Ch 21: Danger In The Shadows (1)

"I'm home!"

Emrys called out as he entered the house.

Slivya smiled at Emrys and nodded, saying, "Go, wash up first. I'll make something for you to eat."

Emrys nodded and went directly to his room.

As he entered his room with the Moonlit Lotus Seed, he felt excited about refining. As long as he refined the energy stored within the Moonlit Lotus Seed, and absorbed them, he was sure to advance to Bronze Soul Master. The Moonlit Lotus Seed can not only strengthen an individual's Soul and Soul Force, but it can also expand their Soul River. Even if an Intermediate Bronze Soul Master were to refine it, there is a large probability for them to take a step further.

Throwing the backpack on the bed, he followed suit, jumping onto it as well. Then he opened the zip and took out the Moonlit Lotus Seed.

Just as Emrys retrieved the Moonlit Lotus Seed from his backpack, his phone rang. It was a call from his predecessor's one and only friend, Rohan Bhattacharya.

Like everyone else, Emrys's predecessor used to have many friends too. However, when his cultivation stopped improving and he was unable to awaken the Soul Mark, all his friends stopped talking to him. Some of them even started mocking him. Only Rohan did not betray his trust and remained his one and only true friend.

Emrys did not notice it, but he had already accepted everything about his predecessor. Emrys's possession of this body and adaptation felt natural. Nothing seems out of the ordinary. He not only accepted his predecessor's identity and memory, but he also completely inherited his predecessor's emotions, his feelings, his friends, and even his habits. It was as if his predecessor never disappeared; he was always there, somewhere within him.

Emrys answered the call.

"Hey Emrys, how are you doing?" Rohan asked.

"I'm good, Rohan. Just got back home after buying something important. What's up?" Emrys replied. He did not say what he bought. There is no need to give extra information just because they were close friends.

"I have some shocking news, buddy. You won't believe it," Rohan said urgently. Emrys seemed to have sensed something off about him, but he could not tell exactly what was wrong. For some reason, Rohan sounded both excited and panicked which attracted Emrys's attention. 

Emrys's curiosity was piqued. "What is it? Tell me," he urged.

Rohan took a deep breath before delivering the news. "Remember that old abandoned mansion on the outskirts of the city? The one we used to explore for fun when we were kids?"

Emrys nodded, recalling their childhood adventures.

When he was still a child, he and his parents used to stay not far from the outskirts of Midnight City. That is where he met Rohan.

The Bhattacharya Family used to be a poor family of four. Five years ago, Rohan's big brother, Aarav Bhattacharya, was able to awaken an Elite-leveled Soul Mark and was later admitted to Crystal City's Crystal Soul Academy. The situation of the Bhattacharya Family immediately changed after that and they moved to Crystal City.

Two years ago, Rohan came back to Midnight City for some reason and entered the Midnight City School where he met with Emrys once again. By then, Emrys's family had also moved to an ordinary residential complex called Lake Garden inside the city.

When they were staying on the outskirts of the city, Emrys and Rohan used to go to an abandoned mansion to have fun exploring it. They used to play there together.

Now that he thought about the mansion, he recalled a little girl as well. They don't know their background, but she appeared before them one day and asked to play together. From that day onward, for the next nine months, they always played together.

However, after nine months, she disappeared suddenly and never came back. Emrys and Rohan were only 11 back then. She was also Rohan's first crush.

"Yeah, what about it?"

Recalling the abandoned mansion and their time together, a smile subconsciously formed on Emrys's face.

"Well, it's not abandoned anymore. Someone bought it and moved in," Rohan revealed.

Emrys was surprised. "Really? Who would want to live there?"

As far as Emrys could remember, although the abandoned mansion was not in the condition where people could live. More importantly, there is simply no need to develop the Mansion because it was located on the outskirts of the city which is completely a rocky area.

Emrys could not understand why would someone buy a mansion in such an area.

However, Rohan was not done yet.

"That's not the craziest part. People are saying that strange things have been happening around the mansion. Some even say they've seen mysterious lights and heard eerie noises coming from inside. That is why a rich man bought the mansion and moved in with his family, but the next day, the entire family disappeared without living a single trace." Rohan continued.

Emrys's curiosity turned to concern. A serious expression appeared on his face. "That sounds spooky."

Rohan nodded, responding in exactly. "Yes, it does. But that is not all. Normally, this matter has nothing to do with us, but when I found out about the family who bought the mansion, I decided to take a risk and explore it again."

Emrys frowned. It is no wonder when Rohan called him, he sounded both excited and panicked.

"Who are the people who bought the mansion?" Emrys asked.

"They are surnamed Gracia!"

The moment Emrys heard this surname, his mind seemed to have been struck by lightning. He sat up straight and could not help but recall a beautiful little girl who used to come and play with him and Rohan.

Her name was Serafina Gracia. She also used to be Rohan's crush.

No wonder Rohan wanted to take the risk and enter the Mansion to find out why the Gracia Family disappeared without leaving a trace.

"Are you sure they are her family?" Emrys asked with concern.

"I'm not sure, but I want to be sure. That's why I have decided to explore the secrets hidden in that mansion. Emrys, are you willing to come with me?"

Rohan was not sure whether Emrys would agree to go with him there or not, but he still wanted to at least inform Emrys and know his choice.

"Let's go there!"

Emrys remained silent for a few seconds before answering. Since Rohan was his close friend and the Gracia Family might be related to Serafina Gracia, he decided to take the risk as well.

Although he doesn't know what kind of dangers are hidden there, since Rohan is going there, he decides to accompany him. He was not willing to let Rohan explore that dangerous place alone.