Alexander's eyes, filled with a mixture of desire and longing, locked onto hers. Lira's smile was a wicked promise, her hand sliding down to grasp gently.
"Ah," he gasped as her hand began to move, her touch sending waves of pleasure through him. His body responded instinctively, his hips thrusting forward to meet her strokes, seeking more of the sweet torment.
"Lira," he breathed, his voice rough with desire. "You're driving me crazy."
With a mischievous glint in her eye, Lira leaned in, her lips finding his in a kiss again that sucked flexibly. It was a kiss of passion, of hunger, and as their mouths melded together, they danced in a rhythm that mirrored the movement of her hand.
When they finally pulled apart, both were breathing softly, her lips were swollen from the kiss, her cheeks flushed with passion. They sat together for a few more moments, the warmth between them lingering before Lira finally slid off his lap and stood up, organizing and smoothing out her dress, with a puddle of milky white.
"Well, we've made real progress," she said, returning to her professional tone as she picked up her notes. "Now that you can control the dark energy. The next step is just to prepare for the duel in two days."
"But, no need to rush things." closed her note, Lira smiled softly. "We've already learned so much today."
Alexander nodded in agreement, feeling the exhaustion creeping up on him, not only because of the emotional strain of the past few days, but also the lack of exercise. He stretched, his muscles aching from the tension that had built up throughout the day.
"Yeah, I think I'll head back to the dorm," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "But let's meet again tomorrow. I want to try magical training."
Cleaning up the equipment, Lira glanced at Alexander, especially his waist her expression meaningful. "You should get some rest."
As he noticed the teasing glint in Lira's gaze, with a swift movement, Alexander lunged towards Lira, , his hands reaching out to tickle her sides, a tactic he knew would send her into fits of laughter. "You think it's funny, do you?" he challenged, his voice filled with mock indignation.
Lira's laughter intensified, her body shaking with mirth as she tried to evade his grasp. "Alexander! No fair!" she protested, her voice barely audible through her giggles.
For a moment, the laboratory was filled with their shared laughter.
....
The atmosphere in the dean's office of House Noctis was as still as ever, revealing the dimly lit office. Seated across from Lira, Mistress Seraphine sat gracefully on a plush velvet sofa, her crimson dress clinging to her figure, exudingan aura of dangerous elegance.Behind her, Cedric, ever the loyal attendant, stood as still as a shadow, his expression unreadable.
"Mistress Seraphine," Lira said respectfully, her tone measured and clear. "..... That's it! Alexander has initially controlled the dark power."
Mistress Seraphine regarded Lira with an approving yet calculating look, her sharp eyes assessing every word. She crossed her legs, resting her fingers lightly on her chin as she absorbed the information. Her red lips curled into a faint, seductive smile. "Well done, Lira," she said, her voice both silky and authoritative.
"And we'd like to apply for a magic training room," Lira continued, "to prepare for the duel."
"Cedric," she said casually, "make a special approval for them."
"Thank you," Lira said, bowing slightly in gratitude. She stood, preparing to leave, her report had finished. But as she turned to go, Mistress Seraphine's voice rang out, stopping her in her tracks. "Wait."
Lira turned back, her eyes flickered momentarily with a hint of unease.
"Did you forget something?" Mistress Seraphine's voice was deceptively sweet, but laden with meaning.
Lira remained silent, reached into her robes and produced a document, a carefully written and detailed copy of the experimental records from her research with Alexander.
Mistress Seraphine didn't move, her smile still firmly in place, her eyes glinting with suspicion.
Lira hesitated, feeling the unspoken demand. With clear reluctance, she reached behind her and retrieved a small cage from the bag she carried. Inside was the white mouse, still sleeping soundly, the one absorbed the energy of both Alexander's dark magic and the blood-red crystal, its fur glistened unnaturally. Then she handed it to Mistress Seraphine with a resigned expression.
Mistress Seraphine's eyes flicked to the cage, and her smile softened. She waved her hand at Cedric, and without a word, Cedric stepped forward to collect both the experimental record and the mouse.
"Don't be so reluctant," Mistress Seraphine chided. "You know I wouldn't treat you badly." With that, Cedric discreetly produced a small box in his hands where three red crystals hold in, handing them over to Lira as compensation.
Receiving three red crystals at once was a gesture of substantial generosity. Lira took the crystals, her fingers brushing over their smooth, cool surfaces. "Thank you, Mistress," Lira said, bowing her head respectfully before turning to leave.
But before she reached the door, she heard Mistress Seraphine's voice one last time. "Lira, dear... don't let your emotions cloud your judgment. You've been... more close to Alexander, haven't you?"
Lira froze, her heart skipping a beat. She had given everything she knew, but hid the most important.
Once Lira was gone, Mistress Seraphine's smile faded into a thoughtful frown. She tapped her chin, lost in contemplation, while Cedric stood silently at her side.
"Master," Cedric finally spoke, his voice low and steady. "Lira seems to have her own plans. She's growing more attached to Alexander than you anticipated. She's been holding somthing back."
"It's fine, Cedric," Mistress Seraphine gave a soft chuckle, reclining further into her seat. "Lira knows her limits. As long as she doesn't overstep - lose her chastity, I'm willing to let her have her little secrets."
Then, her voice dropped to a whisper. "But she is truly hiding something. She's always been clever—too clever."
Cedric's expression darkened. "Should I... take care of it?"
Mistress Seraphine waved her hand dismissively. "No, not yet. Lira is useful for now. But Cedric, strengthen your contact with him."
"And Alexander supposedly suppressed his dark power with mere pink crystals. That alone is suspicious. " Mistress Seraphine continued, her eyes narrowed. "Watch closely how Lira uses the three red crystals I gave her."
Cedric bowed, a dark glint in his eyes. "I won't fail you, Master."
After Cedric left, Mistress Seraphine stood and walked to the large window overlooking the grounds of House Noctis. Her red dress shimmered in the dim light as she gazed out over the academy. Mistress Seraphine's final words echoed in the room like a soft, dangerous melody. "Lira, you'd better not strayed too far from our path…"