Noah stirred as the light of dawn streamed into the room, the redness of the sun nearly blinding him. He squinted against the unfamiliar hue, shielding his eyes with a forearm draped horizontally across his face.
The sky outside was not the pale blue he remembered from his former life; it was an unsettling crimson, casting the entire landscape in a blood-red glow. 'Where in the world am I?' he wondered, the sight raising more questions about his location.
Reluctant to get up, Noah stayed on the large, plush bed, staring at the ceiling as memories of the previous day's events replayed in his mind.
His discussion with Mistress Elena had stretched on for hours, with her probing him about the attack and his miraculous survival. He had answered her questions carefully, crafting responses that seemed to satisfy her curiosity without revealing too much.
Shortly after they arrived, a notification had popped up, announcing the rewards for completing his first mission. However, he had dismissed it at the time, not wanting to appear distracted while speaking with his mistress. Several other panels had flashed before his eyes during the conversation, but he had brushed them aside just as quickly.
Once the discussion had finally concluded, Mistress Elena had called forth two demon maidens to escort him to his room. Unlike Elena, these maidens were not Succubi but Maras—demons of desire and death, considered a lesser variant of the Succubus race. The two maids contrasted each other in appearance: one was petite with a small yet curvaceous figure, while the other was more voluptuous in all respects. Though they lacked the same overwhelming allure as Mistress Elena, the black and silver short gowns they wore accentuated their charms. The fabric was nearly translucent, revealing hints of skin and enhancing their appeal.
When the maids came to guide him, each had taken one of his arms, nestling it gently between their soft chests as they led him away. The proximity of their bodies, the warmth of their touch, and the coy looks they exchanged as they walked stirred something primal within him.
As much as Noah tried to suppress his urges, the Incubus instincts were hard to ignore. He was, after all, still a man—and a demon whose very nature was tied to lust.
"Would you like us to help you bathe, my lord?" the petite one had asked, her voice laced with a teasing tone.
Her companion had added with a smile, "We would be most honored to attend to your every need."
Noah had felt a momentary weakness in his resolve, a flicker of temptation. But he had managed to resist, shaking his head politely. "Not this time," he had replied, forcing a grin to hide the strain in his voice. "I'll manage on my own."
The maids had looked mildly disappointed, but they complied without protest, leaving him to bathe in solitude. The warm water had helped wash away the blood and fatigue from the day's events, yet it had done little to calm the heat that lingered in his veins.
He had managed to keep himself composed with Elena because of the inherent respect—or fear—he felt toward her, but with the maids, it had been different. There had been no consequences to indulging himself, yet he had resisted.
Ding!
Noah was brought back to the present by the sound of the system's familiar chime. He finally opened the notifications he had ignored the previous day, and multiple panels appeared before his eyes.
[You have successfully completed your first mission: Escape the building!]
[You have been rewarded with 50 Satisfaction Points.]
He dismissed the panel, a small smile tugging at his lips. 'A good start,' he thought as he proceeded to the next notification.
[You passed a hidden challenge! Resist your Incubus urges more than once successively.]
[You have received the skill: Self Control]
[Self Control: Allows the Host to resist temptations and urges, not limited to lust, but also emotions like rage and fear. Skill can be strengthened through practice.]
[You have discovered a new location!]
[You have received 5 Satisfaction Points.]
Noah couldn't help but chuckle at the irony. It seemed that even the system was aware of the struggles he faced in controlling his newfound urges. The "Self Control" skill was a welcome addition, and he had a feeling it would come in handy. He dismissed the notifications, one by one, until the final panel remained.
'Time to see how far I've come,' he thought as he summoned his status window.
[Name: Noah Argoth]
[Race: Incubus (Demon)]
[Life Force: 50/50]
[Mana: 60]
[Strength: 30]
[Agility: 25]
[Stamina: 35]
[Seduction: 100]
[Abilities: (All locked)]
[Satisfaction Points: 60.5]
[Skills: Mental Fortress, Self Control]
He looked over the status panel, a grin forming on his face. His stats had improved, especially his life force and mana, and the additional skills were certainly valuable. The satisfaction of seeing his progress helped lift some of the tension from his shoulders. But there was still much to do—he had barely scratched the surface of what it meant to be an Incubus.
As he rose from the bed, his stomach growled, reminding him of a more immediate need.
'Right, I haven't eaten since… well, I guess since before I died,' he thought wryly. His mouth felt dry, and a dull hunger gnawed at his insides.
He stretched his limbs, working out the stiffness from a night of restless sleep, and reached for the garments draped over the nearby chair. The fine fabric clung to his skin, comfortable but unfamiliar. He still wasn't used to the luxurious lifestyle that Mistress Elena's abode provided.
Stepping out of his room, he considered where he might find a meal. This was a large building, filled with corridors, chambers, and undoubtedly a kitchen or dining hall somewhere. He could ask one of the maids for assistance, though he wasn't keen on the idea of encountering them again so soon. He needed to maintain his composure and continue to adapt to his new situation without succumbing to the distractions around him.
Noah took a deep breath and made his way down the hallway, his thoughts turning to the events ahead. There was much to learn about his new life and his place within it. For now, he would start with the basics: food, strength, and gathering as much information as possible about Mistress Elena's plans. He couldn't afford to be complacent.
As he strode down the corridor, his resolve hardened. He might be in the service of a succubus mistress, but he was still Noah Argoth. And he would find a way to regain his power and carve out his own path in this new world—even if it was drenched in the blood-red light of an unfamiliar sun.