Palace of dread

Samson reaches the first floor of the house, where he was greeted with a happy voice. The voice was filled with respect and admiration, something he wasn't used to hearing.

"Are you awake, my lord?"

Searching for the direction of the voice, one would only find a strange mannequin. The mannequin was made of wood, its body was much closer to that of lizard than human. It was like a lizardman, it's long wooden tail wrapped around its waist like a belt. The lizardman mannequin wore a set of butler clothes and was bowing at the sight of him. This was the thing that made him realize he wasn't at Earth anymore. Where on Earth would one find a walking, talking wooden mannequin?

He nod silently, not wanting to speak to this strange being. The mannequin didn't mind his behavior and continued to talk to him with the same amount of reverence. "My lord, may this lowly servant of yours have a word?"

"Go ahead." A deep and low voice come out of his mouth, giving all those who listen to it a strong feeling of suppression. He was surprised at how deep it was despite hearing it before. It sounds like those ominous villains you often see in movies.

"The place here has been eroding since sometimes and the land has turned vicious. This place is no longer a good spot for vacation. Would my lord want to activate the Palace of Dread?"

Samson paid close attention to each and every words of this mannequin, hoping to learn more information about this world. The notebook left behind certainly did explain his circumstances but it didn't spend any text explaining the world itself. The rest of the book was about the many inheritances he get and the Palace of Dread was one of them.

Samson lamented at the strange naming sense. He has look around the house and although spacious, it was no where near the 'Palace' it called itself as. The house was slightly gloomy but there's no promised 'Dread'. It was a childish name but this wasn't something he himself could judge others. His naming sense was just as terrible after all.

Perhaps it mistook his silence as a denial, the mannequin once again bowed deeply. "May you listen to this lowly servant once more?"

Samson crossed his arms and observe this thing on the side. He didn't know if this respect is directed towards him or the old Samson, or if the thing knew about the successor plan. Still he didn't want to find out now.

"Speak."

"This lowly servant is mistaken in his sentence, please allow me to rephrase it. The land here although it has no effect on my lord, the Palace of Dread is not in the best of shape right now. It is unable to resist the bad atmosphere of this place and could be in danger of destruction. Could you allow the activation of the Palace of Dread?"

Although calm on the outside, Samson was secretly panicking on the inside. He didn't realize this place was that dangerous before. He almost stepped out of the house unaware. Even if the thing said that he won't be harmed how could he blindly trust it's words? Who knows if the after effects of transferring soul might make him weak, unable to take the negative effects of the land.

Samson rummaged his mind to remember what the Palace of Dread did. Since it was on the notebook and was one of the earliest page, he could remember it clearly.

[Palace of Dread: A moving palace that brings dread everywhere it goes.]

By activating could it means moving away? Samson didn't know but he decided to leave these things to the professionals, giving the mannequin his approval. The thing respectful nod before melting onto the floor below, disappearing from his sight. Samson was shocked by this but something far more shocking soon appeared.

Looking through the window, he could now see the purple sky at eye level, the clouds moving along with him. He peeks down from the window to be greeted with another shocking scene. The house was growing 4 pairs of insects legs, each bigger than the tall trees around them. The house crawled forward slowly like a moving fortress. A familiar voice echoed inside the house.

"Do you have any particular destination you want to go my lord? If not, we could settle in the inner realm. The human settlements could be a good source of dread, or the fairy forest for good quality essences."

His face still emotionless, Samson said. "You choose."

"Yes my lord."

After things were done, Samson sat down the nearby sofa tiredly. He expected to face exciting situations when choosing to continue in this world, yet he wasn't expected to be surprised so soon.

In the deafening silence, Samson took out the notebook again. He turned the page slowly, reading carefully about each inheritances this so called 'Calamity' left behind for him. He was in need of information and he needs them fast.