Chapter 226: Aestrea Against The World (III)

Fwssh!

As the spatial light of the teleportation disc faded, Aestrea, Derek, and James appeared just outside the main gates of the once-silverleaf academy.

But the view that greeted them was… not what they expected.

“…The hell…?” James muttered, his eyes widening entirely.

Derek blinked slowly at the sight.

“Yup. That’s an army. Right next to a school. Love that.”

All around them were rows upon rows of silver-plated tents, command flags fluttering in the wind.

Soldiers, hundreds of them, marched, trained, sharpened weapons, or stood at post, clad in dark green armor lined with the silver emblem of Silverleaf.

Ballistas were mounted to the hilltops, and elemental artillery was prepped nearby, glowing ominously.

Even the academy in the distance, still partially under repair, looked dwarfed by the sheer size of the military camp surrounding it.

“…Why do I feel like we just walked into the beginning of a very dramatic story arc?” James whispered, elbowing Aestrea.

Aestrea didn’t reply, but his crimson eyes narrowed slightly.

Suddenly, a nearby group of soldiers who had been patrolling noticed them.

The moment they laid eyes on the silver-haired boy at the center, their posture straightened immediately.

“Sir Aestrea!”

The front soldier, clearly the highest ranking among them, rushed forward and saluted with his fist over his chest, his tone full of respect.

“Our commander has been awaiting your arrival.”

Aestrea raised an eyebrow.

“…He knew I was coming?”

“Yes, sir. She said you would come here eventually. We were given orders to escort you immediately.”

’She?’ Aestrea exclaimed inwardly, surprised to see that it was actually a woman leading this army.

After all, there were only a handful of women who were powerful enough to be able to lead an army.

Aestrea exchanged a glance with the twins.

“You’ve got a fan, oh deadly moonlight swordsman~” James leaned in with a wicked grin. “«««

“What’s next, your face on banners?” Derek chuckled, crossing his arms.

“Shut up and walk,” Aestrea muttered, already following the soldier through the rows of tents.

The path led them deep into the center of the camp, where the largest command tent stood, flanked by elite guards and crystal wards.

The fabric of the tent rippled faintly with protective enchantments. It was clear to them that this wasn’t exactly a temporary spot.

With all of those enchantments, this camp was meant to last a few years.

But as they approached, Aestrea could feel… a familiar… yet fiery presence.

And then…

“Commander,” the escort announced from outside the flap. “Sir Aestrea Moon has arrived.”

A calm voice echoed from within.

“Let him in.”

The soldier respectfully bowed and pulled the flap open, allowing the three to enter.

And there she was.

Seated at a war table covered in maps, her long dark green hair was tied back messily, and her light green eyes looked sharp and unblinking as they met his.

Zeva.

The crazy bitch… a nickname created by Aestrea himself.

The absolute nutcase who attacked him the first time they metmet knocked him out because he forgot about his promise with her.

Aestrea was a little surprised, she hadn’t changed much.

Except for one thing: she was trying very hard to act normal.

Her posture was perfect, her uniform pristine, and her arms were folded over her chest as she nodded politely.

“Aestrea Moon,” she said evenly.

But he saw it: her fingers twitched faintly against her arm. Her eyes didn’t blink, and the tips of her boots tapped slightly out of sync.

Like a predator being held back by chains of decorum.

“…Zeva,” Aestrea greeted calmly, folding his arms.

James leaned over and whispered way too loudly: “Bro, she’s trying so hard not to pounce on you it’s hilarious.”

“Give her five more seconds. She’s gonna flip the table,” Derek muttered.

Zeva’s eye twitched ever so slightly, but she took a deep breath and ignored them.

“I’m the current acting military commander for the Silverleaf perimeter. And also… the one assigned to supervise the defense of this territory.2

She stood, approaching slowly, each step measured and heavy with unspoken tension.

“We received word that something… might happen here. So I prepared in advance.”

Her gaze scanned over Aestrea’s face, locking in.

“And I knew… you would come.”

He stared at her for a long moment.

“…When are you planning to attack me?”

Her lips curved at his words.

“Now.”

The second that single word left her mouth…

FWOOM!

Zeva’s aura erupted like a wildfire, the tent flaps rustling violently from the sudden pressure that shook the surrounding mana.

Her boot slammed forward as she vanished from her spot in a burst of green energy.

CRACK!

Aestrea raised his hand casually.

Five violet swords shimmered into existence around him in a circular formation, clanging into Zeva’s punch mid-air, holding her knuckles just centimeters from his throat.

The force of her strike shook the air like thunder, but the violet barrier held strong.

“…Tch,” she hissed, her eyes gleaming with delight and frustration all at once.

“You didn’t even flinch…” she muttered, as her fist trembled against the solid sword-barrier.

“You didn’t even warn me,” Aestrea replied flatly.

“Should’ve known better.”

Zeva slowly lowered her hand and took a step back, the green glow dimming… just a little.

Clap, clap!

James suddenly started clapping with a wide grin.

“Okay, okay, that one was faster than usual! Ten outta ten for that sneak attack attempt, Commander Crazy!”

Zeva didn’t even look at him. Her eyes stayed locked on Aestrea like a beast sizing up her prey, or perhaps her obsession.

“…You’re much stronger than before,” she said quietly.

“You’re more reckless,” he countered, dismissing the floating swords with a flick of his hand.

She grinned slightly, that twitch still in the corner of her eye. “What can I say? Seeing you again brings out the worst in me~”

Aestrea sighed, adjusting his collar.

“Why am I not surprised you’re leading this camp?”

“Because I’m the only one insane enough to defend a city right on the brink of a war front,” she said proudly, gesturing to the maps.

“…And because I requested it.”

“You what?”

Zeva tilted her head, smile widening.

“I knew you’d be back here eventually. You are the type of person who’s easily drawn to chaos.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“…And to me.”

James gagged in the background. “Okay, I’m leaving. This room’s getting dangerous for single people.”

Derek sighed, patting his brother on the back. “Come on, let’s leave them to their weird romantic death-glare moment.”

As the twins stepped outside to “cool off” from the heat, Aestrea and Zeva were left alone in the center of the command tent.

But just as they were left alone…

…Zeva snapped.

Like a switch flipping inside her brain, all the fake professionalism melted in an instant.

With a loud thud of her boots…

Thmp!

She darted forward and threw herself into Aestrea’s arms with all the elegance of a missile.

“Waaaahhhh—!! AESTREA!!” she wailed, arms locking tightly around his torso like a starving animal finally finding food.

“Zeva?!” Aestrea stiffened instantly, his arms awkwardly half-raised as if caught between catching her or pushing her off.

But that wasn’t even the worst part.

She buried her face in his neck, inhaling deeply with a long, trembling sigh.

And then…

Mwah!

Mwah!

Mwah!~~

Kiss after kiss landed all over the side of his throat.

Fast, greedy, and overly loud.

“I missed you I missed you I missed you—!!” she cried between kisses, every word vibrating against his skin.

“Do you know how hard it was to wait!? I thought I was gonna explode!”

“Zeva,” he muttered, trying to push her off gently, “you’re supposed to be a commander—”

“I am!!” she cut in with a crazed little grin, her lips now dangerously close to his collarbone.

“I command armies and I command my man when I see him again!”

“You’re not commanding anything,” he said flatly, face expressionless as she nuzzled closer like a clingy cat on heat.

“You smell the same,” she whispered with a shiver, rubbing her cheek against his shoulder.

“But you feel stronger. Mmmm… my Aestrea’s all grown up now…”

He pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Zeva, get off me.”

“Nope.”

“Zeva.”

“Noooo~♡ I’ve waited too long for this~! My stupid, adorable battle god, finally in my arms again!”

Her grip tightened even more, her feet lifting slightly off the ground as she clung to him with all her body weight.

She tilted her head up and stared at him from way too close, eyes gleaming with adoration and just a hint of madness.

“Say it,” she whispered.

“…Say what?”

“That you missed me too.”

“I didn’t.”

“Liar,” she grinned.

“Your heartbeat says otherwise.”

“I could literally kill you right now.”

“Oooooh~ you always say the sweetest things,” she giggled, absolutely unbothered. “But you won’t. Because you like me. Even if just a little.”

Aestrea sighed deeply.

“Just a little,” she repeated softly, her voice a whisper now as she laid her forehead against his.

“That’s all I need. Because I’ll take that ’little’… and make it grow… until it drives you insane.”

“Too late,” he muttered under his breath.

“Oh Aestreaaaa~♡” she purred.

Mwah!

Another kiss to his neck.

“You’re mine now, okay? Mine, mine, mine. I’ve marked this territory, emotionally and physically!”

“I feel like you’re a few kisses away from biting me.”

“I thought about it,” she admitted sweetly, “but I’m saving that for our wedding night~”

His eye twitched.

From outside the tent, James could be heard wheezing.

“Derek, I swear on the gods, if she mounts him in that tent, I’m never walking into a command structure again.”

“Shut up and keep your ears closed,” Derek grunted. “We don’t exactly have the power to stop her.”

Back inside, Aestrea had gone stiff as a board while Zeva snuggled against him, clearly beyond satisfied.

Aestrea never expected that Zeva would turn out like this after he didn’t speak with her for a few months.

But honestly, she was better like this then her usual crazy bitch personality.

And finally, after what felt like eternity, she let out a long sigh and stepped back, her cheeks flushed and eyes glowing.

“There. Now I’m good.”

“…You sure?” Aestrea asked cautiously.

“No promises~♡” she chimed.

She smoothed her uniform, suddenly back to a weirdly composed soldier, but her smile was far too smug to be taken seriously.

“Now then… let’s talk about our strategy to defend against the attacks.”

Aestrea blinked.

“…What, now?”

“Yes. And you’re sitting next to me for the entire meeting. Close… very close.” She winked.

“No escaping me again, Aestrea. Ever.”

He exhaled slowly, completely done.

“…I should’ve just stayed in the capital.”

“Too late~ Now that you’re here… you are already mine~♡”

Aestrea chuckled at her words.

“I guess so.”

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