★81
THIRD POV
Mikasa walks into the tranquil garden where Asteri was seated. The air hums with quiet energy.
"Asteri."
She called out his name, and Elfaria, who was eavesdropping, was shocked. He studied her carefully, taking in every detail of her features.
"Finally, someone who's not stubborn."
He said, his tone calm but tinged with relief. She returned a soft smile at his words.
"Wanna join me?"
He asked, his gaze lingering on her. Elfaria flinched slightly at the unexpected proposal, but quickly regained her composure before seating next to him.
"The night is beautiful, isn't it?"
He added, his voice gentle yet carrying an inevitability that pressed on Elafria's thoughts.
Elfaria felt a strange pull, an unspoken weight in his words that struck her deeper than she expected.
'That phrase has a deep meaning. Don't tell me he...'
"Of course. The celestial bodies decorating the darkness are indeed beautiful."
"They say beautiful places are the most dangerous."
"That's true. Just like this place you've given us."
He turned, and their eyes met.
"I get that a lot. But I don't care what people say about it, nor do I care what they think of me."
"What about us? How do you think we picture you?"
He broke eye contact and resumed watching the starry night.
"I can't tell exactly, but I'm trying blindly. I'm not doing this for a good deed or something. I'm simply doing this because I can. How about you, Mikasa, what do you think of me?"
Her heart skipped a beat, but this was a perfect opportunity. An opportunity for Asteri to know what someone felt about him.
"You have—a radiant presence, Asteri."
She began.
'I know.'
"Like a star-god descended from heaven to bless us, mortals. Had it been for you, who knows what would have happened to me or my boy. I admire your nobility and selflessness."
She presented the charm with a precise, mechanical motion, deliberately avoiding his gaze.
"It's nothing much, but this represents my deep admiration for your majestic aura."
Asteri opened his eyes slowly, fixing her with a gaze so calm, so unreadable that it set Mikasa's heart racing.
"Interesting."
He took the charm, holding it gently in his palm.
Then, to Mikasa's horror, a smile spread across his face. Not polite or not cold but a deliberate, knowing smirk. One that carried intention.
"Then I shall treasure this token. Perhaps, I should return the favour. After all, when someone as formidable as you offers admiration, it's only right that I reciprocate."
'What? Why is this going completely against my plan?'
Elfaria questioned deeply. He stands slowly, brushing invisible dust off his cloak.
"Nah, you've done more than enough. Doing anything more will be a debt I can never pay."
She answered politely. Asteri paused for a moment, finding a way to make her submit.
"Ok. I won't be asking too much if you could join me some other time. I enjoy your company—away from others."
Her eyes widened. This wasn't too much but something that can be accomplished during their free time. Saying 'no' will be inappropriate.
"Um, why not?"
She nodded subtly, her eyes reflecting the faint glow of the night.
Meanwhile, hidden in the shadows of the nearby bushes, Elfaria's ears twitched involuntarily. She hadn't anticipated the conversation to take this turn.
'Wait. Wait, wait, wait. What do you mean enjoy her company?'
She peers through the leaves to see Mikasa approaching her.
'Damn, what did I miss?'
She thought, a mixture of annoyance and curiosity tightening in her chest.
The two sneaked back to the palace, and Elfaria huffed in frustration, hands on her hips.
"Why? I thought you'd fail, but you turned out better than I expected. Where did you learn to talk like that?"
Her voice was sharp, but there was an unmistakable undercurrent of awe.
Mikasa tilted her head, a soft giggle escaping her lips as she sipped from her drink.
"I'm not telling. Next time I lose a bet, just make me clean your room."
She replied, her tone playful yet teasing.
Elfaria groaned, flailing her arms in exaggerated defeat.
'Maybe—maybe I can put up a challenge against Towa and Hinata. As for Elfaria—that dare was to use me and study Asteri, but I ended up taking the bag. However, if that 'charm' has a hidden message, it'll be bad. I can't let her take the lead.'
Mikasa thought, a sharp edge of determination entering her gaze as she took another sip, mind already plotting her next move.
The soft rustle of leaves and distant night sounds enveloped them, Elfaria's complaints fading into the background. Her voice became just a low murmur, a soundtrack to Mikasa's quiet scheming.
Meanwhile, in the palace garden, Asteri stood alone, the charm held loosely in one hand. His gaze drifted skyward, eyes reflecting the pale glow of the moon.
The air was still, carrying only the faint scent of night-blooming flowers. Each breath he took seemed to echo in the quiet night. It was as if the world itself paused, waiting for him to act, or perhaps waiting for fate to take its next step
'This must be what Elfaria asked her to do. How sneaky. Well, another one added to the collection. How bad can it be.'
'You just said it like it's something casual. You were just a kid two days ago.'
'Kids learn and kids grow. What do you expect?'
He asked, but Enta couldn't provide an answer.
"Noble and selfless, huh? If any of you had an idea what's going on, you'll never look at me the way you're doing right now. I can wake up the next day and burn this island to the ground, leaving no survivors, just because I feel like it.
Walk through the Cardinal World spreading chaos and destruction just because I can. That's just the kind of person we are.
The palace, its citizens, the relationships, his feelings, his bonds, and the clones are all but a story to entertain the Last King. And maybe, just maybe, I'll learn from it. Let's pray that what I learn from these stories won't reshape the cosmos."
Asteri opened his eyes. They were longer golden, they were a pure, transcendent azure. It was wrong to call him Asteri now, for this was his creator, his true self: Antares.
'All hail Antares. The Last King of Scorpius.'
Entares praised himself, for he and Antares were the same, two sides of a coin.
(His feelings and bonds are referring to this Asteri while the clones are the other Asteris.)
To be continued...