SECRET AFFAIRS WITH MASTER

"Odd Time"

Chapter Seven_

DAYA'S P.O.V.

Suddenly, after the cheer, row by row of students’ heads started to bow down. I watched them and saw they didn’t just bow their heads—they went down on their knees. My lips parted at the sight. Suddenly, Lilla knelt beside me.

"Lilla?? Why are you all doing that!?" I uttered, dumbfounded.

Then I saw the teachers bowing too… no.

"Lady Daya, what are you doing?" Lilla whispered as she glanced up at me. She whispered as if talking to me was prohibited and no one should notice. Her head remained down.

"W-What am I doing? What are you all doing!?"

"You should bow," she grabbed my wrist and pulled me, forcing me to my knees.

"W-What? Why??" I was immensely confused.

"Sssh…" She put her index finger in front of her lips, then looked down at the ground. I found my eyes diverting to what was in front, too. I looked at that… man again, with the top hat.

He hadn’t changed since I last saw him. He was still intriguing to look at, with breathtaking charm and authority.

"Don’t hurt yourselves…" His voice sounded just as it did last time… enchanting and very charming.

When the teachers rose from bowing, the students followed. Lilla stood up straight. She grabbed my wrist, reminding me to stand when she noticed I was zoning out.

"Please… It takes three seconds to bow. You all surpassed it. I’m touched…"

I felt my brows starting to knit.

He is charming… but there’s also a touch of something sinister. I’m not even sure if that tone was genuine.

One of the Madams chuckled.

"Welcome back again… Sire," Madam Truz stepped forward and curtsied.

"Sire?" I repeated to myself. Lilla noticed and gave me a glance.

"Indeed, it’s good to be back. And it’s even lovelier to be greeted. Thank you," he nodded.

"Now… shall we?"

Shall… what? Why?

The teachers smiled, stepping aside to make way. The Master began to walk, his staff clicking against his black shoes. His posture and aura were firm. The teachers followed.

Shortly after, they were gone.

The murmurs and chatter from the students rose again. Most of them started leaving.

I turned to Lilla.

"Guess I should get back to sweeping floors again," she said jokingly, though she was serious.

"What was that?" My mind still couldn’t move on from what had happened.

"What? Oh… that’s the Master. I thought you already knew him? Because, you know… he was the one who brought you here—"

"I know the one who brought me here, but what was that?? The swarm of ravens interrupting classes, forcing us to follow or else get pecked on the head… Then suddenly, the Master shows up from those birds, and they flap away, disappearing as if nothing happened. And then… all of us bowing?"

"Oh… that’s how the Master arrives, and that’s how we greet him," she answered, as if everything was normal.

"What?" My reaction. "Is this what I’m going to deal with every day? Do we always have to bow like that when greeting him?"