Once the duel was over, everyone began to disperse from the chamber and made their way back to the lodging.
It was already well into the night and rest would be more proper than more exhaustive training.
"Once you are included in Party 1, master will focus on levelling you up. Expect to be called for the trials starting tomorrow."
I told Devisha as we left the chamber.
"Jonah and the others told me of the skills I should learn if I were to fight alongside you."
She replied.
I nodded.
"The Fire Resistance skill is the most important one to have as soon as possible. You can work on getting the Pain Resistance skill as you train and level up."
"I will do my best to live up to your expectation."
The new member said with a respectful bow.
I doubted she was giving me a special treatment. This was probably how the Tsahanam mercenary acted most of the time.
Now that I had told Devisha what she needed to know, it was time I shifted my attention to the other newcomer.
I turned to the Kutub hunter walking alongside Trudy behind me.
"Arian, even though you don't have a party assignment yet, you still need to start developing and levelling up."
I looked to the combat instructor beside the rough-haired girl.
"Trudy will arrange a makeshift party for you to be in temporarily. With them, you will start visiting the trials and climb the tower."
"As you command, War Chief Zeref."
Arian replied with a palm over her left chest.
After receiving her Blood Offer, it was almost impossible to ask Arian to forbid her from calling me with that title. It would only dishonor her should I succeeded anyway.
Letting the two 3-star newcomers went on their way, I stayed behind Trudy and my party comrades by the chamber's entrance.
"Trudy, try finding good trainees to accompany Arian in the makeshift party. I wouldn't be opposed to make the arrangement permanent if they work really well together."
"After observing her fight earlier, I can think of some names on the first floor who would match her style."
I nodded to her and slipped a small note to her hand.
"The new mages have promised themselves extratraining for tomorrow morning's exercise. Be sure they fulfill their words."
"Of course, Serafina."
She said with a chuckle, reading the number of additional laps the wildlings had to run through.
I then turned to my party comrades.
"In order to develop Devisha, master will make us frequent the cleared trials from now on. Starting with the third or the fourth floor. So get some rest tonight."
"I believe you should take your own advice as well."
Jonah immediately said to me.
I made a slight frown at him.
"It's still too early for me to retire. I will do some more work in the magic hall before I retur-"
"No, Fina. If we are getting our rest, you should too."
The man said adamantly.
This shepherd!
Of all times, this was the moment he chose to uphold his promise?!
My other comrades were staring at us questioningly. Staring at me.
There was even a hint of amusement to their faces. Amusement!
"Very well. I shall retire now."
I said at last. It took an effort to say those words composedly.
With a strong nod from Jonah, we ALL made our way back to the fancy manor at the center of the lobby third floor.
"Will my lady finally see her room now?"
Pavarin asked me as he welcomed us by the entry hall, as usual.
I still had a strong tendency to refuse and return to the magic hall at once, but it was impossible under Jonah's scrutinizing eyes.
"Yes, Pavarin. I would like to be shown to my room. I will need my rest for my busy day tomorrow."
"Excellent decision, my lady! Quinda, Erlin, escort Lady Zeref to her room!"
The chief servant summoned a pair of maids behind him.
A tall firm-looking girl, Quinda. And a short cheerful-looking middle-aged woman, Erlin.
Both were 1-stars and previously employed as cooks on the second floor.
I separated from my comrades as they were escorted to their own rooms by their own servant escort.
I would like to say it was weird that I was the only one escorted by two servants and the chief servant, himself.
But a greater part of my mind said it was foolish to think that way and even more foolish trying to change such treatment even if that was the case.
The three servants then led me to a pair of grand carved doors at the highest floor of the lodging.
Pavarin opened the doors and led me into a luxurious room befitting for a successful merchant or a minor noble's daughter.
Gold-trimmed carpeted floor. A marble fireplace by a sitting area, equipped with a pair of cushioned chairs and a gilded silver table. A wide canopied silk-covered bed. A huge white dresser and a tall standing mirror. And a door leading to a bath chamber deeper within the room.
I immediately took notice of the boxes of chocolate and sweets set by the table on the sitting area.
"The fairy said master has provided these delicacies for my lady. We have been storing them for when my lady decided to retire to her room."
Pavarin explained.
How did Pavarin know when to set the boxes since I came to the lodging spontaneously was beyond me.
But I welcomed the surprise.
"I can't wait to enjoy them. But I think I would like to take a bath first."
Erlin suddenly step up and gestured to the bath chamber.
"In that case, please let Quinda and I attend to my lady."
Pavarin then swiftly excused himself and let the pair of maids performed their duties.
Erlin helped me undressed while Quinda drew the bath.
The two skillfully aided with my washing as if they had been my servants for years.
They had definitely attended to noble ladies before.
You could tell from how practiced their voice was when they spoke of how clear and smooth my skin was or how long and beautiful my hair was.
It was impossible to tell whether they were lying or not. Only experienced maids could speak in that manner.
Nonetheless, the two maids were excellent with their duties. There was a reason why Pavarin chose these two to attend me.
I needed to thank Jonah for convincing me to rest for tonight.
Oh I sure had plenty of ideas on how to thank him for this.
I enjoyed the maids' services so much that I was slightly annoyed when someone knocked at the doors.
Erlin was now gently brushing my hair and Quinda was pleasantly massaging my feet after my bath. Pleasantly!
At a gesture from Erlin, she was the senior one of the two maids, Quinda rose and went to check on the doors.
The tall girl then turned back to us after seeing who it was.
"Sir Brohm wishes to see mistress, if mistress doesn't mind the company."
The tall maid announced.
Upon the reveal, I waved my hand to the two maids.
"You are both dismissed for the night. Send Jonah in on your way out."
I could not help but notice an excited smile on both Erlin's and Quinda's face when I gave my order.
The two opened the doors and allowed Jonah to walk in.
They eyed the tall blond-haired shepherd inquisitively from head to toe before closing the doors behind them.
I swore I heard their giggles outside just before they strode off down the hallway.
"I still could not get used to having servants attending me like some noble."
Jonah said as he walked around the bedroom.
He had already bathed after today's training and changed into clean clothes.
"It is much harder to tell them do otherwise. Best if you just give in and let them do their job."
I said as I sat by the large silk bed, continuing brushing my hair in front of the standing mirror.
"I don't know. If I could convince a certain mage to do something otherwise she would not rather do, maybe I could convince the servants as well."
Jonah said with a slight grin as he dropped himself on one of the cushioned chairs by the fireplace.
I chuckled at his words, with a hint of irritation.
"Don't push your luck, shepherd."
"Oh surely you're not mad at me, Fina. You really do need rest before visiting a trial. Even though we're only going to visit the third or the fourth floor."
"Is that why you're here? Repeating common sense to me?"
I asked while glancing him through the corner of my eyes.
The shepherd's face somehow turned meeker than the sheep he herded.
"W-well…I was thinking we could maybe…continue our lesson tonight."
His face blushed at the word 'lesson.'
Honestly, after all we had done in Seraphold. After everything he had done.
I chuckled again while running the brush through the length of my hair. With a hint of amusement this time.
"What do you want to know?"
I asked him. My eyes returned to the mirror.
"Back in Miss Caramille's shop, you said you didn't want to be caged like a prized Phirdaus bird."
The shepherd then turned his eyes to the boxes of desserts master gave me. He went on.
"In the book master gifted me, there was a chapter on Phirdaus. Maybe you can tell me what to expect from its pages."
I laid the brush on the gilded nightstand by the bed and walked toward Jonah.
"Located within the warm climate of the deep southwestern part of Dunia, Phirdaus was the largest forest in the entire world."
Was.
Yes. The forest must have already been destroyed by the time I got to the forged land.
I slightly pulled the string tying my robe and let the garment loose in some parts. The important parts.
"Surrounding the Great Awan Mountain, the tallest peak in the world, the Phirdaus Forest was easily as big as the Great Desert on the opposite side of the continent."
I sat myself on Jonah's lap, adding to the warmth of the fireplace beside us.
The man smelled pleasantly of roses after his bath. His butler knew what he was doing.
"The forest was as beautiful as it was vast. Many claimed it was the Lost Paradise. A sacred land of the ancient gods. Mentioned in the legends told throughout the Golden Dawn provinces."
I picked up a tiny ball of chocolate from the boxes and gently slipped it through Jonah's lips.
Dear Goddesses, what I wouldn't give to know what this beautiful man was thinking right now.
"But just as how the most beautiful of roses had the sharpest of thorns, Phirdaus was just as dangerous as it was beautiful."