Entering the hallway Rhys looked around. It was dark, the only light were some lamps on the walls providing sparse sight.
The streams of light revealed dust particles floating in the air, looking past the floating dust, further in there were stairs leading to the second floor.
Rhys looked down.
The floor was coated in something dark, he raised his foot and moved it to the side, whatever it was, it made his shoes leave marks on the floor.
"Follow me."
Rhys jerked awake and looked up, he saw Wilhelm turn around and head for the stairs.
He took a quick look around and followed him towards the stairs.
The stairs creaked as they walked up, Wilhelm held a calm but quick pace up the stairs, despite his old age, he showed no signs of breathlessness.
Arriving at the top of the stairs they held to the right, which led them to head down a corridor.
The walls had the same kind of lamps as the hallway downstairs.
What little you could see of the walls revealed peeling tapestry and strange black marks.
"Here, this will be your room. Familiarize yourself with your room, then head downstairs for dinner."
Rhys nodded.
Wilhelm turned to leave, his footsteps echoing in the hall, along with the creaking of floorboards.
When Rhys heard the stair creak did he finally reach for the doorknob.
He looked at the discolored brass door knob, grabbed it, then twisted.
He gave the door a light push, and the door creaked open.
Stepping inside the room he saw the same floating dust in the air, illuminated by the sparse light coming in through the dirty windows.
His gaze didn't linger, there was a bed but no bedsheets, beside the bed was a night stand.
A presumably empty wardrobe stood against the wall facing the door.
What a nice room! And I just love the ever present dust.
He walked over to the bed and put his hand on the mattress and put weight on it. The springs in the mattress made a sound in protest.
Fantastic.
Rhys turned his attention to the wardrobe. Can I expect clothes?
He walked over and opened the two doors.
Empty.
Rhys closed the wardrobe doors and turned around.
Is this considered familiar?
Rhys walked around the room a few times, so he was plenty familiar with it, then he headed downstairs.
He was also very hungry.
As he reached the hallway a shout spread out.
"In here Rhys."
He turned towards the sound and walked over, he passed through a double door opening then into the kitchen.
Rhys looked around and soon found Wilhelm by the stove, he was stirring a pot.
The smell was faint, whatever he was cooking was probably not very tasteful.
"You've got perfect timing, grab a bowl." Wilhelm said as he pointed towards the yellowed white bowl on the counter.
Rhys grabbed the bowl and walked over. Wilhelm took out the ladle and poured out some type of porridge, it also had chunks in it.
Rhys furrowed his brows. What was this? Was this edible?
"Sit down." Wilhelm said and motioned towards the table.
Rhys averted his gaze and headed to the table, he pulled out one of the chairs and sat down.
A spoon. He had forgotten a spoon.
Just as he was about to stand up, Wilhelm sat down opposite him and threw over a spoon.
"Here."
Rhys looked down at the spoon.
"Thanks."
He sat down again and looked at the steaming hot porridge. He then looked up at Wilhelm who was blowing on his spoon.
"What is this?" He asked.
Wilhelm gazed over.
"Porrige, can't you see?"
He looked down at the porridge again.
"Then what are these chunks?"
Wilhelm shoved the spoon in his mouth and chewed a few times.
"It's meat"
He chewed slowly.
"Also this porridge has magical ingredients to give all the nutrients needed."
He went quiet for a second.
"You should feel fortunate."
Rhys clenched his jaw. He could feel Wilhelm's ever growing impatience.
He picked up a spoonful of the porridge and blew on it a few times, then shoved it in his mouth.
The texture was slimy, like overcooked rice, then meat pieces were chewy… worst of all was the bitter taste.
As he kept chewing he was hit by an unbearable saltiness.
Rhys's face changed, his gag reflex engaged.
He was able to suppress it, but he nearly spit it out.
Ugh. What a terrible taste. Rhys looked down at the porridge and hesitated.
He looked up and saw Wilhelm shoving down spoon after spoon.
That can't taste good.
Rhys looked down at the porridge again and steeled himself. He picked up another spoonful and looked at it.
No need to hesitate. Down the hatch.
No. It still tasted like crap.
"You'll get used to it."
Rhys looked up, and met Wilhelm's eyes.
"What?"
"The taste. You'll get used to it."
He looked down and saw that Wilhelm had already finished his bowl.
Rhys looked up and nodded. He kept eating, but now he only chewed once or twice before swallowing.
After a few minutes he was done.
"Are you done?" Wilhelm asked.
Rhys nodded.
"Yeah."
Wilhelm nodded, then he reached for the bag on his waist and put it on the table.
He reached inside and took out three books.
"You know how to read, right?"
Rhys nodded.
"Here, take these, if you are going to be my assistant you can't be ignorant."
"You need to finish these three books in a week, and then pass a little test of mine, this will happen every week with new books."
Wilhelm handed him the books. But when Rhys reached for the books, Wilhelm grabbed his wrist.
"Learn well. You don't want to know what happens if you fail the test."
Rhys jerked his arm back but to no avail. He felt the pressure in his wrist and nodded.
Wilhelm withdrew his grip and Rhys grabbed the books.
"Don't fail me."
Rhys nodded.
"Go to your room and study."
"Yes, sir."
He grabbed the books and headed towards his room, rushing up the creaking stairs.
Rhys had never been this motivated to study in his entire life.
Then again failure has never been as unforgivable as now.
CHAPTER END.