[center][b][color=00746b][h2]Arden[/h2][/color][/b]
Chapter 1.4
Chores and duties [/center]
[hr]([i]@ the Fortress [/i])[hr]

Aden quickly checks himself, realising his predicament as soon as Miria turned and began rhetorically questioning him. What had he gone and done. The sudden realisation and worry was painfully evident on his face. 

[b][color=00746b]S, Sorry mistress. I misinterpreted your wishes, i was simply trying to please you by removing myself... [/color][/b] he began blurting out in his defence before Miria suddenly  cut him short, grabbing him by the throat. 
Miria made the threats he knew she would make then described his new punishment.
Arden listened intently being sure to catch every word and not mistake any of her intentions, all whilst trying to remain calm and breath slow difficult breaths. 

24 hours of standing, it meant no sleep. It might not be impossible if the timer had started when he first woke, but it had not. It had already been a long day, he was already tired, his legs already aching and his last sleep was not the greatest either. To top things one leg was also wounded. This, this was going to be troublesome test, falling asleep around his Mistress Miria and disobeying an order at the same time was a terribly vulnerable and dangerous situation to put himself in.

[color=f49ac2][i]That's a bunch of bull and you know it.[/i][/color]

It was, and they all knew it but Miria being Miria would have her fun and test Arden's physical and emotional limits regardless. At least that witches straight forward comment caused a slight smile within Arden. One he dare not express or share lest it be quickly removed. He caught a glimpse of the stranger in his peripheral, he just had to see the one who said the things he could not.

[b][color=00746b]As you wish mistress [/color][/b] he subserviently replied to Miria. [b][color=00746b]And... thank you. [/color][/b] he added with the most sincerest gratitude he could fake. 
Although the last bit pained him the most to say, he had to forego any slither of pride he imagined to still hold and hope to incur some level of favour before the test was through, even if to only lighten the load of a later punishment.

When Miria was done with him, his eyes followed hers and he spotted the new witch. The small pale child with long flowing hair. Careful to quickly look away her image puzzled and pulled on his mind. He had surely never seen her before but strangely felt as if he had.

[@Rune_Alchemist][@WeepingLiberty]