By the time Archibald returned to his dorm everyone else had already fallen asleep. Despite the exhaustion from the day's work and the need to be ready for his new responsibilities he found himself in the clichéd scenario of being unable to sleep.

His dormmates had been kind enough to return his notebook to his bunk. They however had not been kind enough not to deface it. The nickname “dragonfucker" was scrawled into the margins of multiple pages while others had poorly drawn images of a stickman having intercourse with what Archie assumed was a dragon.

He'd clean that up later, right now he may as well use the adrenaline to prepare. As an outer chamber attendant he was essentially a glorified doorbell. But as an inner chamber attendant he would be a glorified personal assistant.

At least, he'd like to think that.

“Don't get ahead of yourself, don't want to ego to be too inflated. Not yet…" He knew the drill, he had been promoted before. The added responsibilities, pressure, usually proximity, rarely salary were all too familiar and somehow he'd have to pretend that Issenth was just like any other humanoid master he had ever served.

Except she wasn't. She was graceful but humble, majestic yet approachable, powerful without cruelty. He realized he had been just staring into space, grinning like an idiot for several minutes just thinking about their short interaction.

Disappointment was unacceptable under normal circumstances. Lest he be demoted, punished in a number of unusual and/or cruel methods, or relinquished as “payment" again. But here, it was personal. It was imperative that he impress his new master.

Or would it be better to refer to her as mistress? And while it was technically correct Archibald blushed. How bold! To even unintentionally refer to Issenth as a lover sent him into a fit of giggles which immediately stopped when something was thrown at him from across the room.

“Buddy, we have to be up early. Have your stupid dragon fantasies outside!"

A grumble from above indicated that at least one other person had been roused. Archibald grabbed his notebook and scooted out the door before something else was thrown at him with better accuracy.

Snatching one of the many magical lights off the wall he squatted in a random alcove and began to prepare for the day ahead.

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“That excited for your first day Archie?"

His eyes shot open and he found Issenth staring at him. Somehow he had ended up right  outside her personal chambers. When had he fallen asleep? What time was it? He scrambled to his feet and bowed deeply while stuttering out a greeting.

He rose to the sound of chuckling not from her, but from a small entourage behind her.

“Ah yes, you'll be joining the others starting today. You'll be relocated to a different set of dorms but I'm certain you'll get along. They can fill you in later, we have quite the schedule ahead of us I'm told."

A lizardman flicked out his tongue as he pushed a notebook into Archibald's hands. “Think this belongs to you mate." The other attendants were doing a poor job of covering up their laughter as Archie's heart sank.

Of course he wouldn't be the only one at her side. It made sense that she'd have others personally helping her in a fortress this large, and he was at a disadvantage with their headstart.

“The newcomer is not ready and our first guest is Baron Florence." A slender Asian woman stepped forward. “It would be unwise to have him present without any prior preparation."

“That is a fair assessment." Issenth quietly contemplated before continuing, “I suppose a change of plans is in order. Gerald, accompany Archibald and Quinn. You two will be conducting his orientation."

A catman stepped forward and the two senior attendants bowed while everyone else followed the dragoness into her chambers. Everyone stared at Archie as they walked past, each making their own judgment of their new colleague.

Wordlessly he was lead into an adjacent magically sealed door and barely kept up enough to hear their muttering.

“So the memo wasn't a jo…"

“...not sure what she's..."

“...two weeks. Don't worry."

They halted in front of a series of doors. “You're in the 7th room. Whatever personal belongings you have can be stored there." Gerald was scrawling something down while Quinn returned with robes in her arms. “I assume you're proficient enough in magical locks so that you can let yourself in and out as needed?"

Archie's awkward silence was met with looks of incredulity. 

“Fuck, just..." Gerald's scribbling became more aggressive and Quinn dumped the robes onto Archibald. “Whatever. Get changed out of those rags, dump your diary into your room, and we'll get started." The pair stormed away their grumbling echoing down the hall.

It wasn't the welcome he was hoping for but at least he had some privacy. It wasn't very large or very well-furnished but it was still much appreciated. The number of times he had a room to himself could be counted on one hand and he tried to keep optimistic as he deposited his notebook into the small chest.

As he exited he found a set of books pushed into his arms. “Study this, it should give you the basics. We will be testing you and if your results are unsatisfactory I will personally see to your dismissal." Quinn's glower never left as even as Archie turned to drop the books onto his tiny desk. And he could feel Gerald's sneer burning holes into his back.

Before the door was even closed the pair had already started walking away. 

“We've seen you as an outer attendant before and based on your previous employment records you should be familiar as to what is expected of you."

“Is there anything I should be aware of when serving Issenth?"

The air in the hall immediately chilled as both woman and catman slowly turned to face Archibald.

“Such arrogance…"

“Who do you think you are?"

They were both shorter than him but they may have well been giants as he cowered under their twin glares. As they stepped closer Archie found himself stumbling backwards.

“How dare you refer to the Mistress that way."

“Were you never taught manners in your previous households?"

“Is something the matter?"

Everyone turned to face an elegantly dressed reptile-woman walking down the hallway. Immediately the senior attendants bowed and didn't raise until she stopped in front of them.

“Nothing Milady. How may we be of service?"

“Were the negotiations satisfactory? Our apologies for being unable to attend."

“I take it everything is going well with Archibald?"

The pair exchanged a brief look before continuing. All the while Archibald stood as they passed their judgment.

“There is much work to be done Mistress. I am uncertain if it is a good investment of our energies"

“This role is ill-suited for him. Perha-"

“You think I've erred in my judgment?" The weight of the question was crippling and even though it wasn't addressed to him Archibald felt himself choking. The senior attendants cringed and immediately backpedaled.

“Perish the thought!"

“We would never!"

“Good." Issenth turned and began walking back down the hallway. “Then I am entrusting all of you to ensure that he is ready in a timely manner."

As she disappeared Archie didn't need to see the faces of his fellow attendants, he already knew what they were thinking and could see that Gerald had already snapped his quill in half and that Quinn was almost vibrating.

Issenth had spared him this time, but she wouldn't always be around. What had he gotten himself into?

They both turned, faces neutral but eyes full of fury. “Let us begin then, with the basics. You start with me." Gerald stepped forward, “Your posture is atrocious, your hair is a disgusting mess, and your nails are likely just as repulsive. To the baths, now."

“When you are sufficiently cleaned you begin magic lessons with me." Quinn had somehow procured additional books and threw them into Archie's room before following them to the baths. “I swear in the name of our Mistress that if it turns out you are also illiterate I will kill you and then myself."

“I didn't realize she could also turn into something more humanoid…" Archibald stopped when he realized both his instructors simultaneously twitched.

“There's a lot you don't realize. How did you expect her to move around in such small hallways?"

“Perhaps he thinks she sits around in her private chambers all day? Or maybe he doesn't think before he talks?"

Archie didn't have a chance to respond as they suddenly arrived in the grand bath. He was unceremoniously stripped and then pushed into nearly scalding water. His whelps of pain echoed around the steamy chamber while he was pelted with bars of soap.

“Ugh, is this how you lower servants live? Revolting. I'm burning your “clothes" before you infest the rest of us."

“We'll get you whipped into shape in no time Archie, or else." The door slammed as they left and he was left alone with the bubbles and his own thoughts.

He absent-mindedly started scrubbing. It had been a while since he had a hot bath so he may as well make the most of it. He had finally acclimatized to the temperature and it was actually kind of nice being able to relax like this during the middle of the day.

A door creaked open, somewhere. Archie bolted upright. How big was this bath? I guess it made sense that there'd be more than one door but it was impossible to gauge due to all the steam. Were there multiple baths? Footsteps slowly growing closer before splash. He quickly grabbed a nearby towel and poorly covered himself.

“Mind if I join you?"

He couldn't object. He wouldn't object. Even if he could, he wouldn't. Because as Issenth slipped into the opposite end of the pool his brain stopped working.

He didn't have anything for or against reptiles, but even just knowing that this particular reptile was Issenth made her all the more attractive. And of course, she kept her piercing eyes that cut through the steam like the sun through clouds.

“I see that your colleagues aren't taking well to you." She drifted closer. Even wrapped in a towel, even through the murky hot water, even in a humanoid form, she maintained her elegance and grace.

“Oh no, I'm doing just fine! Lots to learn. Everything is fine!"  He didn't know what to do. Scoot closer to get a better look? Swim away before someone walked in and killed him for his insolence? In the end he sat frozen in place as she continued to get closer.

“You're too kind, defending them. Even as they treat you ever so cruelly." She approached uncomfortably close to him and small waves of water splashed Archibald as she made herself comfortable. “But thank you for not holding it against them. They're very protective of me, and deathly loyal."

He couldn't tell if it was will-power, respect, or fear that keep his eyes from straying.

“I have a lot to learn, they have high expectations of me, and I don't want to disappoint you." No response, just the sound of lapping water. Was his response too honest? He closed his eyes to prevent any staring and to calm himself down.

And when he opened them he found himself staring at an unfamiliar wall.

Wall? Wait no, ceiling. He pushed the thin blanket off and stumbled out of his cot onto a mound of books. Where was he? This wasn't oh wait. Right. New dorm. He pushed himself off the ground and noticed a note on the nearby desk.

“To my dearest new attendant,

Perhaps the excitement of your first day combined with the heat of the grand bath were too much for you. I apologize for the overstimulation but I am confident you will adapt quickly and prove yourself.

Be well,

Issenth"

On one hand he would treasure the note for all eternity. It was written on thick creamy paper in her delicate handwriting, he swore it smelt lightly perfumed. On the other hand how embarrassing. Collapsing beside her in the bath of all places, when would he ever get quality time like that with her again? On the other other hand, who else could have carried him safely to his room?

Net win. He could barely control his glee until he noticed a second note under hers.

“BEING ILL IS NO EXCUSE. FIRST TEST IS AT FIRST LIGHT."

There were a dozen or so book titles underneath the message and no signature.

He sighed, it was barely past noon. He may as well get to studying and cracked open the first book.