BXBX NOVEL Chapter 124: Lord Asura Fenix
All four of them looked quite exhausted, with bags under their eyes.
"Good morning, Vela."
"Morning."
"Is everything ready?"
He listened to the three girls chatting, but unlike the usual over-friendly attitude, Xavida and Mu Xue seemed less intense and annoying. Asura could feel the tension between the two, while Vela seemed to compete with them.
'As long as they don't hurt each other, I will allow it.'
Soon after breakfast, the clock showed the time was five in the morning; it was two hours before the Secondary Valkyrie unit would pick them up.
"I am going to visit Sigurd and my sister. Make sure you have everything you need. This trip could be long, and after we settle the battle, I will take you to meet my family."
Xavida's eyes widened and filled with tears before Asura noticed and stroked her soft, scaled cheek. "Do not worry, my little dragon. When the battle is over, the queen has promised to send you to my father's city on an airship, okay?"
"Nnn... husband, you are so kind; I will miss you so much."
Her soft lips touched his cheek before he gently lifted her from the wooden chair, carrying her like a princess; as their kiss deepened, he brushed her cheeks affectionately.
"I won't stop thinking of you for a moment, so don't look so lonely, okay?"
Xavida smiled shyly before Asura put her down and walked towards Mu Xue, kissing her lips gently.
Mu Xue's expression was bright, but he noticed a hint of sadness as he pulled away from her. "Do you want to be carried like a princess?"
"No~ Asura, I'm older than you, so please do not tease me like this."
He could only give up trying to tease this sensual older sister and instead kissed her again, enjoying the cool, sweet taste of her tongue and saliva.
It seemed she no longer resisted her power after transforming into those devil forms; her saliva could turn between hot or cold but was always delicious.
"Asura, stop flirting with those women and leave. You have work to do." Vela shouted from the other side of the table, causing his lips to curl into a smile, knowing she was jealous.
"You should tell your sister I'm taking you away; she might get angry otherwise."
"It is fine; I have already told her. She said she wants to meet you all one day soon."
He walked past the table behind Princess Vela and let his hand stroke her buttocks, causing the princess to turn bright red and release a lovely yelp. "Asura, you pervert!"
"Hehe, it seems she likes it." Mu Xue giggled as Vela glared at her, "Shut up; I know you both love him touching you like this, too!"
****
He didn't feel any different while walking along the road towards Sigurd's home, yet it felt surreal when he noticed many people were glancing in his direction; some looked excited in their uniforms while others nodded to him.
It was so different from his past life that he felt slightly nervous. However, feeling the wistful glances from the girls was quite nice.
Despite his new appearance and fame, he tried to act normally. It was nostalgic that they seemed to recognise him; it was the same as seeing a stranger in a foreign country.
[It's like you were always the centre of attention back then. So many damn women trying to get in your pants. Remember that girl from the Golden Wolf clan?]
'...Don't remind me; she almost got me killed.'
Soon, he arrived at Sigurd's door; he knocked and waited for his friend to answer.
"Brother! Come in!"
Amalia wore a loose robe but hugged his arm, unaware she was a growing woman now; the action stunned Asura that the feeling of her chest was softer than even Mu Xue's.
"Amalia, where is Sigurd?"
"Mother has gone to the Royal Palace. She seemed annoyed that they only sent fifty valkyries and said you will leave today. Mother is a bit strange when I mention you recently. She even started writing a training manual. Look!"
His eyes followed Amalia's finger; a large stack of paper lay on Sigurd's table, tied into a makeshift manual, but it was clear from the front it was for him.
The gesture caused his breathing to increase, as he felt a strange feeling inside his chest.
'The same memories, like when I was Sura... A lifetime in another place, with a lovely young woman who wasn't suited for the sword...'
[...]
[Asura...]
'It's fine... I am not the same as before. Whatever I have done or will do in the future, I will accept everything. Including you still being my wife.'
[Hueh!? But...]
'Have you forgotten? The Phoenix clan doesn't make the vow 'until death do us part.' So we are still married, right?'
[!!!!]
There wasn't an audible reply, just tears and sniffling before it became a complete wailing as she closed the call. A simple thought caused a more emotional impact than he realised they would.
'Perhaps I am broken now, unable to separate my previous life from this one. If there are more women like you, Helliana, I will not abandon them.'
The sound of someone coughing drew him back to reality as Sigurd held Amalia by the face in an iron grip with a slightly angry face.
"Ahhhhh! Help, brother!"
"Tsk, go do your damn training, slack off, and I'll send you to the forbidden realm!"
"Nnooo!" She struggled and ran off while Sigurd smiled apologetically at Asura, standing awkwardly at the doorway.
"Sorry about that; she thinks you are here for her."
"..."
"Asura..."
Sigurd stepped forward. She didn't know the correct distance to take, and her eyes looked troubled before Asura hugged her, wanting to get rid of this annoying aura around her.
"Sigurd, I know there are things between us."
"That voice and memories were mine, but I can only remember fragments, the pretty girl who couldn't wield the sword right now."
"But I want you to understand. I am not that person anymore; however, if you could give me time, to grow and mature as a man able to accept what I might find in those memories. I will return to you, and we can decide what to do in the future."
"..." Her entire body froze as she felt Asura's hands stroking her hair gently.
"I..."
"You made this manual because it hurts to see me, right? I will only see you after completing the entire book."
"That... no, but... it's painful to see you..." Sigurd whispered before pushing his body away gently, taking out a pair of silver and black rings with the symbol of what seemed to be a country. "If you can wear this, it's a top-class item ring and will keep anything inside safe, fresh and protected... I have filled it with many swords and other stuff..."
Asura wasn't a stupid kid anymore, and the moment he saw the two identical rings, one larger than the other, he knew they were more than just top-class item rings... There was a feeling in the back of his mind, but something dark blocked the memory and feelings, like sludge.
"Thank you, Sigurd... I promise to come back when I finish this manual."
Tears threatened to fall as Sigurd pushed Asura out of her home, closing the door without saying a word. However, her eyes remained focused on the image of him leaving the door while placing the ring on his left wedding finger.
"Mother, why are you crying on your knees?" A moment later, Amalia's voice sounded before the door opened again, kicking Amalia through it. A tearful Sigurd's face turned bright red. "Stupid daughter, stop asking questions and train!"
****
"How many romantic debts do my past lives have... Will I find more desire for revenge like my last life? Or will I grow to despise myself?"
[Do not worry; I know you are a man who never does things without reason.]
[Even in the face of suffering and loss, even when you are powerless. You will choose the best option for the ones you love.]
Asura continued back to his home, no longer looking at the people who noticed him but watching the sky and taking a deep breath.
'I can only make it up to them and surpass all my previous selves.'