But her words were silenced, as Alexander closed the distance between them, his lips meeting hers in a sudden, intense and rough kiss.
Alexander pressed against her with a force that startled them both, he stretched out his tongue and pried open Lira's mouth forcefully. His tongue sought hers and entangled with each other.
"Mmmh ... " She moans softly into his mouth, the intensity of the moment caught Lira off guard. After reacted, Lira stretched her hand to the back of Alexander's head and wanted to cast a sleeping magic. But her magic—normally so strong, so controlled—slipped away, leaving her powerless. It was as though the kiss was drawing her energy, just as the black fire had consumed the flames earlier.
Then she rose her hand to his shoulder as if to push him away—but she didn't, her limbs were weak, and even her own body seemed to respond, not with magic, but with a strange, unfamiliar sensation.
As Alexander's kiss deepened, a strange weakness that spread through her limbs, her magic drain away, her thoughts grew hazy, her hands instinctively wrapping around his back. She returned the kiss, her fingers tangling in his hair as she pulled him closer, and his hand unconsciously grasped the soft and firm breasts.
The heat of their closeness, the intensity of the moment, consumed them both. The room spun, and the only thing she could focus on was him—his warmth, his touch, his presence.
For a few breathless moments, they remained locked in the kiss, the room around them forgotten. Slowly, Alexander became aware of what he was doing, and with a sharp intake of breath, His mind cleared. He lifted his head, and their lips parted, leaving a thin thread of saliva between them that broke as he moved. He stood up quickly, stumbling backward.
Lira remained on the floor, her breathing shallow and her cheeks flushed, her eyes half-lidded and dazed, a look of dazed confusion in her eyes. Her hair was disheveled, and her dress had slipped slightly, one of the straps falling off her shoulder, baring snow-white skin.
She raised a hand to her lips, still feeling the heat from the kiss, and then let out a breathless laugh.
"I… I'm so sorry," Alexander stammered, his voice thick with guilt, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "I don't know what came over me. I… I couldn't control myself."
Lira slowly sat up, brushing a lock of hair from the corner of her mouth. Her cheeks were flushed, her hair falling in loose curls over her shoulders. Then she reached for the strap of her dress and pulled it back onto her shoulder with a practiced motion.
"It's alright," she said, her voice soft but teasing, her eyes sparkled with amusement. "It wasn't entirely unpleasant."
"Maybe the next time, you should ask first." She stood up, smoothing out her dress, with a teasing smile.
"Yeah… next time." The room fell into a comfortable silence, the charged atmosphere slowly dissipating. Alexander rubbed the back of his neck, still unsure how to respond to what had just happened. His thoughts were a jumbled mess, a mix of lingering guilt and a strange, new feeling he couldn't quite place.
Lira turned back to her notes, her expression once again calm and composed, though the faint blush on her cheeks remained.
"Just now, I noticed something just now," Lira began, her voice calm but curious as she tilted her head slightly in Alexander's direction. "When we kissed, it felt like you were… absorbing my magic."
Alexander, who had been staring absently at the floor, snapped his head up at her words, his brows furrowed in confusion. "Absorbing your magic? What do you mean?"
"It's a strange sensation, but I could feel my magic being drawn into you, which made me weak." Lira leaned back in her chair, tapping her chin thoughtfully, a habit she had when deep in thought. "I wonder if… the lack of magic causes you to lose control? Or maybe it's why your dark power runs wild?"
Alexander frowned, mulling over the implications of her observation. It wasn't the first time something like this had happened. His mind flashed back to his encounter with Liliana—the lack of power, the loss of control, and the darkness that had surged within him. Now, looking back, the parallels were becoming clearer.
"That's my guess," Lira said, leaning forward slightly. "It could be that when your magic reserves are too low, the dark power inside you takes over, and you start losing control. Without enough magic to keep it in check, it runs wild."
"It's very likely," he replied, his tone tinged with contemplation.
Lira's gaze softened for a moment, her curiosity piqued. "But that begs the question, Alexander—how have you been replenishing your magic since entering the academy?"
Alexander blinked at her, clearly puzzled. "Replenishing? What do you mean? I didn't know I needed to replenish it."
"You don't know?" Lira asked, her brows lifting in surprise. "You haven't been using energy crystals at all?"
Alexander scratched the back of his head, his embarrassment creeping in. "I've just been eating food to recover. I assumed magic replenished itself over time, like… , like stamina or something."
Lira stared at him for a moment, her eyes widening in disbelief. "Wait—You've been relying on eating? The whole time? No wonder your magic is going haywire!" She let out a small sigh, shaking her head. "You've never used energy crystals?"
Energy crystals? He had heard of them in passing, but no one had ever explained their significance to him. "Uh, yeah?" he admitted sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck. "Honestly, I've been broke for most of my time here. I was practically broke a few days ago."
Lira let out a soft sigh, half amused and half exasperated. "Alexander, no wonder your magic levels are always so low! Food alone is incredibly inefficient when it comes to replenishing magic. Most of the energy in food is used to keep your body alive, not fuel your magic. That's why most mages use energy crystals."
Lira pulled a small, delicate crystal from her pocket, holding it between her fingers. It was pink, perfectly transparent, and shimmered faintly under the light, the pink energy inside it sparkles like a clear stream.
Energy crystals provide a more efficient way to replenish magic, which is a high-density energy body in the form of crystal and has three primary types—pink crystals, red crystals, and blood-red crystals. Each one has a different level of potency.
Pink crystal can be further divided into light pink crystal and pink crystal, are the most common and affordable, costing around 1,000 to 2,000 credits depending on their purity. It is the main type circulating in the market now, and the mineral veins are rich in various places.
Red crystal has a small output, with a value of about 100,000 credits, and is rarely circulated. Currently, only the upper echelons of the empire and the upper nobles have stocks. It is said that it also has the effect of delaying aging, so it is very valuable and also enjoys the reputation of red gold.
Blood-red crystals are far more valuable and scarce, though… well, they're practically unattainable unless you're the empire's emperor. The last time the blood-red crystal appeared was 50 years ago, which caused a sensation throughout the empire.