The wind howled softly through inside the interior as Jinn and Zendrell stepped into the house. The furniture was simple—no golden trim, no runes carved into every surface like the place Jinn had stayed in earlier.
Yet, there was something about it.
A quiet, mystical atmosphere that clung to the walls and air.
It felt grounded, deliberate—reflective of Merilyn's character herself, or at least how Jinn imagined her to be.
*tap tap tap
They moved in silence, the sound of their footsteps echoing faintly, until they reached her courtyard.
Jinn took in the courtyard, eyes scanning his surroundings with quiet wonder.
It was a stark contrast to the city they had passed through earlier when they first arrived—which is a place of biting cold and colorless stone.
Here, life thrived.
*Fwoosh!
To the left, lush plants of varying heights swayed gently in the breeze.
On the right bloomed a field of vibrant flowers, their colors dancing under the faint light above.
Towering trees stood throughout the garden, their trunks thick and their leaves glowing faintly with hues of green and gold, as if pulsing with life itself.
It was truly a beautiful sight.
Jinn stood in awe. He had never seen anything like this before.
The small garden back at the orphanage—where he and his friends used to plant and care for flowers—felt like a distant, miniature memory compared to this.
That place had been precious, but this… this was a hundred times larger.
Wilder. Alive in a way that stirred something deep in him.
Merilyn let out a soft chuckle as she caught the look on Jinn's facial expressions.
Without saying a word, she then continued to lead them deeper into the courtyard, her steps light against the stone path.
As they walked, Jinn's gaze drifted toward the horizon—before flinching.
There, through the faint glow of the trees and foliage, he saw movement.
Small silhouettes.
Familiar ones.
His eyes widened as realization struck.
It was them.
His friends.
"Jinn, look!" Kain exclaimed, poking him in the back and pointing ahead. "There they are!"
Jinn didn't wait and hesitate.
In the next breath, both Jinn and Kain broke into a sprint, feet thudding against the ground as they raced across the courtyard, the distance between them and their friends became smaller and smaller with every step they took.
"I heard Jinn was the 'leader' of his little group of friends," Merilyn said, her tone laced with quiet curiosity as she walked beside Zendrell.
*HAHAHA!
Zendrell let out a booming laugh, the sound echoing across the courtyard.
"He even punched a noble tradesman for standing up for one of them—what do you think?"
Before he could laugh any harder, Merilyn flicked him hard on the forehead.
"Must you be so loud, brother?" she sighed, shaking her head.
Zendrell rubbed his forehead with a grin. "I am who I am, sister."
"Did I also tell you," Zendrell began, a smug grin tugging at his lips, "that boy managed to block three of my strikes? Not one. Three."
Merilyn's eyes widened, surprise flickering for a moment before her expression hardened as she raises one brow.
"You actually drew your blade on him?"
"Just a light test of reflexes," Zendrell shrugged, still grinning. "Nothing lethal."
"You truly are a brutish one, aren't you?" Merilyn muttered, shaking her head in disapproval.
"There are better ways to measure a child's potential than swinging a gigantic sword at his skull."
Zendrell let out a sigh, stretching his arms. "It worked, didn't it? He's still standing. That's more than enough proof."
"You're unbelievable," she said, turning away with a scowl.
"And yet, you asked me to train him," Zendrell added with a smug tone.
Merilyn didn't respond—just rolled her eyes and continued walking.
===
"Jinn!" Ophelia called out, her voice full of relief as she ran up to him. The rest of the children followed close behind, joy lighting upon their faces.
Hector reached out and placed a hand on Jinn's shoulder, nodding. "Glad you're alright now."
Jinn offered a slight smile, his chest easing at the sight of them.
"What were all of you doing while I was out?"
"We were taught the basics of Eidra—what it is, how to sense it, and how to bring it out," Vox answered, adjusting his brand-new glasses with a slight push up the bridge of his nose.
"Lady Merilyn was our teacher, but apparently we'll each be assigned different mentors moving forward."
*Tch!
Orin folded his arms and let out a scoff. "Which is weird. Why would they go this far just to train a bunch of slaves?"
"That," Merilyn said, stepping forward, her voice clear and calm, "is because all of you are the reason Jinn keeps moving forward."
Her eyes swept over the group. "And with him, you all must grow as well."
She paused briefly before continuing, "Each of you will be sent to a mentor who suits your talents and temperament—based on what I observed during our first lessons together."
Merilyn made her way toward a long wooden table, its surface lined with an impressive spread of food—fragrant stews, colorful fruits, roasted meats, and an array of delicate pastries that shimmered under the soft courtyard light.
"Come," she called gently, a warm smile gracing her lips. "Let us have dinner first. Now that Jinn is here, I can properly begin teaching you what Eidra truly is."
Zendrell grunted as he followed behind, muttering under his breath, "What is this—a damned field trip?" He dropped onto one of the chairs with a loud thud, earning a few glances from the children.
Their attention, however, was quickly stolen by the feast before them.
Eyes wide, mouths slightly agape, the children stared at the table as if it were a dream made real.
They had grown up on bread, oats, and the occasional sliver of cheese—basic meals from the orphanage they once called home.
But this... this was another world entirely.
Platters overflowed with steaming dishes, sweet rolls glazed with golden syrup sat beside fresh fruits, and meats roasted to perfection gave off a scent that made their stomachs rumble.
"I-Is this really for us?" Ophelia whispered, half afraid the food would vanish if she blinked.
Merilyn let out a soft laugh. "Yes, of course. Now, let us dine, my children—" She paused, then cleared her throat theatrically. "Ahem—my guests. After all, you cannot hope to absorb anything about Eidra on an empty stomach."