Again (This is an au of a manhua)

Chapter 10: Alf

 Jasmine proceeded to walk around the lavishly decorated garden a bit more, however, this time, she was not alone. Ash Valle followed her around, seemingly like he wanted something from her. Jasmine then stopped.

"Is there a reason you're following me around?" Jasmine turned around to ask.

"W-well..." Ash stuttered.

"Look," Jasmine put a hand on Ash's shoulder, "If you're going to say something, say it clearly. You have to express the things you desire more clearly." Jasmine reminded him.

"Well... it's the first time I've met someone around my age... so..." Ash continued to stutter.

Jasmine looked at the child, he reminded her of the children she used to take care of in her orphanage. Her thoughts were interrupted when Ash suddenly grabbed her hand.

"Can you be my friend?!"

Jasmine was stunned to hear this. Was an invitation for friendship really this hard to express? Even so, Jasmine didn't really feel the need to make friends in this life. However, she tried her best not to be rude.

"Look Ash," Jasmine started, "I'm glad you asked to be my friend but I really have no desire to make any friends today. However, I can accompany you for a while. Is that alright?"

Ash looked at Jasmine, "Yeah!"

The two children walked together for a while, Jasmine showed Ash a few tricks with her magic. Projecting fireworks, animals, people, and monsters. Ash was astonished by these tricks, he was very impressed with the magic. Soon enough, Jasmine led Ash back inside the ballroom and said goodbye.

"He doesn't realize that friends only make you lose rationality." Jasmine said to herself as she sat on a bench.

"Hey Jasmine Welton!" A voice called from behind her.

Jasmine turned over to see a child with blood red hair, he had two other people behind him. Probably his "grunts".

"Why did you call me?" Jasmine stood up, her hair flipped around a bit because of the wind.

"Hey! Why are you so disrespectful towards our brother?!" one of the people behind him said.

"Do you even know who he is?! He's Alf!" The other person shouted.

"The eldest son and heir of the Simon family!!" The two grunts said in unison.

Jasmine's headache got worse due to their yapping, "So noisy... Silence."

Suddenly, the two boys were unable to speak, coughing due to Jasmine's power.

"D-did you cast a silencing spell on them?!" Alf yelled.

"That's right!" Jasmine smiled, "It was giving me a headache!"

"You arrogant bastard!" Alf shouted, "Don't you realize that I'm older than you?!"

"Now, now, let's not sweat the details! Could you explain what you're here to do instead before I silence you too?" Jasmine chuckled.

Jasmine raised a hand, about to use the same spell on Alf.

"I didn't come here to fight! I just wanted to have a little chat with you! You're already a 2nd class mage! That's amazing!"

Jasmine sighed, "If you don't have anything important to say, I think I'll make my way past you to observe those flowers which are much more interesting."

"WHAT?! Don't you know who I am?!" Alf felt humiliated.

"Of course I do," Jasmine said, "You're Earl Simon's first son, Alf Simon."

"Oh so you do know! I just wanted to have a little chat! Since we'll probably be the core of the Noble's of the eastern continent in the future, don't you think it'll be better to become familiar at an early age?"

Jasmine sighed. Alf was clearly trying to sway her with sweet words to win her on his side. However, she just wanted to be left alone.

"No," Jasmine yawned, "I don't wish to have any business with you."

"You little BRAT! Did you just reject my offer?! I'll trample on your half-assed magic skills!!" Alf conjured two magical artifacts, "That way you'll have no choice but to serve me as your boss!"

"Ha! So you were going to resort to brute strength from the very beginning?" Jasmine laughed.

"That's right! Because you showed a bit of magic I was going to change my plan. But I decided to stick to my usual plan!"

"So," Jasmine tried to reason, "You think the adults will just let you get away with this?"

"Don't worry about that! As long as I have this, they won't know!" Alf lifted the magical orb in his hand.

Alf smashed it on the ground, activating the magical artifact. This surrounded them with a sphere where no one else could see what was happening.

"Illusion artifact magic?" Jasmine was fascinated.

"Ah, it seems like you know what it is! However, you'll be begging for mercy soon enough! You guys!" Alf turned to his grunts, "Stop being silenced.

The two kids finally broke free from the silencing spell, freeing them from their agony of being shut up for a few minutes.

"Finally!"

"I was dying, not being able to speak because of that bitch!"

"Do you have a death wish?! You think we won't hurt you just because you're from the Welton family?!"

"HEY!!! Did you not hear us?! We really won't forgive you!!" They shouted while Jasmine was admiring the illusion artifact.

"How interesting!" Jasmine said as she admired the artifact.

"Interesting?" Scoffed Alf, "I guess you really don't understand the situation-"

"Affliction."

"..."

"Don't deactivate the artifact~"

Jasmine watched as blood started dripping out of the eyes and noses of her victims. Affliction was a skill that caused excruciating pain against the opponent.

"AHHHHHHHH!!!" Screamed the boys.

"If you deactivate the artifact, everyone will see you guys writhing in pain," Jasmine smiled.

After saying that, Jasmine walked away, letting the fools recover on their own. Alf thought about what just happened. He knew he had to get her back, this was too humiliating! But he didn't know how, he lacked power, after all Jasmine was a 4th class mage while he was only 2nd. He couldn't believe that someone from the Welton family had defeated him with magic when they were known for swordsmanship. But mostly, he was defeated by a woman! Women were known to be inferior when it came to magical skills.

"I won't forgive you Jasmine... I'll crush you so that you won't use magic ever again!"

End of chapter 10