The soft sound of heels clicking against marble echoed through the halls as Leon followed Selene into a private chamber, still high from the rush of victory.
The moment the heavy doors closed behind him, Selene turned.
The faintest smile curved her lips, a predator satisfied by her pet's first successful hunt.
"You did well," she said, voice dripping with velvet.
"Far better than I expected from a newborn."
Leon opened his mouth to reply, but Selene was already in motion.
She closed the distance between them in a breath, her fingers trailing up his chest, tracing the faint outline of the bond mark glowing faintly through his shirt.
"A good pet deserves a reward," she murmured.
Leon's breath hitched as her fingers slipped under the fabric, grazing bare skin. Warmth blossomed under her touch, the bond between them flaring in response.
He felt it-
that addictive pulse of the system feeding off every charged second between them.
Selene leaned in, her lips brushing his ear.
"Relax," she whispered, voice low and commanding.
With practiced ease, she pushed him gently onto a velvet-cushioned chair.
Selene straddled his lap, the tight leather of her corset pressing against his chest, her silver hair falling like a curtain around them.
Her hands wandered shamelessly, unfastening the buttons of his shirt, baring him fully to her touch.
Leon's heart thundered, blood roaring in his ears.
Selene smiled at his reaction, her fingers drifting lower, slow, teasing.
She pressed her soft body against him, her hands expertly caressing his skin, awakening every nerve.
Then, with a wicked glint in her eye, her fingers slipped lower, teasing the waistband of his pants...
before trailing back up, savoring his tension.
"This," she said, her tongue flicking his earlobe, "is the first taste of what you can earn."
Leon could barely breathe as Selene shifted closer, the bond mark between them pulsing hot and urgent.
Their systems synced more tightly with every beat, her body feeding him not just physical pleasure, but raw *energy*.
[Bond Sync: 72%]
[Temporary Boost: Vitality +2 | Recovery Rate Increased.]
The pleasure and power mingled, overwhelming in its intensity.
Selene leaned back slightly, smirking as she watched him struggle to maintain control.
"You're hungry," she whispered. "Good. You'll need it for what's coming."
She slid off him as gracefully as she had mounted, leaving him aching, burning, and strangely empowered.
Leon sat there, catching his breath, the aftershocks of the bond reward thrumming through his entire body.
Selene turned at the door, casting him a wicked look.
"Don't get comfortable, little one. Your next lessons won't be nearly so gentle."
Leon barely had time to gather himself before Aria entered, her usual cocky smirk in place.
She tossed him a wooden practice sword, the weapon clattering at his feet.
"Get up," she said simply.
"Selene gives you sweet kisses. I give you broken ribs if you slack off."
Leon groaned, pushing to his feet, already feeling the soreness creeping into his muscles.
Aria pointed the tip of her sword at him.
"Today, we teach you how to fight for real."
Without waiting for a response, she lunged.
And just like that, Leon's next trial began.
Leon barely had time to lift the wooden sword before Aria was on him.
Crack!
Her practice blade slammed against his, sending jolts of pain up his arms. He stumbled back, breath catching in his throat.
Aria didn't let up.
She pressed forward with relentless speed, striking low, then high, then feinting before aiming for his ribs.
Leon blocked the first few clumsily, but the last one slipped through and jabbed his side.
He grunted in pain, stumbling again.
"Sloppy!" Aria barked. "Move your feet, not just your arms!"
Leon gritted his teeth and circled warily, adjusting his stance.
The system chimed in his mind:
[Combat Tips Available: Activate?]
Without hesitation, Leon mentally screamed 'yes'.
Instantly, faint golden lines appeared before his eyes, predicting Aria's next few movements by a fraction of a second.
She lunged
Leon side-stepped just barely in time, her blade whistling past his ear.
Aria raised an eyebrow. "Good. You're starting to think. Maybe you're not hopeless after all."
But then she pivoted fast, sweeping his legs out from under him.
Leon crashed to the ground, groaning.
Aria planted the tip of her sword at his throat, smirking.
"First rule of real fights," she said, voice low and firm. "You don't get points for surviving. You get points for winning."
Leon struggled to his feet, his muscles screaming in protest.
Aria gave him no time to recover.
The next hour blurred into a brutal rhythm of strikes, counters, falls, and corrections.
Every time Leon thought he was improving, Aria pushed harder, faster, sharper.
He could feel the bruises forming already, his body battered and exhausted.
But underneath the pain, something else stirred, a spark he hadn't felt before.
A stubborn fire refusing to die.
The system chimed again, quieter this time, almost approving:
[Minor Progress Detected:
New Passive Skill: Pain Adaptation Lv.1]
[Effect: Minor reduction to stamina loss under physical stress.]
Leon wiped blood from his lip and grinned fiercely.
He was surviving.
He was adapting.
He was becoming stronger.
Aria finally called a halt, tossing her sword aside.
She crossed her arms, studying him critically.
"You're rough," she said, not unkindly. "But you're tougher than I thought."
Leon, panting heavily, managed a breathless grin.
"I learn fast."
Aria smirked. "Good. Because tomorrow? We start real weapon drills. And trust me what you've seen so far? That was just foreplay."
Leon swallowed hard.
He wasn't sure if he should be terrified... or excited.