Dress, Eat, and Explore

Taking a second to ponder what just happened, you return your attention to the matter at hand. Quickly looking back to the clothing, you take hold of it to start dressing yourself. Just the feel of the fabric between your fingers makes you take pause. While you had expected nothing less after sleeping in the luxurious sheets they provided you, the clothing itself felt just as fantastic and light. You'd forgotten how heavy your previous clothing was, weighed down with dirt and grime, made from inferior materials that scratched at your body. Given you'd gotten used to it in time, the realization of what true clothes, let alone high quality one, felt like blew your mind.

It'd probably taken you an extra five minutes getting dressed simply because you were so astounded by how they caressed your skin and seemed to be lighter than air. Maybe they were? Magic could do a lot here, so it wouldn't be outside the realm of possibility, although it'd seem like a waste for them to do such. Then you got lost for another minute looking yourself in the mirror. You'd never taken yourself for anyone handsome, at least as those that abused you continued to remind you of your lack of worth, but in this outfit, you felt... confident? Like you deserved to be here. Something that Lady Morgana and Duchess Felfram have reminded you of multiple times since arriving, but taking the word of those who did not mask their place in the world, their potential for utter cruelty, was difficult.

You were drawn away from admiring yourself when your stomach growled again, remembering the food and quickly turning back to it. You were afraid it had gone cold, although that wouldn't be a far cry from your previous meals in your old village. However, as you grabbed the first slice of bacon, you still felt some heat in it, and the satisfying crunch as the crispy meat signaled a flood of juices filling your mouth.

It was a good thing that the maid had left you to yourself, because you'd be embarrassed if anyone were to catch you in the sudden frenzy of movement as you devoured the meal like a ravenous beast. You'd always been malnourished, surviving off of scraps, so this small feast was a godsend. It was only when you choked on a piece of toast and had to pound a hand to your chest did you slow down, recognizing the unsavory manner you'd been behaving. You may have been treated like some grand noble since you arrived, but it'd be rude to Lady Morgana if you showed your pitiful origins in such a way before the instructors and students.

As you finished eating, not even half of the food actually gone because of the sheer amount they had given you, you looked toward the door. It struck you that you hadn't been told what exactly today starting with this day, only to go to sleep last night.

You could stay in your room until they sent someone, but what if they never did? What if they expected you to come to them? You'd end up missing your first day of lessons.

No, that wasn't an option, not really.

Glancing to the silver bell the maid had indicated, you considered ringing it. She'd likely tell you where you were supposed to go. That seemed like it would work... but... something bugged you about it at the same time. Perhaps it was the inkling feeling that you were in a position like that not long ago at all. You didn't want someone coming to you, answering every minor whim you had. Did you? There was admittedly some feelings, desires to do onto others as had been to you, but you were better than that. You had to be.

Shaking your head, you marched toward the door. No, you wouldn't subject the maid to that. Even if you were this amazing mage or whatever some day, right now you were little better than her, if even that. You could take care of yourself.

Exiting into the hallway, you found nobody out and about. Not even a sign of the maid. Humming, you wondered where you could go, but noticed something.

To your left, the hallway continued for only a short distance before cutting off into another corridor. From that corridor was a faint blue light that seemed to be fluctuating, almost as if it was alive.

To your right, though, the hallway continued for some distance, with many other rooms present and noticeable. Somewhere off that way though, you could hear something. Talking and something you couldn't quite place.