What was there to change and improve?
First was Austin's reaction to the sudden ergence of the Monkey. If not for Valerie being present around him, that late reaction would have been his death.
Austin was new to these dangers. All he has fought in his previous life was humans. Those fights were always predictable and never had been life-threatening—except for those MMA battles he fought after his first breakup.
His strength was growing and so was his Shard, however, he has to choose his enemies and fight those foes whom he can actually defeat. There are about seventy days left before the beginning of the contest; as such, he has to improve fast.
*Knock*
Hearing the knock on his window, he didn't have to look at the person to know who it was. However, who can resist looking at such a lovely face?
Turning his eyes toward the person, Austin said, "It's open, co in."
Valerie shyly lifted the window, before she jumped inside the room.
Considering Austin was forbidden from moving around, Valerie had no option but to show her unladylike side again.
She feels so ashad yet excited at the sa ti!
"Are you okay?" She asked as she inched closer to him and revealed the thermos she brought with her.
Bringing a bowl near, she poured the soup she brewed back into her room before serving it to Austin, "Vegetable soup. Since the healer said that you should have easy-to-digest food, I have added very little at."
Valerie offered the bowl as Austin rested his back against the headboard.
"It slls so good...did you make it?" Austin asked, an excited smile on his face.
Valerie smiled and nodded. Seeing his smile alone allowed her to forget about all the stress she had.
Austin scooped so hot soup and drank it.
"It's quite well balanced, Val. Did you add tomato in it?"
The girl nodded, "I thought it would be too spicy, so I just added tomato paste near the end. It's...not unpleasant right?"
"Are you kidding? I have never had sothing better than this?"
Although she knew that he was exaggerating, she couldn't stop herself from feeling elated. Being praised by the man she loves hits differently.
While Austin enjoyed the soup, he asked, "Do you not have to rest? I an you got hit twice by that monster."
Austin has witnessed how strong that Monkey was; those punches Valerie faced were quite devastating and had enough force to crush a lower-ranked hunter's bones to dust.
Valerie heaved a sigh, "Look at you, my Lord...you had your Shard damaged yet you are worrying about ."
Valerie knows the pain of having one's Shard damaged since, in the past, in desperation, she also had her Spear cracked.
It feels like one is sucking your life force at a rapid pace, and the pain is equivalent to how one feels thousands of invisible needles stab at your spirit, leaving behind a relentless ache that doesn't fade.
The pain reverberates through your very being, as if every corner of your soul is crying out in anguish. The pain isn't just physical; it feels like your mories, identity, and emotions are unraveling, leaving you hollow and incomplete.
Despite that pain, Austin kept a bold front in front of Valerie, however, she heard his cries when she left.
Her body shook, and her heart wrenched in great pain, hearing his cries of agony. She still hasn't forgiven herself for letting her Lord face such pain because of her.
"You are blaming yourself and making feel guilty." Austin suddenly muttered, his eyes drawn to the soup and a sad smile extending his lips.
Valerie's eyes widened as she said, "I-I am not blaming-"
"Who are you lying to, Val? I can read you like an open book, and can tell that you are blaming yourself for what I faced." Tilting his head and after holding her hand softly, he asked,
"Then shouldn't I bla myself for being so pathetically weak, as well?"
"No! You are-" She paused, realizing that saying anything would make it worse.
She first cald herself down and held his hand back.
Austin gave her the ti to collect her thoughts before he heard the girl uttering, "Please forgive ...I shouldn't feel like this, but every ti I see you hurt, I feel myself responsible. I feel so frustrated with everything that hurts you...that I just lose my cool every ti."
Lying to her betrothed was not a good thing, so she just confessed whatever she felt.
Austin smiled at the girl. She is so lovely, so pure that he feels himself unworthy of her fondness sotis.
Cupping her cheek, he said, "The real reason why I jumped in was not only because I wanted to protect you, but there was another motive. Do you know what?"
Valerie looked at him questioningly.
Austin's eyes turned cold for a mont, as he confessed, "I just wanted sohow to hurt that beast...see its blood sohow....since the being who hurts you deserves nothing less than death."
A sudden rush of warmth made her face hot, upon seeing her Lord being so protective of her.
The murderous intent he radiated, the way his grip turned firm, and how his whole presence shouted danger, made the girl tear up.
And it wasn't just her eyes that turned moist.
Rubbing his thumb softly on her cheek, he added, "So it's not just you who thinks that way."
"My Lord..." She leaned her face in his hold, feeling his body heat, warming up her whole body.
....
After a few minutes, Austin finished the soup and they were now able to talk casually, given Austin removed a very heavy burden from her shoulders.
They were still holding hands, as Valerie asked, "Are you resuming your training from tomorrow?"
"Undoubtedly. I think I now can control the Augntation of my Shard."
Valerie raised her brows, "I was really surprised to see the size of your Shard increasing. It's quite an improvent in a very short duration."
Austin smiled in glee, "You think? Well, it must be the training you provided with."
Valerie shook her head, "It's not that, Austin, it's the dedication and intention you hold to improve that has affected your Shard."
Austin was surprised, "Does Soul Shard react to a person's emotions?" There was no evidence of it in books so he wasn't sure.
However, "I always feel that Shards react to their wielder's thought process. That's why I was able to utilize that Ex-rank spell-" Valerie suddenly paused, as she recalled the discussion she had with the Principal.
Austin raised his brows, "Did sothing happen?" He has forgotten things relating to Council that's why he was genuinely confused by the sudden shift of her temperant.
Valerie hesitated for a mont, but then decided to reveal everything to her beloved, "I...was summoned by the Headmaster yesterday..."
She then told him everything that happened back in the office. The decision he made and the fact that she would have to work for the Council after the coronation next year.
Austin scoffed, "He said until coronation because the Headmaster knows that I will get attacked before that."
Valerie's brows drew closer in a frown, "What do you an?"
Austin trusted this woman, so he didn't hesitate to reveal, "He isn't like how the world perceives him. My brother is a very cunning and selfish person. The slight chances I have to inherit the throne, he would try to eliminate those chances by either crippling or worse, killing ."
The air around the two turned frosty. It wasn't that Valerie never suspected the elder brother of her beloved, but to think Aiden would be such a bastard(she trusts Austin's words blindly).
Austin smiled at his girl and said, "The Headmaster must be fearing that as well; that's why he is allowing you to remain by my side to protect until coronation."
Valerie now understood the situation. Although she could risk her life to protect her beloved, she doesn't know if the risk would lessen even after the coronation.
"Austin...should we run away and start a new life sowhere far away?" She was a little frustrated by all the complications rising, and there was a slight desperation to just have a quiet life with her Lord that urged her to say that.
For a mont, Austin just wanted to say yes. After all, he never desired wealth or power. He just wanted to lead a peaceful life with the one he adores. However, considering the future, he couldn't just run away, or God knows what the protagonist might end up doing in front of the final threat. Worse, she might die before fighting the Demon Lord.
Cupping her cheeks, Austin assured her, "Although it sounds tempting, parting ways from our families would hurt them as well." Valerie didn't look up, feeling a little wronged that her Lord didn't want to start a new life with her. Although she knew what he was saying was right and practical, she couldn't stop herself from feeling like this.
Seeing that slight bulge of her cheek, Austin could not stop himself from chuckling as he asked, "Okay, I have angered my fiancée. What can I do to compensate?"
Valerie flinched, but then, while controlling her excitent(barely), she said, "A-A date?"
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A/N:- Damn, she is so cute and easy to please. Drop a comnt.
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