Arcana was still standing there, slightly in shock from the winged serpent that had coiled around her body and settled onto her skin. The tattoo was breathtakingly beautiful, and she couldn't help but continue admiring it. However, she wasn't the only one.
Selena, still mesmerized, slowly approached and gently placed a finger on the silvered scales of the serpent. Her eyes sparkled with admiration as she traced her fingertips over the scales, which almost seemed to vibrate under her touch.
"This is… incredible," she murmured, her lips curling into a delighted smile. "I've never seen anything like it. It's so detailed, it looks like it's going to come to life at any moment."
Ophelia, who had remained silent up until that point, stepped forward as well and, though more reserved, couldn't resist touching the white wings of the serpent. "It's magnificent," she murmured with a certain awe. "The precision of the feathers, the shine of the scales… everything is perfect."
At first, Arcana was flattered by her friends' attention, but she eventually started feeling a little uncomfortable. Several minutes had passed with Selena and Ophelia marveling at and lightly touching the tattoo, and the sensation was beginning to be somewhat awkward. She cleared her throat and took a step back, ending the "admiration session" with a forced smile.
"Okay... it's beautiful, but it's not a piece of art on display," she said, nervously laughing. "You can stop touching me now."
Her two friends chuckled softly, but it was when they turned their attention back to Orion that things took an unexpected turn. They found him blushing furiously, his eyes fixed firmly on the ground, as if he were trying very hard not to look in their direction.
Arcana, puzzled, raised an eyebrow but quickly followed her friends' gaze. She suddenly realized that in her focus on the tattoo, she had completely forgotten she was only wearing her sports bra. A wave of heat rushed to her cheeks as she blushed deeply with embarrassment.
"Oh, Merlin!" she exclaimed, quickly grabbing her top and putting it back on as fast as she could.
Selena, watching the scene with amusement, burst out laughing. "Well, Orion," she teased, "if you did all this just to enjoy the sight of a beautiful girl, you could've just asked! I'd be happy to show you whatever you want if I could get such an incredible gift."
Orion's face turned even redder, and he waved his hands nervously, trying to defend himself. "What?! No! That's absolutely not… I never…!" he stammered, unable to find the right words, which only added to his embarrassment.
Even Ophelia, who rarely smiled, couldn't help but grin and then burst into laughter. "Oh, Merlin… these Maga!"
Arcana, having finished putting her top back on, collapsed into laughter as well, unable to stay focused on her own embarrassment while enjoying her brother's clear discomfort. The girls laughed heartily, releasing the tension from the previous minutes. Even Orion, despite his embarrassment, couldn't help but let out a shy smile.
As the laughter died down, leaving a lighter, more relaxed atmosphere, Orion, still a bit flustered, sighed and glanced furtively at his sister and her friends.
"I didn't think this morning would take such a… strange turn," he admitted with a sheepish smile.
"You'll get used to it," Selena joked, giving Orion's shoulder a playful tap before adopting a mischievous look. "With us, every day can be surprising."
Ophelia, still more reserved than Selena, smirked. "She's not wrong. But it seems a bit hypocritical to blame the strangeness on us, Orion. I attend many events and competitions, and I've never seen such a display of magic."
Arcana, wearing a proud grin, puffed out her chest and declared with some vanity, "Of course Orion is amazing. He's my brother, after all. In our family, we've always had this talent for... drawing attention. I dare say that a sense of showmanship is a family talent."
Selena, never missing an opportunity to tease, burst into laughter and winked. "Oh really? Because, between us, Arcana, it seems you're not doing too bad when it comes to attracting attention yourself."
Ophelia, who had been watching the scene with an amused smile, added in a deliberately mocking tone, "And I must say, from Orion's reaction, he seemed to particularly enjoy the show. I doubt he'll be forgetting it anytime soon."
She crossed her arms with a mock-serious expression. "After all, it's not every day you get such a… performance."
Orion frowned slightly and couldn't help but glance at Arcana, expecting her to be offended by their teasing, but she wasn't. She observed him with a raised eyebrow, and with the girls' last words in mind, he blushed again and grimaced, causing the girls to burst out laughing once more.
Instead of being offended, Arcana simply looked at her brother with a sly smile. "Well, he got to enjoy the show and survived. I suppose that's a worthy thank-you for the gift," she said with a playful wink, clearly amused by Orion's embarrassment.
Selena, ever ready to push the teasing further, burst into laughter and mischievously added, "If I tell the boys that Orion got to enjoy the sight of you in your underwear, we might see a wave of duels being provoked. It'll be quite entertaining!"
This joke didn't amuse Arcana, who froze instantly, her gaze hardening. She turned her head toward Selena, her expression leaving no room for ambiguity. "If you dare do that, and I get another wave of seduction attempts—or worse, if my brother suffers the consequences of your joke—I will expose you, naked and unconscious, in the Slytherin common room. Got it?"
Selena, who had first laughed, gulped slightly when she saw the seriousness in Arcana's eyes.
Orion, who also didn't find the joke amusing, added coldly, "Don't dishonor my sister." Though his words were not spoken with direct threat, the coldness and intensity of his gaze sent a shiver down Selena's spine. She knew he wasn't joking, and that look meant far more than his words.
Feeling the weight of the situation, Selena raised her hands in surrender, a nervous smile on her lips. "Alright, alright… no need to threaten me. It was just a joke."
Ophelia, sensing the tension that had just settled, decided to step in and lighten the mood. With a mocking smile, she said to Selena, "I think you've finally found your limits, Selena. It's rare to see you at a loss for words."
Selena, regaining some of her confidence, responded with a smirk. "I'd rather not be exposed naked in the common room. I value my dignity."
Arcana's chuckle dispelled the tension completely, and the atmosphere began to relax again.
Taking advantage of the calm, Orion spoke in a more composed tone. "As much as your company is entertaining, I came out this morning to train, and I'd like to finish my routine before I run out of time." He paused before looking at them, a slight smile on his lips. "Do you want to join me, or would you rather stay here chatting?"
Arcana, still amused by the situation, replied with a playful smile. "Since you're asking so nicely, I suppose we can do you the honor of joining your training."
Selena, now back to her usual energetic self, nodded enthusiastically. "Why not? It could be fun."
Ophelia, with a slightly haughty smile, added, "We've been training every morning for almost a year now. Do you really think you can keep up with us?"
Orion couldn't help but let a glint of joy flicker in his heterochromatic eyes. A predatory smile spread across his lips.
The three girls exchanged quick glances, clearly intrigued by Orion's reaction, but they got ready to follow him.
Orion began his training with a series of rigorous stretches designed to prepare his muscles and improve his flexibility. Every movement was precise and mechanical, showing that he was accustomed to such exercises. The girls followed without complaint, though they were surprised by his discipline.
Once the warm-up was done, Orion transitioned into a high-intensity cardiovascular workout. He started with a fast-paced run, circling the castle gardens while keeping a steady rhythm. He ran at an impressive speed, moving with ease, his footsteps barely audible despite his pace.
Arcana, Selena, and Ophelia tried their best to keep up, but after ten minutes, it became clear that Orion's endurance was on another level. Arcana, though determined, began to feel the fatigue in her legs, while Selena struggled to maintain the pace, her breath becoming shorter. Ophelia, though managing to keep up, was also starting to show signs of fatigue.
After about twenty minutes of running at a brisk pace, Orion slowed down and stopped near a large oak tree. He turned toward the girls, barely winded, while Selena and Arcana were gasping for air. "Not bad for a start," he said with a teasing look at Ophelia. "Shall we continue the warm-up?"
Selena, panting but determined, raised a hand in protest. "Wait, what? That was… just the warm-up?"
Orion nodded, a playful smile on his lips. "It's funny to see you so cocky after only a year of training."
After a brief rest to let the girls catch their breath, Orion immediately moved on to a series of strength exercises. He started with push-ups, which he performed with an ease that was both impressive and unsettling. His body moved up and down with mechanical precision, every muscle working in perfect coordination to optimize the effort.
"All right, 50 push-ups to start," he announced calmly.
Selena and Arcana, though already out of breath, dropped to their knees to try and follow. Ophelia, still determined not to be outdone, positioned herself next to Orion, trying to keep up with his pace. But after about thirty push-ups, fatigue began to take its toll on the girls. Selena visibly slowed down, Arcana gritted her teeth to avoid giving up, while Ophelia, though tired, managed to finish with a degree of dignity.
"And now, squats," Orion calmly announced, as if the physical effort was nothing to him.
They moved on to squats, Orion pushing his legs lower with each repetition, showing off his strength and endurance. The girls, on the other hand, struggled to maintain their form. Selena groaned with each descent, while Arcana, red with exhaustion, fought hard to keep going.
"Twenty more," Orion added, throwing in a bit of a challenge.
Next came the sit-ups. Once again, Orion demonstrated his resilience, each movement controlled and precise. The girls, exhausted but unwilling to quit, lay down beside him, doing their best to follow along despite their burning muscles.
Finally, after several rounds of push-ups, squats, and sit-ups, Orion finished the session with lunges—a final set that pushed the three girls to their limits.
"And that's it," he said, standing up with a satisfied smile. "That was a good warm-up."
The girls, panting and exhausted, collapsed onto the grass, trying to catch their breath.
Still lying on the grass, they stared at Orion in disbelief, struggling to understand how he could consider all of this just a warm-up. Selena, breathless, tried to speak but could only raise a hand in surrender.
Arcana, her face still flushed from the effort, propped herself up on her elbows and fixed her brother with a look of mixed frustration and admiration. "A… warm-up?" she gasped, trying to wrap her head around how he could still be standing tall after such an intense workout.
Ophelia, meanwhile, grumbled as she crossed her arms, clearly irritated that she hadn't been able to keep up with Orion's pace until the end. "Little monster…" she muttered, more to herself than to anyone else.
Orion, pleased with his revenge for their earlier teasing, let out a satisfied chuckle. "Well, if you've had enough for today, you can go take a shower. I'll finish my training alone."
Ophelia, still lying on the grass, raised an eyebrow skeptically. She didn't believe for a second that Orion had more exercises in store. "You're bluffing," she declared, sitting up slightly. "I want to see what you really call a workout."
Selena and Arcana, sharing Ophelia's curiosity, looked up at Orion, waiting for his response.
Orion shrugged casually. "If you have nothing better to do, you're welcome to stay."
The three girls, still half-reclining on the grass, sat up more comfortably to better observe as Orion prepared for the next phase of his training. He stepped a bit away from them, and with a smooth motion, he summoned three small, glowing orbs the size of tennis balls.
The glowing orbs began to move, swirling around Orion with surprising speed before all rushing toward him at once. Without missing a beat, he started moving, dodging with remarkable agility, his movements fluid and precise, almost like a dance. He spun around, his feet gliding quickly across the ground as the orbs tried to catch him.
Selena, mesmerized, whispered, "That's… impressive."
Within less than a minute, one of the orbs managed to graze Orion's sleeve. The sleeve of his shirt melted, revealing part of his skin, which was slightly charred.
Arcana frowned, concerned. "Orion, are you crazy?" she called out, alarmed at the sight of the visible injury.
Orion, still focused, ignored his sister. He executed a series of rapid dodges, narrowly avoiding the other two orbs that tried to catch him off guard. His movements were calculated, and although he had been partially hit once, he didn't slow down. Sweat dripped from his forehead, but his expression remained calm.
Finally, after several minutes of intense dodging, Orion made a quick flick of his wrist, dispelling the glowing orbs with a sharp snap. He stood up straight, wiping the sweat from his brow while examining his partially damaged clothes with a click of his tongue.
Now shirtless, Orion calmly placed his hand on his burn, his face focused. The girls swallowed nervously as they watched the young wizard's finely chiseled muscles contract under the tension of the workout. His skin, still marked by the burn, slowly began to heal under the influence of his magic. Moments later, the skin was perfectly smooth, white, and without a trace of the injury.
He took a deep breath before continuing with another round of intense and demanding exercises. Selena, Ophelia, and Arcana watched in silence, amazed by the intensity of Orion's training, realizing that what they had done earlier that morning was only a small part of his daily routine.
As Orion finally dropped to the ground, panting but visibly satisfied with his session, he suddenly heard a shocked curse from behind him. "Damn…"
A smile spread across Orion's lips, despite the muscle fatigue weighing on his arms and legs.