Chapter 248: Life Is Short "Did you hear what’s happening at the academy?" Medusa heard the words as she walked through the busy market street. Merchants shouted over one another, trying to sell their wares even after the tragedy. Just yesterday, the academy had been attacked and it was still recovering. ’Why can’t we just have a simple life?’ she thought as she brushed her fingers over a basket of fresh apples. Her hair fluttered as the afternoon wind blew past. She wanted peace... Her eyes softened. She wanted a child. She was Isolde’s aunt, but even that didn’t fill the quiet ache inside her. Wouldn’t Isolde be happy to have a little sister running around too? Someone she could play with, laugh with... other than Lillia. She sighed, shaking the thought away as she turned to the next stall. She was about to pick something when she froze. Her heart suddenly pulsed... hard. She felt it. Azel. He wasn’t okay. His presence which was normally warm, now trembled like a dying flame. Her pupils narrowed, and before anyone could even blink, she was gone... the air where she stood exploding outward in a swirl of violent wind. The market erupted in chaos behind her, but Medusa didn’t care. She soared through the roads and then leaped, her hair whipping violently behind her as she closed the distance to the academy in seconds. When she landed, dust burst across the courtyard. And there he was... leaning heavily against the library door. Azel’s face was pale and his breathing was uneven. His eyes were hollow and distant as if he’d just seen something that tore his soul apart. "Master..." Medusa whispered as she rushed to him. "Master, are you alright?" He didn’t answer and he didn’t even look at her. He just stood there. Medusa’s heart broke a little. She stepped closer and wrapped her arms around him from behind. Her soft body pressed against his back, her warmth trying to reach him. "Master... I’m here," she said gently, resting her cheek against his shoulder. Her chest squished against him, but she didn’t care. None of that mattered right now. He felt... cold. "Take me home," Azel said weakly, he felt like throwing up. Medusa hesitated, biting her lip. Part of her wanted to obey immediately, to take him straight back to Edna and the others. But another part... a selfish one spoke up quietly inside her. ’They’ll worry if they see him like this...’ "Master," she said softly, stroking his stomach as she held him tighter, "if you show up like this, everyone will be worried. How about..." she hesitated, her face flushing slightly, "we go to a hotel instead? There are a few nearby." Azel didn’t argue. He didn’t even seem to think. "...Okay," he said quietly. That was all she needed. Medusa smiled faintly, relief washing through her. She wrapped her arm around him and supported his weight as they walked away from the academy. ... They were in a hotel or more specifically... A "love hotel." Of course, she didn’t mention that part. Azel didn’t need to know. And she sat beside him now inside their room. Azel lay on the bed, his eyes half-lidded. Medusa had soaked a towel in cool water and gently pressed it to his forehead. "Master, what happened?" she whispered. He looked so pale. ’He seems so shaken,’ she thought. ’Whatever he saw... it must have been horrible.’ The gentle sound of dripping water filled the silence. She wrung the towel again and brushed it along his neck. "I can listen to you always," she said quietly, smiling faintly. "Even the boring things, Master. I love you." Her words were sincere. She wanted to carry his pain, to ease whatever darkness he was carrying inside. Azel didn’t reply immediately. Then, slowly, his hand reached out and found hers. Medusa froze. His fingers tightened around her palm. When he patted the space beside him, she understood instantly. In a heartbeat, she climbed onto the bed and laid beside him. His arm wrapped around her waist as he pulled her close. His head rested gently against her chest... right between her breasts. She felt his breath against her skin. "I’m fine now," Azel murmured. "There’s no need to burden you with that." He knew she wanted to understand what had happened, but what could he say? There was nothing he could have done for them. It was better like this — to let it go. To hold on to the people still with him. Life was short and cruel. You never knew when it would be taken away. He lifted his head slightly and looked into her eyes. "Is there anything you want?" he asked softly. "Anything within my power... as long as I can, I’ll give it." Her breath caught. Even though he said it so easily, she already knew what she wanted. She had wanted it for a long time. "Master," she said, her voice almost a whisper, "anything?" "Yes," he replied, smiling faintly, his hand stroking her hair. "Anything." Her face turned red. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺 "Then..." she bit her lip and looked away shyly, "...can I become your lover?" Azel blinked. "I thought you already were." "Eh?" she pouted softly. "But we barely kiss." Her cheeks puffed up adorably. "But okay... that counts, I guess." She looked away again, twirling a strand of her hair between her fingers. Then her tone turned more hesitant. "Can I... make another request too?" Azel raised an eyebrow. "What request?" She hesitated for only a second before whispering, "Can you... knock me up, please?" Azel froze. Medusa’s face turned red all the way to her ears. "Let me have your next child," she said, her eyes shining with determination. "Lillia and Isolde need a younger sister or brother." There was a long silence. "...Where did you learn ’knock me up’?" Azel finally asked, trying not to laugh. Medusa quickly looked away, pretending to hum a tune. "Medaaa..." he said, dragging her name suspiciously. She bit her lip, her cheeks puffing up again. "Edna recommended a few of those books," she said finally, her voice tiny. Azel blinked. "Books?" "Mmhm..." Medusa mumbled, unable to meet his eyes. "She said you were... extremely big down there." Her face turned bright crimson. "And that I could use those for reference."