Growl~
As my stomach emitted a loud growl, I couldn't help but grab my tummy in response. "Oui! I'm hungry again," I exclaimed, feeling the familiar pangs of hunger rumbling within me.
Just then, I heard the sound of a door opening, and to my surprise, Lady Nozomi entered the room, carrying a tray filled with a variety of mouthwatering dishes. My eyes widened in anticipation, and I eagerly reached out my hands. "Food!" I exclaimed, unable to contain my excitement.
Lady Nozomi giggled at my enthusiasm and playfully chided me, "Yes, yes, be patient." With careful precision, she placed the tray down before me, and without wasting a moment, I grabbed a plate and started gobbling down the delicious food. The flavours danced on my tongue, satisfying my hunger and filling me with a sense of contentment.
"Be careful not to choke." Lady Nozomi kindly reminded me to be careful not to choke, but as I excitedly devoured the food, I couldn't help but start hiccupping.
Hick.
Hick.
"Or hiccup." Lady Nozomi's soft laughter filled the room as she handed me a cup of water to help alleviate the hiccups. I eagerly drank it, hitting my chest gently in an attempt to stop the hiccups. Once the hiccups subsided, Lady Nozomi gently wiped my mouth with a napkin, ensuring my comfort. I continued to relish every bite, determined to finish all the delicious food on the tray.
Burp~
With a satisfied burp, I signalled my contentment after devouring every last morsel on the tray. "Yummy!" I exclaimed, wiggling my toe in delight. As I reflected on my time with Master Sil and Lady Nozomi, I realized that my initial impression of them being cool and merciless was somewhat misguided. They had their moments of teasing and goofing off, adding a playful dynamic to our interactions. It was a realization that brought a smile to my face.
Lady Nozomi turned to me and asked, "How are you feeling now?" I responded by giving her the okay sign, indicating that I was feeling perfectly content and satisfied. "Good," Lady Nozomi replied with a smile. "Now we can start the second test." I nodded in agreement, feeling a mix of anticipation and determination.
After 1 month and 13 days, I had completed 8 tests, but the monotony and confinement were starting to take a toll on me. Panting heavily, I expressed my frustration aloud. "I'm stuck in this room most of the time. No sunlight, no exercise, just the gloominess and emptiness. THIS SUCKS!" I flailed around on the ground in a mixture of exhaustion and discontent. "If I continue like this, I might end up losing my sanity, just like Masta. I need to get out and breathe some fresh air."
With whatever energy I had left, I quickly dressed up and mustered all my strength to crawl towards the door.
Creak.
I slowly opened the door and painstakingly crawled out of the room, my fatigue evident in every movement. I resembled a ghost, pale and feeble, as I dragged myself across the ground towards the garden.
Finally reaching my destination, I collapsed on the grass and took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh air that surrounded me. "Ah~ I'm alive! Oh! My nose!" The rejuvenating sensation of the crisp, clean air filled my lungs and invigorated my weary body. In that moment, I felt a glimmer of vitality returning to me.
I got back on my two feet, feeling a renewed sense of energy, and began to stroll around the garden. The sight of the vibrant flowers filled me with awe and admiration. "So many beautiful flowers. They not only look stunning but also smell delightful," I exclaimed, taking a deep breath to savour their fragrance and drooled. "...Tasty too..."
Tempted by the sight and scent of the flowers, I absentmindedly opened my mouth, ready to take a bite. But before I could indulge in my impulsive craving, Lady Nozomi swiftly intervened, delivering a sharp whack to my head. "Ouch!" I exclaimed, feeling the pain from the unexpected blow.
Lady Nozomi warned me. "You shouldn't eat the flowers in the garden. They're all extremely toxic. One lick, and it can kill you instantaneously. You wouldn't want that, do you young lady Llyne."
Lady Nozomi's warning sent a shiver down my spine. "Toxic flowers? Deadly smell?" I repeated, my voice filled with a mix of surprise and curiosity. I massaged my injured head, trying to process the information. "But if they're so dangerous, why do you plant them in the garden?" I asked, genuinely perplexed.
Lady Nozomi's expression turned serious as she explained, "The toxic flowers serve as a form odefencese. As a disciple in the House of Aum, you possess a certain immunity to their deadly scent. It acts as a deterrent to potential threats, keeping them at bay. However, consuming them is still highly dangerous and can prove fatal even to you."
I tilted my head. "Defence? Harm?"
I listened attentively as Lady Nozomi elaborated on thdefencese mechanisms of the toxic flowers. "So, when these flowers detect an intruder, they release a scent that not only entices the intruder but also paralyzes them. Additionally, the flowers spread venomous poison throughout the intruder's body, ensuring that only those with strong poison resistance can pass through unharmed." I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and trepidation at the power of these flowers.
Realizing the danger they posed, my initial desire to consume them vanished completely. "Oui... They're truly deadly," I said, a shiver running down my spine at the thought of what could have happened if I had acted on my impulse.
"If you are hungry, here's some buns." Lady Nozomi took out a mountain of buns from her inventory.
As Lady Nozomi presented me with a generous pile of buns, my hunger was quickly appeased. I eagerly devoured themsavouringng each bite as I replenished my energy. "Thanks, Lady Nozomi."
Between mouthfuls, Lady Nozomi inquired about my well-being. "How are you coping so far?" I paused briefly to respond, a satisfied smile on my face. "I'm coping better now. My body seems to recover more quickly than before. Previously, I would sleep for weeks after passing out from a single test, but now I find myself needing only a week of rest."
Lady Nozomi nodded in understanding. "I see. I see. That's a positive development then. It's encouraging to know that your endurance and resilience are improving."
I nodded, my mouth still partially filled with a bun. "Mhm! I'm getting stronger!"
Lady Nozomi chuckled and patted my head affectionately. "Indeed, you are. Keep up the good work, young lady Llyne. Master will be proud of you."
I expressed my concerns about my current lifestyle, feeling out of place with my newfound focus on eating and sleeping. "I used to be so active and athletic, but now I feel like all I do is eat and sleep like a pig. I worry that my health is at rock bottom."
"Eat and sleep like a pig is an understatement, young lady Llyne." Lady Nozomi nodded in agreement, her expression showing understanding. "Indeed, you have quite the appetite. I remember how you would rush to the kitchen and consume vast amounts of food in mere minutes. The head chef was so shocked when he saw the fridge was completely empty the next day and fainted. If I remembered correctly, the head chef bought those food so that it could last us for a few months."
I defended myself, saying, "Well, I did sleep for weeks at a time, and hunger can be quite persistent, even during sleep."
Lady Nozomi sighed, a hint of amusement in her voice. "True, but most people don't eat as much as you do, and they don't experience hunger every one to two hours, especially after they ate a meal catered for at least 10 people. Because of young lady Llyne, our food expenses are shooting up, faster than the speed of light."
I panicked, realizing the extent of my eating habits. "D-Do I eat that much?"
Lady Nozomi nodded, and her response swift andirectedct. "Yes, young lady Llyne. Your hunger is quite remarkable, and it's important to find a way to manage it. We wouldn't want to bankrupt the House of Aum, now would we?"
Feeling a mix of embarrassment and remorse, I apologize sincerely. "I'm sorry, Lady Nozomi. I know I should control my hunger, but... it's really hard to control, and I've always had a voracious appetite. Even back in Eden, my mother would constantly complain about how much I ate. She used to say, 'You should be grateful you were born into a wealthy family. If you were from a middle-class household, you would devour their entire life savings in a day.'"
Lady Nozomi chuckled. "That sound about right."
"I even tried to follow those videos and tips on reducing my food consumption, but... it only ended up backfiring," I confessed, scratching my head in frustration. "I would try all sorts of techniques, like eating smaller portions or chewing slowly, but it seemed to have the opposite effect. I would end up eating even more, and it became such a headache."
Lady Nozomi pondered for a moment before offering a curious suggestion. "Maybe there are worms in your stomach."
Surprised by her remark, I shook my head. "No, no. My mother took me to the hospital to get checked, but there was no sign of any worms or parasites. The doctor couldn't find any explanation for my insatiable appetite. They did suggest that I avoid excessive exercise, but even after following that advice, my hunger remained relentless. On the bright side, no matter how much I eat, I don't seem to gain weight."
"Oh my, that's great, I guess, but don't forget you are still young, you're metabolism is at its peak. When you are older, your metabolism will drop, and you will start gaining those unhealthy fats." Lady Nozomi advised me.
"True. I better control myself." I replied, feeling a headache coming on. "I need to be more mindful of my eating habits."
"Exactly," Lady Nozomi affirmed. "Remember, it's all about balance and taking care of your body. You may ask for me if you need any assistance for your diet."
"Thank you, Lady Nozomi," I expressed my gratitude for her support. "I'll definitely reach out if I need any help with my diet." I continued. "Now that I'm all freshen and reenergized, I'm ready for my next test."
"Good luck, young lady Llyne!" Lady Nozomi cheered and walked away.