(next week the chapters will be better and more detailed I am busy this month so forgive me, also this is a sol so there will be a decent bit of character building and other random moments that's all, thanks)
Grabbing Mira's hand, Asher led her out of the room, gesturing for Clive and Luna to follow as well. He planned to take Mira to the local village for a bite. It wasn't the most expensive date, but he believed Mira wouldn't mind. She never seemed the type to care about luxury, which was something he admired about her.
After they left, only Veylnn and Amaya remained in the room.
"You know your disciple is in love with you, right?" Amaya called out in a playful manner, breaking the silence.
"I'm aware of how he feels, yes." Veylnn's voice was calm, but her gaze remained fixed on the door, where Asher had just left.
"Then why don't you accept him? I can see it in your eyes—you love him too. You act so differently when he's around, so unlike your usual cold personality." Amaya smirked, leaning back casually.
Veylnn's expression didn't change, but her fingers tightened ever so slightly on the arm of her chair. "He hasn't said anything to me about it, and he's also too young."
Amaya chuckled at Veylnn's words. "Too young? Come on, Asher's practically an adult. That's a flimsy excuse, and you know it."
Veylnn remained silent, but a storm brewed behind her eyes. She knew it was an excuse, and hearing Amaya say it out loud only made the weight of her own hesitation more unbearable. She wasn't sure if it was her role as his master or something else that held her back.
"Oh, if that's the case, why don't I take him off your hands? I'm sure the boy would prefer a woman with a body like mine—and an actual personality—over an ice queen."
Amaya's teasing cut through the room, and this time Veylnn's composure cracked.
"He won't like a hag like you," Veylnn snapped, her voice sharp as ice.
"Heh."
Amaya blinked in surprise. It was the first time she'd seen Veylnn get so defensive. Her eyes had darkened, and the normally calm and collected woman seemed to radiate a threatening aura. Anyone else would have been terrified, but Amaya found it amusing.
"My disciple is mine," Veylnn said, her tone low and possessive. The air around her grew colder, her presence turning dangerous, but to Amaya, it was more cute than intimidating.
Asher led Mira to the village, still holding her hand. He could feel the cool softness of her skin, and it sent a strange thrill through him. He wanted her to enjoy the date, to loosen up. Mira was always so guarded, so he cracked a few jokes and teased her whenever he could. Every time she blushed or let a tiny smile slip through her serious demeanor, his heart swelled. For some reason, her vulnerability made him want to protect her, to make her laugh, to see her smile more often.
Snow fell lightly around them, blanketing the village in white. The soft crunch of snow underfoot and the cold air filled the silence between them, but Asher found it peaceful, even comforting. He stole a glance at Mira. Her expression was still guarded, but there was a softness in her eyes that hadn't been there before.
As they neared a cozy restaurant that doubled as an inn, Asher pulled her inside. The warmth of the place enveloped them, and Asher requested a table for two. They sat down, ordered food, and Asher couldn't help but watch Mira carefully as they talked.
"So, what are your thoughts on the marriage, Mira?" Asher asked, trying to gauge her reaction.
"I'm not against it, but I'd like to get to know you more," Mira said, her cheeks coloring. She tried to keep her voice steady, but the thought of being married to someone as handsome—and as skilled—as Asher made her heart race. She had never considered herself someone easily impressed by looks, but Asher was different. He exuded a confidence and strength that drew her in.
"I'm glad," Asher replied with a devilish smile. "In all honesty, I'm ready when you are."
He hadn't known Mira for long, but her beauty, her strength, and the way she reacted to his presence made something stir deep inside him. She was different from other women—strong, distant, but there was a hidden softness he wanted to uncover. And the more she tried to hide it, the more he wanted to see it.
Mira blushed deeply at his words, not expecting him to be so forward. She struggled to keep her cold mask intact, though her heart betrayed her.
"W-what are you talking about? We just met."
"There's something most people don't know about me," Asher said, his voice dropping slightly. "When I see something—or someone—I want, I don't let them go. Whether it's an ally… or a woman."
His eyes darkened, and for a moment, a dangerous edge crept into his voice. He wasn't just flirting. He meant every word, and Mira felt it. The intensity of his gaze sent a shiver down her spine.
"I haven't chosen you yet," she stammered, her face heating up. "I-I have other options, you know."
Asher's smile deepened. "Then I'll just have to kill anyone who thinks about taking my woman."
"W-who is your woman, you fool?" Mira's voice cracked, completely flustered. Her face was a deep shade of red now, and she struggled to keep her composure. She deliberately ignored the part where Asher mentioned killing anyone who looked at her. Maybe she wasn't right in the head either.
"You will be soon enough," Asher said casually, as if it were already a fact. "Come on, let's go back."
After they finished their meal, Asher decided to get Mira a gift. He brought her to a local jewelry shop and picked out two matching necklaces with pendants—one with a heart, the other with an arrow. When placed together, the arrow pierced the heart.
Asher handed her the necklace with the heart, fastening it around her neck with surprising gentleness. Mira didn't resist. She stood still, blushing, but something about the gesture made her heart skip. She wasn't used to this kind of attention, and Asher's intensity both thrilled and terrified her.
From the side, Clive and Luna watched quietly. Luna smiled knowingly, while Clive scratched his head, wondering if their young master was turning into a womanizer.
"Let's go back, Mira," Asher said, offering her his hand again.
Mira took it without hesitation this time, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. The walk back was silent, but Mira had a small, content smile on her face. For the first time in a long while, she felt happy.
When they arrived back at the cabin, still holding hands, Asher made his way toward his master's room. He knocked on the door, and it was Amaya who answered.
When she saw the matching necklaces and their clasped hands, her smile widened, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
Veylnn, as always, maintained a blank expression, but if one looked closely, they would see a flicker of something deeper in her eyes. The usual void had been replaced by something raw—something that looked dangerously close to loss.
"It looks like you two had a good time," Amaya said, her wide smile giving her a mischievous, almost predatory look as she stared at their intertwined hands.