After she calmed herself, she went up the steps and made her way towards the dining hall.

“Wow, you’re sweaty. Did you plow a field or meditate?”

Mai jumped at the sound of her sister’s voice.

“You’re like an annoying cat that won’t go away.”

“Meow,” Em said before taking a bite out of her apple.

“And I’m not sweaty.”

“OK. Whatever, weirdo,” Emmaline looked at her sister like she had lost her mind.

“Where have you been?”

“The forest. I said that earlier.”

“You’re back late. I nearly called a search party,” Em said, taking another bite out of her apple.

“I realize that and that’s why I’m not back later.”

“You get me, sis. Also, you missed your first tutoring session,” Emmaline told Maiolaine as the two sisters approached the dining hall.

“Oh shoot! Really?”

“Yeah. Don’t worry. The student wasn’t that interested in learning the piano anyhow.”

“How do you know that?”

“’Cuz it was me,” Emmaline smiled.

Mai rolled her eyes as they sat at the table with their mother.

“How did meditations go today, my love?” Olympe asked over a bowl of stew.

“Great. Really great,” Mai beamed as she happily spooned the gelatinous ooze the cook passed off as stew into her mouth. “I’m getting the hang of it.”

“Are you sure? I don’t remember Maman coming back from meditation hot and bothered. Perhaps you’re doing it wrong.”

Olympe stared at her daughters, confused.

“Oh ha, Em. You’re so funny.” Mai stared daggers at her sister.

Dinner finished and their mother kissed each of them on the forehead and said goodbye. The girls stepped out of the dining hall and towards their bedrooms.

“Well, I suppose I should let you sleep even though you leave so many questions unanswered.”

“Thank you for that,” Mai said, opening the door to her room.

“I’m a benevolent god. What can I say?”

“Good night,” Mai said as she pinched her sister on the arm.

“Ow! I love you, too, sis.”

Mai rolled her eyes and shut the door. She changed into her pajamas, but was not sure she could sleep. She had an excited feeling in her brain that sent electric shocks throughout her body whenever she thought of Aundray. Was this how it felt to have a crush? It was a new feeling.

She climbed into bed, but she was still wide awake. Feeling anxious and excited at the same time. She shut her eyes, hoping that the darkness might coax her brain to sleep. Once she realized sleep evaded her, she trudged over to her bookcase and grabbed her favorite romance novel. She sunk into her bed and read. She drifted off to sleep.