Aelorin savored the final piece of his grilled meat, chewing slowly, his taste buds bursting with joy. The smoky flavor brought him a deep satisfaction, a rare comfort in this strange realm with Shayla. Meat had been scarce, and he hadn't realized just how much he missed it until now. Every bite felt like he was reclaiming a piece of the life he'd left behind.
As he swallowed the last morsel, Shayla's voice cut through the calm, carrying a tone he hadn't heard from her before. "Aelorin, we need to talk. There's something I've been waiting to tell you."
He glanced up, noticing her serious expression. Her words had a finality to them, a weight that immediately put him on edge. "What is it?" he asked, brows knitting in concern.
She looked him straight in the eye. "Being in this place… time here doesn't flow like it does in the outside world. What might feel like a single day here could be a year, or more, out there. So, if you stay here much longer, you may return to a world that no longer remembers you."
Aelorin froze, the remnants of his joy crashing down as her words sank in. A whole year outside could pass in a day here? His mind scrambled to process the implications. If he stayed here for just a week, he might return to find everyone he knew had moved on, or worse, thought him dead. A sense of panic clawed at him, but he tried to stay calm, putting on a brave face.
"Wait, so… is there any way out?" he asked, swallowing the lump in his throat, his voice more desperate than he'd intended.
Shayla sighed, her gaze softening just a bit. "There's a way, yes. But it would mean giving up on our training sessions. You'd lose out on the power you could gain here. It's your choice."
Aelorin took a deep breath, considering the gamble. Power had always been alluring, the promise of it calling to him ever since he'd been pulled into this strange world. But family—his family—was something he couldn't replace. The thought of them moving on without him, his memory fading into the background, was unbearable.
He straightened, setting his jaw with quiet determination. "I'd choose family over power any day," he said firmly, meeting her gaze.
For a moment, Shayla seemed genuinely surprised, her eyes widening slightly. Then, a soft, almost sad smile curved her lips. "Not many would make that choice," she murmured. "Most people would chase power, thinking it could make them whole. But from experience, I can tell you this: power alone leads to emptiness. It may fill you up, but it will never make you complete. Family… family is what makes life worth living."
Aelorin blinked, taken aback. Her words resonated deeply with him, stirring memories of the life he'd left behind. The struggles, the moments he felt invisible, his childhood dreams of greatness—all seemed small now compared to the warmth and love of family. He hadn't realized how much he'd missed it until now.
"Thank you for saying that, Shayla," he whispered, a slight tremor in his voice. "It's… it's good to know someone else understands."
She smiled, a knowing glint in her eye. But then, in a complete 180, she smirked mischievously, her demeanor shifting into something playfully devious. "Actually… there's one more thing I could do for you."
Aelorin felt a spark of confusion. "What do you mean?"
She leaned closer, her eyes alight with mischief, and in one swift motion, she reached down, her hand brushing against his thigh in a way that sent a jolt of embarrassment through him. He stiffened, face flushing crimson as his brain scrambled to comprehend what on earth she was doing.
"Uh… What are you doing?" he stammered, the words almost choking in his throat.
She looked up at him with a wicked grin, fingers tapping thoughtfully against his leg. "Just as I suspected," she murmured to herself, her eyes twinkling with amusement. Then, she suddenly burst into laughter, clutching her sides. "Aelorin, it's… it's so… tiny! I didn't even notice it before!"
Aelorin's mouth dropped open, mortification flooding him. He instinctively pulled his knees together, his face turning a deeper shade of red. "That's—that's not fair! It's… it's cold here!" he blurted defensively, his pride taking a serious hit.
"Oh, please!" she cackled, her laughter echoing around them. "It's practically invisible! I mean, what do you even call that—a hiccup of manhood?"
Aelorin groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Can we… can we talk about something else?"
"Oh no, we're talking about this," she said, her voice dripping with feigned seriousness. She stroked her chin thoughtfully, a glint of wickedness in her eyes. "But… if it bothers you that much, I suppose I could do something to help you out."
Aelorin lifted his head slightly, a spark of hope mingling with his lingering embarrassment. "Help me… how?"
She waved her fingers with a flourish, her smirk widening. "A little enhancement spell. You know, just a size upgrade. It's simple magic, really. All you have to do is pick a size."
Aelorin's mind reeled. Was she serious? Could she actually do that? He shifted, feeling awkward but also a little… intrigued. "Uh… I guess… maybe nine? Nine inches?" he muttered, struggling to sound casual but failing miserably.
Shayla raised an eyebrow, giving him an exaggerated look of surprise. "Oh, bold choice, young man!" She chuckled, placing her hand over his trousers again, and this time, a faint pink glow radiated from her fingers. Aelorin's face flushed as the magic washed over him, a cool, tingling sensation spreading through his body. It felt like a strange mix of embarrassment and thrill, and he found himself fighting the urge to look away, his cheeks burning.
As the glow faded, Shayla stepped back, crossing her arms with an expectant look. "Well, go on. Take a peek."
Aelorin swallowed, hesitating for a moment before adjusting his trousers just enough to take a quick look. His eyes widened in shock, a grin breaking across his face as he saw the result. He couldn't believe it—it had actually worked.
"Yes! Yes! I'm finally… complete!" he shouted, pumping his fist in the air, barely able to contain his excitement.
But Shayla simply rolled her eyes, fighting back laughter. "I wouldn't celebrate too soon if I were you," she said, her voice laced with amusement.
Aelorin's grin faltered. "What do you mean?"
She gave him a pitying look, suppressing a smirk. "Until you're sixteen, you won't even be able to… well, let's just say it'll be purely ornamental."
Aelorin's face fell, the thrill of his newfound "upgrade" vanishing in an instant. "You mean… I can't even use it?"
Shayla's laughter burst forth, hearty and unrestrained. "That's right, my dear Aelorin. Consider it… a lesson in patience."
He groaned, dropping his head into his hands. The grand victory he'd imagined had turned into one big cosmic joke at his expense. He flopped onto his back, staring up at the sky with a mixture of frustration and reluctant amusement.
"Great," he muttered, throwing an arm over his eyes. "Now I'm just… absurdly equipped for absolutely no reason."
"Oh, don't be so down," Shayla teased, giving him a light nudge with her foot. "You're practically a walking legend now. People will sing songs about Aelorin the Well-Endowed… who couldn't do a thing about it."
He let out a defeated sigh, unable to hold back a chuckle. Despite the humiliation, there was something oddly hilarious about the entire ordeal. Here he was, a supposed hero on a mystical journey, now burdened with a magical… "enhancement" that served absolutely no purpose. His life had taken some strange turns, but this was on a whole new level.
"Fine," he said with a laugh, shaking his head. "But if anyone ever finds out about this…"
"Oh, don't worry," Shayla assured him, grinning like a fox. "This will be our little secret. Besides, who'd believe you?"
Aelorin chuckled, realizing that she was probably right. And somehow, despite the embarrassment, he felt a little lighter. At least it was not like he had any chance to get disvirgined any time soon.