Ink: Living Life as Serena Gleis

LXII: Jealousy

The journey back to the manor is long and tiring. Arthur was carrying the fox with his bare hands. Surprisingly, the fox settled calmly and just went with the flow, probably accepting the fact that he was kidnapped and won't be able to see its family again.

"You're not planning to eat this baby huh?" Arthur asked Azrael who's just walking ahead of them shrugged. 

"No. I'll eat the cow and I'll replace it with that." He replied earning a side glances from the knights as they don't know the story behind the cow that Serena loved so much, well Azrael did forgot the name of the cow but he won't admit it to the oblivious Duchess. 

They finally reached the manor, Felipe and Elizor were directed to go back to their original posts while Azrael and Arthur went straight to the backyard where all the animals were in. "Are you sure you are going to put it here?" he asked, looking at the barns with different animals. 

"Where else its supposed to be?" Azrael asked in response. 

"Maybe you should give it directly to the Lady."  Arthur recommended. Azrael thought about it for a while before shaking his head.  "No. we can't give that to her in that kind of state. Bring it to the training grounds, it should be tamed first before being in the proximity of the Duchess." Azrael said with a serious expression. Arthur on the other hand cannot believe how his general and this person infront of him is the same person. 

"He's already tamed, look how good he behaves." Arthur said and showed the calm fox snuggled on his arms. Azrael took a step forward and attempted to pet the fox but it  hissed and scratch his hand, Arthur quickly move backwards as he don't know that Azrael can do even if it is just a little fox. 

"See? he's still dangerous, make sure that thing will be tamed before being presented to the Duchess." Arthur wanted to speak up and tell his general that it is only him that this fox is hostile with but he chose not to and just agreed and made his way to the training grounds.

Azrael went to Serena's office, he did not even knock and just entered it without permission, just like what he always done. Serena cannot be even seen from the mountain of documents piling up on her desk. 

"Are you there?" Azrael asked as he made himself comfortable on the velvet sofa infront of Serena's desk.  "Yeah, I guess." She replied without removing her eyes to the document she's reading. "I guess I'll be here for a quite sometime." She added, it is something that Azrael cannot understand. He can't even understand the purpose of all the papers. 

"It's boring." He replied and closed his eyes as he leaned back to the sofa. 

"Have you asked Varka about teaching here in Clye?" She asked as she got no time on talking to anyone out of her office for a few days now. 

"Why me? Isn't it your job?" Azrael asked, Serena let out a frustrated sigh. "You are the general of out knights, I was hoping that you could collaborate with Varka to learn using some of the offensive spells." She patiently explained, trying not to lose her cool. Being stuck in this room for a few days has already taken a toll on her. 

"My knights aren't from Clye, they can't use it anyway." He replied. 

"I know but don't you think it's time to increase the numbers of our knights?" She asked, finally looking at Azrael. 

"Wait, are you thinking of making that blonde boy here, Rena?" He asked, now looking eye to eye with Serena. 

"What? No, why would you think of that?" She asked, stopping whatever she is doing. 

"Whatever we have right now is enough. All we fight with is some aggressive bears on the woods and wild boars. So why do we need a lot of knights? To prepare for the war that we might be in since you're going to let that man stay?" This is the first time that Serena saw Azrael like this, it is also the first time that  he shouted directly at her.