The next day, Lucian awoke to the early morning light filtering through the curtains of his chamber. The events of the previous day replayed in his mind—the battle, the explosion, and the goblins' defeat. The weight of his newfound power still pressed heavily on his thoughts. But before he could dwell on it further, a servant arrived with a summons from his father.
Lucian dressed quickly and made his way to his father's study, the grand hallways of the estate echoing with his footsteps. When he entered, he found his father, Baron Lionhart, standing by the window, gazing out over the estate grounds. The baron turned as Lucian approached, a rare smile of approval on his face.
"Lucian," Baron Lionhart began, his voice measured, "I've heard from Garret about your performance in the culling. You did well, son. The destruction of the goblin camp was a significant blow to their forces."
Lucian bowed his head slightly. "Thank you, Father. It was a team effort."
Baron Lionhart nodded but his expression grew more serious. "Garret also mentioned an explosive mana stone that you used—an E-grade one, if I'm not mistaken. Tell me about it."
Lucian took a deep breath and began to explain. "I've been experimenting with enchantments, focusing on enhancing the power within mana stones. The E-grade stone was one of my more advanced works. I infused it with a high concentration of explosive mana, intended for maximum impact. I wasn't entirely sure of its potency until I used it in the battle."
The baron listened carefully, his eyes narrowing as he considered Lucian's words. "Such power is dangerous, Lucian, especially in the hands of someone still mastering their craft. While your skill is impressive, you must refrain from using these stones in public until you've honed your abilities further. The consequences could be catastrophic if something were to go wrong."
Lucian nodded, understanding the gravity of his father's warning. "I'll be more cautious, Father. I'll continue to work on my enchantments in private."
"Good," the baron replied. "In the meantime, I want you to stockpile a few of these stones for me. We'll keep them as a last resort, for emergencies. And I expect you to continue refining your techniques. If we're going to use these stones, I want to be certain they're reliable."
"Yes, Father," Lucian agreed, feeling a mix of pride and responsibility.
With their discussion concluded, Lucian spent the rest of the day working on his enchantments. He retrieved several F-grade stones he had taken from goblin corpses and began infusing them with various types of mana—nothing as powerful as the E-grade stone, but still potent enough to be valuable on the market. He meticulously inscribed each stone with runes, channeling his mana with careful precision.
As evening approached, Lucian decided to sell some of the enchanted stones in the town market. He placed the finished stones in his pouch and set off, making his way through the bustling streets. The market was crowded, full of traders and adventurers eager to buy and sell their wares. Lucian navigated the throng with practiced ease, but as he turned down a quieter alley, he felt a sudden tug at his waist.
A quick glance confirmed his worst fear—his mana stone pouch was gone. He spun around just in time to see a hot female adventurer darting away, the pouch clutched in her hand.
"Stop!" Lucian called out, his voice sharp with alarm. But the adventurer didn't stop. Instead, she activated her mana, her body surging with energy as she bolted down the alley.
Lucian gave chase, his heart pounding with a mix of anger and fear. He couldn't afford to lose those stones, especially not the one he had been testing earlier—a stone infused with a particularly volatile type of mana. He had only experimented with it once, but he knew it was risky.
As the chase continued in an alley, the adventurer glanced back, a smirk on her lips. But as she did, her fingers accidentally brushed against the surface of the lusty mana stone inside the pouch. In an instant, the stone's enchantment activated, sending a wave of heated energy coursing through her.
She stumbled, her confident stride faltering as the effects of the stone took hold. Lucian caught up with her just as she turned to face him, her expression a mix of surprise and desire. The stone's power radiated between them, its influence pulling them together in an almost magnetic way.
Lucian reached out to grab the pouch from her, but as his hand closed around it, the energy surged into him as well. His breath caught as the enchantment wrapped around his senses, heightening his awareness of the adventurer in front of him. The alley seemed to narrow, the world around them fading as the stone's power compelled them toward each other.
Before Lucian could fully comprehend what was happening, they were locked in an intense, public display of foreplay, their bodies pressed together by the stone's influence. The heat between them was overwhelming, their movements instinctual as the enchantment drove them both to the edge.
The sounds of the market faded into the background, leaving only the pulsing energy of the stone and the undeniable pull between them. Lucian's thoughts were a blur, half-focused on the urgency of the situation and half-lost in the haze of desire that had overtaken him.
"Yes," he breathed, his lips meeting hers in a fierce kiss. Their bodies molded together, the intensity of their need fueling the embrace. The world around them faded away, leaving only the two of them and the pulsing energy of the lusty stone.
They stumbled deeper into the alley, their hands exploring each other with feverish urgency. Lucian's fingers tangled in her hair, while hers roamed beneath his cloak, mapping the contours of his body. The sounds of their ragged breaths mingled with the distant noises of the market, a backdrop to their desperate dance.
"We can't... not here," Lucian gasped, breaking the kiss. The woman pressed her forehead against his, her eyes glazed with desire.
"Why not?" she challenged, her hand sliding down to grip him firmly. Lucian shuddered, the sensation overwhelming.
"Because... it's too dangerous," he managed to reply, though his words lacked conviction. The woman chuckled, her confidence unshaken.
"Life is dangerous," she countered, her lips tracing a path down his neck. "And this... this feels like living."
Lucian closed his eyes, his self-control hanging by a thread. The woman's lips found his again, her tongue delving into his mouth. The taste of her was intoxicating, driving him deeper into the abyss of their shared desire.
Their clothes became a barrier, and with a growl of frustration, Lucian tore at his cloak, tossing it aside. The woman's hands were equally relentless, her leathers discarded with a flick of her wrist. Naked and exposed, they clung to each other, the cool night air a stark contrast to the heat raging within them.
Lucian's hands cupped her breasts, his thumbs grazing her hardened nipples. The woman arched into his touch, her head thrown back in a silent plea. Her hands roamed lower, finding his erection, stroking him with expert precision.
"Please," Lucian begged, his control slipping away. The woman smiled, her eyes alight with wicked delight.
"Say it," she demanded, her voice commanding. Lucian hesitated, his pride warring with his need.
"Fuck me," he growled, the words torn from his soul. The woman's response was immediate, her body lowering onto his, taking him inside her in one swift motion. They both cried out, the sensation of being joined too much, too intense.
They moved together, their bodies a symphony of flesh and friction. Lucian's hands gripped her hips, guiding her rhythm, while hers clawed at his back, leaving trails of passion. The alley echoed with their moans and gasps, the world outside forgotten.
"Harder," the woman panted, her nails digging into his shoulders. Lucian obliged, thrusting deeper, faster, the pleasure mounting with each stroke. Their bodies glistened with sweat, the air thick with the scent of their hormones.
Lucian felt the peak approaching, his release building like a storm. The woman matched his intensity, her own climax nearing. With a final surge of power, they shattered together, their cries mingling in the night.
Exhausted and sated, they collapsed against each other, their breathing slowly returning to normal. The lusty stone lay forgotten between them, its magic spent. Their bodies still entwined from their recent passion, lay in the dimly lit alley. The air was thick with the scent of their exertion, a heady mix of sweat and desire that seemed to linger even as their breaths steadied. Lucian's fingers traced lazy patterns on thief's back, his mind racing with the possibilities their encounter had unleashed.
"We can't keep doing this out in the open," Lucian murmured, his voice low and urgent. "Someone will catch us."
The woman lifted her head, her grey eyes sparkling with mischief. "Then what do you propose, mage? A more... secluded location?"
Lucian nodded, a plan forming in his mind. "I know a place. Let's book a room at an inn, away from prying eyes."
The woman's interest piqued, she leaned up on one elbow, her hair cascading around her like a dark halo. "Lead the way, then. I'm curious to see what else you got."