«Where are you taking me, my sweet Aoshi?» Eliss asks with girlish excitement, sitting on the back of the bike seat and holding onto him tightly.
«To the only place worth mentioning around here — or well, sort of around here. The trail along the Chikuma River. I've never been there myself, but I know where it is, and everyone who's gone says it's a peaceful spot surrounded by nature. Since I've been meaning to visit anyway, I figured… why not kill two birds with one stone?» Aoshi replies.
At those words, Eliss's eyes sparkle brighter than the stars.
«So you really chose to take me somewhere romantic? I'm so happy! And on top of that — it's your first time there, and you decided to go with me! I can't wait to see it. Maybe it'll be the first of many "first times", hmm?» she says, her tone playfully suggestive.
«Eliss, take it easy… It's already hard enough not to lose control when you're this close. The least you could do is not make it even harder,» Aoshi mutters, his face redder than the hoodie he's wearing.
«I-I'm not doing it on purpose! The words just slip out… Just cover your ears or something!» she blurts, in one of those rare flashes of clarity and self-control that still manage to surface despite the growing weight of the charm spell clouding her mind.
In the early days, during those brief moments of lucidity, she was even able to regain control of her body for a few seconds. Now, she can barely control her voice. And the thought of what might happen once her will is completely overtaken by the charm terrifies her—just as much as it terrifies Aoshi.
So far, resisting Eliss's irresistible allure has been difficult but manageable for him. She's never gone too far, acting only like a slightly over-affectionate girlfriend. But what will happen once the spell's influence fully takes over, stripping away every last restraint in her mind? Even she doesn't know for sure—though it isn't hard to imagine.
«Cover my ears, huh? Even if I were in a coma, I couldn't pretend not to hear you…» Aoshi grumbles.
«Look on the bright side — if I were ugly, it'd be way more embarrassing to have me glued to you day and night, right?» Eliss chirps. Yes, in case it isn't obvious yet, she's the very embodiment of superficiality.
«If you were ugly, it'd definitely be easier not to fall into… certain inappropriate temptations,» Aoshi replies.
It takes them over an hour of hard pedaling to finally reach the entrance to the trail—and by the time they do, it's already close to two in the morning.
Eliss's first thought as she steps off the bike:
This place is so… so beautiful! The moonlight reflecting on the river turns the leaves silver, and it's so quiet—just the sound of water and insects! I didn't think the human world had places this enchanting. It's so romantic… I can't wait to lie on the grass in Aoshi's arms and fall asleep under the night sky!
Aoshi's first thought:
How the hell am I supposed to bike another hour back home? What a pain…
After locking the bike to a lamppost and praying to whatever god might be listening that it'll still be there when they return, Aoshi walks into the forest surrounding the trail, with Eliss following close behind.
Tch. Everything's going exactly as planned! Eliss grins to herself in satisfaction. Now that we're in a quiet, secluded place—far from everything and everyone—he has no excuse left to resist me! I know it's wrong, that I shouldn't, but… come on, just one kiss. I swear on my honor as a princess of the Ravessia Kingdom that I won't go any further—and I'll stop him if he tries to! Yeah, sure… who am I kidding? Still, this guy is seriously difficult! I get why he doesn't want to get too attached to me… but do humans really fall in love just from a kiss? Or from having sex? S-Sex…?! Am I seriously thinking about having sex with him?! Damn it, Eliss—you swore you'd keep your precious royal virginity for the one who makes your heart race like crazy!
BOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM!
Damn it… and that's exactly what it's doing right now! The silence around them is so deep she can actually hear her own frantic heartbeat. C-Calm down, Eliss… it's just the charm spell's effect — it's just the charm magic — ah, screw it! If in twenty years I've never met anyone who could make my heart race, maybe it's fate that the magic backfired that night! Yes, it must be fate, pushing me into my beloved Aoshi's arms — there's no other explanation!
Seriously, Eliss has never worked this hard in her life to convince herself that giving in to Aoshi is the right choice. Every neuron not yet subdued by the charm is screaming "Absolutely not, you idiot! What are you thinking?!" but they're hopelessly outnumbered — every other part of her body is pulling the other way.
«The rumors I heard about this place don't do it any justice…» Aoshi says, completely mesmerized by the view, already forgetting the hour-long bike ride waiting for him on the way back.
«Yeah, it really is magnificent…» Eliss agrees softly. «…Everything about this place is magnificent — especially you.»
Aoshi freezes instantly—his breath catches like a diver running out of air. Not just because of her words, but because of that touch: that not-so-accidental brush of her fingers. Eliss's hand grazes his, then hooks her pinky around his in a timid attempt to hold hands. But Aoshi immediately pulls away.
«Eliss, please, stop…» Aoshi murmurs, more serious than he's ever been in his life.
«Why don't you want me, Aoshi? Why do you keep pushing me away?!» Eliss bursts out, her emerald eyes glistening under the moonlight.
She clings to his arm, pressing it tightly between her breasts, but once again Aoshi pulls free. He stumbles back, unsteady — trying to put distance between them, but it's nowhere near enough to make her stop.
Tears streaming down her cheeks, Eliss throws herself at him again — this time aiming not for his arm, but his entire body.
Her inhuman reflexes give him no chance to react. She crashes into him with all her weight, knocking him backward onto the grass and landing on top of him. She locks her legs around his to pin them down, then grabs his wrists and presses them against the ground.
Eliss may look like an ordinary girl, but she isn't — she's a demon, and her strength far surpasses that of a guy like Aoshi, who's never seen the inside of a gym.
«Aoshi…» Eliss breathes, her tongue peeking out between her full, half-open lips. «…I beg you — make me yours…»