Chapter 333: Chapter 333 : Some Fun After Chaos
After some time Delphine was wandering around the dungeon area on her own. She along with the rest of her party had been treated by the healers a while ago and they were all waiting for permission and the academy’s officials to arrange their way back home.
Meanwhile Delphine was just curious and was trying to figure out something while searching for a particular person.
Her curiosity took her to the outer region of the dungeon which was guarded by one soldier from the Order of the Silver Vanguard. And that alone was enough to tell her that the person she was looking for was here.
So she used her new gift, the Predator’s Eye, and was shocked to see so many openings on the guard’s vulnerable and exposed sides glowing in bright red.
She pulled the string of her bow silently and a blunt-tipped wooden arrow appeared on it. She released and it hit the guard right at his temple making him drop unconscious without a sound.
Delphine bypassed the post only to find a beautiful view of two moons hanging inside the dungeon’s artificial sky. And enjoying that view along with the night breeze were the two people that had been driving her mind crazy for the past several hours.
Jax and Astrid were laid on the elevated ground and grass beside each other staring up at the moons in a silence that actually looked peaceful for once.
Astrid broke that peace of Delphine first. "So I was right. Those bitches didn’t do a single thing while you stupidly put your life on the line. I will come up with some equal punishment for every one of them but..."
She looked at Jax with angry eyes. "Before that, don’t you get it by now? Your life isn’t yours anymore. It belongs to me and you can’t just throw it around like you own it. I swear I should find a way to carve that into your skull."
Jax instinctively reached out to touch her face but quickly withdrew his hand when Astrid bared her teeth at him like a vicious kitten, making it crystal clear she wasn’t going to fall for his usual romantic distractions tonight.
Jax sighed and said. "I already told you that I have got my own brand of immortality. The Grim Reaper is my wingman and I am practically banned from the afterlife at this point. So there is no way I would have died that easily."
He added casually. "Besides I still have a massive debt to settle with you and I can’t leave before paying it off." Then he paused and frowned at his own words. "Wait, why the hell am I starting to sound exactly like that foolish girl from the dungeon?"
Delphine understood from her hiding spot that he was referring to her but Astrid didn’t catch the reference. Instead she climbed on top of Jax and grabbed the collar of the fresh shirt he had just changed into.
"Aren’t you talking about that witch girl? Listen to me, Jax. Even if she eventually comes looking for you, do not forget she is five centuries older than you! If you let her slide into your life I will never forgive you. Not only will I brand you a pervert but I will officially title you a loli-loving, great-great-great-great-grandma enthusiast!"
Jax said. "Relax, relax. I absolutely do not have those kinds of intentions. To me she is nothing more than a child."
Astrid narrowed her eyes with suspicion. "And what if she doesn’t see you the same way you see her?"
Jax said without a shred of survival instinct. "Then it’s too bad for you because you get a new competition."
Astrid became furious at that answer. "I will kill you."
Jax just enjoyed the teasing and laughed while being pinned down and receiving zero-damage hammering punches on his chest from the angriest kitten he had seen.
Astrid realized she had lost the exchange again so she threw a punch directly at his face and said. "Let’s see if your grim buddy can help you out of this one."
But her punch was dodged by Jax with a movement that made Astrid stumble forward and lean on him even more than she intended. She caught herself mere inches before her lips could meet his and in that awkward moment both of them just stayed completely still. Waiting for the other to move. Praying for the other to close the gap. But it didn’t happen because both of their egos won the battle this time around.
Astrid went back with a cough and said. "As you know my father told me not to commit something stupid because of the coming birthday next week. So I will leave the murder for now."
Jax said while holding his laughter. "Thanks for the mercy, milady."
Astrid’s veins were already popping from the anger she was containing.
But then Jax said. "By the way, what do you want from me for your birthday?"
Astrid said. "Why the hell are you asking me? That is supposed to be a surprise gift." Then she paused. "Wait, on second thought you can take a mana oath to not piss me off and stop committing suicides."
Jax said. "Nope. That is not happening."
Astrid was clenching her right fist when Jax added. "I mean, how can I give my girl a gift as cheap as that?"
Astrid shot back. "Stop with your smooth talk! My peace of mind is not cheap! But since you are acting so confident then you better prepare something that completely blows me away or get ready to be locked in the basement."
Jax said. "Another huge task on the plate but fine. I am feeling confident in this one."
Astrid said after getting up and dusting the grass off her clothes. "Anyways you should know that starting from tomorrow I am going to be incredibly busy due to the banquet preparations and of course the classes. So meeting you won’t be possible."
Jax said while stretching and still being laid on the grass. "I will be sure to keep my distance and give you a break from my teasing so you can focus."
Astrid hissed internally. ’Why isn’t this dummy even bothered by that? Should I punish him?’
But then she sighed and said with a tone that was trying very hard to sound casual. "Yes. It will be exhausting. Especially since tomorrow evening I have to go all the way down to the capital’s commercial district to shop for my dress and accessories. All by myself. With absolutely no one to help me carry all those heavy bags."
Jax replied with complete sincerity and zero clue about what was actually hiding behind her words. "Oh that is poor planning. You should definitely take Albert with you. He is built like a tank so he should be great for carrying work. And besides he already works for you."
Astrid said while containing her anger with visible effort. "Albert has other duties, you idiot! And same goes for the rest of my maids and staff due to the event! And besides I need someone with actual taste to give me a second opinion on the jewelry and other stuff. It is a very important shopping trip and it would be a massive disaster if I was forced to go alone."
Jax said with a nod as if he had just cracked a complex riddle. "Ahh that explains it. But why not ask your bestie Seris for help? I am pretty sure she is an expert in these types of things looking at how she always presents herself."
From her hiding spot behind the rocks Delphine had seen and heard everything. From the cringy moonlit talks to the ego of Astrid who refused to just say what she wanted directly, all the way to the devastating naivety of Professor Jax who had absolutely no idea that he was currently standing in the middle of a minefield and was about to step on every single one.
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A/N: Ordici_T, redwolf86, Littleboy18794, jarid555 and eric_rowse thank you for the golden tickets, means a lot 🙏🔥
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