An unfamiliar ceiling above me...

Where am I?

I feel light-headed, for some reason.

Adding the unfamiliar feeling from the surroundings, I’m being embraced by a soothing chilling breeze enveloping my entire body. But at the same time, a heavy feeling inside my chest—My heart is pounding like crazy. Soon after, a burning sensation exuding inside my chest scattering throughout my body, which made me clench my chest.

I-I can’t breathe...

It’s too painful...

“Kuh—! Ugh—! A-Ahh...”

It feels like something was slithering from my veins, a blazing sensation. It gradually got worse as the pain escalated into my head. Which resulted in me agonizing the pain and going rampant, clutching my head tightly, squirming around.

“UGH—! F-F*CK—! AHHH—! AGHH—! AHH—!”

The tormenting experience I’m having right now started becoming unbearable—I continued screaming until my mouth spewed out blood, along with my eyes and ears. The never-ending torment is much worse than anything I’ve experienced—It feels like an eternity.

Out of the blue, an unknown sensation erupted deep within my body. Soon after, a surge of violent energy spread through my veins, creating a suffocating atmosphere around me.

“AHHH!”

It continued on until it all dispersed magically as if nothing happened.

Thereafter, the world stopped or, to be exact, my world stopped—Peering looking at the wall beside the bed, regretting the decisions that I chose and practically everything. A cold sensation started circulating progressively across my body, a sensation full of beaming energy crossing through my veins. The blood of my sorrows is still dripping out of my eyes, mouth, and ears.

“Claude? Can you hear me? Claude?” A familiar voice spoke close by. However, I wasn’t able to answer as I’m in a trancelike state—The familiar voice was my master, Master Irene, the one who instigated the entire operation.

“...”

A hand grabbed and turned me the other way around; I saw Master Irene’s face in distress. Her other hand was on my face, caressing it. When I saw it, my consciousness came back. But before that, I checked the surroundings and saw an unusually destroyed room. The entire room is in shambles; however, I can’t seem to recognize this room at all. My eyes blinked a few times before realizing the unprecedented outcome that I caused to my surroundings.

“Master? Where am I?”

“You’re at my house, of course. For precautionary measures, this entire room you destroyed is meant for stray spirits, but you demolished it—It’s essentially a prison for the spirit. So, how are you feeling right now?”

I inspected my arms and legs; it seems nothing happened to my physical body other than blood dripping out of my face—All seems well.

“I surprisingly feel light and revitalize, like something is stimulating through my veins. Although I have blood on my face, other than that, the sensation actually feels good.” I said with an exuberating smile on my face.

The rejuvenating sensation that I’m feeling right now is out of the extraordinary; I feel like I was reborn once again. As my eyes are focused with my fiddling finger, something caught my eyes—A mellow, golden stream, flowing around my hands.

“What’s the matter, Claude? Do you feel something?”

“E-Eh? No... There’s a golden thingy in my hands... Nothing?”

“What? What are you saying?”

With her confused expression, it seems like I’m the only one who can perceive the abnormal phenomenon occurring right before my eyes.

“*Cough* *Cough*”

Before I could even mull myself over this, I started coughing up blood. Master Irene’s complexion drastically worsened and called a name that I’ve never heard before.

“Clara!”

Without notice, a female in a maid outfit appeared in thin air right beside us—She’s a cute maid with twin-tail pink hair and a colorful flaxen eye with a distinctive white-colored eye patch on her right eye, standing distinguishedly. It startled me. It’s like a character that came straight out of anime.

“Madam.”

“I’ll leave him in your care, heal him. I needed to go out for a second.”

“Yes, madam.”

Master Irene left the room, covering her mouth. Watching her leave, my appreciation for her grew exponentially, as she’s having difficulties seeing me in this state. The maid name Clara sat beside me and placed her hands at the center of my chest.

“Are you feeling any discomfort, pain, or anything?”

“No.”

“What about outside? Do you feel something unusual?”

“Actually, there is... It feels like my lips are swollen, but other than that, there’s nothing.”

Not only my lips are swollen, but there’s this unusual sensation on my crotch area—It’s indescribable. Clara averted her eyes away after I mentioned the part of my swollen lip. Furthermore, her expressionless response took me by surprise because it reminded me of a character from an anime series where the girl shows no emotions at all. If I recall correctly, they’re called Kuudere.

“Other than your lips? Is there any particular areas you’re having some sort of discomfort?”

“Um... Actually, it’s the opposite. I feel extremely comfortable right now.”

Is it me or did she—? I got a feeling that she completely ignored the lips. Or did she evade the topic? Although I knew she’s doing her job, as per Master Irene’s orders; I just can’t help myself but get suspicious of it. Deep inside me, someone’s whispering to me that something happened while I’m asleep—I’m probably just overthinking things.

“Your body is in perfect condition. The blood is probably just the aftermath, but all seems well for you young master.”

“Young master? What?”

“You became my young master when Madam accepted you as her disciple.”

“Oh... Anyway, I forgot to introd—”

“There’s no need, young master Claude. I’ve known everything since the very start, so there’s no need for you to introduce yourself. But since this is our first meeting, I shall introduce myself. I’m Clara, the personal maid of Madam Irene. Nice to meet you, young master Claude.”

“Nice to meet you too, Ms. Clara.”

“You can just call me Clara.”

“Uhh... Clara?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, ah thank you again, Clara. I really appreciate the help.”

“Likewise, young master Claude. I’ll clean you up.”

“Eh?!”

Before I could even refuse to her, Clara took everything that I’m wearing in a blink of an eye.

“Kyaa—!”

I shrieked like a girl, covering my precious jewels down below. Moreover, when Clara stripped me, she didn’t even show any remorse as she’s staring at me with a deadpan look on her face. At that moment, I felt like I’ve been defiled.

Later on, I find myself looking vacantly at the floor. I’m fully dressed in white pajamas by Clara, the maid of Master Irene who mercilessly defiled me—I want to cry!

Clara stood near me with her usual expressionless face. I, for once, wanted to do the same to her, so she can experience the humiliation and torment she inflicted on me. However, I don’t have the power nor have the courage to back it up. I can feel the disparity between us, and she’s something that I shouldn’t mess with either.

After my humiliation, Clara sent me to a room and told me to rest. However, I was brimming with energy, pairing it with a thrilling sensation in my chest—I can’t wait to do some awesome stuff with my newly founded power! Punching and kicking the air, my body feels so light than what it used to be—I feel like I can do anything.

“This is so awesome!”

While goofing around, punching, and kicking the air, I accidentally punched the wall, which I easily broke with ease. The punch made my mouth hanging open and my eyes widen in bafflement because never I’ve ever thought of destroying a wall in my entire life—What’s more, it’s a stone wall!

I pulled my arm and saw my knuckle totally fine. Blinking a few times, and pinched my cheeks hard enough for me to confirm that I’m not dreaming. I took a closer look at the hand. There are no bleeding nor even scratches. Of course, this made me excited.

“Holy cow! This is so cool!”

The door of the room opened by itself. When I turned my head around, I saw the face of Master Irene concerningly looking at me.

“What happened? I heard a loud sound coming from here.”

Realizing the predicament, I started nervously sweating. “I-Uhh... Sorry! I accidentally punched the wall!”

Master Irene looked at the destroyed wall in front of me. Her eyes gawk at the display. Her eyes blinked a few times, then she looked at me, specifically at my hands.

“Did you do this?”

I nodded.

Master Irene smiles from ear to ear. Her fixated eyes are full expectancy for me. Truth to be told, I was expecting her to be angry because of the damage that I caused, but she only glanced at it. She placed both hands on my shoulder and said.

“Do you feel anything?”

“Nothing.”

“Great! We’ll start your training tomorrow!”

“...Huh?!”