Chapter 3: Road to Awakening

When I woke up I rubbed my eyes and like a zombie without even thinking went to the bathroom to clean myself.

When I went inside I could not believe it. TOOTHBRUSH. There is a real toothbrush. I never saw one before. I don’t mean like I never cleaned my teeth before oh no it’s just that toothbrush is a luxury and commoners don’t get to own something like that.

We clean our teeth too that’s without a doubt it’s just we use a certain type of a chewing herb that cleanses and protects your teeth but it does not work at 100% but it’s really useful herb to have on a trip somewhere.

Well anyway, that’s enough about toothbrushes. Another thing you should know is there is huge mirror. Like pointlessly huge. If I would be a girl then I would probably think it’s just so so but for me it’s really pointless. It’s 2 meter width afterall and meter and half tall. Just pointless I say.

Next great think is bathtub. Again it’s like it was made for 3 people I really wonder what faculty thinks. It’s like they are making it on purpose. God I love that. I just love to soak in hot water I can spend there hours without getting dizzy. That’s another part of my constitution. I just don’t get easily dizzy and sick. And my stomach is like iron. No matter what I eat I won’t throw up. I get a little bit bad feeling but that’s it. Trust me. I even once drank oil and milk and felt a little bit uncomfortable, nothing more.

So after I cleaned myself I went to take a look once more on the list of subjects. Yesterday I did not take a proper look.

What I first noticed is that there aren’t any times or places where classes will be held. I took notice of it yesterday but I was tired so I let it pass. Now that I look at it properly there really isn’t anything.

Well as my mother always told me ‘When you can’t find something let it be and it will show itself on its own’ so let’s just do that. So I threw the paper on the desk and it flipped itself. On the other side were times and room numbers.

I hit myself on my forehead. How could I be so stupid? Well no matter let’s at least one thing is taken care of.

Now then next thing is to find my uniform. I did not take a look to all closets so it must be in one of them. I was searching until I finally found it in the sixth closet. Yeah there are many closets and cupboards and whatnot I say, sometimes it’s such a pain in the ass. I don’t even have so many things. All I brought with me takes not even one closet and cupboard. Who knows? Maybe I will use it in the future for books and such.

I started to undress myself to change into my uniform. I took off my upper part and when I was halfway with my pants someone knocked and said.

“Excuse me, I’m coming in.”

Before I could do anything that person came inside and saw my ding dong. She started to redden and I hurriedly took my pants off and quickly changed to my boxers. When I completely took my pants off, that person started to apologizing and saying something about not dirtying her body. What am I for god sake? Some rapist or what? I took my pants of because she already seen it so I would rather change already then just pull them on again.

The funny thing is that the thing I thought about yesterday really happened. I don’t know if I am really lucky or unlucky. Probably both. Well now I need to do something about that person. She kneels before me and says sorry over and over again.

I won’t teas you anymore. It’s really her. Funny thing is she has black hair and dark violet eyes. Her hair is cut short. Not too much and not too little. I must say it really suits her. Her uniform is plain old black and white with frills. If she would stand without moving I think everyone would think that she is a doll or something. It’s like she was cut out of the stone and the uniform is part of her.

Now to take care of her and find out why she came here.

“Please, you don’t have to apologies anymore. Just stand up and let’s talk it through.”

And I smiled again. I don’t need to say anymore that it is my fake smile, right? Frankly it gets on my nerves. So let’s continue.

With a frighten expression she stood up and I could see little tears. Oh god, that’s not fair. She really looks like a doll.

“I don’t blame you or anything so you don’t need to be scared. And the reason why I took of my pants was just because it was bother to pull them back on when I already took them off anyway. There was no hidden meaning.”

She looked at me again and her face brightened a little and her tears stopped.

“Really?”

“Yeah. Well, anyway let’s stop with that subject. We both made a mistake so let’s let it be.”

“Ok.”

She calmed down and took a proper maid stance.

“Can you tell me why you came here in the first place?”

Let the questioning begin.

“Uhm, I came here to introduce myself as your personal maid. My name is Alice. Nice to meet you master.”

Being called master really has a nice ring to it but I don’t want to become some self-centered and arrogant fool.

“Oh ok then but first can you elaborate about personal maids?”

“What do you mean master?”

“Just as I said? I did not even know that students get personal maids.”

“I see. Let me elaborate then. As you already guessed, every student gets a personal maid but because most people here are nobles they parents give them a maid on their way here already so they do not get maids from academy but because you did not have a maid academy assigned me to you.”

That makes sense and it will be useful too. I don’t think I will have time to always clean my room, make food and if I would be hurt or something someone to take care of me would be nice. Now, to make a certain rules.

“Ok, thanks for the explanation but if you want to be my maid, you need to know a few rules. First of all, you won’t be calling me master but Risiel and yes, that is my name. You know what, just call me Ris. I’m rather called like that.”

“But master I can’t call you like that. If my superior would found out I would be scolded.”

“You will call me like that and that’s final but I don’t want you to have problems because of me so you can call me master if there will be people around but in other occasions just call me Ris, ok?”

“Ok.”

“Now second. I am a commoner so I know how to take care of cleaning but sometime I won’t have time or energy to do it myself so I will count on you in such occasions but when you will clean I will always help you.”

“Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhh.”

“Can I continue?”

“Y-Yeah.”

“Good.”

“And now the last one for now at least. I don’t need tools so don’t act like one before me, ok? You are my equal in anyway as long as we are together so if something will bother you or you want to talk about something or just want to chat you can do that. I don’t mind at all.”

“You’re not like other students here.”

“You can thank for that to my sister. You remind me of her in one way. But don’t misunderstand. I don’t do it because you remind me of her but because I want to. And it won’t change no matter what other says.”

When I said that, she looked happy and embarrassed. You probably think that I have some ulterior motives but it’s not like that. She will be closest person to me for 10 years so I want to get along with her but even so I don’t trust her. If you will trust someone from the get go then you will be hurt. Trust needs to be earned. But even so I would still doubt her. You never can be too careful.

So because I have some time, let’s clean and tidy my room. It will be good experience for both of us.

And so we both started to tidy up. I looked through the room to see if there was anything else. In one of the cupboards there were notebooks and some study books. I did not find anything else. So I started to place my things to respective place so I would have them on hand when I will need them. I finished pretty fast and after that I helped Alice. After half an hour we finished and I asked Alice about food. She said that there is cafeteria where I can get food but she also said that she can make food for me too if I want. I already knew my answer but first I need to know prices and so I asked.

As I thought. Prices I silly. Lunch costs form 3-30 silvers. With that kind of many I could eat for a month anywhere else. I still do not know how much I will get from my scholarship but even so I don’t think I will eat there in the near future and so I asked Alice to cook for me and for herself. I asked her if she wants money or if it is part of her duty as a maid. She froze and after that said that it is part of her duty.

I sighed and told her in a cold voice.

“Do you remember rule number three or do I need to repeat myself?”

She flinched. But that’s what I wanted. The best way how to make someone remember something is to have a strong negative feeling. It’s like with a dream. If you have a bad dream and you wake up you will remember it but with a good dream you will forget it almost immediately. The same goes of bad experiences.

“I’m sorry.”

I smiled and hugged her and patted her head. I don’t get why a girl like her would work as a maid. She looks like a 16 year old girl. Something must have happened but it’s not my concern. I can just give her a little bit of warm even if it is fake one.

“It’s ok just don’t do it ever again. So it looks like it’s not part of your work to make food for me but even so you told me you would cook for me. I’m really happy you know. Nothing is better than a food made just for you. Just don’t forget to make for yourself too. I don’t want to eat alone afterall. Oh and I will pay for it.”

And with a sarcastic remark I added

“Just don’t make them for 15 silvers.”

We both started to laugh. Well then it’s time for me to go to awakening class.

“I will need to go now. Feel free to be here at home.”

“What do you mean by that mast I mean Ris?”

“Just stay here if you want. I don’t mind. You can even sleep in that bed. It’s really comfortable. But if you have something else to take care of than it’s fine.”

“T-Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

And so I finally went to my awaking class but I could faintly hear ‘Take care.’ It’s nice to have someone like that.

Finding my way was easy. I remembered where main buildings are and with map it was easy to find. When I entered a building for magical studies I saw many people already inside probably searching for they rooms. Awakening ceremony must be held in several rooms. There are 1000 of us afterall. I went to look for my own room and on my way I met Irel. The noble who wanted to ‘kindly’ give me help, while beating me up. I hope he will let it be. There are too many people here anyway.

So I went but he and his 2 brothers called to me.

“Hey, you are that commoner that rejected our offer for help and cheated his way to be a student representative.”

Everyone stopped talking and looked at me. But they did not look at me with disgust. Just with interest. Yesterday paid off it seems.

“That would be me.”

“Today there’s no one to save you or will you use a woman to protect you again.”

I just smiled and calmly answered.

“Maybe I was saved by a woman but so what? Or do you think you are better than a woman? But at least I’m not as low as you to go 3vs1. Or do you want to ‘help’ me again before all these people?”

And I went past him.

“You you grrrrrr just wait.”

And he went away, angrily. Everyone talks about what just happened and I can hear them saying that he is disgraceful. Nice.

After a little bit of wandering I finally found the room. I went inside and everyone looked at me but no one came. Until a certain girl from yesterday came. That’s right, that girl with platinum hair and dark orange eyes. Now that I look at her she has pointy ears. I see, so she is an elf. Now let’s find out what she wants.

“It’s you again. I won’t forgive you for yesterday.”

Well that was expected.

“I’m sorry for yesterday and I saw you running away from stage with a tears so I am really sorry if I did something but you said that I shouldn’t stand on that stage and I saw you getting ready before they named the student representative so I thought you wanted to take my place. Anyway, I’m really sorry if I hurt you anyway.”

And now puppy eyes and regret at my face. Done.

I lifted my head up a little and she was blushing.

“I-I see. I did not know you thought about me I just thought you wanted to embarrass me. Sorry for my unsightly behavior.”

“Once again, I’m sorry too.”

And so another problem taken care of. Or at least I thought so.

“Anyway I still won’t acknowledge you being better than me. It’s impossible for someone like you to have better score than I who achieved 92 points.”

92 points? That’s really high. From what I remember more than 90 achieved only 100 people or so. And academy is almost 2 centuries old so that’s not a lot. She really is good.

“92 points? That’s amazing. There aren’t that many people who got such a score. ”

“So even someone like you knows how great I am. Anyway, so what was your score?”

There’s no reason to lie.

“I…. was a little, well, you won’t believe me anyway.”

“T-that’s not true. Just say it, please.”

Please? So she is not just some bitch. It looks like I have someone to tease now.

“Ok then, but I’m really telling the truth. You can even ask faculty if you want. My score was 116.”

Everyone stopped talking and looked at me with baffled expressions and little elf looked like she was just trying to comprehend secret of creation.

“You are not lying right?”

“I’m not.”

“But how can that be? Max should be 100.”

“I don’t know. I never saw my test but from what I heard yesterday I got some extra points.”

“I see.”

She looked dejected but still doubted me. I could see it in her eyes.

“Could I ask you for your name? I did not here it yesterday. My name is Risiel by the way, but oyu can call me Ris.”

She shook herself and answered.

“Oh, my name is Lilian Fiodora Astaroth.”

Fuck, 3 names. She is a princess.

“I see. Well it was nice to meet you but I need to find a spot to sit somewhere.”

“Oh ok.”

And she absentmindedly went to her spot surrounded by her ‘friends’?

I found a spot at the last row closest to the window. I took a seat and I saw Irel coming in. Looks like he calmed himself. He looked at me but did not do anything and just took a seat someone held for him.

I looked to the sky. I don’t know why, but it calms me. I don’t know how long I was staring but I heard everyone opening of the door and everyone calmed themselves. I looked who came and I saw a guy in black robe. The next words first start of my road.

“Let the awakening begin.”

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I wonder if you know why it is called Road to Awakening. Write your ideas.