NOVPUBTo my disciple's disappointment, Velis doesn't react to her provocations. Likely owing his poker face to a combination of natural inclination and the concentration-type skill he almost certainly possesses. Part of me wonders how rare concentration-type skills are in demons. So far, all the demons I’ve met have been on the more hotheaded side.
Vega tries to say something provocative again, but I halt the movement of her mouth by absorbing kinetic energy.
“Congratulations on the win,” I tell Velis.
"Thank you very much," he says, bowing again. His tone is polite, but there's still a distance to it.
I glance at Victoria, who just shakes her head and turns to Vega as I let her go so she can talk.
"I really liked your determination during the event, Vega. It reminded me of Nathaniel. He was much the same when he was younger, though I suppose he hasn’t changed much."
Glancing at me, then back to Vic, Vega nods excitedly with a smile. "That's just the start! One day, I'll be stronger than Master!"
“Oh, will you now?” Victoria's eyebrow arches up a bit. “What would you do if you became stronger?”
“Then I would force Master to call me Master Vega and have three meals a day with me! And I would make him carry me everywhere!”
“Wouldn't that be difficult when you grow taller?” Victoria asks.
At that moment, Vega looks shocked, as if the thought had never occurred to her. With a hint of panic, she glances at me, then at her hands, before looking back.
“What do you plan to do?” I ask Victoria, all the while letting my minion experience her moment of existential dread.
“I plan to train with Velis for a while longer before I hand him over to a few of my group members who will cover the areas I lack. Lastly, I might organize some sparring sessions against some of the other disciples or spar with him myself.”
"So, the same as me. I would also try packing some items to send back with him. The system might block them from going with him, but it might not.”
“I already thought of that,” Victoria says as she looks between Velis and Vega. “I thought they could spar together, but your disciple seems too emotional to do it efficiently?”
“Master, did your sister insult me just now?”
“Minion, if I were to let you spar with Velis, how would you behave? Before you answer, you only have two options. Would you spar with the intention that both of you learn as much as possible, or would you spar with the intention of hurting him?”
“Both!”
I look back at Victoria. “I agree with your assessment. I’ll do some training with her and then I’ll probably take her to meet my group and their disciples.”
“Understood, I’ll see you soon, Nathaniel. It was nice meeting you, Vega.”
“It was nice to meet you too, Master's sister!!”
A few goodbyes are exchanged, and I watch Velis as he turns to leave to follow Victoria. His purple eyes meet mine before he turns around with that emotionless expression that’s so similar to Vic's.
I think a lot of people might be disturbed by that, but it is something I am very used to.
Looking at the half-demon by my side, I ask, “Minion?”
“Your sister was very pretty, Master! You two seem alike. It's unfortunate she got such a crappy disciple, he doesn't even seem to have a proper heart, so it probably makes sense that he is so weird and cowardly. He did have pretty eyes, but yours are prettier, especially now that one of mine is similar.”
“Are you trying to act all cute in the hope of avoiding punishment for being a little jerk?”
“Master.”
“Yes, minion?”
“Didn't you say that it was better to be an asshole rather than let people take advantage of you?”
“Did I really say that?”
“Ehm, something similar?”
I sigh and offer her my hand, which she quickly grabs, and I teleport us.
"Let's train for a while, then pick out some clothes for you before we meet the others," I say, reappearing at my favorite training spot deep in the forest.
“Do we have to meet with the others?”
“Minion, you would say I'm your master, right?”
“Yes…” she says carefully.
“The two of us share a bond, a very powerful one: the bond of master and disciple, which even the system seems to hold in high regard.”
“Y-yes.”
"So, minion, we laugh together, we spend time together, we eat together, but we also suffer together. Exactly as the system intended. In short, you're coming with me to draw some of the aggro away from me."
“Damn it.”
Even though she complains, as we walk, Vega moves ahead of me, spinning once on her heel before bouncing back to my side. There’s no tension in her, no frustration. If anything, she looks like she's enjoying herself.
“Master, I had a thought,” she says suddenly.
"Lies. In fact, it's been scientifically proven that minions are incapable of independent thought."
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
She grins. "That's not true! And it was a good thought."
“We’ll see about that.”
Vega leans forward slightly as she walks, “I was thinking... if I tell people I'm your disciple, do you think they’ll be more scared of me or less?”
I glance at her. “Why would they be scared?”
“Well, you're scary, aren't you? It's a good thing!” She tilts her head. “You don't smile a lot, you don't talk too much, and you make people nervous just by looking at them. So does that mean they'll be scared of me too if I do the same?”
I hum in thought. “Depends. Do you want them to be scared?”
Vega shrugs. “I don't care. But if they are, it'll make things easier.”
“Easier for what?”
She grins again. “For getting them to fight me, obviously.”
Of course.
I exhale through my nose. “Fear doesn't always make people fight. Some people avoid the things that scare them.”
Vega clicks her tongue. “That's annoying.”
“Poor little you, minion.”
She thinks for a moment, then brightens. “Then I'll just make them mad instead! If they're mad, they'll fight, right?”
I glance at her. “That's your strategy?”
“It works, doesn't it?” she smirks. “It worked on a few of those chicken wings when they were flying out of my reach.”
Am I to take this to mean that Vega’s growing into a professional trash-talker? Though she's not entirely wrong.
“And if it doesn't work?” I ask.
“Then I'll just fight them normally,” she says as if it were obvious. “I don't need tricks, Master. I just think they're fun.”
I shake my head. “You're a menace.”
Vega grins wider. “But I'm your menace.”
She moves ahead again, bouncing on her feet a bit before turning back. “So where exactly are we going?”
“Nothing’s changed, we’re going to train and then we’ll meet up with the others,” I remind her.
She groans. “Fine. But if they're boring, I'm leaving.”
“No, you're not.”
She huffs but doesn't argue. Instead, she spins on her heel and continues walking.
“Master?” she calls after a moment.
“What now?”
“I bet I could make at least one of them mad enough to fight me.”
I sigh. “Please don't.”
POV Lily Chen
Nathaniel and his disciple arrive a few hours later near one of the tall trees where we've set up with our disciples, only the twins are absent.
For some reason, Nathaniel and Vega are wearing matching pajamas even though the fake sun on this tournament floor is still high in the sky. While Nathaniel doesn't seem pleased by it, Vega seems very, very happy, so it's easy to guess whose idea it was.
The pajamas are a set: a long-sleeved shirt embroidered with angry gecko faces, paired with loose, airy black pants patterned in red, gray, and white lines.
"Master, is that Nathaniel?" Pallius asks, standing by my side.
“Yes, why?”
Before I can stop him, he takes a few steps towards them and comes to a stop in front of Nathaniel and his disciple.
“I'm Pallius from Teryth! My father became Champion a few weeks ago and is one of the candidates due to become shadow to the Grand Healer, one whom even our Lord Absolute holds in high esteem. I have decided to let Master Lily become my shadow, and for that, I need you to let her go.”
Nathaniel looks down at Pallius, then at me. His gaze lingers, and for a brief, irrational moment, I wish I looked a little more composed. I can only grimace apologetically.
“Lost your tongue? And do you have no shame? What are you wearing in the presence of my master? Are you not concerned about the way that will reflect on her when she associates with people like you? Even the youngest of children on my planet learn how to dress for events and...”
“I see,” Nathaniel says as he waves Pallius off and then taps his disciple on the back of her head. “Minion, take care of this. No fighting.”
Without engaging him at all, he walks by Pallius, who tries to stop him, only to be shouted at by Vega, “You, chicken wings! I have killed hundreds of your race during the event, so how dare someone as weak as you try to steal one of my Master's future underlings, future minions who will one day serve under me?”
"Huh? There were barely two dozen feylith during the event." Pallius momentarily forgets about Nathaniel and asks, looking confused.
“Y-You counted them?”
“Obviously, I would, as much as I could. Each race has its strengths and preferences, so tracking their numbers allows for better optimization…” Pallius shakes his head. “Why am I even talking to you? I have to talk to that guy and stop him from using Master. She is too nice and innocent to see that she is being used.”
Nathaniel reaches me, glancing at our disciples as they face each other, hurling insults. I hear Vega shouting something about my disciple having a chicken heart, a weak heart, and more besides, all the while Pallius grumbles about maniacal demons and brutes.
I should probably step in before this escalates, but for the moment, I stand by and watch. Nathaniel does the same, his expression giving nothing away.
“Is he still going on about the shadow thing?” Nathaniel asks.
"Yes, and he keeps getting pushier," I lower my voice. "I think he's become more determined since his father became Champion."
“Silver spoons.”
“He’s a good kid, he’s just a bit... eccentric. Why are you wearing pajamas?”
“My minion is a tricky creature and doesn't have the least bit of respect for me. I had to make some sacrifices to secure her cooperation.”
"It looks good on you," I say, unable to hold back a small smile.
Though his face gives nothing away, there's a slight stiffness in his movements. It’s unexpectedly cute, even more so because he did it for his disciple.
“Sure,” he snorts, “it's just for one day, so whatever. Lily, if anyone laughs, I want you to remember their faces and names. I will find them later.”
“Of course,” I answer. “Do you want to meet the other disciples?”
"I guess I might as well since I came here in the first place." He turns around and calls out, "Minion, don't think I haven't noticed you getting ready to punch him. Get over here."
Vega, who clearly looks ready to attack Pallius, immediately turns away and reaches Nathaniel in a short series of long jumps.
On her way, her eyes meet mine, and the joy and gentleness that she shows when looking at Nathaniel are gone. Instead, a pair of deep red eyes stare at me in a way that suggests she considers me nothing more than someone she endures, no matter how innocent she acts in front of her master.
When I asked Pallius about the other races, Pallius told me that this wasn’t exactly unexpected behaviour for demons. They tend to be a race that values strength and the establishment of a clear hierarchy. Competitive by nature, they constantly fight for the position of strongest. However, once they acknowledge someone as superior, they become highly obedient and hold that person in great regard.
Of course, that only applies when they believe the person in question is stronger than them, but the moment they sense any hint of weakness, their attitude shifts.
That is also one of the reasons why their Champions and Absolutes are considered to be such menaces and amongst the most powerful within the system.
