As Caelum gazed at Sera, he found himself caught by the softness of her features, the slight flush of her cheeks, the warmth in her eyes. The moment her lips pressed against his, a sensation unlike any he'd known washed over him—a blend of sweetness and fire, something he couldn't pull away from even if he tried. She felt impossible to push away; instead, her closeness seemed to awaken something primal and deeply rooted within him.
Sera's arms wrapped around him, and unconsciously, Caelum pulled her fully into his embrace, his own hands finding her back, pressing her close. Though her dress had been untied and slightly lifted, modesty still preserved by her bra, there was nothing explicit between them—only the consuming pull of desire, of a mutual need that neither fully understood yet couldn't resist.
Her lips moved in rhythm with his, and as the kiss deepened, he felt Sera's tongue brush against his, a soft invasion that sent an electric thrill down his spine. The two dissolved into each other's arms, their shared breath growing heavier as each kiss felt more intoxicating than the last. Time blurred as their lips remained locked, minutes passing in a haze of passion and warmth.
When they finally drew apart, their faces were flushed, breaths mingling as they held each other's gaze. The silence between them felt charged with everything they hadn't said, every emotion expressed in that kiss alone.
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The silence that filled the room was thick with lingering tension as Sera quickly pulled back, her cheeks flushed with a mix of surprise and embarrassment. She glanced around, relieved that Mira, Elara, and Liana were still asleep, blissfully unaware of what had just unfolded. Heart pounding, she sprang up, making a quick escape to the bathroom, leaving Caelum sitting there, frozen in place.
Caelum stared at the door she'd just closed behind her, an odd mixture of emotions swirling within him—astonishment, a strange sense of fulfillment, and a twinge of awkwardness. His fingers drifted to his lips, brushing the spot where Sera's mouth had been only moments ago. He could still feel the warmth of her kiss, like an imprint left upon him, one that felt both strange and familiar all at once. The world around him seemed to have shrunk, focusing entirely on that single point of contact and the sensation it had left behind.
Gradually, his breathing slowed, and he readjusted his position, finding a more relaxed stance as he tried to gather his thoughts. The moment they'd shared had surprised him in ways he hadn't anticipated, and he wasn't sure what to make of it. All he knew was that something had shifted between them, a new energy that now lingered in the air, filling the room with an invisible charge.
As he sat there with his eyes closed, waiting in silence, he let his mind drift, doing his best to clear his thoughts. But despite his efforts, his mind kept pulling him back to the feeling of her body against his, the softness of her lips, and the way she'd looked at him with that gentle, vulnerable expression. He took a steadying breath, reminding himself that he had come here with a purpose, one that involved training and discipline—emotions that were quickly proving hard to maintain.
Moments passed, and then he felt a gentle touch on his shoulder. Opening his eyes, he turned to find Sera standing there, fully dressed and ready. She gave him a nod, signaling that it was time to go, though her gaze held an uncertainty that mirrored his own.
Caelum's breath caught as he took in the sight before him. Sera was dressed in her training attire—a fitted set of robes and trousers specifically designed to allow ease of movement during combat. The outfit was crafted from a light, flexible material, shaped to enhance agility while providing durability against wear and tear. However, it was the way the fabric hugged her frame that caught his attention. The contours of the attire skimmed every curve, accentuating the natural shape of her body. The cloth hugged her shoulders, fitted snugly around her torso, then tapered down along her waist in a way that accentuated the elegance of her figure.
His gaze couldn't help but drift downwards, noting the way the fabric cinched around her waist, outlining her form before flowing over her hips in a way that felt both modest and undeniably flattering. Her curves were subtly, yet clearly, defined, the snug fit of her attire revealing the gentle slopes that made up her silhouette. There was a certain grace in her appearance, a strength that she carried effortlessly, and Caelum found himself drawn in, unable to look away.
Sera shifted slightly under his gaze, the color in her cheeks rising once more as she met his eyes. "Are you ready to go?" she asked, her tone laced with a hint of awkwardness as she averted her gaze.
Caelum quickly cleared his throat, nodding as he stood, feeling a slight warmth rise in his own cheeks. "Yes, let's go," he replied, struggling to keep his voice steady as he shook his head slightly, forcing himself to focus. Ever since that kiss, his thoughts had been stubbornly drifting back to her, and seeing her now, standing before him with that soft blush coloring her cheeks, made it all the more difficult to keep his composure.
Taking a step toward the door, Caelum reached for the handle, only to pause when Sera's hand reached out, gently catching his arm. He turned to look at her, eyebrows raised in question.
"Do you really plan on going through the front door?" she asked, a teasing smile playing at the corners of her lips as she gestured toward the room around them. "Are you trying to cause another commotion?"
He blinked, taken aback, before glancing back at the door. Her words made him recall the chaos that had erupted when he'd first entered the dormitory—girls crowding around, murmurs of surprise and excitement filling the halls, all eyes on him. The last thing he wanted was to repeat that scene, especially after what had just transpired between them.
Sera raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by his hesitation. "It's not that difficult to sneak out, you know," she added, her gaze shifting toward the window.
The corner of Caelum's mouth twitched as he let out a soft chuckle. She had a point. "The window".
Sera shrugged, the faintest hint of mischief glinting in her eyes. "I'm not about to let you cause a scene for the second time tonight." She stepped back, gesturing for him to follow her lead as she moved toward the window.
Caelum followed, feeling a strange mix of amusement and admiration for the girl standing beside him. She was quick-witted and clever, and despite the awkwardness that still lingered between them, he couldn't help but feel a newfound respect for her.
With one last glance around the room to make sure they hadn't woken anyone, Caelum carefully climbed out the window, landing quietly on the grass below. A moment later, Sera followed, her movements graceful and silent as she joined him outside. The two shared a brief, knowing look before they began walking, a comfortable silence settling between them as they made their way toward the training grounds.
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