Char awoke that<i>faithful</i>morning with dull enthusiasm. Another wonderful day of chores and (possible) near death experiences in small explosions. Or large, Lady Lilya liked to surprise him sometimes. He slowly climbed out of his bed, ruffled his black hair, and gave himself a good stretch, admiring the cool morning air on his bare body. He looked down at his body as he strained his limbs for a good flex. Much like many other spots on his body, there were patches of hair that would never grow back and small scars from his Mistress' "lessons". There were reminders of his lessons that got him to where he was today: an apprentice who knows nothing.<br/><br/>After his bones calmed down from their popping jamboree, his ears strained due to a new sound he hadn't heard in years.<i>Silence</i>. He hadn't known this kind of quiet since before being forced to work in this crazy sorceress shop. A chilling feeling climbed throughout his body as he began to think of what this newfound silence could mean. Char fetched a pair of pants and sloppily slipped them on so he could hurry. He exited his humble room and stood at the top of the stairs that lead down to the shop.  Looking at the clock on the wall, he realized that it was close to midday, and the shop hadn't been opened yet. Oh-ho, she would have his furry ears for this, and he knew it!<br/><br/><b>"Lady Lilya, why didn't you come wake me?"</b>He called out into the empty building. A moment passed with no response. Several more moments and his fear began to materialize ever so clearly. A question like that would've had her flying into his chest with both feet for daring to speak to his Mistress like that.<br/><br/>Char ran down the stairs and looked around in sunlit room. The note immediately caught his eyes as he was<del>(forced)</del>taught to keep the shop clean before retiring for the night. He snatched it up and read it. Once, twice, hell twenty damn times in a row before it clicked. Lilya was gone. Ran off on some slutty adventure, probably. She left him the shop and the debt that went along with it. She did something she had never done before in his three years of "extended servitude". She promoted him.<br/><br/><b>"I'm... free?"</b>He asked to an empty room.<b>"To hell with the debt, I'm free from that crazy woman and I have a shop! I'm my own boss now baby! For my first decree as boss of this shop, we shall stay closed today!"</b><br/><br/>Char jumped around like a giddy school boy who just found his first porn stash. He was in charge, and it felt good. Even though he wasn't actually in charge of anyone just yet, it felt good. He let his pants drop down to his feet and kicked them away into a corner of the room. He felt like being free, in every sense possible for one day.<br/><br/><b>"I guess I should take an inventory to see if that vile creature stole any of the expensive stock to fund her illicit holidays."</b>Char spoke matter-of-factly as he looked around<i>his</i>shop.