Chapter 3
I was actually put in Airis’s quarters.
I kept replaying that fact in my head, still unable to believe it.
Even after I stepped inside the large, dim room.
Deep blue tones.
Gray wood.
Silver accents.
The room was spacious, clean, and surprisingly minimalist.
A large canopy bed, a dresser, bookshelves, a fireplace—and a weapon rack.
In front of the fireplace lay a large, vivid rug embroidered with silver threads—the only splash of color.
“Private bathroom,” Airis said, nodding toward a gray door behind the shelves.
His irritation hung in the air, tightening the already tense atmosphere.
“While you’re showering, I’ll find you something to change into.”
His voice was dry—
like that smug idiot from earlier had vanished.
“Is it just me, or did your arrogance drop a few degrees?” I asked, pretending to examine the bookshelves.
The spines were marked with symbols I didn’t recognize.
“Not that I mind...” I added, still eyeing the strange lettering.
“I just didn’t expect moving a girl into your room to immediately switch off your ‘jerk mode.’”
The room, oddly enough, reminded me of my father’s study.
“I thought maybe I imagined it—but it looks like little Fireling prefers things a bit rough,” he said.
I felt it—
without even turning—
his smug smile spreading across his lips.
When I did turn, I was right.
“I’m just surprised by the change,” I replied, crossing my arms and looking away again, pretending to examine the room.
“It’s hard to imagine you being... pleasant.”
“In some situations, I can be very pleasant.”
Our eyes met—
and my throat instantly went dry.
Was it just me, or was the atmosphere between us shifting into something else?
“But not for you,” he added, breaking eye contact.
Airis moved to the wardrobe and pulled out a short blue kimono, richly decorated with painted birds and flowers.
“Until we get you proper clothes, use this,” he said, nodding toward it.
I blinked a few times before finally putting on a look of annoyance.
“Seriously?”
“What?” he arched a brow, letting his gaze sweep over me.
“Would you rather walk around half-dressed in front of me? I doubt you’d have much to surprise me with.”
Was he trying to provoke me—or did it just come naturally?
I crossed my arms.
“No. I’m just dying to be one of those girls who worship you—wearing some symbol of their devotion.” I nodded toward the kimono with a slight grimace.
“I never mentioned being popular with women.”
He was infuriatingly self-assured.
And not even trying to hide it.
Damn.
I’d basically just admitted he was attractive.
Recover. Fast.
“You didn’t have to,” I shrugged lazily.
“You’re too predictable for me not to figure that out. And I’m definitely not wearing that.”
“Oh?” he raised a brow.
“Then stay in what you’re wearing. Or whatever’s left of it.”
My lips pressed together.
My hands clenched into fists.
Like they were trying to hold back the fire rising in my blood—
ready to break free.
The smell of smoke, mixed with blood and sweat, thickened in the air.
But my pride clearly didn’t care.
“Or better yet—walk around half-naked,” he added.
“Because even my abilities won’t be enough to deal with... whatever this is.”
I exhaled.
Forced myself to calm down.
Swallowed my pride.
Then reached out and snatched the small piece of fabric from his hands.
Holding it between two fingers, I turned it over in front of my face.
The thought that it might actually be some kind of “symbol” for girls obsessed with him made me feel sick.
“No one else has worn it,” he said.
Airis leaned against the wardrobe, arms crossed, watching me.
“So what? Should I feel honored to be the first?” I raised a brow.
“Going without anything is still an option,” he shrugged.
Our eyes met again.
“What? Finally found something that might impress you?”
“Confidence doesn’t really suit you.”
“I agree. That’s why I’m giving it back to you.”
I stared him down—
but at the same time, I was worried I might lose control and set something on fire.
“I should probably show you how the shower works,” he said.
He didn’t wait for me to follow.
But I did.
Because I really, really needed to get out of this half-burned shell.
******
From what I could tell, Airis preferred solid hygiene products.
With a ridiculous amount of oils—
all of which now clung to my skin.
I tried not to give in to the sensation, refusing to admit how much I liked the scent.
For a moment, I even suspected Airis had some ulterior motive when he decided to “teach” me how to use the shower system.
I thought he took me for a complete idiot—
until I realized there was a sensor built into the shower.
It measured body weight, height, proportions.
Sensitive areas and injuries.
It adjusted everything for each mage—
calculating the ideal water temperature, pressure, and even direction, since there was no traditional showerhead.
When I stepped out, Airis was already in the room, flipping through a small stack of books he’d set aside.
“Your clothes are on the bed,” he said without even looking at me.
A small pile of dark blue clothing lay there.
A training outfit—
a top and straight-cut pants.
“Where did this come from?” I asked, checking for tags.
There were none.
Not even any signs that they had been removed.
“Training gear.”
“And why are there no sizes?” I asked.
He didn’t look up.
“Because sizing works differently here.”
“How?” I pressed, irritation creeping in as I had to drag every answer out of him.
He let out a heavy sigh.
But I didn’t back down.
“Most clothing is made according to personal measurements through an automated tailoring system.”
“Could’ve just said that,” I muttered—then froze slightly.
The fabric felt light...
but structured.
And I hesitated.
It was awkward to even bring this up—
but after glancing at Airis again, I mentally scoffed.
“There’s no underwear.”
“You’re free to go without.”
“I wasn’t asking for permission,” I snapped.
“I need underwear.”
“I’ll handle it tomorrow.”
“And today?” I arched a brow.
“So you don’t ask for permission, but you’re fine taking orders?”
God.
I really wanted to hit him.
And with every answer, that urge only grew stronger.
“The solution is obvious,” he said.
“You’ll manage until tomorrow.”
I tightened my grip on the fabric, forcing myself to speak calmly.
“And you expect me to sleep in training clothes?”
“Do whatever you want.”
I exhaled and sat down on the bed.
Right.
Because this wasn’t my only problem.
I had serious trouble sleeping.
If I wasn’t physically comfortable—
I wouldn’t fall asleep.
And I wasn’t somewhere I considered safe enough to ignore that.
At any moment, I might need strength.
Magical.
Physical.
“You can wear one of my shirts,” he added.
Well.
At least he was trying.
In his own way.
“Or sleep without anything. I don’t care.”
Obviously.
A few seconds later, Airis finally looked up from his books.
And the look in his eyes was...
unsettling.
Unexplainable.
I stayed silent.
Holding his gaze.
And again—that tension crept between us, filling the space between us.
The longer we looked at each other, the stronger that strange feeling inside me became.
I’d never been good at reading my own emotions.
And I had no idea what this meant.
Then, unexpectedly, Airis raised his hand.
I instinctively closed my eyes—
feeling a warm stream of air brush across my face.
Not burning.
Just... warm.
It lasted only a few seconds.
Then it was gone.
“Looking like an amphibian doesn’t suit you,” he said, nodding toward my hair.
Slowly, I lifted my hand and ran my fingers through my curls.
Down to my waist.
Completely dry.
It had taken him seconds.
“Get changed. We have things to discuss before bed.”
I nodded—
then froze as my gaze dropped to the pants.
Maybe Airis understood female physiology differently.
Or maybe not at all.
The fabric was dark—
but stains would still be visible.
Especially since I had nothing underneath.
And I wasn’t about to solve that problem his way.
“Lend me one of your shirts. A long one,” I said, looking at him.
“The previous girls didn’t seem to mind.”
I grimaced.
“With your personality, I’m starting to doubt there were any.”
Airis walked over to the dresser, pulled out the first thing he found without even looking, and tossed it to me.
I headed for the door in silence.
It felt like my tongue would dry up if I tried to thank him.
I closed the door behind me and leaned back against it, taking a deep breath as I shut my eyes.
Everything that had happened today still churned inside me like a storm.
Too much.
Too fast.
Too overwhelming.
Too much fear—
the kind I refused to acknowledge, yet couldn’t escape.
“Well, this is unexpected,” a high-pitched voice suddenly cut through my thoughts.
My eyes snapped open.
And I froze.
Something...
was hovering inside the shower.
A strange creature.
About the size of a cat.
Bat-like wings.
Covered in dark blue fur.
Its face was turned away from me, but I could see sharp ears and a long tail split at the end.
Beside it stood two figures.
One was tall, with silver hair, dressed entirely in black—
looking as though he’d stepped straight out of some elegant gothic-butler fantasy.
The other was much shorter, with light curly hair, wearing a bright red coat in an old-fashioned style.
“Aars, we shouldn’t disturb them,” the tall one said, frowning, his arms crossed.
“And what else are we supposed to do?” the creature—Aars—snorted.
“This guy finally gets himself a new girl, and I want to know what she’s like.”
It let out an amused huff.
“And I want to know what makes her better than Bestla.”
I coughed lightly, crossing my arms as I noticed the faint white glow surrounding all of them.
And suddenly—
I understood.
Instantly.
Relief washed over me.
Both mentally and physically.
Because I knew—
they weren’t capable of lying.
Not here.
Not like this.
“Uh... she’s staring right at us,” the blond one said, confused, looking straight at me.
His eyes were almost translucent—
as if there were no pupils at all.
I’d seen that before.
And I noticed his soft, almost delicate features.
Long pale lashes.
Too gentle.
Too young.