Master

Ban opened his eyes and looked at his surroundings. He recognized the place as his own room. He saw a sleeping beauty beside him.

"....Sophia?" Ban muttered a name. He smiled gently at her cute sleeping face.

Sophia was sitting on a chair while leaning her head to the bed sleeping soundly. There was a little drool coming out from her mouth.

"Agh!"

Ban tried to sit up when he felt a excruciating pain all over his body. His body shivered and he gritted his teeth enduring the pain.

Sophia woke up feeling the movement on the bed and she saw Ban was awake.

"Hubby!.. A-Are you alright?"

Sophia stood up and panicked. She even forgot to wipe her drooling saliva.

"Mmm. I am fine baby.. Help me sit up first." Ban extend his hand asking for help. His forehead was sweating a lot.

"B-But..." Sophia hesitated.

"Hehe.. I'm really fine. It's just a little cramp from lying on the bed. How many hours I have been asleep?" Ban smiled gently at her.

"O-Oh.. Um.. You slept for a day and a half. Today is Sunday, March 19." Sophia replied while helping Ban sat up carefully.

Ban dazed for a second and wonder out loud "I slept that long? Oh.. Now I wonder, who brought me back home? Where's Sally?"

"Mmm.. Big Sis is in her room. She was practicing her skills earlier. She didn't work today and plan to look after you at night. As for who brought you home... She represent herself to be your.. master." Sophia tried to observe Ban's reaction after saying her last sentence.

Ban raise his brow and asked "Master?" He remembered his encounter with Red Lotus that day. He continued "You mean a masked woman?" He grab Sophia's waist and wipe her drool with a smile.

Sophia blushed realizing she didn't wipe her saliva earlier. She wanted to find a hole and bury herself in it from embarrassment.

After a few seconds, Sophia nodded and replied "Y-Yes.. In fact, she's in my room right now. D-Do you want me to call her?" She didn't leave his embrace even though she felt shy for a moment. She even hugged him back silently searching for a warm comfort.

"There's no need. I am here."

Ban was about to reply when a etherial voice suddenly rang in his room.

Sophia was startled like a frightened rabbit and she suddenly wanted to stand up. However, Ban held her tightly not letting her go in his embrace.

Ban examined the woman in front of him. She didn't wear any mask as she expose her peerless beauty in front of him. Ban recognized this woman as Clara who appeared to be the niece of Emma that Ban met at the hospital back then.

Ban looked closer at Clara and sure enough, there's a distinctive similarity between the two women. Her facial feature together with how she dress that has a regal aura makes her unique to any women he met.

Clara didn't wear her cloak and mask. Her long and silky maroon hair was tied into a ponytail. Her beauty was one of a kind just like Emma especially their attractive phoenix eyes that catches ones soul. She has a 175cm height. But her dress was different from Emma. Emma's are like a red medieval renaissance gothic royal dress with golden tribal patterns that makes her look elegant but also unique while Clara was wearing royal battle dress that makes her look elegant but also a valiant beauty.

A/N : Mr. Google can help you search for the dress.

Ban narrow his eyes at Clara who ignore his glare.

Sophia felt the tension from the two and she timidly asked "S-Shall I give you guys a private conversation?"

Clara "Yes."

Ban "No."

Sophia was startled by their replies. She didn't know what to do as she was in Ban's embrace. She wanted to call Sally for help but she can't just yell out loud fearing she would disturb their glaring competition.

Clara frowned but she didn't say anything else. She only look at Ban, clearly had an intention for a chat.

"Get out."

Ban calmly said to Clara. He look indifferently at her without any emotion.

Clara open her mouth to speak but close after a few seconds as she didn't know what to say. She felt wronged inside. Since when did anyone ignore her like she was a nobody? Although the incident was partly her fault, she also thought that Ban was also at fault by using a suicidal means to deal with her.

"I will talk to you after an hour. For now, I need to have a moment with my lovers." Ban continued to speak.

Clara stared at Ban for a few seconds and nodded. Before she could disappear, she heard Ban talk again.

"Don't peek. Also don't eavesdrop on us."

"Hmph! Fine." Clara disappeared after she agreed.

"..."

Silence filled the room.

Sophia meekly glanced at Ban without saying anything. In fact, she didn't move at all.

Ban blink a few times before relaxing his body. He look at Sophia and chuckled. He kissed her cheeks lovingly and said "I'm sorry baby. I just felt uncomfortable seeing that woman, that's all. Here, let me give some love kisses for scaring my lovely wife." Ban kissed every part of her face gently while laughing.

Sophia bashfully accepted Ban's kisses.

After a moment of cuddling, Ban asked Sophia "How's your Big Sis? Is she busy practicing now? If so, we better not disturb her."

The blushing Sophia replied "I guess she already asleep. Big Sis stayed in your room all day after you came back in a bloodied state. She was really worried and stayed all night long. She called me yesterday and she told me the news. I insisted to stay and watch over you so she agreed." She glance at Ban with confusion and continued "What really happened? Why are you injured that night? And why did that woman called herself as your master? I feel like you didn't treat her as your master though."

"Hmm. Alright. I'll chat with your Big Sis later. Let her have some rest first." Ban felt warm inside. He was lucky to have two lovely wives that cared for him.

"As for that woman... She's not my master." Ban told her the truth.

Sophia nodded and waited for Ban's explanation. She knew there is something more to this woman.

"She's like a ...benefactor. A relative of my benefactor to be precise. We had a little misunderstandings and resulted to my current condition." Ban patiently explained.

"Maybe she represent herself to be my master because she doesn't want you guys to feel worried too much about my condition." Ban thought about how powerful Clara was.

Sophia nodded in understanding.

"Help me guard my body, wifey. I'll check my condition first inside." Ban kiss her lips gently.

"Mmm~. I will."

...

Ban wanted to check his elemental energies. What he did last time was very dangerous for him. Even though he timely deactivated the skill before exploding, he still suffered a serious backlash from it.

Due to his extreme anxiety and Clara's taunting, even his Serene Spirit skill couldn't hold his cool headedness. Sensing an unknown threat makes him more reckless especially when it comes to the safety of his loved ones.

"I need to improve myself as soon as possible."

Ban didn't know if another similar thing will happen. He needed to be prepared of what's coming that he cannot handle in the future.

Ban entered into a meditative state.

"W-What is... this?"

He suddenly exclaim in shock from his discovery.