Song recommendation:"Show me where it hurts and I will make it worse"(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDfaw7iWV90)
There was a protracted pause. Ace wasn't certain whether the words were ignored or unheard. Clover was engrossed in an intent study of the surrounding area. The words hung in the air as Ace's breath quickened in anticipation.
"Aren't you having fun in the human? " Cover answered, at last, their back still turned from Ace.
"If I say I am, will you disappear again?" Ace returned. He tried to hold back the crack in his voice. Just the thought of it pained him. Now his master was in front of him, the notion of separation was even more difficult to abide by.
Clover's investigation was brought to a halt. Glancing back with an unreadable expression, Clover added cooly:
"Whether you're having fun or not, this is where you should be,"
Ace's hopes began to plummet and in their place, all the emotions he had suppressed for feelings of the latter, rose with fury. Why did he have to be here? Wasn't it his choice in the first place? He never asked for pity, nor salvation. Ace turned pale, clenching his shivering fist.
However, Clover seemed bent on maintaining the course of this argument and went on:
"I grew up in the demon world, a long time before you, of course. The moment I had the opportunity to leave I took it without hesitation. For centuries, demons have dreamed of the human world. They scheme to creep into this world, like an infestation. They bring a plague with them and they ruin everything.
They can't help it. Why? Why come to a world that hates them? A world that repels their very souls? Because even the poverty filled dregs of the human world are still better than life in the void. The demon world is a place that should not exist,"
"I see. So it doesn't matter what I think, is that it? You may have some special attachment to this place, but I don't! I hate it. I wish you never brought me here!" Ace's voice raised uncontrollably
His eyes burned with mounting discomposure. He continued to speak to the demon lord who had yet to face him. "You felt sorry for me. So, when I asked to be your student, you never intended to teach me?" Ace didn't need to hear the answer. He knew it well already. It had been at the surface of his mind all along.
Clover pivoted on their heels with an eyebrow raised, the same apathetic smile in place. However before they could speak, Ace added with indignation:
"You never even considered it, did you?!" The words expelling as a declaration rather than a question.
"What was there to consider? "Came the answer.
Ace recoiled. He threw his face into his hands, "I thought you actually..." his voice trembled, "...you just pitied me,"
"Pity, me?" Clover challenged.
"Don't lie to me!" Ace stepped forward.
His earlier nervousness was relieved by the stronger emotion that flooded his soul. He and Clover faced off. Clover tilted their head back amused by the provocation.
"I don't appreciate being called a liar. Lies bore me. This whole conversation bores me. I don't know what you're complaining about. You were my student for a time, weren't you? Or were you just following me around for fun?"
"You're saying, you let me believe what I wanted to believe?" Ace drew in an unsteady breath.
Clover shrugged and began to pace. Casting Ace a wayward glance but without saying anything, they began to fiddle with the stone altar as though it were a toy. Ace felt numb as he watched wordlessly. How far they seemed even at such a distance. Everything he wanted to say before felt quite impossible.
"My gratitude. My feelings. I've been selfishly forcing it on you from the start." He said at length, his emotions somewhat contained. "But I don't understand one thing. You say you didn't pity me. What then? You don't care if I'm human or not. So why? I thought you were different from the others. Was it fun for you to play with me?"
"Didn't I tell you from the start that I wasn't any different?" Clover replied softly.
Ace swallowed hard, "I wish I never met you," the embittered words escaped his lips barely a whisper before rising "I wish you never brought me here!"
"If you're that angry about it, "Clover smirked, "I can just as easily send you back,"
"Do what you want. I don't care. Send me back. Leave. Kill me," Ace returned flatly, "you just do what you want anyway, right?"
"Always," Clover stood back up, " but what about you, Ace? Didn't you get what you wanted?"
"You don't know anything about what I want," Ace replied soberly.
"I don't?" Clover scoffed. The demon lord grabbed Ace by the arm and pulled him in. He stumbled forward, finding his lips against Clover's. However, It wasn't like the soft first kiss they had shared before. It was hard and raw. He couldn't break from it. Finally, Ace bit down and he was released.
His hand hovered, shaking over his lips. He had drawn blood and he could taste the metallic tang in his mouth. Clover licked their lips with a smile so utterly bereft of life, it sent chills down Ace's spine.
"What's wrong?"Clover sneered, " I thought the sword saint would have told you what sort of being I am by now? Are you really this naive? Let me guess, you summoned me here to tell what? You love me?"
Ace blinked rapidly to hold back the tears. He couldn't bear to answer and hear his words so brutally besmirched. In spite of himself, his face gave it all away.
Clover smirked, "I see that I'm right. You've never been in love before, have you? It shows. Perhaps you thought you'd be doing me a favour by bestowing your love on someone like me? In this little fantasy of yours, didn't it ever occur to you that I'm alone for a reason? I like it. But you don't know what I like. I suppose it didn't matter, "
A tear propelled down Ace's cheek. He became very still. Inside felt numb and void of emotion. He met Clover with a dead stare.
"Then why did you come here?" he said so calmly even Clover was taken back.
"Why didn't you kill me the moment I imposed myself on you? Why bring me to the human world in the first place then?!"
"What difference does it make?!" Clover snapped.
"If you didn't pity me then why?"
"You're still going on about that? Always with the questions. Did you call me here just to annoy me? " Clover smiled darkly.
Ace's didn't move. He felt an aura of murderous intention. The air was heavy. The shadows in the dark hollow seemed to grow and spread. It was a feeling only a demon lord could produce, though until now Ace had never felt it around Clover. Malevolent red eyes narrowed upon him. Clover slammed Ace against the tree behind, pinning him down. He thought the tree might collapse with the force he was flung against the trunk.
"Maybe I came here to kill you," Clover said flatly.
Ace's expression became blank. He met Clover's glare with resignation.
"You gave me this life, how can I argue if you decide to take that life back?"
Clover shook their head and smirked, "Gave you this life? Don't you hear yourself? This is your problem. How easy it is to lay the blame with me if you don't have to take responsibility for anything. Or do you think I wouldn't kill you? Last time I told you, I only saved your life on a whim,"
"Then better to die on one of your whims than someone else's,"
Clover's eyes widened, "You..." they stopped mid-sentence.
Clover's eyes abruptly snapped to the dark forest. Laying a hand against the ground, Clover's eyes lit up wildly. An annoyed smile found its way back to their face and Clover asked, suddenly calm:
"Who did you come here with? "
"No one," Ace shook his head fearfully.
Clover froze, a strange expression drained the colour from their face.
"Did you tell anyone you were coming?"
Ace nodded begrudgingly, "But I never said where I was going!" he insisted.
He expected Clover might grow even angrier. However, the reaction evoked a response he had never seen before. If he hadn't known better, he might have thought it was fear.
Clover hastily opened a portal. With a flick of the wrist, a jagged black abyss tore a hole in the dim chamber. Clover would have stepped through without another word or glance. A snap cut into the silence of the forest. The moment Clover stepped forward, the portal suddenly closed.
Through the trees, the first break of light was rising from the skyline. A burnt red sun was creeping beyond the horizon. A shadow seeped along the forest floor. The shape of an approaching figure was silhouetted against the brazen sun behind.
Ace stared up in confusion. He looked to Clover for some explanation, but the Lord's face showed the same surprise. Then a restrained smile met Clover's lips and they spun around. As they did, the figure stepped into the clearing. Ace's eyes widened in disbelief.
"What's the hurry?" The wizard smiled darkly.