The long night passed and the graceful moon dived into the horizon, while the blinding sun rose to the sky. Even though I didn't sleep much I was not that tired but I had extreme hunger. My insides were growling as if my whole body yearned for food.

I stopped waiting for anything from those uncaring people when I realized that I hoped for the impossible. In this hypocritical family of three I was just an outsider who should not even exist.

Since they wouldn't even send food I had to only depend on myself. Since they don't bother asking about me I could roam freely in the woods and eat delicious meat.

I climbed down the window and went through the hole in the mansion's wall that led out of this hell. Then, I found the bow I sculpted and the arrows and climbed up the trees.

After about two hours I caught a big wild boar when the arrow went straight to the heart. Satisfied with my prey I lit up a fire with a spell I learned from the grimoir. I roasted the boar and started eating.

An hour later, Killion arrived and sat beside me. I guess he wasn't hostile anymore. I handed him the rest of the meat. After devouring it he said my name reluctantly.

"K-kira..."

"Yes?"

" Who are you exactly?"

*sighs*

" It's a sad and boring story..."

"How can it be both sad and boring? What kind of story could it be?"

"Do you really want to hear it?'

" Yes!"

" A few weeks ago, I woke up in this body. I was in an orphanage and I was constantly mistreated by the personel. One day, the duke of this large mansion, came to adopt me..."

" So you are his daughter?"

" I wouldn't say so... When I entered those gates I actually entered hell. Even though they brought me here, they thought that I wanted to replace their dead daughter. They even poured hot milk with acid on me... In order to survive I have to hunt my food, bath in freezing cold water, stay hidden and lower my head..."

"They are disgusting!"

"To tell you the truth, I have never felt family love... Or even love as it is, so I am a bit used to this."

Killion looked at me surprised and dumbfounded. Then he lowered his head and stared at the fire.

He stayed silent for a bit. The silence brought an awkward and heavy feeling that made my heart beat slower and heavier inside my chest.

Killion slowly turned his gaze at me and exhaled deeply. He stared at me akwardly and with his small thin and grazed hand he patted my shoulder.

His hand was particularly soft despite being thin. This warm hand was actually enough to give me courage. I stood up suddenly and said to Killion

" I am sure you have your own troubles too so let's both cheer up and do our best to overcome them."

Killion's eyes widened and he curled his pink lips up in a smile. The disheartening fact was that he still looked sad. He stood up too and cleared his throat with a cough.

"Kira... These past few days i spent with you have been and will always be the best days of my life. It feels like a dream that I wished for every night to the moon. Tomorrow I have to leave. I am going to the war as a knight and I might or might not come back alive. If I come back alive, I will do anything within my power to take you away from those people."

"Killion I will hope for your safe and glorious return so hang in there....

Speth! How can I cast an impenetrable protection spell?"

The grimoir appeared in my left hand and opened to the right page. Then, a sigil lit up and printed itself in my palm. I turned my palm to Killion's chest and a ghust of wind blew towards me while a golden light came out of my hand and over his chest.

Killion stared at me in awe. He seemed surprised yet I wasn't sure if it was the fact that I was a witch that surprised him or the sight of the spell.

Killion took out his sword with a serious expression and knelt on one knee. He stabbed the ground with his sword and lowered his head.

I was confused. An amazing aura appeared in him. As if he was destined for greatness. A silver colour that was dense and glowing like lightning.

His voice was now confident and serious as if he was an amazing Knight.

" I Killion swear to serve Kira, to protect her and give her my loyalty and dedication forever and to never break this oath...

Kira do you accept my oath?"

I was very surprised but happy. I accepted the oath and from that moment on we were tied together.

The moon rose to the sky and I returned secretly to my room. When I entered from the window and lit up the candles I saw a figure sitting on the wooden chair on the darkest corner of the room.

He was one of my brothers for sure and I was afraid he saw me enter through the window. Torren...

One of the many people who hate me for not fitting their expectations. I was now sure why he was here. He slowly stood up trying to look mature and with slow and steady steps approached me.

He had a sinister smile on his face. The kind of smile that says that your days are numbered.

Torren grabbed a strand of my deep red hair and pulled it slowly in order to cause me pain. He started laughing hysterically to the sight of me furrowing my brows from the pain.

"Where were you wench? How does it feel to not be able to eat? Is it good?"

"It seems that my suspicions were correct sir Torren. You starved me just for your satisfaction..."

"Indeed that is correct"

"Well sir Torren... Not to disappoint you but I am well aware that if you want something done right you have to rely on yourself. "

"What do you mean wench?"

" Nothing out of line. It's just that since the household wouldn't provide me with food or any service, I provided myself with those."

Torren seemed infuriated since his plan to starve me to death didn't work out and gave me a hard slap on the right cheek.

" How dare you filth!? Who told you to eat or take a bath?"

" I did sir... I believe that basic human rights apply to me too. Since l didn't steal your food or warm water, there shouldn't be a problem right? Also I apologize."

" For what do you apologize?"

" I apologize for not being able to let myself starve and give you the satisfaction you seek from my suffering. Then again I am not sorry since I only ate food I earned and handwashed my already torn rags.

I am sorry for taking up space in this house and for not fitting your expectations. "

Torren seemed dumbfounded. He furrowed his brows and let go of my hair. Then he shoved me away and walked out of the room.

The stare he gave me before stepping out was like a warning message. Like he said that there is more to come.

I was too tired to stay awake and think of it so I fell asleep. I felt someone shaking me so I woke up. As I opened my eyes I met Asher's gaze.

I was dizzy but I could distinguish his icy grey eyes and his cold stare. He seemed surprised yet anxious. If I didn't know him I would say he was worried about me but I could guess he only cares about himself and his reputation as a duke.

I wasn't sick, hungry or hurt so why would he even appear here?

I rubbed my eyes and shook Asher's hands off my shoulders. His eyes widened and his hands stopped touching me. I gathered all my strength to ask him the one question that I could think of at the moment.

" Your grace, to what do I owe your sudden appearance? Also why would you disturb someone who is sleeping?"

He stood in awe. As if he didn't expect a poor, uneducated orphan to speak like a noble. He expected this child to complain, get angry and act like the poor wench that stole his daughter's name, place and status.

He would never imagine a child naturally versed in etiquette.

He regained his senses and answered with an obviously fake explanation.

" I was worried that you passed out".

I knew this was obviously some fake interest. The person who brought me here and was ,if not the mastermind, a bystander to all the mistreatment and abuse uttered the phrase I was worried...

What a joke! I laughed hysterically while Asher kept quiet with an expression that kept questioning my sanity. I got angry.

" Your grace, I find your words unnecessary and futile. Please allow me to be bold and comment that your sudden worry and unexpected visit are unjustifiable since I can say with ease that they are fake. You sure have some motives for coming here and waking me up but I have to ask you to please do not disturb my sleep again or enter without permission since I am a female and your Grace's acts may be considered indecent."

In less words I just roasted him for being rude. His embarrassment was now visible from his unfocused gaze and his sweating forehead. He gave up on trying to explain as he had no hope of clearing his image of the respected and powerful duke and got out. Now I could finally sleep.