As the glimmering sun pierced through a slit in the dark blue curtain, the door, which had been sealing the stillness of the room, creaked open. The lamplight from the hallway cast a long shadow across the soft carpet.
With quiet yet firm steps, the figure approached the closed window, brushing aside the curtains that had been blocking the morning light. In an instant, the room, which had been shrouded by darkness, was flooded with light. The rays poured directly onto the large bed in the center, enough to blind anyone lying there.
A faint grumble came from beneath the blanket, and a sluggish hand yanked the blanket higher, hiding the strands of hair.
The one responsible for the blinding light continued his quiet and steady steps towards the large bed. He bent slightly over the lump beneath the blanket.
"Young master, it's time to wake up." His deep voice said, low and gentle, blending with the calm rhythm of breathing.
Sadly, the low voice had no effect. The young master remained undisturbed, still wrapped in his blanket.
Unyielding, he called once again, gently shaking the person hidden beneath the blanket.
"Young master, you'll be late if you don't wake up soon."
This time, his effort paid off. The person under the blanket began to show some movement, followed by a frustrated groan.
The hoarse voice, full of irritation, echoed back, "Shut your damn mouth and stop bothering me, Zach!"
Knowing the young master wasn't going to wake up no matter what, Zach let out a tired sigh and straightened up. He took off the white gloves that had been wrapped around his hands up to his wrists.
His eyes lingered on the lump beneath the blanket for a moment before he bent down again. His lips stopped a few centimeters from the small mound that was the young master's head. His voice, low and soft, flowed once more.
"Since this is the young master's choice, please don't be mad at me when you wake up."
After asking for what wasn't really permission, he reached out. With a strong yet careful hand, he pushed aside the blanket, revealing the figure beneath.
As the obstacle was removed, the curled body lay exposed, unimpeded. His jet-black hair fell loose across his pale left cheek, creating a perfect contrast, making him look both fragile and delicate.
His long eyelashes trembled as he sensed the blinding light behind his closed eyelids.
His pale hand moved, searching for something to cover his face again, and a quiet curse escaped from his lips.
Before he could act, his palm was caught. His body suddenly felt light, and in the blink of an eye, he found himself floating in the air. Reflexively, one of his hands gripped tightly onto the other's sturdy shoulder.
With all his strength, he pried open one of his sticky eyelids, only to be met with a firm jaw. Realizing who it was, his teeth clenched.
"Damn it, Zach. Didn't I tell you not to bother me, huh?"
Zach gave no response at all and walked into the bathroom inside the room. Carefully, he sat the young master down on the sink counter.
While filling up the bathtub with warm water and adding some fragrance, Zach listened to his young master's angry rants without changing his expression. Only when the complaint eventually quieted, worn out from the outburst, Zach moved closer and spoke in a flat tone, almost like he was calming the child whose toy had been taken.
"Today is your first day of school, young master. It would be quite rude if you were late on your first day. Besides, once school is over, you can go back to sleep without any interruptions."
Zach leaned forward slightly, his sharp blue eyes locking with the empty black ones of his young master.
Only after hearing that, the young master remembered something: "Oh, right, I do have to go to school today."
As if granted permission, Zach swiftly unbuttoned the silk pajamas, one by one. Once the top was removed, a long scar stretching from his right chest to the upper abdomen was clearly exposed.
Just by looking at it, anyone could tell how much pain the wound must have caused. Yet, the scar's owner didn't seem to care and didn't even glance at it.
The young master easily jumped down from the sink counter and walked to the bathtub. Sitting on the edge, he dipped his finger into the water, checking its temperature.
His dark black eyes then glanced toward Zach, who was still standing and folding the pajamas he had taken off. The aura of laziness and exhaustion emanating from the young master would make anyone around him feel uncomfortable, though Zach remained entirely unaffected.
"What time is it now?" the young master asked unenthusiastically.
Zach replied without thought, "05.10."
"And what time does school start?"
"07.30. But young master needs to be there by 07.15," Zach replied, still expressionless.
The young master scowled at this. "So why the hell did you wake me up now, you jerk? There are still two hours left!"
Though his tone was filled with anger, Zach only tilted his head in confusion, not a trace of regret on his face.
"Didn't the young master always want to soak in the bath first? That usually takes around fifty minutes. Dressing takes another ten. Breakfast takes thirty minutes, since you're always particular about the menu. Then there are the seven minutes for watering the flowers. The remaining time is for the thirty-three-minute trip to school. That means you'll arrive four minutes early before the gates close."
The young master's anger faded instantly at Zach's lengthy explanation. His empty, pitch-black eyes lingered on Zach's neutral expression.
He then turned his head calmly and murmured, "Oh, I see. Then go out and shut the door. I'll follow your schedule, fifty minutes of soaking."
"If I may add, young master, the time is now 05:13. That leaves you with 47 minutes to bathe, young master."
The reminder once again sent the young master's temper flaring. A soap bottle from the bathroom wall flew toward Zach, who effortlessly dodged it.
"Get the hell out before I kill you, you damned bastard!"
With that, the young master lost another minute of his bath time.
*****
At 06.16, Zach guided his young master down the stairs. A black school backpack and matching blazer hung neatly on his arm.
The moment they stepped into the dining room, the warm scent of food welcomed their senses. A greeting followed soon after.
"Good morning, young master and Mr. Zach." The voice was soft and soothing, flowing like the violin's melody.
Hearing a familiar voice, the young master tilted his head. "Oh, Rivelle, you're still here?"
Rivelle, the beautiful woman standing beside the table to set the plate in her hands, turned toward the young master and Zach. Her crystal-clear eyes squinted slightly as she looked at them. Strangely, when the light from the lamp touched her pupils, a flash of rainbow-colored light shimmered within them, as if a tiny rainbow were dancing in her gaze.
Her smile, gentle and calm like the aura surrounding her, appeared on her face.
"I don't want to leave before repaying my debt to you, young master. That's why I will stay here for a while and prepare meals until young master needs my assistance," she explained.
At her words, the young master gave an indifferent shrug before walking over to the dining chair to sit.
"Well then, I'll leave the food to you."
Zach, following behind, glanced at the young master, who appeared uninterested and indifferent, as if the house weren't his and anyone living there had nothing to do with him.
His eyes shifted to the beautiful woman still standing beside the table, smiling gently. The light falling on her slender body reflected a soft bluish hue on her smooth skin.
In truth, Rivelle wasn't a stranger, but she certainly didn't have a close relationship with them either. She was merely one of the spirits the young master had helped a few days ago.
That's right. She was one of the spirits.
The spirit of water.