Milo laid back on the bed, his head still spinning from the night before. Lira's soft laughter echoed in his mind; the memory of her lips pressed against his still warm on his skin. The assignment had been straightforward enough—practice "connection," they'd said. But what started as an innocent exercise turned into something else entirely.
He hadn't meant to go that far, but the chemistry between them had ignited like a match tossed into dry leaves. The room had grown hot with their breath, and the space between them disappeared faster than either had expected. One kiss became two, then three, and suddenly, Lira was on his lap, her hands tangled in his hair, her lips moving feverishly against his.
It was all fun and games until she fainted.
Milo could still hear the sound of her soft gasp just before her body went limp, her head resting on his chest as she passed out cold, her excitement apparently too much to handle. He chuckled to himself, glancing over at the empty bed beside him, imagining her embarrassed reaction when she'd woken up and realized what had happened.
It was supposed to be an "art of connection" assignment, not an art of overwhelming your partner, but somehow, they had ended up here. He had to admit, though, there was something flattering about Lira's reaction. She hadn't spoken much after she came to, but the blush on her cheeks had said everything.
Now, as the early morning light filtered through the blinds, Milo stretched out, feeling the remnants of last night's adrenaline still tingling in his veins. He smirked to himself. Maybe the teacher wouldn't be too hard on them, considering how far they'd taken the assignment.
But that hope quickly vanished as the reality of the school day set in. Lira may have been too embarrassed to show up at breakfast, but Milo had no choice but to face the consequences. He dragged himself out of bed, threw on his clothes, and made his way to class, still feeling the weight of last night's escapade on his shoulders.
When he entered the classroom, a low hum of conversation buzzed around the room, but it quieted as he stepped in. His classmates shot him knowing looks, and Milo could already hear the rumors whispering through the air. He kept his head high, though, his golden eyes flickering with amusement as he took his seat near the middle.
He didn't have to wait long before the door swung open, and their teacher strode in with a look that instantly silenced the room. She didn't say anything at first, just stood there with her arms crossed in front of her desk, scanning the room with eyes that seemed to pierce through every excuse or explanation anyone might've prepared.
Milo shifted in his seat, trying to stifle a yawn. Maybe she wouldn't notice him. Maybe she wouldn't—
"You've all failed."
The words hit like a slap. Milo's eyes shot open, suddenly wide awake. The rest of the class seemed to collectively hold their breath, some students shrinking in their seats as if trying to disappear.
"With the exception of one pair," the teacher added, her gaze sweeping over the class before landing on Milo. He fought back the urge to grin, quickly suppressing the memory of Lira's flushed face as she scrambled out of his room that morning.
He hadn't expected them to be the only ones who succeeded, but here they were.
The teacher sighed, her disappointment clear despite the soft smile on her face. "We will spend the rest of the week practicing. And Monday, I'll reassign this as a class demonstration. You will all show me what you've learned."
Milo glanced around the room. The tension was palpable now, his classmates exchanging nervous looks. The teacher's voice dropped, becoming more serious. "I wanted to give you all a more thorough explanation today. But after seeing the results... I think the issue runs deeper."
She paused, letting the weight of her words settle over the room before continuing. "This year, I believe you all lack sexual observation."
A ripple of confusion spread through the room. Milo leaned back in his chair, a slow smirk spreading across his face. This was going to be interesting. His classmates were shifting awkwardly, some of them looking like they wanted to crawl under their desks.
The teacher didn't seem to notice—or maybe she just didn't care. "It's not your fault," she said gently. "The colonies' system has failed you in this regard. It has created barriers, preventing you from understanding connection, attraction, and intimacy properly. But we will fix that—starting now."
She stood taller, her gaze sweeping the room once more. "I need a volunteer."
Milo's eyes glittered with amusement as he watched his classmates shrink even further into their chairs. No one moved. The silence was thick, suffocating, as everyone tried to avoid her gaze.
Milo considered stepping forward, but before he could make a decision, a voice piped up from the back of the room. "I'll do it."
A girl stood, her expression neutral but her eyes uncertain. The teacher nodded, her smile returning, warmer this time.
"Good," she said. "Come forward. Let's begin."
________________________
The room was so quiet that every shuffle, every breath seemed to echo off the walls. Nina stood frozen, her eyes locked on the teacher, who had stepped down from the desk with an air of complete control. The teacher's flirtatious smile lingered as she moved gracefully toward Nina, her every step deliberate, as though she were preparing for a performance.
The class was captivated, eyes following every movement, but the tension was different now. It wasn't just curiosity anymore—it was something heavier, deeper. Milo could feel it too. His gaze sharpened as he leaned forward, trying to understand what the teacher was truly demonstrating.
"Don't be nervous, Nina," the teacher said, her voice low, seductive. "This is just about connection, something we all need to master if we want to achieve true strength." Her words felt like a caress, soft but persuasive, and Nina visibly shivered under her attention.
The teacher circled Nina again, her fingers ghosting along her shoulder before stepping in front of her. Her eyes danced with amusement as she lifted her hand to Nina's cheek, tilting her head gently to meet her gaze. "The first step is trust. You must open yourself to your partner, allow them to feel your energy, and in return, you connect with theirs."
Her thumb brushed over Nina's bottom lip, teasingly slow, and Nina's breath hitched. "You must listen to what their body says, to what they need, even if they don't speak it."
With a smooth movement, the teacher guided Nina toward the desk, effortlessly placing her there. The entire class watched, entranced, as the teacher's hand trailed down Nina's arm. "When you master this connection, it makes you more powerful—not just in your cultivation, but in life."
Nina sat on the desk now, her hands gripping the edge as the teacher stood before her. The teacher's hands found their way to Nina's waist, guiding her to lean slightly back, subtly shifting the girl's posture. It was clear the teacher was showing the class something beyond a simple demonstration—she was teaching them the art of seduction, control, and mutual connection.
"Watch closely, class," the teacher said, turning her gaze to the rest of the room, her tone soft but commanding. "This is about learning to connect with your partner on a deeper level, allowing your energy to sync, allowing them to feel safe in your touch."
Her eyes flickered back to Nina, whose cheeks were flushed bright red, and slowly, deliberately, the teacher leaned in, her lips brushing softly against Nina's. It wasn't a kiss filled with lust or passion, but one of gentle persuasion, showing the class that connection began with something as simple as trust. Nina didn't resist, her body relaxing slightly under the teacher's careful guidance, though her wide eyes and ragged breathing betrayed her inexperience.
The teacher deepened the kiss for a moment, her hands moving lightly up Nina's arms before pulling away just enough to speak again, her voice barely above a whisper. "This is the beginning. The moment you connect with your partner, you'll find the strength you need to reach the next level of power."
She ran her fingers through Nina's hair, straightening her before turning to face the rest of the class once more. "This is what you must learn. Not just the physical connection, but the emotional and energetic one. Master this, and your cultivation will reach new heights. Ignore it, and you'll never truly understand your own potential."
Milo's attention was sharper than ever. The teacher's words hit something deep within him—this wasn't just about some fleeting romance. It was about control, power, and using connection as a means to strengthen both body and soul. His golden eyes flickered as he absorbed everything, filing it away as something worth mastering.
Lira, hidden toward the back, was feeling more conflicted than ever. Her heart raced not just from the demonstration but from the morning she had shared with Milo. The way he kissed her... the way he looked at her. She found herself retreating deeper into her seat, trying to ignore the fluttering warmth inside her. She wasn't sure how to deal with these new feelings, but one thing was clear: Milo wasn't the same boy she once knew. And that terrified her.
The teacher gently released Nina, who was thoroughly flustered, her cheeks bright red as she stumbled slightly to regain her composure. The class looked on, some in shock, others in silent awe, and a few were still trying to understand the gravity of what had just happened.
"This is what you must strive for," the teacher said, her voice a little more serious now. "To connect. To read each other. To harness that energy and use it to grow stronger. Because true power comes not from solitary cultivation, but from what you can achieve with a partner."
The class remained silent, their gazes still fixated on the teacher. They understood now—this was more than just a lesson in cultivation. It was about learning the art of connection, of intimacy, and how those bonds could make or break them.
Milo's interest was piqued more than ever. Lira's heart continued to pound, confusion swirling in her chest as she tried to hide her emotions. And Nina, standing there dazed, had just had her first taste of something she didn't quite understand...