I sat with my coffee at one end of the painting classroom. I didn't understand why Fleur cancelled this morning's classes for an interview with the new assistant. 

I didn't mind, though.

Who would say no to a free Monday morning?

Maeve, on the other hand, had a mental breakdown. She had to readjust the schedule. 

She tried to reason with Fleur.

Of course Fleur had none of that. 

I watched from the sidelines since it had nothing to do with me.

Somehow, though, I was dragged along with Maeve to attend the interview this morning. 

The moment the bell rang, Fleur ran and opened the door. She pulled the poor Yin-ra woman into the drawing room. I am not even sure if she had greeted her properly.  

She was stunning. She was tall and lean. She had a few shiny stars along her arms, pointed ears, and pale skin. Her expression was serious and her stride steady.

Fleur had her sit on the model stand. 

"Hello, I am Fleur. Do you mind if I draw you?" Fleur asked.

The Yin-ra woman was confused. 

"It is for free; consider it your initiation into our studio." 

The Yin-ra woman nodded. 

"Fleur, you should ask her name first?" I interrupted Fleur's excitement. 

"Have neither of you checked the CV?" Maeve scolded us as she entered the room. 

I retreated to my chair. Let's not get on Maeve's wrong side today. I had no business being at the receiving end of her fury because of Fleur's antics. 

"Hello, Miss Nebula. You can totally ignore these rude people and come with me to start the interview." 

"I am already conducting the interview," Fleur huffed as she sat in front of her canvas. 

Maeve looked at Nebula apologetically. 

Nebula didn't react much. I silently commended Nebula on her calm and perfect composure. I have seen big men lose all their patience and calm over Fleur's shenanigans.

Fleur started drawing. 

Well, at least the new assistant gets a front-row seat to the chaos she actually applied for. She can hardly sue Fleur for false advertising later.

"So have you practiced any arts before?" Fleur asked. 

"I come from a line that practiced martial arts," Nebula answered. 

I wasn’t sure what that had to do with an art studio. I didn't grasp how she ended up applying to our studio under that notion.

However, I started praying for Nebula. Fleur might as well add a martial arts class to the studio.

"So did you work as an assistant before?" Fleur asked. 

"I did assist some Yin-ra officials before." 

What sort of assist? I thought. 

I waited for Fleur to ask. However, she completely deviated from the normal flow of the conversation when she spoke again.

"We have some heavy lifting here," Fleur said. “Would carrying equipment around be okay?" 

"Sure," Nebula appeared more and more confused.

Maeve went out and came back with a plate of cookies. She offered the plate to Nebula. 

"Maeve, what are you doing?" 

"I am trying to show proper manners."

"Can't the manners wait after I finish the drawing?" 

"No." 

Nebula took a cookie and thanked Maeve.

Fleur scowled but went back to drawing anyway. 

"Nebula, do you have any questions?" Maeve asked. 

"No."

Ten minutes passed before Fleur finally stood up. 

She looked at her drawing, then at Nebula. She nodded in approval. I rolled my eyes.

"Nebula, you did great. You are hired. You can start today if you want." Fleur declared. I almost fell off my chair while Maeve looked bewildered. 

"Is that all?" Nebula innocently asked. 

"Yes." 

"No." 

Fleur and Maeve said respectively. 

Maeve glared at Fleur. 

"My part of the interview is done." Fleur declared and headed to the class door. Before leaving the room, she stopped and looked back at Nebula. 

"Don't forget to take the drawing when you go home."

Nebula no longer reacted. Any normal person would have stopped reacting long ago. Kudos to her; she only lost it after Fleur finished her theatrics. 

I thought Nebula would be a great assistant. However, she should seriously apply for insurance on her mental health.

"I apologize again for our boss's eccentricities." Maeve tried to mend Nebula's faith in humanity. The damage was done, though.

"Let's go to the library. We can discuss the working hours and salary there." They left the room.

I yawned. How did I end up here again? 

I passed by Fleur's drawing. I looked at it. 

Out of the blue, a strange pull led me to an empty canvas nearby.

I sat still for a few minutes in front of it.

I don't draw much, but I am not completely hopeless

I remembered grabbing his hand and walking over the clay. 

I held up the pencil. 

Big almond eyes.

Long hair.

Pointed ears. 

The calm and serene expression.

The attentive and patient nature.

My heart started beating hard.

I covered his neck with tiny stars.

I put down my pencil. 

I didn't nod. 

I didn't do him justice.

I stared at him for a long moment.

I sighed.

“Oh, I have a crush.”

*********************

Zale

“Draco, when is your next painting lesson?” I inquired as we left my office.  

“Tomorrow!”

“Why do you get an early lesson while I have to wait for Friday?”

“Miss Heras' schedule is different from Miss Fleur's.” I didn’t like this at all. 

“Was the Yin-Ra you sent for the assistant interview accepted?” 

“Yes, Elder.”

“Good.” 

Now that was one less thing to worry about. 

We entered the conference room. It had a huge long table in its center and a window overlooking the whole city. Vaxar sat to the right of the head seat while the rest of the Yin Ra officials sat around the table. 

This was definitely different from the Elders assembly back at Yin-Ra.

Tables were only used for meal times on Yin-Ra. However, now I find it totally normal to sit at a table to discuss official matters.

I sat in the head chair. Draco sat in the left seat next to mine. 

“Begin the reports,” I announced. 

Each Yin-Ra stood and bowed and reported what they were responsible for.

I listened to every one of them; everything was similar to the reports I read. 

Then my phone screen lit up. 

I saw her name. 

I opened the message immediately.

- Hi, Zale.

I smiled. She had never messaged me before on her own accord.

- Hi, Hera. How have you been?

I typed quickly

- Great, and you?

- Good

- I just wanted to remind you we have a lesson the day after tomorrow. I will be waiting for you.

I suddenly realized how silent the room had become. I didn’t even look up at them. 

“I possess two perfectly capable ears. Xenon. I am still waiting to understand why the anti-hybrid group had split into a moderate group and a more radical one. Go on.”

“Yes, yes, Elder.” 

He started explaining. 

I started typing again.

- I won’t be late. I promise.

- You definitely don’t have that sort of record.

I chuckled. 

-What are you doing tomorrow? 

-I have to go to an artisan bazaar. 

I shook my head. I remembered her conversation with that man called Arthur last Friday.

The meeting went silent once again. 

I finally looked up at them. Too much for not interrupting their Elder with this unreasonable silence.

Vaxar's eyes were twitching. Was our biology even capable of such an uncontrolled movement? 

Should I ask a healer to check on him?

Draco, on the other side, was looking at the ceiling. 

The rest of the Yin-Ra averted their gazes. 

“So, Seren, answering your question about the rising concerns of humans over a Yin-Ra breaking out of jail. I have already promised the human government that I will enhance some of their prison cells.”

“Elder, when will it be implemented?”

“I will have to go to Yin-Ra first to bring star chains,” I said.

 “Elder, I can go with you tomorrow,” Vaxar suggested.

“No, I have to visit an artisan bazaar,” I declared. 

“Elder, then after tomorrow.” Vaxar went at it again. Why was he so insistent today? 

“No, I have a class,” I stated. “I shouldn’t be late.”

Vaxar looked at Draco.

Draco started studying the ceiling again. 

Author's Note ✨

Poor Nebula... I don't think anyone could have prepared her for a Fleur interview. 😂

And Hera finally admitted something she's been trying very hard to ignore...

What was your favorite moment in this chapter? 💙