Chapter 5

"What do you mean, you don't have any other clothes?" Bartholomew exclaimed. He almost seemed offended by the notion, but then he himself was rather well dressed. "And if you didn't have any other clothes in that big bag of yours, what else did you pack?"

"Notebooks mostly. There was also a few novels, my blanket and my plushie dragon toy... And when I say I don't have any other clothes, I mean that this cake covered mess is the only outfit I own!" Del replied. "I really didn't need another one until this point."

"But it was so clean! You're so clean! How is that possible?" Bartholomew questioned.

With a sigh, Del turned off the water from the shower she was in the middle of taking, retrieved a towel and wrapped it around herself, then stepped out from behind the small dividing wall that blocked view of her bathroom from the rest of her space. From there, she moved to her cream and chocolate saturated clothes, and turned them inside out to reveal runes she'd drawn on the inside.

"These helped ward off odors and stains from sweat, blood, and dirt. I also made a point of washing it whenever I bathed." Del explained.

"Creative, effective, and very much practical..." Bartholomew nodded in approval as he investigated the runes. "It's a shame these weren't enough to save this poor scrap of cloth."

"We don't really get many pastries back home, let alone giant cupcakes," Del shrugged then sighed. "What do I do? I can't exactly go around in the towel..."

"I well take care of that," Bartholomew replied. "Your class schedule and your course books are on the table. Go ahead and look them over until I get back."

Before Del had a chance to protest, He zipped from the room. She wasn't sure what to make of the sprite, but not withstanding his Stern and uptight behavior, he was certainly generous. Taking a breath, she decided to explore her room a bit before she got to work.

It was a cozy space, but larger than she had expected. Larger than the single room burrow she'd lived in prior. Much larger, in fact, and a lot better furnished.

At home, she had enjoyed the comfort of a straw mat and a simply made table and stool on the stone walls and floors her grandfather had helped her install to avoid issues with the ground collapsing in around her. The baths were outdoors and communal which made her efforts to bathe in private quite the pain. Any cooking also occurred primarily outdoors, but Del hadn't had to worry about that much since she was issued rations during the few years she's lived on her own.

The room she was currently in was close to double the size of her old home, and that wasn't taking in the separate bedroom and bathroom that were part of the suit. In the primary living room, there were three sturdy wooden bookshelves with elaborate carvings decorating the shelves that had been carefully placed against a wall. A royal blue, satin sofa and matching chair had been arranged in front of them beside a side table that matched the bookshelves on which rested an oil lamp.

On the corresponding wall was a simple, but sturdy desk to work at. Another, smaller lamp was placed in the corner, a jar of oil stored not to far away on one of the shelves. A series of blank notebooks rested on the shelf above the oil and ink, and Del had a strong suspicion that Bartholomew was responsible.

Just how much money could the imp truly afford to use on her? She was tempted to confront him and ask, but decided against it. It would be rude of her to pry into his finances. The best thing she could was work hard and earn all the aid he'd already offered her.

To another side was a counter with rune enchanted warming stones beside a small pipe stove. She couldn't begin to guess where it let out. A look inside the cabinets revealed a few dishes and some basic baking gadgets. She wondered mildly if the school offered cooking classes. Curious, she wandered from the table at the center of the room to the bedroom.

Inside was a beautiful wardrobe waiting to be filled. Perhaps if she was able to earn some extra money, she would buy a few extra outfits to hang in it. In the center of the room was an invitingly warm bed with a moderately large mattress. It was just big enough to squeeze two bodies on it, but still more ideal for a single occupant. The thick comforters put her threadbare wool blanket to shame and she almost cried when she saw the pair of pillows stacked neatly against the headboard. Del couldn't help taking a running leap into the soft plushness, groaning with pleasure as she sank into the mattress. Before she truly realized what was happening, she had fallen asleep.

* * *

Bartholomew entered the room about an hour later, towing a hefty bag of Fabric. He'd grabbed several different fabrics of varying patterns and colors, unsure what would suit his new pupil best. He was startled to find her missing when he entered the suit.

"Del?" He called cautiously. When he didn't receive an answer, he dropped the bag, then explored the room searching for her.

She wasn't in the bathroom, under the table or desk, in the cabinets, or even hiding in the wardrobe. He was beginning to panic, worried she may have been abducted or worse when a soft sound caught his attention. He whirled to find Del sound asleep on the bed, muttering incoherently from time to time as she slept. It took him a moment to find his senses as he realized what had happened.

"You have been through a lot today..." He sighed. "I suppose I can let you sleep for now."

So saying, he set to work with his personal project. Once he settled on colors and fabrics, he briskly started cutting pieces and stitching them expertly together. Del would awaken to no fewer than three new outfits.