Devouring Monarch: Rebirth of the Profane Phoenix - Chapter 481

Chapter 481: The Awakening
Several days after Asura and his company arrived in Ar’Soleil, Celine brought his lover to her private garden. She managed this place for her mother, using it to relax when missing Asura. The elven flora and trees were vibrant and beautiful thanks to the world tree offering unique enrichment.

‘It seems that Mu Xue and her sister have begun settling in.’

She led him down a cobblestone path bordered on one side by an espaliered fruit tree. This orchard contained fruits from all over the empire. Thanks to Milas Turim’s proximity to the palace, these fruits mutated and became elixirs for the royal family.

“What do you think so far?” Celine asked, feeling nervous since she rarely brought people into her orchard and garden other than Spica. In reality, Celine and Mu Xue became quite close after speaking so often. However, Mu Yue seemed to struggle with trusting people easily.

‘It seems that she blames herself for Asura’s condition. Does she have feelings for him?’

“It is quite beautiful.” Lucia examined an apple, finding the difference in colour fascinating. Rather than the sour and vibrant green of Silvara, these were large, red and gave a sweet scent.

“How are you liking your quarters?”

“They are comfortable, but are they meant for servants?” Mu Yue grumbled, grumbling about their accommodations.

The princess could only smile bitterly, “Forgive me since we are in a state of potential war with the orcs. It’s difficult to convince the elders about having outsiders located near the empress and royal family.”

She didn’t really mind, but they had not confirmed Mu Yue’s position in relation to Asura. So, like the rest of the resistance, she lived in a servant’s room under supervision. However, that was something natural even despite her kind and accepting nature. Celine was now a princess with the right to the throne.

“Don’t be rude, Mu Yue—this is the imperial palace of the elves. You should take the time to read some of their history, it dates back further than Silvara. To the age before the continents were fractured!” Mu Xue kindly warned her sister. Though the elven empress accepted them, it wasn’t due to their prestige. No, everything was out of their respect and acceptance of Asura.

Mu Yue seemed to realise her rudeness, lowering her head slightly, “You’re right; this is the birthplace of the elves… Your Imperial Highness, Princess Celine, I have been discourteous.”

“It is fine, but I’m sure Asura doesn’t want anyone here fighting. How long does he intend on sleeping when so many beautiful women are longing for his return?” Celine’s enchanting green eyes narrowed, while remembering when she first met him and how he helped her control her magic and body. “After all, he’s a charming man. So many women adore him even now.”

Mu Xue’s eyes focused on Celine, a slight shock as she opened her mouth before lifting the corners into a graceful smile.

She always felt a close affinity with Celine—thus, when Celine spoke about the things she couldn’t so easily, It made her feel delighted.

“Do you think he will be surprised?”

“Of course, Xue! Though Spica has been so unfair, not letting us meet him!”

“Ah… but doesn’t she like him too?” Mu Xue thought about the knight with black hair and short pointed ears. Celine taught her that she was a half-elf and had some sort of deal with Asura in the past.

Yet Mu Xue knew the feelings were more than business to Spica. “I’ve seen her sitting beside his bedside every single night. She changes his bandages while we all sleep and even applies ointment to those horrid wounds without batting her eyelids.”

“Oh my?! Has she finally stopped holding back on my account?”

Celine smiled radiantly as she took a sip of the rose tea. She knew, but because of how close the pair were, she couldn’t correctly approach her knight.

‘I am grateful Asura brought these ladies here, though I wish I could meet the others…’

The future seemed so exciting to Celine after meeting Mu Xue and Lucia. Even Mu Yue was someone she liked to bicker and tease. However, the current situation with the orcs worried her. Though they accepted the peace treaty, the truth was her brother, and the other elves couldn’t defeat the orcs in a direct war.

‘Brother was hoping Asura would be able to help. However, I don’t want to use my husband in such a way… I hope he can at least get the rest he’s discarded to protect everyone now. So until he returns, I will ensure the talks go well!’

“Sister Lucia, your shadows are so amazing. Can you do anything with them?!”

Celine changed the subject the moment she felt her mood sinking, watching as Lucia used four of her clones to help manage the gardens. Though she called it training, it also seemed to help Lucia cope with the situation.

“If I use four, then they are just weaker versions of my main body—the more I use, the bigger the limit on their abilities.”

“Ohh~ it’s so cool, you are all so strong. My husband has a good eye for women. To have so many dependable sisters, I am happy too. Hehe.”

“Your Highness, your powers cannot be denied either, sometimes when training with you. It’s like I am facing darling if he was a woman.” Mu Xue added with a faint smile.

“Haha, Xue isn’t wrong! Your Highness really resembles Asura in battle. It seems he trained you hard.” Lucia chuckled, enjoying the princess blushing from the compliments.

‘I couldn’t accept higher praise… I hope he feels the same… So please wake up, my dear prince.’

***

“Asura, why are you being so stubborn? Wake up!”

A gentle hand touched the young man’s face, slowly caressing his soft white hair with a shiny sheen. The lady had black hair flowing down over one side of her neck like waves crashing on the shore. Spica began to wear makeup and let her hair grow after meeting Asura several times.

At first, she disliked him and tried to push him away from the princess, using her body and aiming for Celine to see them in the act. Yet, Spica couldn’t help that she quickly began to fall. Maybe it’s unbecoming that her body fell first, but her heart came soon after.

His beautiful heart and valiant display in battle captivated her. The gentle and caring smile he gave Celine caused Spica’s body to tremble and feel at ease.

“When did all my dislike become such ardent affection?” A frown crossed her pretty face as Spica wondered how it came to this. Yet, the memories never took long to resurface. His innocent smiles and moments where he wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty for another warmed her frozen heart.

‘My brother has sided with the orcs… I don’t understand why. Soon, I fear this empire will need you, yet after seeing your wounded body. I no longer have the heart to ask you to fight. I want to be stronger, to protect you, the princess and this kingdom.’

Spica’s hand stroked Asura’s hair, the silky feel so smooth she became addicted. “Gone are you raven black locks… Though now you look like an angel… ah, it’s time to change his bandages.”

The wounds inflicted by the monster he fought last were serious. When Spica started the treatment with the royal doctor, they found the severe extent of the damage his internal organs suffered. ‘You shouldn’t have been alive…’ Spica thought while preparing the elven balm made from the world trees’ sap.

“Let me help you recover—for once, I can actually help you.”

When she began to unravel the bandages, her eyes suddenly opened wide because something unbelievable happened. While Spica carefully removed the old wrappings. She found new skin replaced the open gashes and wounds, and across his chest, a massive pattern or tattoo of a willow tree, at least it resembled a willow.

The wounds this morning were still severe enough to consider he could die at any moment. Yet now… Her fingertips traced the slightly elevated marking; the tree’s trunk continued down his abdomen. Spica’s fingers slipped across his tight muscles before the tree roots extended towards his crotch, causing her to gasp. Then, the vast branches and leaves covered his chest, reaching either shoulder.

“It’s beautiful… as if he is the world tree personified.”

Even if she was a half-elf, her elven blood adored the world tree where their race originated. Thus, touching this divine marking on her beloved’s chest, she became bewitched.

‘I can feel a powerful vitality, his body and magic have changed… all the powers he used before now combined into something… something divine and beautiful.’

“You’re beautiful,” She whispered, watching as a soft green light drifted off his body towards hers. For several minutes, Spica indulged herself. The joy of having this private moment and getting closer to the man she loved. Intoxicated by his scent, she fell onto his chest and allowed herself to be filled with the strange green energy.

Meanwhile, as the green energy flowed into her body, he somehow absorbed her energy. The dark, murky energy flowed to the roots of his marking, causing the tree on his chest to glow with a silver light.

As Spica fell into a blissful dream and missed the moment, Asura’s silver eyelashes began to flutter. Her body began to transform slightly, her ears became longer and the vigorous green energy healed the many wounds and injuries from her youth.

With graceful and divine beauty, Asura’s eyes opened his hands, rubbing them before he gazed at Spica with a warm gaze.

“Thank you for looking after me with such gentle and affectionate care. Spica. I won’t forget your pure and honest feelings.”

Asura didn’t move. Instead, he closed his eyes and tried to understand his state. After dreaming of that woman and her struggles, he also took a step away from the normal path of evolution and through some twist of fate.

The world tree given to him fused with the monoliths, and now they became part of his soul completely in the form of constellations.

‘I never imagined being able to use all of my bloodlines at once with such ease. This tree is both the source of my life and power.’ He touched his chest before stroking the raven hair of Spica, his eyes sparkling like pure rubies.

“But it seems I am no longer the same Asura as before.”