Nemo chomped on her food with reckless abandon, every spoonful she swallowed was quickly followed by another. Her grin was going to split her cheek if she hadn’t needed to keep the tasty food in her mouth. She didn’t realize how hungry she was and was surprised to find her stomach growling when food was served.

When the Count opened the door and allowed Nemo to step in, she expected to be received by a lavishly decorated hall filled with sparkles and shiny decorations, maybe even maids and servants all lined up welcoming their master and his guest. However, that was not the case.

Nemo stepped into the interior of a weathered wooden cabin with uninspiring wooden walls and simplistic furnishing. The floor boards creaked with each step, its lumber darken and marred by scratches and the sound of its age echoed gently into the cozy air. However, there was not a speck of dust in the air nor a lone cobweb stranded in a dark corner. It seemed like despite its age, the cabin was well taken care of.

It wasn’t a shabby place to be. However, since Nemo was stuck in a strange magical land, she expected more from the person In charge of it.

So when the Count closed the door, Nemo started to sulk. She crossed her arms, stood still, and started to grumble in her head, making doubly sure the Count heard her. She remained still when the Count picked her up and when he placed her on the massive chair in front of the towering table. She stood on the seat like a statue. It was not until the aroma of the Count’s cooking did her frown finally soften.

She gulped down the last bite of her food and sighed in content as she leaned on the back of the tall wooden chair. She gave the Count, who was sitting at the opposite end of the table, a thought of appreciation as she smiled and paddled her feet in the air.

“I am glad you enjoyed the food,” he replied with a smile.

Now that she had her food and was content with lazing around, the cabin wasn’t so bad a place to be in. It might be not as grand or as exciting as she had hoped, the cabin had a homely feel to it, an air of comfort, welcoming her to just relax and fool around. It was a gentle place. It reminded her of her grandpa’s. Besides, there was still a world to explore, the magical land she found herself in was not going anywhere. Giant valleys and towers still pierced the crimson sky outside the windows, and she had a friend to share her adventure with!

She wanted to go outside. Could she go outside? Now?

“Unfortunately, Nemo, it is not possible for you to explore the outside right now. That is also why I elected to bring you here instead of my mansion. This world is not friendly to your kind, and there are a lot of particularities you must know before… Nemo, are you listening?”

Nemo was listening, or at least she planned to, but any amount of attention she would’ve given the Count was consumed by that one word he mentioned. Mansion. There was a mansion and a chance to explore it. No. She would definitely explore it and she would let no one stop her. How large was it? Were there secret passages? Traps or switches? Could she swing on a chandelier? Please let her swing on a chandelier. She cannot wait to be in a hall that sparkled and shined.

Ever since the Count opened the gates, she saw a world drastically different from hers, a world she thought only existed in dreams and fantasy. She was glad she met the Count and was eager to encounter many more impossible and interesting things. Nemo smiled at her friend, the tall, shadowy man, hiding his faceless smoke of a head behind a plain white mask he took off earlier with his lanky, pointy arms.

Wait, it wasn’t a haunted mansion, right?

“In a sense, my mansion is indeed haunted,” the Count replied and Nemo instantly froze, eyes wide and body stiffened as if she was hit by a bolt of lightning. All her excitement was for nothing. The Count chuckled at Nemo’s reaction before walking towards her. He placed his cool hands on her shoulder and gently stirred the girl from her disappointment filled stupor.

“Raise your spirits, Nemo. My mansion is indeed haunted, but Mademoiselle Ghost only ever visits the library when she leaves her room. She hardly joins me and my guests for dinner, even though I instructed my cook to prepare cuisine suitable for spirits,” The Count said as Nemo slowly turned towards him, the shine in her eyes growing brighter with each sentence. “Do not worry, I will also make sure to instruct him of your preferences. And yes, there will be a chandelier for you to swing on. Do take care you do not break them, the housemaster has a rather short temper. I can already imagine her preparing to lecture me on leaving the mansion unattended for so long.”

The Count gave Nemo a wink and the girl hopped back to life and hopped down the chair. She couldn’t believe it, there was actually a mansion, and not a haunted one filled with grown-ups dressed in plastic. The Count had Servants and house guests, one is even a ghost! Just what sort of interesting people would she be able to meet?

Why was the door not getting closer?

Nemo looked down and saw her legs running on air. The Count was where he stood, but his hands extended like tendrils and lifted her up. She slumped and turned towards him, wondering if whatever he wanted to say could wait.

“My apologies, Nemo. As I said earlier, there is a reason I brought you to this cabin first. There are things we must discuss before I can allow you into my mansion,” the Count said as he lowered Nemo. She straightened her back and plopped herself onto the floor, ready to listen to what the Count had to say. This was an important step towards a mysterious mansion, towards adventure. She had to pay attention.

“The truth is, I do not know what to do with you.”

That wasn’t a problem as she knows exactly what the Count had to do. He could just let her go exploring!

“It is not that simple, Nemo,” the Count replied as he stalked closer, his cloak swimming within the shadow he cast, looming closer with each sentence. “My mansion is not a safe place for you. It hosts guests that would not take kindly to your intrusion, beings that are far more dangerous than what you could possibly conceive. Even though it is due to no fault of theirs, the world you found yourself in does not adhere to rules you know. You are only a child and I do not wish to expose you to such danger. Here in this cabin however, I can promise you safety, and you can stay here as long as you wish until a find a way to return you home. Yet due to the nature of this cabin, I cannot keep you here unless you want to.”

The white mask peered down and his cloak stretched wide into a shadow cast over the entirety of the cabin.

“So what do you want to do, Nemo?”

Nemo smiled. What would adventure be without any danger? If Nemo was scared of risks, if the unknown frightened her, if she refused to step forward because of that, then she would never have come to see the chance of adventure presented in front of her right now. She also had a friend by her side, and he will keep her safe, right?

“Of course, Nemo.”

Then there was only one answer. Nemo puffed out her chest and pointed towards the sky. She then turned around and slammed her finger towards the door behind her.

Nemo and the Count shall go on an adventure and conquer anything that would prevent them from having fun!