While Arcturus was still at the Ministry of Magic, witnessing, Asterion had just returned from another of his forays into locations with high concentrations of negative magical energy. It was a weekly routine for him, creating cursed spirits for various occasions, after all, a cautious man was a living man.
This time was no different. Asterion gazed at the crown floating above his hand with a look of satisfaction. The crown was black, with several wide-eyed red eyes, filled with horror, gazing in all directions. It was a frightening and intimidating sight.
Knowing he couldn't rival the infinite amount of magical energy wielded by figures like Gojo and Sukuna, Asterion decided to create the Crown of Lamentations.
It was a surprise for him to discover that the Fifth Bearer of Creation and Manipulation of Cursed Spirits had specialized exclusively in weapons, rather than animals, monsters, and legends like his predecessors.
After studying about the Fifth Bearer, Asterion attempted to follow in their footsteps and succeeded, utilizing the records contained within the heritage book.
The Crown of Lamentations had a sole purpose: to accelerate the regeneration of magical energy in his body. This crown was just one of the six items he prepared to compensate for his limitations.
In addition to it, there was armor that greatly increased his defensive capability by absorbing impacts and energies, a cloak that allowed free movement through the sky, granting him the ability to fly, a sword capable of splitting atoms, gauntlets capable of enhancing his strength, and finally, a necklace that essentially made him invisible. The entire set of armor, weapons, and accessories followed the same dark and sinister theme as the crown.
"I think it's time to create a cursed spirit capable of dealing with Gojo and Sukuna's Innate Techniques..." murmured Asterion as he walked to his room. He had some ideas on where to start; he just needed a large amount of Negative Magical Energy.
One of the reasons he considered creation superior to space was that he could essentially develop countermeasures based on other innate techniques, creating objects or monsters capable of neutralizing any innate technique.
Entering his room, he found Narcissa lying on the bed, wearing a familiar transparent nightgown, propped up on two pillows as she read a book under the lamp light.
"It seems you've returned from your nightly escapades," Narcissa remarked without taking her eyes off the book, gently turning the page.
"It was a productive night," Asterion replied, walking to the personal bathroom of the room.
The sound of the shower echoed through the walls shortly after.
Ten minutes later, Asterion emerged from the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist, his hair still wet. Tossing the towel onto the chair, he grabbed a comfortable black silk pajama and began to put it on, regardless of whether Narcissa saw anything. Nudity was hardly something that could make him feel ashamed.
Watching Asterion dress, Narcissa couldn't help but speak, her voice carrying nothing but concern and tenderness. "I don't understand your rush to get stronger, Asty. It seems like you're desperate to become stronger, regardless of the damage it causes to your body. That's not normal."
Asterion, who was buttoning up the top of his pajamas, stopped upon hearing her words. He finished buttoning all the buttons and sat down on the bed, pondering over what he had been doing since awakening his memories at St. Marie Orphanage.
Narcissa was right about something; he was desperate to become stronger. Since arriving in this world, he had never truly felt secure. That's why he trained, trained until exhaustion, regardless of what his body told him.
"I... I just don't feel safe, Cissy. It's like I'll die if I stop training," Asterion spoke without hiding his feelings. He trusted Narcissa enough to sleep in her arms without any fear, which in itself showed how much he trusted her.
Narcissa remained silent and simply embraced Asterion. Unlike her, who grew up in a family where she always felt safe with her relatives, Asterion didn't have that. He faced everything he had to face as a child, which created a cautious, cold character with a strong urgency to become stronger.
"Don't worry so much and have fun, Asty. Arcturus and I will protect you, until when I need you to protect me." Narcissa stroked his hair and joked at the end.
But Asterion didn't find it funny. "I will protect you, even if it means burning this entire country." Looking into her eyes, he spoke each word with unwavering determination.
Narcissa was someone precious to him, someone he had never had in two lifetimes. If anyone dared to hurt her, he would make that person's life a living hell, so much so that Satan would seem colorful next to him.
"Don't be silly, burning an entire country would make you an enemy of the world." Although she knew he was exaggerating, Narcissa felt her heart submerged in a sweetness she had never felt in her life, as she felt he was being completely sincere with her.
'If that's necessary, then everyone should die.' Looking at her face, Asterion secretly thought.
He admitted he had some mental issues, but who was truly sane in this world. Then again, everyone in his family was crazy in their own way; he just felt he loved too much. Compared to his predecessors, he was still an innocent little white rabbit.
Both fell silent and gradually drifted off to sleep, enjoying each other's presence.
In the cold dawn, Asterion, who was being used as Narcissa's personal pillow, opened his eyes, revealing a cold intent to kill in his red eyes, which seemed to gleam with a phosphorescent glow.
Two individuals had breached the barrier of the Black Manor!
Giving Narcissa a gentle kiss on the forehead, Asterion skillfully disentangled himself from her warm embrace and got out of bed. He slipped on his slippers and left the room, the shadow behind him quivering, revealing hundreds of pairs of red eyes.
"Let's see who's brave enough to invade my home," he murmured, disappearing into the shadows of the corridor.
--------------------------
Author's thoughts: Can Asterion be characterized as Yandere? I've been thinking about this for a while now... >.>
Support me to write more and read chapters ahead of all regular readers!
The Patreon will be updated daily, except on Saturdays and Sundays, when I do not write.
P-atreon.com/HPSCB
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)
Next Chapter: Chapter 29 - Unexpected Arrival (2), Chapter 30 - Black Family Reunion (1), Chapter 31 - Black Family Reunion (2), (Chapter 32 - Black House Masquerade Ball (1), Chapter 33 - Black House Masquerade Ball (2), Chapter 34 - Black House Masquerade Ball (3), Chapter 35 - Three Years (1), Chapter 36 - Three Years (2), Chapter 37 - Hogwarts Express (1).
Patron's: Chris, Justrice Harrison, AlucardoBlood, Renne Bruffett, Straydog, IDaGoat Mypark, Hamza Ahmed, Dishitian, James, Zhenya, Enriv125, Michael, NinjaTiger, Mursel Kenan, Andrea Barbarino, Benjamin Kingunza, NaYati, Austin Pierce, Leopardu Junglei, Anthony Casas Cano, Xerxes33311, Ray Tery, Joseph, Max Brown, Hrisav Dewanjee, Szwagier, Maxime Anne Louise, Ree Iphone, OdiimBR, Alistair Lawrence, JustAGuy, Kheinz, T S, Zephyre, Tobias Sinkewicius, Phokingchin, Kieran p o'connor, Artem Marviv, Hunayn Abbas, Wolf, HeavenlyCrimsonKarma, Best Manga, Chase Matlon, Ibrahim Amani, Sighduck, Syed, Cody Dennis, Daniel Johnson, Nicholas, Zach Obenhoff, Joao Goncalves, Heretic Smurf, Antwaun way, Paul Panda, Surge1301, Reid Baisden, Marco Bertin, Bloodstained, Unknown, Clayton Channell, Kylan Trinh, BirdRant, BlueFern XO, Erik Vorlicky, DJ Tucker, Mitsogon, Axel Bour, TG Savior, Matatank, Killian Helms, Ethan Trays, Alessandro Palma, Kotek, Жахангир, Lumn, Chamar Ellis, Brandon, Geoffrey Abbott, Shinxu Linxu, Benjamin Villacura, Luke, KorBen Hunter, Joaaabee, Prince Acheampong, Nickolas Taylor, Gintoki Sakata, Dean Redmond, Blacklionpride24, Glowbot, HinoSchwien, SIMOM Pierre.