A Change of Heart

"Oh? Finished already are you? Alright then, you may leave. If you look around you'll find a trapdoor that will lead you before the doors you just entered. I expect great things from you, so don't disappoint."

His voice radiated curiosity, a curiosity similar to the one I felt in my heart.

I began to walk around while searching for the trapdoor the teacher mentioned, though it was a thoughtless search. My mind was focused on something much more important to me.

'Just what was that? If I wanted to avoid suspicion, I should have finished after about ten or so people already did. So why did I do that? I'm not prideful, nor unconfident, so why did I impulsively decide to stand out? But when I think about it... was what I did so wrong? Yes, it was an impulsive desire, but I don't feel bad about it. I feel... happy? I should be refusing this emotion... but why won't I?'

I stood near the trapdoor that I had stumbled upon and, after lifting the hatch, started to climb the ladder downward.

'I... I am the Demon King... a being who brings terror upon whoever they meet, and where ever they find themselves. I have lived for 150 years like this... and that won't stop now.'

I hit the bottom of the ladder and began to walk down the hallway.

'...I can't feel emotion. I am a creature incapable of heart. I am... I am...'

I leaned my body against the cold stone wall, slowly inching forward, as my breathing became short and panicked.

'I am here to... I am here to become stronger... Strength is stopped by emotions.'

Hyperventilation took over my lungs.

'I am, huph, the Demon King, huph, a being who brings, huph, terror-'

Bang!

"Ouch, that stings."

I rubbed my head which had just slammed against a wooden ladder. I looked around for a moment before realizing that this was the end of the hallway and placed my right hand on one of the ladder segments. Then my left hand, then my right leg, then the left. I slowly climbed the ladder, moving upward.

'But, why do I think that emotions block strength? What proof do I have behind this? I've lived for 150 years as a demon who didn't feel emotions... but now I could; was that so bad? Was there even a reason that I believed emotions to be toxic in the first place?'

I began to think about the past as the ladder above me got shorter.

'Right as I arrived in this realm, the first person I met seemed so... menacing. But wasn't he just a man who was worried for his sect? He even let me into the school. That could only be an act of kindness. Then I met Beulus for the first time. He was cautious at first, but after I deceived him, he was as friendly as could be. I thought of him as an idiot, but wasn't he just a normal person?'

I opened the hidden trap door above me and then climbed out of the tunnel. I closed it behind me and started to make my way out of the school.

'Then there was Dartus, an interesting guy for sure, but not someone who could be described as a bad person. And then I met Telferr for the first time, though that wasn't much of an interaction. Only after I met her at the library did her true personality shine through. She is a kooky person for sure, but she manages to make me laugh with her silly actions.'

I continued to walk down the hallway, taking in the comforting sight of the wooden rooms scattered about, each holding a world of its own.

'Next was my meeting with Hasrem. She made me cautious at first, with her strange actions and that little stunt she pulled in our first class. But then she proved to me that her goals weren't vicious in the least. She used every one of her Fruits for my sake and then muttered words that came from the heart... all to make my fake character feel better.'

I reached the entrance room that held the doors leading to the outside.

'And then there was Pulchra. At first, I thought she was unapproachable, the type that saw others as people beneath her. But she soon approached me, and in such a timid manner too. Then some... other things happened, and we found ourselves alone. She acted so meekly, making me think I should take the initiative, but then she turned aggressive and assertive, refusing our hands' separation. I led her to the World Tree, and she found that place incredible. When I think about that smile she gave me... I feel so... so... content.'

I opened the door that led to the rest of the campus, the beautiful sight of the jungle's tree line merging with the blue sky hanging above meeting my eyes. I breathed in the fresh cool air that met my face, and slowly breathed out, relishing the lush atmosphere.

'Maybe it wasn't so bad... to be happy-'

"Hey, Quis!! Did you forget or are you really stupid?! I still have to guide you on your Fruit usage!"

I turned around and saw Telferr stomping towards me, probably feigning anger to see how I reacted to her.

"Oh yeah? If you're going to guide me on how to accuse others of harassment then maybe I would have something to learn... but when it comes to teaching me Fruit skills... I just don't see it."

She looked at me and then just as she was about to stomp her foot in anger, slowly lowered her foot to the ground, the rest of her body following suit soon after.

"You-You're right... I guess class is over then..."

I grabbed her hand and lifted her body back up, "Well are you going to show me how amazing you are at using Fruits or not?"

She rotated her head to meet mine, her eyes glittering with incredulity. After getting over the wave of disbelief, she turned around with her hands on her hips before proudly declaring, "You're right! I will guide you to become the 2nd best in the entire sect, the number one spot obviously belonging to me."

We walked toward the Martial Arts "classroom" while making conversation about things that didn't matter. But still, it felt comforting all the same.

'Maybe it isn't too bad... to allow emotions to flow through me.'

____________________________________________

"Hey, hey. Are you serious right now? Why the hell is your aim so good?!"

I shrugged my shoulders at Telferr's flabbergasted reaction, "I just aimed at it and used my Fruit, what can I say?"

"What can you say?! Ugh... I may not use a Branch that relies heavily on aim... but I can't but feel bad for every Branch that does."

She slowly shook her head and then looked at me with depressed eyes, "I have nothing to teach you. Your aim is impeccable and any instruction from me would probably only make it worse. Just go ahead and leave... class is dismissed."

She slowly dropped to the ground in depression as she bunched her body into the fetal position, rocking forward and backward slowly.

"... Alright then, I guess I'll be leaving. Thank you for all of your... help?"

This comment made her shutter a bit and she rocked faster than before. I decided to ignore her behavior and took my leave. I made my way through the building, but it felt different this time. It felt freeing in a way.

It wasn't long before I reached the entrance once again. I opened the doors that lead outside and took a deep breath... that was lived short by another voice interrupting me.

"You're out already Quis? I thought that Telferr would hold you for longer than that. I was barely able to talk the old teacher into letting me go after hitting all of the targets perfectly. I guess this would mean that you did something similar with Telferr."

She stood there with her long pink hair blowing in the wind and shining in the sun's glory. Her clear violet eyes met mine and I couldn't help but feel my heart skip a beat like it had once I first met her.

"You could say that, though Telferr wasn't very uncooperative, opting for me to leave actually... Is something wrong Pulchra?"

She looked at me curiously and approached me swiftly. She looked at my face closely... closely as in her face was way too close to mine. I could feel my cheeks blushing because of how little space was between my face and hers. She soon backed away and talked to me nonchalantly, "I just felt like you seemed different. You normally give off the feeling that you are suppressing yourself, but now I feel like you aren't doing that at all. It definitely suits you more."

She said these words with meaning hidden behind them before suddenly grabbing my hand, "That doesn't matter though. What matters is where I will bring you today! I've been trying to find a place as magnificent as the World Tree, and I finally found it!"

'How abrasive of her. She was normally more timid around me, but this is a nice change of pace. It felt good for my heart to pump like such.'

____________________________________________

"Wow... This is incredible."

"I know, I know. Now this settles the debt I owed you for showing me the World Tree."

It truly was beautiful.

Inside an air bubble hidden beneath the surface of the earth, a lake that had never seen the shine of the sun slept silently, only moving when a drop of water from the dripstone above touched it. As Pulchra brought her flame closer to the lake, its true beauty was exposed. Its sapphire-blue face and the eyes of flame reflected from the fire in Pulchra's palm made for an incredible contrast, one that sparked the imagination. It seemed to span on forever, the light not being enough to see the entire lake. The seemingly unimaginably vast glowing lake mixed with the rough stone that surrounded it... created something magnificent. It was almost like a deep blue void, one that I couldn't take my eyes off.

"You know, you weren't in my debt at all, but still it really is a beautiful sight to behold..."

She nodded at my conclusion, "It really is. It matches the color of your eyes, so I knew you would like it..."

"..."

Silence. An awkward silence even. This wasn't good. Such an atmosphere should promote conversation, not laconism... I guess I'll do it. They do say that actions express more than words could ever.

I went up to her and grabbed her hand without prior notice which startled her greatly, "H-hey what are you doing so suddenly?"

I didn't answer her question and instead continued with what I was going to do originally. If it were before, I probably wouldn't do this as I hadn't gotten a good enough grip on her character, and I still don't. But it doesn't matter anymore. I don't need a perfect plan that ensures my victory. I would take a risk, a risk that the old me would have never taken. And I'm not a wimp like this girl, one who despite the atmosphere does nothing. It may be brazen, but it feels right.

I brought the back of her hand to my face. The soft skin of her hand met my lips, prompting me to kiss it. And I did.

"W-w-w-w-w-w."

Ignoring her inability to form a sentence, I said with my head still facing the ground, "This is my thanks, not for showing me this place, but for showing me something else. For showing me how amazing it is to feel emotions."

I moved my head up, facing her flustered face, and said with the first true smile I've had in a long time, "From the bottom of my heart Pulchra. Thank you- ah! Wait!"

I tried reaching out for her but just ended up grabbing empty air.

'Ah, she ran away. Did I do something wrong after all?"