Aiden awoke to the soft light of Astralis filtering through the tall windows of his grand room, the faint scent of flowers lingering in the air. He stirred, slowly becoming aware of the quiet presence standing at the foot of his bed. Blinking the sleep from his eyes, he sat up, startled to see Seren already there, her silver hair shining faintly in the morning light.

“Good morning, Master Aiden,” Seren greeted him, her tone formal but soft.

Aiden’s heart skipped a beat at the sight. He hadn’t expected someone to be standing over him the moment he woke up. “Whoa, uh... Seren,” he stammered, his voice still groggy. “You really don’t need to do that. Please… don’t.”

Seren smiled kindly, though her posture remained formal. “It is my duty, Master Aiden. I am here to serve.”

Aiden rubbed his eyes, feeling a bit out of sorts. “Yeah, but I’d rather not wake up with someone just… standing there. It’s kinda weird.”

She tilted her head slightly, her violet eyes gentle. “As you wish,” she replied, though her words didn’t entirely convince Aiden that she wouldn’t do it again.

With a sigh, Aiden swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood, stretching out his stiff muscles. Seren took a step forward. “Your bath is ready, Master Aiden.”

“Thanks,” he muttered, walking toward the door that led to the bathroom.

As he reached the door, he heard Seren’s footsteps as she moved to follow him. Aiden stopped abruptly, turning to face her with wide eyes. “Wait—what are you doing?”

Seren looked at him, her expression still calm. “It is my duty to assist with your bath.”

Aiden’s heart raced. “Nope. Absolutely not. That’s not happening. Seren, I appreciate everything, but I can bathe myself. Please, just… don’t.”

There was a moment of silence, and Seren blinked, clearly surprised by his firm tone. “As you wish, Master Aiden,” she replied, her voice slightly more hesitant this time. She took a small step back, respecting his boundaries.

“Thank you,” Aiden said with a sigh of relief.

Aiden felt a pang of awkwardness as he closed the door behind him, leaning against it for a moment. He took a deep breath, running a hand through his hair as he processed the encounter. The whole situation felt strange—having someone so eager to serve him in such an intimate way made him uncomfortable. Sure, he knew it was Seren’s job, and she had been nothing but respectful, but it didn’t stop the weird feeling from creeping in.

As he turned to face the lavish bathroom, his thoughts lingered on Seren’s reaction. Did I come off too harsh? He wasn’t used to having to set boundaries like this, and while he appreciated her dedication, the last thing he wanted was to make her feel like she was doing something wrong. He hoped he hadn’t hurt her feelings—she had just been doing her job after all.

“Why is this so complicated?” Aiden muttered to himself. He couldn’t shake the feeling of self-consciousness, wondering if he had handled the situation the right way. The Castle and its inhabitants had their own customs, and despite wanting to respect that, he had to draw a line somewhere. Still, it felt awkward to navigate, especially when everyone around him seemed to view him as their master.

He decided that he would talk to Seren—just to make sure everything was alright between them. It was only fair to clarify that he appreciated her dedication, but some things he’d rather handle himself.

He sighed again, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling. This was going to take some getting used to.

The bathroom was a place of pure luxury. It was vast, with marble floors that gleamed in the morning light and walls lined with tiles of deep blue and gold, matching the theme of the bedroom. In the center of the room was an enormous sunken bathtub, large enough to feel like a small pool. The water was already drawn, steam rising from it, and the surface was sprinkled with delicate petals from flowers that glowed faintly, filling the air with a sweet, calming fragrance. Alongside the bath were jars of various oils and soaps, their scents exotic and soothing, designed to relax the body and clear the mind.

Aiden shook his head in disbelief as he looked around. “All this for a bath?” he muttered, still not used to the grandeur surrounding him.

He sank into the warm water, the tension melting away from his body almost immediately. For a few moments, he allowed himself to just relax, enjoying the sensation of the water and the scent of the flowers. The Castle certainly knew how to make things comfortable, if nothing else.

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After his bath, Aiden dried off and wrapped himself in the softest robe he had ever felt. It was light, but warm, made of some kind of fine fabric that seemed to adjust to the temperature of the room. He stepped out of the bathroom, feeling refreshed and a bit more ready to face the day.

To his mild surprise, Seren was waiting for him, holding out a set of clothes. “Your attire for the day, Master Aiden,” she said, her tone still formal but less intrusive than before.

Aiden hesitated for a moment, taking a deep breath. He wasn’t sure how to begin, but he knew he needed to address the earlier awkwardness. "Seren," he started, his tone softer than before. "About earlier... I hope I didn’t offend you."

Seren blinked, her violet eyes slightly widening in surprise. "Offend me, Master Aiden? No, of course not," she replied, shaking her head. "It is my duty to serve you. I simply wish to ensure you are well cared for."

Aiden gave her a small, appreciative smile. "I know that, and I appreciate everything you do, really. It’s just... there are some things I’d rather handle myself. Like getting dressed, taking a bath… stuff like that."

Seren listened intently, nodding as he spoke. "I understand, Master Aiden," she said after a moment, her voice softer. "My purpose here is to serve as your guide and aid, but if there are things you prefer to do alone, I will respect that."

Aiden felt some of the tension lift from his shoulders. "Thanks. It’s just that, well, this is all new to me. I’m not used to… this level of formality. I want to make sure we’re on the same page."

She bowed her head slightly, the smallest hint of a smile on her lips. "As you wish, Master Aiden. I shall be more mindful of your preferences."

Aiden sighed with relief. "Thank you, Seren. I’m really grateful to have you here. And please, don’t hesitate to tell me if there’s something I’m missing or need to understand better."

Seren inclined her head once more, her voice gentle. "It is an honor to serve you, Master Aiden. You are the master of the Castle, and we are here to support you, but I will respect your boundaries from here on."

Aiden smiled, feeling like a weight had been lifted. "I appreciate that. Really."

With the matter settled, Seren extended the set of clothes she had prepared for him. They were finely tailored garments, deep blue with gold embroidery along the cuffs and collar. The outfit looked like something out of a medieval painting—a tunic with intricate designs and matching trousers, along with a thick belt adorned with a golden clasp. The design reminded him of something a king would wear—regal, elegant, and definitely not what he was used to.

“Isn’t this a bit… much?” he asked, glancing at Seren.

She shook her head politely. “It is fitting for the master of the Castle.”

Aiden sighed. “I’m not really used to this kind of thing.” But with no other options, he reluctantly pulled on the clothes. The fabric felt strange against his skin—luxurious, but too formal for his taste.

Once dressed, he headed down to breakfast, where another meal awaited him—an assortment of fruits, pastries, and dishes that seemed to glow faintly with the magical ingredients of Astralis. The food was delicious, and Aiden marveled at how every bite tasted better than anything he had ever had before.

After breakfast, Aiden felt ready to dive back into the mystery of magic. He made his way to the library, the familiar rows of towering books greeting him. He returned to the same table where The Fundamentals of Magic lay, still open to the section he had been struggling with the night before.

Aiden picked up where he left off, trying to make sense of the cryptic descriptions of feeling and controlling magic. He read slowly, his brow furrowing in concentration as he tried to grasp the elusive concepts.

“Watcha doing?”

Aiden nearly jumped out of his chair, startled by the voice. He turned around to see Lyla standing there, her eyes wide with curiosity.

“Oh, hey Lyla,” Aiden said, catching his breath. “I’m just... trying to figure out this magic stuff.”

Lyla peered at the book over his shoulder. “Magic? That’s easy!”

Aiden raised an eyebrow, amused by her confidence. “Easy, huh? I’ve been reading this book, and it doesn’t make any sense.”

Lyla giggled and hopped onto the chair beside him. “You’re making it too hard! You don’t read magic, you feel it!”

Aiden blinked. “Feel it? That’s what the book says, but I still don’t get it.”

Lyla rolled her eyes as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Okay, close your eyes. Breathe in. Now, think about something happy! Like a hug or your favorite food.”

Aiden hesitated but followed her instructions, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. He thought about the way Charlie had curled up beside him the night before, warm and comforting.

“Now,” Lyla continued, “pretend the air is a big hug! Like it’s wrapping around you. Can you feel it?”

Aiden frowned slightly but focused. He imagined the air around him shifting, wrapping him in a warm, invisible embrace. And then—something clicked. He felt a soft, tingling sensation, like a gentle current flowing through his skin, just beneath the surface. His eyes shot open.

“I... I felt it!” Aiden exclaimed, his heart racing with excitement.

Lyla grinned from ear to ear, clapping her hands. “See? I told you it was easy!”

Aiden laughed, the joy of his small success overwhelming him. He stood up and grabbed Lyla’s hands, spinning her around as they both jumped up and down like excited children, their laughter filling the vast library.