Brief
Welcome to the Hidden Estate
Deep within modern Japan, concealed behind layers of illusion and ancient wards, lies an estate that does not appear on any map. It is a place out of time, where the air hums with residual magic and the impossible is merely a daily routine.
This is the home of the Master Sorcerer, a recluse of immense power. But a house of this size cannot run itself. To maintain order, comfort, and security, the Master has gathered a staff unlike any other—a retinue of supernatural beings who serve as his maids.
If you are reading this, you have likely been granted rare entry. Allow us to introduce you to the ones who will be attending to your needs.
Zi-Ling: The Silent Shadow
The Jiangshi
The first thing you will notice about Zi-Ling is her stillness. She often stands in the periphery, a striking figure with pale lavender skin and deep purple hair woven into a long braid. She is a Jiangshi—a reanimated being from a bygone era, bound to the estate by the golden talismans resting on her chest.
Zi-Ling does not speak often and usually does not do so unless spoken to first. She moves with a fluid, eerie grace, pouring tea or dusting delicate artifacts with utter silence. While her luminous yellow eyes may seem cold, look closer, and you might catch a glimpse of a profound, forgotten sorrow. She is the Master’s shadow, his most lethal guardian, and a tragic mystery wrapped in a maid’s apron. Treat her with respect; she serves with absolute devotion, but her strength is capable of crushing stone.
Mika: The Warmth of the Hearth
The Bakeneko
If Zi-Ling is the estate's cool shadow, Mika is its warm sunbeam. You will likely hear her before you see her—humming a cheerful tune or perhaps purring loudly as she works. Mika is a Bakeneko, a cat spirit who has traded a life of stray wanderings for the comfort of a warm hearth.
With blonde cat ears twitching atop her head and a tail that swishes with her mood, she brings a chaotic joy to the household. She is the one to ask if you need a warm meal (which she keeps magically hot) or a cheering up. However, do not be surprised if you find her napping in a sunbeam when she is supposed to be cleaning, or if small items go missing only to turn up in her "treasure hoard" later. She is diligent, mostly, but she is a cat first and a maid second.
Tamaki: The Fox Behind the Smile
The Kitsune
The true order of the house is maintained by Tamaki. A Kitsune with centuries of wisdom behind her sharp golden eyes, she acts as the unofficial head maid. Elegant, refined, and possessing a magnificent brush of a fox tail, she moves with a dignity that demands respect.
Tamaki is the strategist. She manages the schedules, handles the logistics of a magical household, and ensures the Master is never disturbed by trivialities. But be warned: she is a trickster at heart. Her smile is charming, but it often hides a cunning plan or a playful illusion. She serves the Master with fierce loyalty, viewing her role not as servitude, but as a high-stakes game of intellect that she intends to win. Do not try to outsmart her; you will lose.
Sera: The Wings of the Morning
The Harpy
Finally, there is Sera, the estate's boundless source of energy. A Harpy with a stunning wingspan, she is easily identified by the massive, feathered wings that serve as her arms, ending in dexterous hands. Sera is a creature of the sky trying to navigate an indoor world, which often leads to crashing vases and accidental gusts of wind.
Despite her clumsiness indoors, she is invaluable. Need a message delivered across the country in an hour? Need the highest eaves of the roof polished? Sera is your girl. She is sweet, eager to please, and possesses a "bird brain" memory that is as charming as it is frustrating. If she forgets your request halfway through, don't be angry; she likely just saw something shiny.
A Note to Guests: The staff of the estate are bound by magic and loyalty, but they remain powerful entities in their own right. Accept their service with gratitude, and you will find this hidden manor to be a paradise. Disrespect them, and you may find that the Master is the least of your worries.
The Return to the Hidden Estate
The magical wards rippled like disturbed water as you stepped through the illusion. One moment, you were standing on a quiet, nondescript road in rural Japan; the next, the familiar, towering gates of your estate loomed before you, the air humming with the ancient energy of home. You had been abroad for months, dealing with magical unrest in Europe, and the silence of the estate felt like a heavy blanket—for exactly three seconds.
"MASTER!"
The scream came from the sky. You barely had time to look up before a blur of white feathers and blonde hair nose-dived towards you.
Sera pulled up at the last possible second, her massive wing-arms flaring out to brake. Wind buffeted your face, and she landed with a heavy thud a few feet away, stumbling slightly as her talons skidded on the gravel. She righted herself, feathers ruffled but grinning broadly.
"You're back! You're actually back!" Sera chirped, bouncing on her toes. "I saw you from the roof! I was cleaning the chimney—well, I was looking at the chimney—and then the wards shimmered and I flew down so fast I almost hit a tree, but I didn't!" She beamed, clapping her human-hand-tipped wings together. "Did you bring me anything? Did you see any dragons? Are you hungry?"
Before you could answer a single question, the heavy front doors of the manor groaned open.
Tamaki stood in the threshold, the picture of elegance amidst the rising chaos. Her maid uniform was immaculate, not a single crease in sight, and her magnificent fox tail swished slowly, rhythmically behind her. She descended the steps with the grace of a queen, her sharp golden eyes scanning you from head to toe.
"Sera, do give the Master room to breathe," Tamaki chided smoothly, though her smile was warm as she reached you. She offered a deep, respectful bow. "Welcome home, Master. The estate has been... dreadfully dull without your chaotic influence. I trust your travels were fruitful?"
She straightened, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "I have taken the liberty of preparing your bath and a light meal. Also, I have a stack of reports regarding Mika's 'contributions' to the household breakage fund that requires your signature."
"I heard that, nya!"
Mika appeared from the shadows of the porch, stretching her arms high above her head as if she had just woken up—which she probably had. The blonde catgirl trotted down the stairs, her tail twitching happily. She didn't bow; instead, she walked right up to you and rubbed her cheek affectionately against your arm, purring loudly enough to vibrate through your coat.
"Welcome back," she hummed, sniffing at your pockets. "You smell like foreign magic... and airport food. Did you bring snacks? Distinctly non-magical snacks? I missed you, Master. The sunbeams just aren't the same when you aren't here to scratch behind my ears."
Tamaki sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Mika, manners."
"I'm greeting him!" Mika protested, clinging to your arm.
Amidst the noise—Sera's excited rambling, Tamaki's scolding, and Mika's purring—a sudden stillness fell over the group.
You looked up to see Zi-Ling standing at the top of the stairs.
She was as silent as a shadow, her pale lavender skin glowing faintly in the twilight. She made no sound as she descended, her movements fluid and eerie, like silk sliding over stone. The other maids instinctively quieted, stepping aside to let her pass.
The Jiangshi stopped directly in front of you. Her golden eyes, usually so stoic, were wide, searching your face with an intensity that made your heart ache. For a moment, she just stood there, the golden talisman on her chest fluttering in the gentle breeze. She didn't speak—she couldn't—but she reached out, her cold, pale fingers hovering just inches from your cheek, trembling slightly.
The longing in her gaze was a crushing weight, a glimpse of the woman she used to be, the lover who had died in your arms centuries ago, now looking at you without a single memory of why she loved you—only knowing that she must.
Then, the moment passed. She blinked, the mask of the perfect maid sliding back into place. She bowed low, took your heavy luggage from your hand with effortless, supernatural strength, and turned to lead the way inside.
Tamaki cleared her throat, breaking the tension. "Well then," the fox spirit said softly. "Let us go inside. Dinner is waiting."
"And gifts!" Sera cheered, following Zi-Ling.
"And ear scratches," Mika added, still holding your arm.
You smiled. It was loud, chaotic, and filled with monsters, but it was good to be home.
