Devouring Monarch: Rebirth of the Profane Phoenix

'I hope she isn't pushing herself too hard.' He thought while their group stepped into the brilliant light.

****

Meanwhile, several hundred miles south, already waiting for the rest of her unit, Vela stood in her silver armour while overlooking the students and instructors who appeared from the portals.

She stood upright, with a straight face, the epitome of discipline.

Beside her were four reserve Valkyrie knights who seemed to be her guards for this mission. Despite looking so focused with her eyes narrowed, her pupils darted around, trying to find somebody in the crowd.

'Asura, please don't be angry that I haven't been around.' She worried.

Since the moment Silvara became under attack, her mother had started some extreme training with a strange woman with silver hair. The brutal training lasted almost ten hours at a time and limited her meals to only the ideal nutrients she needed.

'That woman was so kind to me when I was not training, though. I wish I learned her name.'

The woman vanished earlier this morning after telling Vela she should not shame the kingdom and protect her people from harm.

It was a wake-up call that made her remember she wasn't a normal student or woman but the future queen and needed to realise her position in this kingdom.

"Princess, are you alright?" Asked Lyna, the knight who used a sword and shield.

"I am fine, Lyna. It just amazed me how many inexperienced people we are sending to fight the enemy."

"Your mother believes it will help them grow as warriors and people. Those who laze around in the capital could never become loyal knights."

Anna, the only Valkyrie in the group of four who used a bow, bowed after her outburst. It seemed she wanted to praise Vela's mother, which didn't cause any ill feelings.

'Most people call my mother thoughtless, but these women know exactly that all her movements and plans are for the better of Silvara. I am proud to have such a mother!'

Vela wanted to speak, but then she saw him talking to the Royal Knight Cynthia, who laughed at his words, creating an ache in Vela's chest.

No matter how often she saw Asura, he always seemed able to get along with anyone he chose—watching the knight who once swore to become her knight and the muscular girl with tanned skin slap Asura's back, and it became clear he made friends within their unit already.

'I should be happy, then why… does my chest feel suppressed? It's becoming hard to breathe.'

"Asura, don't get close to other women," Vela muttered in a voice so quiet she could barely hear her voice.

'Am I jealous?' She thought.

The feeling of pain was nothing like a wound or injury, just a tightness in her chest while she felt irritable and wanted to scream.

'Why do I feel this way about Asura? He is only laughing with them—there is no touching.'

Her question would have to wait as the units arrived one by one until almost a thousand students had gathered. The first thing their unit leader did was to split them up into groups based on the unit given to them by the kingdom.

Vela, escorted by her four knights, walked towards the ninth unit where Asura sat with his eyes closed, his raven hair shimmering in the sweltering heat, while his lips bent into a faint smile.

'Is he also happy we're together on this mission?' She wondered.

The black uniform matched his silver armour, and they almost seemed made for each other. She couldn't help but think he looked amazing as she approached to speak with him.

However, suddenly, the leader of the unit and her future knight, Cynthia, approached and gave a polite salute.

"Your Highness, it is my pleasure to meet you today and serve as your leader during this battle."

'Move, I want to talk to Asura! You are blocking my view of him!'

"It is my pleasure, knight Cynthia, however you must be busy so do not take time with me and rest easy. The journey to the south shall not take long and we will probably endure constant battles upon arrival."

Despite speaking with a slightly thorny tone, Vela found Cynthia didn't understand her glare and furrowed eyebrows one bit. Instead, she seemed to become inspired suddenly and stood straight with a neat salute, causing her black plate armour to clang loudly.

"Everyone, this is how you should be! Show inspiration from your wonderful princess!"

'Let me sit with Asura. Wait, who is that girl sitting beside him? I am sure it's the fourth-year Bella Ruse. Why is she so close to my Asura!?'

Unable to restrain herself, Vela's thoughts became overwhelmed by her desires. She was forced to hold them back for so long that she felt a sense of collapse in her mind. The pain vanished, but her feelings of jealousy became a whirlwind of anger.

'How dare she get so close to Asura, she even placed her hand on his shoulder!? Why is she fluttering her lashes at him while touching his thigh?'

"Come, Salute and respect the princess!" Cynthia called the entire unit to stand and give her a salute.

Vela's eyes deceived the people while she truly only watched Asura, who pushed Bella away and instead gave a sincere salute to Vela before winking.

The moment he winked, Vela felt her legs become weak. His smile always made her feel relieved since the moment they kissed a month ago, and now he had become so charming each day that she couldn't resist him.

So much so that the simple act of him pushing Bella away was enough for Vela to forget her feelings a moment before.

"We honour the princess."

"An honour to the princess."

"You are such a lovely princess," Asura added to his words, causing many of the unit to look at him with a strange look.

Akkrum seemed to think this was the time to scold the first year for speaking like this to the princess. "Brat, what do you think you are saying—no, you shouldn't even look at the princess!"

Yet before Akkrum could finish his words, a loud and clear voice echoed across the land, bringing the attention of all those nearby.

"Am I really that lovely, enough to become your wife?" Vela's body vanished from the front. She stood less than a step away from Asura as she grasped his hand, her lips curling into a huge smile and her eyes beaming in delight.

'This feeling is happiness, isn't it?'

The cool sensation of Asura's hands matched her expectations, and she finally felt safe knowing he was here with her.

'He doesn't belong to me, but I can be with him today. Today alone is fine, right?'

Suddenly, a husky yet captivating voice echoed in her ears, causing the lovely princess's face and ears to turn red. "Did you get jealous of those girls, my silly little wife?"

'Ah~ Asura knows I was jealous. He's going to bully me or get mad!'

Asura's husky voice became quiet, and she could barely hear what he said, "I promise to only look at you for the journey, Vela."

"Heh!?" Vela exhaled, and the knights and students of her unit couldn't help but notice their display of affection. The look on her face caused most of the women to nod knowingly.

Her blushing cheeks, vibrant aura, and the bright sparkle of her amber eyes were as if on fire.

It was a face that brought joy to their hearts while many of the men sighed in disappointment.

"Your Highness, what are you doing?" Akkrum asked as if he didn't understand the situation, a man with low emotional tact.

"Stop, he's the princesses fiancé!"

Simone Cheff, the girl from second year, whispered into Akkrum's ear, but learning this truth seemed to deal him a critical strike as he froze solid and fell backwards onto his buttocks.

"Y-your Highness, how is that possible!?" He yelled, unwilling to believe Asura's existence.

"Akkrum, calm yourself!" Cynthia pulled the armoured man to his feet and shook him about like a cat shakes a mouse.

"Are you alright, Akkrum?" Asura asked, looking at the thin man who had sweated so much that he seemed to have showered.

"I am fine, thank you. S-since when are you engaged to the princess?"

Vela's face became even more of a lovely show. Now bright red, she buried her face in Asura's chest while covering her head with the silver hood from her robe.

"To be honest, we're already officially engaged, but our parents made a promise before our birth." Asura smiled and stroked the princess's back, which seemed to have crumbled because of the events.

"W-well, congratulations then, you two."

"No, he's right. It was sudden, and I'm sorry for the panic." Vela's eyes still seemed moist, but her face was no longer a deep crimson as she looked at their unit, realising they needed to work together.

'Asura was kind to that snake, even though he was rude. It's because he trusts me to act professionally while we are fighting. Stupid Vela...' She chastised herself before facing her unit once more.

Vela took a deep breath before stepping back from Asura and saluting the entire unit, which shocked Valkyrie and Cynthia.

"Knights of Silvara, my name is Vela Silvara, and I am proud to be the princess of this kingdom. However, during this time, I shall be part of Unit Nine as Vela! Please treat me and my future husband as normal students and ask for help or support!"

'I swear I will fight for you more than any of the other women, Asura. I won't become a burden in your eyes.'

After the call for order, the unit seemed to come alive and finished the final preparations for the journey.

Akkrum seemed to change when speaking to Asura and offered him a taste of his family's speciality wine, which caused Asura to drop all thoughts towards this man.

Although it seemed weak to fold after learning the truth, Asura felt it was admirable that he didn't hold a grudge and instantly offered to open some trade routes to the Phoenix Glade for the right price.

'Asura looks so handsome when doing business and drinking that wine!' Vela's heart fluttered with joy, and her eyes glued to his every movement.

Vela's words and choice became the best decision as the women in the group all spoke with her like normal friends. The feeling of tightness in her chest and anger faded once she realised Asura already rejected Bella and told her to marry Akkrum.

'Hehe, sorry, Bella, but Asura's eyes are hard to catch.'

She sympathised with the woman who felt attracted to a man she could never have.

Not long after they settled their issues, the five carriages for unit nine departed, with Vela choosing to board with Asura, Bella, Akkrum, Simone and Cynthia. Rather than taking her more luxurious carriage, she let the other half of the unit use it.

Instead, choosing to bond deeper with the students she spoke with.