Elion didn't struggle on the way back to the dorms.
If anything, with every few steps he took, he could feel his body recovering, muscles knitting themselves back together, his breath steadying, and his stamina slowly returning.
Must be thanks to my physique, he thought, rolling his shoulders as the lingering fatigue faded.
By the time he reached his room, the ache in his legs had dulled to something distant and manageable.
He showered quickly, steam rising around him as the last of the training grime washed away.
The heat soothed what little soreness remained, clearing his head as much as his body.
When he stepped out and dried off, he felt almost entirely refreshed, only a muted reminder of Selene's torture class clinging to his muscles.
He eased into his night clothes, comfortable and clean.
A subtle bottle of cologne caught his eye in the cupboard.
He paused… then applied a small amount to his neck. Just enough to be noticeable up close.
Locking his door, he stepped into the hallway, feeling oddly steady.
His feet carried him directly to Aria's dorm area and to her door.
He knocked once.
The door opened immediately, as if she'd been waiting right beside it.
Aria stood framed in warm light, which gave her blue hair a hint of red.
Her breath caught slightly when she saw him.
A slow, bright smile curved her lips.
"I was expecting you, love," she said.
Then she took a fistful of his shirt, pulled him inside, shut the door with a firm slam—
—and kissed him without a moment's hesitation.
"Mmmmmm."
They stepped inside, the wet slurps of their lips echoing out, only to break apart with another smack a few seconds in, a thin line of saliva connecting their wet lips.
Elion's gaze traveled over her body, taking in every detail of her appearance.
She wore a sensual nightgown of pale blue silk, the fabric clinging to her curves in a way that left little to the imagination.
Where she had gotten such a sexy nightgown in the academy was a mystery; maybe she always had it with her.
The gown had thin straps that draped over her shoulders, showcasing her smooth, creamy skin.
The bodice was fitted, accentuating her full breasts and narrow waist before flaring out gently at her hips.
The fabric was very thin and partly transparent, so he could see her undergarments beneath the gown.
The hem fell too high above her thighs, offering a tantalizing, nice view of her creamy legs, all of her thicc thighs, and the lower curves of her juicy ass cheeks whenever she moved.
Wow.
Elion could not help but be aroused. She certainly knew how to turn him on; if her good taste was a stroke of luck or good intuition, he did not know.
"You look beautiful," Elion murmured, his voice low and husky with arousal. "Absolutely stunning."
Aria blushed at his words, ducking her head modestly. "Thank you," she replied softly, her fingers nervously smoothing the front of her nightgown. "I wasn't sure if you would come tonight... But I prepared myself for you anyway."
Her dedication is certainly cute.
Elion stepped closer, his presence filling the doorway as he leaned in slightly.
"How could I stay away?" he asked, his tone laced with sincerity. "Not when you look like this, not when I know what awaits me behind this door."
He raised a hand, tracing the line of her delicate jawline with a feather-light touch that sent shivers down her spine.
Aria's breath hitched as she tilted her face up to meet his gaze, her eyes dark with longing.
He understood why she suddenly felt vulnerable, why she thought she needed to do more to please him.
"Did you think I would go to Mira instead?" Elion said, his thumb stroking her cheekbone. He searched her eyes, noting the flicker of vulnerability there.
Aria hesitated for a moment, then gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. "Mira... she can be very persuasive," she admitted, her voice dropping even lower.
"I saw the way you two were laughing earlier. And after our class today... I just assumed maybe you'd rather spend time with someone a bit more mature, less... childish."
Elion remained quiet, his expression unreadable as he processed her words.
He didn't withdraw his touch, but his hand stilled on her face. The silence stretched between them.
Finally, Aria couldn't stand it any longer.
She needed to know, one way or another.
Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to ask the question that had been plaguing her mind since Mira's appearance today.
"D-Do-Do you... like her?" Her gaze shifted downward, and her tone sounded uncertain, hesitant, and vulnerable.
She continued, "Is it true?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "What Mira said about you two, did you...sleep with her...?"
As expected, she would ask.
Elion hesitated for a moment before nodding slowly. "Yes," he admitted, his gaze never wavering from hers. "We've... been intimate, like I have, with you."
The words seemed to strike Aria like a physical blow.
She reeled back slightly, shifting out of his embrace, her breath hitching audibly.
Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill over. Hearing Mira say it to her was one thing.
Hearing straight from Elion himself was a different matter.
"Am... am I not enough for you?" she choked out, her voice breaking on the last word. "Tell me, Elion. Please."
The sight of her tears was almost enough to break Elion's heart.
But he had more or less expected Aria to react like this.
He had expected this, the fallout from Mira's big mouth, but seeing the actual wound he'd inadvertently caused was uncomfortable.
He reached out, cupping her face gently and brushing away the single tear that had escaped down her cheek.
"Aria," he murmured, his voice soft and tender. "You are more than enough. You're everything."
He paused, searching for the right words. "I will admit, I am somewhat drawn to Mira's... sinful body. Her slutty nature, her aggression in bed. But if I had to choose, if I could only be with one person, it would be you. In a heartbeat."
Aria looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Really?" she whispered, hope flickering in her gaze.
"Really," Elion confirmed, his thumb stroking her cheekbone. "I am drawn to Mira by Lust. But. You're the one I want, Aria. With all my heart."
She leaned into his touch, her eyes fluttering closed for a moment as she savored the feel of his hand on her skin.
"Aria." He said softly, "I love you, never question that."
She opened her eyes wide again; more tears threatened to spill forth, but there was also a new determination in her gaze.
Her pupils narrowed into pinpricks, and the brightest smile bloomed across her lips.
"Then show me," she whispered, her voice steady and sure. "Show me that I'm the one you want. That I'm enough for you."
Inwardly, Elion smiled, simple words, he thought. And yet...I have her right where I want her now.
Without another word, he surged forward, crushing his lips to hers.
"Mmmmmm..."
[Warning!!!]
The sudden noise in his mind made him break the kiss abruptly.
[Aria has become a yandere!]
[Ding!]
[✔ Hidden Quest Completed]
Huh!?