Magic House

[System Guidelines:]

"For the magician, the magic house is more than just a test. It's the essence. Every magical house is a reflection of your nature, shows your latent strength, and determines your magical path."

It seemed to me that this was not just a training or a passing challenge. The screen followed her narrative, her words contending like she was addressing me directly:

[What are magical houses?]

"The Magic House is an inner world created based on the characteristics of your soul, past, and ambitions. Every wizard possesses a unique home of its own."

"Inside the Magic House, you will face challenges that represent your strengths and weaknesses. Every stage you passed gives you a new power or the chance to use more complex spells."

I looked down at my hands, my fingers trembling slightly. "An inner world I whispered to myself. "Does that mean I'll fight myself "

[Additional details:]

"Every magical house is connected to a heavenly creature and depends on its attributes and powers. Once a magician chooses or is associated with a particular house, he acquires unique abilities and learns spells that match that house.

In your case: Ice Dragon House.

Another message appeared:

[Ice Dragon House]

-"Challenge Level: High."

-"Link: Permanent."

"Going out is allowed when you pass every stage, but a constant retreat weakens your soul."

"Retreat weakens my soul I mumbled. That wasn't a passing sentence. Return is probably an option, but its price is not simple.

[Ice Dragon House is ready to open.]

"The First Magic House defines your identity as a wizard. It's not just a world, but a mirror of your soul and your connection to magic."

"The starting house is the bedrock. Even if you get other houses later, the first house will always be attached to you."

I read these sentences carefully. The first house is not just a test, but a lasting relationship. Something will accompany me every step.

[System Guidelines:]

-"You can gain other magical houses while increasing your strength, but the first house is a reflection of your soul core. Every subsequent home adds new spells and skills, but you will always return to the starting house as the center of your strength and self."

I lifted my eyes off the screen, thinking about the meaning. "So this is the beginning of my real path as a wizard "

[Magic House Stages:]

GATE:

"Testing the mental strength to enter the home world."

Interior rooms:

"Every challenge is designed to experience one aspect of your strength or weakness. In the Ice Dragon House."

Main Room:

"The main room is the end of the road, where you encounter the Ice Dragon Spirit and establish your eternal connection with it."

I read this last sentence carefully. Link This means that success in the magic house not only gives me strength, but makes me part of this world.

[WARNING!]

"The first magical house is not just a test, but a contract. Passing it means you're no longer the person you were. Strength comes at a price."

I breathed deeply. I felt the heaviness gradually fade away, and a new feeling took its place... A mixture of curiosity and fear.

"If I'm going to stop here, what's the point from the beginning I said it faintly, like I'm trying to convince myself.

[System Warning:]

"Failure to pass the magic house means your loss of magical eligibility. Only the strong are able to reach the end."

I felt my breath quicken. This is not just a test, it's either everything... Or nothing.

[Last warning:]

"The magical house is ruthless. Overtaking his worlds requires psychological and physical sacrifices. Be prepared, because no one comes out as he entered."

"Shut up stupid system! When did you get to care about me like that" I blurted angrily at the unending warnings.

I looked around, the body of Liana lying on the bed, the remains of the black fire, that broken glass and the possibility of any guard arriving here... Surely that's not the place to meditate!

I was standing at the entrance of the stone staircase leading to the basement of the castle, where darkness gathered like stagnant water. The place here is long deserted, full of cold air and the smell of moisture that infiltrates your bones.

"First magic house, ha I said it in a low voice, trying to charge myself with excitement.

I just read about magical houses and how they reflect the essence of a magician. The Ice Dragon House seemed to fit me in a way I didn't want to think too much about. But the problem was obvious: I don't know how to meditate.

in my previous life. I remember my registration in yoga classes, but I never attended them.. I regret now.

I sat on the wet floor, trying to sound wise, as I saw in some old books or movies. I slowly closed my eyes and tried to calm my thoughts.

"Focus, concentrate, breathe slowly..." Just ten seconds later, I opened my eyes and shouted, "But how am I supposed to stop my mind from thinking about food after all that fasting because of the system? Or in that I'm probably dying here? Or in..."

Before I continued, the system screen appeared in front of me, glowing with a faint blue light:

[New Notice: Entering Magical Houses]

You seem to have trouble meditating.

To make it easier, you can enter the Ice Dragon House directly with a push of a button. This is one of the features of your promotion in the office.

I stared at the screen for a moment, then burst out laughing. "Really I have spent the past hours trying to understand how to meditate, and the system offers me a solution with a push of a button !"

I stood up and pointed to the screen like I was addressing someone in front of me: "Where have you been from the start Do you enjoy seeing me being tormented "

[System:] Difficulty gives you growth. But meditation doesn't seem to suit you.

"Doesn't suit me I felt the system mocking me somehow. But I wasn't in a position to object.

"I don't know when the system became so talkative!"

I looked at the glowing button in the screen, with "enter" written on it. I felt like life was making fun of me. All those stories about magicians who go through deep meditation to reach magical homes, and me button. Just a button.

I sighed and tried to press the button with my mind.

"Well, Ice Dragon. I'm coming, this is like video games from Earth."

I pressed the button.

The moment I pressed the button, I felt something strange. It was like the world had been pulled from under my feet, and I was left hanging in the void. The air froze, and my breath stopped as if I swallowed an ice block. Then, without warning, I fell.

"Oh my god! Why always fall !"

I shouted as I quickly howled, the wind rustling my naked body, drops of bitter cold piercing my skin like arrows. I tried to protect myself with my arm, but everything was pointless.

"This... Not fun!" I yelled as I fumbled in the air. "System! Where are the guarantees ! Where is safety !"

[System: No warranties. Enjoy your experience.]

"Enjoy !" I didn't know if the system made fun of me or I'm just getting close to insanity.

Then, suddenly, she bumped into something solid. I opened my eyes to find myself on an icy surface, purer and colder than I ever imagined. My naked body was twitching, skin sticking to the ice like I was part of it.

I got up hard, my bare feet sliding down the smooth icy surface. I looked around, nothing but nothingness. An angry blizzard that was spinning around the horizon, completely cutting through the vision and filling the air with a gloomy howl that resembled the screams of spirits.

"Okay..." I whispered, my lips trembling. "This... That's far from just a video game."

Everything in this place seemed alive. The ice itself was breathing, the storm had a pulse, and the cold was not just a coldness; it was an object that devoured me slowly.

I started walking, or rather trying to crawl on the slippery ice. The air was harsh, as if the whole nature hated being here.

"System!" I yelled in a desperate attempt to ask for help. "Any directions Help Even a cloth "

[System: Instructions: Stay Alive.]

"Cool!" I said sarcastically, laughing in a choked voice before the laughter turned into a cough because of the cold air. "Gold advice. Thanks for nothing."

I followed the progress, every step was a battle. My feet were fingering me with all the contact with ice. My fingers barely moved, my whole body starting to lose its sense.

Then I saw it... He remained in sight. He was huge, gloomy, moving lightly that contradicted his size. I tried to open my eyes more, but the wind was hitting my face violently.

I approached, or maybe he approached. He was getting clearer, his details manifesting as a nightmare. Two glowing blue eyes, two vast wings of ice, and a shimmering body as if millions of fragments were dancing on it.

"Ice Dragon..." I whispered, my voice barely hearing amidst the storm.

He stood in front of me like a living statue. He was a giant, and his strength radiated in every direction. He looked at me with eyes like they read my depths.

"What is it? Test? Threat?" I said in a hesitant tone, desperately trying to break the terrible silence.

Then something strange happened. The ice under my feet started to crack. I looked down, my heart beating madly.

"No,No,No..."

The cracks were stretching rapidly, like a spider web stretching to devour me. I looked at the dragon, but it didn't move. Just stared at me, as if silently judging me.

"Be patient! I can't fly!" I yelled, trying to find anything to cling to.

"The portal is supposed to be just a mental test and not trying to kill me."

But the ground didn't care. The ice under my feet suddenly collapsed, and I fell into the darkness again.