Returning to the manor, Rogue felt his joints and muscles singing with fatigue, a testament to his rigorous training in magic and combat. The events in Haradi a few weeks ago had been a revelation, one that made him realize the need to double his efforts. Since then, he had dedicated himself to magic from dawn to dusk, determined not to repeat the mistakes he made that night against Abaguo.
Recently, he had developed an exceptional affinity for elemental magic, particularly lightning. He often found himself alone, lost in the training garden with a precious grimoire at his side. There, he devoted himself to mastering this unique discipline, which allowed him to wield various electrifying attacks with a consuming passion. Under the shadow of ancient trees, he merged his essence with the storm, awakening electricity in every fiber of his being to create dazzling lightning that streaked across the sky with terrifying brilliance.
So he decided to relax in the jacuzzi, far from prying eyes, just hidden by a few leafless trees and orange bushes. "Ahhh, this is the life!" he groaned as he settled into the basin. He looked up at the azure sky with a contented air.
Still, after everything that had happened... I must admit it's great living in another world. Though I miss my mother terribly...
His reality caught up with him as a vision flooded his mind. After an image of his mother, he saw Abaguo with his usual diabolical smile, wearing a dark cloak and black clothes, standing amidst a flaming landscape.
Except when you consider the dangers of this world, of course...
His thoughts then turned to Jacob and Marshal. I hope Jacob is doing okay in Haradi... He must be so sad about Marshal's death...
"What are you doing here?!" Lana exclaimed in surprise.
Looking up, Rogue was presented with a scene both attractive and embarrassing: Lana was dressed in a scarlet swimsuit, ready to join the water with her towel in hand.
"Are you kidding me? You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?!" Rogue exclaimed.
"Not at all, I just wanted to take a bath."
"At the exact same time as me?"
"Apparently. Enough talk, get out of the jacuzzi!"
"And why should I?"
"Because it's my turn now."
"No way, I've barely been here a minute. If you're not happy, wait your turn or join me."
Blushing furiously at Rogue's suggestion, Lana hesitated. "Take a bath with you?!"
"Absolutely!"
Having no choice if she also wanted to relax, she eventually sat down at the opposite end of the jacuzzi from Rogue.
At that moment, Rogue too was overwhelmed with embarrassment. She really did it...
"Don't you dare look at me, or you'll regret it."
"Yes, yes... I may be a guy, but I'm not a pervert."
"You better not be!"
In a place where the marriage of bird songs and tranquil water once soothed spirits, the long and terrible silence that had been calming now weighed heavily in the air. Both of them were frozen in their seats, certain that this bath would be anything but relaxing.
Several minutes passed in silence before either spoke. It was Rogue, with a hesitant voice, who initiated the conversation.
"So, I wanted to ask..."
"What is it?"
"How's your brother doing?"
"You mean Kalen?"
"Yes, that's him."
She lowered her gaze, thinking of all the times she had mistreated him.
"It's quite complicated, him and me..."
"Oh?"
"Let's just say we're sort of rivals. As descendants of the Temparus, we're always trying to outdo each other to lead the family. I've always been harsh with him, even insulting him when I was angry... But... it's only very recently that I realized my mistakes... I'm still trying to redeem myself in some way."
"I see... That must have been hard for both of you."
"In a way."
"Do you regret it?"
"A bit... It ruined our relationship... Sometimes I wish I could start over, even if it means losing my powers if necessary."
Rogue sighed contentedly.
She's really adorable when she shows her true self.
In turn, Lana became curious about her colleague:
"And how about you, is your training going well?"
"It's going great. Thanks to your advice, I've been able to better control my magic and mana. I'm comfortable with the lightning of elemental magic."
"Ahh, that's good! Elemental magic is the easiest to master... But it's still remarkable that you've been able to improve."
"And when I'm ready, I'll train my personal power, like you advised last time. I think I've finally figured out what my problem is... and I believe I know how to solve it."
Intrigued, Lana leaned in a little closer to him to hear better, focusing all her attention on his next words.
"Really? And what do you think is the cause?"
With this question and the look of interest she gave him, Rogue lifted his gaze to the sky, displaying a thoughtful and reflective expression. He reminisced about everything that had happened to him up to this day, from the bullying he had endured to his confrontation with Abaguo. Deep down, he was convinced that it had nothing to do with his father, let alone the bullying. No, the only and ultimate answer had to be this, a response that Lana clearly did not expect:
"The problem... is me."
"What? What do you mean by that?"
"I never really put effort into what I was doing, and I often put myself down. Back on Earth, I never tried to step out of my comfort zone, never made an effort to reach out to others, never wanted to evolve or become a better person. That's why my personal power stalls every time. How can my power listen to me, if I don't even listen to myself?"
Lana's eyes widened in hearing his remark, which suddenly made complete sense. She was both amazed by the thoughtful way Rogue spoke about himself and deeply ashamed to realize that, indirectly, Rogue had just described Lana's current situation, which resonated within her.
"Your analysis is surprising... How did you come up with that on your own?"
"I'd say it's mainly thanks to you, Lana. With your advice, I could easily guess the root of my problem, step by step."
"Thank you, but... what I mean is... How did you do it, concretely? This kind of thing doesn't just come to you, there must have been something that pushed you to think this way, right?"
"Not really, I just revisited the key moments of my life and that's when I concluded that it came from me."
"In such a short time... That's impressive, you have my full respect."
Following her gratitude, Rogue smiled warmly, proud to have accomplished something good in his life.
"Thank you, that means a lot to me."
After their conversation ended, another silence fell, this time much more intense than before. It was hard not to notice the unusual intensity of this silence, as it revealed Lana gazing subtly in admiration at Rogue's physique. This unexpected attention caused a gentle blush to spread across Rogue's cheeks, leaving him somewhat embarrassed.
Wait a minute... Is she checking me out?!
He tried to figure out the origin of this admiration, but then remembered all the hours of sweat and effort he had devoted to intense training sessions with Yanis and Jacob. Those moments of determination and perseverance had sculpted his well-maintained body.
Oh Yanis, I love you, man! You're really a golden friend, thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything.
Rogue's heart raced with thoughts.
What do I do?! Do I make a move? Should I touch her hand? Oh man, my heart is pounding!
Gathering his courage, he slowly moved his fingers towards her hand, intending to hold it. Being mindful of the boundaries a woman might set, he was careful not to accidentally touch any other part of her body.
It was only after a long and thrilling journey through the water that he felt Lana's skin against his, making his heart race even faster. But what heightened this tense moment was the lack of reaction from the teenager, leaving the door open for Rogue.
I'm going to have a heart attack if this continues...
The world around them seemed to freeze in time, as if the turmoil of the universe had chosen to pause. Lana, avoiding Rogue's piercing gaze with palpable intensity, slowly accepted the hand he offered. Each touch of their fingers was an electrifying caress that seemed to suspend time itself.
Rogue, in this moment of shared intimacy, tenderly directed his mouth towards Lana's. Their lips drew closer, creating an electric tension in the air, while the world around them seemed to fade into oblivion, leaving only the intimacy of the present moment.
Oh my god! I'm going to do it, I'm really going to do it for the first time!
"Lana? May I?"
"I... I... I can't!"
Suddenly, she got out of the water and hurried to dry herself off.
"What's wrong?"
"Sorry, I just can't, not yet! We are just colleagues on missions, after all."
She wrapped her towel around her waist and left, her cheeks flushed with shame.
"Everyone needs their own time, I guess..."
With a gentle tilt of his head, he observed with unsettling clarity the lingering tremble of his hand, an undeniable testament to the intimacy they had just shared. Deep within, he couldn't ignore the turmoil that had shaped his personality. The shyness that had long been part of him had gradually loosened its grip without him realizing it, until this very moment. As time passed, he was transforming into an entirely new person, a clear metamorphosis happening within him.