I woke up to the sound of a knock on the door. Peering outside, I noticed that the sun was already up. Rising from my bed, I stepped out into the hallway, finding myself alone in the house except for the person at the door.
Opening it, I was met with a pair of grey eyes. What's this kid doing here?
"Wha..." I began, but stopped short when I met Myra's gaze. She smiled at me but didn't approach.
"Why didn't you tell me who you were?" the boy asked.
"I... I did," I replied.
"No, you didn't. I got an earful because of you," he complained. I don't understand this kid; I told him I'm Livi. What else was I supposed to say? "Master was angry that I didn't let you in."
"Master?"
"Livi, do you want to go home?" Myra asked, and tears threatened to well up again. Did she just say 'home'? Isn't she angry? I nodded slowly, avoiding her gaze, knowing that if I looked at her, I'd cry. "Let's go," she said, and the boy stepped aside.
We entered the carriage, and as if a switch had been flipped, silence descended. The boy, who I assumed would be talkative, remained silent. I didn't mind; I detested conversation due to the times I was forced to be one of the dolls at a sixteen-year-old's fake tea parties. It was challenging to figure out what to say without annoying her. When she turned eighteen, the tea parties became real, and the pressure increased.
I followed Lady Myra quietly. I had expected her to scold me, but she didn't. Instead, she instructed the maids to clean me up. After a refreshing bath, I felt rejuvenated. Led to the dining room, I found Lady Myra and the boy already seated. I took my place opposite her, still anticipating a reprimand, but it didn't come.
"Livi," the boy called, and I turned to look at him.
"Her name is Faina," Myra corrected.
"But..."
"I'm the only one allowed to call her Livi," she asserted, and he nodded.
"Then I'll call her Fay," he proposed.
"Your choice."
"I'm Teon," he said, looking at me. Should I reintroduce myself? Is that appropriate?
"Teon is my student. He came here to see me but he'll be leaving soon," Myra explained. Student? Is she a teacher?
"O... Okay," I responded quietly.
"How old are you, Livi?" Myra inquired.
"I'm nine," I replied, and they both looked at me in shock. I'm not that short.
"Are you sure?" Myra questioned.
"Yes," I affirmed.
"You're really short," Teon remarked, and Myra shot him a glare. I know I'm short; there's no need to rub it in my face.
"Teon is eleven," she informed me. He looks as tall as I was at fourteen; it's unfair.
"I really thought she was seven," Teon commented again. Enough about my height; it's my biggest insecurity, making me an easy target.
"That's enough; focus," Myra instructed, shifting the conversation. So, Lady Myra is a swordswoman; that's a big surprise.
Teon made several pointless attacks at Lady Myra, but she blocked them effortlessly, looking bored.
"Did you forget everything I taught you in such a short time?" she questioned.
"No, you're just annoyingly hard to beat," Teon retorted.
"Back to the topic of what you want to do, Livi," she said. Is she intending to talk to me while we're fighting? "I was thinking of employing a tutor to teach you the basic etiquettes," she proposed. "But you seem to know the basic etiquettes."
I hadn't realized that I was acting like a noble lady until she pointed it out. My mother didn't want me to forget that I was a noble, so she forced me to act a certain way in front of her. But it was pointless; there wasn't much she could teach me in her free time. However, that family used etiquette to torture me; at some point, they became angry that I improved.
"My mother taught me the basics," I explained, and Myra nodded.
"That's interesting," she remarked, swatting Teon on his head. He held his head and grumbled, but I could barely make out what he was saying. "Teon, I won't be able to protect you anymore. You know that, right?"
"I know," he replied, looking down. She raised his head and stared into his eyes. They seemed very close, making me wonder why she adopted me when she already had a kid.
"Livi, I'll employ a tutor for you. If you progress well, I'll consider sending you to the academy," Myra said, startling me.
The academy. There are four main academies in different parts of the country, but one has been called 'the academy.' Located in the capital, it only admits the best, considering skills and not societal status.
My so-called brother graduated from that school before kicking his father out of the family head seat and taking over.
I cannot be presumptuous to think I have a chance of being enrolled. I was born as a commoner, never received any formal education except the one at the torture house. I have not manifested any magical abilities, so there is no chance of qualifying.
"Will you be going back?" Teon asked.
"I'm not sure yet; it all depends on Livi," she said.
"Fay, you have to get enrolled so that master can return," he said. Please don't put so much pressure on me.
"Don't feel pressured by his words; that is not why I brought you here," she assured me. I wanted to ask, "Why did you bring me here?" but I didn't.
"Let's go," she said, leaving the training ground.