Chapter 92 – Festival (7)

“Mmph, hah– haah… Ru-Rubia…?”

My mind is chaos. It was already complicated, but now— Slick and sticky sensations Fill everything.

My body burns and tingles. My stomach flutters, limbs going limp. Everything spins, breath tangling. The metallic taste of blood lingers on my bitten lips and tongue.

“Haa… I bit too hard. I’m sorry.”

Rubia’s fingers press against my lips as warm energy erases the blood’s scent.

“Noah. Still not enough?”

Her voice, thick and humid, caresses my ear. What does she mean, not enough?

My head is already—

“Ugh… Ahh, haa…”

I don’t know. Need my greatsword. These trembling hands might not hold it, but… I just need it…

“Looking for your greatsword?”

“Y-yes…”

Shallow breaths tickle my nose, swaying hair brushes my cheek.

Past my cheek, over my head— Rubia’s body draws closer.

“O-oh…”

She doesn’t stop approaching—begins pressing down on me. My barely-supporting arms, already weak and trembling, give way.

“Ngh… Haa…?”

Rubia catches me, slowly lowering me down.

“Ru…bia?”

Her hair sways, tickling my face.

“Here. Take the greatsword.”

The handle touches my fingers. I want to grab it. Want to hold it and see her expression.

But I’m scared. I don’t know why. Maybe… maybe it’s better not seeing anything…

“Not going to take it?”

“I-I will…”

I steady my ragged breathing and grasp the greatsword.

Everything becomes clear.

Rubia’s disheveled hair. Her clothes, her breathing.

Her expression as she bites her lip, holding back.

Her right hand beside my head. Her left hand hovering over my chest.

Her leg between mine.

Her heart racing faster than my own.

“Will you answer now?”

“Answer… what?”

“If you still don’t trust me.”

Her voice, sweet yet growling, ripples through me.

I should answer. But my body won’t let me.

Her breath draws closer. Her hair brushes my cheek.

As our foreheads touch again—

“N-not… enough.”

I don’t know what I just said. Just let out what my body wanted most.

And Rubia, as if wanting the same— Smiles seductively.

And once more, Her lips meet mine.

This time, soft and gentle.

Going deeper, more intertwined.

Everything I am—

Pressed. Crushed. Enveloped.

***

“Noah.”

What… What did I just do? Why did Rubia… Why did she…?

No, wait. What is this situation? Rubia’s a woman, and… well, I am too… But…

…I don’t know.

My thoughts are tangled. Maybe it’s my still-burning lips. Or her scent lingering on me.

Rubia… her small body—

“Noah!”

“Eek! Y-yes?!”

“How long are you going to stay like that?”

“…I-I… This is comfortable…”

“My shoulder hurts.”

“Ugh…”

Sitting just within reach, I tighten my grip on her fingers. The bed rocks beneath us.

“If you won’t come here, I’ll come to you.”

“Eep!”

Finally reaching me, Rubia pulls me into a tight embrace.

Soft yet threatening sensation wraps around my nape.

“Haa… This feels so nice.”

Thump-thump-thump-thump

My heart pounds wildly, trying to burst from my chest. My limbs tremble, breath quickening.

“Do you trust me now?”

Her fingers trace my lips from behind. They part them, tapping my teeth.

“Hngh… ah!”

“Still don’t trust me?”

“I-I do…”

“Good. I’m glad.”

She rests her head on my shoulder. Hot breaths tickle my ear.

“Don’t say things like that again.”

“O-okay…”

“I won’t ask why you thought that way. But next time, just tell me.”

Her fingers trail down my cheek to my neck.

Where her lips had lingered.

“Until you trust me completely, until you can’t think that way anymore, I’ll mark it into you.”

“Ugh…”

“Answer me.”

“Y-yes!”

After stroking my neck, she hugs me again.

“Haa… Hungry?”

“N-no.”

“You should eat something. Want me to get food?”

Her arms start to loosen, body pulling away. I quickly grab them back, leaning into her.

“N-no! Can’t we… just stay like this?”

“…Oh my?”

“If you’re hungry… we could go together…”

“Ah… No, I’m not hungry either… Let’s just stay here.”

“Mm…”

Feeling strength return to her arms, I squirm around to hug her waist.

“H-hold tighter…”

“You might suffocate.”

“Th-that’s okay…”

“Wow…”

She chuckles softly, squeezing tighter.

Not enough to suffocate, body still free—but her consideration makes my heart race more.

“Th-thank you… Thank you, Rubia…”

My tangled thoughts unravel through her. Sad thoughts, unhappy memories, future fears.

Everything overlaid with Rubia.

Someday. Those thoughts might return. They definitely will.

But for now, I want to savor this feeling.

These sensations, her scent, this atmosphere. Want to feel everything about her.

When everything calms. When we settle. I probably won’t meet her eyes. Won’t hold her hand or act normal.

But right now, I want to be happy.

“I’m thankful too, Noah.”

“R-really?”

“Of course. More than I can handle.”

“I-I see… hehe…”

I nuzzle into her soft embrace.

Then—

Thump-thump-thump-thump

Her heartbeat changes—much faster than usual.

“U-um… Rubia…?”

“Haa… Yes?”

Her hot breath, rough breathing—whites out my mind again.

I try shifting, but her arms won’t let go. Try pulling back my hips, but her legs hold firm.

W-what do I do?

If this continues… like before…

“Noah, just one more—”

“R-Rubia! That important thing… from earlier… What was it?”

“Important thing…?”

“Yes… You said you’d explain…”

“Oh.”

She clicks her tongue, releasing me.

Thank goodness… That was close…

“Hoo… I completely forgot.”

“Y-yes… that thing…”

She laughs softly, takes a breath, and speaks:

“I was going to teach you mana control.”

“Huh… Mana?”

What’s she talking about?

Mana? I don’t have any…?

“Yes. During your month-long sleep… Mana developed in your body.”

“W-what?! M-mana? In me?”

“Yes. Want to try sensing it lightly?”

“H-how…?”

She gently wraps her hand around mine.

“You know how my divine power feels?”

“Of course…”

“I’ll flow some into you. Follow its path.”

Her divine power flows into me immediately.

Slowly, slowly.

From fingertips, through shoulder, past heart, to lower abdomen. Through lower body, back to heart.

Then the heart-gathered power—whoosh!

“Ughhh… G-goosebumps…”

When the warm power vanishes, my whole body shivers.

“There… It should be at your heart now, right?”

“…N-no?”

“…What?”

“It spread everywhere…”

“What…?”

I lift my free hand, tracing the power’s path.

“Here… like this… then here… gathered at heart then… whoosh! Gone.”

Silent until now, Rubia suddenly releases my hand and stands.

“W-where are you going…?”

“Getting your greatsword. Let’s try again with it.”

“O-okay…”

Footsteps and clattering fade then return.

“Ugh… Heavy… Here, Noah.”

With a tired sigh, she places the greatsword in my lap.

“Thank you…”

I nod and grip it.

“The greatsword helps you sense better, right?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Let’s try again. Watch where the power disappears.”

Divine power flows in again immediately.

Following the same path, gathering at my heart.

“Well?”

“Uh… uh… huh…?”

“Noah?”

“Th-this… what…?”

The heart-gathered power suddenly spreads throughout my body.

And where it spreads—

“R-Rubia… Something strange… inside me…”

Different from her divine power. Not mana either—some strange energy I can’t understand.