Rin's heart raced as she sat before Elmistrae, the succubus's piercing gaze fixed upon her.
"So, uh, Alea -the girl you saw earlier- found another spell in that book of hers that let her see people's Essence. And, uh, yeah, she saw mine moving into other people."
The weight of their conversation coiled tightly in Rin's chest as she awaited Elmistrae's response.
"How does this ability of yours work?" Elmistrae inquired, her voice soft and measured.
"It's passive," she explained, her words cautious yet resolute. "In theory, it should be working as we speak."
That made Elmistrae's eyes widen.
"Truly?"
"Yeah. Though, uh, it's worth noting that, when it comes to... people who aren't human," she gestured at Elmistrae, "it's more of an even exchange. I-I don't know if I can give you enough to help or whatever, but I figure it's worth a shot."
Elmistrae nodded thoughtfully, her amethyst eyes alight with interest.
Leaning forward slightly, she pondered aloud:
"Is there a way we could perhaps expedite the process?"
Rin furrowed her brow in contemplation, considering Elmistrae's suggestion.
After a moment's pause, she met the succubus's gaze and hesitantly posed a question of her own.
"How would we do that?"
A mischievous smile tugged at the corners of Elmistrae's lips as she leaned in closer, her breath ghosting over Rin's skin.
"A kiss," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "It would pull some of your Essence without harming you too much."
Rin wasn't sure what she expected, but it hadn't been that.
She couldn't deny the flutter of nervous excitement that coursed through her veins, mingling with a potent blend of curiosity and apprehension.
She did, however, have one question.
"Why don't you do that more often then?" Rin blurted out before she could stop herself, her words tinged with a mixture of curiosity and confusion. "I mean, if just a kiss is enough..."
"I never said it would be 'enough', dear," Elmistrae's expression softened, a wistful smile gracing her features. "While kisses can indeed draw Essence, the amount extracted is not sufficient to sustain me," she explained, her voice tinged with a hint of melancholy. "But in this case, it's merely a test to see if your ability works as we hope."
Rin nodded slowly, processing Elmistrae's words.
Despite her lingering uncertainty, a sense of determination welled up within her.
If there was a chance that her ability could help Elmistrae, she was willing to try.
"Alright," Rin agreed, her voice steady despite the nervous flutter in her chest. "Let's do it."
Rin watched with a mix of anticipation and trepidation as Elmistrae shifted closer, her movements graceful and deliberate.
The succubus's expression was a kaleidoscope of emotions, each one flickering across her features in rapid succession.
Excitement, skepticism, and hope all danced in her amethyst eyes, easy to see, Rin felt.
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Rin reminded herself that this was merely an experiment. Science! A mere scientific inquiry into the workings of her passive ability.
Yet, despite her attempts to rationalize the situation, her heart still pounded erratically in her chest, the adrenaline coursing through her veins.
As Elmistrae knelt before her, Rin couldn't help but feel a sense of awe.
The succubus's mere presence seemed to command attention, her aura both alluring and enigmatic.
She wondered how much of that pull Rin felt was magical in nature.
Swallowing her nerves, Rin met Elmistrae's gaze, steeling herself for what was to come.
With gentle hands, Elmistrae cupped Rin's face, her touch warm against Rin's skin.
Rin's breath caught in her throat as she felt a subtle shift in the air, a faint ripple of energy tingling along her skin. It was as if something was stirring within her.
Elmistrae noticed, brows ticking up.
"Do you notice anything?" Elmistrae's voice was soft, laced with curiosity as she studied Rin intently.
Rin nodded slowly, her eyes wide with wonder.
"Yeah," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. "I noticed... something."
[By the Divine, I feel like my heart is going to burst out of my chest.]
A look of surprise flickered across Elmistrae's features, her eyebrows arching in astonishment.
"Remarkable," she murmured, her voice tinged with awe. "Most humans don't possess such sensitivity to the movement of Essence at this stage. You really are different."
With a newfound sense of determination, Elmistrae leaned in closer, closing the distance between them until their lips were mere inches apart.
Rin's heart thundered in her chest, the anticipation building to a crescendo as she braced herself for what was to come.
And then, it happened.
Their lips met in a tender, fleeting kiss, a rush of warmth flooding through Rin's veins at the contact.
It was as if a current of energy surged between them. Rin could feel it. Something was leaving her.
Rin's senses were overwhelmed by the sensation, every nerve ending ablaze with a potent blend of pleasure and exhilaration.
For a fleeting instant, time seemed to stand still as Rin lost herself in the sensation, her mind awash with a whirlwind of emotions.
And then, as quickly as it had begun, the kiss ended, leaving Rin breathless and exhilarated, her senses reeling from the intensity of the experience.
Elmistrae breathed in and out slowly.
Now, she was looking back at Rin with the same wonder Rin had in her eyes previously.
"... How are you feeling?" Elmistrae asked.
"You're asking me?" Rin countered with a quiet chuckle. "How are you feeling? Did it work?"
"It did," Elmistrae nodded. "However, I need you to answer that."
"Why?"
Rin saw Elmistrae's throat bounce as she swallowed hard.
"Because I want to kiss you again, but I do not want to hurt you."
[Oh.]
A new feeling had popped up in her eyes.
Lust.
"So," Elmistrae continued, "are you alright?"
"I am."
And, pretty much the instant she said this, Elmistrae crashed her lips onto Rin's again.