The first rays of sunlight gently caressed the manor walls, but for Orion, there was no comforting warmth in that light. Ever since the Lamia had bonded with him, he felt a constant fatigue, a sensation of weakness he couldn't explain.
Each morning, he woke up with the same troubling feeling: as though something—or someone—was slowly draining his energy. His magical reserves, once powerful and almost uncontrollable, seemed to diminish day by day, leaving him exhausted and breathless.
That day, like so many others since their encounter with the Lamia, Orion struggled to get out of bed. His legs trembled slightly as he placed his feet on the cold floor. His hands, once firm and full of life, had become pale and slightly shaky—an obvious sign of his depleted energy.
"How am I supposed to become the most powerful mage if I can't even get up properly?" he thought, frustrated.
As he descended the stairs to join Lyra, Orion felt the same heavy weight on his shoulders, the sense that every step drained a part of his energy. Yet, despite it all, part of him refused to give in to the weakness. He didn't want to show Lyra how much this was affecting him.
When Lyra saw him, her face briefly hardened, but she made no comment. Since the Lamia's appearance, she knew that Orion was no longer as powerful as before. His energy was constantly being absorbed by the mythical creature, and although it worried her, she would never directly admit it.
"We'll focus on alchemy and complex magical theory today," she said, carefully avoiding any mention of his weakness. Lyra had adjusted their training regimen to compensate for his lack of magical strength, focusing on everything Orion could master without directly using magic.
Despite his growing frustration, Orion nodded. The months spent under this regimen were a constant trial, but he had learned to excel in non-magical domains. Potions, alchemy, and complex magical strategies became his new fields of study. Though it had frustrated him initially, he began to find strange satisfaction in mastering these arts, even without direct magic.
It was during these months that Orion and Lyra made an unexpected discovery. Despite the constant drain on his magic by the Lamia, Orion's reserves seemed to regenerate on their own, and surprisingly fast. At only ten years old, he had regained the same level of magical power as before the encounter with the Lamia. This growth, unexplained but constant, was both a source of fascination and questions for Lyra.
She observed him with a mix of pride and concern. Orion, though weakened by the endless drain, now displayed magical abilities far beyond those of a child his age. Yet, the situation remained frustrating. Orion felt like he was stuck in a loop, drained by the Lamia and unable to use his powers freely as he wished.
Approaching Eleven Years
In the weeks leading up to his eleventh birthday, Lyra couldn't help but notice that her pupil's magical power was growing at an abnormal rate for nearly a year. His magic was already reaching the average strength of an adult wizard, despite the constant drain from the Lamia. Lyra, who had observed the progression, resumed magical training with him.
On that day, after an intense training duel, Orion was breathless, mentally and physically drained from the day's training, but his magic showed no signs of exhaustion. Lyra, herself impressed, lowered her wand to end the exercise when suddenly, a familiar sensation swept through the room. The air became heavy with a strange pressure, thick and suffocating.
Before their eyes, the Lamia appeared in the same manner as before: as though emerging from a mirage, her image shimmered in the air before becoming tangible. Orion and Lyra froze.
Orion stood petrified, unable to tear his eyes away from the Lamia that had just materialized. The air around him had thickened, as if charged with an almost palpable energy. It was a suffocating feeling, but oddly comforting, as though the pressure was enveloping him in a protective cocoon. His heart pounded harder, and his breath hitched as his eyes traveled over the imposing and majestic form of the Lamia.
The creature's long serpentine body undulated gracefully behind her, her silver scales shimmering in the light like thousands of diamonds. Every movement was infused with a wild grace, a contained power that reminded Orion just how dangerous she could be. Yet, despite the latent threat, he felt strangely at ease. The wild aura that radiated from the Lamia, instead of frightening him, seemed to comfort him, wrapping him in a mysterious warmth.
But it was the upper part of her body that captivated Orion more than anything. A woman of otherworldly beauty stood before him, naked and without the slightest trace of shame or embarrassment. Her pale, perfectly smooth skin reflected the light in an almost supernatural way, highlighting every curve of her body. Her features were so delicate, so flawless, that Orion suddenly felt small in her presence, as if this creature embodied absolute perfection. Her black hair, rippling around her alabaster face, floated as though in a dream, further reinforcing the sense of unreality that emanated from her.
Her eyes… those icy blue eyes watched him closely, as if gauging him. He felt himself melt under her gaze. A wave of desire overwhelmed him, leaving him defenseless against the aura she projected. Orion had never felt such admiration mingled with longing. The sight of her bare body, her perfect curves, her splendid full breasts left him speechless, red with embarrassment, yet unable to look away. He had never seen anything so beautiful, so mesmerizing.
Breathing heavily, he felt his thoughts blur, as if caught in a spell of seduction from which he didn't want to escape. Every detail of her figure seemed magnified, every movement of her skin, every shimmer of her scales seemed to draw him further into an uncontrollable fascination. Desire surged within him, violent and overwhelming, and for the first time in his life, Orion could no longer control his emotions. He felt both weak and vulnerable, totally captivated by this wild and unattainable beauty.
But just as he was being swept up in the whirlwind of sensations, Lyra's voice suddenly cracked through the air like a whip.
"Orion!"
He jolted, his heart pounding even harder under the force of the reprimand. He caught sight of Lyra out of the corner of his eye, furious, her face red with anger.
"Stop staring at her like an idiot!" she hissed, her eyes flashing. "You're a Maga sorcerer, not a foolish male in heat! Use your Occlumency and get a hold of yourself instead of acting like a brainless adolescent!"
Orion barely heard Lyra's furious words, lost in the intoxicating allure the Lamia's presence provided. His mind desperately tried to cling to logic, to the rigorous training he had received, but he couldn't tear his gaze away from the creature standing before him. Every fiber of his being seemed captive to this irresistible seduction, as though his mind had been seized by a force more powerful than anything he had ever known.
It was then that the Lamia's expression changed. Her previously neutral gaze hardened with cold disdain, and her voice rose in a contemptuous hiss, cutting through the thick air:
"Pathetically disappointing."
Those words hit Orion harder than Lyra's anger. The pure, cutting disdain in the Lamia's voice pierced his mind like a cold blade. He felt a wave of shame so deep that it shook the very foundations of his identity. The humiliation he felt burned more intensely than desire.
A surge of willpower erupted from within him, almost instinctively. Orion forced himself to activate his Occlumency, his thoughts struggling to organize themselves, to regain control. He remembered Lyra's teaching: mastery over his emotions and desires was key to his survival and power. He couldn't afford to fail—not in front of Lyra.
But the Lamia's hypnotic aura was still there, omnipresent, saturating his senses. His thoughts wavered as if in a thick fog. Panicking, Orion tried to strengthen his mental defenses, but it wasn't enough. The pressure was too strong, the temptation too overwhelming. He had to go further.
Gathering every ounce of willpower he had left, he pushed his defenses to their limits. His mental shields tightened, every fragment of energy he could muster was channeled into breaking free from the Lamia's hold. The process was exhausting, almost painful, but slowly, he felt the invisible chains of seduction loosen.
When his thoughts finally cleared, he was but a shadow of himself. Orion opened his eyes, but they were empty, lifeless, as though all emotion had been temporarily extinguished. His face, once marked by fascination and desire, was now as cold and expressionless as a corpse. Only his drawn features, etched with the exhaustion of mental strain, showed that he was still alive.
Lyra, still furious, glared at him for a moment before muttering, her voice laced with disappointment:
"Really?! You had to push your shields that far just to control your desires?"
Orion didn't respond. He couldn't. His thoughts were still a battlefield in ruins after the intense struggle he had just fought. He barely registered Lyra's words, their resonance dull in his emptied mind.
It was the Lamia's reaction that stopped Lyra's anger. A crystalline laugh, both wild and strangely joyous, filled the air, echoing through the room with unexpected cheer. The Lamia looked at Orion with a newfound gleam in her eyes, amused, perhaps even impressed.
"Ah, now this is getting interesting," she hissed softly, her words a blend of mockery and admiration. She turned to Lyra, "No male before him has ever managed to resist my allure… He is the first. Males are incredibly weak in the face of my presence. They let themselves be consumed by their desires like insects drawn to the light… but him… he managed to break his chains."
The Lamia, after laughing in delight at Orion's resistance, straightened, her icy blue eyes still fixed on the young boy. Her voice, still imbued with that hypnotic hiss, changed in tone. It became softer, almost seductive, as if she were whispering a forbidden secret into his ears.
"Orion," she began, an enigmatic smile on her lips. "We are at a crucial moment. What you have accomplished so far is remarkable, but you are still limited. I offer you the chance to go further… to bond with me for real. To seal a pact between us, an eternal bond."
Orion, still exhausted by the mental effort he had to exert to resist the Lamia's enchanting aura, remained silent. His breathing was still uneven, and his thoughts were muddled. He was struggling to fully grasp what was happening. Every fiber of his being was fighting against the fatigue, and his ability to think clearly was severely compromised. He turned toward Lyra, pointing at her before sitting down and ignoring everyone.
Lyra, seeing Orion's state, stepped forward to speak on his behalf. "Wait," she said firmly, her sharp eyes meeting those of the Lamia. "He is in no condition to make such a decision, and I am his guardian. What do you mean by 'bonding for real'? I thought you were already linked."
The Lamia let out a light, amused laugh at Lyra's apparent ignorance. "Oh no, my dear," she hissed softly. "So far, I have only been helping him, channeling and managing his magic to prevent it from causing harm. But no real bond connects us yet. What I am proposing is a far deeper pact, a connection that will tie us together for eternity."
Lyra narrowed her eyes, still wary. "And what exactly does that entail? What would be the benefits and the drawbacks for Orion and for you?"
The Lamia smiled, her beautiful features relaxing slightly as she relished the tension in the air. "If he accepts, I will become a reliable and protective eternal partner for him. I will continue to absorb the magic that his body cannot handle. Our magic, our essences will partially merge, and I will grant him a portion of my ancient power. He will be able to not only survive but also harness his strength in ways he never could have before. He will become stronger, more resilient."
"And the price?" Lyra pressed, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.
The Lamia's smile grew more mischievous. "The price… is the permanence of this bond. Once sealed, it can never be broken—it will be utterly indissoluble. I will continue to draw from his energy to spare his body. However, if he abuses his power, if he tries to draw too much from it, he risks burning himself out. He will need to learn to feed me while channeling his magic wisely, or else his body will give out even with my help."
Lyra frowned, thinking over the consequences. "And you, Lamia, what do you gain from this?"
The Lamia crossed her delicate arms, her bare chest rising slightly as she let out a soft sigh. "I need a partner. This bond would give me an anchor in this world, allowing me to rediscover a time when my kind was revered. I am certain it will be quite entertaining. In exchange for my time and protection, he will help me with my problems when the time comes."
She turned her gaze to Orion, who remained silent, visibly too exhausted to fully grasp the scope of the conversation.
Lyra, her suspicion piqued, pressed further. "What could a Lamia possibly want from a human that would justify leaving your realm to grant him your protection?"
The Lamia fixed her with a cold gaze and replied icily, "Do not push your luck, human. I am answering your questions out of courtesy, in the hopes of fostering good relations with my potential partner. Without my assistance, he will die, and then all these questions will be meaningless. I am helping him, and he will help me in return. All you need to know is that I will take care of him—my partner will always have my support. You do not need to know more."
Lyra, aware of the creature's power, furrowed her brow. "Orion is in no condition to make such a decision. He is exhausted and unable to think clearly. This can wait."
The Lamia smiled, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Boy, you have no choice, so accept and do not test my patience."
Orion, still too weak to actively participate in the conversation, lifted his eyes to the Lamia, his thoughts clouded by fatigue and inner conflict. He was too drained to make a rational decision, but he understood the essential point. With no real choice, he nodded in agreement.