Lewin, a teenager whose life revolved around the predictable rhythm of high school and the satisfying click of puzzle pieces falling into place, walked his usual route home. The urban street hummed around him, a familiar symphony of car horns, distant sirens, and the chatter of passersby. He was lost in thought, mentally dismantling a particularly tricky Sudoku, when he saw it.
A sleek, black cat, with eyes like chips of emerald, darted across his path. It was an unusual sight for this part of town. Intrigued, Lewin watched as the cat gracefully weaved through the legs of pedestrians, disappearing down a narrow alleyway. Curiosity, a powerful force second only to his love of puzzles, tugged at him.
He followed. The alley opened into a weedy lot, and at the far end, shrouded in shadow, stood a mansion. It was clearly abandoned. Paint peeled from the walls, windows were boarded up, and an air of neglect hung heavy. Yet, there was something undeniably compelling about it.
He stood there, the city sounds fading behind him, a new puzzle presenting itself. Should he turn back, stick to the familiar? Or explore the unknown? The cat, now sitting patiently at the mansion's front door, as if waiting for an invitation, made the decision for him.
Lewin hesitated only a moment. He couldn't think of anything better than seeing what lay inside the mansion. He stepped closer. The cat tilted its head, a silent invitation. He reached for the heavy, iron-wrought door, expecting resistance, but it swung inward with surprising ease.
He peered inside. The air was still, dust motes dancing in the single ray of light that pierced through a crack in the boarded-up windows. The cat padded silently ahead, leading him into the entrance hall.
Lewin gasped. This was no abandoned ruin. Gleaming chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, casting a warm light on polished mahogany furniture. Tapestries adorned the walls, depicting scenes of knights and dragons. It was as if the mansion had been perfectly preserved, frozen in time. It felt… occupied.
A shiver ran down his spine. Was someone here? It defied logic. The exterior screamed abandonment, yet the interior spoke of meticulous care.
Then, a voice, deep and resonant, echoed through the hall. "Welcome, candidate for Mansion Master."
Lewin froze, his heart pounding. He scanned the room, but saw no one. Where did the voice come from? Who was speaking? And what did they mean by "candidate for Mansion Master?" He felt a thrill of fear mingled with an irresistible surge of excitement. This was more than just a puzzle. This was an adventure. And Lewin, the boy who usually preferred the quiet solitude of his room, was about to dive headfirst into the unknown. The cat, still watching him with its knowing emerald eyes, seemed to approve. The game, whatever it was, had begun.