Mariana, sitting with the dagger in her hands, watched Klaus with a gaze that blended gratitude with something deeper. "Do you really think I can become as strong as you?" she asked, her soft voice carrying a vulnerability that made Klaus's heart beat faster. She tucked a strand of brown hair behind her ear, her green eyes gleaming in the lantern's light.
Klaus leaned against the wooden wall, trying to maintain his composure. "You've got agility and instinct. With training, you'll surpass this in no time. But first, we need to eat. Can't fight on an empty stomach." He forced a smile, looking away to hide the warmth creeping up his neck.
She laughed, a light sound that echoed in the cabin. "No delivery around here, huh? What've you got?" Klaus rummaged through his inventory, pulling out a Celestial Ration and an Advanced Ration. "It's simple, but it'll keep us going," he said, handing her the Celestial Ration—a glowing bar that restored Vitality—and breaking the Advanced Ration, a piece of bread with dried meat, offering her half.
As they ate, a subtle tension grew. "How did you become… all this?" Mariana asked, nibbling on the bar, her moist lips catching the light. Klaus swallowed hard before answering. "I was just an ordinary guy, reading manga. The apocalypse gave me this race—Baby Celestial Dragon. I had to learn the hard way." Their eyes met, and a shiver ran through him.
"And the curse?" She tilted her head, her hair falling to one side, exposing her delicate neck. Klaus hesitated, the curse pulsing in his mind. "Curse of Lust. It amplifies desires… intensely. I've managed it with Curse Resistance, but it's a constant struggle." Mariana blushed, but her eyes didn't waver. "That must be hard. If you need… help, I'm here." The suggestion hung in the air, and Klaus felt heat rising, forcing himself to focus on the food.
Lunch ended in charged silence. The Celestial Ration restored 20% of Mariana's Vitality, and the Advanced Ration gave Klaus a 10% boost. He wiped his hands, trying to ignore the growing desire. "Let's train. Show me your stance with the dagger," he said, his voice slightly strained.
Training began with Klaus guiding Mariana. "Feet firm, knees bent," he instructed, standing behind her to adjust her arms. The touch of his hands on her shoulders sent an electric shock through him, the curse of lust reacting fiercely. The warmth of Mariana's body against his intensified the heat, and he felt desire pulse through his veins.
"Is this okay?" she asked, turning her head. Their faces were inches apart, her lips parted, her warm breath brushing his skin. Klaus stepped back abruptly, his heart racing. "Yeah, perfect. Now try a block," he said, his voice hoarse.
Mariana attempted the move but stumbled, falling against him. Her hands slid across his chest, fingers tracing the contours of his muscles through his tattered shirt. The contact sparked like a flame, and the curse flooded his mind with vivid images—her body beneath his, soft moans, skin against skin. "Sorry!" she exclaimed, blushing, but she didn't pull away, her green eyes locked on his with a mix of shyness and invitation.
Klaus fought to activate Curse Resistance and Mental Resistance, but her proximity made the battle nearly unbearable. "It's fine," he murmured, his voice trembling. "But… maybe we should stop." Mariana bit her lip, an unconscious gesture that left him breathless. "Klaus, have you ever thought about using the curse? If it's with me… consensual… it could make you stronger, right?" The boldness in her words set his blood on fire.
He swallowed hard, his eyes tracing her body—the curve of her breasts under her torn blouse, the long legs in tight pants. "It's tempting," he admitted, his voice low and rough. "But I don't want it to be just for power. If it happens, it has to be because we truly feel it." Mariana stepped closer, the space between them nearly gone. "I feel it," she whispered, her hand brushing his arm. "Do you?"
Desire consumed him. The curse amplified every touch, every glance, promising 40 attribute points if satisfaction was complete. He imagined pulling her close, feeling her skin, losing himself in her warmth. His hands trembled, and he clenched them into fists. "Mariana… this changes everything," he said, his control hanging by a thread. She tilted her head, her lips inches from his. "Then change it. I'm ready."
Klaus hesitated, torn between duty and desire. The cabin seemed to shrink, the air heavy with the promise of something forbidden. He stepped back, taking a deep breath. "Let's sleep. Tomorrow… we'll decide." Mariana nodded, her gaze filled with frustration and longing, as she lay down with the blanket. Klaus kept watch, his mind swirling with images the curse refused to let fade.