In the morning, birds chirped, awakening me from my slumber. I found myself in the presence of an animal, yet my vision was still blurred. I asked if this was a cat or a fox, but no, it felt like a wolf. But where was the cat I rescued?
"So, you, dear kitty, you are not a cat but a wolf. Oh, how wonderful," I said, smiling at the wolf.
"Knock, knock," came from the door.
"Yes?" I answered, my voice breaking.
"Master, I am coming in, along with a maid," replied the voice from beyond the door. The door creaked open, and my knight entered, the sound of chains rustling as they clung to the armor he wore. His sword scraped against his metal side armor with each step he took. Behind him trailed the maid, who felt distinctly different. She didn't carry the scent of blood or lust, but rather of flowers and honey.
They came closer, and as soon as the maid placed the basin of water next to me, the wolf moved close, causing my knight to startle at his yawn. However, Sir Michell was not fazed; instead, he asked, "Well now, Master, where did you find him? Does he have a name yet?" His voice was gentle and soft.
I turned to him as the maid washed my body softly and swiftly. "No, he doesn't," I paused, then smiled, "but he does now. His name is Twilight." I turned to the maid. "Miss Maid, if you intend to poison me, don't rub my body with alcohol or any other chemicals." I could feel the tension in the air.
"Master," the maid stammered, dropping the towel.
"Well, brother, aren't you going to do something? You think I didn't notice that Sir Michel is outside. For who do you think I am?" I could sense the challenge in her tone.
I glanced between them, a silent exchange passing between us. "Twilight, stay," I commanded softly to the wolf beside me. As the tension thickened, I could hear Sir Michel's footsteps approaching. "Let's handle this calmly," I suggested, trying to diffuse the situation before it escalated further. I smiled, almost snickering at him.
Sir Michel entered the room, his presence commanding attention. "Well, master, that is an amazing assumption; however, you are wrong," he stated firmly. "The boy beside you is just my brother, whom I have dressed and taught to act like a noble. And the maid is a maid who will teach you the art of being an assassin."
I felt a mixture of surprise and disbelief wash over me. Despite the shock, I couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for Sir Michel's brilliant art of deception.
"However, I am a bit hungry. Can you please get food for me and Twilight?" I requested.
"Yes, of course, master. Anything for you, master," the maid replied promptly, her demeanor shifting back to one of dutiful service.
As she left to fetch the food, I turned to Sir Michel, newfound respect tinged with curiosity in my gaze. It was clear that there was much more to him and his world than met the eye, and I was eager to learn more.
"So what will my day be like today?" I inquired, turning to Sir Michel for guidance. As the little brother left the room, Twilight yawned and stretched, repositioning himself to lay right beside my right arm, close to my side.
"Well, he has taken a liking to you. What, it's only been half a night, right?" Sir Michel remarked, observing Twilight's affectionate behavior. I nodded in agreement, acknowledging the bond that seemed to be forming so quickly.
As I sighed and reached for my water, I realized it wasn't where I expected it to be. Fidgeting around to find it, I heard Sir Michel come closer. He gently guided my hand by tapping his fingers on the table, helping me locate the glass. Finally, after a few seconds, I found it.
"Thank you," I said, smiling gratefully at Sir Michel. After taking a sip of water, the maid entered the room with a tray of food.
"Master, before I serve you these foods, I need you to tell me if you can smell them, and you have to guess them correctly," she announced, her tone carrying a hint of challenge.
I smiled, intrigued by this change in the timeline of events. Despite the unexpected challenge, I didn't refuse. Instead, I welcomed the opportunity to engage in this new experience.
Accepting the challenge with a nod, I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement at the prospect of testing my senses in this unique way. "I'm ready," I declared, anticipation evident in my voice. As the maid brought out each dish one at a time, I could feel the room lose tension. Eagerly, I leaned forward, inhaling deeply, trying to discern the subtle aromas wafting from each plate. I even held the plate closer to me, letting the scents envelop me, hoping to gain an advantage in the guessing game.
"The first dish was easy," I confidently remarked. "This is a soup, a fish one with scallops and lemon."
As I sensed the maid putting a spoon into the bowl, signaling my correctness, I wasted no time. Without hesitation, I slowly started to eat, savoring each spoonful. Hunger had been gnawing at me, and the warm, comforting soup tasted heavenly after not having eaten for a while. As I savored each spoonful, a pleasant smile adorned my face.
"Um, what about Twilight? Will he get meat and bone too? Or do you have something else prepared for him?" I inquired, considering Twilight's appetite and wondering what the maid had in store for my newfound companion. All of a sudden, the whole room went quiet, so quiet that I could hear Twilight's soft purrs and gentle breathing, adding a serene atmosphere to the moment.
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"Yes, master, I will go fetch a bone with meat now," the maid said hurriedly before exiting the room. Her footsteps echoed faintly, almost like marbles dropping to the floor. Despite the quietness of her steps, there was a heaviness to them, as if she were carrying a weight or fearing something unseen turned to where I last remembered Sir Michel being and posed the question, "Who is she scared of, you or Twilight?" I gestured towards Twilight, who was peacefully lying next to me. "You wouldn't harm others, now would you?" I turned back to Sir Michel, awaiting his response.
"Well, young master, what can I say? Your beast, sorry, your wolf, is a mythical creature. Each one of your family has one, and yours and his majesties are the rarest," Sir Michel explained, his words revealing a truth that seemed to shift the very foundation of my understanding.
"Ahh, I see. So what does that mean? I have more power than the king himself?" I questioned, intrigued by the implications.
"No, master. It means you and him are on the same, similar level of magic and controlling beasts," Sir Michel clarified, tempering any notions of superiority with a reminder of equality in magical control.
"I jumped up from the bed. 'Really, me and father are on the same level?'" I exclaimed, excitement coursing through me. However, my sudden movement startled Twilight, causing the soup to spill onto the bed. Embarrassment flushed through me as I realized the mess I had caused. "I'm sorry, Twilight, I didn't mean to startle you. I was just a bit too happy," I explained apologetically. With a sheepish grin, I jumped back onto the bed, laughing softly as I hugged the wolf tightly. "You're my new partner in crime," I whispered affectionately to Twilight, feeling a bond between us strengthen with each passing moment.
"Sorry, master, I need to do my daily checks and training. I will leave you in the hands of Twilight and the maid, and by the way, her name is Alison. Okay, make sure you get along," Sir Michel's voice interrupted the moment, breaking the silence with a gentle reminder of his duties. I nodded, understanding his need to attend to his responsibilities. "Of course, Sir Michel. "Thank you," I replied, watching as he exited the room, leaving me alone with Twilight. As soon as he left, the maid, Alison, joined us. An awkward silence hung in the air as I finished eating what was left of the soup. I stayed quiet, unsure of what else to say, and focused on finishing my soup. The warmth of the broth and the company of Twilight and Alison provided a comforting respite from the tumultuous events of the day.
"Yeah, that's how the day went after I finished breakfast and put on some more appropriate clothes," I recounted, recalling the events of the morning.
"Now, master, shall we begin with your training? Are you ready?" Alison asked, her tone carrying a mix of determination and encouragement.
"I nodded," I replied, complying with Alison's instructions.
"Okay, then come here, sit cross-legged on top of the floor here," she directed, guiding me to the designated spot.
"Okay, now I will put this blindfold on you," she informed me as she prepared a cloth to cover my eyes.
As she tied the blindfold securely, she explained that it was part of the exercise. I hesitated slightly, my past experiences reminding me to be cautious about blind trust. "I'll trust you, but not blindly," I remarked with a slight grin, appreciating the pun in my own words. She seemed slightly taken aback by my response, but she continued to prepare for the exercise nonetheless. I could sense her determination and commitment to guiding me through the training, despite any reservations she might have had. With a deep breath, I resolved to approach the exercise with an open mind and trust in her guidance.
As Alison finished preparing for the exercise, I suddenly felt a cold breeze, followed by a comforting warmth that emanated from Twilight. I realized he was leaning on my back, a reassuring presence amidst the darkness of the blindfold. His presence brought a sense of calm and reassurance as if he was there to support me through whatever challenges lay ahead. With Twilight by my side, I felt ready to embark on the training exercise, trusting in Alison's guidance and the bond I shared with my companion. I took a deep breath and said, "Well, Alison, do your worst," with a smirk, almost challenging her to push me to my limits. After setting the tone with your challenge, you might await Alison's response or prepare yourself mentally for the exercises she has planned. Alternatively, you could express readiness by adjusting your posture or focusing your attention on the task at hand.
"Okay, please take a deep, deep breath and just think about magic, mana, and everything in between," Alison instructed, her voice calm and reassuring. I followed her guidance, inhaling deeply and allowing my mind to focus solely on the concept of magic and the energy that flowed through me. With each breath, I felt a sense of connection to the mystical forces that surrounded us, ready to embrace whatever challenges lay ahead in the training session. As I delved deeper into my thoughts, focusing on magic and mana, I became acutely aware of the living energy pulsating all around me. Every breath synchronized with the rhythm of the natural world, and I sensed the presence of every living thing nearby. It felt like I had tapped into a heightened state of awareness, connected to the interconnectedness of all living beings and the energy binding us together.
"Well done, master," Alison praised. "That is how to do it." Here in the room right now, it's filled with white energy of light. I know that now your vision is gone, but when you see this, you will see the beauty of those sparkles. "I'm proud of you. Now, try and focus all this energy into an object or your very entry and transfer it into your beast," Alison instructed, guiding me through the next step of the training.
"Am I doing it?" I asked, but there was no answer. At the same time, I could no longer feel Twilight behind me. Panic crept in as I realized I had no idea what I was doing.
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