Chapter 2

Once I got permission from Sephora to be her student, I rushed to Noah,

"I've got something to tell you," I began, my eyes meeting Noah's curious gaze.

He arched an eyebrow, a playful grin on his lips. "Spill it then. I can see the excitement on your face."

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how he would take the news. "I am going to be trained with Sephora."

Noah's expression shifted from amusement to genuine surprise. He blinked a few times, as if processing the information. "Wait, Sephora? The woman who practically tore through the tavern a few moments ago?"

I nodded, gauging his reaction. "Yeah, that Sephora. She's agreed to teach me."

Noah leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing with a mix of concern and disbelief. "Why in the world would you want to learn from someone like her? She's a force of nature, but that doesn't mean she's a good teacher."

I chuckled at his reaction, understanding his skepticism. "She might not be the traditional mentor, but there's something about her. She's experienced, skilled, and she knows how to survive. I think there's a lot I can learn from her."

Noah leaned forward, his gaze intense. "Amy, you've got me worried. I mean, she literally beat up half the tavern. What if she teaches you to do the same?"

I reassured him with a grin. "Sephora's not about mindless violence. She's practical, strategic. I want to be able to defend myself without magic, and she's the best person to teach me."

Noah sighed, still looking unconvinced. "I just don't want you getting into more trouble. There are other ways to learn self-defense."

"I appreciate your concern, Noah, I really do. But I need this. The labyrinth is unpredictable, and I want to be ready for whatever comes my way," I explained, my tone earnest.

He studied my face for a moment, then sighed again, relenting. "Fine, but promise me you'll be careful. If things get too intense, if she pushes you too hard, you back out, alright?"

I nodded, grateful for his concern. "I promise. I won't let things get out of hand. Besides, I'm not doing this just for myself. I want to be strong enough to protect others without magic if the need arises."

Noah's expression softened, and he reached across the table, placing a hand on mine. "You're stubborn, Amy. But I guess that's one of the things I like about you. Just be safe, alright?"

I smiled, appreciating his understanding. "I will, Noah. And who knows, maybe one day you'll be grateful for the skills I've learned."

He chuckled, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. "I hope so. For now, let's just hope this Sephora doesn't turn you into a tavern brawler."

Soon, Noah's food arrived and he lifted his veil a bit to eat it. I always wondered how did people manage to eat so neatly with their veil on? Didn't they get anything on the veil?

After a few bites, Noah finally spoke up, "You know, Amy? I would rather you not stare at me while eating. It's making me nervous."

"Oh? Oh!" It took me a while to understand, but I was embarrassed when I did. It's kind of rude to stare at someone while eating. I hope he doesn't think of this in another way.

"I am sorry,"I muttered.

"It's alright," he began to say, but in a sudden twist of events, his veil slipped from its usual place, descending onto his left hand, the one he had momentarily lifted while employing his fork in his other hand. Simultaneously, the hood of his white cloak joined in its descent, revealing, for the first time, his unmasked face.

There, beneath the hood, were brown eyes that held a depth I hadn't anticipated. His face sported a pair of round, chubby cheeks that seemed oddly endearing. I want to touch his face. At that moment, I realized this was the first time I had truly seen him.

Despite the abrupt unveiling, he moved to rectify the situation, reaching to don his veil once more. But before he could secure it in place, I impulsively caught hold of his hand.

"You're so cute," I blurted out without a second thought.

His response was a bewildered, "Wha–?"

"You're so cute!" I declared again, louder this time, rising from my seat and closing the distance between us. A hush fell over the tavern as my mouth seemed to operate independently of my mind.

"Th– Thank you," he stammered, visibly flustered, a faint blush coloring his cheek. "B- But maybe you should sit and talk."

Realizing that I might have been a bit too close, I decided to take a step back. However, my perception of the distance between the seat and the table seemed to escape me, and I ended up toppling backward onto the ground. The charming gaze in his eyes proved quite distracting, making it hard for me to resist.

I could hear gasps around, and a very worried expression crossed Noah's face. It was the first time I could see a facial expression.

"Are you okay?" he asked, quickly getting down and helping me up.

At that moment, I heard someone exclaim, "She fell!"

While a familiar voice replied, "First!" I looked behind to see Elara with a mischievous grin on her face.

Miss Sephora added, "She fell first and she fell hard."

What does all of this even mean? I am unable to understand… In any case, knowing that I had embarrassed myself. I suddenly started to blurt out a ridiculously awkward excuse, "Umm, yeah, gotta run! My pet rock needs me, and it's allergic to cute faces… and gravity! But you are super cute… So don't worry… So, uh, see you never... maybe. Bye!"

I said and hurried out, leaving people bewildered and amused by my absurd justification. The exit was cringe-worthy, and I hoped never to face him again after that spectacle.

Ughhh! Why?! Why did something like that have to happen? Why did my heart flutter that way?

Do I love him? Is it too soon to judge? I wonder…