After a short wait, Elphyete emerged from the kitchen carrying a tray that made my mouth water instantly. She set down a plate of perfectly seared meat, crisp sliced vegetables, and a steaming bowl of thick potato soup.
"Whoa," I breathed, the aroma hitting me like a physical wave. "This smells—and looks—incredible!"
She beamed, but before I could take a bite, I remembered our third housemate. "Wait, before I forget, I've gotta call Euphyne."
I headed back upstairs and knocked on the left door. I had to knock for a good thirty seconds before a loud, booming laugh echoed from inside. The door swung open, and Euphyne stood there, looking as energized as ever.
"I'm hungry! Is there food? Ahahaha!" he shouted, his eyes practically sparkling.
"Yes, there's food," I said, but my voice trailed off as I looked past him. My jaw dropped. Sitting right at the foot of his bed was a massive, glittering golden throne. It was intricately carved and looked like it weighed a ton.
"How..." I gestured wildly at the room. "How did you even get that in here? Where did it come from?"
Euphyne just crossed his arms and let out another triumphant laugh. "It's a secret! Ahahahah!"
I stared at the massive golden seat, then back at the window. "You... you didn't."
"I definitely didn't carry it from outside, jump all the way up to my window, and shove it inside! Ahahahah!" Euphyne proclaimed, which was his way of admitting exactly what he had done. "Now, enough talk! Let's go eat!"
Before I could ask how the window frame didn't shatter under the weight of a gold throne, he was already a blur of motion, sprinting back downstairs toward the smell of Elphyete's cooking.
I followed him down, still shaking my head. By the time I reached the living room, Euphyne was already sliding into a chair, looking like he was ready to conquer the dinner table. Elphyete stood by the table, fidgeting with her apron and watching us nervously, waiting for the first judgment of her hard work.
The moment we sat down, the table became a whirlwind of motion. I hadn't even lifted my spoon before Euphyne was halfway through his first plate. He didn't just eat; he conquered the food.
"Another!" he barked, sliding his empty plate toward Elphyete.
By the time I finally raised a piece of meat to my mouth, Euphyne had already finished three rounds. He stood up abruptly, wiped his mouth with a flourish, and headed for the stairs. "Good fuel! I'm going to bed! Ahahaha!"
Elphyete watched him go, a soft chuckle escaping her. "My cooking must be good if it disappeared that fast," she murmured.
I finally took my first bite. My eyes widened. The flavors were perfectly balanced—rich, savory, and comforting. "ABSOLUTELY," I said, my voice muffled by the food.
I didn't rush like Euphyne did. I ate slowly, savoring the texture of the potato soup and the seasoning on the meat. By the time I scraped the last bit from my bowl, Elphyete had already finished her meal and moved to the sink. The sound of clinking porcelain filled the room as she washed the dishes with practiced grace.
"You were trying to taste every single ingredient, weren't you?" she asked, glancing back at me with a warm, genuine smile. "Thanks, Sogha."
I reached for my plate, intending to help. "Here, let me wash mine at least—"
"No need," she said, deftly snatching the plate from my hand before I could even stand up. She turned back to the sink, humming a small tune as she scrubbed.
As she dried the last dish and set it aside, I cleared my throat, trying to sound as casual as possible. "Hey, Elphyete? About the sleeping situation... I'll take the couch down here in the living room. You take the bedroom upstairs on the right."
She froze. Her ears didn't just twitch; they practically vibrated, turning a shade of red that rivaled a sunset. She turned to me, her fingers twisting the edge of her apron.
"No need!" she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "I... I don't mind sharing. Really."
I stared at her, surprised. "Are you sure? It's a big house, and—"
"I'll get lonely if I'm all alone in there," she interrupted, looking at the floor. Her voice was barely audible now. "...Please?"
I looked at her small frame and remembered how she had been acting since we arrived. She wasn't just being polite; she was genuinely scared of the dark, empty corners of this old mansion. I thought for a second, then gave a defeated sigh.
"I guess... yeah, I could. I'll stay in there with you."
The change was instant. A look of pure, radiant relief washed over her face. She didn't say another word—she just turned and bolted for the stairs, her red ears fluttering like a hummingbird's wings as she disappeared into the upper hallway.
I stood in the hallway for a long breath before finally turning the handle to the right-side bedroom.
The room was dim, lit only by the pale moonlight filtering through the window. I could see the outline of Elphyete already tucked under the heavy blankets. She was pressed as far to the right side of the bed as possible, her back turned to me, facing the wall. She was so still I might have thought she was asleep, if not for the occasional, frantic twitch of her ears above the duvet.
I sat on the edge of the mattress first, the springs creaking slightly under my weight. The bed was massive, but in the silence of the night, every movement felt like a landslide.
Carefully, I slid under the covers on the left side, keeping a respectful distance between us. I turned away from her, facing the opposite wall so we were back-to-back.
"Goodnight, Elphyete," I muttered to the dark room.
There was a long pause, and then a tiny, muffled voice came from the other side. "...Goodnight, Sogha."
I was staring at the wall, nearly drifting off, when I felt a small, hesitant poke against my back.
"Sogha?" Elphyete's voice was a fragile whisper in the dark. "Why... why are you really at this university?"
I turned over to face her. In the dim moonlight, her eyes looked vast and searching. I stayed silent for a moment, the weight of the past pressing down on me.
"I'm here to get stronger," I said, my voice low. "Because of what happened... before."
"What was it?" she asked softly.
And then, for the first time, I let it all out. I told her about that morning—how my mother had woken me up just to deliver a simple plant. I told her about the walk back, the smell of smoke, and the sight of my home reduced to ash. I told her about the mysterious necklace I found in the ruins, the moment my world went black, and waking up in Mr. Ghale's care to begin the grueling years of training.
By the time I finished, I saw the moonlight reflecting off the tears welling in her eyes. One escaped, trailing down her cheek.
"I'm sorry," I said, reaching out a hand. "You shouldn't have to hear such a—"
Before I could finish, she lunged forward. Her arms wrapped around me in a tight, desperate hug, burying her face against my chest.
"It's alright," she sobbed quietly, her voice muffled by my shirt. "I'm just... I'm just so surprised you went through all that alone."
I froze, my arms hovering in the air. I didn't know how to react to someone holding me like this. But as her breathing slowed and her grip loosened into a gentle, rhythmic rise and fall, I realized she had fallen asleep right there.
I let out a long, shaky breath and finally let my arms relax, accepting the warmth. Sheltered by the walls of the old mansion, I finally closed my eyes and fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Sunlight streamed through the tall bedroom windows, warming the covers. I blinked my eyes open, feeling a strange weight on my chest. Elphyete was still there, her head resting right over my heart, her arms locked in a steady hug. Even in her sleep, she looked worried, as if she was afraid I'd vanish if she let go.
I couldn't help it—a small chuckle escaped me. She looked so peaceful, a far cry from the nervous girl who had arrived at the University yesterday.
The sound of my laugh must have reached her. She stirred, her eyelashes fluttering as she slowly looked up at me. For a three-second window, everything was calm. Then, reality hit her like a lightning bolt.
Her face went from pale to a deep, burning crimson in an instant. Her ears didn't just twitch; they stood straight up, glowing bright red in the morning light.
"I—I—!" she stammered, her voice hitting a high note. She scrambled backward, nearly falling off the edge of the bed as she stood up. "Breakfast! I'll make breakfast! Extremely fast!"
Before I could even get a "Good morning" out, she had already bolted through the door. I heard her footsteps thundering down the hallway and the distant sound of a kitchen cabinet being slammed open.
I sat up, rubbing the back of my neck, staring at the empty doorway. "I guess... I'm having breakfast then?"