The Emperor
"What happened?" I asked.
Ava looked at me and blinked back unshed tears.
"Nothing". She sniffed.
I looked around in alarm trying to figure out what could have hurt or harmed her.
"You're crying". I said.
"I'm not!" She said stubbornly and crossed her arms.
I was beyond confused, I wondered what exactly could be going on and why she was behaving in such manner.
"Ava". I said gently. "When I got here, your eyes were teary, what caused it?"
Ava uncrossed her arms and her sullenness dissolved into a look I didn't understand.
"Ava". I said again.
"I was worried". Ava said finally. "You've been off all day and I was worried".
The whole situation seemed so bizarre, I almost burst into laughter. "You were worried?"
Ava said nothing, she sniffed again.
"Why were you worried Ava?" I said and sat beside her on the bench.
"Because I missed you". She replied.
So that was it, she missed me the entire evening I wasn't at the farmhouse and she was also a little worried that I was spending time alone with Emily. I fought down a chuckle and smiled at Ava.
"Should I be honest with you?" I asked.
She nodded and in that moment she seemed so small and fragile.
"I missed you too". I said. "A lot".
"Really?" She sniffed.
"Yes, really". I said and got to my feet, I pulled her up with me and headed to my room.
Slammm!
I slammed the door close behind us when we entered. I immediately crawled into bed and pulled Ava after me.
I kissed her then, delicately at first, then with passion, I tasted all the corners of her soft lips.
[Kiss, +20 lust points]
When I finally pulled back, Ava sighed with bliss and melted into my chest.
"Ava". I said gently.
"I recently discovered I have magic". I said.
"I know". She replied.
"I want to learn to use it better, to be a mage". I said. "For this reason, I'll be spending less time at home and more time with Emily at first, then at the academy".
I tipped her head up.
"But I promise you I'll miss you more than anything and as soon as I'm free, I'll run back home to meet you, okay?"
Ava nodded. "Okay".
"Good girl". I said and rubbed her hair.
Normally that would be my cue to kiss her and progress the activities further but I was too preoccupied with magic and today's accident, I was content to lay with her like this and talk.
My little friend was already hard and it protested.
"Tell me about this town". I told Ava as I stroked her head. "Tell me about the ruling system".
"The ruling system". She repeated, confused.
"Yes, who is your king, where does he stay, questions like that". I replied.
"Hmmm". Ava said. "This town is called [fire but we have no king, at least not exactly".
"You don't?" I asked.
"Yes we don't. See there are five towns that came together to form one giant kingdom and we're all ruled by the emperor". She explained.
"This town is called Galithra , the other four towns are Ivernox, Corvania, Leorith and Duskwyn. Together we form the kingdom that is known as Aeloria".
"This kingdom is ruled by Emperor Isaku, the only eight star mage in the kingdom and even the neighboring kingdoms. He rules with his wife Queen Kyo, his two sons, prince Aoi and prince Kei, and his daughter the princess Chiko".
"Hmmm". I muttered, filing the information in my brain. I was particularly interested in the emperor, he must be very powerful to have acquired eight star magery.
"How long has the emperor ruled?" I asked.
Ava thought about for a moment, then she shook her head. "I don't know, for as long as I can remember".
"Seems like a long time". I mumured. "There must be no one that can challenge him".
"There is none, many emperors have come to fight him but he always defeats them, there are even rumors that he once defeated a saint".
"A saint?" I exclaimed. A saint was nine star level, the highest level of magic one could ever attain, it practically made you a god. One saint would find it hard to defeat another saint, not to talk of a monarch doing the job.
Ava shrugged. "I don't doubt it. She said. He is very powerful, he once came to a street far away from here yet we could feel his presence, his magic enveloped this place".
"Hmmm". I said again.
"You seem very interested in the emperor". Ava noted.
Of course I'm interested in him. I thought. Why won't I be interested in someone I'm going to kill?
I didn't say that to Ava however, I simply smiled. "I'm just curious".
Ava nodded, she yawned and ran her hands down my chest.
"Have you been working out?" She asked and pulled her head back to check my chest.
"No". I said with a frown and looked down at my chest. "Why do you ask?"
"You look different". She said. "Bigger and your muscles are more developed".
She squeezed my biceps. "And your arms too. Are you sure you're not working out?"
I looked down at my chest and then at my arms. I realized with some surprise that they had indeed developed, whereas I was skinny and frail looking when I entered this body, I was now somewhat muscular.
Could it be that me increasing my attribute points made me get bigger by default?
I don't know. I said to Ava. Maybe all the farm work is making me stronger and bigger.
"Maybe". She agreed.
The exertion of the day, first on the farm and then in Emily's house finally caught up to me and with Ava on my chest, I found my eyes start to close.
I didn't fight it, I simply let myself be whisked away on the chariot of sleep.
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Thanks for the support so far, this part of the book is very pivotal cause a very big arc is coming just after it.. fasten your seatbelts!