Chương 31: Chapter 30: Rest

The sewers gave way to cleaner passages, then maintenance tunnels, and finally a side entrance to the Academy. Tessa never imagined entering the grand institution through its underground waterways, still dripping and barefoot. The Academy rose around them as they entered the courtyard: soaring towers, pristine white stone catching the afternoon sun. Tessa had seen it from afar, like everyone in the city. Standing here now, damp from the reservoir, it seemed impossibly grand.

Officials had met them at the entrance with questions and even more questions. None, she had to answer thankfully. Someone had given her a blanket at some point, though she wasn't sure when. The Rogue had stayed close the entire time, a silent presence at her shoulder. Now they stood in a courtyard that could have fit her entire street. Then the air changed—subtle, but undeniable. Like the moment before lightning strikes. Her shoulders tightened before she even understood why.

An old man stepped into view, his robes dark and heavy, trailing across the stone. He carried a chipped porcelain mug in one hand. Steam curled from it.

"Welcome," he said, his voice carrying without effort.

"I was told of your arrival." His gaze swept over them. Rellen received a curt nod. The Rogue earned a long, unreadable look. Tessa, he passed over quickly—yet she still felt stripped bare. Then his eyes landed on Mariane.

"Eleven years," he said, stepping closer.

"You were fifteen when you left. Still picking fights, I see."

"Only the ones worth winning, Headmaster," Mariane said.

"Good. Mediocrity is offensive." His tone was pleasant, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.

"You've made progress in your levels."

"Headmaster." A younger man in similar robes appeared at his elbow, sounding respectful but firm.

"The dungeon. We should close it first."

"Yes, yes." He reached into his robes, searching through their inner pockets. There was a muffled clink as several objects jostled against glass inside the folds. After a brief pause, he finally produced a cube—identical to the two Tessa had carried.

"Ah, found it," he said, holding it up. He held out the cube to the group, arm extended. Rellen and Mariane both turned expectantly toward Tessa, as if waiting for her to step forward. Right. Her job. She'd missed her cue.

"Sorry," she muttered, hurrying forward. Her bare feet made soft sounds against the stone. She took the cube in both hands. The Headmaster stood directly before her, his presence overwhelming, the faint scent of ozone and old parchment clinging to him. His eyes watched every twitch of her fingers. She could see the silver threading on his robe cuffs, tiny runes embroidered between the seams. She kept her gaze on the cube. Looking up felt impossible. He was the Headmaster of the Academy.

Sweat prickled at her temples as she worked. Her fingers found the panels, pressed, twisted—one click, then another—until the final section aligned. Click. The cube went cold. The pressure in the air eased, exhaling through the stone. [Dungeon Completed: ███████] You have successfully conquered the Dungeon. She exhaled shakily and tried to hand it back without looking him in the eye.

"Intriguing. Well done," he said, taking it from her fingertips, dry amusement in his tone.

"No one exploded. I'm very proud of all of us." Tessa blinked. What?

"Now, we should—""Headmaster." An Imperial guard approached and bowed politely.

"We are to escort the civilian involved in the incident." Before Tessa could react, Rellen stepped forward.

"The questioning should wait until tomorrow," Rellen pressed.

"All of the officers are swamped from today's incident. Tomorrow would be better for everyone." The captain hesitated, glancing between them and the Headmaster. He sipped from his mug—loudly—then nodded.

"First thing tomorrow will be sufficient. These are my guests for tonight," he said cheerfully, and turned back to them.

"You must all be exhausted. I've prepared a dormitory wing." His gaze flicked to Tessa's feet.

"And we'll see about shoes. We can't have people running around barefoot—it ruins the mystique." He gestured for the aide, who stepped forward, clutching a clipboard like a shield.

"Instructor Moss will show you to your quarters. Try not to break anything valuable. Rest well. Tomorrow we'll do the boring parts." His eyes lingered on Mariane again. Then he turned away, muttering something about. His robes swept behind him as he left, the faint smell of burnt sugar trailing in his wake. Tessa let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. She did not enjoy his presence. Something about him was unnerving.

Instructor Moss led them through arched corridors, his footsteps echoing against polished floors that reflected the early morning light streaming through tall windows. He clutched his clipboard to his chest, occasionally glancing back to ensure they were following.

"Miss Mariane," he began, his voice bright with practiced cheer.

"You should be somewhat familiar with the layout, yes? The east wing hasn't changed much since your time here. Well, we added new sconces in the third-floor hallway, but otherwise—" Mariane's boots clicked steadily behind him. She said nothing. Moss's smile wavered. He shifted his grip on the clipboard.

"The dormitories are quite comfortable. We've upgraded the mattresses recently. Much better than the old ones, I'm told. Though I suppose you wouldn't remember those specifically…" Still nothing. Mariane's gaze remained fixed ahead, her expression neutral. Moss cleared his throat and looked around the group, his eyes skating past the Rogue entirely before landing on Tessa. Safer ground, perhaps.

"And you," Moss said, forcing his tone brighter.

"Were you a student here? You must have just graduated. I don't recall seeing you before, though I'll admit my memory isn't what it—""No," Tessa answered flatly. The word came out flat. She felt Moss's expectant pause, the space where elaboration should go. She had no energy for this. No desire to explain her schooling to be polite. She turned to Mariane instead, grateful for the excuse to redirect.

"Are you staying with us? Why not head home?" Mariane's expression didn't change, but her posture eased slightly.

"I'm staying until I can freshen up and write my report. Then I'll leave." Tessa nodded. That made sense. Moss had fallen silent, apparently deciding that conversation wasn't worth pursuing. He didn't bother with Rellen either. He led them up a wide staircase, the blanket still wrapped around Tessa's shoulders, her bare feet leaving faint, damp prints on the stone steps. They stopped before a set of double doors carved with flowing patterns that might have been water or wind.

Moss pushed them open to reveal a common room.

"This is a dormitory intended for eight students," Moss explained, gesturing with his hand.

"There are eight bedrooms—you can decide which ones you'd like to take. Each bedroom has simple lounging clothes in different sizes for you to change into." He pointed toward a doorway on the left.

"The kitchen is shared and fully stocked. And the dormitory has a shared bath you're welcome to use to get the grime off." He turned to Rellen.

"You can use the bath in the dormitory next to this wing. It's a men's dormitory, just through the connecting hallway." If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

"Thank you," Rellen said with a slight nod. Moss offered a final nervous smile before retreating, the door clicking shut behind him. Tessa looked around the common room. It felt too large for the four of them. The Rogue had already disappeared down one of the hallways toward the bedrooms without a word. She shivered, suddenly aware of how cold she was. The blanket helped, but her clothes were still damp and clinging uncomfortably. The reservoir water had left a film on her skin, making her feel disgusting.

"I'm going to find a room and get some clothes, then head to the bath," Tessa announced to whoever was listening. Mariane gave a brief nod.

"I'll join." Tessa headed down one of the hallways and picked the first empty bedroom she found. It was simple—a narrow bed, a desk, a wardrobe. She opened the wardrobe and found folded stacks of loose shirts and pants in varying sizes, all in muted shades of gray and brown. She grabbed what looked like it might fit. When she emerged, Mariane was waiting near the doorway with her own set of clothes tucked under one arm. Tessa glanced toward the door, then back at Mariane.

She had no idea where the bath actually was. Without a word, Mariane stepped forward and began leading the way. Of course. She'd been a student here. She would know the layout. Mariane led them to a door that was unmarked, and she pushed it open. The bath was larger than Tessa expected. Warm, humid air enveloped them immediately, carrying the scent of mineral water and something herbal that she couldn't identify.

Soft light filtered through frosted glass panels set high in the walls, casting everything in a gentle, diffused glow. Along one wall were wooden cubbies for clothes, each with a small brass nameplate without a name. Clean towels sat folded in a basket nearby. The floor was smooth stone, slightly warm beneath her feet. Beyond the changing area, she could see a row of low wooden stools positioned in front of individual washing stations.

Each station had a large ceramic basin and what appeared to be a copper spout protruding from the wall. Past that, steam rose from a large rectangular bath sunk into the floor, the water's surface perfectly still. Mariane moved to one of the cubbies and began unfastening her belt without ceremony. Tessa hesitated, clutching her bundle of clean clothes. She'd been to public baths before with her sister and mother, the cheap ones in her neighborhood. Mariane glanced over, already halfway out of her shirt.

"There are towels." Right. Towels. Tessa grabbed one from the basket and turned partly away. She unwrapped the blanket first, then began peeling off her damp, filthy clothes. The reservoir water had left them stiff and foul-smelling. When she looked up again, Mariane was already wrapped in a towel and heading toward the washing stations, completely unbothered. Tessa secured her own towel and followed. Mariane settled onto one of the low stools and gestured to the copper spout.

"Tap it twice." Tessa sat on the stool beside her and reached up to tap the spout. Once. Twice. Water poured out immediately—warm, not scalding—filling the basin in front of her in a steady stream. But there was something odd about it. The water flowed upward slightly before curving down into the basin, as if following an invisible channel in the air.

"Enchanted plumbing," Mariane said, already scrubbing at her arms with a washcloth.

"Tap three times to stop it." Tessa tapped three times, and the water ceased instantly. She dipped her washcloth into the basin and began working at the grime coating her skin. The water turned gray almost immediately. Around them, the bath was quiet except for the soft sounds of water and cloth against skin. The warmth seeped into her muscles, and slowly, the tension in her shoulders began to ease. Mariane had already rinsed and was heading toward the large bath, her towel draped over one arm.

Tessa watched her slip into the water without fanfare, sinking down until only her shoulders remained above the surface. Tessa rinsed herself one more time—two taps to start, three to stop—then stood. The towel felt suddenly unnecessary. Mariane wasn't even looking her direction, eyes closed, head tilted back against the edge of the bath. She let the towel drop onto her stool and walked to the edge of the bath. The water was clear and faintly blue-green, steam rising in lazy curls. She stepped in.

The heat enveloped her immediately, and she had to bite back a sound of relief. The water came up above her chest as she settled onto the submerged bench that ran along the bath's perimeter. Every ache from the day seemed to surface at once, then gradually began to dissolve. For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The only sound was the faint drip of water from the spouts and the quiet lap of the bath against stone. Tessa closed her eyes and let herself sink a little deeper, finally, blessedly warm.

The warmth pulled at her like a current. Her limbs felt heavy, her thoughts soft and blurred at the edges. The steam, the heat, the silence—it all conspired to drag her down into sleep. Her head dipped forward. She jolted awake, water sloshing around her as she straightened.

"Sorry," she said, blinking hard. Her heart hammered in her chest.

"Drowning now would really suck."

"I wouldn't have let you drown," Mariane said. Her eyes were still closed, head still tilted back against the stone edge. Tessa opened her mouth. Closed it. What was she supposed to say to that? It was stated so matter-of-factly. As if Mariane had simply decided Tessa wouldn't drown, and that made it so. Which, knowing what she had seen of her in the dungeon, might actually be true. But it still left her with no idea how to respond. Thank you felt wrong. You don't have to feel worse.

So she said nothing and settled back against the edge of the bath. The silence stretched. Comfortable, or at least not uncomfortable. Then Mariane spoke.

"What's your plan from now on?" Tessa blinked. She hadn't pegged Mariane as someone who needed to fill the silence. The question felt deliberate, but she couldn't figure out why it mattered.

"I don't know," she said. The words came out easier than expected.

"Probably lay low for a bit. Maybe take some new jobs at the Guild..." She trailed off. Rellen had said he could get her into the Maker's Guild. That had been her dream, hadn't it? Before all of this. But now? Now she didn't know what would happen. How would her life change now that she'd been involved in the cube business? Would the Imperial guard keep watching her? Would she even be able to return to her old life as if nothing had happened? Does she even want too?

What if— Mariane stood abruptly, water cascading off her as she moved. She walked directly in front of Tessa, close enough that Tessa had to tilt her head back to meet her eyes. Mariane looked down at her, expression unreadable, water still dripping from her hair onto her shoulders. Tessa's gaze dropped reflexively, then jerked away. Mariane's bare chest was right in front of her face. She stared determinedly at the water's surface, heat flooding her cheeks.

"What—what's going on?"

"I can raise you." Tessa's eyes snapped up to Mariane's face.

"Huh?" Raise her? Like—like a child? Or a pet? The way she was raising Larry? That didn't make any sense. Tessa was an adult. She wasn't— Mariane tilted her head slightly, reading the confusion on Tessa's face.

"Artisans are easy to raise," she said, as if this clarified everything.

"I'm interested in your skills." Tessa blinked. That... didn't help.

"I want to employ you," Mariane continued.

"Have you my artisan?"

"Wait." Tessa sat up straighter, water sloshing around her.

"You mean—becoming an Artisan of House Blackwood?" The weight of that hit her even as she said it. The kind of position people spend their entire lives working toward. The kind of security and prestige that—"No." Tessa stopped.

"No?"

"You'll be my own Artisan," Mariane said. Her tone remained even, matter-of-fact.

"A servant of mine. Not the house." Tessa stared up at her, trying to process. Not House Blackwood. Just... Mariane's. Personally. That was— She didn't even know what that was. Her mouth opened. Closed. Her thoughts felt scattered, slippery.

"I—I need to think about it." Mariane didn't seem bothered by the hesitation.

"I'll pay the fee for you to leave the Adventuring Guild," she continued.

"And any other fees that come up with moving you closer to where I am staying." The words kept coming, each one adding weight. Leaving the Guild. Moving. Closer to where Mariane was—which would be where? Tessa's chest tightened.

"Stop." Mariane paused.

"Please," Tessa added quickly, realizing the word had come out sharper than she meant. She pressed her palms to the rim of the bath, grounding herself against the cool, slick stone.

"It's been a long day. I don't… I'm not in the right headspace to think about this right now." For a heartbeat, Mariane just watched her. Then she nodded.

"We'll talk after you've rested." She turned away, water sliding down her back as she crossed toward the washing stations. Tessa heard the soft rustle of cloth, the muted sounds of her drying off, dressing, gathering her things from the cubby. The door opened. Then closed. And then Tessa was alone. She let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding and slid down until the water reached her chin. The bath was quiet again. Her own Artisan. Personal employment. Moving somewhere.

Tessa closed her eyes and tried not to think about any of it. After another long moment staring at the ceiling of steam and frosted glass, Tessa finally pushed herself up and out of the water. The air felt cold against her skin after the bath's heat. She dried off quickly and pulled on the clothes she'd grabbed—loose gray pants that she had to roll at the ankles and a simple long-sleeved tunic that hung past her hips. The fabric was soft, worn from many washings.

She wrapped her filthy clothes in her towel, not wanting to carry them directly, and headed back toward the dormitory. The common room was empty when she entered, dim in the early morning light. But the door to the kitchen stood open, warm light spilling out, and she could hear the quiet clink of ceramic. Tessa hesitated, then moved closer to investigate. Rellen stood at the counter with his back to her, freshly washed, his dark hair still damp and pushed back from his face.

He wore a short-sleeved shirt in deep blue that fit snugly across his shoulders, leaving his forearms bare. The kitchen's warm light caught the definition in his arms as he reached for something on a high shelf. He was making tea. A clay pot sat on a small heating element that glowed with contained warmth—some kind of enchantment, probably. Beside it sat cups, steam already rising from one.

"Did you find anything lacking?" Rellen asked without turning around.

"Do you need something?" Tessa blinked, realizing she'd been staring. She mentally shook herself.

"Want a cup?" Rellen continued, pouring tea into the second cup.

"I'm not getting any rest soon, so I decided to make some now."

"Yes," Tessa said, moving closer.

"Thank you." Rellen turned and held the cup out to her. Their fingers brushed as she took it, the warm ceramic feeling smooth against her palms. He looked at her properly, and a smile pulled at the corner of his mouth.

"You cleaned up good." She took a sip so as not to have to reply. The tea was delicate and floral, with a hint of honey underneath. It warmed her from the inside out, different from the bath's heat. She lowered the cup and looked at Rellen.

"Do you have anything to do right now? Or could we maybe... talk?" That sounded desperate. Or needy. She tried to explain.

"I just—there's been a lot today, and I thought maybe we could—""We probably should take some time now to talk," he said, cutting off her rambling.

"We probably won't cover everything now, but a first is still something." Relief loosened something in her chest.

"Okay. Yes." They moved to the common room, carrying their tea with them. Tessa chose one of the couches near the windows. She settled into the corner and pulled her legs up, crossing them beneath her. Rellen paused by a basket near the armchair and pulled out a knitted blanket. He crossed to the couch and draped it over Tessa's lap.

"Thank you," she said quietly. He sat down beside her. He held his tea in both hands and settled back against the cushions, waiting. Tessa drew in a slow breath, steadying herself. Her throat felt tight, her pulse a dull rhythm in her ears.

"What you know about my father and sister—I want… no, I need to hear it."