The dragon leads Luc and Dozzy into the mansion. The house is just as massive on the inside, there are multiple maids working to keep the house clean. The entrance hall leads to a double stairwell going up, gated off by a mechanical door keeping the upper levels closed off, seemingly opened with a keycard system. A faux fur carpet lines the floor, intricate details sewn within the fluffy fabric. Luc scrunches his toeclaws into the carpet, feeling the familiar softness intertwine with the underfluff of his paws, vaguely reminding him of the bristly fur of Austin’s snout forced against his paw pads. Fancy paintings, luxurious-looking furniture and other decorations are scattered throughout the entrance hall, which spreads off into three cardinal directions facing the double doors he entered through. Luc stares at the gated stairwell, and Shihai catches the fennec’s gaze.
‘Interested in the upper level, hmm, little fox?’
Luc blushes. ‘Ah, honestly, I’m interested in everything. This place is massive, I think it’s even bigger than our college. Which is already quite large itself.’
The dragon responds with a deep, hearty chuckle. ‘Of course it’s bigger, silly fox. If I want to host good entertaining games, I need a large playground.’
Luc nods, still somewhat confused.
‘The top level is for the spectators only. Maybe one day you’ll get to be amongst them,’ Shihai says as he leads them to the left wing of the building. The three walk past a massive open kitchen, filled with servants doing various tasks. The scent of vegetable stew replaces that of old wood and the carpet, making Luc realize how hungry he is, despite having had dinner shortly before getting picked up by the synth.
‘Who is spectating? And what even is it that they’re spectating…?’ Miss Dozzybun asks, her nose twitching as she, too, picks up the smell coming from the kitchen.
‘Well, the principal of Luc’s school for one. As for what… I’m not going to ruin the surprise yet, now, am I? You’ll find out sooner than you think, bun,’ the dragon replies.
The three pass by two large rooms, marked with paper signs reading “S” and “D”. The dragon points at the left one, marked D, and says ‘this is where you will be staying for the night. It’s a large communal bedroom hall, but you’ll all have plenty of privacy. There are individual quarters, private bathrooms, anything you could really need when the game isn’t on.’
Luc throws Dozzybun a glance, but she’s already hopping along past the dormitory, down the hallway. Shihai guides the two further down the snaking hallways, passing by a large library. The library seems to lead into a big terrarium, with access to the garden. It’s too dark to see into the park behind the mansion now, but Luc remembers how long it took them to drive from the fence gate on the gravel path to reach the parking grounds where Austin and Robin got dropped and taken away.
The three continue to venture down the hallways of the mansion until they approach a set of two large wooden doors leading to an open hall. Behind the closed doors, the fennec picks up on the murmuring of a bunch of different voices.
‘Please, do enter. This is where everything will become clear to you both, soon,’ Shihai says as he pushes open the heavy double doors seemingly without effort.
The black-and-white dragon enters the hallway first, leading Luc and Dozzy inside, and immediately the entire hall goes quiet. There are a bunch of different exchange attendants already waiting inside the hall, all eyeing the two newcomers down. Amongst them, at first glance, Luc spots a green-scaled naga with orange frills, a skullwolf wearing a metal band tee, a purple-furred protogen, and a sporty rabbit boy. The two newcomers join the group, and as they do, Shihai makes his way onto a stage in the center of the room.
One of the servants dims the lights, and Shihai taps a massive fingerclaw on a microphone twice. Not that he needs it, his voice is powerful enough to carry throughout the room, but still. As the tap echoes over speakers in the room, he begins to speak.
‘Welcome to this year’s Hypnosis Hide and Seek Exchange, Hunters!’
Happy Hypnovember everybody! For 2026, I am writing a sequel to my story Exhibition Match, featuring the athletic Austin, theater kid Luc, and many many many cameos with my fans, friends and followers! --- Luc and Dozzy are led into the mansion by Master Shihai, who gives them a quick tour of the place. Finally, as they enter a large conference hall filled with other exchange students, the purpose of their gathering becomes clear. --- Featuring (short) cameos from Mrs. Dozzybun, Sly, Crims0nw0lf, Unit-4256 and Zerg
![Akko's Hypnovember 2026 Day 8 - Arrival [A/L]](https://sf.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/6224/6224721_Akkobold_chapter_8_-_arrival_a_l_.jpg "Akko's Hypnovember 2026 Day 8 - Arrival [A/L]")
