Ria woke up and found herself in Hikari's chambers.
It was morning. The sunlight through the windows lit up the room.
She was wrapped a towel. Her body smelled of cheap soap. Slowly, she unwrapped the towel from herself and stood up and felt a soft surface below her.
Ba dum! Ba dum! "I slept on Hikari's couch. What happened last night?"
Scanning the room, she saw Hikari's claymore leaning against the wall in her armoury from across the room, along with her hand cannon and bow hanging from the wall. At the doorway were two pairs of boots.
Then, a maid and several labourers came through the curtain door, hauling cartfuls of raw food stuff along with a cart full of coal and leaving them by an iron cauldron that were taller than themselves.
After they left, a trio of maids walked through the curtain, each pushing a trolly. They started making their way all the way across the room to the couch where Ria was.
"Argh. my back is killing me. Hikari moving to the estate for security is fine and all, but why do we suddenly have to scrub the mud off those enormous boots."
Ria could hear the maids from afar.
"Yeah, I agree. I'm lucky it's not my turn yet. Like, what's the point of giving Hikari a pair of shiny boots. She's probably just going to wade through swamps. Oof! And the stench from those boots."
"Didn't you hear? Whenever she walks past those refugee camps that had been popping up, they would kiss her boots and polish them with their tongues, like she's some kind of messiah or something."
"Uuurk, gross."
As the maids quieten down as they approached the couch.
"Good morning my lady. We were informed by knight Hikari that you would be training with her. We brought your breakfast and your change of clothes."
Ria was lying flat on the couch fully wrapped in the towel. Slowly, she sat up right and made a fake yawn.
"Good morning. Yes, I would be training with knight Hikari. I apologize for not informing you ahead of time."
"We will be outside. Please ring for us if you need anything else." The maids bowed and turned around.
Ria sat in the towel, curled up and shivering. "What do I do now? If this gets out, I'd be a laughing stock. How would I deal with my peers then? How would I get through the academy? Hikari isn't the kind to spill the beans isn't she? Maybe if I treat her really well from now on. Though that will look like she'll be dominating me from now on."
The curtains on the other end of the room swung wide open, Hikari emerging through it. She was in her running outfit, loose tops, shorts, knee socks and flats.
She kicked off her soiled flats and put on the pair that Ria was cleaning the previous night.
Ba dum! Ba dum! Ria's heart raced as she watched Hikari's every move.
Hikari just went about her daily routine. She grabbed the towel hanging by the door and wiped her sweat.
Then, she began her stretching routine. She bent over and touched her toes. Grab her foot behind her and pull. Spread out her legs and lowered herself to stretch her gluts.
She walked to the kitchen, filled up her tankard and drank.
Then, she began offloading her raw breakfast into the cauldron. She then goes back to the tankard, fills it up, and pours its contents into the pot.
She poured the coal into the underground compartment and started the stove.
As it boiled she took out her ladle and stirred. She watched for a bit, before closing the lid and making her way to the couch.
She sat down beside Ria.
Ria was through upwards as she sat down.
"Good morning, my Lady."
"Good.. morning.. Hikari…" Ria's voice was shaking.
Hikari kicks off her flats. She lifts up one foot and rests it horizontally on her thigh, the cotton sole facing Ria. Using her index finger, she peeled off the sock starting from the knee and dropped the mass of cotton on the ground.
"How are things at the estate?"
Hikari turned and looked down at Ria who didn't meet her eye but instead continued staring straight into space.
"Good… thanks to you… "
Hikari then picks up one of her flats. The one that Ria had worked on.
"This is good. I think I'll wear them in my chambers from now on."
"Thank … you … "
Hikari stroked her back gently with her finger. Ria flinched whenever their bare skins came into contact.
Then, the tray containing Ria's fresh clothes floated up to her.
"Dress up."
"Yes… Hikari… "
Ria leaned forward to grab her lingerie. When she tried to button her bra together, her shaking hands dropped the buttons.
"It's ok, take your time."
Hikari begins her meditation.
Badum! Badum! Ria's heart pounded against the chest.
After half an hour, she could hear her bubbling. She slid her bare feet into her flats and walked to the kitchen.
She picked up the cauldron by its handle with one hand, holding the ladle in the other and walked back to her couch.
Ria's breakfast tray floated up to her. A tea sandwich, custard pie and a cup of tea.
But Ria didn't find them appetising.
"Eat"
Ria flinched. Using her fork, she stuffed one half of the tea sandwich into her mouth, pushing it down with some hot tea, and then stuffed the other half, and then finally the custard pie.
Then Hikari's ladle appeared before her, dropping several chunks of meat and vegetables onto her plate.
"That doesn't look like it's enough. Eat this too. "
"Yes… Hikari… " The chunks were huge for her.
She grabbed a chunk of meat. It was quite well cooked, soft enough for her to bite into.
Three bites, and there's still some left.
The chunk alone was more filling than her breakfast.
"You're full?"
"Yes… "
"Alright." Hikari lowers her ladle to her plate. Ria pours the leftovers into the huge metal spoon.
Soon, she heard a scraping sound as Hikari finished off the last of her stew.
"Now, let's continue meditating."
"Yes.. Hikari… "
Ria began circulating her mana.
It was quiet.
After another half hour of meditation, Hikari stood up and stretched her arms.
Ria opened her eyes. She feels better now. After a warm meal and some meditation, her shivering has stopped.
"About last night.. "
Ria flinched, her heart rate started to go up again.
"You said some really interesting things didn't you"
Badum! Badum! Ria's heart raced.
"Umm… I guess… I… "
Hikari gently rubs Ria's back with her finger.
She sat down on the couch beside Ria and lowered her head.
"Don't worry, I won't tell if that's what worries you."
Hikari whispered.
"Really? I … "
Hikari raised her foot and rested it on her knees. The dirty socked soles facing Ria.
Ria's eyes opened wide. She got on her hands and knees, crawled to the cotton wall and pressed her lips onto it. Hikari closed her eyes and smiled.
"Thank you! kiss* Thank you for not telling on me! kiss* Thank you! kiss* "
Hikari removed her feet from the couch.
"I like that."