had me fooled!" She wipes a tear from her eye, still giggling. "Like, nice try!"

    "I didn''t taste a thing," Alvero says, adjusting his glasses, clearly baffled. "As expected from the report—they have no flavor."

    "Wha—wait, huh???" My ears twitch. "But I did taste something!"

    Their amused smiles falter slightly.

    Now I''m just… confused.

    How come… am I the only one who can taste these flowers?