Last Born Of The Desdemona

Chapter 212: Chapter 212: Free of Worries

Chapter 212 – Free of Worries

”A new teacher on our side?” Mallory arched her delicate silver eyebrow. ”How so?”

”As you already know, my mother is from the Hood family, so I paid them a short visit before the Royal Event.” He replied. ”I met the High Priestess there, and let’s just say she has a soft spot for me.”

”A soft spot? Do you truly think a soft spot would survive here? Adam and White would circle her like sharks the moment she set foot inside.”

”She’ll be fine.” Cassius insisted. ”And even if it’s only a soft spot, she’s the best candidate we could find for us.”

Mallory fell silent for a while, thinking the whole situation over, before nodding, realising she had nothing to lose by trying.

”The final decision will be made between me and the Head Teachers. Adam and White will naturally be present.” She took Helene’s resume from Cassius’s hand, looking it over herself. ”I will present the High Priestess alongside two other candidates.”

”When is the meeting?”

”In two days. Wednesday.”

”Alright.” He whispered, dragging both hands down over his face. ”Then I’ll wait for the good news, master. With the High Priestess, trust me, things will be far easier than they are now.”

”And where does your confidence come from?”

”You chose me because, most certainly, you had no choice, but also because you believe I can do well in this matter.” He smiled at her. ”I chose the High Priestess because she’s crazy enough to do well here.”

”Crazy, huh.” Mallory cocked her head to the side. ”We shall see.”

”Indeed, we shall. I’m eager to meet her again.”

Saying that with a soft chuckle, Cassius walked slowly toward the only window in the entire room.

He arrived there in an instant and took in the mystical sight.

Being at the top of the Tower, everything around him was gentle clouds drifting slowly and a clear blue sky that looked close enough to touch with one outstretched hand.

The blazing yellow sun looked so beautifully close that, for a moment, Cassius entertained the idea of being the second coming of Icarus.

He burned that idea the instant it flashed through his mind. Still...

’Why not? One day — yes, surely one day — I’ll be strong enough not to mind sitting atop a sun.’

That thought excited him like a child at the prospect of a brand-new toy. An innocent smile spread across his lips, witnessed by Mallory Octavia.

”Time for you to go.” She said at last.

”Before that, I have a question, master.” He turned his head just enough to look at her. ”Do you mind if I skip classes?”

The Dean arched an eyebrow, the corner of her lips curling up in amusement. ”Do you plan to?”

”With you training me, and me spending some time in the library for knowledge, I don’t think I need to attend classes often. In my case, it’s more a waste of time.”

”Skipping classes gives you minus points.”

”I won’t lack ways to earn those points back.”

”Oh?” Her eyes flashed. ”Are you planning to duel that much?”

”That’s how fools think. And as much as I’m a devoted follower of The Fool, I’m not in that category.” He replied, pressing his index finger to his temple. ”There are many ways to hoard EP.”

”You are, little bastard, oddly knowledgeable about the inner workings of the Academy.”

”I’m a Desdemona.”

”That’s reason enough.” She smiled thinly, then shrugged. ”Do whatever you want. Your siblings barely went to classes anyway. Nothing new with your bloodline.”

”Is that a compliment, master?”

’Master, huh...’ Mallory was quite surprised at herself.

Not even an hour ago, she had been ready to smash his head into the floor and rip out his eye.

Now here she was, talking normally with him, even allowing him to skip classes as he pleased without a care for her reputation.

All of that after seeing her Fate linked to a brat.

Mallory Octavia had rarely been so secretly perturbed by anything.

And the most perturbing thing was how pragmatic and adaptive Cassius was in the face of this situation.

’I took him as a disciple with the goal of ruin. Now he’s on my side, helping me keep my position as Dean.’

Not that she wanted to be Dean that badly. But it was all she had now.

It was... indeed, shamefully, all she was.

And she didn’t have the strength in her to seek another version of herself after failing, once again, to protect something she cared about.

’After so many years, I’ve become ”Dean” itself. Losing the position means losing myself again, and needing to roam the world again in search of something to fill the pit inside me. I have no strength left for that. No strength left, and death would be a welcome relief if it came to that.’

And because of that, she was ready to swallow her annoyance if it meant helping her both keep her position and have the chance to see him again.

’Why am I doing this?’

Exhaling, Mallory refocused on Cassius, still admiring the view outside her window.

She clapped her hands, drawing his attention back to her.

”It’s time for you to go.” The Dean said. ”You look like a dead man. I’ll give you time to regain your arms and eye before training starts. And I’ll give you only two days.”

”More than enough. I might need your help, though.” He nodded, already having an idea of how to do it.

”When do you want to enter the Testing Ground?”

”Tomorrow, master.”

”Alright. Now, little bastard, go away.” She waved her hands, causing a silver rune to appear beneath him.

Cassius disappeared soon after, back to his room.

Alone, Mallory heaved a big sigh, then sank to the ground, her long hair pooling across the floor like a sea of black and silver, her eyes closed.

The recent events played through her mind over and over, her head softly shaking in silent disbelief.

”I share my fate with a human. An eighteen-year-old. A Desdemona.”

She buried her head in both hands, exhaling, this time more frailly, like a young girl gripped by a fever that tightened her chest.

”And yes... yes... look at me now. I’ve become a master...”

Her voice dropped to a pained whisper, thinking of years long past.

”...once again.”

...

Cassius found himself back in his own room, falling straight to the floor. He hissed a curse, massaging his backside to ease the sharp pain.

He lifted his head toward the bed, thinking of nothing but a good rest after everything he had been through.

However, the sight greeting him was not one he had expected.

Isolde Amaris was on his bed, sleeping while shifting restlessly, as if her body couldn’t stay still for more than two seconds.

Cassius took a moment to convince himself this was not a dream.

’She came here to see me.’

The thought made him smile.

Slowly, afraid of making any more sound, he pressed his hands to the floor and patiently got up.

With one step he was beside the bed, watching his wife sleep, her breathing rhythmic and peaceful, a sound enough to calm his mind and soothe his heart.

’I missed you, alright.’ He laughed soundlessly.

Then instinctively, he reached out to caress her cheek, seeking the coolness of her skin. However, he froze the instant he noticed the wooden hand.

He sighed under his breath and pulled it back.

Tak—!

”Hm?!” Cassius exclaimed, seeing Isolde’s hand tight around his own. His eye whirled to her face, finding her wide awake, purple eyes glowering up at him like two jewels in thick darkness.

”What were you just about to do, I wonder, husband?”

He smiled wryly. ”Well, what indeed? I simply wanted to let you sleep. You look exhausted.”

”You probably haven’t seen your own face, then.” She said, gently pulling his hand over her. ”You look like you’re about to collapse.”

And collapse he indeed did.

Only, he did it on her.

Isolde welcomed him warmly, embracing him completely, pressing his body against hers as if seeking to become one with him; yet taking in, at the same time, the sight of his empty right eye and the cold, unfeeling arms wrapped around her.

She lifted her right hand and caressed his cheek, her fingers passing over his right eye.

Cassius trembled softly.

”Don’t you find it strange?” She asked with a barely perceptible grin.

”Strange how?”

”You look far too beautiful for a one-eyed, armless man. Don’t you think?”

”Haha. Mind you, darling, I never wished for this much beauty. But the gods seem adamant about making me heavenly.” He laughed slowly. ”It must be because they knew I have eyes for only one.”

”Hm. You sure about that, though?” She asked in a sensual whisper, her lips close to his.

”At this point, it’s a Law that ought to be made public.”

She giggled and gave him a soft, gentle kiss. ”I see your tongue is still as sweet as ever.”

”I make sure to drink honey every morning.”

Isolde giggled. ”Then tomorrow I shall make it for you.” She paused, then softer, ”You’ve worked hard, husband.”

Another kiss.

”And, sharpen your ears, I do not allow you to feel embarrassed by your current state after all you went through.”

Another kiss. This time, longer.

”Did you hear me?”

”Ye—!”

Another kiss. Fast, but pressing.

”Speak clearly.”

”I am—!”

A kiss.

”You what? Now don’t tell me you’ve forgotten how to finish a sentence, husband.” Her voice was filled with mischief.

”Darling, I’ve lost my arms and eye, but my little brother still stands tall and strong.”

”I can tell that much. It’s poking my belly right now. Tell him to calm down, will you?”

”Do it yourself.”

Isolde smiled, then hugged him, burying his head deep within her breasts. ”I would have, if you weren’t one step away from Vorn’s embrace.”

She kissed his head.

”You can rest now, husband.”

Her voice was soft, loving, filled with nothing but devotion and respect.

”You deserve it.”

Cassius’s breath was shallow with how tightly he was pressed against her breasts. But he smiled, thinking that dying by this kind of suffocation would be a welcome event.

That was his last thought before he was mercifully pulled into the world of dreams, hearing the whispered voices of the two most precious women in his life:

”Good night, husband.”

[Sleep well, my beloved blessed.]

And for the first time in a while, Cassius Desdemona slept free of worries.

—End of Chapter 212—