Days passed, every time she’d try to make him comfortable and less wary of her by talking. At first he was silent and tense, but she could see him relax slowly, bit by bit. And after a week, he got back most of his strength. She was somewhat afraid of him but she had no choice but to have an assistant, no matter how dangerous. Even when she showed him around the mansion, they both had their guard up.

  They walked down the long hallway, it was grand and somehwhat old but still lavish. She showed him most of the rooms, including her workshop where she made potions and medicine. Then she showed him the room he’d be staying in. It was a big room, decorated with dark oak furnitures, it had a simple bathroom and even a resting area.

  The whole time Aeron didn’t say a word, as if he was waiting for something. He secretly memorized the rooms and their location, even the one’s she skipped and didn’t talk about.

  Then she took him to the main hall. It was large and sparse, with only a few tables and chairs scattered around and a carpet covering the entire floor. Towards the end was the main entrance, the room felt ominous to Aeron, something about it felt sinister. She walked towards the entrance and slowly opened the double doors with Aeron still behind her.

  The doors opened to reveal the bright, windy weather, a garden could be seen, harboring peculiar herbs and flowers, surrounding the mansion and garden was a small, stone fence and a path leading to a gate. Further away from the fence was a dense, unending forest. Aeron visibly relaxed, being outside after a long rest eased his nerves.

  Lucia noticed this, smiled and spoke up. “Nice weather today.” Aeron paused and stared at her blankly. Lucia turned and enjoyed the weather, thinking he was still uncomfortable. Aeron saw this and silently stepped forward, with gritted teeth he lunged towards her, his hand going for her neck. Then his hand struck something hard… A wall?

  A wall suddenly appeared barricading Lucia. Then suddenly, the wall swallowed him whole. It completely surrounded his body leaving only his head to be free. Lucia turned to face him, disappointed yet calm. She walked up to him, the walls slowly tightening.

  “I told you to be careful if you value your life.” As she said that, the walls tightened even more almost crushing him. He still hadn’t fully recover so he couldn’t break free. He let out a grunt and could hardly breathe. Lucia stared blankly at him as his colour slowly turned purple. She hissed, the walls slowly reverted back into the house and Aeron collapsed to the floor gasping for air.

  “Next time, you won’t survive.”

  She threatened. Aeron, still struggling to catch his breath forced out, “What…are you?”

  “A witch.”

  “Witches can’t control walls.”

  “You just witnessed one.”

  He looked up at her, despair painting his face, realizing there was currently nothing he could do against her as long as he was in the house, even if he was at his peak, he would still have trouble dealing with her. He had to be stuck with her for three months, and that’s if she even decides to let him go after the deal. He has to find a way to escape, but nothing came to mind. He couldn’t understand what she was. Lucia seeing his state and attempted to give him some solace.

  “I won’t hurt you unless you make me, I promise. I’m not that heartless, but that doesn’t mean I’m not angry.” She added with a groan. “Look, it’s best for the both of us to work together despite our differences. It’ll be over before you know it. So let’s put our problems aside and be partners, okay?”

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  Aeron glared at her. Should he accept? Can he trust her? Of course not, he shouldn’t. Trusting a witch? Never. But she seemed sincere enough, she had many chances to kill him when he was recovering but she didn’t. She diligently took care of him and saved him. She was planning something, that he knew.

  But the short time she’d chatted with him, despite the danger, she seemed sincere but also distant. Whether he was being used or not, he was going against his beliefs if he tried to kill his savior. He thought about it for a long time while Lucia patiently waited. After a while he reluctantly nodded.

  For now, he’d pretend and endure, he’d look for ways to escape and try to leave without her knowing.

  Lucia stretched her hand towards him, Aeron grasped her hand, with her help he was standing again. Lucia looked guilty as she spoke,

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.” Aeron replied gruffly

  She observed him trying to measure the damage “You should go rest, also you’re free to look around the house.” She looked down and muttered. “…If you need me just say my name.”

  As soon as she said that, she walked back into the house and disappeared. Aeron was left alone outside. He looked around before bolting for the gate, He effortlessly jumped over it and ran. And the space around him instantly morphed into his room.

  Of course it wasn’t going to be that easy.. He spent the rest of the day walking around and memorizing the layout of the mansion.

  The mansion was… odd. It had multiple locked rooms and areas. And the areas that weren’t locked were either empty or unkempt. He figured such a grand mansion would have a few portraits or paintings, but there were none.

  Specifically it looked like they were missing. He started to wonder if she even owned the mansion, or maybe she sold everything and claimed it as hers.

  Meow!

  …He scratched his ear and continued to walk.

  Meow!

  He looked around but saw nothing and continued.

  Meow!!!

  He finally turned to see a black, chubby cat behind him. He instantly thought the cat resembled Lucia. The cat walked up to him and snuggled at his feet. It was adorable, but he wasn’t fazed. Was the cat hers? He wondered. He wanted to ask but he had no idea where she was. Then he remembered what she said.

  If you need me just say my name

  He looked around, took in a deep breath and called out, “Lucia?”

  A beat passed, then two. He almost face-palmed from believing that bullshit until the door right beside him changed into a familiar oak door. The door opened revealing a tired looking Lucia. He notice the luminous liquid boiling from inside before the door closed. Lucia’s eyes trailed down and noticed the cat.

  The cat mewed softly, lunged at her and settled on her head. Aeron saw the fat cat resting on her head, it’s massive belly hiding half her face. Her neck hunched from it’s weight. She frowned, but too tired to even complain.

  Aeron unintentionally he let out a chuckle. Lucia’s eyes widened, who knew he had such a nice smile? Her frown slowly turned into a smile. Aeron collected himself and said,

  “Is that yours?”

  “Unfortunately. I gave her away but she keeps coming back.”

  “Maybe she likes you.”

  Lucia smiled and pat the cat. “What she likes is free food.”

  There was a comfortable silence between them, their attention taken by the adorable cat. Lucia remembered what happened earlier and her smile slowly faded.

  She stared at Aeron before saying, “Didn’t I tell you to go rest?”

  “You said I was free to look around.”

  Lucia blamed herself for giving him such freedom, she couldn’t take it back now.

  “Is that all?”

  “…Actually no, I have a question.”

  “Fine.”

  Aeron’s eyebrow twitched and he asked

  “Do you have meat? I checked everywhere but I could only find grains..”

  Lucia looked at him as if he had two heads. “Meat?”

  “if you want a sturdy assistant you have to feed me quality food.” He said blatantly

  “Feed you? Do I look like a meat bank to you?”

  “No, you’d taste rottten.” He replied as if it was the most obvious thing.

  She stiffened at his audacity, she looked offended. “I’ll have you know that I taste like a normal human being!”

  “Are you a normal human being?”

  “…….…”

  She frowned, looking more like a pout to him than anything, especially with the cat on her head. She muttered.

  “You’ll go hunting tomorrow…”

  As soon as she said that she turned and disappeared back into her workshop. The oak door slowly morphed into the door it once was. Aeron shook his head at the interaction, already wanting to escape as fast as possible.

  He curiously opened the now normal door and was met with a normal room. He frowned, trying to understand this mansion was almost impossible. Maybe he’d try to get close to her and find some clues. For now? A much needed rest was his top priority.