"What do you mean?" Emilia asked him, not understanding what he meant.
"I want to rest before night comes so don't disturb me," Alex said to her and went into the house.
Not answering her question, Emilia was a bit upset but she decided to take it as him not wanting to bother her so she didn't try to persuade him to talk and instead, followed him in.
Alex went straight to his chambers after finding it and lay on the bed, he was too tired to do anything but he wanted to learn the third spell which is the mind-manipulation spell.
"This spell works based on the power of the caster," he read after opening to the third page. "The stronger the caster, the more effective the spell would be. In essence, I have to try and learn the spell. As I get stronger, the effect will get better," he said to himself before crossing his legs on the bed.
After learning the mind-soothing spell, focusing had become very easy for him — As he is now, he can be able to focus his mind and senses even if the whole place is noisy.
While he was busy, Emilia walked into the chamber and saw him in this state, after watching him for a while, she turned and left to prepare him something to eat.
While she was in the kitchen, a bird flew towards the window and perched somewhere there. Seeing the bird, she left the things she was doing and went to it.
She removed the paper tied to its leg and opened it. "It's from father," she mumbled and began to read the content of the letter.
After she was done, she smiled happily. "Finally, father has been promoted," she mumbled happily but soon after, she frowned.
For decades, she had wished for her father to be promoted so that his brothers would no longer be above him and today, her wish had come to pass. She was meant to be happy; No, she was happy but for another reason, she was also worried.
"Go tell him that I've received the news," she said to the bird and it flew away immediately. After the bird had left, she could not help but sigh as her heart was heavy with worry.
Remembering what she was doing earlier, she sighed again and continued.
In the meantime, Alex had made some progress with the mind-manipulation spell, and out of tiredness, he fell asleep. Emilia came into the room and sat down on the bed beside him, staring at him as he slept soundly.
"He's handsome," she subconsciously mumbled and the moment she realized what she said, she slapped her cheeks lightly to come back to her senses. "What is wrong with me?" She asked herself and shook her head.
Nevertheless, she didn't leave the room and continued to stare at his sleeping face.
She stayed with him for hours and at last, she too got tired and wanted to sleep so she stood up to leave but all of a sudden, Alex began to toss around on the bed.
Worried, she sat down back on the bed and held his hand in hers, still he continued to turn around and she could see drops of sweat on his forehead.
"Alex! Alex!" She called out to him worriedly. She tried to wake him up but he wouldn't wake up until some minutes later, he opened his eyes and the first expression she saw was that of anger followed by pain. "Alex, are you alright?" She asked him.
"I'm fine," he replied and came down from the bed. He sat on the edge and stared into space, Emilia knew something was wrong and she couldn't take his silence for an answer.
"Tell me, Alex. I should bear your worries with you, please," she pleaded.
"It was just a dream, a bad one. It's nothing to be worried about," he replied to her and stood up. "I need to freshen up, go and wait for me outside," he said to her, dismissing her immediately.
Emilia pouted but still stood up and left the room. After she left, Alex frowned deeply as he thought about the dream.
'If I don't act fast, the same thing will happen to me and I am not sure if I will make it alive again' He thought to himself before sighing and going into the bathroom to freshen up.
Outside the room, Emilia was still worried about him, he told her that it was just a bad dream but to her, it didn't seem that simple. Seeing how angry and pained he was, she felt awful inside of her, and knowing that there was nothing she could do to help, made her feel even more guilty. She stood by the door and waited for him until he was done and came out.
"Alex—"
"Is there something to eat? I am hungry," Alex requested, not allowing her to say whatever she had planned to.
Knowing that he was avoiding the question, Emilia bit her lips and sighed. "Yes. I made something for you, come," she replied and left the room.
Alex watched her for a while before following her to the dining hall where there were covered plates on the long table.
"Have a seat, I'll serve you," she said to him and he nodded and sat down. She began to serve him the meal she prepared for him and when she was done, he began to eat. And while he ate, she stood a step away from him and silently watched him eat.
Noticing her behavior, Alex stopped eating and turned to her. "Why are you distancing yourself from me? Are you already tired of serving me?" He asked her and that instant, she fell to her knees.
"No! I will never get tired of serving you," she replied with her head lowered.
"Then what is the matter?" He asked her.
"It's just that..." She said and paused.
"Just what?" He asked her. "Tell me," he pressed.
"Well, you don't always tell me what bothers you and it pains me," she blurted out. Seeming courageous, she continued. "If... if you can always tell me what is bothering you, I'll be able to help you somehow."
"Is that all?" He asked her.
"Y-yes," she replied and lowered her head, seeming to avoid his piercing gaze.
"Come here," he said to her. She didn't make a step and he decided to be the one to do that since she didn't want to.
He stood up from his seat and made his way toward her, she in response began to move backward until her back touched the pillar.
She bit her lower lip because she now had nowhere to run to while Alex smirked at her.
"Weren't you bold a few days ago? When did you become this timid?" He asked her, taking hold of her jaw and pulling her face closer to his. "I like the bold you in case you don't know. So do something about it or I'll be forced to help you." He said and withdrew from her.
Emilia thought something was going to happen but as nothing happened, she subconsciously frowned her face in disappointment.
"We've got company, get ready because things may turn bloody if necessary," Alex suddenly said to her, and as soon as he finished speaking, they heard a loud bang at the entrance of their house. "They are here, earlier than I expected," he mumbled and went back to sit down. "Invite them in," he ordered Emilia and she nodded and went to the door.
As she opened the door, she was greeted by a group of armed demons.
"Where is your master?" The leader asked and barged into the house. The first place they would enter was the hall so as they barged into the hall, they met Alex seated on the chair but then, they ignored him completely and turned to Emilia.
"Take us to your Master, we want to see him right now!" The leader ordered Emilia and she turned to glance at Alex.
"Fortunately, you are at the right place. I am her Master. Tell me what you want to say," Alex replied to them.
The leader was taken aback but he quickly collected himself and pretended not to be surprised.
"Are you sure you are the Master? Because it doesn't look like it," he said to Alex who shook his head before replying.
"Do you want me to write it on my forehead before you believe me? Or are you too shocked to believe that I am the Master over this place?" He asked them.
"If you—"
"Tell me what brings you to my house at this ungodly hour of the night," Alex requested, not allowing the leader of the group to speak.
"If you insist that you are the Master, then we will have no choice but to do what is in our minds," the leader said to him.
"Which is?" Alex asked, squinting his eyes at them.
"For decades, no one has successfully taken over this city. It has been ours for ages and not even the Lord of the city himself has the power over us, so we want you to leave while you still can or we will have no choice but to force you out," the bold demon said.