Chapter 56 ❆ New Start

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I looked around, marveling. The warm light and the homey space was almost a dream considering how much we had suffered in the past few months. Lovarda, unlike Venerya, was in a much more temperate climate. It did not get too cold outside no matter the season, and the weather remained warm all year around.

Still, that did not mean it did not get cold and uncomfortable during certain days. At times, it was also hard to bear with the hot, drying sun. The tent offered shade, but it also often accumulated a lot of heat. It was better to rest under a tree.

"Wow, you did all this in just a few days?" I gazed at the two of my mistresses, full of praise and worship.

"Neilly or Marian would have done a better job," Mistress Kora said with a sigh as he scratched his cheek self-deprecatingly. "Ah, I miss those folks. Anyway, Evy...let me show you something!" He clapped his hands, eyes glimmering in excitement.

"Can I do it?!" Erenol bounced with just the same energy.

Seeing Erenol with cropped hair, dressed as a guy and trying hard to act like a guy, was still a bit strange. However, in her excitement, she seemed to have let go of the façade and went back to her previous self.

I was only feeling like this because it was just a big change. It would probably take a while for me to settle my disoriented mind.

"What did I say about mannerism?" Kora scolded.

Erenol's original excitement lightened considerably and she slumped forward.

She then cleared her throat, posturing her idea of a little dude, and offered, "I should show you!" she said in a lower voice.

"I don't think so," I said.

She looked crestfallen and her voice heightened to its original pitch. "W-why?"

"Haven't you heard that boys can't go into girls' rooms so casually?" I teased.

Her bottom lip trembled. "Can I not be a boy today? I'm very tired," she whimpered.

Mistress Kora sighed helplessly. Just in time, Mistress Veronika came out with a smile. "Let the children be for the night. We ought to have dinner in a few minutes. Maun, help me out in the kitchen?"

Maun gazed hesitantly between us and Mistress Veronika. He stuck out his bottom lip in complain but made no other protest and obediently went with Mistress Veronika.

I laughed and proceeded to follow Eren's lead. The walk was short since the house wasn't big. A door at the end of the corridor came to view. Erenol gestured for me to open it and I walked in, glancing around tentatively as my eyes were greeted with a humble but cozy bedroom. It was still a little bare, but it shouldn't be trouble to add some color to it.

Perhaps I could run over every weekend for a break whenever it felt too much. Judging by the intensity of lessons during the first day, I was certain there would be some nervous and mental breakdowns within the next few years or so. If so, this should be a good place to hide.

An introvert could never be without her den, after all. And the temple was not a comfortable place. Although I might grow fond of it after a while, it would probably not match the level with which I could freely relax.

As I was imagining how to personalize the space, images of Oblivion being razed through the ground flashed in my mind—walls bathed in frost and fire, with Veils circling the sky...I swallowed and felt my cheerful mood overturning.

It all happened in the span of a second. My thoughts have ran a mile in such a short moment.

I couldn't help but close my eyes and let the doubts settle in my heart. "Can we really stay here like this?" I asked, hesitant.

"What's wrong?" Erenol asked in concern.

"I just...it's still out there," I said, feeling surges of anger and helplessness in my heart. It beat in my chest like a startled pufferfish—though not a handsome description, it aptly described how I felt. Every breath I took was prickled with needles. And it was expanding at each inhale.

"Oblivion is broken up. The mistresses are nowhere to be found and we're still here. This doesn't feel right."

"I don't know," Eren said, reflecting my mood. "But...but I think we deserve happiness when it comes. Even if there's evil out there, there's no reason to be bitter all the time. That's what my mom used to tell me."

I slowly calmed myself down. I hated to be the one to break the bubble, but even with all this comfort, the incident of that time remained fresh in my memory. It filled me with familiar anger, and served as a reminder of what I ought to do in the future. Even if I was helpless and powerless and unable to do anything now.

"Don't worry, Evy. We'll get there someday!" Eren said with a smile. "In fact, the Academy should open sometime soon. I'm hoping I can use my experience in the tournament to enter. However, I heard the process is quite different..."

I nodded as I began recovering from my previous mood. It came so suddenly. Although I knew it was not something I could control, I still felt a little bad for bringing down this negativity on such a pleasant day. Thankfully, Eren was with me.

"There's something else you should see," she said.

"What is it?" I asked.

She pointed to the door on the other side of the room. There were only two places I could think of that could exist beyond that door—a closet or a bathroom. Considering the size of this house and the cabinet on the corner, it only left the last option.

I pressed down my rising excitement and calmly approached the door. However, after opening it, I still sprung on the balls of my feet.

"Ahhhhhh! It's a bathtub! An actual bathtub!" Had this been animated, my eyes would have widened, sparkled, and glimmered. I did something just as comical, sliding on the clean tiles of the bathroom floor on my knees and embracing the porcelain tub pushed against the wall. It could not compare the previous luxuries I had in Oblivion, but this was a level up compared with the current state of my residences in the Temple.

To be honest, I didn't have much expectation, but I guess this was what I was looking forward to the most in my heart.

"Ah! I'd like to stay over tonight and have a good, long soak. Unfortunately, we still have classes tomorrow not to mention the curfew tonight. Maun and I didn't file for an out-of-grounds overnight trip," I muttered with slight regrets.

Thinking of the cold, hard bed waiting for me in the Temple as well as the lack of proper water facilities in the bathroom other than a drainage system, I could not help but frown and complain in my heart. I did not dare raise any of this matter to anyone, but living in Oblivion had spoiled me so that I was often in a state of dissatisfaction. The monks lived frugally—even to the point of poverty sometimes. I did not blame them. They weren't exactly in the position to live in luxury. And I suppose it would also go against the teachings and principles somehow.

Erenol walked towards the bathroom but stopped at the door, waiting for me with a sincere smile.

I stood up with the intention of returning to the dining room. By now, food should have been prepared.

I reluctantly left the bathroom and, after offering Eren to go back to start our meal, we walked through the short corridor. Even with our eyes closed, we could probably find our way to our destination, guided only by the heavenly scent of homecooked meal emanating from the dining room.

I sat before the table in satisfaction, eagerly examining the feast laid out on the table before me. Mistress Veronika and Maun came out with the last batch of dishes before finally joining.

Had I not been a little more aware, I would have easily dismissed how the air suddenly seemed wrong. This was the case for Eren, who'd been more focused on beginning the meal. I tucked away my doubts for now, casting a glance Maun's way to watch the troubled knitting between his brows.

"Alright, children! Should we start our first meal in our new place?"

After sending our brief prayers to the dragons, we dug in. The atmosphere was warm all throughout, with a slight prickle of discomfort. Thankfully, Maun eased into the lighthearted discussions midway and regained his shy smile.

Before long, it we'd dug through our dessert and the time to return to the Temple arrived. Although reluctant, we said our goodbyes to Eren and the mistresses. After receiving their blessings and well-wishes before we left for the night, we trod on the journey back. I gazed at Maun's heavy shoulders, frowning a little bit.

I didn't want to pry into his affairs, but Mistress Veronika's request for Maun to help her out earlier in the kitchen shouldn't have been the only reason why he'd been called over. I didn't think much of it at that time, but it seemed that some things have been said between the two.

Finally, I could not help the rising curiosity.

"Maun, are you okay?"

Maun gazed my way with eyes in near tears. He would usually make this face when he wanted someone coaxing him, which made me feel a little helpless. I couldn't help but compare him to a downtrodden puppy. I further softened my approach, debating what to say next. However, looking at this face, I would suppose he wanted me to continue asking.

"Did something happen earlier?" I continued asking.

He then began signing with a hint of reluctance, "Evy, do you remember when you found me?"

"Yes, I do," I answered.

"Actually...there's something I haven't told you yet. Mistress Veronika came to talk to me today as reminder. She'd investigated a few things and came to clarify with me for them."

"Investigate?"

He nodded. "They already knew where I come from. They talked to me before. They had clues."

I was silent, mostly speechless and wanting him to continue.

"You see...I don't remember much, but everyday was full of pain. They did so much to me everyday," he said, hesitating. "I only managed to escape that day, but there was someone else with me."

"Who?"

"His name was Myron," he told me. "But we got separated while they were pursuing us and then you found me."

"Is there anything else?" I asked. "You look so concerned?"

"Mistress Veronika said they may have been deeply involved with the empress from Venerya," she told me.

I halted in place, feeling my eyes narrow at the mention of that hateful woman. "Did Mistress say whether she was still alive?" I asked.

"She...didn't," Maun said. "But she told me to prepare myself because considering the state of things, encountering them again in the future is not too far off."

I lowered my head thoughtfully, chewing on my lips as I imagined that day. The Veils hadn't been successful in sucking out that Empress's vitality all-in-all, but she'd grown into a wrinkled old lady which satisfied the boiling hate in my heart for now. Wherever she was, at least, and I hope she still was, ugly and old.

"Don't worry about it," I told him. "By the time you face them again, you'll be strong enough that they can't hurt you again." I clapped his back consolingly. "Remember, you're the champion of this year's disciples. You're Silent Dragon."

The sadness ebbed away from his face, revealing a slight smile.

"Let's go back and get stronger."

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