Chapter 2: Clover

Song recommendation: These things (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4cVv0kb-Fs)

Ace launched into a furious attack, aiming his punches at the Demon Lord.

Lord Clover dodged each one without effort. It was like a child trying to attack a wild bear. As Ace went for another punch, Clover caught his hand and sent him toppling back to the ground. Once more, the Demon Lord stood over Ace with a blank unsympathetic stare.

"Oh, you really are quite weak," Lord Clover tilted their head back, "Why don't you use your demonic magic?"

Ace's jaw clenched, he stared down still catching his breath. Before he could recover, the demon Lord sent him flying back with another kick.

"I don't hear your answer," Lord Clover added with a smile.

Ace let out a cough, his arms shook as he tried to get up once more. The Demon Lord was once more at his side like a flash of lightning. Ace felt the tremendous pressure of the Demon Lord's glare. The bloodthirsty aura was enough to bring him to a halt.

"I...can't!" Ace spat begrudgingly, "I can't use any magic,"

"Ha?" the Demon Lord raised an eyebrow in disbelief. Lord Clover gripped the boy's face and shoved it from side to side. Ace stared back angrily at the Demon Lord. Clover released him and peeled back, seemingly satisfied by this examination.

"You shouldn't lie to me, boy," Clover remarked.

"I'm not lying!" Ace rejoined fiercely.

"I can tell you have magic just from looking at you. Though what kind of magic it is, remains to be seen," the Lord's eyes narrowed.

Ace's eyes widened, "You can tell that from just looking at me?"

"That and more," Clover smirked, taking a seat back upon their throne.

Ace was lost in thought for a moment but quickly regained momentum. He followed Clover back to the throne and waited. His eyes were clear and intense. Lord Clover observed him with growing interest. Ace had a gaze rarely found in the Demon world. His expression reflected his thoughts directly.

Clover wondered if it was just naivety or something more. Such purity was inevitably lost in the Demon World. How had this child sustained it? Unable to determine what it was exactly, a strange idea came to Clover's mind. Perhaps this would be a new way to pass the boredom.

"Where did you say you came from?" Clover questioned.

"The Palace of Coins," Ace answered at once.

"Hmm? The East..." Clover tapped the armrest, "but don't you know, I am the one who caused your Lord's death? I killed the Demon Lord Terre Sol of the East, along with the other three Demon Lords."

"I know that," Ace replied calmly, "but I hated Lord Terre Sol. I'm happy you killed him,"

Clover cast a wayward glance at the boy. Ace's expression had become dark.

"Is that so?" Clover smiled.

"And why do you want to be my student?" Clover added in a subdued voice.

A curious expression came over Ace but was soon replaced with resolute eyes.

"I want to become the new Demon Lord of the East,"

"What a boring reason," Clover sighed, "but I suppose it shall suffice,"

Ace's eyes lit up, "Then you will accept as your student?!"

"For now," Clover said indifferently, "but you ought to know, I am a very changeable person. If you prove to be a nuisance, I may 'accidentally' kill you,"

Ace gave a wide tooth smile, "I will do my best to prove myself worthy of being your student, master!"

Clover gave no answer but motioned for the Ace to follow. They proceeded up the staircase to the highest room in the castle. It sat in one of the four pillars that cornered the palace. Ace followed Clover in silence until they reached the top of the tower. He noticed Clover appeared almost solemn as the door was unlocked and they stepped inside.

The tower room had a view of the wasteland beyond the Palace of Swords. A burning brownish sky blared casting a dim light on the barren plain stretching out as far as the eye could see. From their position, high up on the tower, Ace surveyed the desiccated plain.

Mindless beasts prowled the demonic world, unleashing laboured cries below. In the unending canyon, a plethora of low-level demons and monsters were silhouetted by a harsh red sky. Ominous black clouds gathered offering patchwork shadow across the land.

"You can stay here," Lord Clover said, joining Ace as they both looked down below.

"Thank you, master," Ace hesitated, "Or should I call you my Lord?"

"I don't care," Clover turned away from the window, "Titles are meaningless to me,"

"Then I will call you Master Clover," Ace beamed.

Clover shrugged and cast a reproachful glance back, "You came to this palace by yourself?"

"Yes," Ace answered, not looking back.

"Noone helped you?"

Ace was taken by surprise," No," he answered.

He was about to ask another question, but Clover's words brought him to a stop:

"This is my favourite room. I wonder why I'm giving it to you," Clover turned and left the room.

Ace was left alone in the room with a puzzled expression. He sat down on the bed and pondered the words for a while.

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The weeks passed quickly. The longer Ace watched Clover the more certain he became. In the entirety of his stay, Clover made no attempt to teach him anything. During the day, Clover acted with the least conviction necessary to pass a Demon Lord. Challengers were defeated. The various runnings of the castle continued at a barely passing rate.

Meanwhile, at night, Clover proved much more elusive. The times Ace was able to track his master down, Clover was usually passed out drunk in some strange place. Once in a tree and another time on the roof of the castle.

Ace became quite convinced that not only did his 'master' have no intention of teaching him, but very little could be learnt from watching either. This led to Ace's current predicament. He stood outside the great hall contemplating how he could rally the Demon Lord to action.

Clover surveyed him with disinterest as Ace entered the hall. As usual, Clover was slumped over their throne listening to another challenger's declaration. And as usual, each challenger one by one was dispatched with haste. Once the last had left, Clover scoured the floor finding only empty glasses.

"You!" Clover said with an intoxicated smile finding Ace by the door, "Come here,"

Ace let out a sigh and stepped forward. Before he could pull away, Clover tipped him closer by his collar. Ace instinctively pulled back slightly but remained hooked in my Clover's hand.

"Yes?" Ace asked embarrassed to be so close. He could feel Clover's breath on his neck.

"Go get me another bottle," Clover instructed.

Ace's jaw clenched, he reeled back and fixed his eyes on Clover determinedly.

"No," Ace replied firmly.

"No?" Clover repeated as if the words were beyond their comprehension.

"NO!" Ace snapped, "Enough day drinking and feeling sorry for yourself. I don't know what happened to make you like this, and I know I barely know you, but I don't think this is who you are,"

This brought Clover to an upright position. Clover tilted their head to the side with a sheepish smile. Ace smiled back, satisfied his words had taken the desired effect.

"You're right. You're right," Clover nodded emphatically, "I'm usually a lot more violent," their eyes narrowed.

With a swing of their hand, Clover sent a wall of stone separating them from Ace.

"Really, master?" Ace walked around the wall of earth, "You almost killed me!"'

"Funny, I wasn't aiming for almost," Clover leant back in their chair with a smirk, "I don't know what you expect from me? I'm hated by everyone for a reason,"

Ace drew in a breath, "You are not hated by me,"

There was a long pause. For a moment, Ace wondered if his words had really taken effect this time. Clover seemed to ruminate on the words for a moment before giving their answer.

"Oh really?" Clover replied dryly, "I guess I haven't been trying hard enough,"

"OH, believe me, you have," Ace gave a restrained smile. He recalled the various messes he had found himself in throughout the week.

"But even in this sorry state, you are still a sight better than Lord Terre Sol," Ace added, suppressing the desire to indulge this thought more.

Clover leant on their hand with a smile.

"I wonder what Terre Sol did to warrant such ire from a young man like you?"

Ace averted his eyes, "There was nothing in particular. He was just selfish and lazy,"

"You won't find any arguments from me but I'm just as selfish and lazy. What's the difference?"

"The difference? There's a big difference...such as...you helped the defeat the Demon King,"

"As a Demon is that something you should be celebrating?"

Ace's eyes widened, "Well... what I mean is..."

Clover's eyebrow raised as they waited for the answer. In truth, Clover had just asked to tease Ace a little, but now watching him struggle to answer, Clover became more intrigued. Ace was a straightforward boy unless asked something he didn't want to answer. Then came a lot of stuttering and pauses. At the very least, Clover was glad that Ace was not a good liar.

"What I mean is I'm different from the others too," Ace said, finally finding his way to the end of the sentence.

"Well, you can tell just by looking," Ace went a little pink, "My hair is black and I don't have any demonic magic. They called me a 'pathetic excuse for a Demon' and everyone always tormented me,"

"Yes, I'm quite surprised you've managed to survive this long," Clover remarked callously.

"I had friends who helped me," Ace said in a low voice.

"Then what do you need me for? Your friends clearly did a good job seeing as you're still alive. I suggest you go back and find them," Clover sighed.

"No," Ace replied gravely, "I need power of my own. I won't rely on anyone else anymore. That's why I came here. Please train me," his voice trembled.

Clover thought Ace's serious face was quite amusing.

"Fine," Clover stood back up. Their cherry eyes fell on Ace, "but if I try to train you as you are now, I'll probably kill you. You need guidance from a softer hand. Go pack your things,"

"I don't have any things," Ace looked despondent.

"Then go pack my things," Clover yawned, "It will have to be enough for the both of us,"

"Where are we going?"

"The human world" Clover smirked, "To visit some old friends,"