140 Mortal World 6

The ring in Yano's hand was indeed the Immortal King's. Yano's words indirectly confirmed it. If that was the case, no matter what, she needed to get it.

"It's not yours either," Lia retorted and Yano tilted his head in agreement. She really had no idea what he was thinking. One second he was obedient, the next he became rebellious.

"I need it," seeing that Yano didn't speak up, Lia told him the truth.

"Here I thought you hate me but in truth, you wanted to get married. This is a bit fast but I don't mind," Yano's lips rose even more while the amount of veins popping on Lia's forehead multiplied.

"You're really shameless."

"You told me that before."

"I don't care!" yet once those words faded, Lia realised this was the first time she's ever said it to Yano. Did he mistake her for someone else? Or misheard?

But right now the ring was of more importance than half of what came out of Yano's mouth.

"I need the ring," Lia repeated.

"And I accept your marriage proposal," now Yano was smirking. Despite knowing he shouldn't tick Lia off, he couldn't help it. Seeing her reactions was just too funny and adorable.

"One more word of that and I-" Lia grit her teeth before grabbing Yano's hand and twisting it until the ring fell out of his hand.

"I hope you won't be rough in be-"

Lia slapped Yano away as he rubbed his hand. The grinning male landed on the ground and remained there.

"Too vicious," he sighed, "Why do you need it?"

Yano stared at the ceiling while Lia was tempted to step on him but then he rolled back and sat cross-legged before her. Now he was looking up at her.

"The ring will help me get my powers back," Lia told him the truth. She had to admit despite his annoying personality she could feel he wasn't a bad person.

"Didn't you say you have no powers?" Yano rested his head in his hand.

"Not anymore. My power required me to use my soul instead of my life force but now my soul can't take it anymore," Lia backed off in surprise as Yano caressed her cheeks.

"You've done a great job," it was a warm and genuine smile and caught Lia off guard. Was he trying to make her feel better?

Quickly, she pushed his hands away and retreated further into the bed like a cornered animal. A bunny, in Yano's eyes.

"Anyways, that's why I need it."

"Sure, you can have it."

"What? This easily?" he was really unfathomable to her, even more than Noel was at the beginning.

"Didn't you say you need it? I've no use for it, the rightful owner should keep it and-" Yano stood up his jacket fell off and revealed his torn shirt in all its glory.

Yano brushed his bangs back, briefly showing his forehead as he glanced at Lia, "Tomorrow we'll start your training."

"What?'' Everything was happening so fast, Lia had no time to register before Yano concluded, "Good, it's decided. After brekkie, I'll help you train."

On one hand, Lia was happy to be able to train, on the other hand, there was no way she was going to train with him.

"Not with you," Lia bluntly threw at him. Yano's heart was stabbed again, "You don't want to train with me but like to sleep with me."

The truth was, Lia was indeed on Yano's bed, almost making herself comfortable before the next second, she jumped off and headed to the door.

"No way!"

"Alright, I'll make brekkie tomorrow, wait in the kitchen," Yano shouted after Lia who, with much elegance, stormed away.

Yano put his hand on his face and started laughing. Then he noticed the black strands of hair on his bed. She still hasn't realised that he completely saw through her.

Meanwhile, Lia turned and tossed in her bed. Her usual calm and cold behaviour melted into fits of lava erupting everywhere. She cursed and cussed in her head, but couldn't deny that to receive training from the best exorcist was a privilege, an opportunity that was almost impossible to attain.

Even all the exorcists here were trained in the academy and not by Yano. Lia would be the first and only but she didn't know that yet.

The next morning came and Lia barely slept. Still, she trotted to the kitchen. Her eyes, however, narrowed in disdain seeing that Yano had cooked breakfast as promised. The table was laid out beautifully with the food and flowers.

"What is it with you and flower?" Lia was too curious not to ask.

"You don't like it?" Yano took off his apron and sat down, waiting for Lia.

With pursed lips, Lia actually sat down and stared at the food before her.

"It's not poisoned," Yano didn't touch his food until Lia did.

"But your dirty fingers touched it," Lia left no chance to stab at Yano more and deeper.

"If you eat it, it'll strengthen you. I did my best," Yano wasn't lying when he said he did his best. He really did.

Usually, he'd just slap any edible food together on a plate and eat but because of Lia, he put in reasonable effort, researched recipes and tested a lot that landed in the bin, before being able to make a proper meal for her. So her words did sting a little.

But he was also aware that he was constantly stepping over the boundary of infuriating her. So to make it up, he endured her snarky comments.

"Be good and eat," this was another landmine Yano stepped onto. He deliberately sacrificed himself, so she can glare at him all she wanted and forget about the fact he made the food.

Lia finally ate and deemed it as ok. Maybe he did put some effort into it. It was edible, not bad, not good but ok.

"It's ok," Lia truthfully told him as she saw his expectant eyes. In her mind, the picture of a puppy resurfaced. She wanted one.

"You want what?"

Lia didn't notice she said it out loud but still told him, "A puppy."

"I'll get you one after training."

The fork Lia held dropped on the table, "What?"

"You can come with me. There are plenty to adopt-"

"No need," Lia really couldn't read him. Why would he do that for her? Why was he being so nice?

"I already have one," Lia recollected herself.

"Where?"

This time Lia kept silent, so she couldn't say 'Right in front of me' as much as she wanted because it would make Yano stunned but backfire as he would make her even more embarrassed.

Yano was too powerful when it came to messing with her. She didn't dare to take the first step at Yano and be flung into his arms.

"Hey, you didn't answer," Yano was too interested in the matter to drop it, "Let's go after tanning."

He relentlessly pursued the topic, even when they arrived at the training ground where Skyla, Mil, Lu and Holn were already present.

"I already told you, I don't want to be near you at all. I'm only enduring you because I want to go back," Lia's loud voice caused all heads on the field to turn.

The exorcists all pitying looked at Yano and there was a moment of silence for him until Holn's loud cackle tore through the solemn burial atmosphere for Yano's dignity.

"Ahahaha! Yano you got rejected! Again!" Holn was having a blast while Yano only had a wry smile.

This really was a dab at Yano's reputation and he sadly looked at Lia's back who gave him no attention.

"I like you, a lot," Skyla walked to Lia and held her hand up. Lia never had a high-five and she eagerly accepted Skyla's sign of friendship.

"It's a good thing, you took down Yano's crappy confidence," Skyla smirked while Mil patted Yano's back.

"Indeed, he deserved it," Lia and Skyla instantly got along at the expense of Yano's misfortune as all the other surrounding exorcists came and also patted his back. Why was it that only Lia didn't care about him?

Yano was too pitiful.