The beast swiped at Ace furiously. He managed to dodge the first, but the second came too quickly. A strange light began to shine from under Ace's shirt. The Beast's claw came down again but the blow was deflected. This finally garnered Clover's attention.
Suddenly, the beast's weight shifted. It fell to Ace's side with a crash. The beast was dead. Ace's arms dropped to the ground, he stared up at the ocean of stars breathless. He knew the cause at once. Eventually, he sat up to confirm his suspicions.
The beast had been skewered by a sharp eruption of earth. It was Lord Clover's magic. Ace looked over. Clover walked towards him. Ace tried to stand but he felt a sharp pain down his back, he stifled a groan forcing himself up.
"What was that?" Clover asked bemused.
Ace glanced up then back down. He hobbled back to the fire. However, this time Clover interceded. Ace was too slow. Clover caught the thread of the necklace around Ace's neck and yanked it off. Clover examined the necklace.
It was a flat pendant attached to a worn thread. The pendant was smooth with a silky white side but otherwise dull. It wasn't glowing anymore. Clover inspected it, flipping it around in their palm. Ace tried to snatch it back but Clover ducked out of his path without looking up.
"Give it back," Ace breathed, "Please," he added more desperately.
"This thing saved you. How?" Clover demanded.
"I don't know," Ace exhaled unsteadily, "It's just a keep safe. I've always had it,"
"So this is what has kept you alive all this time?"
Ace's eyes followed it with a worried expression.
"Why didn't you use this to fight before?"
"I can't. It doesn't work like that. I don't know how it works. Sometimes it protects and sometimes it doesn't," Ace replied reticently. Clover finally looked over at Ace. He was struggling to stand. Clover threw the necklace back to Ace, sitting back at the fire.
"You really are very stubborn," Clover commented without looking back, "What would you have proved by letting that creature kill you?"
Ace didn't answer this time. He stumbled forward and crouched beside the fire once more. Clover glanced over inspecting his back. Ace's collar was red with blood. The armour had shielded most of the blow but the beast had managed to cut the skin.
"You're injured," Clover said in a low voice.
"I'm fine," Ace replied flatly.
"Are you angry about what I said? Is that why you're being like this?" Clover's eyes narrowed.
"I'm not angry. What you said was true. What right do I have to question you when I can't even account for my own actions?" Ace said bitterly.
Clover let out a whisper of a laugh, "You really are hilarious. You're so serious and yet you've misunderstood me completely,"
"What did you mean then? Can't you just say it straight?"
"I could, but where would the fun be in that?"
Ace sighed and bored his eyes into the fire. He had felt pain like this before. It was nothing he couldn't handle. Perhaps he deserved it for his arrogance, he thought to himself. He was so deeply enraptured in his thoughts that he didn't notice Clover standing over him until he felt a tug on his shirt.
Ace jumped back startled. Clover's hand hovered where Ace had been sitting. Their eyebrows drew up with an amused grin.
"What are you acting shy for?" Clover scoffed, "I can heal it for you,"
"No, it's fine...really, it's okay," Ace stammered. His usual mumbling was more pronounced this time. There was a look of genuine fear in his eyes. Clover's smile dropped and they became serious. They took another step towards Ace.
"You're taking this too far. Just let me see it," Clover insisted. They reach out towards Ace.
"NO!" Ace recoiled. His voice came out high and sharp.
There was an awkward silence. Clover's eyes grew dark, their hands dropped. Ace averted his eyes. He forced a small smile.
"It's nothing," he said trying to dismiss it altogether, "I appreciate master's offer, but it was just a flesh wound, I'll be fine,"
"I see," Clover said flatly and turned away. Their expression grew cold. Ace wanted to offer a further explanation but stopped himself. Above all else, he didn't want the master to see that. He set out his bed and laid down for the night.
Daybreak ushered in a peaceful hum of songbirds singing in the trees. The events from the night before seemed like just a terrible dream. However, upon finding the lower-beasts body still slumped over just beyond their camp, Ace knew it was all too true. Not to mention, the sharp, throbbing pain in his back.
They gathered their things. Ace fought against the pain and followed Clover wearily as they continued their trip to the East. If he betrayed any sign of the pain, Clover didn't mention it again. Their eyes were set firmly ahead with a look of determination. Ace wondered what it meant.
He feared he had severed the cord of their relationship that night. He didn't know how to remedy it. They continued on, hardly speaking. And by afternoon, Ace felt worse than ever. He had broken out in a cold sweat. His vision was blurred and he felt woozy.
He pushed himself forward hardly knowing what was in front of him. He could just make the shape of Lord Clover walking ahead. Suddenly everything began to spin. He saw a flash of green below and his body swayed.
Clover caught Ace in their arms. He had passed out and was breathing heavily. A feverish sweat dotted his brow. Clover stared down at his childlike face and laid him down softly.
"So stubborn," Clover observed with a sigh.
It was several hours before Ace came to. His fever had finally broken and he woke up to the night sky over his head.
Ace blinked confused, from the corner of his eye, he saw his master sitting once more by the fire. He could hardly remember the events of the day just past. He pulled himself up expecting to feel sharp pain again but was surprised at how light his body felt.
Then as his eyes peeled down, widening in horror. His chest had been bandaged. Ace glanced up at Clover who was now looking towards him with an inscrutable stare. Ace felt numb, he swallowed hard.
"You saw?" Ace's mouth felt dry.
"Saw what?" Clover returned with a blank expression.
Ace stared down, his jaw clenched, "Master! I know you must have seen it. You don't have to be kind for my sake. You can say it,"
"When have I ever been kind?" Clover scoffed, "You give me too much credit,"
"The scars," Ace said in a low voice, "The scars on my back. I know you must have seen them,"
"Ace," Clover stepped toward him. He trembled hiding his face, but Clover titled it up to theirs. Ace looked up wide-eyed. Clover's eyes glowed a deep red, powerful and demanding. Ace couldn't look away.
"Shame is for the weak. Don't hide. You must face it. Those scars don't decide who you are, you do,"
With that, Clover returned to the fireside. Ace's lips parted but he didn't speak. He dashed the tears from his eyes. His eyes fell on Lord Clover. He wondered how his master had become so strong? Whenever Clover spoke seriously, Ace felt a depth of conviction that rattled him to the very core.
Clover didn't seem to expect anything from him. They were happy just to let things be. It was a freedom Ace wanted desperately. He wanted to know more about his master. If only there was a way to find out.
But Lord Clover never dropped their guard. Nevermind revealing anything meaningful about themselves. Ace only knew the rumours, but he realised this was a far cry from the real person. Before he sought out Lord Clover, he had already decided no matter what manner of person the lord was, he would follow them without question.
Now, his feelings were slowly changing. Somehow he felt it wasn't enough just to follow.
------------------------------
Over the following week, they travelled onwards. While still technically being part of the Empire, the eastern province was quite different than Ace had expected. It became increasingly more provincial. The East was the agricultural powerhouse of the Empire.
However, the change was even more sudden when they crossed the border into Elven territory. The elves were the only society to use magic outside of the Empire. However, unlike humans, Elves kept their use of magic strictly to tools and receptacles. It was also the only place richer than the Empire.
The result of their investment in magical tools was some of the most beautiful architecture in the known world. Their buildings were an impressive feat of spiralling networks. Built high above the treetops, their buildings emanated a soft blue glow. Stepping into their city in the depths of the forest was both enrapturing and breathtaking to Ace.
After supper in a local inn, Clover led them to a less savoury part of the town. The city was a hub for the adventurer's guild and at night, most adventurers could be found in the lower district's night scene. It was encumbered with attentive elven hostesses and drunken visitors.
"Why are we here?" Is what Ace wanted to ask, looking around suspiciously. He feared Clover might be about to entertain another wild diversion. Luckily, his fears were laid to rest, when they spotted a figure stumbling out of the line of bars. Clover smirked as the man turned back.
At once the man's eyes narrowed. Addressing the two eleven women who were draped over his arms:
"Go ahead ladies, I'll catch up with you at the inn," he said with a charming smile. However, the moment they disappeared his eyes turned cold. Clover nudged Ace.
"Here's your Sword Saint. The great general Albaric in the flesh," Clover said with an expectant smile. However Ace looked confusedly towards the man..
Albaric had light blonde hair and agreeable eyes. His face was shadowed with stubble, and though he looked somewhat unkempt, he had an undeniable attractiveness to his features. Ace looked at him unconvinced. This couldn't possibly be the sword saint they had travelled all this way to see.
For one he looked much younger than Ace had expected, though his hard stare hid it well. He was no older than thirty. What's more, they were in the worst part of town. For some reason, the pristine image of the Sword Saint didn't match up to the drunk that stood before him. This so-called hero looked more like an escort than a saint.
"You've got some nerve showing up here," The Sword Saint straightened up as he faced Clover. His drunkenness seemed to be less evident.
"I thought you'd be happy to see a familiar face," Clover replied unphased.
"Yeah, a familiar face, but not yours," Albaric scoffed, "What do you want? Make it quick, I'm really 'busy' right now,"
"I can see that. Far be it from me to get in the way," Clover smirked, "but I've got a favour to ask,"
"I don't grant favours to Demon Lords," Albaric returned.
"Come on Mr General, you owe me one," Clover smiled.
"I don't owe you shit!" Albaric snapped, "And I'm not a general anymore,"
Clover tilted their head to one side," You retired your post? That's a shame,"
"What do you care?" Albaric sniffed.
"I'm just weighing your credentials," Clover gave a malevolent grin.
"My credentials?" Albaric returned in a low voice, "Listen to me, you arrogant son of a bitch. The others might have some kind of weird soft spot for you, but I don't. Now piss off before you really get on my nerves,"
"That's hurtful," Clover maintained a reticent smile, "And it's not true either. Don't you know I was practically chased out of the Empire by the royal guards?"
"And yet here you are, unscathed, running your mouth," Albaric sneered.
"Just hear me out," Clover shrugged, "It's not like you have anywhere better to be,"
"I don't have to listen to this," Albaric's eyes turned dark, "Give me one reason I shouldn't kill you right now,"
"For one, you'd be the one who'd end up dead," Clover grinned.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Albaric smiled cynically, "A lot has changed over the past five years,"
"Well then, let's try my second reason," Clover thrust Ace out in front of Albaric. His eyes widened startled, finding himself under the Sword Saint's glare. Albaric looked Ace over.
"And who's this kid supposed to be?"
Clover's eyes twinkled mischievously.
"Your new student."