The ground floor, previously dusty and neglected, now sparkled with cleanliness thanks to Kian's hard work.
However, his fair face and clothes bore the brunt of the dust, leaving him thoroughly stained and disheveled.
Clicking his tongue in regret as he examined his soiled attire, Kian muttered, "Now how am I supposed to clean this? There's no towel here, and she specifically ordered not to disturb her for something so trivial."
Determined, he began searching the other rooms more thoroughly, hoping to find something he could use to wipe off the grime.
But even after a long search, he found nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Dejected, he went to the bathroom, dusted off his clothes, and decided to take a bath naked, undeterred by the lack of proper amenities.
As the icy water from the bucket rained down on him, Kian shivered uncontrollably. The chill bit into his skin, the night air only amplifying the cold.
"Just endure it," he muttered through chattering teeth, determined to finish the bath as quickly as possible.
Once done, he hastily dried himself with his hands, put his clothes back on, and hurried to his room. His stomach growled loudly, reminding him of another pressing issue.
Hunger gnawed at him relentlessly, but when he checked the kitchen, his heart sank. It was barren, devoid of any food or supplies. Not even a crumb to cook.
"She must not bother cooking for herself either," Kian mused, his hunger sharpening his thoughts.
He sighed deeply, sitting on the edge of his bed. "I guess I'll have to figure out how to solve this tomorrow," he resolved, clutching his growling stomach as he lay down, hoping sleep would dull the ache.
Obviously it did.
But in a hard way.
The unyielding wooden bed pressed uncomfortably against his back, and the bone-chilling cold of the night made his limbs ache. Kian curled up tightly, shivering violently, feeling as if he might freeze to death at any moment.
"Knock, knock!"
Suddenly, there was a sharp knock at the door.
Startled, Kian's eyes flew open. His body stiff and trembling, he turned his head toward the sound, his breath visible in the frosty air.
"Who could it be at this hour?" he wondered, his heart racing. "It couldn't be Mistress Apotheosis... Could it? What would she want at this time of night?"
Moving cautiously, Kian tiptoed to the door. The old wooden floor creaked beneath his feet as he reached for the handle, nerves prickling his senses.
He hesitated for a moment, then slowly pulled the door open.
To his relief, standing at the door was none other than Apotheosis. Her beautiful face, framed by the dim light, was both imposing and comforting.
"Here, take it. And tomorrow, go to the market to buy groceries for cooking," she said curtly, her tone as sharp as ever, but her actions spoke volumes.
"Mistress... "
Before Kian could muster a proper response, Apotheosis had already turned on her heel and disappeared back into the shadows, the echoes of her steps fading quickly.
Kian looked down, surprised to find himself holding a soft pillow and a bundle of warm bedding. The contrast between her cold demeanor and this thoughtful gesture left him stunned.
For a moment, he simply stood there, clutching the items tightly, feeling the warmth that wasn't just from the bedding. Gratitude welled up in his chest, and he wanted to call after her, to say thank you.
But she was already gone.
With a soft smile tugging at his lips, Kian returned to his room. As he spread the bedding on his hard wooden bed, the warmth of both the fabric and her silent care seeped into him. For the first time that night, he felt truly at peace.
---
While Kian slept soundly, his breath calm and steady, an ominous dark aura began to seep out from every pore of his body. It pulsed faintly at first, wrapping around him like a shadowy cocoon.
Kian shivered slightly, his body responding instinctively to the strange energy. The aura seemed alive, pulsating rhythmically as if it had a heartbeat of its own.
"Buzz!"
A sudden vibration rippled through the air, shaking the bed lightly. The disturbance was subtle, not enough to be heard or noticed by anyone nearby, but its intensity was unmistakable.
The dark aura continued to throb, growing more intense with each moment before suddenly receding. It vanished entirely, leaving no trace of its presence. The room fell into an eerie stillness, as if the unsettling event had never occurred.
No one was there to witness it, nor could anyone have guessed what this ominous force had done to Kian's soul. Whether it was a harbinger of great power or a prelude to destruction, it was impossible to say.
But one thing was certain; this mysterious phenomenon would shape Kian's destiny, for better or for worse.
--
Gasp!
In the morning, when the sun rays fell on Kian, he woke from his sleep with ragged breaths as if he had run a marathon.
His back was drenched in sweat, as though he had encountered a horrifying nightmare the night before.
Yet, mysteriously, he couldn't remember a thing.
"Oh no..."
He slapped his cheek, recalling what Apotheosis had told him the previous night. He was supposed to be ready early in the morning for her instructions and, of course, breakfast.
His stomach growled loudly, but he ignored it.
He hurriedly left his room, almost tripping over himself in the process. Without wasting any time, he began searching for his mistress desperately.
The upper floor was locked, meaning she wasn't there, so he rushed outside to the house lawn.
There he finally saw Apotheosis, her radiant figure draped in golden armor, standing under the warm sunlight.
She appeared to be exercising, stretching her muscles as she soaked in the morning rays. Her face was calm—almost terrifyingly so. Or perhaps that was just his imagination.
Apotheosis suddenly paused, sensing another presence behind her.
She didn't bother to turn, already knowing who it was.
"Little one, you seem to be 'very' punctually early," she said sarcastically, without looking back.