The extra is a fox eyed jester-Chapter 61: Leona’s remedy

Steady footfalls echoed within the hostelry of the guest house where Leona and a few other nobles were currently residing, the red carpet rolled across the floor with luxurious aesthetics made to suit the royal’s preference.

Azazel hadn’t even bothered taking the normal route in.

He was tired, and not in the best mood to indulge the receptionist or the guards.

To bypass them would’ve been easier if he had gone in with Elias but he didn’t do so.

He had a reason for coming even though he wanted nothing more than to rest, his sister’s health was much more important and he was yet to deliver the herbs.

Just before arriving, he had taken the herbs out of the spatial space within his jester’s garment and had arranged them neatly along with a note on how to brew them for Leona.

He strolled up the bifurcated staircase with the casual demeanor of a noble who owned the place.

His steps weren’t hurried, nor were they tense, even though he was practically trespassing, he did so in style.

Azazel’s gaze flickered to a dark corner in the hallway of the hostelry’s interior, he didn’t make any unnecessary movements, instead he spoke.

"Well aren’t you a bit fond of the shadows, Karina."

For a second, his words were met with silence, then...

A step.

Followed by another.

It was barely audible that Azazel who was close by was having a hard time picking the sound even though she was practically beside him.

"Young master, you came." She greeted with a formal bow.

Azazel raised his eyebrows at her comment.

"Was I not supposed to?" he retorted with a calm tone.

Karina stared at them, then averted her gaze to her feet.

"My apologies, I seem to have forgotten that an Astavore never goes back on their word."

Azazel snorted.

"This is about my reputation isn’t it?"

"It’s about your reputation." She replied in an instant.

Azazel could only chuckle.

"Here."

He brought out a transparent container which was filled with some herbs, and another which contained the dream orchid.

Above it was a paper with detailed instructions on preparing the remedy for Leona’s ailment.

"This should relieve her nightmares for the time being, you can test it out first before giving it to her." He informed her.

Karina let her eyes wander over the jars for a little moment and then she accepted it.

"Thank you, young master."

Azazel smiled.

It was subtle but undeniably genuine and Karina who had witnessed it stared at him with wide eyes and parted lips.

She was at a loss for words because the young master she knew had never really smiled before, at least not an honest smile.

His entire palette was situated on mocking gestures, condescending sneers and contemptuous smiles.

Seeing this side of him was entirely new to her.

"I will be taking my leave then."

"Isn’t it beneath your status to notify a servant of your departure."

Azazel laughed.

"You’re with my sister at the academy, right? That means right now you’re not a maid but a student as well, basic courtesy I believe, should be an important trait in a noble, just keep taking care of her."

He turned around to leave then paused abruptly.

"Oh, by the way... don’t let her know that the herbs came from me." He told, before exchanging places with a silver coin he had placed at a designated location long before his arrival.

Watching him leave, Karina allowed her eyes to linger on the silver coin.

She picked it up then muttered softly.

"He’s changed."

****

"Well that’s one issue solved." Azazel sighed.

He took a small stroll around Merelyn falls, watching the afternoon sun set slowly.

First he visited the attraction centers they had, ran into a few people and some aspirants who looked like they were few seconds away from reporting his insolence to their daddies...

Oh speaking of daddy, Azazel had yet to send his father a letter, he hadn’t forgotten what Viola did and he was damn sure his mother at least wouldn’t let such slide.

Another purpose was to notify his parents of the intent behind his abrupt journey and the reason he dragged the Prince along.

Now he had to weave logical lies and enough coincidences to convince both his father and mother.

Just thinking about them made him shiver.

If his parents didn’t believe it then he was going to have another session with his mother one that could result in having another furniture smashed on his head.

’Ugh, let’s not think about that.’

Right...

He had bigger problems to deal with at the moment.

Azazel had already left the luxurious streets of Merelyn falls and was currently heading for his temporary residence in Valectis.

’I don’t wanna go.’

Every step he took felt heavy, like he was walking towards a trap, one he had actually set for himself.

’Oh I’m royally screwed.’

He sighed.

"Akathartos?"

His call was met with silence causing the redhead to sigh.

"Figures."

Akathartos had been sleeping ever since Azazel had absorbed Muninn’s will, there was no surprise, the sword had taken on most of the pain.

Azazel wasn’t sure he would have survived without the tainted blade’s help.

’I guess there are perks to having a sentient weapon, if only the metal scrap wasn’t a damn tsundere.’

’Be quiet mortal, you’re noisy.’ The familiar voice of the blade reverberated within Azazel’s mind.

’Akathartos!’

Azazel exclaimed, his voice was a tad bit higher than he had intended it to be.

’What is it?’

’What is it? You pretentious scrap of metal, you had me worried there, what if you had stopped functioning huh? Do you think I went through all that during the trial to have you die on me.’

The blade thrummed, its voice harsh.

’Are you a retard, why would I die from something as trivial as a mere pain, I survived the apocalypse. If a raven’s will was enough to take me out then I wouldn’t qualify to be a divine weapon.’

Azazel scoffed.

’Yeah well give me a heads up before going silent like that.’

’Don’t concern yourself with my affairs mortal, focus on assimilating with the Raven’s will, if you think you’ve managed to tame it then you’re more a fool than I thought you’d be.’ The blade hissed, then went silent.

Azazel exhaled deeply, his eyes settling on a rather luxurious building.

It wasn’t anything grandiose as the guesthouse at Merelyn falls, but it was fitting enough to house a noble of his standing.

Not like he had any preference though.

A weary sigh escaped his lips, then he slowly walked through the entrance.

"Ah, I really don’t want to go."