The cracked, dry land stretched endlessly in every direction. Alexander stood in the middle of the barren wasteland, his footsteps echoing through the silence. The air was thick and still, the night sky above him barely illuminated by a few dim, flickering stars. The ground beneath his feet was scattered with remnants of broken bones and long-forgotten debris. The scene was eerily familiar to him, as though he had walked this desolate path many times before.
"Here we go again..." Alexander muttered under his breath, he rubbed his thumb over the ring, feeling its cold, metallic surface, its dark, ominous glow. "What do you want to show me this time?"
As if in answer to his question, a low rumbling sound broke the silence, and Alexander's head snapped up. A thick cloud of smoke began to materialize in the distance, rolling toward him like a wave of darkness. From within the smoke, pairs of red, glowing eyes slowly emerged, glaring menacingly at him. His heart pounded in his chest as the eyes grew closer, and instinctively, Alexander reached within himself to summon his magic, but his body felt strangely empty.
"Shit!" he cursed under his breath. With no magic at his disposal, he had no choice but to run. His feet pounded against the hard ground as he sprinted in the opposite direction, desperately trying to put distance between himself and the approaching creatures.
As it approached, the dense mist began to dissipate, revealing a pack of grotesque creatures: Blood creatures. He had encountered them before in this strange dream-like place. Half-formed monsters, caught between life and death, with glowing red eyes and twisted bodies that retained only the bloodthirsty instincts of vampires. They consumed everything in their path, draining the life force from any living thing they encountered.
As the blood creatures advanced, the sky above began to change. Dark clouds swirled overhead, and from the heavens, red rain began to fall. The drops hit the ground like nectar, instantly revitalizing the dead earth, causing it to tremble with newfound life. The cracked land soaked up the rain greedily, and even the blood creatures stopped in their tracks, lifting their heads toward the sky with open mouths, drinking in the rain as though it were the elixir of life.
Alexander felt it too. The magic within him was returning, flowing back into his body with each drop that touched his skin. He stopped running and turned to face the creatures. Taking advantage of the blood creatures' distraction, Alexander raised his hand, summoning a fireball, and with a swift motion, hurled it toward the creatures.
The fireball exploded on impact, sending the creatures' bodies scattering into ash and smoke. Just as the last of the blood creatures vanished into the air, Alexander's vision began to blur, and the world around him started to fade.
"Mmm..." Alexander's eyes fluttered open, he was no longer in the barren land but lying in a soft bed, the familiar scent of the room comforting.
His vision was blurry at first, but as it cleared, he saw Lira's delicate face hovering above him. She was close, her delicate features calm but focused, her lips gently pressed against his. A surge of energy was being transmitted from her mouth to his body, a warm and vibrant force that seemed to awaken every cell within him.
Lira was dressed in a silver silk vacuum pajamas with a low neckline, glimmered faintly in the dim light, the fabric clinging to her curves. From this angle, Alexander could make out the smooth and fair skin of her chest, the gentle swell of her breasts, and the tantalizing hint of pink nipples. The sight was enough to make him feel a surge of warmth in his chest.
He hesitated, then slowly wrapped his arms around Lira, pulling her closer as he deepened the kiss. The change in his response was not lost on Lira. Her eyes fluttered open, tears glistening in their corners as she met the intensity of his gaze. She took the initiative to cater to this kiss, her lips parting slightly, guiding his tongue into her mouth with a tenderness that belied the power that flowed between them.
Their tongues danced and entwined around the red crystal in Lira's mouth, which seemed to pulse with their shared energy. It was as if the very air around them was charged with their connection, the room filled with a palpable electricity.
After a long while, Lira pulled away, her head coming to rest on Alexander's chest. She looked up at him affectionately, her voice soft and teasing as she spoke. "You finally woke up. You've been sleeping for two days. You can't even absorb the crystal yourself."
Alexander blinked, still trying to process her words. Two days? He had been out for that long? "Sorry, I made you worry," Alexander murmured, his voice hoarse.
"Hiss!" As he shifted his weight, a sharp pain shot through his side, reminding him of the injuries he had sustained during the duel. He winced, gritting his teeth as he tried to sit up.
Lira, sensing his discomfort, gently pushed him back down onto the bed. "Don't move," she said softly, though her tone carried a note of firmness. "You've only just regained your magic, but your body still needs time to heal."
"Roderick?" Alexander asked, his voice laced with concern.
"Dead," Lira replied simply, her fingers gently stroking Alexander's cheek. "But don't worry," she added, sensing the unspoken concern in his eyes. "Mistress Seraphine is coordinating at the academy. Right now, your task is to recuperate well."
Alexander nodded, leaned back into the pillows, and lay beside her, his heart swelled with a surge of affection for her—and something more. His gaze drifting to Lira's enchanting body, the silk of her pajamas doing little to conceal her curves. Her scent filled the room, a mixture of lavender and something uniquely her own, and the heat in his chest began to spread to the rest of his body.
Without thinking, his hand passed through the pajamas on its own, sliding over Lira's smooth, soft skin until it rested on and gently cupped her supple chest.
Lira gasped, rolling her eyes at him, but she quickly recovered, a playful smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Pervert," She shifted slightly, as she felt the heat of his touch and his burning penis on her legs.
"You haven't recovered yet," But there was no reprimand in her tone, her voice low and sultry. "You can only do this step!"
With a sly smile, she leaned in closer, her lips brushing against his ear which sent a shiver down his spine. Then she leaned her head closer, her lips finding his once more in a tender kiss, the energy between them continued to flow. The room was filled with a sense of peace, a calm that was only broken by the soft sounds of their breathing and the occasional whispered word of affection.