Hesekiel Tavoularis

When Aksel's finger twitches, he slowly flutters his eyelids open while he groans softly in consciousness.

What he sees is a golden top canopy ceiling above him, and he's confused about what happened.

He recalls that he was teasing Julian before until he heard a mysterious voice and just blanked out.

He admits that his body feels comfortable because of the softness and silk material laying on his back, and he didn't want to move at all because the bed calls him to laze around.

Beside him, someone shifts while there's an added weight when the bed creaks softly. Aksel glances until he sees his childhood friend's slumbering expression face-to-face.

Opposite what he's feeling during his rest earlier, Julian is not having a fitful sleep with his eyebrows furrowing while his lip is frowning.

"I'm afraid that there's nothing I could do with your companion."

"By the way, your sword is laying on your right side. I removed it to make you comfortable." The unfamiliar voice informs him, and there's a sound of a paper flipping to the next page.

"¡Uy!" Aksel yelps in surprise, and he quickly sits down while he glances at his other side. He could feel the hard object beside him on his hand, and he grips the hilt of his wooden Japanese sword beside him in alertness.

The young adult male has an appearance in the middle of his late 20s. He is sitting on an expensive wooden chair with ruby cushions and armrests.

He's reading a book calmly with thin-frame reading glasses. In Aksel's perspective, the stranger has handsome features with his black long hair, hazel eyes, and porcelain skin. His legs cross elegantly while holding a book, and he glances at Aksel, closing his book and putting it on his lap.

"My apologies for startling you. Let me introduce myself. My name is Hesekiel Tavoularis, the only butler in this mansion." He introduces himself politely. He removes his glasses and places the item on top of his book.

Aksel sighs in relief, placing his hand on his chest. His heart is beating erratically while he smiles at him in assurance. He relaxes his posture, letting go of his weapon when he sees that his new companion is without an armament.

"That's fine. It's an accident." He forgives him easily. His relieved face quickly changes into concern about his sleeping friend beside him.

"Also, no worries. I'll just wake my friend up. Ah!! I almost forgot to introduce myself. My name is Aksel Sanchez and this guy." He pauses while he glances at Julian.

"His name is Julian Abealard." He finishes their introduction, and Aksel begins to slap Julian's cheek gently to wake him up.

"Oi!! Wake up, sleeping beauty." Julians groans softly, slowly waking himself up when Aksel disturbs his slumber.

Hesekiel's expression is surprised after hearing the other guest's name in recognition, but he schools his facial expression in seconds.

Aksel misunderstood what he means earlier, but he didn't correct him. In the future, they will know what happened to their companion's situation.

Hesekiel waits for the boys patiently, watching them calmly.

When Julian rouses himself from his sleep, he sits down while groaning groggily.

"What the heck happened, and where are we?" His voice croaks after waking up, and he's half-asleep.

Aksel supports his friend, rubbing behind his back in concern, and he doesn't know the answer to his questions.

"You are in the Mirage Mansion. Unfortunately, the lady of the house drags you three into her home." Hesekiel answers honestly.

The two young boys quickly glance at Hesekiel in surprise and curiosity.

Aksel almost forgot that Hesekiel is here from the start, and the young German male opens his mouth, ready to speak but Aksel quickly interrupts him.

"Oh yeah, Julian. That's Hesekiel Tavoularis. He's the only butler here." He chirps with a bright smile after he introduces their new companion.

Julian stares at Aksel blankly. Did this guy learn how suspicious Butler is? Wait. The lady of the house?

Julian frowns, and he peeks at Hesekiel in both curiosity and confusion until their eyes lock together. The butler shakes his head like he read his mind, but it is more on reading the short black-haired man's expression.

"I'm afraid that I'm not allowed to answer about my lady, but I could only give you this book for guidance." Hesekiel puts his glasses in his breast pocket, and then he picks up his book on his lap and places it on top of the coffee table beside him.

He stands up while approaches the two boys until he reaches Julian's left side.

The two males watch him in silent interest, and their eyes wide open in awe when they see that Hesekiel summons a thick book within the butler's hands.

The book's design is simple. It has a brown leather hardcover with an elegant cursive title 'The Mirage Mansion'.

The butler hands it over to Julian, and Julian takes it with no hesitation while he flips the pages to check it out, but he finds out all the pages are blank.

"This book will guide you to escape this mansion. It would fill itself up if you discover useful information." The butler informs him.

After Hesekiel watches Julian taking the book while investigating it, he turns his back on him while he places his hands behind him, walking forward until he reaches the bookshelf.

The room is spacious enough with plaster bookshelves on the walls, and there are even a comfy sofa and cushion chairs with flowery designs and a long table for a small waiting room nearby.

His special guests are fit enough inside the Queen-sized crimson canopy bed.

There's a beautiful crystal chandelier above the ceiling that is lighting the room with old-style candles, and the bedroom is decorated with brown and red colors.

"I cannot help much because I am restricted from following the rules, but it doesn't hurt me to find some loopholes." He chuckles lightly in amusement while his eyes skim the titles of the books, and he's giving them hints. Hopefully, they are smart enough to pick it up.

"So, you are saying that you are on our side for now? By the way, why are you helping us? " Aksel asks in curiosity.

Julian is surprised that Aksel listens to the butler attentively. When he glances at him, he sees a rare sight of his childhood friend being serious, especially his golden eyes being narrow.

Inside Aksel's mind, he knows that Hesekiel is hiding many secrets. He knows that he should be suspicious of him, but the important thing is that he's helping them somewhat, so he will gladly take his help when the guy offers them useful tips to survive whatever this place is, and he observes that Hesekiel doesn't have any malicious intent at all.

He relies more on his gut feelings or instincts since it never fails him in his entire life thanks to his Kendo and his grandfather's harsh training back in Japan.

"I cannot say, but I have my reasons," Hesekiel replies vaguely, and the two boys quickly catch up that he's staying neutral, but they don't know how long he will be by their side.

"Good to know." Replies Aksel with a carefree tone. His expression quickly relaxes, and he notices in his peripheral vision that Julian is looking at him.

He glances at him and gives him a bright smile, and Julian quickly avoids his gaze with a blush on his cheeks for being caught staring.

He coughs on his fist awkwardly, looking at Hesekiel's back while he closes the thick book. Julian is still suspicious of Hesekiel, but he's the only lead to gather more information, so he has no choice but to distinguish if he's telling the truth or not.

Seconds later, he stops blushing while he focuses on an important follow-up question.

"Do you know where Evangeline is? She has braided pigtails, is 156 cm tall, has blue eyes, and light brown hair." He begins to describe her sister worriedly.

"Ah, she's at the library, sleeping safely." The butler replies and assures them.

"I'll give you a helpful tip. You can command the guidebook away in your consciousness and summon it in your desire whenever you need the book." Hesekiel advises them helpfully. He knows it's a hassle to carry that book around, so he takes pity on them and helps them up a little. The butler begins to walk towards the door where the library is.

Julian stores the book away inside his mind until the item disappears into thin air, and he's in awe that it works.

"Woah~" Aksel gasps impressively, and he wonders where the book is.

The German summons and dismisses the book a few times until he feels satisfied, and he hides the book somewhere with magic logic, which he decides not to dwell on for so long. 

Maybe he will think about it when he's curious enough to search for some answers, and he accepts that Hesekiel is speaking the truth with his helpful guidance.

"Let's go." Julian urges his friend impatiently and worriedly while he gets off the bed. He hopes the butler is telling the truth that his beloved little sister is safe and sound. He's surprised that he was patient for so long when Hesekiel keeps informing them with useful tips.

Aksel nods in agreement, and he quickly attaches his silver scabbard with a wooden sword on his left side inside the sword belt after he woefully leaves the comfortable bed. The two of them quickly catch up to Hesekiel.

Hesekiel, being a good host, opens the door for them.

"This door leads to the library. After entering the library, I'll be gone and return to my duties. The rest is up to you." He informs them. The two young males pause when they are at a good distance from the butler.

"How do we find you?" Asks Aksel in curiosity.

"You will find me when the time is right. I wish you good luck." Replies Hesekiel politely, placing his hand on his chest while bowing slightly in a respectful manner.

Aksel and Julian nod in acknowledgment.

"See you later, Hesekiel!!" Aksel bids him farewell with a friendly and cheerful wave, and he enters the library first.

"Farewell," Julian says politely with a nod of acknowledgment until he goes inside the library.

After Hesekiel watches them go, he closes the door while he walks where he sat in the beginning on the chair.

His chocolate-brown eyes glance at the library's door. He frowns while his expression looks in conflict. He did want to tell them more, but the rules of the mansion restricted him tightly.

If he disobeys it, his lady would punish him severely, so he didn't want to be causing trouble from the start. If it's necessary, he will intervene somehow.

He closes his eyes, remembering the golden hair female tied up in a French knot with a rose gold vine hair clip that adorns the left side of her hair, and she has exquisite sapphire eyes that gleam brightly like a morning sky while smiling at him tenderly.

"At last. The time has finally come that I will fulfill your promises." He says determinedly while opening his eyes firmly, and his body begins to vanish slowly, starting to his feet until it reaches his head.

"Chloe, soon…" Hesekiel whispers one last time until he completely disappears. 

[Author's note: If you guys find a few grammatical errors, feel free to correct me while I'll fix it right away.

If you have any questions about my story (No spoilers tho), don't be afraid to ask while I'll answer you as best as I can.

Thank you for your continuous support, and for reading my novel :)

P.S.: Additionally about me, English is not my native tongue, so I apologize in advance when some sentences might be clunky xD.]