Outside the sublimation pagoda, Oresus held Kali's hand, even without the lust, their relationship seemed to have grown closer.
[You were beautiful in heat.]
He whispered to her ears in a teasing voice. Her whole face blushed in embarrassment. She tried to get away from him but he didn't release her hand, instead, he pulled her toward him. Hugging her body, he used his left hand to gently arrange the strands of brown hair that fell on her face, revealing the azure coloured eyes looking back at him.
[You were taking advantage of me.]
She answered as she bit her lips. Feeling his hands on her waist, and remembering him touching her butt, she tried to get out of his embrace.
Only to be surprised when his lips attacked her once again. She was only surprised for a moment, before answering in kind.
When their lips separated after a long moment, she remained in his embrace, placing her head on his shoulder.
[You truly like me?]
They couldn't see each other's face but their bodies were so close, they could hear their partner's heartbeat.
[How about that for an answer.]
He said, before exchanging with her another kiss filled with emotion. They stared at each other eyes before she retreated, shaking her head.
[No, I want to hear you say it. Are you truly with me because you think I'm beautiful or that I suit you? Or do you have something you want to tell me?]
Noticing her seriousness, he sighed lightly. He could see affection, maybe even love in her eyes, but it was mixed with worry and doubt.
[When I first saw you, I wanted to bed you. You were truly dazzling, I was immediately attracted. It was only after talking and getting to know you that I started to like you for who you were. I really enjoy spending time with you. I really want to conquer your heart.]
After voicing his last word, he took a step forward to kiss her once again.
He could see her worries melt away, boldness and energy returning to her being as she aggressively kissed him back as if trying to eat him whole.
When they returned to their house, standing next to each other. Castiane
immediately noticed something, her face grimaced as she looked at Kali in revulsion.
[I knew this slut was up to something when she left with you. So did you two have fun outside, while I was left alone, nursing your other woman, you remember that one right, the one you took away to satisfy your perverse desires.]
She shouted with anger at both of them, pointing her hand at Oresus as if condemning him for being unfaithful.
When being stared at coldly by him, Castiane gave a laugh.
[Eh, getting rid of me now that you're surrounded by women? Bastard, I only agreed to follow you, not take care of the women you leave behind!]
Only now did he seems to realise something was wrong. While Kali went to fight Castiane for her tone and insults, Oresus went to the dormitory.
Once he opened the door, he immediately noticed something wrong with her body.
She was panting as if suffering from an illness. Her face was red, and she kept turning around in the bed.
While taking her pulse, he frowned lightly.
Her state seemed to have improved after he entered the room, but that was what worried him the most.
He still held her wrist in his hand when she abruptly opened her eyes. Both were dilated, yet her face directly faced him.
She gripped his arm, trying to get up with difficulty.
[How do you feel?]
She stared blankly at him for a few seconds, before a flush permeated her face.
[I feel hot, hot. I'm burning.]
Her hand gently fell from his arm, touching his abdomen, before her fingers landed on his trousers.
[Young master, please help Maia get better. I want it, please give it to Maia.]
She spoke in a whisper, as if ashamed of saying it out loud. The flush spread to her neck and ears, making her skin even more sensitive.
[Maia, you can't. You are sick, wait a minute, I'll...]
With a speed he didn't think she was capable of, she threw herself at him. Her voluptuous chest pressing against him, her blonde hair flying everywhere, until she tightly pressed her lips against his.
The kiss was awkward but filled with a fiery passion.
In an effort to catch her before she fell, he placed his hands under her round butt.
She moaned as if electrified, when she felt all his fingers grasp her buttocks through the dress, she gave such a lewd moan, the bulge in his trousers became bigger and harder.
She hugged him tightly, using her tongue and lips to suck as much saliva as she could.
Oresus had realised that she was under the influence of something, but still kissed her back, teaching her how to kiss as he hands continued to grope her butt.
They spent long minutes in this position, their lips stuck together in a sensual outburst of passion until he noticed her brown eyes pleading him for more. Her hands trying to reach his groin, as if she knew that it would make her feel better.
He lowered her body and arranged her clothes, her eyes glued to his face, waiting for him to make his move.
When he placed his hand on her stomach, she closed her eyes, letting out a moan, expecting him to go further down.
When she realised he wasn't moving, she peeked at him. Only to see his hand being covered in a transparent energy, she could see the energy moving through the air before entering her body.
Slowly, the heat and lust inside her cooled down. Her brown eyes returned to normal, she looked blankly at him, before blushing furiously.
[Hmm, you don't cultivate so the energy won't stay long in your body. Here, take those pills whenever you feel the heat coming back, it should be okay for now.]
He handed her a bottle of tiny pills seemingly from out of nowhere, before backing away.
[T...thank...you.]
She lowered her head to stare at the ground, remembering everything that happened. Her tongue unconsciously moved to lick her lips, before realising what she was doing.
[Don't overthink it, you weren't in your normal state.]
He said, patting her head gently to arrange the wild golden strands of hair.
He found Castiane alone in the kitchen, drinking tea.
After asking about Kali whereabouts, she answered that she went out with her mercenary friends.
He didn't seem to worry as the effect of the bell was still present even on his mind.
After taking a walk in the tunnel to get a grasp on the surrounding, he discovered that money had no value here. Only coupons distributed by 'working' could be redeemed for items and food.
Apart from the sublimation pagoda, you could also earn coupons by trading or accomplishing the task of other residents and cultists.
He learnt that Antheia, the black-haired girl he met in the sublimation pagoda was actually a priestess of the chaos beast.
Both Mindhi and Antheia were priestesses and member of the temple of chaos. They could give out tasks to people, though failing to accomplish them would result in punishment from the chaos beast itself.
When they were about to have their dinner, bought with the food tickets Oresus received by participating in the training class, Kali suddenly came over.
After taking a seat at the table in the dining room under Castiane's annoyed look, she opened her mouth to speak.
[I had a talk with my team. I think I'll take a break from my mercenary career for a while. After reaching Terrouine's city, I'll stay with you until you grow bored of me.]
She announced to everyone around the table, but it was obvious it was meant for Oresus.
[I'm already bored of you, deadly bored, I'm pissed to see you, can you disappear already?]
Castiane didn't seem to care about who was the receiver and what was the intent of the sender. She only mocked Kali with irritation all over her face.
[Castiane, she'll stay with me for a long time, while you only agreed to remain for 2 years. Let's try to get along until then.]
He tried to diffuse the tense mood, but Castiane wasn't over yet.
She had already started eating, seemingly not bothered by anything or anyone.
[Her? Stay with you? Hmph, this kind of cheap woman, it won't be me going before her, I can assure you of that. Who knows what kind of scheme she has in mind.]
[Castiane!]
[You bitch, all you can do is mock and complain over and over. I'm over my head with you! 3 months, I stayed for 3 months with you in a carriage, and all I could hear was complaints and insults, wash your crude mouth Elf! We aren't all barbarians like you.]
Oresus appeared surprised by her outburst, he wasn't used to see her like this.
[Humph, wait till someone kidnaps you from your home and locks you up in a smelly carriage for 3 months, we'll see if you can still remain polite and calm.]
They argued for the whole meal, never running out of arguments.
Maia ate silently, not paying attention to what was happening around her.
Oresus only tried to calm them both at the beginning, after a few minutes, he just let them do what they want, no longer bothering to listen to them.
That night was the first time in a long while since he slept in a bed. Even though the bed was hard, he still had enough space to stretch his limbs.
After falling asleep in the dormitory with the girls around him, he dreamt of his past. Of what he used to be before entering this world, of his family and the disastrous events that happened right before he was transported to this world.
A single tear came out of his eyes, rolling down his cheek, before being caught by a finger.
Castiane stepped back from him, under the intense stare of Kali from her bed.
[Silly man, how can you sleep so peacefully in this place. Can't you feel the despair and profanity in the air? Or can you?]
She returned to her bed, seeking sleep with unease in her stomach. Ever since entering the cave, she felt her connexion with nature being blocked.
Until morning, she didn't manage to fall asleep, she was the first to leave the dormitory.