Chapter 3: A Hidden Haven 

"My, she finished her food so cleanly again. She has quite the appetite for such a young girl!" I heard a familiar voice outside the room said. 

"Cath, lower your voice! I'm not deaf," another voice, responded.

"Pft," I couldn't help but chuckle at Cathy's outspokenness. Despite her tendency to chatter, I appreciated her honesty.

It's not that I have a great appetite; in fact, it's quite the opposite. I just.. simply can't stand the thought of wasting food. 

"Miss Elise?" Emma called from outside the door.

"Oh, yes?" I replied, snapping back to the present. 

"The weather's lovely today, would you like to go out for a walk?" She sounded concerned.

"Uhm.. I'm fine, thank you." I answered after a moment's hesitation. 

"Understood, Miss Elise," she responded, her tone tinged with understanding.

"Miss hasn't stepped out of her room since she arrived a week ago," I heard Cathy say. "All she ever does is sleep." 

I felt a pang of guilt. Sleep had become my only solace, a brief escape from the pain of losing my mother.

"You're right, I'm starting to worry too," Sarah's voice joined the conversation. 

"Miss is a strong kid, she'll be up on her feet in no time," Emma reassured them. 

"Let's go and not disturb Miss Elise," Emma urged, and I waited until they had left before slipping back into bed.

Their concern was touching, but it also highlighted my inability to cope with my grief. 

"El, why are you burying your face in your hands?" Louis asked from outside the window. When I heard him, I quickly looked up.

"It's.. nothing," I murmured, unable to meet his gaze.

Louis had been stopping by every day, and today was no different.

"Hey El," he said, noticing the worry etched on my face, "there's this secret spot I know of, hidden away where no one ever goes. It's super peaceful and beautiful, do you want to go there with me?" 

"Thanks, Lou," I hesitated, "but I think I'll just stay here.. Maybe another time."

"But this spot is really special, and I'm skipping my class today, so I've got plenty of time to spend with you," he persisted gently as he leaned in, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

His earnestness melted my resolve, and despite my initial reluctance, I couldn't resist his sincerity.

"Alright," I conceded with a soft smile, "let's go."

His face lit up with joy as he gently clasped my hand, leading me towards the window. 

"Follow me," he said eagerly as we slipped out into the crisp, autumn air, the thrill of secrecy adding an extra spark to our excursion.

Hand in hand, we navigated through narrow alleyways and hidden paths, our footsteps muffled by the rustle of fallen leaves underfoot.

"Slow down, Lou!" I exclaimed, struggling to keep pace with his enthusiastic strides.

"Ah, sorry! I was too excited," he turned to me with a sheepish grin on his face. 

As he guided me through the dense foliage, our clothes became stained with earth, and our hearts pounded with anticipation. 

"Be careful," he cautioned as we pressed on deeper into the forest.

Finally, we emerged into a vast clearing, tucked away from the prying eyes of the outside world. The space felt intimate, bordered by towering ancient trees that seemed to stand guard over their secret sanctuary. Sunlight filtered through the canopy above, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow on the forest floor. Moss-covered rocks jutted out from the ground, creating makeshift seats for us to rest upon.

His eyes gleamed with excitement as he watched my reaction to the hidden paradise he had discovered.

"Wow," I breathed, taking in the breathtaking scenery surrounding us. "It's like stepping into another world." 

He chuckled softly. "Welcome to our little hideaway."

I smiled back at him, feeling the warmth of his presence beside me. 

"Come on, take a seat," he said as he patted the rock beside him.

As I made my way towards the mossy rock, I couldn't help but steal a glance at my dirt-stained dress, a worry gnawing at me. 

"Your dress," he said softly, noticing me gently brushing off the dry dirt on it, "let me clean it for you."

"Huh?" I muttered, momentarily taken aback by his offer to clean my dress.

As he extended his hand towards my dress, a delicate stream of water materialized from thin air, flowing over the fabric in a shimmering cascade. With a subtle gesture, he wove the water around my dress, effortlessly drawing out the dirt and stains. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he skillfully removed the excess water, leaving my dress cleansed and pristine, as if it had never been soiled.

"Water magic..." I exclaimed, amazed by the spectacle before me.

"Yup," he replied with a hint of pride.

"You're an Azurian," I stated, recalling the name given to sorcerers of water magic.

He blinked in surprise, "you're aware of magic?" he asked.

"Then again," he mused, a faint smile gracing his lips, "it's hard to imagine someone who hasn't heard about magic, right?" 

"Can you show me more?" I asked.

He nodded, a determined glint in his eyes, and began to work his magic. He raised his hands and made the water around us rise into the air, forming a sparkling canopy above our heads.

"Wow," I whispered, my eyes wide with wonder.

Then, he directed the water to drizzle down in a gentle shower, enveloping both of us in a fine mist.

"Haha!" I couldn't help but laugh in delight as the cool droplets danced around us, creating a magical moment that seemed to suspend time itself.

"Did you like it?" he asked, his expression hopeful.

"I loved it," I replied, my voice filled with genuine appreciation. "Thank you for showing me."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it," he said, his voice brimming with happiness. "I can show you more anytime you want."

"I'd love that," I said softly with a warm smile.

"I'll keep practising," he said, "then I can show you even more cool stuff."

"I look forward to that," I replied. "But how do you practice your water magic?"

"Felix has been instructing me back at the manor," he disclosed. "He's our house butler, but he's also a mage. Lucius asked him to teach me."

"Lou, who else knows about your abilities?" I asked with concern.

"Just Lucius, Felix, Julian, and you, El," he replied with a hint of apprehension.

"Julian?" I repeated.

"Julian is Lucius's advisor," he clarified.

"I see," I said. "Did Duke Lucius tell you not to tell anyone or show anyone about you being a sorcerer?"

"He did," he admitted.

"Then why did you tell me?" I asked, my concern deepening as I awaited his response.

"Because you're my friend," he replied, his voice soft but resolute. "I trust you."

My surprise softened into a gentle smile, my eyes narrowed slightly in playful suspicion. 

"What an honour..." I admitted with a chuckle. 

"The honour is mine," he replied with a flourish, rising from his seat and executing a playful bow, his expression filled with mock formality.

"Pft! You're hopeless," I retorted as I rolled my eyes at his antics. 

"Phew," he remarked, as he sat back against the rock. 

He closed his eyes for a moment, soaking in the tranquillity. Eventually, he stretched out, lying back to fully enjoy the gentle whisper of the wind lulling him into a state of contentment. 

Beside him, I mirrored his actions, and together we basked in the serenity of the moment, our worries momentarily forgotten in the embrace of nature.