Devouring Monarch: Rebirth of the Profane Phoenix

In the dark mansion with only candles flickering on the table, Asura sat alone in a cosy study filled with countless books, reading several documents and parchments.

All of which he missed during the time in the tower and heading to the east.

'The damn queen wasn't lying when she said I'd have to catch up. The basics of magic and how the stages of magic affect a person.'

He felt a little weird reading these low-level books once again. However, the difference was he could understand them now and felt himself getting absorbed into the books while forgetting the assignments or worksheets to finish.

Lucia's figure appeared, her soft hands lifting open the window, allowing the wind to flutter with a relaxing breeze.

Asura gazed at her actions and smiled; despite being completely into the book on how magic affects a person, he tried to acknowledge her actions.

"Thanks, Lucia. I felt a little warm. Are you alright?"

"Nn, it's a little strange..."

Her movements were like a phantom as she stepped around the room, creating flashes of shadow and dark mist left in her place as she seemed to teleport and dart around. "My new body differs from before, and I feel my connection with the shadow and dark element has surpassed my previous self even after two decades of training it."

The sound of pages turning slowly filled the solemn atmosphere, yet his fingertips didn't move. Asura used wind magic to turn each page, and his several minds could read the pages in seconds, taking all the information into his head.

After that, Sura and the past, Asura would read the documents and information repeatedly until he remembered and understood every detail perfectly.

"Stage four's manifestation relates to the hidden bloodlines within the caster. Some with weak beast bloodlines could form bestial features. However, a full transformation into the creatures is rare; the rarity increases with the creature's prestige and pedigree. Currently, there has only been one full phoenix manifestation!"

Asura's voice sounded deep and quite charming when reading the books over. Lucia's eyes gazed at him while curling her lips into a warm smile.

"Always studying so hard... Is that a book about Lorem?"

"Ah, it's about her and the demon empire, too."

A long time of silence followed. The crackling of flames and wisps of smoke continued until Asura finally closed the books with a satisfied smile.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Lucia."

The sensual woman sat on Asura's lap without a single hint of embarrassment and rested her head on his chest, closing her eyes with a blissful expression.

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Immediately after, a powerful whirl of magic swirled around the pair, with Lucia's dark magic flowing into his body, a vibration filling their bodies while his thick magic flowed back into her, causing the older woman's youthful mouth to open, releasing a lovely moan as she licked her lips.

"Just like always, your magic is filling me to the brim, yet this feeling is always so amazing..." Her fingers slowly dug into Asura's chest as she held him tightly, her legs trembling slightly with glazed eyes. She gave him a lovely upward glance. "I can't hold it in anymore, Asura..."

Their faces moved closer, letting Lucia's sweet aroma waft up Asura's nose. Her pale lips pushed against his without hesitation, a warm and citrus flavour filling his mouth, moments before her tongue pushed into his mouth and swirled around his, letting her saliva exchange with his.

Their heads turned and twisted while their tongues fought for dominance. Several minutes passed before they separated.

The two of them panted with a string of drool dripping from their lips as they both stared into each other's eyes, the intensity of their magic almost throbbing from their bodies.

"What a waste..." The older woman's face lit up with a lovely little pout as her slender arms wrapped around Asura's neck, pulling him closer. Lucia closed her eyes with a delighted expression before her small tongue licked the drool from his lower lip. "You've always had such a pleasant taste, Asura. I'm jealous you let everyone taste..."

Lucia and Asura's bodies lowered onto the thickly furred carpet below, which cushioned their fall as she faded. Slowly sinking into his shadow, her black eyes, like the void themselves, never let him out of her sight until she returned to his shadow.

The moon danced on the horizon and washed away the darkness. "I should go to bed... Tomorrow will be a long day."

Asura returned to his bed with a satiated and pleased expression while Lucia followed him inside his shadow, the faint snores in his mind as she seemed to rest.

'I wonder when she can recover fully...'

Asura's gaze on the moon became complicated as he approached his door. Just after, the silhouette of a small woman appeared, her head tilting downwards.

Her sharp and quick movements grabbed Asura's hand, her grip like iron as she held onto his arm.

"Good evening, Vela; it's late for you to be visiting."

Princess Vela's long silver hair looked silky and beautiful as it cascaded over her shoulder, dancing in the faint wind from the open window behind her. She leaned back on a bookshelf with a dark oak finish while gazing at Asura with her lovely amber eyes, like shining torches in the night.

"So cold... Why do you sound so distant after the tower?"

'Ah, that's true. What happened in the tower?'

He stepped forward, slipping his left arm around her back, lifting her body off the bookshelf, and letting her body fall against his chest while he smiled at her, both corners rising and his white smile on full show. "Why does the lovely princess come to my room at such a late hour?"

Princess Vela's eyes gazed into Asura's before the tips of her fingers reached up and poked the dark circle around his eyes. "You stayed up, overworking yourself, right? Can you not rest when home with us?"

"Probably..." Asura cushioned the princess' hand, lifting her slim fingers from his face before intertwining his with them as he stepped forward and walked with her, clasping her body in place. "Sorry, Vela, I just haven't had time to catch up on some work..."

"It's fine... I understand. I just wanted to spend some time with you. The tower is different... After the tower, they said you died, and everything became so dark and lonely..."

"Well, it's all in the past, Vela. I'm here with you all again. So no more looking sad."

Her amber eyes glistened, gazing at him, but her eyes narrowed, a sign of her feelings as she shook her head, "No..." Her voice grew weaker as she curled into Asura's arms and sniffed his body. "I won't let you leave me again..."

Vela's hands slowly loosened before pulling on his fingers, leading him again toward his room.

"Let's go to bed, Vela..."

"Y-yes... Together!"

Asura felt strange hearing those words, but he understood where she came from and why. She feared separation and leaving her alone again.

The pair entered Asura's large king-size bed, with plenty of room left on the sides. Vela pulled on the covers before grasping at his body again.

Her eyes seemed to glow in the darkness as she flicked her fingertips, creating a gust of wind that cinched the candles and torches while closing the windows tight.

Vela's soft hand reached up and embraced Asura's neck as she pulled herself up on his body, the sensation of her soft chest on his arm causing him to turn away.

"D-don't turn away. We're sleeping together today."

"Huh? Isn't that a little inappropriate, Vela? I mean, I don't mind, but I am a man. Your body is extremely attractive..."

"I don't care... Sleep."

"Alright..." Asura knew he shouldn't question the determined Vela, and the atmosphere became awkward as the two lay together in the dark. Her breathing and beating her heart resounded in Asura's ears while he relaxed on his bed with closed eyes. It felt comfortable. He realised she hadn't suddenly changed and wanted to be closer to him.

He wanted her to feel secure, so he let her sleep become deeper while his fingertips stroked gently through her soft, silky hair. "Goodnight, Vela."

Her breathing paused before her sweet voice reached him as if in a daze. "Nn... Asura..."

'I spoke to everyone alone today, right... Who did I miss...?'

Asura wanted to ensure they felt comfortable and reassured before tomorrow's academy started again. The move south could start at any moment.

****

⁜ Lorem POV

In the quiet night, with only the faint sounds of wind outside the windows and Vela's gentle breathing. A lonesome woman stood on a balcony. The woman wore a large white nightgown that complimented her crimson hair and stunning facial features. Despite having a deep wound on her cheek, her charm seemed unmatched...

"I waited so long, and he finally came back..."

Lorem's face looked more serene than usual. She didn't feel like the oppressive instructor or royal knight, but a woman in love, as small embers of beautiful crimson flame danced around her body.

Her crimson eyes were usually sharp but became gentle and warm as she gazed towards Asura's window. She lowered her head and exhaled as the cold breeze blew against her.

"Are you okay, Lorem?"

"Eh?"

Lorem turned, but there didn't seem to be anyone around. Her voice sounded nostalgic, like her best friend's. Yet the only thing with her was a small black phoenix. The dark bird rested on her shoulder with an intrigued expression.

"Did you just speak to me?"

Chrip~

Lorem's fingers moved toward the lovely raven bird, stroking its soft feathers as it bit her playfully. The action seemed cute, and she chuckled.

"Were you also lonely in there? Alone for all these years, trying to find Sura?"

The raven closed its eyes, leaning against her touch. A squeaky chirp responded to Lorem's words as her lips rose into a gentle smile.

"Yeah... there's so many rivals, but I don't feel we would lose to any of them," Lorem said before her visible eye opened, the crimson orb suddenly glowing with fire as she lifted her fingertip to her face. "I should stop keeping these silly wounds too..."

A flicker of red flames brushed along Lorem's face the next moment. Suddenly, her scars began healing.

Her rough and battle-torn skin became soft, beautifully tanned and silky while her eyepatch burned and fell to the floor, revealing her hidden eye, now vibrant and glowing with flames, no longer scarred and damaged.

"Helliana, how do I look? Can I be confident to be your rival again?"

Chirp!

A loud chirp echoed, filled with joy and a sense of support for Lorem.

The lovely raven bird hopped, spreading its wings, blazed with white flames that erupted from its body.

It took flight, turning into a wisp of white flames as it headed towards Asura's room. It left Lorem alone on the balcony with a proud and amused smile, her eyes watching her oldest friend as she felt a sense of change in her heart.

"After thousands of years, finally... I feel alive once again."

"Helliana, I won't lose because I am his first love!"