“Meya.”

A woman called out to a small child.

“Mom?

The child grasped the woman’s hand. Bruises and discolorations ran up and down the older woman’s arm.

“Show me Meya. Go on.”

Meya looked back curiously.

Show her what again?

“My sweet daughter, don’t remember? The tower’s trial. Call your soul crystal and read it out loud.”

Her foggy memories cleared up.

Oh, she wants to see my trial.

With a flip of her hand, a smooth crystal appeared in her palm.

“It says I need to own a peak grade spirit shard.”

The little girl eyed her mother as she spoke.

“Peak grade… are you sure? Show me again Meya, maybe it’ll change.”

The woman replied, the disbelief in her voice couldn’t be hidden.

A peak grade soul shard was worth 100 high grade soul shards. This was enough to buy out a few businesses and live happily for multiple lifetimes. The girl shook her head.

“It’s not changing mom. I can’t change it.”

“So it seems… Meya? Don’t ever give up.”

“I won’t, I promise.”

“And Meya? Why are you still sleeping?”

The woman glared at the girl with a stern face.

“Sleeping?”

“Meya your charge is already eating dinner and you’re still asleep?”

“What?”

“Wake up Meya!”

Meya’s eyes flashed open.

Her arms and legs were tightly wrapped around the stuffed animal. A loose robe revealed a portion of her thigh, creating an alluring picture.

Despite her display, an uncaring and stern looking Lady Cai loomed over her.

“What are you doing still in bed? Scram out of here and go be a proper maid! Useless girl!”

Meya rolled out of her bed in a hurry.

Being berated by Lady Cai was the last thing she wanted. She could barely think as she fumbled about her room looking for her clothes.

“What…”

She was dumbfounded and lost.

“What do you mean ‘what’? Get out of your nightwear, blasted girl! Get dressed and meet me in the dining area. I already made Little X some food and helped dress him in his new clothes.”

Lady Cai walked out of the room in a huff, leaving Meya to sort out her thoughts.

Just what happened? Last night I…

She paused her thoughts when as she recalled her run in with the mist.

“Ugh, how could I have been affected so easily?!”

She swiftly retrieved a backup uniform from her storage ring and fit them on. She rushed to the bathing area in a panic. After all, it was her duty to clean up after the guest.

Half-melted crimson candles lined the walls, while the pool of water had yet to be drained. Remnants of soap bubbles could still be seen floating across the surface of the water, creating an aromatic and pleasant smell.

She could not remember the entirety of the previous night, but after inspecting the room she only became increasingly confused. Nothing about the candles was different, and yet the previous night they seemed so strange.

Drained the water and cleaning the place, she once again vowed to never mess with the crimson candles ever again.

Moments later, Meya entered the dining area, where a smiling boy conversed with Lady Cai in a low voice. Empty plates were set before them, while a third plate full of luxurious foods was placed on the opposite side of the table.

Lady Cai raised an eyebrow towards Meya when she entered the room.

“Sit child, eat for now. Little X here was just telling me some stories of his adventures. Quite the capable man I must say.”

She smiled faintly while the boy turned away shyly.

“I see…”

Her mind was still processing last night’s events as she numbly took a seat and picked at her food.

“Well, I must be going now. It has been a pleasure meeting you, and…”

Lady Cai turned to the maid.

“It’s been a pleasure having you in this phase of my life, Meya.”

Meya snapped out of her daze when she heard this.

“Y-you’re going now? Isn’t it too soon?”

Mistress Cai pushed her chair back and stood up.

“Little girl, you know I need to go. Although I cherish my time with you greatly, I can’t give up my dreams. It’s time for me to continue my journey.”

Meya looked down at her food to avoid the woman’s gaze.

“Meya…”

After a brief pause, Meya abruptly stood up and looked directly at her.

“No, you’re right. I’m not giving up on my dreams either. Seamstress Cai, no I mean, Lady Cai it has been an honor to be in your presence.”

Meya stepped to the side of the table and kowtowed towards her benefactor.

“Please be successful and… I will find you on the tower’s second floor!”

Lady Cai smiled gently and walked over to pick her up off the ground.

“I know you’ll find me quickly. It may have taken me decades to complete my trial, but I know you will succeed in half the time. Who knows…”

She eyed the boy from the corner of her eye.

“Perhaps you’ll succeed even quicker than we realize.”

She said mysteriously before pulling Meya into a deep and affectionate hug.

“I’ll miss you little girl. Don’t keep this old me waiting too long, I get lonely when you’re not around.” Lady Cai felt some tears threatening to leak out.

“That’s because you haven’t found a man yet!”

A mischievous grin was written across Meya’s face.

“Damned girl. Who needs a useless man anyway? I can accomplish my goals just the same.”

They parted from their embrace. After staring for a moment, Lady Cai nodded towards the young girl and parted.

“Goodbye Meya. Don’t get into trouble that you can’t handle. I’ll be waiting for you in a place called Rheiton City. I have a good friend there who said he’ll help me find work once I make it past the first floor—if he even remembers me.”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

The woman chuckled before muttering under her breath.

“I wonder how he’s doing, that imp of a man.”

She waved her hand without turning back, exiting unit 401 a few moments later.

Loneliness washed over Meya as soon as Lady Cai departed. A melancholic sigh was released as she seated herself back at the table. Her appetite had all but disappeared.

The chain of events happened too quickly, causing her brain to be scrambled into confusion.

“Lady Cai, she’s a really nice woman.”

The boy lightly commented from across the table, catching Meya’s attention.

That’s right! Even with the seamstress gone, I still have his company.

She met the boy’s innocent gaze, causing a tender and wholesome emotion washed over her soul.

“As for last night, thank you very much for teaching me how to use the bath. I didn’t know how to drain the water though… so I left it. I’m sorry.”

His apology faded to a mumble at the end.

“E-eh i-it’s no problem, r-really.”

“Are you okay?”

He stood up concerned; and it was only then did Meya notice his spectacular appearance.

Dressed in casual attire, he wore a fitted shirt and vest that accentuated his sharp frame. Her attention was drawn to his lithe build that somehow seemed sturdy and dependable.

Meya’s eyes glowed with a foreign sense of pride. Although it wasn’t formal attire, Lady Cai had produced her best work yet in the creation of this boy’s outfit.

His appearance only emboldened the idea that he could be a potential runaway young master; perhaps one that had been catered to his entire life by a doting family.

“Oh, she also gave me these. She said I would need it.”

From his small pouch he withdrew a hooded cloak and a mask. The cloak’s material was black with designed grey swirls. Even from a distance, the cloak looked as cozy as a steamed cup of coffee by a charcoaled fire.

With a twirl, the boy flung the cloak over himself. The hood came over the top, hiding a portion of his face.

He fitted the mask on as well, which was designed as a pearl white bunny.

“What do you think?”

He spread his arms out to show off. His voice was slightly distorted by the bunny mask, but it still had its tender tone.

“It’s amazing.”

Meya nodded seriously.

“I would never be able to tell who was under all of that, even your voice isn’t really recognizable.”

Meya’s eyes lit up as a certain realization dawned on her.

“Would you like to explore the different stores around here?”

With the cloak and mask, there would be no issues with the boy being seen outside. Although he might draw a little attention, it was fairly common for people to hide their appearances in such a way, especially at night in Central Moldun.

The boy pull back the hood and took off the mask. His eyes glittered expectantly after hearing her offer.

“Really? I mean… I was planning to look, but I didn’t know where to begin. Uh, there was this big building with huge red and yellow lights. Can I show you?”

He lead Meya toward the see-through wall that overlooked the entire city.

Huge red and yellow lights? Maybe he saw the House of Amaryllis.

Meya approached the wall and followed his finger.

A river of bodies flowed in and out of a certain building. The palace-like structure illuminated the night like an autumn sunset, which only confirmed her initial thought.

“That’s the House of Amaryllis. It’s a gambling house, but it has more than just gambling. There’s many forms of entertainment that the house hosts such as dancing, sports, plays, music, and even some fun games. It’s food could also be considered an attraction, or so I’ve heard.”

Although she had eaten at the House of Amaryllis at least once, she had only ordered the cheapest items on the menu due to how expensive it was. Pretending that she had never eaten there was much easier than acting like a critic.

“Let’s go!”

The boy excitedly stuffed the cloak and mask back into the pouch of holding and grabbed her hand to lead her away.

“W-wait!”

Meya pulled him back, causing him to spin around.

“If I take you then you have to promise me something.”

She glared at the boy, her humorless tone clued him on gravity of the situation.

“Er… sure?”

Meya shook her head before continuing.

“First off, don’t accept promises from other people so easily. Some people have bad intentions, speaking of which… If we go outside you have to promise to wear the cloak and mask that Mistress Cai gave you, at least for the next 20 days.”

The boy’s eyes twitched with a confounded expression.

Living his entire life as a beggar, he was already used to a life as a shadow in the background. Poverty was etched into his bones, and he never had the privilege to worry about his appearance.

Any coin he ever earned was solely used for survival. He was used to looks of disgust from strangers, but who could blame them?

Life had never once been easy. For a long time, he was practically a slave for how little he was paid. The possibility that someone could have worse intentions than what he’d already experienced was not something that ever dawned on him.

However in Meya’s eyes, the boy was a walking disaster. To her, he was still young and vulnerable. There was no way he could protect himself after being sheltered in a privileged life. He was like a greenhouse flower being exposed to the elements for the first time.

His exceedingly charming looks also possessed a certain allure to those around him. How many malicious people would try to secretly sweep him off the streets to sell him off? How many people would lash out at him, or even have him killed out of pure jealousy?

Meya knew the world was unkind, so she made this single request in desperate hopes that he would agree. She held her stance and gaze firmly, suggesting that said she wouldn’t move from this spot unless he agreed.

“O-okay. I promise.”

The boy slipped into the cloak and adjusted the mask over his face. Although he didn’t understand Meya’s thought process, he still complied as it seemed important to her.

He never cared about what he looked like in the first place, so why would he care now? If he could promise something so simple to ease Meya’s emotions, then it only made sense to do so.

Meya revealed her signature smile seeing that he was properly covered up.

“Then let’s go!”

She took the lead this time, grabbing his hand.

By the time they reached the stairs, she realized she was still holding his hand and quickly withdrew her own in embarrassment. Naturally the boy was oblivious to this motion because his thoughts were purely filled with excitement and adventure once more.

Exiting the hotel’s entrance, they walked towards the House of Amaryllis, which was clearly visible even from the distance. Although Meya was still dressed in uniform, nobody thought it was weird. Instead they respected it!

It was often viewed as a prestigious act that filled others with envy to be escorted by a maiden from the Flower Lotus Hotel. The women who worked there had all of the power and say when it came to their decisions.

They were paid well enough that paltry amounts of spirit shards were not enough to move them. Only upper-class men had the backing to afford handling them, and of those men, only a select few had the ability to be publicly escorted by one.

Meya stood by the youth’s side protectively as they walked along the side of the road. It was like she was a mother hen, ready to peck at any hint of a threat. Other people craned their necks and spoke in hushed tones to their friends as the duo passed by.

“She’s so beautiful. Look at those mountains… I could die in her arms.”

“You think those are impressive? Look behind her. How does it look so firm and plump at the same time?”

Banter continued from all directions, which the youth heard every word of. Meya experienced this kind of treatment countless times at the hotel, but never as an escort. Still, she easily ignored their words as they meant nothing to her.

“Sigh, if only my wife…”

“Your wife? What about mine?! She only has half the looks of yours!”

“Hah! True, you’re the unfortunate one. Who is that young lass escorting anyway? I’ve never seen someone wearing that bunny mask before. He looks kinda small too.”

“Probably some young master who’s out to play. That explains his mask, he doesn’t want to get caught by his family. I bet the power behind him is currently searching the city for him as we speak.”

Countless conversations filled the air as they made their way to the House of Amaryllis. As they got closer the boy called out to Meya.

“Meya, what do those people mean by mountains?”

His innocence was heart-warming, but it created awkward conversations.

“They’re…”

She briefly glanced toward the horizon.

“They’re talking about the mountains in the east. Over there.”

She pointed to the barely visible mountains in the far-off distance.

“Oh, I see. Why do they keep talking about what’s behind you? They also keep mentioning your legs, odd.”

Although the boy was coming into the age where his body would instinctively awaken, he had never been in an environment that could foster that type of education. Hence, every concept relating towards man and woman were foreign to him.

This boy, is it a blessing or a curse?

Meya became a little more self-conscious every time he asked a new question. She had definitely heard other people say all of these comments before. However, now that he was asking about them meant that he was slowly becoming more aware of these concepts. She could even feel his gaze land on her a few times through the mask.

She made an awkward fake cough as she placed her hand on top of his head.

“Shh, don’t ask a woman these types of questions. They’re no good. Also, ignore everything they’re saying. They’re speaking nonsense and don’t understand anything.”

She had to steer him clear of bad influences. Despite all else, she absolutely must do this one thing.

The boy respectfully obeyed Meya’s wishes and no longer brought up the surrounding comments. Instead, he asked questions about their destination.

“What kind of games are there?”

“It changes from time to time, so we’ll have to wait and see.”

“What about the colors? Why did they choose red and yellow?”

Meya glanced at the gaudy, bright lights in the distance.

“It’s said that people are willing to spend more if they’re surrounded by the color red, although I don’t know if that’s true. As for yellow, it’s seen as the color of wealth.”

As they conversed, they became increasingly familiar with each other. Naturally this only heightened the jealousy of their onlookers when they saw the couple enjoying each other’s company.

Before long, they reached their destination.

The pair stepped onto a ruby red carpet that stretched out of the building’s entrance. Many people idled about in a line, waiting to get in.

The boy watched as the line only seemed to increase, allowing him to understood just how popular this place was.

Just as he was about to join the line, Meya laughed and reached for his hand.

“This way Little X. We don’t need to line up here.”

She led him directly towards the entrance where multiple guards were stationed.

“Go ahead and show the man your room token.”

The boy took off the necklace and held it in his palm to show the guard. The moment the guard saw Meya’s uniform and the purple token he immediately bowed in their direction, causing a chain reaction amongst the other guards to follow suit.

“Ma’am, young master. Please enjoy your stay at the House of Amaryllis!”

The guard stepped to the side and allowed them entry. Passing by, the boy looped the token back around his neck and subconsciously reached for Meya’s hand.

Although the boy was physically strong, there was still a primal fear of the unknown. He immediately sought solace from the confident girl next to him as they stepped into the large building.

The doors opened. He grasped her hand carefully, but tightly.

Lights, music, shouts of joy, and yells of sorrow filled the air. A plethora of smells assaulted the boy’s nose, while his eyes feasted on the compilation of structures and tables that were surrounded by enormous crowds of people.

His eyes darted back and forth, inspecting everything.

His mind worked quickly as he assessed the different games being played at each table. His ears picked up so many conversations at once that he struggled to filter out the important details.

Meya beamed towards him once she saw the look of excitement in his eyes.

“Welcome to the House of Amaryllis, Little X!”