Interlude (Training Day 7, Asia Argento )

As Asia entered the ritual room, it struck her how different it looked from the one at the abandoned church that still haunted her dreams. This room resembled a surgical facility with polished white floors and clean, white walls. Ritual circles and symbols adorned the floor, some of which she recognized from her knowledge of Animacy, while others remained entirely foreign to her. On the ground, Eden Tsubakihara was using some kind of magic to transform pure mana into paint, which he used to draw the ritual circle.

Thinking about Eden brought a flood of memories. He was her first friend and teacher, the current Fateweaver, and engaged to Serafall Leviathan, one of the Satans of Hell. The thought of Eden being in a relationship made her chest tighten. Asia couldn't deny that she had developed certain unorthodox feelings for Eden, the person who had saved her and given her the new and better life she now had

Hearing that he had a girlfriend and was getting engaged on the same day had affected her deeply. Asia knew she really had no right to really feel this way things were different in Japan than it was in Italy where she had grown up and spent all her life Eden was not Christian so she did not feel like he had really sinned but I sense of loss and loneliness filled her 

She had realized that if she ever wanted a place by his side, she needed to be proactive in both her training and spending time with him. "Asia, I need a bit more time to get ready. So, how was the dungeon today?" Eden inquired.

"It was better. Me and the rest are getting along well," Asia replied. During the first couple of days, they had struggled to clear the dungeon, but now they were becoming more proficient than Rias and her peerage. Eden explained that even though their dungeons were smaller, it was because they had fewer people, and both groups' dungeons were equally challenging. The smoother progress was mainly due to Mittelt and Raynare, who initially disliked Asia for her devotion and openly disrespected her. However, after going through several dungeons, losing limbs, suffering mortal wounds, and being healed by Asia, they began to develop a growing respect for her. Raynare still occasionally said unkind things about her when she thought Asia couldn't hear, and Mittelt had stopped completely ignoring her. It was not much but progress was progress.

Asia provided a detailed report of the dungeon as Eden finished his preparations. "Okay, disrobe so the ritual can begin. There's a bathroom over there," Eden instructed.

"Okay," Asia replied. Back when she hadn't been sleeping in the same bed as Eden, this situation would have made her more nervous. However, Eden seeing her in a sleeping gown had become normal. After changing, she returned to the room. She still felt embarrassed about asking to share a bed with Eden, and when she woke up, she silently prayed for forgiveness. However, she knew that even after they were out of the dungeon, she would most likely continue to do it. When she was beside Eden in bed, it felt like there was just the two of them in the world, and all her worries about being without Eden vanished.

"Okay, stand in the middle of the circle," Eden directed. Asia followed his instructions, and soon all the runes lit up. She felt a warmth in her stomach, which then spread into a kind of heat. Recognizing it as mana, she attempted to disperse it throughout her entire body but found it challenging.

"Listen to my voice, calm down, Asia. Just listen and do as I say," Eden began to explain the basics of mana manipulation to her, and soon she managed to control it. After the ritual concluded, Asia felt all her energy drain from her limbs, causing her to nearly collapse. Eden moved faster than the eye could see to catch her in his warm embrace. In his arms, Asia felt her face grow warm. She had been hugged by Eden before, and they had cuddled while sleeping, but being saved like this brought about a different sensation.

"Here, drink this," Eden produced a potion from his pocket and held it to Asia's lips. She took a sip, and after swallowing, she felt like she could move again.

"Do you want to lay down, or are you okay?" Asia felt like she was already fine, but she said, "Can we lie down for a bit?" Eden smiled and sat down, placing her head in his lap.

"I guess I'm the one giving you the lap pillow now," he chuckled. At that moment, Asia realized she was in love.