"What do you think you are you doing?" Zeres’ voice echoed out lowly as soon as he opened his eyes.

The girl before him gasped and she smiled at him awkwardly, being caught in that compromising situation that she was secretly sketching him without his permission. "G-good morning... sir." She said, hugging the sketch pad tightly in her arms, a little afraid that he would snatch it from her and tear it in anger.

Zeres sighed and rose from where he was seated. He did not expect that he would actually end up falling asleep on the floor like this and the sun was even rising now.

He looked at the girl again, seeing that she was still forcing an awkward smile as she looked up at him.

"What’s your name?" he asked, and she blinked, taken aback that he would actually want to know her name.

"I... Iryz."

"Iryz..." Zeres echoed, "you know me, right?"

She blinked again, then she shook her head, causing Zeres to narrow his eyes slightly. "But you know that I’m a witch..."

When she nodded, Zeres leaned against the window behind him. "No wonder you’re not freaking out upon seeing a stranger in your room," he commented, "seems that you know a lot about witches."

"Yes. I learned a lot about witches from my grandmother." He could sense her excitement as she told him that.

"Calliste?"

She tilted her head and thought for a moment. "Nope... her name’s not Calliste. Her name is Diana. You are here to look for her, right?"

"You’re saying that your grandmother, the witch who lives here is named Diana and not Calliste?"

Iryz nodded again. "But Diana’s not here anymore. She disappeared three years ago and had never come back after that." Her voice became a little sullen as she said that. "I was waiting for a witch to come here but no one came until now."

Zeres threw his head back and sighed, a little exasperated after hearing her explanation. Now things were not going smoothly yet again. This girl did not seem to be lying at all and if that was really the case... this search was not over yet!

"What’s your name? Are you... the king of the witches? Wait... but grandma said witches do not have kings." Her brows scrunched up as she muttered to herself.

A small smile curved on Zeres’ lips. "You indeed really do know a lot, little girl."

"I’m not a little girl. I’m a bit shorter than my peers but I’m already nineteen." She replied. "So... what are you then? Sir?"

"You are right. Witches don’t have kings so I’m no king or any of the sort." He looked at her computer then continued in a tired voice. "I’m nothing special. Just someone who is not supposed to exist anymore."

He stretched out his hand after he said those words, gesturing her to give him the sketch pad that she was hugging to herself as though it was more precious than her life itself.

She bit on her lower lip and hesitantly, she slowly handed it over to him.

Upon seeing his portrait already drawn almost perfectly in every single detail, he smiled shortly. "You’re good. May I know why you drew me?"

"Err... because you’re beautiful and hot."

Zeres was speechless at her direct admission.

"Can I please make you the model for my story... uhm... sir?" she rubbed her palms together as she said that, then her eyes began to gleam. "I am really struggling with conceptualising how my main male lead should look right now. But the moment I saw you, I knew that you are the answer to my prayers!"

For a moment, Zeres did not know what to say.

"Little girl –"

"I said I’m not –"

"I’m thousands of years old. So, no matter how old you are, to me you’re a little girl."

"Oh my god. Are you serious? Thousands?!" her eyes almost bulged out of their sockets as she looked at him in disbelief, then her eyes twinkled again. "Oh my god! Just like in my story. My male lead is also a thousand years old!!"

"You seem to be a very friendly girl. Did your grandmother not taught you to be more aware of strangers?" Zeres changed the topic as he did not quite know what to even say about the model thing she was talking about.

"Of course. I’m always wary of strangers." She answered quickly.

"Always?" his brows arched in question.

"Yes. You’re an exemption because you’re a witch. Witches are good creatures. Humans are the only ones I must be wary about the most."

That made Zeres smile and shook his head slightly. "Whoever had told you witches are good creatures? Your grandmother?"

"She didn’t tell me that, but I just know witches are the nicest. All the witches who visited her when I was young were very beautiful people."

Zeres leaned his head back against the windowpane and his expression turned a little sullen, remembering all the nasty witches he had met in his life. To him, witches were still the worst creatures he had ever known. His very own mother had made him believe that and the woman from last night just refreshed those memories for him, just further confirming his thoughts on the matter.

"You are wrong. Not all witches are good and nice, remember that." He told her. "Witches could be the worst of all the creatures too."

He then walked towards her and then approached her computer.

"Since the person I’m looking for is not here, I think I’ll have you answer my questions instead."

"Questions... about my grandmother?"

"Yes, including something very important I know for sure you certainly have knowledge about."

She swallowed as his incredibly beautiful and unusual silver eyes became serious.

"Are you... one of those witches you said that isn’t nice."

He nodded without hesitation. "Yes. I’m one of the worst witches there ever is." He said that as if he was so sure of it.

But Iryz shook her head. "I am not convinced, but fine... I will answer your questions."

"Good girl." Zeres just smiled when she straightened and looked at him bravely.

"But on one condition." She said, firmly. "Agree to be my model first."

___

Hi hellbounders! Please continue casting your Golden Tickets on Spellbound instead of giving it to this book. Thank you guys! Love you all