Erik returned to the academy the next day. Thankfully, it was a rest day, or else the students would have been complaining about their late instructor on the field again.
"Why do you smell of alcohol? Did Oro really drink too much again?" Selene waved her hand in front of her nose as if she was about to faint from the stench.
"I attended a party at Hank's place and didn't realize I drank so much," Erik said, a little puzzled. He rarely indulged like this. A Reincarnator must have a high level of self-control to live long, but yesterday, it felt like he was compelled, glass after glass, until he was completely drunk.
"I must have been caught up in the atmosphere," he tried to excuse himself, but the memory lingered. That feeling of swaying the crowd, of having the power to stir emotions was truly incredible. When surrounded by people, it was like being both clear-headed and intoxicated at the same time, standing at the center of the world, and feeling the resonance of the world as his voice spread in all directions.
Although his plans were far from being realized, the joy of controlling his life was intoxicating.
Perhaps this was the feeling that the Master of Gods experienced—he thought so for a moment.
The unparalleled pleasure of manipulating people's hearts was incomparable.
I have many more ideas yet to be realized. I don't need others to kneel or crawl, but I'll make those extraordinary people move according to my will. Their joys, their pains, I will control them all.
This sensation almost made him lose control, which is why he drank so much.
"Are you happy?" Selene, having helped him change into his pajamas, glanced at Erik, her cold demeanor almost like when they first met.
Erik, moved by her proud and alluring appearance, reached out to touch her face, and it felt soft under his hand.
Selene stared at him for a moment, slowly leaning down. Just as she was about to get closer, she hesitated, then seemed to make up her mind and wrapped her arms around Erik.
Erik was somewhat surprised; Selene wasn't usually like this, but her actions caught his attention. He wanted to speak but held back.
One hand slid under her pajama, slowly and firmly gripping him.
Erik almost immediately became aroused.
Then her flushed face drew nearer. Selene straddled his waist, her pale skin glowing under the faint light, with a thin layer of red spreading across her, leaving him breathless.
Her head dropped lower and lower, and her breath became rapid, her body shifting like a graceful knight in full armor, seductive and captivating.
"I want you, Erik," she whispered, her long lashes hiding her eyes, preventing Erik from seeing her gaze.
Erik was about to speak, but her hand tightened on him slightly, making him gasp.
"Aren't you worried about the professor?" he teased the knight, who smiled but didn't respond. She slowly slid down, unbuttoning her pajamas and burying her head.
The warm, moist interior instantly surrounded him, and Erik tilted his head, taking a deep breath.
They had shared many wonderful memories, but never had they gone this far. Selene, at her core, was a reserved woman, and the mischievous Erik enjoyed seeing her flustered when teased. That's why they had never crossed the final line. Now, he was about to have her, and a sense of fulfillment washed over him.
Is this the peak of life?
Selene moved slowly, taking him deeply, all the way to her throat. Though inexperienced, her actions still brought immense pleasure. Being so tenderly cared for by this usually cold woman was far more satisfying than any ordinary pleasure. The intensity of it surpassed anything he had ever experienced.
After a while, Erik picked Selene up and laid her down. Her loosened pajamas revealed her fair skin, and he kissed every part of her, not missing a single spot. His lips traveled over her delicate collarbones and rising mounds. Selene gasped softly, her body curling involuntarily, her long legs twisting with force.
Erik spread her long legs and entered her deeply, moving with slow rhythm, causing Selene to moan in satisfaction.
"You're different today," he murmured after a long time, embracing her from behind and kissing her shoulder.
Selene remained silent, still holding him inside, her body showing no signs of relaxing. It made her feel uneasy, as if another storm might come at any moment.
Her intuition was spot-on. The bed soon began to shake again.
Turning around, Selene looked at Erik over her shoulder. Her usually clear blue eyes were now shimmering, filled with mist. A thin layer of sweat formed on her skin, growing as Erik pressed down on her, soaking her body and the sheets.
Her voice sounded like a song from deep within her throat, intermittent, carrying a sense of longing and desire, but it was unclear whether it was sadness or joy, or perhaps both were now entwined.
Erik's hands roamed over her body, caressing every part, leaving his mark. The rhythm of their movements grew stronger, and the waves of pleasure surged higher and higher, seemingly never to end.
It wasn't until the late afternoon sun began to set that their passionate entanglement began to subside.
Erik held Selene tightly, their bodies drenched in sweat. Selene was utterly exhausted, her face pale as if she had passed out, her chest rising and falling.
After a long silence, her voice broke the quiet.
"I'm leaving, Erik," Selene said.
"My papers are done, and I've found a job out West. I'm going to start a new life there."
Erik stiffened, his body frozen for a moment, then slowly relaxed.
"I've wanted to be an actress since I was a child, to perform on stage like those famous people, to sing loudly and have my father and sisters cheer for me, but... they're no longer here. It wasn't until you came that I had a new life. Now, I want to fulfill my dream."
Erik listened quietly to Selene's words.
"Since I came here, the weight of the past has drifted away, and my childhood memories have become more and more precious. I watch the people on TV and think I could live like them. I... want to try." Selena's voice was soft, like bubbles rising and falling, impossible to pin down.
Erik suddenly felt like he was holding onto an illusion, that if he let go, she would vanish.
"Erik?" Selene called his name.
"Of course, you're free," Erik answered after a long pause.
***
The sky had darkened.
Selene had packed her bags, leaving behind only a couple of guns, the weapons she had brought from her own world.
"This can be a keepsake," Erik said to himself with a self-deprecating smile, accepting the reality.
There was no reason to stop someone from pursuing their dreams, was there?
Especially someone so close to him.
"I think I'll come back. I'll miss you," Selene kissed him gently, holding back the urge to bite down. In her eyes, this man who had accompanied her through two worlds was her most precious memory, even more than her love for herself. But she had decided to pursue a new life.
"Will you miss me?" she asked.
"No," Erik replied. "You're always in my heart."
"Even if we're thousands of miles apart, maybe when we meet again, I'll have forgotten what you look like." Erik stroked her soft hair, speaking softly, a feeling rising in him that this might be the last time they would meet in this world.
The last bus slowly entered the station, the driver opened the door, waiting for passengers to board.
"I'm leaving," Selene hugged him tightly, as if trying to merge with him.
"Go ahead," Erik patted her back, but couldn't help thinking to himself. "Or stay."
"Really leaving?" Selene looked back at him as she slowly stepped away. "I'm going to live freely?" It almost sounded like a statement, but with a questioning tone.
Erik waved her off.
Under the bright moonlight, Selene walked slowly toward the bus, looking back one last time as she boarded.
Erik watched her lonely, slender figure disappear into the bus, and suddenly an indescribable emotion surged in his chest. He shouted at the bus as it drove off:
"The Selene in my heart is a moon goddess. Every time she shows her grace, I am entranced by her."
The bus sped away, carrying the strong, beautiful woman on her new journey.
Erik turned and walked away through the drifting dust. The moonlight was like water, and the stars sparkled. With the guidance of the stars and moon, he walked further away, like a migratory bird with no attachments, vanishing into the wind.
When the road curved ahead, he stopped, looked back at the empty station, the dim lights flickering, and no one remained.
He gazed there for a long time, then finally turned back on his path.
This day, he truly felt what it was like to stand at the center of the world, as he slid down from the peak.
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