Chapter 30: Preparations

Asura's PoV (1st):

Wow that princess was even more innocent than I thought. She was a nice girl and in different circumstances maybe I could even have liked her. But in the first place she wasn't even my type of girl. Way to perfect. It might sound strange but when a girl seems too perfect in instinctively draw back and look for flaws.

Well I could not find any with her. I mean she was nice to everyone, talented but not arrogant. She did not look down on people who were of common birth and only wanted the best for her family and her people. The ideal princess.

Uh I think I'm gonna get sick. Seriously it makes me physically ill and scares me when someone has no obvious faults! Anyway things were going according to plan. Rope in the princess get access to the sanctuary (I randomly decided to name it myself), destroy the magic source of that formation, slaughter Argus von Hohenheim and everyone getting in my way, collect Mia, Caro and Kam'ya and then...

Well let's decide when that time comes. From the time I had tea with Theresa I had another month in order to prepare for the tournament. First of all I had resumed my daily training with my blades. Luckily I had not used my daggers in my fight against that sage so there was no risk to be found out that way and seeing that he thought I used to be a thief I guess you could consider me using daggers as normal.

Second I made sure to sometimes „randomly“ bump into the princess. It took a while but after about two weeks she started to act more and more natural around me, well after that day she was of course flustered every time she saw me. Seriously such a sweet girl. Kind of ironic because I was the absolute opposite of sweet.

Did I feel bad about using her? Only a little but those feelings were an entire world away. In both my lifes there had ever only be a single girl that I had really loved and she was lost to me even if I were still in my old world. So the kind of regret I felt was little compared to my desire for revenge. My master's death would be avenged no matter what.

But objectively as a person? Yeah as mentioned I really thought she was nice and I would still use her as I would use anything or anybody to reach my goals. Thinking mainly about my plans someone knocked on the door to my tower room.

My room was quiet plain: A normal bed several shelves filled with books, a table for my work and a small trunk for my two sets of clothes. My robe and the black clothes I had worn when I had arrived here.

There was only one person who dared to come here so i waved my hand and the door opened by itself. Larius came in with a sigh: „Could you at least pretend not to know?“ I only looked at him.

Over the past weeks Larius had actually become something like a friend. Well aside from Theresa he was the only person I spoke with and at the same time the only person who dared to approach me.

He chuckled: „You can stop the scary look you know?“ I just murdered him in my mind. When I didn't stop staring he said: „Okay sorry sorry. I mean no harm.“ I sigh: „What do you want Larius?“ We had long been on a first name basis. As I said he was the closest thing to a friend I had here.

He scratched his head and said: „I know you don't want to hear this but I am gonna ask anyway. Won't you reconsider becoming the head of the wind department? The tournament is coming up and the impact you will undoubtedly have could become even bigger if we announced that you agreed to become our head.“

I sighed. Of course that was the reason he came. I was just about to decline when I had an idea. Why not? If things don't go according to the original plan maybe I could use the influence as a head of a department? Especially if that department happens to be first ranked... Maybe under the pretext of my research? I did say after all I wanted to replicate that barrier in a bigger scale using different elements. Maybe they would let me have a look at the magic source? Having a backup plan wasn't bad so I answered:

„Fine. You are my vice and you do the work. If I do it then in name only.“ Well even if both plans didn't work out there was still that little quest I had given Caro. If my guess was correct than getting entry to the royal castle would be very advantageous. 

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Anyway what i had said seemed to have caught Larius off guard. He had obviously expected a flat out refusal. His face lit up and she actually jumped while shouting: „YES!“ I shook my head and said: „Calm down would you?“ He just grinned at me:

„I will inform the others, they will be thrilled.“ Before I could shout after him to not bother me further he was already gone. Seriously what a carefree fellow. At first I thought he was really strict but it seems he just tried to live up to the dignity of a teacher. I chuckle when I think about dignity.

Theresa's PoV (3rd):

Theresa was in the best mood she had ever been in during the last couple of weeks. Only days after having tea with Asura he actually came to find her. He came to her! And what he said after had sealed her fate.

She had to accept it: She was indeed in love with that mysterious young genius. That night he came to her room and this time he actually used the door. She had just been cultivating and was slightly irritated that someone actually disturbed her. But when it was Asura who stood before her door all the irritation was immediately replaced by pure joy.

She at first did not know what to say until he asked with his usual expressionless voice and face: „Do you want to ask me in or are we having this conversation in the hallway?“ She blushed as she replied: „No No of course not. Please come in.“

With that she stepped aside. He came in and took a look around but he didn't comment. Not that she expected him to. He ever only said what was necessary. „Well princess I have thought about your proposal.“ Now her heart beat even fast than it did before.

„And I have to decline.“ And her heart stopped for a second. At least that was what it felt like. Looking down on the ground she said with a strained voice: „I see. I apologize for...“ But before she could finish he had suddenly put a hand on her chin and raised her head so she had to face him.

While looking into those eyes the seemed to have an endless depth... and a certain loneliness he said: „I won't support the royal family. Rather I would support you if you want it.“ For a long time both did not say anything. And then something happened she would not even have dreamed possible. Well she had dreamed about it but she had never dared to hope. 

Slowly she approached him and when he didn't back down... She kissed him. It was something she had never felt before. His lips were cool but not uncomfortably cold. They were smooth, tender and sent electricity through her entire body. He embraced her around the waist and the kiss became even more intense.

When their tongues intertwined her entire mind went blank and she lost herself in that blazing hot feeling that stormed through her. It was the greatest joy she had ever experienced in her life and she wished this moment would never end. Had she not closed her eyes at that moment she might have seen the cold glance that was in Asura's eyes.

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Well I will try to post 31 as well because that's the tournament we all have been waiting for! Any with the tournament i will kick things up a notch. But because I am invited to a birthday party i am not sure i can finish the chapter before that so no promises! Sorry. Anyway over the weekend I might only post a single chapter because i will be reworking at least the first ten chapters. I need to rewrite some stuff because I made some mistakes in character development and while i rework them i will edit them and put them into the new format as well. Anyway enjoy 30!