Chương 15: Book 1; Chapter 14; Pupil without a teacher (1)

Anniet slept so well that by the time she woke up, it was already late. She was hoping to do so much today, but by the time she left her room, it was already evening. Anniet still walked to the School's teaching premises, but as she already suspected, there wasn't much to do there, as all was empty, and she saw only a few people in the library. Great! The only day she wanted to go to classes, she had to sleep until all was finished….

Deep in her thoughts, she walked down the empty yard when an unexpected smell drew her attention. Food! It was really smelling like food! Just now Anniet remembered that she hadn't eaten anything for two days! When the stomach is empty, all senses probably get sharper. Never before could she remember herself tracking smells so easily.

In no time, she was at the doors of the building, which must be some sort of refectory or dining hall, as it was surrounded by outdoor tables, and through slightly opened doors she could hear the sound of cutlery and plates. Anniet pushed the door open and walked in. Unfortunately, she must be late there too. The place was empty, the lights dimmed, and the sound she could hear was coming from the kitchen. Someone was obviously tidying it up.

Anniet sighed in disappointment and turned around to leave when a familiar voice sounded from behind.

"One late and hungry customer. Where do you think you are going with this empty stomach? Luckily, my hearing is good and I caught you in time before you ran away!" Anniet turned around just to see Anthony, who was standing in a kitchen doorway, laughing at her. That's right! He did say that he works there as a cook! What a lucky meeting! She really was pleased to see him.

"Hi," Anniet said with a smile. She wanted to say that she was very happy to see him, as she was thinking about him a lot since their last encounter, but it would be very strange to say it to the man she hardly knew, so she didn't say anything, just looked at his eyes, as dark as the darkest night, thinking that never before she had seen a person with such beautiful eyes.

"Hi to you too." Anthony said.

"I am very happy to see you again. I was thinking about you a lot since our last encounter."

"……..." He said it so easily and in such a friendly voice… And it didn't sound strange at all. If anything, it sounded very nice.

"Me too," she replied before she could reprimand herself. Anthony's smile widened even more after hearing it.

"It is good to hear," he said.

"You must be hungry. I can hear your belly rumbling even from there. Come and sit down."

"I thought this place was already closed?" Anniet pointed out. She didn't want to be any burden, but still, the possibility of having something edible was very attractive.

"How can it be closed if you and I are there? Sit down, or if you prefer, come to the kitchen, then we can chat while I make something for you." He seated Anniet at the wooden table in the middle of the kitchen while he took out a frying pan and some products from the fridge.

"I am sorry for coming after you have already finished your work," Anniet said, looking around the spot-clean kitchen, "I didn't mean to bring any extra trouble."

"Do I look troubled?" Anthony asked, smiling at her over his shoulder. Anniet wanted to apologise again, but words didn't come out of her mouth.

"No," she said instead, as Anthony didn't look troubled at all. If anything, he looked somehow... happy, and Anniet thought that if she apologised again, it would be more of an insult to his kind offer than a polite gesture.

"No," she repeated again.

"You don't look bothered. Thank you for that." Anniet was watching him working, glad that he wasn't facing her, so she didn't have to hide her curiosity and could openly examine his steady and so precise movements that created an illusion of being slow and relaxed when, in reality, they were very swift. He was wearing the same or a similar-looking black satin shirt tucked into black trousers at the front and loose at the back. His black jacket was hanging on a chair next to her.

There were no other clothes or even an apron, so he must have worked all day in the same outfit, but despite it being the end of the day, all looked immaculate without a single stain or even a crease. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

His figure was lean and slender, but as he moved, his satin shirt revealed a firm and perfectly muscular back, which brought to Anniet's memory the image of him standing soaking wet in the rain with his muscular body displayed clearly under a wet shirt. A little voice in Anniet's head was saying that it is not nice and no reason to pay so much attention to how Anthony looked, but she wasn't very eager to abandon these thoughts, especially when it didn't make any harm as Anthony wasn't even looking at her right now.

"So, how are you finding this place?" Anthony asked.

"Did you see or do anything interesting? Did you meet a lot of people and make new friends?" Anniet smiled to herself for a moment before replying. During all this time she had been in this place, she literally spoke only with three people: the headmaster on arrival, Anthony, and Rainee. Was it a lot? Yes, it was, maybe not in numbers but in new experiences.

"Yes, I have met someone really extraordinary," she said.

"Are you willing to tell me?"

"Definitely!" Anniet thought to herself. Yesterday's encounter was so unusual that it was difficult to believe it wasn't a dream, and she was very eager to share it with someone. Once she started talking, there was no stopping. The more she spoke, the more she remembered, and it was difficult to believe that all had happened just in one day!

Luckily, Anthony seemed to be very interested in her little adventure, and after placing a plate in front of her, he sat himself at the table and was attentively listening to all she said, asking questions here and there. By the time Anniet finished, she realised that while talking, she had eaten the whole plate without even registering what was on it. All she knew it was very delicious. Kind of guilty, she looked at the plate for a while before lifting her eyes back to her companion.

"Thank you," she said.

"It was very nice." Anthony didn't say anything to it in return; instead, he returned to her story.

"She must be a very inspiring person," he suggested. Now he did it! All else was forgotten, and Anniet's attention returned to that mysterious person she met yesterday.

"She is extraordinary! And not because she knows a lot! Even though she is the smartest person I have ever met, it is not about that. And not about being nice and kind and friendly. There is something… something… Well, I don't know what. Or rather, I know but don't know how to say it. I cannot wait until tomorrow when I can go to her class. Hope she is not hiding from students tomorrow. But she said she wouldn't, she said she will see me tomorrow. I am so gutted that I overslept today!"

"But she didn't suggest she would see you today, so you didn't miss anything," Anthony smiled at her enthusiasm.

"I know, I know," Anniet agreed.

"Have you met her? I didn't even ask when she came there."

"I believe I did," Anthony said.

"Have you attended her classes?"

"No," he shook his head.

"Why not?"

"For more than one reason," Anthony said, picking up his words, "one of them being that I didn't arrive at this place as a student."

"Oh!" Anniet didn't even think about it.

"And what door opened for you?"

"None," Anthony said with a slightly sad smile.

"None?!" Anniet couldn't believe what she heard.

"Then how did you come in?"

"I opened the door by myself and walked through it."

"Oh, I see! So you were not invited as a student… That's sad. What door did you open to come in?"

"I chose a door that led me to this occupation."

"I don't wonder," Anniet said enthusiastically, "you make such delicious food! No wonder you have been appointed to be a chef. So you are not allowed to study? That's a little bit sad."

"It is not entirely accurate, as this place doesn't place any restrictions, only suggestions. I presume if I want, I could go and study at any time."

"Then why don't you?"

"But who would make the food?"

"Are you working here all alone?"

"Yes."

"Every day?!!"

"Yes."

"But that's so unfair! Isn't there anyone else to help you?"

"As far as I know, I am the only cook at this time on the premises."

"But how can it be? If you want to take a rest, what would happen?"

"I think we will see soon, as, coincidentally, I was planning to take a day or two off."

"Surely you should! You must be exhausted by now! I will come to help you sometime," Anniet suggested.

"That's very kind," Anthony smiled with his warm smile.

"But it's not necessary. Unless you want to keep me company. Anyway, I believe you are a student here, so the best option for you is to learn as much as you can."

"I can do both!" Anniet said firmly.

"But not on the days you take off," she added quickly, "I don't know how to cook, at least not something as lovely as you do." Reinforcing what she said, Anniet took her plate to the sink to wash it and also picked up the frying pan left on the stove. Anthony didn't refuse it, just said again:"I still think that studying is the best you can do while here. This place offers many opportunities. There is no reason to linger on somebody else's duties.

However, I will always be glad to see you now and then when you have time."

"OK," Anniet said, promising to herself to make sure to find this now and then as often as she can.

"What will happen to the kitchen if you take a day off?"

"Difficult to know," Anthony replied, watching how Anniet finished tidying up.

"Everyone will have to go hungry?"

"I don't think so. No one was hungry before I came, no one will be left hungry after I leave. This place is run on strong magic, and magic always finds a way. There is no reason to try to guess, as magic doesn't require knowledge about how it has to be done, only belief that it will be done."

"So that is how magic works!" Anniet found it fascinating but challenging to understand how it is possible to believe that something will happen without knowing how it will happen, "then there has to be someone who is doing it."

"Doing what?"

"Magic."

"If there is, it is not known to anyone," Anthony laughed at this suggestion.

"I must admit it is difficult for me to understand," Anniet said.

"Anyway, thank you again for your hospitality, it was truly good to see you again."

"Do you have any plans for this evening?" Anthony asked.

"Me? No. I just don't want to take any more of your time."

"But please take it," Anthony laughed.

"The more the better." Anniet didn't know how to respond to it, but Anthony rescued her.

"In the evenings, there is a large campfire for those who want to spend an evening outside. It isn't that popular, and mainly only kids attend it, but I like it. If you want, I can show you where it is." Campfire! Anniet loved campfires! People would sit down around it, leaving all worries and disagreements behind as if the mystical fire that cast all possible shades of light on their faces simply would not allow it. And there were stories! Lots of stories! Any kind on any subject.

Even people who are not usually that talkative would be prepared to tell stories for those who want to listen. As a child, she used to love it. Same as any other child. They would eat hot potatoes baked in hot coals, black and burned on the outside, soft, tender, and hot on the inside, and would listen, listen, and listen. About old days, about the Old World, about old kings, about the current King, about his generals, about other worlds, about anything that someone knew and was ready to share with others.

May it be for the tenth or even one hundred time, but still, nevertheless interesting, as no two stories are told in the same way, all depending on the storytellers and their moods. There were no set rules at this time, and anyone was allowed to relax and do what they wanted, and no rules were needed, as somehow the fire had its own rules, making everyone calm and friendly.