'What is this place...who is she...?'

Frowning I contemplated upon seeing the weird thing which was displaying an image of a black-haired girl. 

Her mouth was covered with a strange transparent thing which I haven't seen until now. And her facial features also looked foreign.

Not to talk about the weird strings connected to her wrist and arm which made it look like her a puppet or something.

I wasn't sure why Austin was so relaxed upon seeing the girl when the person was looking in so much worse condition on the blue stone.

"Ah...I should now get going..."

Suddenly Austin awkwardly got up and started walking away in a fluster.

It wasnt tough to discern that he was pretending to not notice me as he even forgot his shoes to wear before dashing away.

"Wait." 

Nearly shouting I pulled his attention toward me, in which I somehow succeeded.

His body jerked and soon the blue rectangular thing from his hand disappeared, more like it was sent somewhere.

"You...Do you know Space magic? Amazing."

I was aware that Austin was an elemental user but he or anyone in the academy using Space Time magic was still unheard of.

Excluding myself, I have never seen a teenage mage accomplish such a feat.

Another thing I found interesting tonight.

It took Austin time to turn toward me while I walked around the bench and got comfortable on it.

"Huh, so what? I-I know various things which your useless mind isn't capable of even dreaming. Just forget what you have seen and...and bye-bye.." 

Fluttering his robe specifically to signify how haughty he was...or he pretended to be, he started walking again.

'Hmmm....why so soon?'

Smiling in a way that I haven't found myself with in so long, I drew a magic circle on the place where Austin's next step would have landed.

**Swish** 

"Huh?"

Sitting just some meters beside me was a startling arrogant noble who somehow wasn't looking like his usual self at all.

Cute was the word?

Yeah, he was kinda cute at this moment.

"How I ended up here!! Di-did you do something you dumb bitch!!" 

He again stood up while cursing me in a way that showed how tough it was for him to say something like that.

It was clear that he had always prepared himself to bad-mouth, anyone as not only today, whenever I have come across him accidentally he always blushed and only with a fake scowl dashed away.

I knew something was fishy with him that's why I followed him today and was reluctant to let him go too.

"No, just sit here." 

Using the Diving magic [Nature's support] I pulled out two strings of prolonged grass to hold his limbs in place and make him back down.

"Ah!"

With a small cry, he was held back successfully before I grabbed his hand if he tried to use force again.

"Now stay here with me." 

Staring intently at his emerald eyes I made my point clear even though I was sounding a little unusual right now.

This domination, this persuasion... I don't think I have applied toward anyone but with Austin, it felt the most natural thing to do.

Thankfully the prideful prince accepted my request and with redness covering his face, didn't struggle any further.

"I-If you are begging so much then b-but keep your filthy hands away from m-me..."

He was stuttering so much that it took him half a minute to finally complete a sentence.

His tongue was tied in a way like he was limited to only made-up words and the way he was reacting with his body temperature rising, made his arrogant impression crumble even more.

His unsteady glance and the reluctance to look at me straight definitely didn't justify how in the past, he violently cursed my looks and made fun of aesthetics.

Right now I could cleanly perceive how shy he was just even with the hand I was holding.

But I wasn't a sadist to let him suffer...

Or maybe I was.

"First answer some of my questions then I would release your hand."

Austin narrowed his gaze and resisted my advances entirely.

"Leaving this conversation is in my capabilities, Miss Luna Lastov. So don't force me to use violent means to get rid of you."

Being glared like that he somewhat seemed different.

Not that shy Austin was bad, but this determined Austin seemed even better.

"Then try it, I won't force you to stay. But the fact that you can use space magic and have a weird device which no one is aware of, might raise suspicion toward your origin, Sir Austin Wright."

His body jerked visibly as his glare turned into perplexion as he started roaming his eyes in ponder. 

But I was only a Saint in the name. I don't like to give my target time to make something to counter before I launch my final blow.

"Won't your pretense would be ruined if they were to know how you always hold back whenever a fight breaks out and how every time you force yourself to say such hurtful comments?"

Now the haughty prince has completely shattered into pieces. The one who was in front of my eyes was truly a terrified being, who visibly wanted to just disappear from this place right at this instance.

But I didn't have enough...

"Not to talk about the ball event. You were clearly forcing yourself to say such a thing about Kyouki right? Don't think I didn't see how your lips were trembling and legs were shaking when Lilia broke off the engagement. Your anxiety your regret, don't assume I didn't saw that because under my watch you can't hide yourself at all. I can see right through you, master~Austin"

I whispered my thoughts from start to end mercilessly in his ears while enjoying the slow reactions he was giving in between my talk.

After I finished my declaration, I gawked intently at the man who was completely different from what I have seen until now.

His face was covered with his long blond hair but his palpitating body told me that he was beyond furious right now.

I was ready for any kind of violence if he advanced upon me, but what I wasn't ready for...

"...demon."

Glaring at me, I was bestowed by a sight that I might not be able to forget for my life, ever.

The arrogant and self-obsessed son of Count Vincent Wright who was famous for his hideous behavior and snake tongue was weeping right now?

His tame expression showed how wronged he was feeling right now. His flushed cheeks, his red nose, his moist eyes were so...

"Adorable".

His eyes became wider as he heard my unintentional voiced remark but before he could react, I moved toward him and wrapped my hand around his head before draping it over my bosom.

Keeping my head over his, I started rubbing his back gently to make this bullied child calm.

"Aw...I am sorry.  I didn't think that my poor Austin would get hurt to such an extent." 

I patted his back rhythmically while grazing my hand over his smooth hair.

For some moments he was dead stiff but soon he started to relax enough to the point his whole body was supported by me.

I didn't know what he was going through in reality and what made him forced to do such an act, but there was something I was sure about.

I want to know more about Austin Wright.

This might be the first time for me to feel something like this toward someone but strangely I was happy to gain such a feeling toward Austin.

It was weird how a person who has tormented me for so long still made a place in my heart.

But I didn't hate it...

Remembering his pained look and his teary eyes just some moments ago, I felt something igniting inside me. Something I have kept dormant until now was emerging furiously.

But strangely I was welcoming all of it...

I was accepting myself.

____________.._____________ 

At the same time when Luna was pampering Austin, a certain figure was staring at the pair from far away.

Standing on a branch of a tall cedar tree a young and handsome youth with midnight shade hair looked at the scene with a complicated look on his face.

From the time Luna hugged Austin, he became utterly furious and enraged at the situation which he felt weird from the start.

The young man who has been bestowed by the goddess of Light and has been looked upon by millions doesn't hold any kind of feeling toward anything special.

Even though he had friends and loyal subordinates, he doesn't feel the spark he feels toward this certain girl who was in his clear perception, right now.

The hero of Humanity Kyouki doesn't have to create nor had built anything or any relationship which could hinder him from his mission.

But only a single girl, was the source of his wavering heart.

He had vowed to never kill any innocent in his lifetime nor have thought to bestow death upon someone just because of his own selfishness.

But looking at this sight, his promises seemed to be shaky and fragile.

Clutching his fist he broke a huge chunk of raw wood from the tree in agitation as a single thought emerged in his mind.

'You better be prepared for the consequences of your actions, Austin Wright."

____________..._____________ 

A/N:- Leme tell you one thing to calm your anxiety, Luna is hella powerful and could beat the shit out of the hero. 

But she won't be the one to do such a thing, after all, Austin didn't gather so many points for the whole year, for nothing.

Anyway, if you liked the chapter then please comment and if you have time then please check the recent post I have posted on my profile wall.

Peace ✌️