As the morning arrived, the silence of the Grand House of Reinhart grew heavier. After the terrifying experiences of the night, Sunslite's sleep was likely not deep.
Suddenly, a soft knock came at the door. It was Esther, the quiet and dutiful maid.
"Madam Sunslite," Esther called out in a calm voice.
Sunslite sat up. The chill of the previous night and the memory of Hridoy's blue eyes were still haunting her.
"What is it?" Sunslite asked in a slightly anxious voice. "Why are you acting like this?"
Esther gave no answer but simply pointed to a large, antique wooden trunk placed in the middle of the room, and an extraordinary set of clothes folded atop it.
Sunslite stared in surprise. The trunk was beautiful, and the garments were more expensive than anything she had ever seen. There was a dense, soft fabric gown, a finely hand-woven shawl, and a small jewel-encrusted box.
"What are these? Whose are they?" Sunslite asked in a trembling voice.
Esther lowered her head and replied. Her voice held no emotion, only obedience.
"This is a gift from the Master for your new life and your new education."
Esther gestured toward the trunk:
"These are the clothes and accouterments of the new Madam of Reinhart House. Sir Hridoy said—just as your 'Light' is not ordinary, your outer shell can no longer be ordinary. You must now be prepared in a way that carries the gravitas of this mansion. You will put these on and prepare for the next lesson in the library."
Sunslite glanced at her old, faded brown dress, then at these new, expensive, and heavy fabrics. These clothes were not just garments; they were symbols of Hridoy's power and her new, unknown destiny. Sunslite stood stunned. She could not look at the trunk or at Esther. The weight of these costly clothes felt like a new responsibility thrust upon her weak shoulders.
Esther, with a maid's detached demeanor, stepped forward.
"Madam, permit me," she whispered.
Sunslite said nothing; she seemed mesmerized. Esther quickly and expertly undressed Sunslite from her old clothes and began putting the new, dense fabric gown on her. The dress was dark-colored, perhaps deep blue or black, fitting the mansion's environment.
The dress fit Sunslite perfectly, as if it were custom-made. It was heavy, yet regal.
Next, Esther loosened her heavy braid and focused on her back to adorn her with a special piece of jewelry.
The back of the dress was bare back. Over the open back, Esther very carefully draped five strands of pearl necklaces. The pearls were large and white, intensely drawing the eye against the dark fabric.
The pearl necklaces cascaded down Sunslite's back, right along her spine, like five cold streams. The touch of each pearl was icy—just like the touch of Hridoy's hand.
When the pearls were secured, Esther whispered:
"Sir Hridoy said, 'These pearls symbolize the containment of light. Your inner light should not escape, but at the same time, they should not hide you from this mansion's sight.' They are your first armor, from now on."
Sunslite looked at herself in the mirror. She did not recognize herself. The familiar girl was gone; in her place stood a new, mysterious woman. Her fear or weakness was not hidden; rather, the expensive dress and the pearls down her back seemed to illuminate her helplessness even more.
She felt the cold touch of the pearls. It was a permanent symbol of Hridoy's chill, reminding her: she was no longer her own; she was part of this mansion, and her every moment of weakness was under surveillance.
Sunslite ascended the grand staircase in her new, heavy gown and the five cold pearl strands trailing down her back. Her legs were still trembling, but the clothes' opulence lent her a new, artificial courage.
Esther silently retreated. Sunslite was now alone, ready to face her tutor, Hridoy.
The library door was massive, made of black wood and bronze work. As Sunslite crossed through it, her breath nearly stopped.
The room was exactly as Hridoy had warned: intensely cold and vast. The air was still. Sky-high shelves lined the walls with ancient books. The book covers were black, brown, and rusted—as if not knowledge, but a thousand years of silence had solidified here.
In the center of the library, beside a massive, mahogany wood table, sat Hridoy. He did not look up from the table but was hunched over an open, old book, meticulously observing something. The faint reflection of his glasses shone over his eyes.
Sunslite stood still by the door, waiting until she caught Hridoy's attention.
Finally, Hridoy slowly closed the book. There was a soft sound that slightly pierced the room's dense silence. He looked at Sunslite over his spectacles. His blue eyes held no anger or malice this time, only sharp observation.
He took note of Sunslite's new dress, the pearls on her back, and, above all, the mixture of fear and hesitation on her face.
"Beautiful," Hridoy said in a calm tone. His voice echoed in the room's stillness. "The attire creates an excellent balance between your 'Light' and our house's dark aristocracy."
He gestured toward a high-backed leather chair on the opposite side of the table.
"Sit, Sunslite. You are no longer a guest. You are a student now. Your first lesson is not in a book."
Sunslite sat down on the chair, trembling. The pearls behind her felt cold, as if biting into her back.
Hridoy rose from his chair and crossed the massive table toward Sunslite. He stopped right beside her, his coldness palpable on her shoulder.
"Do you trust your father?" Hridoy whispered.
Before Sunslite could answer, he placed an old, yellowed, folded piece of paper on the table.
"What you call 'Light' is not just power. It is a contract. An ancient, fatal contract. Your father sent you here to fulfill the terms of this contract. This manor absorbs your fear, but what you teach with your 'Light' is this manor's food. Did your father tell you this?"
Hridoy's voice was soft, but the information struck Sunslite's heart like a knife.
Betrayal: The First Truth
Sunslite remained still, her face pale. Hridoy's question was simple, but her answer—a single "No"—seemed to shake the foundation of her known world.
Her father, who had told her she had a 'Light' within and that she was sent here to awaken it, had hidden such a profound truth from her?
That cold, victorious smile touched the corners of Hridoy's lips. He pointed to the yellowed paper on the table.
"I knew it. Fear and deceit, Sunslite, are two sides of the same coin. Your father sent you here hoping you would fulfill the contract's terms and protect him—but he didn't tell you the rules of the game."
Hridoy leaned closer. Sunslite could see her own terrified reflection in his eyes.
"Your first lesson: Trust no one. Especially not the person who professed love to you and delivered you into the hands of this death."
He quickly reached out and pushed the paper into Sunslite's hand. The paper's touch was rough and old.
"This is a copy of that contract. It determines the price of your 'Light'. You will read it. I want you to feel the fear that arises within you as you read it in your spine, not just with the pearls."
Hridoy stepped back and stood on the other side of the table. His voice was firm, like an order.
"Your father's betrayal is your first power. Dive deep into the fear, Sunslite. Remember, your sole goal in this house is: Survival."
He pulled out a huge, heavy book from the library's corner and placed it on the table, creating a cloud of dust.
"Now, you will read the most important document of your life. If you have any questions after reading, you will ask them. No tears, no expression of weakness during this time. You must only face the hard truth between light and darkness."
Hridoy returned to his chair and opened his book with focus—as if Sunslite's presence or her emotional distress were entirely insignificant to him.
Sunslite looked at the paper in her hand. The fear of betrayal and an unknown contract now raged in her chest.
The Compulsion of Luminaries
Sunslite stared at the contract copy in her hand. It was a symbol of fear and deceit. But Hridoy then gestured to the massive, heavy book placed on the table before her.
"You can bear the truth of that contract later," Hridoy said calmly, without raising his eyes. "But for now, acquire the knowledge of what your 'Light' truly is. Read the book."
Sunslite slowly took the book. It was immense, with a leather cover, and as she opened it, a strong smell of old paper hit her. The script on the pages was in ancient letters, handwritten or very old print.
Sunslite turned the pages and began to read with concentration.
The book's title was likely: The Compulsion of Luminaries: A Treatise on Dark-Bound Souls.
As Sunslite read, the cold air around her seemed to solidify even more.
What was written in the book:
Definition of 'Light': It is not a divine or spiritual power, but a Primal Energy that attracts darkness and, simultaneously, possesses the ability to control it.
Reinhart House: This mansion has served as a "Darkness Absorber" for a thousand years. It depends on the energy of 'Luminaries' for its long life.
Energy Siphon: The energy of a 'Luminary' cannot be used directly. To make it usable, it must first be corrupted by intense emotion and fear. The more fearful the 'Luminary,' the more "delicious" their energy is for this manor.
The Teacher's Role: Hridoy is "The Conductor." His job is to train the 'Luminary' to convert their fear into power—but in the process, Hridoy siphons the energy released from that produced fear and feeds it to the Manor.
When Sunslite read the last line, her entire body went cold.
He is not my teacher, he is my hunter. He is strengthening me so that he can absorb my fear even deeper.
The pearl necklaces on her back felt even colder.
Sunslite closed the book, her hands trembling. She looked at Hridoy. Hridoy closed his own book, removed his spectacles, and stared calmly at Sunslite. His blue eyes now held no mystery, only a terrifying confession.
"You've read it," Hridoy said. "So, Sunslite. Now you know—your father did not give you love, he sacrificed you as food. You now have two paths open to you:"
"You can live your entire life in this house in fear, and your fear will strengthen me and the manor."
"You can burn your fear in the fire of hatred and power, and take revenge for your father's betrayal on me. This revenge will be your true 'Light'."