I awoke slowly, my sleep had been better than any I've had a long time, partially because of the large bed I had to myself. Looking at the ceiling I recalled the thoughts about the night prior.
I still couldn't fathom her reasons and honestly I was still quite baffled by her, Aurelia's, actions.
I had a plan however, regardless of her reasons or methods I'll just have to find the most brutal way to get back at her and not only that I'll have her kneel and apologize.
"he he." I smiled sinisterly, my plan was genius and it made me feel better.
I shifted my weight in order to make my cocoon of sheets more comfortable when I locked eyes with someone kneeling by the side of my bed, their face propped up by hands, elbows in an obviously comfortable position almost as if this person belonged there. This person was... Aurelia.
"huh.." I noted returning my gaze to the ceiling "I guess I'm still not awake yet, ahh this must be some weird nightmare." I turned again to look if the weird illusion had disappeared.
It hadn't.
"Ah... I must be sick."
She blinked and I blinked in return.
"Pfft!" she tried hiding her laugh.
"Ahh!!" I jumped up rolling to the other side of the bed only to be betrayed by the sheets which bounded my arms. "What are you doing here? Stay away you lewd pervert!"
"Pervert?" she asked feigning innocence. "But I didn't do anything." she shrugged her horrid imitation of a French accent reminding me of her... insanity.
I calmed down some "hmm w..what do you want?" I braved giving up on freeing my hands surrendering to my cocoon which now threatened to be my new home.
"He he," she smiled getting up and sitting on the edge of my bed, she was fully dressed but not in uniform like I would've guessed. This time she wore something a lot more casual. she wore leggings and a really baggy top, this was... definitely clothes from... "You seem happy, what were you thinking about?"
This... well she did have a point.
sort of.
"Ah, ha ha," I laughed nervously "that was..." I tried swallowing but my throat was dry.
"Yes?" she asked looking at me expectantly.
"Well I had a funny thought! You know how that is. ha ha."
She paused eyeing me with a neutral expression, one which then turned into a gleeful one.
"Ehh? You weren't thinking about revenge were you?"
"W..why would I be thinking about that?"
"I don't know, you tell me."
I eyed her suspiciously, "why are you here?"
"Well, training of course!" She laughed a little as if my asking was only to be considered stupid, a duh-moment.
"What?"
"You didn't expect I'd feed you for free did you?"
"You could always just let me go?"
"I could but I don't feel like it." She smiled at me obviously enjoying the back and forth.
"Just five more minutes, please!" I closed my eyes and nestled into my comfortable trap.
This was nice there was no way I'd give up on it so easily.
A sudden jolt of pain from my exposed 'behind' made me jump almost falling out of bed.
She'd slapped my butt and it hurt!
"Wuuu! What's that for?" I asked unable to rub my now sore backside.
"Just a warning." She smiled warmly "breakfast is being prepared for us, don't give the Dragonborn a reason to think we're slobs ok?"
She walked towards the door waving as she did before promptly exiting.
I slowly unrolled myself.
"Oh when I get my hands on her..."
I was smiling, I hadn't realized.
What am I doing? She's... she's the enemy. Is it ok to be like this? To feel like this?
It cant be after all, she hurt master.
Master...
I inhaled and slapped my cheeks, focus, don't let yourself be pulled in by her nice attitude.
I got dressed and prepared myself for... well, training. Whatever that entails.
***
Soon after, I had joined her and we ate breakfast, after which she took me to the more upper-class area of the town where the nobles and higher class people lived. Normal people usually wouldn't even be allowed in here not to mention me.
"Halt!" stated an ordinary guard blocking our path as we tried to enter the inner city.
Aurelia cast him a serious glance.
While its true that we weren't in uniform and had no escorts, surely Aurelia had some form of identification.
I stepped back a little.
"V...venerable vehatra!" he jumped fumbling with his words she obviously caused him a great deal of nervous pressure "I... I'm sorry this one has eyes but failed to see the mountain! Please accept this one's sincerest apologies!"
"A minor offence!" she waved and he quickly shuffled out of the way.
Oh... she, I couldn't help but think... seemed a little cool, way cooler than I was when I had the title.
Envy.
Yeah I wanted to be like that, unfortunately I no longer had the opportunity.
The rest of the day proceeded smoothly, she brought me shopping for clothes and many other things using her identity to to force most of the businesses to offer items for incredibly low prices.
-That was when we came to the a store more or less in the middle of the area's shopping district, it was different from the others and had a more rustic appearance. Almost like it belonged to the outer district where many of the stores were in poor upkeep.
"Now for the main reason I brought you here." Aurelia stated smiling with a hearty pat on the back.
"this place?"
"Yup! I can't wait to introduce you two!"
I hesitated at the door, the air fragrant and relaxing reminded me of fruits and honey, I entered slowly while looking around.
The shop was different from what I had imagined it would be. It had many glass cases, displays for tiny spherical objects of different sizes and colors which rested on velvet pillows.
"Are those, pearls?" I asked confused at this development, while I didn't have any, jewelry weren't something I thought I needed.
Aurelia laughed, "of course not."
"then what are they?"
The little things were pretty and I really wanted to touch one.
"They're rare and expensive pills for cultivators!" replied a guy with long hair as he entered from the back wiping his hands on his apron as he did.
"Aurelia! my human-born friend!" he mused embracing her in a playful bearish hug.
This person seemed to be familiar with her, was she in a relationship with him?
"And who is your beautiful friend?" he asked motioning at me, forcing my to smile politely.
"That's lily! My new second in command!" she responded with a smile that suggested I was a thing she owned.
She took my hand leading me towards the long haired dragonborn male adorned with glasses putting our hands in an awkward hand shake.
I quickly finished the deed and pulled my hand free probably leaving him with the feeling that I didn't want to hold his hand.
I know its very un-adult like of me but the real reason was because I wanted to hide the tattoo like marks on my hands.
A futile effort.
"Those marks..." he started.
"you shouldn't pry into a lady's secrets, Marko." Aurelia cut in sharply.
"Marko..."
"Yes this is Marko, he's an artifact refiner but he's also proficient in the alchemic arts."
"What??" I queried raising my brows.
"yes that's why I brought you here, I'm gonna have him refine a pill to restore your cultivation!" she chirped.
In that moment, all the things I'd done under the influence of world energy came back to me.
I couldn't do this...
No matter what, I simply I couldn't allow that to happen!