Chapter 33: Misery Loves Company?
Chapter 33: Misery Loves Company?
"Did you hear? The Amazon Knight was killed today."
"Nah, she didn’t die. I was right there—she just got tossed into a trash can."
"What are you guys talking about? I heard she was carried off after some 'alone time' by a guy who claimed her as his woman."
"No way. Count Loki did the deed, pulled up his pants, and ran for it. Teacher Ayala was heard screaming threats after he made her his woman. She was absolutely furious!"
As Thorin and Loki rode their horses away from the school grounds, the scandalous gossip of the copper-trimmed Knights drifted past them. Thorin leaned over his saddle, a wicked grin spreading across his face.
"You, my brother, are all the second-class students can talk about," Thorin chuckled, nudging Loki. "No man has ever won a duel against Teacher Ayala. Come on, tell me how you beat her. Are any of those rumors true?"
Loki offered a tired, half-hearted smile. "Every single one of those rumors is half true and half false. Figure it out yourself. Let's just get home—I need a long, hot shower."
"Tell me how you beat her."
"No."
"Tell me how you beat her."
"No."
"Tell me how you beat her."
"No."
Thorin's relentless pestering continued without a pause for the entire ride home.
Upon arriving at the estate, Loki summoned Shehuang, who immediately called for Yin Meng and Taki to join them.
"Master, how was your first kill?" Shehuang asked. A playful, mischievous smile danced on her lips as she gently rubbed his cheek.
Taki spoke up, shaking her head. "From the very start of the match, I knew the Lord wouldn't kill her. My Foresight ability made that clear."
Yin Meng stood closely at Loki's side, looking up at him with wide, curious eyes. "You said you loved her... Is that why you spared her, Master?"
Loki wrapped his arms around the women, offering each of them a brief, reassuring kiss. "First, I want to thank all of you for fighting alongside me and risking your lives. I owe you everything. As for Ayala... I don't feel any romantic love for her, but..." He paused, his expression turning distant. "Every time I prepared to thrust the Wolf Fang Longsword into her heart, my own chest ached. It was a strange, suffocating feeling. Maybe I could have killed anyone else, but not her."
Shehuang's playful demeanor softened into an analytical gaze. "Well, tomorrow will show us if she was worth saving. If she keeps our secrets, then perhaps your instincts were right. If she exposes you, there is always next time to end her." She smirked, her tone turning sultry. "Master Loki, send me back to my world to rest until you need me again. Yin will resume her maid duties, and tonight, both of you can sleep with Master to relieve his... stress."
As Shehuang disappeared back into her realm, Loki couldn't help but shake a lingering thought. With the way she commands the household, why does it feel like she's the real wife around here?
Deep within the fortified walls of Castle Albion, the private chambers of the First Queen remained shrouded in luxury and shadow.
Queen Angelica Cross was the true definition of a charming, villainous monarch. She was tall, elegant, and possessed a dark, calculating sensuality.
Described by many as seductively cruel, her beauty was flawless, yet her heart was ruthlessly cold. Though she had never directly betrayed her husband, her kingdom, or humanity, she ruled the shadows. Through blackmail—which was oddly legal in these courts—political setups, and arranged marriages, she pulled the strings of the entire realm.
Angelica was the kingdom’s sole 9th Circle Dark Mage, having lived even longer than her husband, King Owen. In his youth, Owen had pursued her, fascinated by the classic "villainous noblewoman" trope. He easily won her affection due to his prestigious status as a Prince and a Death Summoner.
They married happily, but because of their immense magical strength, it took nearly a thousand years of trying before their son, Vali, was finally born.
Over the centuries, Owen’s taste for the exotic led him to take six more queens. Angelica easily manipulated most of them. The two wives who managed to give birth to sons were quickly dealt with; Angelica orchestrated political traps ensuring their children could never inherit the throne. Her long-awaited ambition was finally realized when she became pregnant with Vali, securing a strong prince to succeed Owen.
However, a year after Vali's birth, the Elf Queen secretly gave birth to Owen’s first daughter, Lana.
While King Luke Balder was a half-elf himself, the general human population of Myst harbored deep distrust and indifference toward elves. They were allies of convenience, not affection. When King Balder and Queen Breeze approached Angelica, begging her to adopt Lana and raise her as a human to protect her identity, Angelica’s initial instinct was to venomously reject the insult.
Then, a brilliant stroke of malice struck her. If I raise and influence this half-elf princess myself, I can ensure she becomes my puppet and never threatens Vali’s ascension.
For eighteen years, Lana lived a lie, genuinely believing her adoptive mother loved and cared for her. That illusion shattered the moment Lana awakened as a Summoner, displaying talent that far eclipsed Vali's.
Since that day, Angelica had transformed into a strict, demanding matriarch. She forced Lana to network with influential noblemen, recently pushing her toward Thorin of the Sky Duchy. Now more mature, Lana realized her bond with her mother was fractured, and she could feel Vali's subtle, manipulative influence guiding her actions. With the constant, unspoken threat of exposing the King's lies—which would turn Lana into a social pariah—the young princess was easily controlled with a few sweet, hollow words.
"Mother, the rumors are true," Vali reported, standing before Angelica. "Loki Sky really did defeat Ayala, though no one knows how. No one even wants to believe it. What should our next move be?"
The beautiful queen took a slow sip of white wine, processing her son’s words. Her bright blue eyes flashed with cold intelligence as her crimson lips parted.
"Based on this development, the scales have tipped against us," Angelica murmured. "It appears little Lana is growing interested in this Loki Sky, which is highly problematic. However, we must stop suppressing him. In fact, you need to befriend him."
Vali blinked, surprised. "Befriend him?"
"Not as true friends, of course," the Queen clarified, waving her hand dismissively. "Keep your interactions relaxed. If Lana and Loki were to form a match, her identity as a half-elf wouldn't matter anymore; the kingdom would overlook it if she were paired with the rising male Summoner. That cannot happen."
She leaned back, her mind spinning new webs. "The plan to marry Lana to Thorin must proceed. That union is the perfect excuse to reasonably exile her from the capital to the northern regions. Therefore, instead of trying to drive a wedge between Thorin and Loki's brotherhood, switch your focus. Create space between Lana and Loki. Do not be obvious about it, but make Loki seem far less attractive to a naive girl like Lana."
Angelica's brow furrowed slightly. "My main concern right now is Leandra. She is meddling far too much lately. I cannot tell if it regards your father’s will, or if she wants Lana, Loki, or Thorin on her side. For now, lay low. We have time. Rushing is the failure of all good plans."
Vali smiled, eager to please his doting mother. "I understand, Mother. I will find ways to introduce women and men that Lana despises into Loki's social circle. If she associates him with unlikable people, it should naturally create emotional distance between them, right?"
Tic, tic, tic.
The Queen’s perfectly manicured nails tapped against her wine glass in approval. "Not bad. You are improving, Vali. But ensure you do not overdo it. Loki is sharp. If too many people swarm him at once, he will become alert. A fine meal must be cooked slowly to taste right. Go rest now, and try harder in school. You haven't been cultivating your magic core properly. Go."
Vali’s smile faltered slightly at the mention of his magical training. It was a sore spot for him. He despised the fact that his magical aptitude had manifested as a lowly Healer. Because of this, he neglected his training, choosing instead to spend all his energy mastering the art of psychological manipulation—an addiction he proudly shared with his mother.
Yet, if Vali had spent even half as much effort training his magic core as he did playing mind games, he truly would have been a force to be reckoned with, rather than just another spoiled nobleman.
The next morning, I woke up pinned beneath a delightful layout of soft skin, silk sheets, and heavy limbs. Yin Meng and Taki Tsuki were both sound asleep, using me as a communal mattress.
The two of them had really let me cut loose the night before, helping me bleed away the lingering frustrations and violent adrenaline of yesterday's battle. They had thoroughly enjoyed our night of lovemaking, too—if the stray marks on our skin were any indication.
Feeling me stir beneath her, Taki fluttered her eyelids open. She rubbed at her face, her voice thick with sleep. "Good morning, my Lord. My eyes are still a bit sore from yesterday... if it is alright, may I rest in bed today?"
"Rest as long as you need, Taki-chan."
Thankfully, Taki was a water mage. She had already used her magic to clean the sweat and fluids off us before we drifted off, otherwise holding her this early in the morning would have felt incredibly awkward.
Mwah~!
I leaned up and covered her lips gently with mine, my hand casually roaming the silky curve of her hip and thigh.
"Yin will come with me today," I added, breaking the kiss with a smile. "Besides, I doubt trouble will manage to find me two days in a row, right?"
Yin, who was currently admiring a cluster of hickeys she had specifically asked me to leave on her collarbone, wrapped her arms around my neck from behind, hugging me tightly. "Master, who would dare pick a fight with you now? Let's get you ready for school. Now that that troublemaker Master Shehuang is away, life is finally peaceful."
Ever since Yin and I had first crossed the line into lovemaking, she had developed a cute, slightly possessive streak. She particularly hated sharing me with Shehuang, which I found incredibly endearing.
Unfortunately, Murphy’s Law was listening. Back on Earth, they say if anything can go wrong, it will. In this world, the universe apparently heard Yin’s and my casual challenge to fate, and instantly accepted it.
The blow struck the exact moment Yin, Thorin, and I finished stabling our three horses at the academy.
Whoosh~!
Like a sudden, invisible gale, a shadow blurred past my vision. Before I could even reach for a weapon, my wrist was clamped in a vise grip by a strong, calloused hand. I blinked, and there she was.
"I don't care what class you planned to attend this morning," Teacher Ayala growled, her green eyes blazing. "I won't let you skip your Vanguard training today!"
Yank! Slide!
My shoulder joint groaned under the sudden, violent force. My boots made a harsh, scraping sound against the stone street as Ayala spun on her heel and began dragging me behind her like a sack of potatoes.
Thorin and I exchanged a look of pure bewilderment. The mental image of a prehistoric caveman dragging their chosen mate back to a cavern by the hair instantly flashed in both of our minds.
"Teacher Ayala, what are you doing?!" I yelled, trying and failing to dig my heels into the cobblestones. "You can't just force me to train like this... Look around! This is broad-daylight kidnapping, right?!"
She didn't stop. She didn't even slow down. She merely glanced back over her shoulder, her emerald eyes judging me like I was a fragile glass doll.
"You beat me yesterday. Fine," she sneered. "But I won't let the man who bested me neglect his physical aura training just because he prefers lazy Summoning. I will make you stronger, whether you agree to it or not. And Thorin! Why are you following us? Don't you have other classes to go to?"
Thorin looked at me, then at the terrifying woman dragging me away. He shrugged, picking up his pace to keep stride with us. "I planned on training with Loki today anyway, so it's best I come along. Plus, after the chaos yesterday, I won't feel right if I spend all morning worrying about what trouble he's gotten into."
Ayala scoffed at him, rolling her eyes, though her grip on my wrist didn't loosen a fraction. "Suit yourself. Just don't come crying to me when we get to class. And you! Walk like a man, not a prisoner!"
Realizing resistance was entirely futile, I stopped dragging my feet and walked in resignation alongside this woman, who I seemed to have mentally broken during our duel yesterday.
"Please, give me one good reason to listen to you," I muttered. "Yesterday, you literally wanted me dead."
Ayala stopped dead in her tracks. Because of her abrupt halt, I pitched forward, my face planting right into the side-boob armor of her plate chest piece.
It was a remarkably firm, metallic, and yet oddly shapely collision.
She looked down into my thoroughly confused face, her expression deadly serious.
"Your Summoning is the best I've ever seen, Count Loki. But tell me—what happens if you find yourself trapped in an anti-magic array that stops spells from activating? What if an enemy Mage banishes your Summons the moment they appear? In those moments, your Vanguard aura training is the only thing standing between you and a grave. What would yesterday have looked like if you only had your aura to rely on?"
I looked up into her green eyes, which matched the shade of my own. There was no malice in them. No personal grudges, no lingering resentment from her defeat. In her own twisted, violent way, she was seriously trying to teach me. She was acting like a true instructor.
"Teach me Ground Stomp, Teacher Ayala," I said quietly.
The harsh grip on my wrist softened. Her fingers slid down, shifting from a prisoner's hold into a firm, locked grasp around my hand. She turned and began pulling me along again, her pace brisk.
"We need to hurry. You're far too rough around the edges. Let's go."
Thorin and I stared at her in utter astonishment. This Amazonian powerhouse was currently holding my hand like a smitten schoolgirl instead of arresting me, leaving both of us feeling entirely stunned inside.
"Morning Sir Thorin, Teacher Ayala, and Sir Loki!"
A familiar voice broke the awkward silence. We happened to be passing a small courtyard, and Prince Vali was standing there, waving cheerfully at us.
Ayala gave the Prince a curt nod, barely pausing her stride. Thorin, however, noticed Princess Lana standing right next to her brother. Her eyes were pinned directly to the sight of Ayala’s hand tightly interwoven with mine.
"Morning, Prince, Princess," Thorin greeted them quickly, sensing the tension.
Vali looked highly amused by my sudden "Amazon-napping" and stepped forward with an offer. "Teacher Ayala, our lunch was rather rudely interrupted yesterday. My sister and I would love to humbly invite you and your two students to redo it today. What do you say?"
Ayala wasn't a calculating or political woman. She instantly realized this gave her a perfect excuse to eat with me again, while simultaneously forcing the wealthy Prince to foot the bill. She agreed on behalf of all three of us without a second thought.
"We will be working exceptionally hard this morning and we will be starving, so we accept. We shall meet you at the usual spot. Loki, Thorin, move it!"
Lana knew I was supposed to be attending a magic theory lecture with her this morning. She stepped forward, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Count Loki? I thought you had magic class right now?"
Just as I opened my mouth to blame my current captivity on Ayala, the instructor yanked me forward, accelerating into a light jog.
"Sorry, Princess! We're in a massive hurry and I didn't quite hear you! See you at lunch!" Ayala shouted back over her shoulder.
Fuck, I thought, struggling to keep my balance as she hauled me away. Can she really just play it off like that?!
When we finally arrived at the central training arena, the romantic, protective illusion evaporated instantly.
I realized the horrifying truth. Ayala didn't love me. She didn't even like me. She hated me to the absolute core of her soul.
Ayala stood at the edge of the shattered sands, a smug, borderline sadistic smile playing on her lips. In her hands, she held two heavy wooden brooms, two rusty mops, and a pair of oversized trash cans. She tossed them to Thorin and me.
"Today's Vanguard training is simple," Ayala chirped, adjusting her armor. "Clean up the damaged arena by lunchtime!"
We looked out at the battlefield. It was a complete disaster area. The ground was heavily flooded with stagnant water from Taki's spells, the stone tiles were crumbling into jagged rocks, and dried Amazon blood stained the shattered masonry. It looked like a war zone because it was a war zone.
Thorin and I stared at the brooms, then looked around for Ayala, only to find she had already vanished into the corridors, leaving us to our fate.
Thorin turned to me, his jaw dropping. "Fuck you, and fuck me! I should have gone to my other class! I just had to come along to watch you be miserable, didn't I?!"
I raised my broom high into the air, holding it aloft like a legendary broadsword, and gave him a grim, warrior's grin. "Misery loves company, brother!"
And so, we cleaned.
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