During lunch, while carefully feeding Ethea the simple vegetable soup he had prepared, Soren explained his immediate plans, detailing his intentions to hire a professional caregiver, register at the Awakened Bureau, and secure stable work to cover their mounting living expenses.
Surprisingly, she accepted each proposition without a single hint of resistance, perhaps because she fully understood that he could not always remain by her side, or perhaps because she was equally preoccupied with the sensitive private matters that neither of them wished to address directly. Either way, her agreement provided him with all the validation he required for the time being.
A few minutes after one o'clock in the afternoon, the doorbell rang once more, prompting Soren, who had just finished cleaning the kitchen, to wipe his hands on a clean towel and head toward the front entrance while carefully composing his demeanor.
Upon opening the door, he found a woman in her mid-forties standing on the porch, her round, kind face featuring gentle eyes that crinkled at the corners as she offered a warm smile. Her graying hair was neatly covered by a traditional headscarf, and she wore a long, modest dress in muted colors beneath a professional robe, an outfit that seemed exceptionally practical and respectful, paired with a small bag hanging from her shoulder.
"Mr. Soren?" Her voice was warm and steady.
"Yes. You must be Lady Clara."
"That's right." She smiled. "Thank you for having me."
"Please, come in."
Soren stepped aside to watch her as she entered the house, noting that her movements were entirely unhurried and calm. Her quiet gaze briefly swept across the entryway before settling back on him with an observant expression that remained entirely free of judgment.
"My wife is upstairs," he added. "I'd like you to meet her first, if that's alright."
"Of course. That's the most important part."
Soren then led her up the stairs, his senses heightened, tracking every minor detail of her expression while maintaining a perfectly normal outward appearance. His intense scrutiny revealed nothing concerning about her demeanor, highlighting only her steady professional composure and a genuine sense of warmth. Upon reaching the bedroom, he opened the door to find Ethea sitting in her wheelchair by the window, staring out at the small backyard, until she tilted her head toward them at the sound of their entry.
"Ethea, Lady Clara's here."
Ethea's eyes shifted deliberately from Soren to the stranger in an assessing gaze, watching intently as Clara stepped forward with that same gentle smile and carefully crouched down to bring herself to eye level.
"Hello, dear. My name is Clara."
Her voice was soft and respectful, remaining entirely free of condescension while Ethea stared back at her in complete silence. She neither flinched nor looked away under that intense scrutiny, choosing instead to wait with a patient demeanor as they engaged in a conversation.
While Clara spoke extensively about her professional experience, her personalized approach to care, and her core philosophy regarding treating people with utmost dignity, Ethea simply listened.
The older woman asked a few questions without ever pushing for immediate answers, moving smoothly onto the next topic whenever Ethea remained silent. Occasionally, Ethea offered a tiny nod or a single whispered word, and Clara accepted each response without comment before continuing her explanation a moment later.
"I know having a stranger in your home must be uncomfortable. But I'm here to help however you need. And if at any point you're unhappy with my care, just tell your husband. I'll leave, no questions asked."
Silence stretched between them.
Then Ethea's lips moved.
"...Why?"
Clara tilted her head slightly. "Are you asking... Why am I doing this work?"
Ethea gave a faint nod.
Clara's expression softened. "It's because... I understand what you're going through. When I was younger, I couldn't walk either. I was born that way. I couldn't do anything for myself."
Soren's attention sharpened.
'So there was such a thing?'
He kept his face neutral, but filed the information away. He'd need to verify it later, of course. Trust was earned, not given. But if true...
"But I had someone," Clara continued. "A neighbor woman who lived two doors down. She was already retired, a former nurse. Every day, she came to my house. Helped me eat, helped me wash, helped me with exercises that felt pointless at the time."
Her eyes grew distant, lost in memory.
"I was angry back then, at the world, at my body, at everyone who could do things I couldn't. I pushed her away more times than I can count. Yelled at her. Told her to leave me alone."
She smiled softly.
"She never did."
Soren listened in silence.
"It took years. Years of little progress, of setbacks, of wanting to give up. But she was always there. And one day, I moved my toe. Just a little. Then my foot. Then I stood, with her holding me up."
Clara paused, her eyes glistening slightly.
"When I awakened later, my body had finally healed completely. I could walk on my own feet, run, dance, things I'd only dreamed of as a child. And when that happened, I knew what I wanted to do with my life."
She looked directly at Ethea.
"I wanted to help others the way she helped me. To be that person for someone who needs it."
As her words faded, a profound quiet settled over the room while Ethea studied her for a long moment, eventually offering an almost imperceptible nod of approval. "...Alright."
"Thank you for trusting me." Clara's smile widened in relief and joy.
"Then, let's go down and sign the deal," Soren suggested, leading Clara downstairs to the small living room.
He prepared a fresh pot of tea, and they sat across from each other at the kitchen table to begin their discussion. Before introducing any formal paperwork or discussing the contract's specific terms, he chose to conduct a brief interview to gauge her suitability for the role.
He asked thorough questions about her professional background, past caregiving experience, and list of personal references. He even chose to mention the disturbance that had occurred the previous evening, omitting the specific details of the confrontation while making it clear that an incident had transpired and that he required someone of absolute trustworthiness.
Clara answered every single inquiry with transparency and honesty, maintaining her calm demeanor throughout the questioning. By the end of their conversation, Soren was completely satisfied with her responses and felt confident moving forward with their arrangement.
"Thank you."
Clara smiled. "So I'm hired?"
"Yeah. When can you start?"
"Today, if you need."
Soren nodded in agreement as they quickly worked out the specific details of the caregiving schedule. He arranged for her to cover the afternoon and evening shifts today, ensuring that he could handle his urgent business at the Awakened Bureau without any unnecessary worry.
Once they both signed the official contract, he led her back upstairs to explain the final arrangement to Ethea before grabbing his jacket from the hook.
At the front door, he paused for a brief moment to watch Lady Clara talking softly to Ethea while unpacking her things, allowing a satisfied smile to touch his lips before he finally left the house.
He remained standing just outside the threshold, however, his eyes narrowing as he stared intently at the glowing window hovering directly within his field of vision.
__________
Name: Clara Hart
Status: Healthy
Age: 47
Rank: 1st Circle (Peak)
Current Mana Level: Moderate (9054)
Mental State: Stable, Content
Investment Value: Low
Potential: 3rd Circle (Estimated)
_________
He'd used his Authority Skill on her during the interview. He would be an idiot not to use it.
And this was the main reason he agreed to it so easily.
But Soren didn't dare to gamble.
He leaned against the fence and waited.
He focused on the Tether Bond, channeling his awareness into that connection linked to Ethea somewhere upstairs. This was the item he got from the returns. It allowed him to sense her location from any distance and instantly determine whether she was facing immediate danger.
However, even after half an hour, nothing noteworthy happened.
It seemed like he was worried for nothing.
'Alright, let's take care of the registration first.'
Soren pushed off the fence and headed down the street.
'And get a Hunter's license if possible.'