Axel sank into the warm bathwater, letting the soothing heat wash away the tension from the day's events. He didn't expect to pass out that easily. Where did all his adventuring energy go? Meira said she carried him home on her shoulder when she was done with the paperwork. Imagine how embarrassing that must've been! The steam rose gently, creating a foggy veil that added to the sense of privacy.
Just as Axel began to relax, the door creaked open. His head snapped up, and his eyes widened in shock. "HEY! What are you doing? Get out!"
Meira stood by the side of the tub, her appearance striking in its simplicity. She was clad in nothing but a soft, white towel wrapped snugly around her body. The towel, neatly tucked at her waist, left her shoulders and arms exposed, highlighting her cleavage. Her long blonde hair was pulled up and tied into a high, elegant bun, a few loose strands falling delicately around her face. Her posture was relaxed yet poised, embodying a calm, maternal presence. Axel gulped seeing her curvy form standing over him.
She stepped into the room with a calm, nonchalant demeanor. "I'm just making sure you're bathing properly," she said with a serene smile. "Let me wash your back."
"I can bathe myself just fine!" Axel's face turned bright red, and he scrambled to cover himself with his arms. "I-I don't need any help! "
Meira raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk playing at her lips. She walked over to a stool positioned by the edge of the tub and took a seat, her gaze gentle but focused. "Oh, don't be so shy. I don't know if those little arms can reach behind you." She giggled, reaching for a soft sponge and some bath soap, her movements graceful and practiced. "Just sit still. I promise I'll be quick."
"F-fine…" Axel muttered, defeated. She was right with the "small arms" remark, but after knowing Meira for a day and a half, he felt that she wouldn't leave even if he said no.
Despite his embarrassment, Axel couldn't help but notice how soothing her presence was. Meira's touch was gentle and skilled as she began to wash his back, the sponge gliding over his skin in a rhythmic motion. The tension in Axel's muscles slowly started to ease, and he found himself grudgingly appreciating the attention. It was like a personal massage.
Meira's fingers moved with practiced ease, her tone reassuring. "Look at all this dirt, we've been playing hard today, haven't we?"
"Don't say it like that. It makes me sound like a kid." He sighed.
Meira chuckled softly, "Are you not one already?"
"Shut up" Axel groaned. "I'm still me on the inside. This body isn't going to change who I am."
"It wouldn't hurt to act more your age, Axel." Meira sighed softly, "It might even be for the better~"
"What does that even mean man?!" Axel thought, screaming internally.
He had wanted to argue back to her, but in time, he realized that his initial discomfort faded away. Meira's soothing massage actually managed to calm him down, and Axel found himself silently appreciating Meira's gesture.
***
Axel had enough. His frustration had reached its boiling point. What that elf did at the bath was unacceptable. Getting babied by this busty elf while being forced to pretend to be her child? "There is NO WAY I'm living like this!" He thought. He was a powerful adventurer that needed to seek glory, not live like a measly child! He had to leave.
The plan was simple. Pack a little bag full of some bread and a knife. Unfortunately, he had to wear that stupid nightgown because Meira had placed his other clothes to be washed. Then, he needed to head over to Lille Academy to get this spell removed from him and Meira. Once he changes back to his normal self, he'll finally go kill that demon, and he won't have to see Meira ever again. Perfect!
While Meira was distracted cutting some veggies in the kitchen for dinner, Axel grabbed the door handle and slowly yanked it open. The cold air outside felt like a breath of freedom. But as he took his first step out, Meira's voice rang out behind him, calm yet commanding. "Where do you think you're going?"
Axel froze, his hand still on the door. He turned, eyes narrowing as he faced Meira. She stood in the hallway, arms crossed, her gaze firm but composed. Of course, she had to catch him right when he was about to escape. "None of your damn business," he shot back.
Meira tilted her head slightly, "Business? If that means leaving the house, then I cannot let you do that."
Axel scoffed, rolling his eyes as he stepped fully outside, his frustration bubbling over. "Look, I'm not living as you stupid plaything for the rest of my life. I got a life to live, dreams to live---" he stopped, thinking about what he wanted to say "You're just a retarded fucking elf that managed to get her ass and fat tits taken prisoner by a demon. You'd be better off using your body in the brothels as a whore!"
He spat the words out, thinking for sure they'd sting, but Meira didn't flinch. She just stood there, her eyes locked onto his, unshaken by his taunts. "Axel," she said, her voice steady and unyielding, "Get back inside."
Something about the way she said it made Axel pause. He wanted to argue, to tell her off, but his legs...they wouldn't move forward. Instead, they started stepping backward into the house? His heart pounded, confusion setting in. What was happening? It was like an invisible force was pulling him back. "No... what...?" He tried to resist, but his body wasn't listening to him. "Shit! What are you doing to me?!" He noticed that the transparent purple collar from the spell had appeared on his neck. The force grew stronger, and before he knew it, Axel was back inside the house. The door swung shut behind him with a quiet click. His frustration blew over. He could get under her skin. He couldn't fight her.
Meira uncrossed her arms and stepped forward, her expression shifting into one of disappointment, not anger. She closed the distance between them, standing right in front of him now. "Do you think you can just leave after everything I've done for you?"
Axel bit his lip, the heat of his anger fizzling under her stern gaze. "Tch."
"Remember what Sofia said. If anything happens to you, I die too," Meira continued, her voice firm. "You need to think before you throw tantrums like a child."
Axel, still bristling with frustration, clenched his fists at his sides. "I can take care of myself. Leave me alone."
Meira raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? If you could, you could've been strong enough to beat Sofia instead of being caught."
Axel looked down, a mixture of anger and embarrassment washing over him. He wanted to argue, to fight back, but deep down, he knew she wasn't entirely wrong. He hated that. "Fuck you."
Meira's patience finally wore thin. Axel's defiance had crossed the line. Without a word, she grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him toward her with surprising strength. "Hey—what are you—!?" Axel's protest was cut off as she sat down on a nearby chair, swiftly positioning him over her lap. His heart pounded in panic, realization dawned on him far too late. "W-Wait…Meira? We can talk about this!" Axel struggled, trying to squirm free, but Meira held him firmly in place. She was too strong.
"This morning, Sofia told me to discipline you if you didn't listen.," Meira said, her voice calm but stern, as if this were the most natural thing in the world. "I wanted to be gentler with you…bit it appears that I've been too lenient!"
"Let me go!" Axel kicked his legs, but it was no use. Meira's grip was unbreakable. Meira then slowly lifted up his nightgown and slightly pulled down his underwear. Without further warning, Meira raised her hand and brought it down sharply against Axel's bare backside. The smack echoed through the room, and Axel let out a yelp of surprise and pain. His cheeks burned, both from the spanking and the utter humiliation of the situation.
"This is for trying to leave me!" Meira delivered another firm smack.
"You've been a bad boy lately!" Another smack followed, harder than the last.
"From now on—" yet another smack, "—You shall address me as 'Mama', and will listen to everything I have to say!"
Axel gritted his teeth, his eyes stinging with a mix of frustration and embarrassment. "S-Stop" he shouted, voice cracking slightly. "Mei—ACK!" The collar had shocked him.
"What did I just say?"
"M-Mama…" Axel growled.
"Hmmph!" Meira's hand came down again, her discipline measured but firm. "Clearly, you need to learn some manners!"
Axel could barely believe what was happening. Here he was, a supposed adventurer, being treated like a disobedient child. And what's worse? He felt powerless to stop it. She was the one in control. With tears in his eyes, he looked at the windowsill to see that same black cat he's seen before. Its paw was on over its mouth…and it appeared to be laughing? "Sofia…you bitch" he cursed in his head, his anger focused on that damn demon.
"Fufufu…" Sofia muttered to herself, making sure Axel couldn't hear her. "This is just the beginning of our game, Axel…I have a lot more in store for you~"