Chapter 21 The Fallen Rose

The fight didn't really take long and I admit, I used some tricks to defeat her but that was my goal from the beginning.

To win.

I didn't care about boosting my powers right now and even if it was a dirty trick, I still did it. As long as I defeated her, nothing else mattered.

And so far, I have.

If only my power was better than what it was right now, I might have done something more amazing but it is what it is.

"Ho...how...." She stepped backwards, "ho-how did you manage to win?" She stuttered while I saw her gasp even more.

I know it was weak and pathetic of me to use her weakness against her and a part of me felt bad about it as well, but I also know how the hero of the book had helped her mend this trauma, and I was also willing to do the same.

"Nari..." I removed her knife and reached closer to her.

Right now my primary goal was to comfort her and make her feel better about herself, 'maybe it was a bad idea...?' I questioned myself as I placed my hand on her tiny shoulder.

"I'm sorry... I was careless and I lost... I'm useless." Her voice was shaky and even her body was trembling, she seemed like she was doubting her own power. That was my goal before, but now I just felt how guilt was eating me from the inside.

Water quickly filled her eyes as she fell down on her knees and began sobbing, "I'm not strong enough, how could I lose...?" She stared at her hands which had turned blue after trying to remove the ice from her body.

"I-I can't..." She stuttered as she tried to stand up, but she only fell on her rear end right away, "I'm going to... die... aren't I?" She asked, her hands shaking as she reached for the ground, trying to push herself up.

"Nari..." I tried to get her attention.

If it was the Rowen from before, then he would have just laughed, making her feel even more pathetic and probably telling her to do some dirty things, but I was better than that, "Nari, you're strong... You're one of the strongest people that I know in this world," this slipped my mind as I widened my eyes and slightly gritted my teeth, 'you idiot, what are you saying!' I cursed myself, hoping that she didn't really catch that.

I looked down and saw how those white pearls were falling from her eyes and down onto the ground, 'how do you comfort a woman?' I wondered as I ran my fingers through my hair.

Seeing her in this condition, I sensed some weird energy running through my spine, I didn't want this to happen. My plan was different.

"I-I'm not strong enough to join your team," she finally let out some words as she sobbed.

'What?' I frowned as this took me off guard. Whatever things she was saying right now, I wasn't really expecting it.

All I wanted was to make her doubt her own skills during the fight, not after that, 'man, women are complicated...' I sighed as I leaned closer to her.

Her red tomato-like cheeks were moist and the water in her eyes made them look starry, "Nari, I don't care..." A sudden sentence came out of my lips and I flinched, I surprised myself.

"Wha-what do you mean you don't care?" Slowly lifting her head she looked at me.

"I don't care if you're good enough, you have lost," this was again said by surprise, 'who the fuck was saying those things now?' I was in shock.

"Ho-how? But I'm weak, I can't join you in this position!" She said, raising her voice.

It was understandable, she had started doubting her power and thought that I was stronger than her, but in reality, the sudden icy rain had taken her off guard, making her panic and lose focus... And that was when I struck. It was weak, I knew.

"Nari, a deal is a deal..." I reached my fingers at her chin, slowly trying to lift her small head.

It was too late for me to stop now, so I was going to push forward, "I'm not going to take advantage of you, and not am I going to force you into doing anything, and neither will I hurt you," I said turning my face closer to hers, "but you now completely belong to me..." I whispered like the cold blowing wind in the winter, she heard me.

I saw her eyes freeze for a moment before she nodded with a little blush that came on her cheek, "I-I understand ..." She stated.

It was suspicious but at the same time this relieved me because I knew how much she loathed Rowen, I couldn't completely trust her just yet, and neither could she trust me.

But one thing that I knew was, Nari was obedient, and I was going to keep her close to make her witness the real Rowen's potential.

"Now stand up and let's go," I ordered with a tone that had no emotion.

As an assassin, she looked hopeless right now, but I could understand and relate to that.

Her story was indeed tragic and I also don't judge her for taking Dante's side in the book after long torments and torture from Rowen. But I wasn't going to do that.

I needed Nari's power and skills, my job was to help her heal and make her completely mine, no matter the cost, and so far, I've succeeded well.

She stood up as if nothing had happened, wiping the cold tears off her face, she then asked me, "What about your father? Do I obey him too?" Her sudden question made me freeze.

Exactly! What about my father... I completely forgot about Hector.

Knowing how scheming and evil he was, he would obviously find it suspicious if we suddenly start getting closer, Nari was his 'property' for now, not Rowen's.

And even if I had managed to win against her, that didn't actually mean anything when it came to Hector.

I needed to get rid of him first... "You will follow his lead and will report everything to me," I looked at her through my shoulder, then turned to the direction of the mansion.

pαndα,noνɐ1,сoМ Turning back, I couldn't help but lament.

It was indeed a beautiful view. The cold mist covered the surface of the lake, creating an illusion that it was frozen, while the sun was setting.

The whole scenery was mesmerizing and relaxing, it was the perfect place for a conversation, but I had no time for that.

"You will come to me only when I call for you and you won't have any other option but to follow my orders," I stated and tried to sound stern, but failed miserably as I saw Nari's tiny lips smile.

That was a good sign, I was happy to see that she managed to cheer up a little bit, 'for now.'

"O-okay..." She said as she bowed her head down.

"Good girl." I grinned wanting to pat her head, but then removed the thought, she was human not a dog and I had no right to touch her.

"But..." She paused, waiting for my response, and then gently shook her head, "never mind," she waved her hand, "we should leave now before it gets dark." She suggested.

"One more thing," I added before we walked off, "we will train at night," I said while pointing at the sky.

"Why?" She looked confused.

"I need you to teach me how to control my mana properly," I explained.

"Control mana?" She repeated.

Right now, she was the only one who could teach me that before I entered the academy. Her breathing and her ability to transform mana into something useful were already amazing, but I could easily surpass her skills.

"You will be my personal tutor," I told her as I fixed my hair and adjusted my outfit.

"I'll do my best!" She exclaimed, giving me a bow.

I smiled and decided to join her, so we could walk back together.

The first mission was accomplished, and now all I needed right now was to wait for Zuri to return with the information.