[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/lrmw6Io.png[/img]
[b]Location:[/b] 666 Mystic Lane, North Reading, MA
[b]Interactions:[/b] None[/center]
[hr]

[i]He got down from the Uber he paid to take him here. It was a trip to come right around here. Though the driver wasn't sure of the road so he dropped him some steps away from the indicated spot. Not like that was exactly an issue for him either. After all, he never heard of the place before. He didn't even know such a street existed. Even though he did shows around the entire country and beyond, such a location was not known to anyone. Blaming the driver for actually wanting to be safe was the last thing he needed to do.[/i]

[i]When he arrived at the indicated spot, all that he could see were trees. Trees, grasses... maybe a bird or two... and more trees. In fact, it had so many trees that he could barely see anything beyond it! Was that really the right place? Did he read it wrong? He grabbed the invitation to read it again.[/i]

[color=8882be]"OK, this is really the right spot. But wasn't a house supposed to be here?"[/color] [i]He asked himself.[/i]

[i]As he approached it, suddenly a butterfly appeared and stared at him. Then, it flew toward the forest. Once he looked at it more carefully, it was really bright, as if it was a guiding light showing the pathway to where he was supposed to actually go. His eyes glimmered at that thought. That butterfly...[/i]

[color=8882be]"It's got to be a magical butterfly, for sure."[/color] [i]He said.[/i]

[i]As a real nerdy person, Leon was actually not that skeptical of magic. After all, he himself had magical powers. Mostly uncontrollable, with nasty vertigo that made him sick a lot of times... but a magical power, nonetheless. And as an anime/manga/video game nerd, he was nowhere near as scared of that possibility. In fact, this was actually exciting! "A world of magic lies beyond these trees, hidden from the prying eyes of humankind, only susceptible to the chosen ones. Now you, as the hero, must now control your powers and master them!" It was such a basic isekai or a fantasy JRPG plot but Leon was liking it so far![/i]

[color=8882be](If any other person were to be in my shoes, they'd definitely find this weird. I think I'm actually glad that I'm a nerd at heart. This is far more exciting than... well, having to deal with her...)[/color] [i]He thought.[/i]

[i]He pulled out his cell phone and went on WhatsApp. The first conversation to appear was the one with his mom. A rather unpleasant one, after everything that unfolded in the past few months.[/i]

[hider=The Conversation]
[b]Mom:[/b]
[color=ed145b]You'll most definitely regret going on break Alear. Just listen to me and get back here![/color]

[right][b]Me:[/b]
[color=8882be]Hi to you too, Mom. And stop calling me Alear, I'm not working. Or did you forget your son's own name?[/color][/right]

[b]Mom:[/b]
[color=ed145b]Oh right. Whatever. Now, listen to me.[/color]

[right][b]Me:[/b]
[color=8882be]It's always "whatever" with you. It's like you don't care about me at all.[/color][/right]

[b]Mom:[/b]
[color=ed145b]Can you stop whining for once? So what if I called you by your stage name? That's your identity too.[/color]

[right][b]Me:[/b]
[color=8882be]No, it's not! I'm Leon, you and Dad gave me that name. Alear's on break, so quit it.[/color][/right]

[b]Mom:[/b]
[color=ed145b]THE POINT IS!! You're a famous idol, a hit sensation up until months ago when you decided to go on... "break" without even consulting me. Do you know how much of a deficit you're making me accumulate with your little trick?![/color]

[right][b]Me:[/b]
[color=8882be]I don't know and I don't care. Besides, this deficit of yours can easily be replaced with your other idols. I need time to rest, or else I'll go insane.[/color][/right]

[b]Mom:[/b]
[color=ed145b]Then why didn't you tell me that you were not feeling well?! I could've done something about your agenda![/color]

[right][b]Me:[/b]
[color=8882be]I did! And in response, you called me a "crybaby" and that I was making excuses. You even doubled my agenda after that as retaliation! If it wasn't for Aunt Eleanora, I'd be in the hospital right now![/color][/right]

[b]Mom:[/b]
[color=ed145b]Don't remind me about that traitor. I can't believe she had the audacity to double-cross me when I gave her the opportunity to work at my agency.[/color]

[right][b]Me:[/b]
[color=8882be]... I feel like I'm some protagonist from one of those [url=https://www.youtube.com/@appletexts]Apple Texts[/url] videos where the mother is a narcissistic and toxic abuser and the unloved child gets back at her after being disposed of like trash.[/color][/right]

[b]Mom:[/b]
[color=ed145b]What are you talking about? Apple Texts? What the hell is that?[/color]

[right][b]Me:[/b]
[color=8882be]Nevermind. Anyway, I'm not going back on my word. My health comes first so I'm prioritizing it instead of showbiz.[/color][/right]

[b]Mom:[/b]
[color=ed145b]Alear- I mean, Leon. I'm already having a huge problem explaining to the advertising partners about your unannounced break. Some of them are even attempting to cancel their contracts! I need you back here![/color]

[right][b]Me:[/b]
[color=8882be]No. If neither you nor Dad cares about me, Aunt Ellie does. And I will start caring about myself too. When I feel better, I'll think about getting back.[/color][/right]

[b]Mom:[/b]
[color=ed145b]I can't wait that long though![/color]

[right][b]Me:[/b]
[color=8882be]That's not my problem. Focus on the others. There are more talented people there than me, even. Stop bugging me and go do your job.[/color][/right]

[b]Mom:[/b]
[color=ed145b]Why you little disrespectful wretch...![/color]

[right][b]Me:[/b]
[color=8882be]Dad's been absent my whole life. You controlled every single decision I wanted to make. I'm the one taking control now.[/color][/right]

[b]Mom:[/b]
[color=ed145b]I'm your mother! I know what's best for you! You should just obey me quietly, as a good son![/color]

[right][b]Me:[/b]
[color=8882be]I'm 24 years old already! I live alone! I don't need your permission for anything anymore![/color][/right]

[b]Mom:[/b]
[color=ed145b]Of course you do! You can't do anything by yourself and just make the worst decisions in your life![/color]

[right][b]Me:[/b]
[color=8882be]Then I'll start doing it right by blocking you.[/color][/right]

[b]Mom:[/b]
[color=ed145b]You WHAT?![/color]

[right][b]Me:[/b]
[color=8882be]I need peace of mind, not this bullshit. So I'm blocking you and finding my way of living. BY MYSELF! And if you don't like the idea, then go ahead and cancel my contract with you. I don't care anymore. Goodbye.[/color][/right]

[b]Mom:[/b]
[color=ed145b]Wait, hold on a second! You can't do this to me! After all I've done to you, this is how you'll repay me?![/color]

[b]Mom:[/b]
[color=ed145b]Alear?! ALEAR!![/color]

[center][b][i]*You blocked this contact.*[/i][/b][/center]
[/hider]

[color=8882be]"No time thinking about her now. Time to go in and see what awaits me!"[/color] [i]He said, excited, while following the butterfly.[/i]

[i]The forest expense was huge. The invitation hasn't been too specific on the conditions he was going to walk in, only giving him the directions necessary to get wherever he should go. Although no longer physically together with his rather prestigious family, he knew it was rude to deny an invitation. There was always that thing about "never talking with strangers" that his mother taught him when he was a kid. But he was an adult now. So he decided to take the risk and just roll with it, not knowing what else to expect once he arrived. If anything, this was already better than whatever was being thrown at him during his time in showbiz.[/i]

[color=8882be](It has been a while since I ever had something to actually do and look forward to! I mean, in the sense of REAL anticipation!)[/color] [i]He thought.[/i]

[i]After traveling the whole way, he finally arrived at the house. The old, falling apart, victorian mansion which the "Benefactor" was supposed to be. Considering he lived in a mansion before, the surprise wasn't exactly the fact that it was enormous, but the choice of style taken by this mysterious sender. If he had the money to actually buy a house, why an old one? Was it because of its location, or because it was a personal choice of his own? Either way, he had to admit that it was pretty hidden from the public eyes. The forest itself felt like an even bigger maze, so entering or leaving without any directions was risky, if not completely hopeless.[/i]

[color=8882be]"So... this is where I'm supposed to stay. It feels hollow... almost truly abandoned."[/color] [i]He spoke to himself. Still, he approached the house and quickly saw that two other people stood there.[/i]