"Were you the one who changed my clothes?" She peculiarly asked.
'Ahem' he coughed and looked away. His ears were turned red, and from a glance, his cheeks were dusty pink.
"It was not me," he said in a tone louder than a whisper, and he continued his meal.
Learning a lesson, Luiza made sure to have her porridge lukewarm. Her dried lips feebly blew over her spoon, while the man in front of her ate it as if it were not hot at all. Subsequently finishing his meal, he said, "I am Hael Chrysanthia, and we shall be living together."
"Uh?" Just as she was about to have a bite, she inhaled, and she forcibly started to cough. Her palms covered the view of her lips, while he promptly got out of his seat and brought the mug of water. She straight away chucked the water.
"Aish!" she sighed. Her eyebrows frowned. Chocking twice during her supper was not her intention. Hael continued to monitor her while she took her time, completing the meal.
"What do you mean by living together?" she queried.
"Well, I have been transferred to Ever Hills as a guide and mentor. "You"—"he took a breather"—are an exchange student who passed the exam. As it's the Academy's very first exchange program here, we are the only ones getting the facilities; hence, we will live under the same roof, and you are under my face," he spelled out.
She subtly crinkled her nose. It felt too sudden and unnotified. Her lips pursed, and she stood from her seat. She took her bowl in her hands and placed it in the sink, where a pile of dirty utensils was stacked.
"Then I hope we shall live for the next four months harmoniously." She peacefully proclaimed, "I am Luiza Moonstone. Seventeen years old and a student"
"Okay, Luiza, our very first task is to clean the kitchen before we go to sleep," he announced.
She grabbed a little cloth and whipped the counters. Hael started washing dishes, and she mopped the floor with a damp and dry method. She had learned it as a child.
"Tomorrow we will go visit the academy before it officially begins. Additionally, I intend to visit a few local shops, and you will come with me. In a large academy, I will be your teacher, so treat me with respect," he vocalized.
She simply nodded, as the house was barely clean. The amount of dust and rust was baffling.
It had been a while since her hands itched to clean. She whipped each nook and cranny with the damp clothes and even cleaned the window. Arranging the furniture in its correct places, she took a seat once the room seemed neater.
The couch was plush and comforting. Besides her, Hael too took a seat. His cloak was hung over the chair, and he wore a shirt that clung to him.
"Phew," he sighed. "You should check on your garments and possessions that are placed in the other room. The bandits and the coachman worked together to loot you, but your goods are safe now."
He had a distant manner. His eyes were gloomy, and an invisible wall was built around him. The wall prevented him from showcasing much emotion. Perhaps she would just need to earn his trust. She contemplated, but by then he had left his seat.
She stood up and, apathetically, walked to the other room. Her two suitcases and a hand-knitted bag were present on the rug. She got closer to the bags and picked up her handbag, where her book and coins were safely kept. Then she checked on her other belongings.
"De-" she turned. It had become a habit to order her maids around for most of the inconvenient tasks. Realizing that she had brought no maids, she only carried a pair of dresses for the night and morning and carried her hand back up to her room.
As she undressed herself, she could not help but question who had saved her. Was it hael? If so, then which ability did he use? No, the best question was, if she had the powers, why did she not fight back?
While wearing the nightgown, she recalled her emotions when she had to run to the lake. She knew she could fight back; she knew she was much more powerful than anyone present there, but the fear of hurting and the fear of another set of nightmares all her life were like an invisible threat weaved around her mind. It plagued her mind.
That night, she tossed and turned. The goddess did not bestow any ounce of sleep, and in the early morning, she woke with heaviness and a perplexed mind.