Chapters 22 and 23

-market area, Capital city Escalan-

It was like a normal city, the slight difference was that there were mostly people of the Demon Race. There were some other races too, however, they were mostly slaves or work hands. You could tell there was more crime and greed, the whole atmosphere was off.

Leon decided to stop at a shop that seemed to be selling clothes and fabrics, Luna was as always glued to his side. Luna was a beauty. The drifting eyes of men around them were proof. It seemed Leon lucked out on receiving a good reward.

Leon could tell Luna was uncomfortable, either it was a sense of worry about what might happen to his beloved companion or just the fact that she never let go of his clothes. While Leon was exchanging some money for clothes he heard an interesting conversation.

"Hey look over there at that beauty, is she a slave?"

"I don't know, if she was, she should have a slave crest or be wearing a collar, shouldn't she?"

"Your right, that means she's fair game."

"I think she is, wait, that man, that's that young demon lord, the guy who won against the top lords at the last Ascension Competition."

"What?"

"Shouldn't he be in his territory why would he be here, are you sure?"

"I'm pretty sure. We shouldn't mess with that guy's possession."

Leon's eyes moved from the men to Luna, he contemplated on whether or not he should ask something or not.

'They were right, she isn't my slave, not yet, should I... No, I'll ask her. She deserves to choose.'

After getting the stuff they needed for the girls back on the ship, the two started making their way back to the port area.

Along the way Leon saw a slave trader, he knew you could officially make a slave yours by buying a collar or something of that sort from a slave trader or shop.

"Hey, Luna. Before we go back to the ship, I have an important question to ask."

"What's the question, master?"

"It's.. would you... do you want to be my slave, officially that is?"

"What do you mean, I'm already yours, master?"

"You heard those guys back by that shop, right? Talking about how you aren't my slave unless you have a crest or collar."

"Oh."

Luna looked down with a glum expression.

"It's just, I don't want you to be taken from me, if I officially make you my slave, then I won't have to worry so much about your safety."

"Master, you are so kind to me. I wouldn't want to be taken from you either. So if it's for the better, then let's make me officially yours."

"Okay, but just to let you know, doing this won't change anything between us, I won't treat you harshly or dominate you as most masters would."

"I know you won't. You're different from anyone I've ever met, I really like you master."

Leon blushed as Luna looked up at him.

That was the first time he's heard her say how she felt about him.

.....

"You're still not willing to sell her?"

"Yeah, I'm fine with just having her receive a crest."

"Fine, for the crest take this, and imbue your mana with the circle at the end."

Leon was handed a metal rod with a flat circular end. Nothing was engraved in the circle, but Leon followed what the slave trader said, applying his mana to it. The end glowed a dark red color, the same as his eyes.

"Okay, now place the end of that rod somewhere on your slave's neck. This will imprint your mana and mark on her showing she's yours. Once the mana goes away you can take the rod off from where you placed it."

Leon looked for a good place to put it, he saw an opening on the back of her neck. He held Luna's untangled brown hair back with one hand and gently pushed it against her nape. A searing sound was heard.

Luna seemed to be taking the pain quite well. She flinched from the first contact. The pain did cause her eyes to start to tear up.  She never screamed or cried erratically. 

After a minute, the mana dissipated. Leon slowly moved the rod away and revealed a blood-red name, Vanity, within a circular pattern.

————————

-Leon's cabin, currently sailing to Leon's territory-

Luna was looking out the window next to Leon's bed. She had her arms crossed. Her head was using them as a pillow as she took in the picturesque sky.  The view of the vast sea and the moon that shined upon it was lovely.

The irresistible beauty Leon's eyes were beholding was just as lovely, in his eyes even more so.

Leon walked to Luna. His body caressed her body. Luna was still looking out the window, Leon looked down at Luna and kissed her nape.

"Mmh."Luna flinched for a second when his lips were put against the slave crest.

Leon hearing the noise leaned his head forward placing it on Luna's shoulder.

"Did that hurt?"

"I'm alright, it's just a little sensitive."

"I'm sorry."

"I told you I'm alright, there's no need to apologize."

"Yea, but it hurt back at the slave traders too, when I was applying the crest, didn't it? I could tell it hurt by your face, you were holding in the pain though."

"It did hurt, but I chose to get it, so it's fine."

"That's good."

"Now that you mentioned the crest, what is it exactly?"

"It's my house's name."

"Vanity."

"Vanity?"

"Yea, Vanity, your master's surname. That's what is imprinted on your neck."

Leon turned Luna around to face him, he did a noble bow.

"Greetings Miss Luna, I am Demon Lord Leon Vanity, ruling lord of the southernmost demon territory Azeron. From now on you'll be in my care and  I'll be in yours."

Leon picked his head up and smiled almost like he did all that as a joke. Luna was really flustered she got so embarrassed she covered her red face.

"Haha, your so cute Luna, I'm glad I got you as my reward."

He pulled her hands away putting them on his shoulders. He then held her waist, almost as if they were ready to dance. Leon then looked deep into Luna's eyes.

"Now I have someone I can be close with."

"You're so sweet, master."

Luna suddenly hugged Leon, he was somewhat surprised, and eventually gave in to the hug just the same after a second.

Leon's mind was in complete bliss. Having Luna in his grasp with his eyes closed was heaven.

———

-Later that day-

"How long till we get to your territory, master?"

The two were now both sitting on the bed, Luna's back was now against Leon's chest. Leon's hands were held around her.

"We'll be there shortly, just a day or two."

Leon leaned his head down and lightly kissed Luna's neck like before. His hand slowly made its way down her slender back.

He took off his shirt quickly and gently took off Luna's. She covers her breasts and leaned forward putting a stop to his touching, she became embarrassed and ashamed.

"Why are you hiding?"

"I, I don't have a body, that's good enough for the master to look at, and what about the others, what if they see."

Leon noticed them and felt them before, but now he could see Luna's scars. Like lashes were dealt a hundred times, some were faint and others not.

Leon pulled Luna's body to him, caressing her.

"It's fine if you have a few scars, it's not your fault. You're still lovely in my eyes.

"Also, the others are fast asleep, and you're not going to be making any loud noises tonight."

He spoke in her ear quietly.

"I'm going to savor that moment when we're alone and ready. What I'm doing with you now is just so we can get used to each other."

......

-Next room over-

"What are they doing?"

"Why is she accepting his advances like that?"

"Why did he bow before though, is she important or something, does she have a social standing in society?

"No she's like us, she has a slave crest now too, that proves it."

"She's really lucky, she gets a nice master."

"She may seem lucky, but she's still like us, even if he may seem nice at first, he could change his ways any second and become like those bastards, wh. Who ..."

Tears started falling from the girl's eyes.

"Let's just hope that demon lord Leon is different and that girl out there doesn't suffer the same fate as we did."

Mable was still asleep so was another girl, but some of the others were gossiping as they watched Leon and Luna through a crack in the door.

The girls eventually stopped after a little while, it had gotten late for both the girls and the pair in the other room.

....

-Leon's room-

Leon was satisfied, Luna in his arms made him fall asleep pretty fast. Luna, on the other hand, was still awake.

'Master... being next to you is so nice.'

Eventually, Leon's warmth caused Luna to doze off in his nice embrace.

- to be continued