I'm honestly appalled by the amount of dirty-talk, back-handed compliments, and cussing. Just came outta nowhere. We also get a look into Kalia's feelings and her motives!
Another subject I want to talk about are the bolded parts of the chapters that are in a character's perspective. The bolding is distracting, but then I feel it'd be hard to distinguish them from regular text. Another reason, stemming from my last notice, as to why the first person preview is important because—like some have said—they give insight to a more personal view of a character's thoughts. A more emotionally-impactful line, so I keep the very essential parts bolded instead of adjusting them. Of course, the part where they make more sense in that perspective is also a reason.
•The parts that are in Kalia's point of view (and any other character) are bolded to avoid confusion.
•Italics for thoughts (+apostrophes for the first one) and sound effects.
•Multiple "-" represents flashbacks and memories (unless dependant on time signatures like "* * *").
Enjoy reading!||
. . .
First of all, the scroll was unique in color.
Unlike other scrolls made of brown paper, it was a reddish silver paper with a strange pattern engraved on it.
Small letters were written on the rolled paper.
[If you have a mind, your body moves, and when your body moves, your mind moves! Trust me and try it. This is Derek's masterpiece of transformation!
-From Derek who's always rooting for Master.] Derek!
Derek was a mage of a rank just below Simon.
He mainly studied scrolling and weapon production, and was one of the mages that the Crown Prince cherished because he produced many interesting results.
He made scrolls especially for Simon, and was also called a madman among many geeky mages.
She couldn't help but be interested.
'What the hell is this?'
As she was examining it carefully, Simon suddenly approached her then tried to snatch the scroll and take it away.
However, Kalia quickly hid the scroll behind with quick reflexes.
Simon showed a very rare embarrassed face as he looked at the red paper that slipped from his fingertips and was hidden behind Kalia's back.
Kalia looked with interest at Simon, who was embarrassed and had mostly stiffened.
"Kalia. Just agree to give it to me. It's dangerous."
"Dangerous? This?"
"Yes, so give it to me now."
"Hmm?"
Kalia grinned at the red paper with juvenile eyes.
The quiet spirit of drunkenness rose once again.
Maybe it was the first time in a long time that she wanted to play games with a friend.
On the other hand, she wasn't really trying to do this for nothing.
She just wanted to go back to her childhood and get to smile and laugh . . .
"Nope?"
"Kalia."
Simon called her name with a stern face.
Kalia raised her head defiantly and said, ""Would you like to take it?"
". . . . Do you think I can't?"
"If you can, try it."
Kalia was in position to escape.
But there was no chance to run away.
Contrary to her expectations, Simon didn't deal with her antics with the former speech.
Rather, he stood tall, folded his arms, and stared at her with cool eyes.
". . ."
". . . . . ."
It was very awkward.
Kalia could feel her cheeks blushing and quietly tried to put the scroll down.
"That's what I said, that kind of scroll is dangerous . . . Aren't you curious, Kalia?"
". . . . What kind of scroll is this?"
Simon's eyes were strangely glossy.
With a rather crooked smile, he dryly said, ""Derek said he was in high spirits because of it. It has a magic spell attached to see if people are in love with each other or not."
'It's a magic spell that lets you know if you're in love with each other or not? How?'
Kalia shook her head, unable to understand Simon's words.
Simon's voice became a little more insidious.
"If you tear it up with someone who your heart feels for, something very, very humiliating happens."
". . . . . Something big?"
'What's that?'
As a fool who only knew the sword, Kalia could not understand what Simon said.
"I feel something like that. When I'm with Simon, who I care for, my heart always lifts."
"So . . . love?"
Simon quietly whispered to himself, staring at Kalia, who was imitating his words like a parrot.
"Love."
It was only one word, and Kalia seemed to have a burst of inferno from one corner of her heart.
And at first glance, it seemed to her that she saw flames flickering in the eyes of Simon.
"Yes, desire. For example . . ."
Kalia's eyes focused on Simon's lips, muttering, "Desire," as she did so.
At that moment, Simon smiled languidly and wetly bit his lower lip.
'What was that?' Kalia's eyes blinked.
It was embarrassing. Although it was his body, it was a reaction that did not seem to be controlled.
Simon's red tongue escaped like a snake, wetting his lips, he then muttered words of temptation.
"I'm going crazy because I want to kiss, no, I want to trace every inch of your body with my hands until your white skin has red marks . . ."
Kalia's eyes bore into his. However, Simon didn't return her gaze.
"I'm going to seal those lips, and then I'm going to . . . . . ."
His eyes clung to Kalia's lips in a stark directness.
Simon muttered insistently, keeping his eyes on her lips.
". . . . . . . That's exactly what makes you want to push something around roughly." ||*2||
Gulp.
Without realizing it, a string of saliva had already passed her neckline, and she quickly shut her mouth.
'What's wrong with my mouth?'
Surprised, her eyes widened, she couldn't understand why she swallowed the dry saliva.
She just stared blankly at Simon's lips, which he had sucked and released, and Kalia swallowed her saliva once again but without her knowledge.
". . . . . . ?"
Kalia, who was confused and puzzled because she could not understand the situation, glanced at Simon, who looked very pleased.
Kalia was a little uncomfortable because she felt the relaxed fox reveal a cunning smile, but she also did not know why she felt a sense of dread.
What happened at that moment was full of mystery to Kalia. At any rate, Kalia, suddenly feeling fevered, began pouring the wine from the table into the glass and smacked Simon on the shoulder.
"Simon, this is not a wild battlefield. Please show me some respect. Such expressions are a bit too, um, so . . ."
"Is it sexy?"
'Ha, what's wrong with Simon?'
What was he doing, just like that, just why . . . . . .
". . . I'm getting angry."
'You're just wandering around with those lips? It makes my eyes itch.'
His smile, with a sense of triumph, was quite annoying to Kalia.
She glimpsed at Simon with thinned eyes and gulped down the wine.
"I just explained it as kindly as I could because you needed an explanation, so why?"
It was not that it sounded like a dirty thing.
Simon, who shrugged, had said that as he approached her.
Then suddenly, he stopped and murmured in a voice that was quite serious.
"Or did you think about something dirty and make an excuse?"
"No."
". . ."
"Just no, Simon."
Kalia repeatedly denied it by lowering her voice as if she was emphasizing it, but Simon seemed to not believe it.
The scroll in question rolled down the table because Kalia, who was being dishonest, had dropped her glass.
It rolled round and moved to the tip of Simon's foot as if it wanted to be on it.
He gently leaned down and used his hand to lift the scroll.
Then he unfolded it to the left without hesitation.
". . . . !"
Kalia didn't react on the surface, but inside she was somewhat surprised.
He spoke lightly with a harmless childlike smile.
"Of course, it's a tale that can be possible among people who have feelings for each other. Or it's just a piece of paper. Yes . . . . but, it doesn't matter, does it? Isn't that right, Kalia?"
"Oh, uh, right."
Although Kalia replied to it in a daze, somehow she felt provoked by him.
But as she had no reason to be, she soon cleared up the false suspicion.
Simon chuckled as if he knew what she was thinking and feeling.
The corners of his mouth, which aligned with his straight, delicate chin, formed a mischievous, untamed smirk.
"As expected, it's the General. Wouldn't it be abnormal to scare you? Notoriously simple, ignorant, and legendary Kalia. Nothing scares you."
'. . . . . . Is it not? It sounds like he's trying to provoke me, no matter how many times I hear it.'
Simon, who looked proudly at the confusion of Kalia's pale green pupils, shook the glowing red paper.
"So you're not going to be tearing any of this shit? Your mental magic is strong enough that it will cause some sort of reaction."
". . . Really?"
You want me to rip this up?
Like Simon had said, it was not scary at all. She was just feeling a bit uncomfortable somewhere . . . . .
"Yes, I don't need to. Actually, Derek's been so doubtful about it, it really just makes me fume. You're just in time, though. I thought it would be nice if someone could test this, but if our General, who is fearless and has a mind like a rock, would do it for me, I won't have to worry. Right?"
No matter how dense Kalia was, she had no choice but to notice it.
'That son of a bitch.'
Simon was making fun of her right at that moment.
You were jumping up and down, telling me not to touch it, saying it was dangerous. Now look at that sudden transition.
Simon had been a genius in his life since he was a child.
The elegant words that were difficult to forget were simply basic etiquette to him. The addition of rich expressions and moderately exaggerated actions used to make Kalia fall in love with him.
It was also because of those factors that the story of her tragic childhood, which sometimes made her depressed, was revealed.
That story, too, created all the sadness of the young knight who crossed the River of Death on his behalf.
She noticed she had happened to drink Simon's special potion—which honestly wasn't too terribly tasteless—that would strengthen her body.
It was all about playing in his Game of Chess.
But not this time!
Kalia strengthened her defenses and said firmly, "No, I won't."
"Hm, why?"
"Because there's no reason to."
"Oh, I see."
Then he nodded softly and looked at her, saying, 'If you're scared, you'll tell me it's scary.'
She couldn't help getting angry even though she knew it was a gentle blow against her.
Kalia was never so sensitive towards others.
There was only one person who wanted to play a prank on her, who felt comfortable around her when they were angry, and who didn't want to see her like an enemy. It was always Simon.
She could act so defenselessly because she was only in front of him, and the problem was that Simon knew that very well.
'You're a troublesome mage, too.'
If she kept looking at that face, she felt like she was going to lose her temper. Kalia turned her head roughly and didn't even bother to look at him.
At that moment, Simon tapped his palm with the side of his fist as if he had realized something big! He then made a 'Aha!' noise.
"Are you thinking that something really strange will happen, Kalia? Don't tell me . . . between you and me?"
Simon's eyes were wide in expression, 'That can't be true. Isn't that right?' they seemed to ask.
Before Kalia, who was speechless, could say anything, Simon quickly added, "What? Did you ever like me? Otherwise, I don't think there's any reason to be so nervous.'
'Huh.'
She couldn't believe he was reacting like that.
For Kalia, Simon was no more than a brotherly comrade. They'd even passed the many obstacles of death together!
She was so strictly brought up with that ideal by the Duchess to the point she was extremely convinced that it was true, believing that only that would be the future of their relationship.
Only by following that ideal can I stay together with you like this. "Yes, you've been secretly in love with me this whole time."
So Simon's prompting statements provoked her immensely. That's just ridiculous, Simon."
Kalia, whose voice was full of acid, snatched the limp red paper from Simon's hand.
"Why don't I rip this for you?"
And then she tore it apart in one try.