Chapter 4 - Nightmares And Visitors

My foot stepped into the room, it was larger than expected. There was a small balcony, after making my way there, my face basked in the orange glow of the setting sun. Moving towards the bed, my feet gave way, and my head slammed into the bed. There was an attempt to sleep.

But it wasn't easy.

My eyes remained open, they were staring at the ceiling as thoughts about my previous life filled my mind. My mind tried my best to block out those thoughts from my head and my body rolled around the sheets until sleep came to me.

There were nightmares. People capturing me, tying me up, and then beating me to death. Slaves, reaching out towards me begging me to save them while my legs desperately raced away. Yet, they were faster, their hands quickly catching up, then they tightly held my shoulder holding me back, and dragged me down. My mind wanted to scream and my mouth was open, but there was no sound.

My head jolted up, my breathing was heavy and there was cold sweat on my forehead. It was the dead of night, but my body no longer felt tired, so my decision was to go to the small balcony. Upon reaching the balcony, there was a commotion to my right. Looking over, in the pale moonlight, there was Ned, whispering with a little girl that was shorter than Erin. The girl was standing on the railing, dangerously, yet she didn't seem to be concerned as if she wasn't over ten meters above the ground. Though my mouth hadn't even moved, the girl was quick to turn to look at me with a weird smile. Ned curiously looked at me soon after, noticing their gazes my lip twitched as an awkward laugh was forced out.

"Sorry, sorry, I'll go back to my room."

My feet hurriedly shuffled backward and my ears could barely make out Ned reassuring me.

Hmm... it's the middle of the night... and Ned is awake with a girl in his room.

I am going to stop thinking about it.

There was a table in the room with a chair and my weary body sat on it.

I guess at this moment those people were being dragged out of their rooms, tied up, and being sent to someplace. While I was here living lavishly in a palace.

The pale glow of the moon fell on me and my eyes closed, left to only my thoughts.

...

My eyes opened to a terrible backache and pain in my neck. My night was spent on the chair...

Anyways, my ears had picked up on the sound of knocking, which was what woke me up in the first place. My feet brought me up off the chair and my neck twisted uncomfortably. My finger rubbed my eyes as the bright light of day shone on them. My hand reached out to open the door. Mildred was waiting outside with Alyx and Erin behind her. Mildred gave a smile.

"Good morning."

My head was muddled but my mouth could still reply.

"Good... good morning."

Mildred then spoke a bit more seriously.

"Ela has some concerns she wishes to bring up to you all, if you are not too tired could you come with me to the dining room after freshening up a bit?"

My head nodded listlessly and my hand pulled back to close the door. The bathroom made me a little dazed. There was a rather unique large square shower. My body embraced a cold shower and my face was cleaned at a fancy sink. There was a set of clothes on the floor that looked slightly fancy, but still comfortable. My hand reached over to quickly put it on. My finger turned the doorknob and pushed the door aside. Ned also leaving his room with slightly wet hair. Seeing him made me wonder if that girl was still there but it was probably best to not bring it up. Mildred, Alyx, and Erin were still waiting for us. Mildred was standing there patiently and Erin was whispering with Alyx.

"Alright, since everyone is here, please follow me."

Ned yawned but was quick to follow Mildred and the rest of us followed suit. Ned then turned to us with a smile.

"Morning everyone, it seems like everything really isn't a dream huh?"

Ned smiled and my face couldn't help but sprout one as well.

"Yeah, it still feels weird... haha."

Alyx rubbed her forehead.

"Well at least I can confirm I didn't go crazy… that or I truly went insane."

Ned laughed and we continued down the steps into the dining room. There was food lined up that Ned had requested from last time. Ela was sitting at the end of the table waiting for us. She was tapping her finger against the table at an impressive speed with her brows furrowed.

"Please take a seat and eat something."

The atmosphere was a bit tense but not threatening. We finished our food quickly and did not comment about the taste. Ela stood up from her seat and started to talk.

"I apologize but there has been a change of plans since we... I wish to give you all a goal to work towards so you are not aimless in your stay for this year. We will send you to a magic school, in your time there you will learn some magic, and try to awaken your innate power if you have one."

Ned originally looked a little concerned but broke into laughter after Ela finished.

"Don't worry about it, I was actually planning on asking you if we could take some classes to learn magic."

Ela nodded and turned towards the rest of us.

"Are you all of the same opinion?"

Alyx was quick to nod, which Erin followed. Personally, my goals currently consisted of nothing, so it didn't really matter. Following the rest, my head nodded. Ela was fidgeting a little slower, but it didn't seem like her anxiety was abated much.

"Thank you for agreeing to the sudden arrangements."

Ned looked a bit concerned.

"Ela, is everything ok? Although we've just met, I wouldn't mind helping if there is an issue."

Ela was silent for a while.

"It's alright, nothing you have to worry about."

Ned did not try to push further.

"Alright. So will classes start today?"

Ela nodded.

"Yes, Mildred will help you with the arrangements, there are duties I must do. Farewell."

Ela hastily left. Mildred stood up and smiled.

"I will take care of the miscellaneous arrangements, and show you the way to the school today. We will depart after 2 hours, you are free to do what you wish until then, just come to the entrance of the palace before then."

Ned looked at Mildred excitedly.

"Can I use the kitchen to try to make something?"

Mildred gave a wry smile.

"Well, yes go ahead, just tell the chefs there you wish to cook."

Erin was quick to start whispering to Alyx. Alyx then respectfully turned towards Mildred and made a request.

"May we also use the kitchen to cook?"

Mildred looked bewildered for a moment but regained her composure quickly.

"Of course, help yourself."

Ned briskly walked to the kitchen and Erin pulled Alyx along quickly, leaving just me a Mildred in the room. Mildred sat back down and turned to look at me.

"May I know why they seem so enthusiastic to do... to cook?"

...Honestly, I had no idea, how was I supposed to know?

If anything, wouldn't it be better to ask the actual people in question?

Not wanting to look oblivious, my brain churned for some explanation I could use.

"For them it might be a nice experience, to create foods that taste good."

Mildred was in thought for a moment but turned back to look at me.

"So what do you think about cooking?"

Well... I don't remember ever cooking...

"I guess I wouldn't know since I haven't tried it."

Mildred looked at me intently for a while.

"Pardon me if this is an inappropriate question, but were you a slave?"

"Huh? Uh no, not really"

My brows furrowed but my mind cast out the questions stuck in my head.

"Say… what happens if when we go to the magic academy we are unable to awaken any innate powers?"

Mildred smiled, albeit a weak one.

"If you really cannot, there is no helping it, you can continue your magic studies if you wish."

There was a period of silence. Mildred broke it with a soft voice.

"There is no shame in being powerless. I was once a woman with great ambitions, I had talent in the wind that many could only dream of, and worked hard to improve myself… Yet, this world seems to give what it wishes to you. I ended up crippling myself to save my sister who had fallen off a building, and since I longer possessed any magical abilities my family sold me to the Enberoes family."

My curiosity overtook me and my head turned to her. She continued.

"Yet... I regret none of it, maybe at the moment I wallowed in self-pity, but if I didn't put in all that work I would have watched as my sister hit the floor, powerless to do anything else. I was on the roof when I saw her fall… I had to cast a spell that was beyond my body's capability that let me fall faster than her and catch her. My body was bleeding and it was painful to even stand, but I still smiled holding my sister in my hand. I did all I could and knowing that is enough for me. Life is not unpleasant though, Lady Enberoes is so sweet. Don't tell her I said that."

She winked at me. My heart was a little less heavy after she told me that.

"Thank you…"

Mildred stood up and dusted off her dress.

"I really should go now and prepare for your magic school session. Farewell."

"...Farewell."

Mildred walked out of the room, leaving me there by myself. A small sigh escaped me. After a while, Ned, Alyx, and Erin came back with various dishes in their hands. Erin was proudly smiling and holding onto a plate of vegetables with both hands. Alyx had a slight smile and was holding a dish of meat. Ned was grinning widely and held a plate of noodles.

"Hey, Jay! Want to have some of what we made?"

My head swung back with laughter.

"Of course, in fact, if you didn't offer I may have stolen some, it smells too damn good."

Ned guffawed.

"If you did that you wouldn't get to try the food I make with spice when we find some."

Ned took an overly pretentious position. While my eyebrow raised.

"If I get some spices I better get the biggest portion."

Ned smiled.

"Haha, it's a deal."

We ate the food that they made, it tasted pretty good.