Insistent Assistant 33 (Patreon)

Insistent Assistant

Chapter 33

-VB-

The Servant (???)

Consciousness was a very finicky thing for it. It was both aware and not, because it was not a singular entity but more of a template that accepted “pictures” of other beings, transposed them, and retained some memories of its actions with that “picture.”

As it gained more memories from traveling with the human it was responsible for, it - separate from the identities and egos it took on - decided to observe the world.

It realized quickly that it was, in its own way, a newborn. It only knew much as what identity it assumed and no more than that. It did not learn without an ego to frame the perspective. It was not a tool but a being, which was how its human partner has been treating it so far.

It… “appreciated” that.

It hoped that it will continue to have a fruitful relationship with its human partner.

With that, it drifted to unconsciousness as it used up all of its energy to summon forth a new ego.

…

…

…

That ego’s going to be a trouble.

-VB-

When I woke up, I knew that my Servant would be rematerializing soon. I quickly jumped out of bed, noticed that it was barely dawn, and waited patiently.

There was a swirl of wind as someone new popped into existence between me and the sun. From the silhouette of the rising sun, I saw a woman. A bit of a short woman but a woman with an athletic figure. It was also odd how I got two guys and then two gals. Was that going to be the trend? “Perhaps.”

At least, I won’t get punched in training sessions, right? “Maybe.”

“Wrong,” a sharp, authoritarian voice cut through the room. She had an air about her that was … firm - no, dangerous. Was the person actually dangerous, though? “Yes.”

“Well, then, why don’t you introduce yourself?” I asked, tired of getting one-word answers out of the literal mind-reading person in front of me.

She scoffed and took a few steps back, and then put her hands on her hips. “Can you see me now?” she asked sarcastically. “Maybe you should sleep outside if you’re so blind as to not immediately recognize me.”

I squinted as some of the sunlight finally bounced back to show me her face.

Dressed in red and yellow in a vaguely East Asian style of attire, I found myself looking and looking and looking…

She rolled her eyes. “Ugh, will this help you, you dolt?!” she snapped and lashed out with a twirl - though not actually reaching me - and a ball of fire formed in her hands.

My eyes widened.

The cutting words, authoritarian demands and tone, a teenage girl nearing adulthood, with long black hair, and the ability to cast fire with martial art movements.

“Azula,” I muttered in horror.

She smirked. “Bingo.”

“Ah, fuck no.”

“... that is not the way you should be addressing royalty, captain,” she sneered as she straightened back up and put out the fire.

My face fell into my awaiting hands.

Thorkell, Illaoi, and now Azula. Was I masochistic? Why did I keep getting people who liked beating the shit out of others?!

“Because you’re a passive piece of shit that can’t even roll out of bed properly unless the task at hand gives you anxiety,” she drawled. I looked up with a glare and saw her just looking at her nails. Then she yawned and then met my glare. “Oh? You think I wouldn’t you use against you? Too bad for you, I’m not Thorkell or Illaoi. I’ll happily tell you how much of an inept waste of space you are because it pleases me. What are you going to do? Cry about it?”

“Or punch you,” I told her with a grunt as I got up from the bed and dressed myself.

“Ah yes, punch the prodigal martial artist that can not only burn you but electrocute you. How smart. How brilliant. You must have been the top of your class in your slum town elementary school… after being held back for a full decade,” she tittered.

Yeah, this was Azula alright. Cruel and merciless, she would do whatever she liked to keep herself entertained, and I was the unfortunate fucker that was going to be stuck with her for weeks if not months.

I moved to leave the room when I paused and looked over my shoulder. “I mean… I can toss you into the sea. If you haven’t forgotten, I can literally leave you a wet, soggy bitch,” I drawled right back at her.

She glared at me.

“Is that a challenge?” she snapped.

“... You’re playing way too into your character,” I sighed. “Just stay inside. I don’t want you out there fucking up the crew with your attitude. No doubt, you’ll remind them of the Celestial Dragons.”

There was a pause as Azula briefly shifted to something else. I wasn’t sure but the sneer was gone, replaced by a blank … something.

“Understood.”

That didn’t sound like Azula. It was her voice but not the tone, word, or … personality.

When Azula returned back to being herself, she sauntered over to my bed.

“This is mine now. You go sleep outside from today onwards.”

I left before my blood pressure climbed even higher.

She was going to be a trouble. I could just feel it.