Soren Arden POV
Crunch
Drip... drip…
A week had passed since Soren had agreed to let Lilliana drink his blood regularly, and the situation they were currently in had slowly become familiar enough that he barely questioned it anymore.
Lilliana was perched lightly on his lap, her arms looped loosely around his neck.
Her posture was relaxed, almost practised now, her small body fitting against his as though it had always belonged there.
Her lips hovered near the wound at his neck, tongue tracing the edge of it with careful precision, as if she were trying to soothe it rather than aggravate it.
The first few times had been unbearable.
Too close.
Too intimate.
Too aware of every breath, every shift of weight, every accidental brush of skin.
But repetition dulled embarrassment.
Her weight was negligible, barely more than a warm presence, and with his neck at the perfect height, the position was simply… practical, efficient, comfortable, even.
They had tried other arrangements at the beginning, ones that felt more "appropriate."
Standing while she fed from behind.
Sitting while she leaned over him from the side.
None of them had worked.
Her legs always gave out the moment she started drinking.
No matter how much she insisted she was fine, the second her fangs pierced skin, and she began drawing blood, her knees would tremble and fail her.
It had happened enough times that they had stopped pretending it wouldn't.
So this became the compromise.
Lick… lick…
Soren swallowed reflexively, fingers curling slightly against the fabric of his trousers.
The sensation wasn't painful, not anymore, but it wasn't something he could fully tune out, either.
There was a strange numb warmth to it, like pressure rather than injury.
He exhaled slowly, forcing himself to relax.
He had also made more progress with blood magic over the past week.
With Lilliana's guidance, he was now able to absorb magically formed blood created through [Hemokinesis].
It still had to be done orally, unfortunately, which made the process uncomfortable in its own way, but it was progress nonetheless.
Slurp.
He grimaced faintly, then smoothed his expression.
There was also the matter of Amelia.
Ever since the blood-drinking agreement had begun, he'd had to tell Amelia multiple times that they couldn't have lunch together.
Each excuse had been thin, each apology clumsier than the last.
He could tell it was getting to her.
She didn't follow him around as much anymore.
'I should talk to her soon,' he thought.
He knew her well enough to recognise the signs.
She wasn't angry.
Amelia didn't get angry easily, but she was hurt, and that hurt lingered quietly, like something left unsaid between them.
The truth was, he missed her.
After the thief attack, stepping out alone had never quite felt safe again.
Even if nothing happened, his body stayed tense, always waiting for something to go wrong.
But when Amelia was nearby, that constant edge dulled.
Not just because she was stronger than him, but because her presence grounded him.
He clenched his jaw slightly.
'I really do need to explain.'
Lick… lick…
"Hahhh…"
Lilliana finally pulled away, lips faintly red, breath uneven.
She blinked at him, eyes tired, her usual composure dulled by fatigue.
"Should we…" she paused, swallowing. "Continue the lesson?"
Soren glanced at her face, then at the clock on the wall.
Given her schedule, teaching, tutoring, and managing her garden, it was honestly impressive she had lasted this long.
"Do you want to?" he asked gently.
She shook her head immediately.
"I'm tired."
That was answer enough.
"Want food?" he offered.
Nod.
He adjusted his grip and scooped her up easily, her body light in his arms.
She didn't protest, didn't even tense, simply letting herself be carried.
He set her down carefully on the sofa, arranging her like a doll before pulling his cloak over his shoulders.
"I'll be back in half an hour," he said quietly. "Alright?"
Another nod.
Her eyes were already closed.
'She'll probably be asleep by the time I get back.'
The thought made him smile faintly.
To him, she wasn't a teacher anymore.
She was just Lilliana.
Just his friend.
••✦ ♡ ✦•••
Shiver.
"Ugh… it's so cold…"
Soren tugged his cloak tighter around himself as he stepped out into the open air.
Summer nights at Stellaris were deceptive.
The days were warm, sometimes even sweltering, but once the sun dipped low enough, the air sharpened into something biting.
The wind cut through his cloak, sneaking in through gaps he hadn't even noticed.
Despite it being the season where people started shedding layers, Soren found himself adding more instead.
He exhaled slowly, watching the mist bloom in front of his face.
"「Ignition」"
A small flame bloomed in his palm.
Not a weapon, not even something that could meaningfully light the street, just enough to chase away the chill creeping into his fingers.
This was something he had learned recently in class, the importance of control.
For the longest time, he had been dumping mana into his spells indiscriminately, firing everything at maximum output because he didn't know any better.
Now, he did.
The flame flickered as the wind passed over it, steady and obedient.
Magic really was miraculous.
As he walked through the restaurant district near the academy, the familiar sounds of evening life surrounded him: muted laughter, clinking dishes, the low hum of conversation spilling out into the streets.
That was when he noticed her.
A girl with brown hair peeked out nervously from behind a building.
He slowed.
She looked familiar.
'Olivia…?'
Since he wasn't in any real rush, he veered off his path and headed toward her, intending to say hello or at least check in.
Before he could call out, her voice cut through the night.
"Please… please leave me alone."
Her voice shook.
Soren sighed quietly.
'Of course.'
The scene unfolding before him was painfully clichéd.
Three older students had her boxed in near the wall, their uniforms loosened and wrinkled, movements sloppy in the way that only came from alcohol and confidence mixed together.
Even from a distance, he could smell it on them.
If this had been someone he didn't know, he probably would have kept walking and reported it to someone else later.
But it wasn't.
He slid his hands into his pockets and walked forward.
"Hey, Olivia," he called casually. "Everything alright?"
"Soren!"
Relief flooded her face so fast it hurt to see.
"Thank goodness. You see, my friend's here now, so you can all—"
She tried to sidestep toward him, voice polite even now, but one of the seniors shifted, blocking her path with an arm.
"Your friend, huh?" the tallest of the three sneered, eyes roaming over Soren openly. "Cute little thing."
His gaze lingered, crawling.
"You can join her," he continued. "We'll show you a good time."
Soren forced a smile.
"Sorry, I like women," he said lightly.
For a moment, there was silence.
Then Olivia blinked.
"…Huh?"
"That can't be right," one of the others scoffed, leaning closer, alcohol heavy on his breath. "You just haven't met the right guy yet."
"Yeah," another added, clicking his tongue. "Give me one night and I'll change your mind."
Their laughter grated against his ears.
Soren tilted his head slightly, expression flat.
"Not interested. Already tried men. Didn't take to it. Women are just better. So, shall we go, Olivia?"
The three seniors stared at him.
Then they burst out laughing.
"Look at this little freak."
"She's got some attitude."
"Bet I could shut that mouth real quick."
Soren almost laughed.
His hand twitched inside his pocket.
'If they knew I was a guy, they'd already be swinging,' he thought dryly. 'Maybe I should be thankful for my face.'
The ringleader leaned toward Olivia again.
"I promise you'll enjoy it."
That was enough.
Soren pulled his hand free, mana already moving.
A brown magic circle flared on his palm.
"「Gaia」."
The ground beneath the seniors softened instantly, cobblestone melting into thick mud that swallowed their boots up to the ankles.
"—What the fuck?!"
The shout was still echoing when Soren grabbed Olivia's wrist and yanked her toward him, fingers digging in as instinct took over.
"Run."
They didn't hesitate.
Olivia stumbled once as they bolted, breath hitching as she tried to keep up.
"Thank you so much, Sorennnn, I thought—!"
"Later," he cut in sharply, not slowing, eyes already scanning ahead. "Keep running."
They didn't slow.
As they ran, fear burned hot in his chest, but irritation bubbled beneath it, ugly and sharp and impossible to ignore.
'Alex,' he thought grimly as his grip tightened. 'You missed another one.'
He could almost forgive Amelia's situation.
She hadn't even really had a relationship with Alex yet, not one that meant anything.
But Olivia?
She was his childhood friend.
What was he doing, letting this happen?
Crackling—
The sound prickled against his skin a split second before instinct screamed.
"Shit. Olivia, duck!"
"Ah—!"
They dove at the same time, bodies slamming into the ground as lightning tore through the space where their heads had been an instant earlier.
The crack was sharp enough to make his ears ring, heat washing over his back as dirt and scorched stone rained down around them.
"Fucking first-years," one of the seniors snarled as he tore himself free of the mud, electricity still crackling faintly around his hand. "Think you're clever?"
"Tch. My new pants are ruined."
"Ugh, give me a break," another scoffed. "I just wanted an easy lay."
Soren's stomach dropped.
They were already free.
'Of course they are,' he thought bitterly, pushing himself up.
'Fucking fantasy world.'
He turned to Olivia quickly, mana already gathering in his palm as he lowered his voice.
"Olivia," he whispered, forcing steadiness into it. "I'll distract them. You get help. A teacher, a peacemaker—anyone."
Her eyes widened, panic cutting straight through the adrenaline.
"What about you?"
"I'll be fine. They won't do anything to me," he said, more confidently than he felt, meeting her gaze so she wouldn't see the doubt flickering underneath.
That was the logic, anyway.
The moment they realised he was a guy, they would lose interest, toss him aside, then walk away.
…Right?
The thought lingered longer than he liked.
"…If you're sure," Olivia said quietly.
He nodded.
"Three… two… one… 「Ignition」."
Fire roared up between them and the seniors, heat blasting outward and forcing them back with startled shouts.
Olivia ran.
Soren exhaled, shoulders tight, and turned just as the flames sputtered out.
Three silhouettes stepped through the thinning smoke.
Barely injured.
"Persistent little bitch."
"Let's teach her a lesson."
"I'll enjoy this."
Soren swallowed, mana gathering despite the hollow twist in his gut.
'Wouldn't it be nice if I could win properly even once?'
He had that thought as he watched the three guys approach.
Up until now, there hadn't been a single fight where he won one-sidedly or was still standing by the end.
'It's a little pathetic..'
"「Breeze」."
Wind slammed beneath his feet, hurling him backwards.
The moment he landed, he turned and sprinted, casting again and again, each burst of air tearing at his legs as he forced his body past what it wanted to give.
"Fuck! She's running!"
"Duh, I can see that dickhead."
"Both of you shut up and get her!"
Pain bloomed in his legs, sharp and cumulative, every step heavier than the last.
'At least it doesn't hurt too badly.'
Ever since his tutoring with Lilliana had begun, he had felt that his pain tolerance had risen drastically.
Eventually…
Thud.
"Cough— shit!"
Stone.
A wall.
Dead end.
He spun around as the seniors closed in, grinning like it was already over.
"Hah… finally caught you!"
"Fucking hell, who uses [Breeze] like that?"
"Hahaha— let's see how mouthy you are now."
Circles flared in their hands, lightning, ice, wind, and Soren braced himself for the worst…
Twang.
An arrow tore through the leader's leg.
"Wh–what the fuck?!"
A bird of ice exploded past the second, freezing him solid in a burst of frost.
"Ghhhh–!"
Lightning crackled as a ram-shaped creature slammed into the third, hurling him aside like trash.
Silence fell, sudden and absolute.
In the span of seconds, the three seniors, his death sentence, were reduced to broken, groaning wrecks.
Soren stood frozen, breath caught somewhere in his chest.
A shadow moved at the alley's entrance.
The cloaked figure approached, each step calm, deliberate.
When the hood fell back, pale-blonde hair caught the moonlight, rose-pink eyes locking onto his.
Long, pointed ears framed her face as pressure rolled off her like an oncoming storm, heavy enough to make his skin prickle.
Soren forgot how to breathe.
She towered over him, radiating pressure like a storm contained in flesh; every inch of her screamed strength.
She crouched in front of him, a gloved hand reaching out.
Soren flinched, but instead of striking, she patted his hair gently.
"It's okay now," she said softly. "I took care of the bad men. You're safe."
"Ah… uhh…"
His voice came out embarrassingly small.
Soren's mind was still in shock from the unexpected situation.
She smiled faintly.
"I'm Yvette," she continued, her tone gentle but sure. "Second-year. And you, little one?"
"S-Soren. First-year," he managed. "Thank you…"
His cheeks burned.
He had never acted timid like this, but the sheer weight of her presence, mixed with his surprise at meeting her, completely crushed his composure.
"Let's get you back to the dorm."
Her hand closed around his, firm and warm, tugging him along.
He was swept away like a child in her orbit, unable to raise his head until they reached the gates.
"Thank you, Senior Yvette," he whispered.
She stroked his hair once more, a simple, thoughtless gesture that made his heart race.
"It was no trouble. Rest well, Sweetie."
Then she pulled her hood back up and vanished into the night without another glance.
Soren remained where he was, heart pounding, long after the pathway had gone quiet again.
————「❤︎」————