Mia woke up around eight o'clock in the morning as she did almost every day since her arrival here. She stifled a yawn as she got out of bed, never having particularly enjoyed the mornings. The blonde had always been a nocturnal bird but had to adjust to the day and night rhythm that governed life here. It wasn't like she could bar hop with her friends or hang out on her laptop all night.

As she had told Ethan, she had eaten in the infirmary the day before. Lily had brought packed lunches back to Andrei's room and Mia had found herself having dinner with her fairy friend, the two wizards, and Oz. The blonde had told them in broad outline what had happened with Ethan a few hours earlier, reaping some mixed pouts. Her friends were torn between worry about her involvement in things that shouldn't concern her and relief that the Vila had decided to protect her.

They had separated a few minutes after the end of their meal, Andrei having been authorized to leave and join the magicians' district. Arry had naturally accompanied him after wishing good night to her two friends. Lily had gone to her room shortly after, still tired from the past two days.

Around eight forty-five, Mia left her room to have breakfast with Lily. She was in the process of recovering the used sheets from the rooms whose patients had been able to leave the infirmary that very morning.

"I'm coming, go sit down already," announced the fairy crossing the corridor.

Mia didn't need to be asked and settled into one of the armchairs in the infirmary hall. All the fairies had their breakfast here, but the blonde rarely saw them since she got up later than them. They were nevertheless aware of the habits of the human since they regularly left some fruit accompanied by one or two pastries on one of the small low tables in the hall. The young woman never tired of the benevolent attention of the fairies towards her.

Lily joined the blonde five minutes later. She took care of heating the water for the tea with her powers by putting her hands on the coffee pot and placing two steaming cups next to the food. Mia, having no idea how to boil water without magic, always left the preparation of the drink to Lily. After a few days, their routine was well established.

"Are you going to the arena for the director's announcement?" asked the blonde.

"I don't know... We still have a lot of work to do because of how the tournament ended. Usually, it's Elisa who takes care of going to this kind of meeting when we're overwhelmed to give us a report afterward. Besides, you're going with Arry and Andrei, right?"

"Ethan is coming with me, I don't know if they'll want to put up with his presence. I would understand them, if not," Mia sighed.

"Ah yes... I guess they'll have to get used to it if he's not going to let you go out alone anymore."

Mia sighed again, leaning back against the back of the chair, annoyed. Just because she gave in to his oppressive presence didn't mean she wasn't frustrated by the situation. She wasn't even going to be able to spend quiet time with her friends outside the infirmary if he was going to watch her relentlessly. She always had the option of lying to him about her whereabouts, but she had never been particularly one to resort to lies. After the events of the tournament, tempers were still too high. If things calmed down, maybe she could negotiate some freedom.

"It annoys me. It annoys me, even more, knowing that he does it against his will. If he didn't despise me deep down, it would be just about bearable. I think I still preferred when he was trying to intimidate me. At least back then he was genuine."

Lily giggled quietly, muffling the sound with her hand.

"What?" Mia inquired, annoyed by the impression that her friend was making fun of her.

"Since you came here, you've been taking things incredibly well. You are told that you are in another world, that's OK, that it is populated by creatures of legend, that's OK, that you are potentially in danger, that's about OK. You had no choice in any of this, and it didn't particularly offend you. But with Ethan and this soulmate thing..."

"It's not the same," Mia grumbled.

"So what's bothering you about all of this? And don't tell me it's because you don't like not having a choice. You very well resigned yourself to your life here, and rather quickly," cut Lily raising her hand as Mia went to protest.

"It's not the same," she repeated. "Now that he's stuck in my coattails, I'm not even free to move! I have to report to him on my movements, I am completely dependent on him as soon as I leave the infirmary! I feel like a damsel in distress with her guard dog. And this bond thing... How could I be okay with the fact that the supposed great love of my life, which I didn't choose, is with someone who despises me for what I am?" Mia burst out.

"I see," Lily replied, smiling mischievously. "I didn't know you were so romantic."

Mia sighed deeply, sinking a little deeper into the chair, trying to blend in. Lily continued:

"You know, we're mostly worried because these are complicated times and this situation could end pretty badly. But, ultimately, that's not a bad thing. Some may call it a curse, but I see it as a blessing. The bond between a Vila and his soulmate goes far beyond love, it is something strong and splendid to see, and probably wonderful to experience. I understand the role of the damsel in distress bothers you, but he's right. After what happened at the tournament, you're not safe here. And you know it very well since you accepted that he accompanies you everywhere, even if you are not happy about it."

"It doesn't change the fact that he hates me deep down. Even if I truly accepted all of this, a part of me would still be stuck on the fact that he would have preferred anyone else over me. And that is not OK."

"So show him you're not who he thinks you are?"

Mia jumped up from her chair, outraged.

"Why would I do that? He's the one that has to prove he's not a total ass!" roared the blonde.

Lily sighed raising her hands in front of her, telling her friend to calm down.

"Very well. You should hurry, you'll be late."

Mia's gaze went to the old wooden clock indicating that indeed it was more than time to leave. Not that she really wanted to be on time to meet Ethan, but she didn't want to miss the headmaster's announcement. After all, she had suffered the disaster of the tournament head-on. After waving goodbye to her fairy friend, Mia left the quietness of the infirmary, a lump in her stomach. She wished she had time to think about this conversation before confronting the Vila, not knowing on which foot to dance with him. Lily wasn't wrong, even if she didn't like it. Should she at least try to be friendly with him? Would that make the situation more bearable?

Oh, fuck it, as I said to Lily, it's not for me to put in the effort.