“Stop right there.”

  He’s voice was calm, yet it carried an unmistakable authority. He slowly stopped writing, the quill pausing mid-stroke before he set it aside with deliberate care. One by one, he gathered the scattered papers, arranging them neatly before sliding them into a drawer and locking it shut.

  Aira, who had been standing quietly near the doorway, peeked in from the side and spoke politely, her voice soft but clear.

  “Sir… I’ve come in.”

  “Hm,” he replied, already busy. “Give me a moment. I’m just putting these reports in order.”

  While he worked, Aira allowed her gaze to wander. The room felt… strange. Far larger than it should have been. Nothing like a normal office ever would have been. Sword after sword lined the walls—dozens of them—each one different, each one radiating a silent presence. There was no apparent arrangement, no pattern to their placement, yet nothing felt out of place.

  It made sense, she supposed. There was no one else living in this manor besides him.

  Still, curiosity stirred within her.

  “Sir,” she said after a brief pause, “I was wondering if I could see the whole manor… at least once.”

  He froze.

  For a moment, silence fell—heavy and absolute.

  Before she could even process the weight of her request. He turned away slightly, and Aira noticed it then: his shoulders stiffening, his breath uneven. Her own stomach dropped.

  She had crossed a line.

  “I— I’m sorry,” she started, cheeks burning with embarrassment.

  But before she could retreat further into herself, he cleared his throat.

  “…let us go to the kitchen first,” he said, finishing his sentence at last.

  Without another word, he stood and walked past her. From the side ways of the stairs there was the kitchen by the end of the hallways. There was a door at the back of the kitchen leading to the rear of the manor.

  Beyond them lay a stretch of land she hadn’t seen before. Rows of fruit trees and vegetable plants flourished under the open sky, vibrant and alive. He reached out, plucking a few ripe fruits and handed them to her.

  “They’re good,” he said simply.

  She took a bite—and her eyes widened.

  The taste was unlike anything she had ever eaten. Sweet, rich, and full of warmth. Better than any food she’d ever known.

  As they walked further, the plantation slowly gave way to towering trees. The light dimmed. The air grew heavier.

  The forest.

  Dense. Silent. Watching.

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  At the very edge of it, something moved.

  A snake slithered out from the bushes, its scales glinting faintly before it vanished back into the shadows.

  She clutched his shirt tightly, her fingers digging into the fabric, her body trembling. Fear flashed through her eyes, raw and unfiltered.

  He straightened.

  “Don’t be afraid,” he said gently. “They are divine beings.”

  She looked up at him in confusion as he reached back and took her hand. His grip was steady, grounding. Though her hands trembled, her heart slowly eased. This time… she wasn’t alone.

  As they neared the forest boundary, he stopped.

  He raised his hand, fingers slicing through the air slowly—and then it appeared.

  A ripple.

  Invisible, yet undeniable.

  He guided her forward and made her touch it.

  “There,” he said. “That’s the barrier.”

  She frowned. “A barrier?”

  “Yes,” he continued. “It was created to attract monsters that spawn beyond the outer boundary. Once they enter, they’re trapped inside. They can never leave.”

  Her breath caught.

  Questions flooded her mind.

  Why is he here?

  Is he a monster too?

  How do the snakes come and go?

  Why do these plants grow here so freely?

  As if sensing her thoughts, he spoke again.

  “The seeds here are gifts from the divine beasts,” he explained. “They guide their growth. Only they can pass through the barrier freely.”

  Then he turned to her, his gaze sharp, unyielding.

  “Do not worry. The divine beasts would never hurt anyone.”

  The weight of his words lingered as they made their way back toward the manor.

  But one question refused to leave her mind.

  “…Then why,” she finally asked, her voice barely above a whisper, “did the divine beings bring me here… instead of showing me the way out of the forest?”

  The manor loomed behind them, silent as ever.

  Sir Kael listened quietly to her question. His expression did not change as he turned back to his desk.

  “That is yet to be seen,” he replied calmly.

  With that, he picked up his quill once more, dipped it in ink, and resumed writing as if the matter were already settled.

  Aira was wondering here and there in the room as there was nothing to sit in there.

  “Could you… stop wandering for now?”

  He paused mid-stroke.

  Now that she had his attention, she gathered her courage. “Since I’m living here… is there anything I can do to help?........I mean ..I don't want to be a freeloader you see..."

  He leaned back in his chair, his gazes shifted towards her, his head slightly tilted to study her for a moment.

  “Is there anything you want to do?” he asked.

  She thought carefully before answering. Her eyes drifted around the room—the swords, the shelves, the shadows clinging to every corner.

  “I can clean the rooms,” she said at last. “They’re… already very dusty.”

  For the first time, something close to approval flickered across his face.

  He leaned forward," can you really clean the manor??"

  "Ahhh.. yes, on usual occasions it was me who would end up cleaning the classrooms so i am...quite experienced in it you see.." she slowly distracted her gazes.

  " What?" his genuine surprise was written all over his face, " aren't schools are to educate you, or were you a cleaner ?"

  She quickly waved her hands " no no no, students who live in the dorms are put to cleaning classrooms, and...."

  "and....." he dragged.

  " I was bullied and.." she slowly mumbled to herself, " was forced do them regularly...."

  It left him speechless. She awkwardly tried to break the silence," never mind that sir Kael, it's all in the past now that is," she awkwardly smiled and looked away.

  He didn't ask much about this," ahh ....okay then, do as you see fit."

  “But remember—inform me before you go anywhere. I cannot afford another accident.”

  She nodded immediately.

  They both agreed, and from that day onward, the manor slowly began to change.

  While Sir Kael worked, she cleaned. She wiped layers of dust that looked as if they had been untouched for years, aired rooms that had long been sealed, and even dragged an old chair from another wing to replace one that had collapsed with age. What began as a single task turned into days of quiet labor.

  And for the first time since arriving, Aira felt… peace.

  Surprisingly, the manor was peaceful.... way too peaceful.

  Almost.

  Sir Kael remained inside his study, focused and composed, while Aira waited in the hall. Their guard was lowered—there had been no monster sightings, no disturbances, no signs of danger.

  That was when she felt it.

  A chill crept up her spine.

  Her heart skipped.