Chapter 17 - 18 : A Be (1/2)
The principal, who was sitting on her desk, she turned head towards Arthur and said while chuckling
”I see that the holy church is searching for that girl but no worries since I said she is a student then I will not go back on my words, plus it was you who interfered and she didn't do anything, as, for you, you would only be staying he as a GUEST!”
She continued to stare at Arthur expecting to see his reacting but to her surprise the man didn't even bulge or seem the least surprised, in fact, he just smiled at her and nodded.
”A guest or whatever, but remember I will not leave my companion's side, so deal with it!”
Arthur didn't particularly care what his status was, guest or student, as long as he could stay here for the time being, it would be enough after all he wants to just get stronger to be able to crush the holy church and when he has that strength staying in this academy would only be meaningless.
Actually it would be a lie to say he wasn't interested in this academy, quite the opposite, in fact, he wanted to learn new ways to use magic since he was still considered inexperienced and he wanted Lucy to get stronger and have fun, she seemed really excited and happy to be here so, of course, he wouldn't take her away from here unless she says so, but seeing the Holy church coming here to look for her, he decided to never leave her side, not even for a second, as they may use underhanded means to take her away and he would not tolerate that.
Which is why the best way to avoid that is by constantly being near her, also, he was sure she would not be bothered if he were to follow her everywhere as he trusted her and he knew she trusted him back too.
Sonia seemed startled by the way he spoke, it seemed like he had zero respect for her nonetheless she didn't mind it for she got used to his cold and shameless behavior and she knew he deeply cared for the girl beside him, she didn't dwell on it any further and spoke
”It's settled then, Zephir would lead you to a room for you 2 to stay together in.”
She waved her hand and Zephir nodded as if understanding what she meant, he walked toward Arthur and said calmly but with a cold voice
”Follow me, I will guide you to your room.”
To be honest, Zephir didn't like Arthur, in fact he hated him and hated his behavior, he thought he was reckless and a savage especially when he saw how he killed that beastman, even he, someone from the demon race, which is infamous for its brutality, would never do that. Furthermore, he was with demon girl who he wanted to rope under his care but unfortunately, he has seen how powerful Arthur is and how he always sticks close to Lucy which made it difficult for him to try to recruit her.
Arthur and Lucy soon got up from the comfortable sofa and followed Zephir towards their room but of course they never stopped holding hands and Arthur didn't want to let go either, the feeling of her soft but cold white hands was something he would never want to forget and she didn't seem bothered when holding his hands, sometimes she took the initiative to do so and when she did, Arthur would be overjoyed.
Just when Arthur, Lucy, and Zephir were going to leave the room, someone barged into Sonia's office, it was Mary the female beastman, she was still angry about what happened and she held a grudge towards Arthur for what he did to someone from her race.
”Big sister Sonia! why did you stop me earlier! didn't you see what he had done!”
Mary and Sonia were friends since childhood and were very close, whenever they were alone she would always call her 'big sister' rather than principal, when Mary finished speaking she glared with dagger eyes at Arthur who now had his face revealed but she wasn't surprised by his appearance, she just wanted to rip him to shreds.
”Now Mary, if you would be please calm down, he became a guest in our academy so you have to treat him with care”
Sonia replied with a teasing voice, she knew Mary would always act by her emotions and when she saw that beastman killed brutally it hurt her emotionally nonetheless it was careless of Mary to just dive at a participant intending to kill her after all she had to consider her position and act accordingly, The principal stared at the angry Mary then continued speaking
”Plus, didn't you see what that beastman was going to do? even if he was someone from your race, it doesn't change the fact that he was shameless and savage and you attacking out guest here based on emotions is completely disregarding your position as a council member!”
She continued to scold the female beastman for what she did, not only did she attack Arthur she didn't even hurt him which made her lose a lot of faces and force Sonia to make up a fat lie to cover up the Mary's recklessness.
The female beastman didn't talk for some time, she just stood there not knowing what to do, she was angry but what the principal said was true and she shouldn't have done that nonetheless she still couldn't forgive Arthur
”B-but! big sister Sonia, I still can't forgive him for doing that!...”
She dropped her head down while saying that as if showing the principal her pitiful side and maybe changing her mind. Sonia's heart softened as she saw Mary, they were childhood friends and she was older than Mary so she always took care of her and solved her problems, while she was thinking this an idea struck her, a smile soon formed on her breath-taking face and she spoke
”Fine! since you are so persistent, how about we make a bet?”
Hearing this, Mary's eyes sparkled and she could see some hope for revenge so she replied with an excited voice
”Bb-big sister, quick tell me! what sort of bet? as long as you let me kill this bastard! I'll accept any kind of bet”
Seemingly impatient, Mary turned her head towards Arthur and stared at him with killing intent and anger in her eyes, so Arthur couldn't help but think 'what a crazy woman, seriously, the hell is wrong with her?' he just stood there waiting for the principal to speak while being curious as to what this bet was about, since she said he would be a guest, she wouldn't let Mary just kill him or attack him so the idea of a 'bet' intrigued him.
”Haha you will fight against him and if you win you can do whatever you want with him but if you lose then you have to stop nagging and leave him alone..”
The principal made this bet for two reasons, first she wanted to see what this man was about and gauge his power, after all, she didn't see him fight seriously and second she wanted to help Mary even for a little bit
Once Mary heard the bet, she jumped with happiness for she didn't expect her big sister to help her this much 'finally! I will be able to kill this bastard!'
”Thank you big sister Sonia!”
Although she was happy, she looked at Arthur to see his response, after all, a bet has to be accepted by both sides or else it wouldn't be a bet, also he could just reject the bet, the principal stared at Arthur expecting his answer while a meaningful smile was hanging on her face.
Arthur was truly delighted, by quickly winning against this pest he would finally get rid of a nuisance and she would no longer bug him so he just waved his hand while saying
”whatever, tomorrow at noon, how about that?” hearing him speak with a carefree tone, Mary was even more angered but she soon remembered what her big sister said and controlled her emotion she just replied ”fine!” and turned around left with a ”hmph!”.
Arthur and Lucy didn't stay there any longer and proceeded to follow Zephir and surprisingly they didn't leave the building to head toward the dorms instead their room was in the same building that the principal's office was at, a couple of minutes passed and they finally reached their room, Zephir escorted them to the room's door then left after gazing coldly at Arthur.
The room was quite decent, there were 2 beds and also 2 desks, a big veranda and some beautiful paintings hanging on the walls which were also amazingly constructed. Still holding hands, they both went towards a bed and sat on it while still not talking.
He looked at Lucy who was quiet for some time now, he couldn't get enough of her charm and wanted to stare at her all day long but he thought it may be unappropriated so he soon turned his head and let go of her hand while saying
”It's already night, you must be tired after all that happened right? why don't you take some rest and sleep?”
Hearing what he said, Lucy blushed a little and dropped her head down which was completely red, she was alone with him and after what happened today and that kiss she gave him, she couldn't help but feel embarrassed but at the same time happy.
Unlike him who had infinite stamina and didn't need to sleep, she was normal and like anyone else needed some sleep, she wasn't physically tired but she was very exhausted mentally but having him with her calmed her and made her forget about her memories a little.
When she previously slept in his arms, it was really comfortable and warm, it had been a long time since she had that kind of comfortable sleep so after hesitating for a while she spoke with her melodious voice
”W-wait, can l-let me sleep on your shoulder like e-earlier?”
Her ears were bright red and she didn't dare look at him in the eye as she very embarrassed and she couldn't even believe what she just said. Arthur was startled by what he heard for he didn't expect her to say that but nonetheless he smiled and looked at her being embarrassed and fidgeting a little, he approached her once again and gave her a small hug and said
”No need to feel embarrassed Lucy, you can ask me anything.”
While saying that he sat next to her and held her pretty white hands.
Lucy couldn't muster the courage to talk to him, her heart was beating madly fast and her face burning up and when he hugged her it only made her even more embarrassed but she felt happy and blessed to have someone like him beside her, her heart was slowly opening up to him and wished for this moment to last forever.
Soon enough both of them laid on the bed and she leaned on his shoulder but was surprised to see Arthur wrap his left hand around her back to let her feel more comfortable, of course she wasn't angered or anything of the sort, instead she just smiled and got closed to him and closed her eyes intending to sleep, it was like heaven to her a warm place to sleep with no worries of someone of the holy church chasing her, she really couldn't think of what would have happened if she didn't meet him.
She first thought he was using her but as the time went on he only showed her what being loved really meant, he even went to such lengths as to kill someone in the academy grounds because he dared touch her, she unconsciously snuggled deep into his arms until her face on his chest but she didn't care and she soundlessly fell asleep.
Arthur was surprised by this turn of events, he didn't think she would get this close to him, hell even when he wrapped his left arm around her back he thought she would be against it but instead she not only accepted that, she also got closer to him, he could feel her cold body and petite white hands on his chests along with her head, he gazed at her enchanting sleeping face. It was truly breath-taking as if a goddess was sleeping and not a demon, he couldn't feel more blessed to have someone like that besides him and love him too, deep in his heart he couldn't help but thank 'X' for giving him this new life, it allowed him to love again and enjoy the warmth of someone for the first time.
It was true he loved his wife, but when he thought about it again, it was not like this one, maybe he was merely attached to his wife for he just wanted someone next to him and when that person betrayed him he finally understood what it was like to be lonely.
When he was a businessman all he did was work and gain money, his friends were only 'friends' for benefits and he was an orphan who got adopted by an old couple, they raised him and took care of him but they soon died of old age and he was left alone, so he just worked until he reached the pinnacle but he felt nothing, just empty, so he sought the warmth of a woman but that ended up badly for him and in contrary to his past life, he now had Lucy with him.
Yes, he didn't have family here and yes, he didn't have friends here, but he got her, and it was more than enough to make him feel relieved. For the first time in ages, he, who had been cold and emotionless had cried, yes, he cried for a very long time.
Lucy was sleeping so she didn't notice him but nonetheless he cried, it was tears of grief but at the same time tears of joy, if he hadn't met Lucy he would have just continued to be alone in this world and be chained with his distrustful heart forever, he would have become a robot rather than a human being. While crying Arthur thought of something he never did in his entire life, he thanked god for what was given to him, though he never believed in god, and never was a religious man, instead he cursed this 'god' for he was given a miserable and lonely life and it only got worse when he was tortured so the idea of a god watching them from above was completly erased from his mind, because if there really was one he wouldn't let people do as they please and give the kind people a miserable lives while the greedy people would have a luxurious and good life.
In fact, the reason behind their very existence crossed mind, more precisely, 'why would this 'god' create such greedy and wicked creatures!' this thought bugged him a lot especially when he was in that desolate room being tortured every day.
Only after a while did he stop crying but his eyes were swollen and his face a bit red, since he got infinite stamina he didn't need to sleep but he wanted to so he just closed his eyes and tried falling asleep.It had been quite a long time since he slept and every time he did he would have nightmares but this time he didn't. He neither had good dreams nor did have nightmares and while sleeping he unconsciously hugged the sleeping Lucy and didn't let go of her as if she would disappear if he let her go.
Morning came and Lucy woke up, but she dumbfounded to feel Arthur hugging her with both his arms and when she lifted her head to look at him she was more astonished to see him sleep nonetheless she noticed his eyes were swollen so she soon guessed he must have cried and hugged her so she didn't mind and stayed in his embrace. She didn't wake him up for she knew he never slept and him actually sleeping is rare, in fact, she never saw him sleep not even once since they met, so, for now, she stayed silent and enjoyed the feeling of being in his embrace, she wrapped her arms around him and smiled while gazing at his sleeping face.
1 hour or so he finally woke up and didn't expect himself to be hugging her he immediately let go of her in panic while saying with an apologetic tone
”S-sorry, I must have done it unconsciously!”