[Book of Eros] Chapter 5: The Tensai Residence. (Patreon)

“This building belongs to me now, but it was once the residence of the whole second generation of the Tensai Clan,” Mrs. Wisler sighed with regret. “That means my father’s generation.”

She led them through the gates, and inside they saw the house itself. It was an old, long, elegant and traditional Japanese house. It had a slanted, blue tiled roof just like the one on the walls surrounding the residence. There were two wooden pillars supporting the porch roof over the sliding door that was the entrance to the main building, and tall trees with thin trunks, along with more flowers and bushes adorned the opened areas.

“This will be your home, from now on,” Mrs. Wisler said. “It’s… a bit messy since I’ve been living here alone. I do hope you don’t mind.” She offered them an apologetic smile, but even Leonardo could catch the slight hints of excitement in her voice. Was she happy that they would be living with her?

“Let me give you a quick tour,” she said.

She opened the sliding door and the three went inside. The house started with a long hallway of wooden tiles. The center building consisted of two empty rooms; a pantry with shelves filled to the top with food, bottles and house cleaning items; two sliding screens that led to a very spacious dining room with the classic tatami floor, a big, square, low table made of dark wood and a flat-screen TV on the southern wall, all of which was separated from the kitchen only by a long counter; finally, there was the master bedroom where the Mrs. Wisler slept, with its own private bathroom. Right outside that room and along the outside of the building ran a kind of veranda that led directly to the backyard, where they could see one other big building.

The right wing consisted only of two traditional Japanese bedrooms, with sliding doors and tatami mats. There was a bathroom between them, with the same kind of veranda in front of them giving access to the yard. There were even more bedrooms on the left wing. Six more, to be precise. Three of them were also coherent with the elegant and traditional Japanese design of the house, but the other three shared a more western style with wooden board flooring and single beds instead of futons.

Finally, on the ample, almost empty backyard was a big, two-story storehouse where old stuff like broken appliances and furniture were kept.

Like Mrs. Wisler had said, most of the rooms were dusty since she didn’t use them.

“I’m sure it’s been a lot to take in for you two,” Mrs. Wisler told them, offering them a sympathetic smile as she took them back to the dining room. They sat down around the low table on soft, comfortable pillows. “You must be tired.”

“I think I’m starting to feel the jet lag,” Angela groaned, rubbing her eyes.

“I can’t tell you how glad I am that you accepted to come here with me.” the old lady bowed on her seat, head almost touching the table. “Ms. Angela, I know I had your father’s approval, but I still appreciate that you’d trust me.”

“The old man has nothing to do with this,” Angela said, eyes narrowing at the mention of her father. “You said I could use my Gift if I came here.”

“I assure you, you will. I’ll have to ask you to be patient, however. The person I want you to meet is out on a business trip overseas and will be back in a few weeks. I suggest you use this time to grow accustomed to your new life here.” Mrs. Wisler then turned to Leonardo. “And you, Mr. Leonardo. I know you took a big risk in trusting a strange, old lady like me. But I promise you I will answer that trust.”

“It’s not like I had all that much to give up,” Leonardo shrugged and gave her a good-natured smile. “If even a quarter of what you offered turns out to be true, I’ll be grateful.”

“I hope you haven’t forgotten how I mentioned this before, but I’m still on the lookout for more clan members, so this house may fill up with yet more people.”

Leonardo and Angela nodded in acknowledgement.

“But since you’re the first ones here, you may pick whichever room you wish. Except mine of course. An old lady like me needs her own bathroom.” she chuckled.

Being attracted by the foreign design, Leonardo picked the furthermost bedroom on the right wing, with the bathroom to his left and the yard to his right. Angela picked one of the western-style bedrooms on the left wing, something that shouldn’t have been surprising, but was somehow still disappointing.

Angela excused herself, saying she wanted to take a quick nap. That left Leonardo alone with Mrs. Wisler, who, with a solemn expression, asked him to wait for her in the dining room.

Leonardo sat cross-legged in front of the low table as he waited. When he heard the sliding door, his body tensed automatically, and his eyes carefully followed Mrs. Wisler as she took her seat across from him, on top of her legs in what’s called the seiza posture, he remembered.

“I think it’s finally time that I explain to you in more detail what I meant by you being the key to remove the curse,” she said and put a small book on the table.