Again (This is an au of a manhua)

Chapter 14: Robin

 "Why are you making such a sad face?" Robin asked.

"..." Jasmine looked away.

Robin looked at Jasmine, thinking that she was still in shock due to yesterday's events. He approached her, and wrapped her in a warm hug.

"Everything will be alright now." Robin promised.

Robin was taller than Jasmine, so the hug felt a bit out of place. But Jasmine embraced the feeling. Knowing that the feelings were simply remnants of the past.

A few moments later...

Jasmine sat next to Robin by the lake, staring at the water.

"Are you feeling alright now?" Robin turned to Jasmine.

"Yes, thank you." Jasmine nodded.

"Father taught me that hardships go by quickly when you share the burden with others." Robin faced back to the lake.

"Viscount Valle?"

"Yeah." Robin calmly nodded, "I was sad that we couldn't keep talking yesterday. So I'm really grateful that we could have this time..."

"Coincidentally, I had the same thought." Jasmine responded.

"Really?" Robin smiled.

"Yes..."

Jasmine looked at Robin. He was a different person than Lance, but perhaps it was better that way...

"I heard that the Valle family traditionally makes contracts with wind spirits, was that not the case?" Jasmine asked.

"Well, I wanted to make a contract with wind elementals as well, but it didn't work out the way I wanted it..." Robin looked away.

Robin kept explaining, "Because of my natural affinity with them, wind elementals would come to visit, but they refused to make a contract and left. But one day, an Undine came, telling me that it was my destiny for me to make a contract with them. It was an important decision and I should've talked it out with my father first, but I was just so excited you know? So I accidentally made the contract on the spot."

"I see," Jasmine looked at Robin, "Did the Viscount scold you for doing so?"

"My father didn't get mad, he just looked a bit disappointed..." Robin threw a pebble into the water and watched it skip twice.

"Well," Jasmine held his hand, "I think it's something special. For an elemental to approach someone and ask for a contract is something I've never heard of before! It's unfortunate you weren't chosen by the element you wanted, but you were chosen by the element water. Believe in yourself." Jasmine flashed a large smile.

"Ah," Robin blushed, "Thank you." He smiled.

Jasmine slowly stood up, "Thank you for everything today. I'll be heading off now."

"Oh, goodbye..." Robin waved as Jasmine walked away.

When Jasmine left, Robin put his face into his hands. He wanted to talk a bit more but Jasmine was already gone... He looked at his reflection in the water, realizing that a huge red blush had crept onto his face.

"Ahhh! Why am I like this?!" Robin shoved his face in the lake water.

Jasmine returned to the Simon estate and decided to get ready to leave. While walking she bumped into the Simon brothers.

"Hey Jasmine Welton!" Alf called.

"Mmm?" Jasmine turned towards them with a bored look.

"Well, the thing is..." Alf said, "I'm sorry!!"

"Huh? All of a sudden-" Jasmine pondered what made him do this, "Oh~, The Earl made you come to apologize right?"

"Ugh..."

"Alright, but why is this guy here as well?" Jasmine's eyes darted toward the direction of Lennon.

"Ah, he's my brother..."

"Why'd you bring him along? Were you too scared to come by and apologize by yourself?" Jasmine teased.

"Oh, "Lennon said, "I was the one who gave my brother the artifact."

"Ha-" Jasmine was pissed, "So to brother's tried to screw me over together?You, what's your name?"

"Lennon. Lennon Simon."

Jasmine stared at Lennon, his talent was pretty good and his core was large. To think that the Earl wasn't satisfied with a son like this...

"Well, luckily nothing bad happened. Since you've heard our apologies, could we take our leave now?" Lennon asked.

Jasmine was very irritated with his behavior. Does he think that she's an idiot? Jasmine thought that Lennon must think that everyone except his father is inferior to him. He'll only get worse if he isn't fixed right now, Jasmine thought.

"Alf, you're going to have a hard time fighting for your position as heir, won't you~?" Jasmine teased.

"What do you-" Alf felt humiliated.

"Well, that's not my business," Jasmine walked over to Lennon and put a hand on his shoulder, "If you really are the person behind the crime, then you deserve proper punishment. Don't you think so~?"

"What do you-" Lennon was cut off.

Lennon was suddenly swallowed into a dark pit, a very dark one. It began to grow colder, then the place began to freeze. He fell to his knees in the cold hard abyss.

"This is your last chance." Many glowing purple eyes stared at him from all the sides of the abyss.

"Ahh-" Lennon escaped from the trance.

He thought about what just happened. Did he escape?! Was it all an illusion?!

"AAAHHHHHHH!!!" Lennon screamed in agony.

"Lennon?" Alf was concerned.

He didn't know what just happened but there was one thing he knew for sure. This was his last chance. He had to kneel down and apologize.

"S-sorry..."

End of chapter 14