On that night, Lucan Ironfist, a priest in the town, was finishing his evening bath in the temple. The town was peacefully quiet, with only the gentle hum of insects filling the air. The night felt like any other—calm, serene, and predictable—until he heard a faint, almost inaudible sound at the temple door.
Curiosity pricked at him, breaking the tranquil rhythm of his thoughts. Lucan opened the door and was startled to find Maris standing before him. The moonlight bathed her in a soft glow, highlighting the striking beauty of her pink hair that cascaded like a waterfall over her shoulders. Her light blue eyes sparkled with excitement, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.
"Maris…? What are you doing here?" Lucan asked, his voice was full of surprise. "It's so late, and you should be at the academy…"
Maris took a step forward, her voice a hushed whisper. "I couldn't wait to see you, Lucan-sama. I came back for summer vacation, but I didn't want to arrive during the day… You know how the townspeople would react."
Lucan understood immediately. Maris was beloved in town, and her arrival would have caused a commotion during the day. By coming at night, she could avoid the overwhelming attention and the crowds that would inevitably gather around her.
"Maris… you could have told someone. It's dangerous to travel alone at night," Lucan said, though he knew the words were more out of habit than real concern. In truth, few in this world were capable of harming Maris.
Maris smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes, and took another step closer. Her scent—an intoxicating mix of wildflowers and something uniquely hers—filled Lucan's senses, wrapping around him like a warm, comforting embrace. Without warning, she closed the distance between them, wrapping her arms around his neck, her body pressing firmly against his. Her warmth seeped into him, making him acutely aware of the softness of her curves—the delicate swell of her breasts against his chest, the gentle pressure of her thighs against his legs.
Lucan's breath hitched as Maris's legs wrapped around his waist, her entire being clinging to him with a fervent need that sent shivers down his spine. His hands instinctively moved to support her, one arm around her back, the other resting under her thighs, feeling the smooth skin beneath her dress.
"Maris…" he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. The closeness, the scent, the warmth—it overwhelmed him, filling his heart with an unspoken longing. He had been close to Maris before, had held her, comforted her, even shared a bed with her and took bath together naked before, but this… this was different. The intensity of her presence, the way her body molded against his, the way her breath hitched as she held him tight—it was almost too much.
Maris's voice was soft, almost a purr, as she spoke into his ear, her breath warm against his skin. "I've missed you, Lucan-sama. I couldn't wait to be with you again."
Lucan's heart raced, the steady calm he usually maintained slipping away as he became acutely aware of every sensation—the way her thighs squeezed his waist, the way her breasts pressed against him, the way her fingers played with the hair at the nape of his neck. It was as if her presence alone had the power to unravel him, to strip away the layers of restraint he had built around himself.
Her power… This is really too much...
Lucan tried to act calm, to maintain his composure, but he wasn't. This never happened before, even when he had bathed with her, slept beside her, and shared countless intimate moments like this. He never thought, never lost himself in the way he did now.
Maris shifted slightly, her body sliding against his in a way that made his pulse quicken. Her scent, her warmth, her touch—it all worked together to cloud his mind, making it difficult to think of anything but the woman in his arms. Her legs tightened around his waist, her thighs firm and warm against his sides, and Lucan felt the full weight of her trust, her desire to be close to him.
"Lucan-sama…" she whispered, her voice laced with a mix of playfulness and something deeper, something more profound. Her lips brushed against his ear, sending a shiver through him that he couldn't suppress.
Maris's saint power works on how happiness. The more happy she is, the more power she can use. Moreover, her power can do anything. There were no limit to her power beside imagination.
The reason Lucan was effected must be because Maris wants this and her saint power automatically manifest new power or skill that made Lucan like this.
He was feeling as if she was reaching into the depths of his soul, pulling at the strings of his heart, making him want things he had never considered.
"Maris…" Lucan whispered her name like a prayer, his voice barely more than a breath. His hands tightened around her, pulling her closer, as if holding her any tighter could anchor him in the storm of emotions she had unleashed within him.
Maris's fingers traced the line of his jaw, her touch light and teasing, before she cupped his face in her hands, forcing him to meet her gaze. Her eyes, those stunning light blue eyes, were filled with an intensity that took his breath away. "Lucan-sama, I'm here now. We can be together this summer like how we used."
Her words, simple yet charged with meaning, sent a jolt through him.
Lucan could only nod, his voice lost to the emotions swirling within him. The world outside the temple faded into nothingness, leaving only the two of them, wrapped in the warmth of each other's embrace, their hearts beating in perfect harmony.
"Welcome back, Maris," Lucan finally whispered, his voice filled with warmth, and affection.
"I'm back, Lucan-sama," Maris replied, her voice full of joy as she nuzzled against him, her body soft and pliant in his arms. She felt safe, secure, and content, knowing that she was exactly where she wanted to be—in the arms of the man she cherished above all else.