Chapter 12: A moment for a cup of tea

On a weekend, Lucy called Lucas for a cup of tea. Which was surprising to Lucas to some extent, but he went there without wondering more about it.

It was on a balcony of the academy building that only teachers could enjoy. Lucy was sipping her tea already while her assistant was accompanying her. The assistant was a dark elf woman who was about 160 cm tall and wore a noble attire more associated with men, but still it pulled out her beauty. Then Lucas came and the assistant excused herself to give the two some privacy.

Once Lucas took one sip, Lucy asked "So how has it been having to teach without receiving any pay?" Lucas says "I make do. It doesn't take much for me to go hunt some monsters after the school day is over."

Lucy says "You are lucky that I didn't revoke your teaching license that you got a month ago. That little stunt you did with Logan made the faculty somewhat wary of you." Lucas says "I don't really mind. And even still, few teachers have visited my lectures to actually learn something."

Lucy says "Are you implying that we don't teach anything useful here?" Lucas says "No no. I'm just saying that the demon history is mostly buried in the hollow halls deep underground after the 500 year war ended. I expected a bit more from you, you know."

Lucy says "It was a difficult time then. If I would have been a pro demon back then, I could have been branded as a traitor to the world. Well… that's a bit over the top, but you know what I mean." Lucas says "I didn't say that I blame you for anything, I just expected there to be more of the demon territory, let alone its history."

Lucy then says "Yes yes, all those are in the past now. But do you think that threatening a student is something that can be taken lightly?" Lucas says "So we are now on that topic. Threatening a student with appropriate punishment is sometimes necessary."

Lucy says "You threatened to cut Kyle Marx's head off!" Lucas says "He… got on my nerves a bit after ridiculing my wife's sexual proves."

Lucy says "I suppose you don't mean Lydia." Lucas says "There is only one person that I refer to as my wife now that I'm not bound to the title of a demon king, and that person is Sylviana Ilona Inertia."

Lucy says "Figured as much." Then Lucas started rambling about his sweet wife for a couple of minutes. After he was satisfied, he became serious and said "Speaking of Sylvi, I think it is high time you tell me where she is."

Lucy says "I don't know what you mean." Lucas says "Don't play dumb with me. She was your teacher at one point and you two always kept in contact. There is no way that you two wouldn't keep contact with each other if nothing significant happened."

Lucy then says "Bold of you to assume that Sylvia is still alive." Lucas then made two blades out of his fingers that surrounded Lucy's neck. Then he said "Don't try to do something like that even as a joke. You know how seriously I take the matter of Sylvi's safety."

Lucy then said "I know, I know. Now can you please take these blades away so that Amari can continue her other duties." Amari, Lucy's assistant, was pointing a magic enhanced gun against Lucas' head. Lucas retracted his blades and Lucy said "It is okay Amari. We were just chatting about something sensitive that got out of hand. Please return to your duties." Amari stares at Lucas for a while, who also has his eyes on her eyes. After a moment, she makes the magic enhanced gun disappear, does a curtsy and then she leaves without saying a word.

Lucas commented "Quite fast one you got for yourself." Lucy says "She is someone who I rescued when she was very young. In her eyes, you were pointing a weapon to her savior."

Lucas says "But why wear a noble attire if she is your assistant?" Lucy says "She belongs to the house that is called Crimson Locust that got attacked during the 500 year war. She has a deep seeded hatred for demons, so better not try her patience."

Lucas says "That's how little you trust the training she went through?" Lucy says "I just don't want her to be tested like that."

Lucas says "You know that she couldn't have hurt me even if she tried." Lucy says with a bit of arrogance "I know." Lucas responds "Just wanted to hear you say it."

Lucy says "There isn't a single person in this world currently that can take you on." Lucas says "Nor was there when I was about to go to sleep. I miss the times when I had to put in some effort." Lucy says "Like when you took the throne from your father?" Lucas says "Like that, but that is a bittersweet memory since the old flame wasn't planning to live after that fight. He put up a good fight though. He really did." Lucy says "Shame it had to end that way. He was a really nice man deep down." Lucas says "I agree on both points."

Lucas then gets serious and says "Back to the topic. Where is Sylvi?" Lucy says "I don't know" to which Lucas responds "Bullshit. I know you are lying. Don't force me to use my mimicry on you to get all the knowledge you gained for past millenia."

Lucy then sighs and says "Fine, it's not like she expected me to give it hidden for long. Just know that all I can say to you is that she is alright and she can't meet you yet."

Lucas says "So she said something like that… as expected of her. Can you tell me why she can't meet me?" Lucy says "She explicitly told me to not say much more than that."

Lucas then smiles and says "I understand. She must have thought a lot of things during the past millennia and perhaps she has something planned out for me." Lucy says "Well it was her suggestion that you become a teacher here when you show up. Though I was against it at first, she managed to convince me to follow through."

Lucas said "So she did that for me." Lucy then also smiles and says "She actually smiled a little when she described what kind of life you can experience as a teacher. You know that she only smiles at you, so the fact that a thought of you having fun made her smile makes it clear why I ended up supporting the idea."

Lucas says "She has that sweet part in her. Oh how I wish to see it again." Lucy says "I still don't think that you should just blindly trust Sylvia. With your power, she can be the most dangerous person in the world. If she so much as wishes for the world to end, you would just heed her call and do it for her. That is not something that's healthy."

Lucas says "I will fulfill everything that my love wishes. Even if it is to turn the world against me and destroy it, I will do her bidding." Lucy says "I suppose the word "simp" is what the current generation would call you."

Lucas says "Oh, I'm unfamiliar with that one. But I don't mind if I'm ridiculed for my sole drive to live." Lucy asks "Then what if Sylvia wished to die alone and for you to live? Would you be able to do it?"

Lucas says "If she wishes for me to live in hell of my own creation, then so be it. If her wish is for me to live without her, then I must simply follow her instructions." Lucy says "I still urge you to stop that kind of mindset. It is not healthy."

Lucas asks "Does this have to do with the fact that you once had feelings for me?" Lucy says "It does. And even though you have rejected me, I still am allowed to be worried about you. I just wish for you to learn to live without the wish of Sylvia."

Lucas chuckles and says "For you to actually admit that, it does make me wonder a bit. But this ship that I'm sailing isn't so easily drifted off course." Lucy says "But the waves might break that ship if this continues. Then what else can you do but drown in the infinite sea of dreams?" Lucas answers "Then I swim as far as my strength will allow me to."

Lucy says "You hopeless fool." Lucas answers "You really have picked her habits. Not only did you grow to like me like her, but that's also what Sylvi often calls me." Lucy says "I'm not entirely proud of it though."

Then there is a small silence for a while while they are sipping some tea. Then Lucy asks "Have you found any people who might be involved with demon dust?" Lucas answers "I have few people that are showing signs of the usage and I have pinpointed one of their suppliers." Lucy says "Have you tried to arrest them yet or are you fishing for the bigger fish." Lucas answers "I am on to the bigger fish. I have a few suspects, but they are only suspects with no real concrete evidence against them."

Lucy says "Inform me if you get any evidence." Lucas says "I will, but I will also warn you that if my guess is correct, you might not like to know which people are connected to this." Lucy says "I will deal with it when the time comes." Lucas says "Just warning you. I don't want my love's first and only pupil to lose heart."

The two chat a little bit more, until it becomes time for Lucas to leave. While he was leaving, he passed by Amari. He decided to say "You know that it is rude to eavesdrop on a private conversation." Amari answered "I must make sure filth like you won't harm Ms. Tyrp." Lucas decided to provoke her by saying "You know that you couldn't protect her from me even if you tried."

Amari took out her pistol again and pointed it against Lucas' head. Lucas smiled and said "While I'm interested to see how well I could fight against you while walking in your shoes, I'll refrain from giving in and ruin Lucy's day. I recommend you do the same, Ms. assistant."

Amari looks angrily at Lucas, but she agreed that it would ruin her miss' day if she engaged in combat with the man standing before her. So she reluctantly makes the pistol disappear and says "Go before I lose my patience." Lucas starts to leave, but before he leaves he says "I just know that we will get to know each other fantastically in the future. So I recommend working on your tolerance with demons." Then Lucas leaves while smiling. Amari keeps looking at him before he gets out of view.

Then while having a walk outside, Lucas recalls something. He thinks "It is a shame what happened to the Crimson Locust household. I'm sure that I made good connections with them with Sylvi's instructions. So why did the demon army decide to trample against that very connection that Sylvi saw as important? What did Thosos think he was doing?"