Teasing Aster

Edited by: ASaltedFish

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For the next two weeks, Ellery didn't say a lot, but that didn't stop Aster from going to the Military Academy and hanging out with their close friends once a week. He knew that Ellery didn't like to be alone, so he made sure that Ellery could enjoy the company of other people. 

He also was not accepting guiding services at the moment because he wanted to ensure he and Ellery had a safe place to live first.

During this time, Aster still stayed at Ellery's family home, but Ellery did briefly mention looking for a better place to stay. 

To get help, Aster asked Adjutant Ito because he thought that he would know some people who could help. He was the Adjutant of Marshal Caecius, so even if he didn't personally know anyone who could help, some of his connections would, right?

Adjutant Ito first tried to say that he could live with Marshal Caecius because he also lived there. Aster didn't want that, so he happily did his best to help, combing through all the mansions on the Imperial Star. A lot of noble families stayed near the Royal Family's Palace. Not only was it expensive, but only those in the upper nobility had the qualifications to stay in that area. As for the lower nobility, they lived in the surrounding areas, hoping one day, they could move themselves and their families into the upper nobility's district. 

Aster also contacted the Guide Association's Director and Vice Director for their opinions, but they both insisted that he move into the district where all of the higher nobility lived. 

Aster and Ellery could not afford that just yet, so they weren't sure what to do. They did not want to get a free handout for a new home, but they also knew that moving into this district was the safest option, especially because all the Marshals had their homes in this area. 

He could afford to live in the areas where the lower nobility and other rich folks lived, but the security wasn't as good, and it was quite crowded. Still, it was better to live there than in this residential area with normal people. He didn't want to continue disrupting the lives of the regular citizens, so he thought moving to the district of the wealthy was their best option for now. 

Once he had enough money, he could apply for a mansion in the higher nobility's district… 

Aster grumbled a little, forgetting he was on a call with the Vice Director of the Guide Association. Hearing the other person's voice brought him back from his thoughts.

"Why don't you live with the Marshal and Adjutant Ito?" The Vice Director couldn't help but ask while discussing Aster's options. "It's much safer to live there, and you have a contract with them. They could protect you much better if you are close to them." 

Aster knew that it would be better to live with Marshal Caecius and Adjutant Ito, but after experiencing a mental attack from the Marshal… he was a bit scared of the man. Ellery didn't mind living with them, but he also wanted to respect Aster's boundaries, so he didn't bring up living with them after suggesting it once. 

Aster didn't want to tell the Vice Director about the mental attack, so he tried to dance around the topic. "I'm just a bit nervous living with people I haven't known for too long…" It wasn't too far off. 

The Vice Director saw that he was quite adamant about not wanting to live with Marshal Caecius and Adjutant Ito and left it at that. Even if it was a bit safer, who knew if Marshal Caecius and Adjutant Ito were heathens who would attack Aster in the middle of the night… 

Maybe it would be better if they lived separately for now. If Aster got into a relationship with one of them, that would be a different story. 

"Alright, I will try to find a mansion that's the closest to the higher nobility's district. That way, it would be safer for you and easier for Marshal Caecius and Adjutant Ito to get to you if there is some kind of danger." 

Aster gave a sigh of relief, seeing that the Vice Director accepted his reasoning. 

"Thank you, Vice Director, and sorry for troubling you." 

"It's no trouble at all! I will contact you again as soon as possible." 

With that, they said their goodbyes and Aster hung up the call. He gave another sigh of relief. Talking to people drained most of his energy, but there were times, like these, where it was needed. 

If only he could switch with Ellery in times like these… He's been saying this a lot lately.

After the phone call, Aster decided to check on their vegetable and fruit garden. Due to the rain earlier this morning, he didn't have to water them; so he waited for the rain to stop and the weather to clear up before making his way through the backyard garden. 

He had harvested multiple baskets. Since it was summertime, his garden was thriving and would continue to do so until the first frost. There were a lot of tomatoes and peppers, which were popular on his online store. 

"It's much more abundant than my balcony garden…" Aster couldn't help but comment while looking at the harvest. He was so happy to be able to have vegetables and fruits growing in their backyard. 

It was a dream come true! 

[I'm a bit curious, what was your previous life like to be so happy about a garden?] Ellery was always a bit cautious when delving into the topic of Aster's previous life. Still, he couldn't help but be a bit curious. 

He wanted to know more about Aster, whether it was good or bad. Maybe by talking about it, Aster would heal bit by bit. Well, that was his hopeful thinking. 

Aster thought about how to describe it and finally, found the words to describe it. 

He talked out loud because it was just him at home. "I lived by myself in a small apartment. It had a balcony, but I couldn't really do much out there. I was able to put a couple of pots to grow lettuce and stuff, but they were all things that weren't too hard to grow and didn't have to be cooked. It was all I could afford…" 

[What happened to your family? Why were you living alone?]

 "I lost my parents when I was 14. My mother died of an incurable disease, and my father died of a broken heart. They loved each other so much, they couldn't live without the other. I had to live with my uncle and his family, but I left quietly in the middle of the night the day I became an adult." 

Aster, while talking about himself, put the baskets down and began sorting everything out. Ellery told him they could keep 1/3 of the stuff, and the rest could be sold.

"I was alone until the day I died, and I really liked it. I worked a crappy job, but it allowed me to work by myself and afford a small apartment. That's it." 

Ellery knew that wasn't all of it, but he didn't dig any deeper either. [Even if you like to be alone, it must have been lonely and tough. Especially to lose your parents so early in your life. You are much stronger than I am in this regard.] 

"What do you mean by stronger?" 

He's never seen himself as strong. He ran away when things got tough, he was his own worst enemy, and he's always hated himself because he could not understand how to be a normal person… 

[I hate being alone, so when you came, I latched on to you. Though you didn't really have an option, I made you go with my flow, always making sure I would be the most important person to you. If I leave you one day, I have always hoped that you would continue to remember me. It feels like you would be the only one who would remember me if I left…] 

"That's not true at all… So many people will remember you. If anyone should leave, it's me. This isn't my body. It's yours." Tears trickled down his face, and his nose became congested. "I've always wanted to give your body back. This isn't my body. Why do I have control of it? Why couldn't I go into a different body? This isn't fair to you. You should have been able to fulfill your own regrets and meet the sentinel of your dreams." 

"But I am in your way." 

[Is that how you have always felt?]

"Of course! Don't you feel any resentment toward me? Don't you feel like I took control of your body against your will? I was surprised that you didn't hate me, but you took me in as family… If anyone is strong, it's you." 

With the strong emotions, Aster felt his grip on his body slipping. Just like when he was attacked by Marshal Caecius, he felt his soul retreat toward the back as Ellery's soul came forward. 

Ellery felt he had control of his body for the first time in a while, and was able to catch himself before they could fall. Luckily, none of the vegetables on the table fell off. 

This table was on his open patio next to a large sink. It was the place where he processed all of his harvests and the plants for the spiritual stabilizers. 

"I guess your emotions were a bit too intense, and I came forward." 

Aster felt a bit bad for doing this to Ellery. He realized they both, especially him, needed therapy… 

[I'm sorry…] 

"Hey, it's fine. I don't mind it. Also…" 

"I did resent you at first, but after a while, I realized it wasn't such a bad thing. I'm glad you are here. I thought I would be alone once again. Luckily, you are the sweetest and the cutest person I have ever met." 

Cutest? Sweetest? Aster immediately blushed and felt Ellery was just teasing him. 

"Embarrassed now? I'm telling the truth, you know." 

[I… I, I'm sorry!] After that, Aster ran away because he couldn't take Ellery's teasing and compliments. 

It was quiet in his mind, so Ellery guessed that Aster had run away. 

"Alright, you think on it. I hope you won't leave me for too long." 

After that, Ellery counted all the things he would be selling from his garden and put them up for sale. In a matter of seconds, everything was sold out, even when he put limits on his produce. 

Well, with his recent popularity, he wasn't surprised. 

Ellery shipped out the produce while humming a tune he had heard a long time ago. His voice was soft and filled with sadness, but only Aster could hear his hums. 

This time, Ellery did not know when Aster would have control of the body once again, but that was okay, he was going to enjoy the time that he had to be himself. 

What Ellery didn't expect was that Aster would refuse to go back to the forefront for the next couple of weeks.