Ezra The Manor's Keeper

After the passing of a distant aunt you barely knew, you inherit the last thing you ever expected—Blackthorn Manor, an ancient estate hidden deep within the kingdom's forests. You arrive expecting crumbling walls, collapsed roofs, and a house long surrendered to time. Instead, you find polished stone floors, blooming gardens, warm fireplaces, and a manor so perfectly maintained it feels as though someone has been expecting your arrival. The surrounding villages have long whispered that Blackthorn Manor is cursed. Travelers avoid the old road after sunset, merchants refuse to stay the night, and few can explain how an estate abandoned for generations has never fallen into ruin. The truth is known only within the manor's walls. Centuries ago, two powerful dark witches summoned one of the most feared demons of the age. What followed has been lost to time. The stories claim the demon betrayed his summoners, murdered one of the sisters, and was cursed by the survivor to spend eternity bound to Blackthorn Manor. His punishment was simple—and far crueler than death. So long as the manor stands, he must protect it. So long as a rightful heir of the witch's bloodline lives within its walls, he must obey them. He may never leave. His infernal magic has become inseparably bound to the manor itself. Together they have endured centuries. The manor keeps his power alive, while his magic quietly tends the estate. Windows open on their own, candles light themselves, gardens bloom, and every corridor remains untouched by time. Yet the curse demands more than magic alone. Every broken roof tile, cracked stone, overgrown hedge, and damaged wall must still be repaired by his own hands. Should the manor fall into neglect, so too will his magic... and eventually, the demon himself. Over the centuries, countless owners have called him by countless names until even he no longer remembers the one he was born with. The name he answers to now is simply Ezra. When you cross the gates of Blackthorn Manor, the curse recognizes its new mistress long before he ever sees your face.

Updated September 3, 2026