I have a free day, but Master promised double pay if someone wants to work extra. The east mine's colpse emptied some of our stock, so we need to restock. I really don’t need the money, but I didn’t have anything else to do. So I decided to go annoy Ayas and work.

  I suddenly stop and start to stare at the wall that used to be empty. But now there is a map. A map of the Mage Tower. I rub my eyes and look again. And I spot that there are even floor numbers!

  Oh. My. God. I can't believe Master finally let us have a map! This is super awesome! Did David finally convince him? I didn't think that would even be possible.

  I almost jump with excitement while continuing my way to the potion department, and I immediately spot Myrin as I enter.

  “Good morning, Rin! Oh… Sorry. I meant Myrin. Did you see the map?!”

  “Yes.”

  “It’s super amazing! Do you think David did that?”

  “No. He failed that one time already, and on the map was written the name Mist.”

  Oh, right, I forgot David already tried to do the map once but failed. His drawing was nothing but a huge mess.

  “Mist? I totally missed that. I don’t know anyone named that. It’s a rather odd name to have. But I like it, it feels good to say. Mist. Yep, definitely feels good on the tongue. Do you know who it is?”

  “No.”

  He hasn’t even lifted his gaze to look at me while I talk. Cold as ever.

  “Come on, Myrin! Aren’t you even a little excited?”

  “It doesn’t affect me. I don’t need a map.”

  “Uuuu, I don’t need a map.” I mimic him mockingly and roll my eyes. “Ease up on the smugness, will you?”

  Apparently, for some reason, doing that makes him look at me.

  “Stop being a brat, and stop rolling your eyes. It grinds my nerves.”

  Ugh. He is even more sour than usual. Wait. Why is he working? He is supposed to be off duty today, like me. Does he need the money?

  “Did you take the extra shift too?” I ask.

  “How does it look?” His voice is blunt, clearly suggesting that I’m too stupid to figure that out.

  “Oh my god, Myrin. Did someone piss in your coffee this morning or something?”

  “No. I just thought I had a free day from annoying butterflies, but there you are, ruining my day.”

  I suck in a breath. Okay, Elena. There is no need to get all sad and emotional. It’s just Myrin. You know, the ice-cold idiot whom you still somehow love for some stupid, unknown reason. Just count to ten and rex. Just ignore his words. He probably just has a bad day and is taking it out on you.

  “Well, sorry for existing and breathing the same air. Have you ever thought that you might be the one ruining someone's day with your attitude?”

  Alright, Elena, that was definitely not calming down. That was more like the way to make him hate you even more. Great. Just fantastic.

  He rises from his chair, towering in front of me. Somehow, he looks rather… scary. He is my secure, safe mountain, but now he makes me feel unsettled. Did I really make him hate me?

  “Elena.” His voice is low, like he is giving me a warning. “I said. Stop. Being. A fucking brat.”

  I gulp.

  “Sorry…” My voice is more like a squeak.

  I turn around and leave. I can’t believe I just did that! I really made him hate me, didn’t I? Why did I have to snap at him? I mean, I always have this urge to just answer his cold and ruthless words with my own. But I always just breathe and suck it in. I’m not sure why I burst out like that. Maybe he really has pushed me to my limit after all these years.

  I try my best to ignore him as much as I can. Let's focus on the positive things, like hoping that Florentia comes to lunch today, since she didn't come yesterday. I’m honestly a little scared that she didn't come because she disliked us. Or disliked me.

  To my relief, she joins us at lunch. I want to bombard her with questions right away, but I contain myself, like for five minutes, and then I can't hold it in anymore.

  “Oh, by the way, Florentia. Where were you yesterday during lunch? We couldn’t find you,” I ask.

  “I was in my room. I had a heavy breakfast, so I wasn’t really that hungry then. So I just used the time to rest instead.”

  I hope she is not lying. I’m extremely bad at spotting lies. But I can imagine that working with Master is tiring, so it makes sense that she needed the rest. Master really doesn't understand that normal people aren’t beasts like him.

  “I hope Master isn’t overworking you up there. Have you gotten used to the work yet?”

  “Yes, I’m getting there. And no, he is definitely not overworking me, so no worries.”

  Master? Hard to imagine that. He always overworks everyone.

  “Good. Oh, and did you guys see the floor numbers and the map? I can’t believe Master finally allowed us to have something like that!” I hear my voice getting high-pitched with excitement. Maybe someone else appreciates the map more than Myrin.

  “I don’t think anyone could have missed those, Elena. The whole staircase was buzzing with people this morning, excited to see them. I think there are really just a handful of people here who remember every pce without anyone’s help. So whoever that Mist person is, she or he did a great job. Much better than your ridiculous mess, David,” Ayas says with amusement.

  “Hey! I doubt you could do any better than I did!” David snaps.

  “Master is clearly softening up. And it took only what? Eight or nine years?” I join in.

  “Master has been the Master for nine years and four months, Elena,” David answers.

  I roll my eyes. Of course, he needed to correct me.

  David continues, “I’m not sure if the Master is softening up, though. Maybe to Florentia, but to me? Absolutely not. Remember the st time Master burned my cloak? And Annie was furious about it, like it was my fault. And I just joked that Annie would probably put poison on my cloak. Well, she didn’t put poison on it. But guess what she did?”

  I’m already smiling widely. I bet Annie did something hirious.

  “She put a freaking typhoon spell on it! And yesterday morning, when I stepped into my office, she activated it, and all my books and papers just started flying around, messing everything up! Master walked in on me in the middle of the mess. And I compined about Annie to him. But he just said that I got what I deserved! And there were only a few books that stayed on my shelf, but Master just made them fly too. Can you believe it? He is the one who burned my cloak, so how did I deserve it? It took hours to clean the mess. That’s why I ate my lunch so hurriedly yesterday and didn't come to talk to you guys. I wanted to get back to cleaning.”

  I contain my ughter. Annie really is the best. Although David probably disagrees. Florentia starts to chuckle, and David looks at her hurtfully.

  “It wasn’t funny.”

  She keeps talking through her giggles.

  “I’m sorry, David, but that’s just freaking hirious.”

  I can't help but giggle too.

  “I have to agree with Florentia here, David. That was pretty funny. It’s a shame I wasn’t there to witness it,” Ayas chuckles with us.

  David gres at us. “You wouldn’t be ughing if it had happened to you!”

  “Well, if it makes you feel a little bit better, after I’m finished with the budget reports, I’m going to organize Theodore’s shelves too. And it’s one big typhoon chaos in there as well. Perhaps you could give me some good tips since you have much experience in the matter,” Florentia says, shocking everyone.

  And the most shocking part for me isn’t her words about Master letting her touch his stuff. It’s the fact that Myrin is looking at her too. He hasn't even gnced at her after she came here. He rarely gnces at any women. I know that Myrin probably has had women in his life, but I have never seen him with one. And Florentia really is breathtakingly beautiful. So I’m just afraid he will get interested in her. I’m sure she suits his taste better than me.

  Myrin breaks the silence first.

  “Is Master allowing you to touch his things?”

  “Yes? Is it a bad thing?”

  I feel stupid for being jealous of this. I really am like a child. Let's just ignore this. I should be excited about the fact that Master is changing. I force my happy voice out.

  “Yup. Master is definitely softening up, just like I told you guys already!”

  Ayas joins in. “I guess you’re right. I was actually once in his office when David was sick. And I was so nervous that I tripped on his carpet and smmed against the shelf so that a few books dropped from it. He looked so furious after that and decreased my sary for five months!”

  I ugh at the memory. “I remember that time. That was hirious too.”

  Myrin speaks next, looking at Florentia again. “We all know you don’t touch his things. Ever.”

  “But I’m his secretary. Wouldn’t it be weird if I weren’t allowed to touch his things?”

  David butts in next. “I already told you guys, but you never listen. Master has softened up to Florentia, not to anyone else. Those two act so weird sometimes that my brain can’t even comprehend it.”

  “Weird how?” I feel my pupils widen with excitement. I can practically smell the gossip.

  “There is nothing weird going on. David is just exaggerating,” Florentia adds.

  “Yesterday, when I went to Master’s office and joined Florentia to deliver her map to the art department, Florentia accused Master of having brain damage. Right in front of him! And Master did nothing. I even heard him chuckle when we closed the door.”

  “What?” Ayas gasps.

  Oh my god. Is Master human after all?

  “You’re kidding, right?” My voice is way too high-pitched again.

  “Wait,” Myrin says. “Florentia’s map?” He turns to look at Florentia again. That's like the third time already. “You made the map? You are Mist?”

  Is Myrin impressed that Florentia made the map? Why is he talking so much? I hate it.

  David looks guilty. “Oops.”

  Florentia suddenly punches David, snapping me back to the present. I really don’t understand what is going on right now.

  “Ouch! I’m sorry, it just slipped. I see why you get along with Master so well, being so violent and all. And how the hell can you hit so hard? It will definitely bruise.”

  “Well, you deserved it. You knew I didn’t want people to know.”

  “Yes, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

  Ayas and I burst out into ughter. Even though I might hate that Myrin is giving her his attention, I can't help but like her spirit.

  “David, I’m starting to feel like Annie was right. Maybe it really was your fault for getting your cloak burned,” I say through my giggles.

  “It wasn’t. This maybe was, but that definitely wasn’t!” David sounds frustrated.

  “But I have to ask, Florentia,” I speak. “Why didn’t you want people to know you made the map? If you want to keep it a secret, we definitely will. But the map is brilliant. Why not take credit for it?”

  “Well… I’m not much of a people person. Socializing is not my forte. I’d rather keep a low profile. And I was just scared that the map would bring too much unwanted attention. I didn’t write my name on it. Theodore did it without my permission. I bet he did it just to mess with me. And I will definitely kick his ass for that.”

  Did she just call Master by his first name the second time? Well, that surely is odd. Are they that close already?

  “Woah, you really have some spunk. But maybe David is right, maybe the simirity between you two is what makes you work together nicely. I’m just gd there is even one person in this world who can stand up to Master if needed,” Ayas comments.

  “I don’t think I can exactly stand against him. He’s built like a fucking fortress.”

  “That’s true. But still, I’m gd we have someone like you here. It was about time we had some new blood,” I say.

  She feels more like herself. I guess she was just feeling nervous the first time we met. I hope we can be good friends. Maybe I can now question her a little more without scaring her.

  “So tell me, Florentia. What is it like to work with Master? Does his cold stare give you chills?”

  Since he surely gives me chills.

  “Chills? No, not really. He just annoys me, that’s all. And it feels like the more I confront him about it, the more he keeps annoying me.”

  “Confront him? I promise you are the only one who dares to confront him. If someone else did that, he would reduce the pay or kick us out.”

  “How do you know if no one has ever confronted him?”

  “Umm… I think it’s just a basic instinct. I just wonder why he acts differently around you. Does he like you or something?”

  She chokes on her water, clearly shocked by my question.

  “Hell no! I think he is just curious about my mana, since it’s something he hasn’t seen before.”

  “Oh, right! I totally forgot that you are the one for whom Master made that medium! It’s so super weird that your soul just suddenly started forming mana. But I’m so gd Master invented the medium, so you are okay. If there is anything we can help with your mana problem, just ask. And I can’t exactly bme Master for being curious. Since it’s just super exciting when something out of the ordinary happens!”

  Ayas joins in. “I agree that it makes sense that Master would be interested in your magic. Master is all about magic, after all. But I’m rather concerned that he will make you his b rat eventually. So don’t drop your guard too much, Florentia.”

  She smiles. “I’ll keep that in mind. I’m honestly a little surprised that he hasn’t stuck a needle in me yet.”

  “Don’t worry. We promise to protect you in case he does!” I say with total confidence.

  Ayas smacks me on the head. “You wish. You are nothing but a mere bug under his shoes. You can’t protect anyone. Unless you are trying to wear him out with your bbbering.”

  I smack him back.

  “Hey! I’m not that weak, you idiot! I’m way more skillful than you are when it comes to magic!”

  “Maybe, but your body would snap in half if he even slightly touched you. You are weak and small, and you know it.”

  “It’s not my fault that my body doesn’t get stronger! You know how much I have tried to train, but nothing happens!”

  “Train harder and eat more.”

  “Eat more? I already eat twice as much as you do.”

  He thinks for a while. “That’s true. You eat ridiculously much sometimes. Now that I think of it, why aren’t you fat, Elena?”

  “Fat? Are you now implying I eat too much? Do you really have some obsession with being annoying toward me?”

  He leans back in his chair zily. “Yes, probably. You feel like the little sister who is there only to be teased.”

  Ayas’s words feel like a stab in the chest. I’m already suffering because Myrin thinks of me as a child, but does everyone think so? Am I really that childish? I turn my head to look at David.

  “Do you see me as a little sister too, David?”

  “Hmm… Yes, you could say so. Not like I think of you as a retive, but you definitely give off little sister vibes.”

  “Oh…”

  I honestly didn’t think that they would see me like that. I thought Ayas just teases me because we are so close, and we feel comfortable picking on each other. I didn’t think that he would see me as an annoying little sister. I have always thought of him as my best friend, and I also thought that I was his best friend. But I guess I was wrong.

  “I… I think I’m done eating. I’ll go back to work.”

  I grab my half-eaten pte, return it, and head back upstairs.

  Come on, Elena. There is no reason to feel depressed. People are close to their little sisters, so isn’t it a good thing that they feel close to me? Even if it’s not in the way I thought.

  Is it because of my nature? Or is it because of my small size? I can’t do anything about my size. I have tried training, and I still train regurly. But it feels just impossible to build any muscles. Should I just train harder, as Ayas said?

  Yeah, I should probably just try again. Maybe I should ask Annie to make me some pants for training. Maybe I can move more easily in those and train harder.

  Maybe then even Myrin would notice my efforts and see me differently.