The day was off to a slow start as Lira wandered the freshman academy hallways, hanging up the flyers she'd made the night before. Each one advertised their new "kissing tutorial" class, a bold move she hadn't thought she'd ever make, but now, it was essential to her plan. The flyers read: "Want to master the art of connection? Learn the essentials of kissing and cultivating intimacy for only 5 tokens! 20 minutes of practice with expert guidance."
Milo, standing by her side as she pinned up the last flyer, looked at her with wide eyes, still unsure about the whole situation. "Lira, are you sure about this? You really want me to...you know… demonstrate with complete strangers?"
Lira flashed him a mischievous smile. "It'll be fine! You'll be learning, too. We'll make a bit of money, and it'll help with your cultivation. I'll instruct everyone on the techniques, and you'll practice with them. Trust me, it's essential to mastering this part of the skill tree."
Milo wasn't convinced but reluctantly agreed. "Alright, I guess. If it'll help us get stronger, I'll give it a shot." He ran a hand through his messy hair, still feeling the anxiety gnawing at him. The idea of practicing something as intimate as kissing for cultivation felt so foreign, but in this academy, nothing really seemed normal anymore.
The morning passed slowly, and as they set up in the empty classroom, neither of them spoke much. No one showed up. Time dragged, and the awkward silence between them grew heavier. Milo tried not to think about how strange it would be to make out with random classmates. He glanced at Lira occasionally, wondering how she was so calm about the whole thing.
By the time the afternoon sun began casting shadows across the room, Professor Veria finally appeared. Her sharp, golden eyes sparkled as she walked in, her usual confident smirk gracing her lips.
"So, how's it going, my little entrepreneurs? Sold out yet?" she teased, raising an eyebrow as she noticed the completely empty room. "Need a customer to get things rolling?"
Lira perked up, her excitement rekindling. "Professor Veria! Actually, yes, that would be great. We haven't had any takers yet, so you could be our first."
Milo's face flushed bright red at the suggestion, but Lira's enthusiasm was unstoppable. She practically bounced over to Veria, handing her the flyer with a grin.
"Alright then," Veria said, leaning casually against the desk. "I'll bite. I need to see if this study method works, after all." She winked at Milo, who seemed to shrink a little under her gaze.
Milo felt his anxiety spike as Veria slowly crossed the room, her presence commanding all attention. He stood stiffly, unsure of how to proceed. "I'm not sure I'm ready for this..." he muttered under his breath.
Veria gave him a knowing smile, one that sent a shiver down his spine. "You look a little tense, Milo," she said softly. "You know, part of cultivating connection isn't just about going through the motions. You need to relax, let go, and let your ability guide you."
Lira, sensing his discomfort, stepped in with a soft but encouraging tone. "It's okay, Milo. Just focus. You have that special ability, remember? The one that helps you adapt. Use it. It'll help you not only learn faster but handle the tension. Breathe, and let it flow through you."
Taking a deep breath, Milo closed his eyes for a moment, concentrating. His ability, one that allowed him to learn and adapt rapidly in any situation, was a gift he was still learning to control. As he tapped into it, he felt a shift inside him, a sense of calm washing over his anxiety. When he opened his eyes, a faint glow surrounded him, barely visible but enough for Veria to notice.
"There you go," Veria purred approvingly. "Now you're ready."
With that, Veria stepped closer, her golden eyes locking onto his. Milo could feel the intensity of her presence as she leaned in, their lips meeting in a soft, exploratory kiss. He felt a sudden rush of energy, not just from the kiss itself but from the way his ability was processing the sensations. His anxiety melted away as he started to understand the connection between physical intimacy and cultivation.
Veria broke the kiss briefly, her gaze steady. "Not bad, Milo. But you'll need to learn more if you want to fully harness this power. Are you poly, by the way?"
Milo blinked in confusion. "Poly? What's that?"
She chuckled softly. "Polyamorous, Milo. It means having more than one partner. It's common among cultivators who want to grow faster. The more training partners you have, the more diverse your experiences and the faster your progress. But you can only have one primary connection at a time—one person with whom your bond is strongest."
The idea took a moment to sink in. "I don't know... I guess I never thought about it," he said, frowning. "I just want to get stronger... to protect my family and... return home one day." His voice trailed off as the weight of his aspirations hit him.
Veria smiled again, a hint of something deeper behind her eyes. "Well, Milo, you'll find that connections—both physical and emotional—are a powerful tool in your cultivation. Think about it. The stronger the bond, the more power you can draw from it."
Lira, watching from the sidelines, felt a tightness in her chest as she overheard the conversation. Seeing Milo in action—truly embracing his abilities—made her heart race in ways she didn't quite understand. Why did it hurt to see him like this? Wasn't this what she wanted? To help him grow stronger, to test her feelings?
Yet, the more she watched, the more confused she became. She wanted to be the one guiding him, not just as his partner in class but in something deeper. But at the same time, she saw how determined Milo was—how focused he was on his goal to become stronger for his family.
He wasn't hers to control. She wasn't Zana, the powerful cultivator with years of experience. Lira was just... Lira. But she wasn't going to give up that easily. If nothing else, she wanted to stand by him, to be his right hand, even if he didn't realize it yet.
After the session, as Veria parted from Milo, giving him a final approving glance, Lira stood quietly for a moment, lost in thought. Maybe this was her chance to understand what she truly felt.
She knew Milo wasn't one to be tied down by something as trivial as feelings—not when power was at stake. But if she could help him train, guide him through their textbook, and observe how he interacted with others, maybe she'd figure out her own heart.
Turning to Milo, who was still catching his breath, she smiled softly. "You did great, Milo. We'll be ahead of the class in no time. Just remember, we're in this together."
Milo nodded, still feeling a bit shaken by the intensity of the session. "Yeah... thanks, Lira. I couldn't have done it without you."
Her heart fluttered at his words, but she kept her composure. "That's what partners are for."
As the sun set and the room grew dim, Lira's resolve strengthened. She wasn't going to let confusion or doubt hold her back anymore. She was going to test her feelings, understand them, and figure out if what she felt for Milo was a crush... or something deeper.
Tomorrow, the real tutoring would begin.