Chapter 40: Alexander's Crush
"Ugh, that was quite rude, Master; didn't you say we were merely sparring? If I hadn't imbued my body with mana in time, I would've had many more injuries than a few broken bones." Remarked Alexander while his bruised body crawled from the crater as he lay beside Lavender.
"Stop acting so overdramatic; it's merely a few broken bones, which you'll heal from in a few minutes; besides, even if you were more seriously injured, it would only take you an hour at most to return to peak condition." Replied Lavender with an amused smirk as she looked down at Alexander, whose body was swiftly repairing itself.
"Haa, I swear you're a sadist, Master." Muttered Alexander as he shifted his focus to the incoming bird while Lavender softly chuckled and shook her head.
Seeing Talis speedily fly toward me, I reached out to the mana in my heart, and before she could collide with my face, I wrapped her in a blanket of wind, stopping her momentum just a few inches before my face as the two of us stared at each other.
"You've gotten much faster, Talis, but if you were attempting to sneak attack me, then you've got much to improve upon." Said Alexander while eyeing Talis, who had drastically changed since before, having grown significantly larger.
"Hehe, it was worth an attempt!" Replied Talis with several chirps while slyly looking at Alexander, who kept her floating in the air.
Shaking my head at her antics, I released my hold of her, causing her to fall, but before she fell on my face, I caught her with my hand as I lifted her in the air while I also began standing up. Holding Talis in my hand, who changed quite a lot in the last four years, such as being much larger, with thicker feathers, larger talons, and a larger wingspan, causing her to look quite intimidating compared to her previous appearance of a small bird that could be mistaken for a parrot. However, while she may have grown, compared to most birds, she is still about average size, which is saying something since birds of her species aren't anywhere close to her size; she's about fifty percent bigger than other birds of her species.
I don't know why or how Talis grew to be so big, but considering she was only supposed to have grown little in the past four years because of her species, I have reason to believe it's because she's been living with Master, and I; ever since that fateful day where I challenged and defeated the dungeon guardian she's pretty much been living with us.
'What is Master feeding her for her to grow so large? Actually, I'm the one who cooks food, so what am I feeding her?' Mused Alexander as he stood up, looking at Talis perched on his outstretched arm.
Though, I suppose, given my change, I can't really say much since I've also drastically changed; if I and my twelve-year-old self stood side-by-side, you wouldn't be able to tell we were the same person from the sheer changes that have taken place, well except for my same purple crystal-like eyes, which haven't changed once.
My body, which was already decently muscular, is now very muscular, yet it's not to the point where it would hamper my agility or flexibility; it's just the right amount of muscle that excels in strength, agility, and flexibility. I've obviously grown taller, and when I mean taller, I mean much taller; before I was about five-one, just two inches shorter than Master, but now, I'm a whopping six-four; I've grown over one-foot in the past four years, which is insane, as I'm about to be sixteen, so I may not even be done growing.
Other apparent, but not as noticeable, changes would be my face; it's no longer like that of a child's. I mean, it still carries some child features, like when I smile; at least that's what Master said. My face looks very masculine, with a striking jawline and a pronounced chin; my lips, well, there is nothing special about my lips; however, just like in my past life, my eyebrows are sharp but on the thicker side. I cut my long hair as it was beginning to get a hassle to clean, and besides, I had no intention of keeping my hair long; now, my white hair hangs down to just above my shoulders, though currently, since I was sparring with Master, if you could call it that, It's tied into a ponty-tail.
All in all, coupled with my caramel-covered skin, I think I look pretty darn handsome; not perfect, of course, but I feel like I'm attractive enough that most women would take a second glance at me as they walk by, hopefully, at least.
'Though I say I'm pretty handsome, neither Talis nor Master seems to care; well, I don't expect much from Talis, considering she's a bird, and our biology couldn't be any more different, but Master, on the other hand. Hmm, Master.' Mused Alexander as he shifted his focus toward Lavender in the distance, who was fixing the ground, returning it to normal.
"Alex, Alex, ALEX!" Yelled Talis several times as she attempted to gather Alexander's attention, who was too busy admiring Lavender.
"Hmm, yeah, Talis?" Replied Alexander with a cough, trying to cover up being caught after having been broken out from his slight trance by Talis.
"Hehe, Alex, don't try to hide it; I saw how you looked at Miss Lavender." Said Talis mischievously as she chirped quietly in his ear.
"W-What do you mean? I was looking at Master the same way I always do?" Replied Alexander awkwardly as he avoided eye contact, causing Talis to tilt her head as if she was smirking.
"You can lie all you want, Alex, but the way you looked at her was the same way many birds look at me; you wish to mate with Miss Lavender." Declared Talis, her words causing Alexander's face to take on a red hue as he was overwhelmed by embarrassment.
"First off, where did you learn that term? Secondly, I don't wish to mate with Master; she's my Master, and I'm her Disciple; such a thing would be considered taboo, I think." Stated Alexander as he angrily yelled at Talis while a light blush adorned his face, though his yelling attracted Lavender's attention.
"What are you two talking about that got you so riled up, Alexander?" Asked Lavender lightly, who hadn't changed a bit in the last four years; she approached them while glancing at the two, causing Talis to snicker slightly while Alexander was still embarrassed, and her presence didn't help.
"N-Nothing, Master. Talis was just spouting random things like usual; you know how she can be." Replied Alexander awkwardly while looking at Lavender, though because he was still thinking of what Talis had said, it caused his imagination to run wild.
"Ho, I hope you don't think just because you've grown a little, you can now lie to me, Alexander; I think you need to be reminded who's in charge, little boy." Said Lavender with a sultry voice as she seductively neared Alexander and leaned in close for a kiss.
Seeing Master lean in for a kiss, my heart was beating wildly, and I didn't know what to do, but as I looked down and saw Master's beautiful face, her glowing orange eyes, her thick pink lips, and those elegant horns, I couldn't help myself, closing my eyes, I leaned down, attempting to kiss, but just before our lips connected, I heard loud yelling.
"Alexander!" Yelled Lavender, her voice breaking Alexander out of his trance, causing him to return to reality.
Opening my eyes, I noticed Master was back in her previous spot as she looked at me in slight worry, and when I realized what had just happened, I was engulfed in embarrassment and shame; the only thing that stopped me from running away this instance was the fact that I wasn't actually leaning in for a kiss, it was merely all in my head.
'Although I don't know you, thank you, Goddess Eywa.' Thought Alexander as he internally gave a prayer before responding to Lavender.
"Y-Yes, Master? Is something the matter?" Replied Alexander as he attempted to quell his rapidly beating heart, which pumped a substantial amount of blood to his nether regions, though luckily for him, he was wearing armor.
"I should be asking you that question. I had called out to you several times, yet you didn't respond. Maybe I shouldn't have been so hard on you during the spar." Said Lavender as she crossed her arms, muttering the last part to herself.
"O-Oh, I-I was just spacing out; I'm completely fine; you know how tough I am. As a matter of fact, my injuries have already healed; I'm as good as new!" Stated Alexander while flexing his arms; at least, the arm that Talis wasn't perched upon.
"Well, if you say so; anyways, I had asked you what the two of you were speaking about, I would've asked Talis, but as you know, I can't speak nor understand her language." Remarked Lavender lightly with a shake of her head as she glanced at the two, and before Alexander could respond, someone beat him to it.
"Alex wishes to mate with you, Miss Lavender; he wants you to bear his offspring!" Yelled Talis, though, unfortunately for her and fortunately for Alexander, all Lavender heard were chirps.
"Why you! How about you take a flight and stop butting your beak into other people's business!" Yelled Alexander, his face deep red with anger and embarrassment.
Encompassing Talis within a sphere of air, I threw her into the air as I summoned Trina while tightly gripping her hilt with both hands, and when Talis fell, I powerfully hit her with the broad side of my greatsword, hitting her like she was a baseball; before she could spout anything else, I had sent her flying far off into the distance, though she'll be fine, and if she isn't I'll search for her after I've calmed down.
"Ahhhhhhhh!" Yelled Talis as she was sent flying far off into the forest, landing who knows where.
"Anyways, Master, you were saying?" Said Alexander with a smile, completely ignoring Talis as he looked at the confused Lavender.