Lothar opened his eyes, sunlight from outside filtering through the blinds. Lothar yawned as he raised his body from his sleeping position, his hands rubbing the dirt out of his eyes. Removing the covers from his body, he got out of bed and headed straight for the bathroom, which was located just beside the door.
He may be an unwilling prisoner, but at least he was given quite a luxurious room.
Stepping inside the bathroom, Lothar washed his body with water being created out of pure magic with the help of a magic item in the form of a stone dangling from the ceiling.
Once finished with washing his body with soap and water, he wiped himself off with a towel provided inside the bathroom. Taking a quick look at the mirror, Lothar noticed the brand still stuck on the back of his palm like a birthmark.
Lothar growled at the reminder that he was some kind of glorified slave in a territory where most of the populace wanted to kill him.
He then sighed and accepted the current situation, which he currently threw himself into.
'This is what I get for trusting strangers…' Lothar sighed as he got out of the bathroom and put on his clothes to start the day.
Looking at the mirror, he checked himself out as he fixed the scruffs around his outfit. He then recalled an extra detail about his stay here from Millana.
'You will not be harmed by anyone as long as you remain inside The Hallow. The Hallow is the giant tree we are currently residing in. The mark on your hand will serve as a deterrent to those bold enough to harm you.'
For all the talk about him being some kind of over-glorified slave, he will admit that Millana at least makes it so that nobody will touch him as long as he remains here.
"Excuse me, sir." A knock on the door brought Lothar out of his musings. "I've brought breakfast."
Lothar approached the door and checked through the peephole. What he saw behind the door was a pretty elf maid hauling a trolley with a covered tray on it.
Opening the door, Lothar let the maid in as she pushed the trolley inside, the wheels silent as it rolled along the wooden floor.
"Good morning, sir. I've come to deliver your breakfast, as ordered by our Lady Millana." The maid bowed, and I nodded at her. She grabbed the handle of the cover and lifted it up, revealing the contents within. "Today's breakfast consists of-"
"Stop right there." I held my hand out and the maid looked at me with terrified eyes. Sighing, I lowered my hand back down and looked at her with a neutral face. "I don't need a description of the food. Delivering it to me is enough. Thank you."
The maid, her terror slowly slipping away, bowed before uttering a quiet, "Your welcome."
"If you need anything, or if you're finished with your breakfast, I will be waiting outside your room. Good day, and may Goddess Lushuna bless you with her divine grace."
The maid left the room, leaving Lothar to his lonesome. Bringing the tray full of food to the table, he sat down on the chair, looking at the food on display all the while, the scent tickling his nose.
His stomach grumbling and mouth salivating, Lothar grabbed a spoonful of soup and brought it to his mouth, only for his hand to start shaking when it began to draw nearer.
It resulted in the spoon spilling out from his hands and down to the table, the hot soup pouring down on the wooden table with some of it staining his pants.
"Ack!" Lothar flinched at the sudden pain of having piping hot soup poured on his skin and looked down at his trembling hands, the memory of his death replaying in his mind.
Shaking his head, he attempted to try once more, only for the same result to happen.
'What the fuck is wrong with me…? I can eat that… I won't choke… I have plot armor…' And yet, Lothar's arm won't stop shaking every time food comes close to his mouth.
The man sighed and leaned back on the chair. At this rate, he was going to grow hungry.
He scanned his room for anything that might help, until his eyes fell on the door.
Sighing again, Lothar stood up and approached the door, opening it once he was next to it. Outside, the elf maid stood patiently at the side, her ears wiggling the moment she heard the door open.
"Sir? Are you finished eating?" Lothar shook his head.
"No. Come inside." Lothar gestured for the maid to enter, and she obliged. Entering the room once again, she noticed the spilled liquid on the table and, upon closer look, a stain on Lothar's pants.
"Sir? Do you need help with-" The elf maid was once again cut off by Lothar, raising his hand.
"I'm fine." Lothar quickly took a seat and grabbed another spoonful of soup, his arms trembling once again. "Just… Stay there and don't leave… Please…"
The maid looked confused for a moment, before acknowledging Lothar's request.
'Alright… You won't choke... It's okay… There's a person nearby… You won't choke… If you do choke, she will help you... You won't choke...' Lothar's trembling arm slowly grew weaker and weaker, until his trembling stopped altogether. Sighing in relief, Lothar blew lightly on the hot soup and took a small mouthful.
As Lothar continued to eat, the maid stared at the human, confused. She didn't know why she was standing there, other than the current guest was telling her to do so.
"Uhmm… Excuse me, sir… If it isn't impolite to ask, why do you need me here?" The elf maid's voice brought Lothar out of his breakfast consumption, the human raising an eyebrow at the maid elf.
"Not your business." Lothar shrugged, then went back to eating, the elf maid frowning slightly, but not making it known to the guest.
After that, the room fell silent, and it wasn't until Lothar finished his breakfast (which took him about 20 minutes longer than usual) that sound returned.
"Excuse me, sir, but I've been told by Lady Millana to bring you to the library once you are done eating." Lothar looked at the maid for a moment before sighing and nodding his head.
"Sure, not like there's anything else to do around here." The maid bowed, and after calling for another maid to clean the dishes, the two left the room without any delay.