Asbjorn corporation and manor were the same.

Red smog spewed from the tip of the building via a spout in the far back with a more presentable entrance at the front for all who wished to enter.

As Carole, with caution, stepped out, feeling the usual nips of pain on her back and leg, she finally knew just how cold it was outside the well-heated car. She tugged her coat tightly to her body to preserve the fleeting amount of body heat she had on her as she felt her muscles ache.

Mr Rosmous was already ahead of her and at the front door near at least five well equipped guards.

Just as she caught up to them, he gave her a dirty look as if she was expected to move at the same speed as him before giving the guards his ID. They gave him a nod and stepped aside, letting the two of them enter the manor with little resistance.

As she entered she let out a sigh of relief as the manor’s internal heating very quickly got rid of the chill in her bones, allowing her to focus more on the interior she shall stay in for the duration of her term.

Fancy, expensive-looking carpentry, and rugs, large paintings of events and some of religious significance. Like, God Orbis and their two wise servants.

She squints her eyes at the displays as she rubbed the temple of her forehead. She could not go one mile not enter one store in Ildens without religious iconography on full display.

Marble Statues of dogs dotted the area from crevices to near columns.

As she reflected on her time as a follower of the Averlive branch of the faith. This place, despite how foreign it was, gave her a strange sense of nostalgia.

Just as she thought that she suddenly felt a wave of nausea and the room sway ever so slightly.

“Huh?... what is…”

Just like the feeling swiftly passed, as if it never happened. “Was it my new medication, maybe?” she thought to herself, “figures."

She then realized during her episode she had her face in her hand and only was barely paying attention to Mr. Rosmous.

“Excuse me, mam,” she lifted her head from her hand to face him, he had a look of mild annoyance, as he held out a device in his hand she unfortunately instantly recognized.

“I was suspecting I may eventually have to use this,” he grumbled to himself.

“I’m not on drugs,” she said.

“And I’m not taking any chances,” He glowered at her as she gave a sigh and opened her mouth to waste her time.

As expected, other than her already prescribed painkillers, he found nothing illicit in her system, much to the man’s strange disappointment.

“Ahem, Miss Losnedah, I can tell you quite impressed by the manor so far. Right now we are just in the lobby entrance,” The man said as he put away his device.

“Unfortunately, I would be quite busy because of an unexpected change in schedule, my apologies,” Mr. Rosmous then took out his work tablet already getting ready to leave her.

“But you would not have much to worry about, for I have assigned someone who knows enough about the layout here to give you a proper tour. He may be relatively new but he is the most available for the task.”

Mr. Rosmous, despite his prior statement, then made a face of irritation as he took out his phone and dialed a number.

“Mr. Presont, where are you now, boy? haven’t I said to come to the entrance five hours early to show the new tutor around?” the man said with his annoyance and irritation not even hidden anymore.

Mr. Rosmous spoke no word as his face of marginal irritation grew to one of nervous embarrassment.

Carole just stood by in silence as he stared down at his phone, waiting for a reply. Mr. Rosmous then flashed her a nervous smile.

“Must be a delay, don't worry, this rarely happens around Asbjorn manor,”

“You just had a schedule change, came only barely on time, and I have to work immediately the next morning because of an unexpected change. I have my doubts on that,” Carole thought to herself. She had little desire to cause conflict now, so she just stared and not made a single sound.

He then turned back to his device with now gritted teeth, “You damn go-”

“Oh Ally, how about I just do the alternative and was already there,” said a light crackling voice, not from the device but right behind the doorway behind them.

Standing there was a playful looking goat beast-kin, with lighted spots of skin on his face, complete with fluffy grey ears and horns flashing them both a cheeky grin. He was an obvious two inches shorter than herself and his clothes, though were what many could loosely consider formal, were too big on him as they hung at his arms and thighs, showing that this may not be his usual attire. Adding on it was the fact he was clearly in a rush or didn’t care with that sloppily buttoned jacket.

Strangely enough, for a beat-kin, he did not seem too bothered by the fuming human male before him instead; he seemed more amused.

“Weeeellll, someone’s a little jumpy,” He chirp

An audacious or idiotic young boy, it seems, she has to admire some of his boldness despite his obvious status.

Mr. Rosmous however did not admire nor appreciate his boldness and was instead fuming.

“Mr. Presont!,” he yelled, finally losing his previously flimsy air of prosperity.

“You’re late, on today of all days!”

Like this, all was some jovial game. He spoke with a tone of faux bashfulness, “Oh my goodness, it must have just slipped my mind. It is almost as if today’s my off day or something and not my job.”

The rotund man shot him a deadly glare, “The new tutor will not tolerate-”

“I don't care,” she did not want to hear a fight this early.

Mr. Rosmous flustered by the comment and unwillingly dropped the subject, all while the smaller boy gave her a small smile and a cheerful wave in her direction, though there was an obvious look of confusion.

Mr. Rosmous then nervously scratched his left arm and cleared his throat before he continued.

“A-anyway, as you see here, this young man is Mr. Hildimar Presont our…. computer technician.” The way he said it was as he doubted this. This was understandable. She was a little taken aback by the fact Asbjorn corporation hired Beast-kin for such an important position.

It almost provided some sort of odd comfort.

The man’s ear seemed to twitch at his name, but he just gave a friendly smile and nod.

“It's a pleasure to meet you Ms.,” he said brightly

Mr. Rosmous gave a nod before clearing his throat again, “Despite him being those beasts, he has proven himself intelligent enough to work near our advanced computer systems, quite impressive for a goat if I say so myself.”

Mr. Presont gave the older man another one of his playful grins, however this smile this time didn't quite reach his eyes for one second.

“Oh you, no need to flatter me that much,” he said

“He has been interning here since last year and he will be an excellent example of how Ildens supports the fair and just treatment of its lower-class citizens,” The robust man said with pride.

You can say that as much as you want, doesn’t mean it's true…..

Mr. Rosmous then turned to elevators before he turned around and said, “Now he has been given practice on how the tour should go if you have any complaints...at all,” he glares at Mr. Presont, “You can inform me or another staff member. I hope you settle in as swiftly as possible."

With that, he disappeared into the elevator with a glow as it lifted him to the higher floors. Just leaving herself and Mr. Presont on the ground floor.

After a while of awkward silence, he then turns to Carole with an innocent look in his eyes, “What a fucking tool, right?” his tone, however, had a complete change.

Although if she was being honest, she couldn't agree more, Mr. Rosmous’s was right now on a list of people that drain her quicker than normal.

“I wouldn't say that, Mr. Presont,” she said flatly

His face grew a bit more mischievous, “Just call me Hide. I’m not some stuffy loser,” He then placed a finger under his chin, “And is there anything less stiff I could call you because this Ms. nonsense was getting annoying already.”

Carole shrugged her shoulders. This kid was also on that list, “Just Carole would be fine”

“So Carl”

“Carole”

He grinned at her as he took out a thick pamphlet from his pocket, “Well then Carly, don’t you have a tour to get to”

He dropped the pamphlet at her feet as he kept up his now paper-thin innocent act.

“...., what’s this?”

“The map of the place,” his grin grew very mocking, “I supposed you’re literate enough to get a hint of where’s where’s from it”

As he said that, she noticed his eyes not focusing on her and more focused on her cane. He then scratched his neck around that tight necklace of his as they stared at each other in silence.

“Soooo back problems too right?” He asked casually.

This little….

“Tsk,” He then picked up the dropped pamphlet and forced it into her hands, “booooring,” whined like a child as he turned around leaving her with the pamphlets in her hand.

“You know I could inform them what you just did,” Carole finally said

Without so much of flinching he just waved back with a bounce in his step, “then do me a favour and just do it,” and with that, he had left the room.

Carole scratched her head after that encounter, hoping she doesn’t have to deal with any more people. She internally made a compromise to avoid ever meeting that boy again as she looked at her map and gave a tired sigh.

Using the map, she eventually found that, even if Hildmire was to bother with the tour, it would have mostly composed of telling her where she did not have access to rather than where’s where.

It didn’t matter. Either way, all she needed to know was where she’ll eat, where she’ll live, and where she’ll leave to get all her groceries. Simple and basic.

During her musing, she bumped into a large solid structure, knocking her to the ground onto her posterior. She gritted her teeth at the pain as she heard a very soft, yet calm slightly stuttery voice, “Oh, I’m v-very, very sorry, you okay?”

She turned her narrowing eyes upwards and saw a intimidatingly tall man, 6ft 2 or 3 rather young bronze-skin man in an expensive-looking sweater and button-up shirt accompanied along with a necklace with a pendant attached to the front. He had soft-looking orange hair that spilled over his head. However, his defining feature was also his most off-putting, very sharp needle-like teeth poked out of his upper lip.

He was scary and if Carole was not on her back in pain and somewhat awe, she would be running the other way.

“I’m-I’m so sorry, I di-didn’t see you there,” He apologized furiously, which in an instant deflated any threatening presence he may have had.

Carole said nothing as he extended his long arm out to pick her up from the ground, Carole stared up at it for an uncomfortable amount of time before extending her own gloved hand allow he to pulled her up from the ground, rather than strain herself.

As much as she wanted to do that instead of touching another hand.

She balanced herself properly on the cane again, and as she did so, the young man gave her a friendly nod.

“Um, d-do you need anything else?” he stammered

“No”

He seemed somewhat uncomfortable with her terse response, thus giving, “Um.. okay”. Before going on his way, occasionally glancing at her in confusion.

Okay, that was defiantly rude of her.

She really not too good at this.

Just as he got out of earshot, she heard an annoying pair of voices from two incoming servants.

“Damn it where’s that lazy boy gone off to this time?”

“I seriously don’t understand how such a respected company has that lay about as a potential heir, I w-”

Carole tuned out their gossip, more focused on the fact that she met an Asbjorn. Very few, outside these walls, have ever seen them, much less one of their children.

She did not know what to expect, but they were, of course, a variety of rumors of the family, none of which she cared too much about.

One of the rumors was of them being secretly werewolves and vampires straight out of a paranormal romance but she was not going to fall for that rumor twice. Five legitimate children, all boys, was all she knew about them, three of which she will teach.

He seemed a bit too old for the classes she teaches. He also didn’t seem too bad despite her initial impression, but a few seconds of interactions are nothing compared to a lifetime's worth of experience. Either way, nothing for her to dwell on.

The boy was not what she came for, anyway. So ignoring the chatter she continued with her tour until she was able passed out onto her bed already exhausted by everything that day.

Swallowing some painkillers to at least attempt to fall asleep comfortably.

She did not know when she fell asleep, precisely, it could have been within that hour or four hours afterwards. However, what she knew was, at the corner of her mind, just as she was on the edge of sleep, she heard….. movement…

The scraping of... something against the floors.

It was too soft to disturb her from her sleep but was present enough for her to still remember it once the hazy skylight showing it was morning, and thus the beginning of a new day.