The Chronicles of the Mages

Tнє Iяσиιєѕ σf тнє Gαмє σf Lιfє [Part 2 to "Tнє Gαмє σf Lιfє"]

They speak of a mysterious mansion in a seemingly endless forest. Nearby villages avoid this said mansion, but on this dark night, four people wander into the mansion.

~

"You have to win my game first. The rules.... Survive," Aisu said.

"Let the games begin!" she shouted before throwing a wisp of blue light. It hit the ceiling then disappeared in a spark, and it began to snow inside the room.

"What..?" the four of them said in unison.

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"Geez. You're not making any sense!" Rose exclaimed, facepalming as the white snow crystals fell.

"What is that supposed to mean? Is the point of the game to survive? Is she going to throw a bunch of enemies at us?" Gwen asked, stroking her chin and thinking.

"Well, let's just get some rest then leave." The group turned to walk back into the hallway they had come from but it was gone. Instead, they were staring at a blank wall.

"It changed!" Rose exclaimed with her jaw dropped.

"That's ridiculous! Let's go look at the rooms upstairs!" Techno said, turning around and running up the stairs.

He shivered slightly as the air suddenly became cold, extremely cold. Rose, Teshido, and Gwen followed him and looked down into the random doors that lined the purple hallways.

Teshido stopped, and everyone followed and paused in their search to look at a large ballroom. A staircase of about three steps led down to the lowered platform of the ballroom. The picture on the ceiling of the ballroom depicted a beautiful picture of pastel swirls, all fixed around a completely frozen tree. Around the ballroom were chairs and tables, with fancy red tablecloths and seats. The ballroom itself had a golden flower design on the floor in the very center. A golden, fountain-like chandelier hung from the ceiling, just above the flower design. On the far wall were a raised platform and a grand piano. A figure was sitting on the bench, its legs crossed on the seat and hands placed limply on the keys.

"Helloo?" Techno called out, thinking the figure would reply. He stepped down onto the golden floor of the ballroom and began to walk closer when the figure suddenly loosely dropped and hit the ground with a thud.

"It's.... A puppet," Rose said in a daze as she too stepped down and began walking closer to the grand piano.

"Don't!" Gwen exclaimed, extending a hand to grab Rose's shoulder. The blonde stopped and looked back at Gwen.

"I have a bad feeling.." Gwen said, looking around. "Let's leave and keep looking for a room."

She walked out and the rest followed when a single note of the grand piano echoed through the lonely hallways.

"Middle D.." Gwen said in shock. She slowly looked over her shoulder back at the grand ballroom but soon regretted her mistake as she grabbed Rose's hand. "Run!!!" she shouted as she bolted down the hallway.

Techno and Teshido, though confused, followed the two girls, looking over their shoulder every once in a while. Only when they were a far distance away did Gwen stop and bend over, panting.

Creaking sounds could be heard as they all spun around and looked at an approaching figure.

Creak..