Chapter 5.4

Chapter5.4

The young woman sighed when she was done and threw Rei a slight smile.

"I'm done," she said carefully, trying to distract herself.

Rei wasn't entirely done yet, which is why he just nodded and seemed absent-minded. It wasn't because Quinn was dirty, but it was hard to remove the residue from the bath additives. "Get some rest," he asked the young woman.

Quinn sighed. "I'm not tired anymore," she assured him. She felt uncomfortable just watching him.

Rei rinsed the tub with clear water and then pulled the plug to allow the water to drain. He then went to the sink and rewashed his hands before turning to Quinn. "Resting and being tired are two different things," Rei replied. "Let's go get breakfast."

Quinn nodded. "Yeah," she agreed because she was getting hungry after all.

He walked to the door and opened it so she could go out first before he silently walked beside her, holding the letter in his hand. This he would have to show to Elgatos because he needed his help with it.

"I don't know if I can eat," she confessed quietly.

Rei gave her a sideways glance and eyed her. "Are you afraid to eat and would like some tea first?" he inquired.

She nodded slightly. "I feel completely overwhelmed."

Which was perfectly understandable. He felt the same way. On the way to the kitchen, Rei knocked on his new dorm room door, from which Elgato's voice sounded. Instead of entering, he waited until the door was opened for him.

Sleepily, Elgatos rubbed his eyes and blinked several times. "Read through the letter by tonight," Rei asked him, pressing the paper into the dragon's hand and simply closing the door again without waiting for a response.

Quinn watched the two very closely. "Would you tell me your name?" she asked quietly when she remembered that she still didn't know it.

Actually, it hadn't mattered if she had stayed there only a few weeks. But now it looked different, and she had the right to know him. Although it wouldn't make any difference. "Guardian and General Rei Zeki," he answered slowly.

Quinn tilted her head slightly. "Am I forced to always address you like that?" she asked.

It was a good question. Very few addressed him by his first name. Elgatos, for example. Most by a general. So what was suitable for a woman? He couldn't give her an answer to that, so he shrugged.

It didn't help Quinn much. Maybe she really should just say generally.

Before they went down the stairs, he took up the subject again. "Enough, Rei," he finally said after thinking about it and making up his mind. After all, it was his decision who he allowed to do this and who he didn't.

"All right," Quinn agreed, glad to finally have a name now. It always felt wrong not to be able to address him adequately.

Yet it didn't matter to him. As long as he got the respect he deserved, he didn't care. The only thing that mattered to him was that people didn't call him by his first name. That would lower his status and affect the relationship.

That was true for Quinn, too, because she shouldn't get the feeling that they were going to be friends.

No matter how long she would be here, it was only temporary.

Another reason not to become friends was that he had to make the transition. Rei felt it was wrong to see a friend in the one who was tormenting you. Moreover, the plan did not include getting closer either.

After this time, Quinn would probably hate him. With as much pain as he had to inflict on her, there was probably no way around it.

That was just as well. She wouldn't have a hard time saying goodbye if she was ultimately glad to get out of here.

Unfortunately, it also meant that he could not be in his bed-chamber for half a year.

Rei wondered if it made sense to perhaps set up another room in the castle. More to her needs and what was essential for the transformation.

At the moment, she was in his room, which was perfectly fine and also comfortable, but it was perhaps not quite so suitable for a woman.

Unfortunately, none was or could be set up for those needs. It had never been intended that women should be changed here.

Therefore, she would remain in his room for the time being. He would probably not get much sleep during the transformation, which was not good at all when he was responsible for the men and had to keep order.

Although Elgatos was supposed to keep an eye on her during the night, he would probably have to keep checking on her, incredibly shortly after the first phase began. He knew the spurts were unexpected.

Together they had gone downstairs and were getting closer to the sounds coming from the kitchen.

"Just sit down," he said to Quinn before entering the kitchen and pushing her in front of him. From there came smells that made one's mouth water.

The men's heads lifted immediately as Rei gave the order to prepare her tea in a loud and clear voice. At least the water. The rest he would put in the water in front of her, so she knew he was making her the exact tea she had been given yesterday.

Cold sounding, his voice even echoed as the men scattered and immediately went to get what he had asked for.

Quinn shrugged and slowly settled down at the table. She could see how tense she was, and her eyes kept on the men who were fetching a cup for her and bringing the water to a boil with the fire.

In the meantime, Rei fetched two plates and set out bread, fruit, and meat to put in front of her. It wasn't long before she had a cup of steaming water in front of her.

Before Rei put the herbs in it, he explained to her what they were good for. Especially the ones that were supposed to suppress her anxiety a bit.

Quinn didn't understand much of it but tried to remember which herbs he called what they could do. Although she couldn't write or read, she had always been good at remembering things.

"If you use too much of the herb, it makes you docile. You lose control of your body, but mentally you're in on everything," Rei said before putting the herbs in the water.

Quinn swallowed and nodded. That didn't sound so good and reminded her of the day she had been sacrificed. Becoming compliant was not what she wanted. Still, maybe it would make things a little easier.

Rei, noticing her expression, put a hand on her arm. "I will not use this unless it is your express wish," he said thoughtfully. For him, making a woman submissive against her will was out of the question.

With men, on the other hand, he never hesitated but cracked down.

He had often had to instill such teas in them when they had caused too much trouble.

Quinn, who had gone sick, nodded slightly and took a sip of tea. She knew she needed it.

Usually, Rei would push her, but it was apparent how uncomfortable she was. Rei didn't want to make her feel like she had to hurry.

While Quinn ate, he turned to the others. "As soon as you're done, pass out the food," he ordered the men in the kitchen.

They nodded and immediately went back to work. In the process, they were watched by Quinn. She wondered if she should perhaps eat in her room soon. However, if they started the transformation tomorrow, there would be no other opportunities to eat in the kitchen.

It also meant that she probably couldn't work.

Although it was warm in the kitchen, it seemed colder today than the day before. I wonder if that was because of the evening's incident.

Quinn used the cup to warm her hands and took some meat in her fingers to eat it.

Although Rei didn't seem to be doing so and let his eyes roam around the kitchen, he closely eyed Quinn. In case she got sick or needed something.

Liron began to set the table. With him, he spoke quietly for a moment about Blade, who had been injured. Apparently, he felt a little better, but he would need to rest for a few more days. "Please bring tea to the room regularly. Preferably without herbs, she can put it in herself, or I can do it," Rei said to him.

Suddenly his eyes became as narrow as slits, and he fixed one of the men who had already looked hungrily at Quinn before.

The guard stood up, walked toward the dragon, and cornered him. The atmosphere grew noticeably cooler as he spoke to the man. "Dare touches her or does anything else to her, and you can be sure which sector you'll spend the rest of your life in," Rei threatened icily.

"I didn't touch her," the man stammered. However, it didn't seem quite as severe. Like he was a bad actor.

"You're undressing her with your looks," he drove at the dragon angrily. "Stay away from her and look elsewhere or I'll scratch your eyes out," Rei warned. The guardian was able to do these things with ease. His words were not to be trifled with, for he always made good on his threats.

The man swallowed and nodded cautiously. His eyes would grow back, that was clear, yet it would be very uncomfortable.

Probably Rei would scratch them out again and again. It wasn't for nothing that he made threats. "You might as well change sectors and be rid of your kitchen post," Rei said icily, letting go of him before returning to the table and sitting down as if nothing had happened.

Immediately, everyone else's gazes were everywhere but Quinn's as she grew increasingly uncomfortable.

"Let's go to the room," Rei said suddenly, taking her plate but also her cup so she could concentrate on walking.

Quinn looked confused and overwhelmed as she rose. She sensed that the atmosphere had changed and she didn't like that at all, so she hurriedly followed Rei.