Sera's voice cut through the rush of wind. "Are you sure you're alright..?" Her tone held that rare trace of worry as I clung awkwardly to the silver fur of the mount.
After several humiliating attempts at trying to tame my own mount.. Lydia had finally lost patience. Her verdict was: I'd ride with Sera.
"I'm fine," I muttered, half to myself, half to her. "Though honestly, with the way this beast was thrashing, if I fell now, they'd have to peel me off the dirt with a shovel."
She hesitated, her shoulders tightening. "Umm… you can hold onto me if you want." Her voice dropped to something softer, uncertain.
Even from behind I could see her ears turning faint red.
["Do me a favour and don't tell anyone you were a warlord. Please."]
Shut up.
As if on cue, the beast jolted forward, muscles rippling like coiled springs before it launched us into the air.
My body jolted backwards and Instinct overrode everything. My hands shot out to grab whatever was in front of me.
They closed around something. Warm. Soft. Full. My fingers tightened, desperate for balance.
"Aahhnn.."
A sharp sound reached my ears. A moan.
The beast crashed back down, its massive body absorbing the impact.
I slammed against Sera's back, my grip unconsciously tightening on that same softness.
"Ahhnn… Rune…" Her voice trembled, breath spilling in short, uneven gasps.
Confused, I blinked, still holding fast. "What is it?"
"Please... be gentle…"
Her answer came in a sultry whisper that didn't sound like her usual self.
My mind tripped over itself. "Huh?"
I leaned slightly, peering over her shoulder. Her cheeks were flushed pink, her breathing ragged, her body shivering against me.
That's when it struck me.
I was caressing her breasts.
"They're… soft," I murmured near her ear, the words slipping out before I could stop them.
Her whole body jolted. A tremor ran through her frame.
Then, as though her embarrassment caught up all at once, she shrieked, "Remove your hands, you pervert!"
"Alright, alright!" I released her instantly, sliding my arms instead around her slender waist, locking them tight to anchor myself.
"Is this fine?" I asked.
She gave the smallest nod, her pout audible in her voice.
"Better." She said, still slightly breathless.
We rode for two hours straight before Lydia finally raised her hand.
"We'll rest here until dawn. Move again in five hours."
Her voice carried no hesitation. The kind of tone that made people move without question.
The mounts slowed to a halt, and her orc unit broke off like clockwork, already preparing camp.
It struck me how fluidly they worked. Each one possessed the divine skill that complemented the others.
Setting tents, securing perimeter lines, ration prep. Everything clicked into place like pieces of a puzzle.
Did Lydia handpick them? She must've. There's no way a group could be that coordinated otherwise.
I was still watching them when Sera's voice brought me back.
"You can let go now," she murmured. She was waiting for me to climb down so she could too.
I smirked. "Should I, though?" I teased, my arms still wrapped snugly around her waist.
She surprised me with a mischievous smile. Instead of pushing me off, she leaned back until the crown of her head rested just below my chin.
Her voice dropped into a sultry lilt. "Do you have other plans?"
Heat stirred in my chest.
"Of course…" I said, dragging my hands slowly upward from her waist.
"H-hey!" She made a small noise of protest, but didn't actually move away.
Her eyes fluttered shut, as though bracing herself for what I might do.
And then I caught the faintest ripple of presence approaching. Lydia. Damn it.
"Tch. They won't leave us alone," I muttered, springing down from the beast's back.
"Woah!" Sera steadied herself quickly, gripping the mount's fur to keep from toppling over.
A moment later Lydia appeared before me. Under the silver glow of the moon, her curves sharpened.
The black strands of her hair shimmered with a cold beauty, and even her unexpressive face had its own kind of allure.
"Rune. Are you certain this is the right direction?" Her voice was calm, but there was an edge of worry, not for herself, but for the unit behind her.
I straightened. "Trust me. Two years from now, we found Daren there. If I'm right, he already dug his safehouse. He'll run there to hide. I'm sure of it."
She studied me for a long moment before nodding. "We move again at sunrise."
"At most, it's three hours from here," I assured her. "If Drane is slow, we might catch him before he reaches it."
But Lydia shook her head, her tone thoughtful. "I doubt it. Drane's team is small, but his people are specialists. They're built for night travel. This darkness gives them the advantage. The distance between us grows with every passing hour."
I had to admit she was right. "So running away suits them better," I muttered.
A small smile ghosted across her lips. "But since we know where they're headed, and they don't know that we do… we can afford to wait. We'll still have the upper hand."
I met her gaze and nodded. "Then I'll make sure to take you to Drane."
She tilted her head slightly, then said, "If this succeeds, I'll help you get the sword."
That made me smile. "Deal."
With that, she turned, her attention already moving to her soldiers who were briefing her about rations and camp placement.
Sera returned just then, parking her mount. "We should set up a camp of our own," she said.
"Yeah," I nodded, reaching for our luggage. But before I could start, she stopped me, her hand lightly touching mine.
Her cheeks were red, eyes darting away. "Let's… build it a little further away."
My brain froze for a second. Is she…Is she.?
[yes, that's an invitation.]
"Holy fuck!" I jumped, heart leaping into my throat. "That startled me."
Sera blinked, startled. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing! Nothing at all. Uh… let's go further, then." I scratched the back of my neck, trying to play it cool.
She gave a tiny nod, looking down shyly.
[Don't forget Lydia said you move at dawn.]
"I remember, damn it!" I hissed under my breath. "And I don't plan to… you know..."
[I don't know.. what you don't plan to do?]
"Yeah, time for you to sleep." I swiped my hand across the window, dismissing him mid-sentence.
[Wai-]
Sera pulled out the compact camping gear Lydia had given us before we set off. She glanced at me, hesitant.
"Rune… do you know how to set this up? I can ask for help if you don't."
"Who do you think I am," I said, taking the gear right out of her hands.
She tilted her head, curious, watching as I spread the palm of my right hand wide.
Dark orbs welled up at my fingertips, little drops of shadow, and with a flick of focus, beams shot into the dirt, burning clean holes into the ground.
Her eyes widened. "I didn't know you know how to use your skills outside combat."
I looked at her dryly. "Sera… I know you meant that as a compliment, but it didn't exactly sound like one."
She smirked, amused, and grabbed the rods, driving them into the holes I'd made with her raw strength.
Between her strength and my precision, the frame stood solid within minutes.
She wiped the sweat from her forehead, strands of white hair clinging to her temple. "This should be enough."
I nodded. "So… are we going in?"
Her eyes flicked toward the tent, then back at me.
"Well… we built it to go in, didn't we?" she said, voice softer, her gaze darting away.
"You're right," I murmured, picking up the bag and ducking inside first. "One second."
She waited outside while I set the mats in place. When everything looked decent, I leaned back out. "Alright. Come in."
Sera slipped in carefully, making sure her skirt didn't snag on the edges of the frame. The space felt instantly smaller with her inside.
I pulled out the etherium crystal from my pack, its soft glow casting a pale blue light across the canvas.
The shadows stretched and bent, sharpening the lines of her curves.
She turned toward me, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm, her breasts moving with each breath.
"We should sleep… early," she said, tucking her hair back behind her ears.
"Yeah, we should…" My voice trailed as my hand lifted almost on its own, brushing her cheek. Her skin was warm against my palm, smooth and delicate.
With my other hand, I carefully unbuckled her sword belt, sliding the weapon free and placing it alongside my own at the edge of the tent. A quiet trust passed between us in that simple act.
Sera leaned into my touch, her breath hot against my skin.
For a moment, all I could hear was the faint sound of it. Quicker, less steady than before.
I guided her down gently onto her mat. Her wide, watery eyes looked up at me, soft and inviting.
Her cheeks were already tinged pink, her blush glowing faint in the etherium's light.
"Shouldn't we be sleeping early?" I teased, my lips quirking.
She reached up, her hands cupping my face, pulling me closer.
"Yes… we should," she whispered, but her tone carried nothing innocent. It was playful, mischievous, tempting.
I sank down, my head falling onto the soft curve of her breasts.
"Mmhnn.." A sharp exhale escaped her, more like a stifled moan than a breath.
Her body shifted beneath mine as I let my weight rest against her, my legs sliding between hers. The fabric of her skirt brushed warmly against me, smooth and delicate under my touch.
Her scent, her warmth, her trembling breath... it wrapped around me until the world outside the tent no longer existed.
I lifted my face slowly from her chest, looking down at her flushed cheeks, her eyes shimmering with both nerves and anticipation.
"Sera… are you ready?" I asked, my voice low.
She understood without me needing to explain. She nodded, her lips curling into a smile that dared me. "I'll try not to faint first."
I chuckled softly, meeting her gaze with a smirk.
"Let's see who gives in first." The confidence in my tone came easily. After all I had soft touch. A skill that could tilt the game.
Still, she didn't hesitate. She nodded again, accepting my challenge with an innocence that only made me want to tease her more.
I leaned down, and our lips met.
Her mouth was tender, soft as petals, yet I felt the strength in the way she kissed back. She wasn't going to surrender easily. Every press of her lips carried stubbornness, as though she meant to fight me through sweetness.
My hand slipped beneath the hem of her skirt, finding the warmth of her thigh. My thumb stroked along her skin, and the moment I did, her kiss deepened, more forceful, more urgent.
"Mmpphhh.."
Her arms wound around my neck, fingers brushing the back of my skin in slow, deliberate movements that made heat coil inside me.
Not good… I thought. She was countering with everything she had.
I moved carefully, sliding my other hand upward from her waist until it cupped the curve of her breast.
"Mmnnn.."
The kiss faltered just for a second, her breath catching, and that was all the opening I needed. I pressed closer, taking more of her in, guiding her lips to move with mine.
Her body twitched as my hand traced her breast, my thumb brushing slowly, deliberately. I could feel her resistance thinning.
The other hand that had been on her thigh shifted up her side, gliding to the curve of her ass. I pulled her subtly closer, and she broke from the kiss with a sharp breath, her lips quivering.
"Huah.. huh..huh..H-hey… it's not fair…" she whispered, pouting through her heavy panting.
"Admitting defeat?" I asked, unable to resist being a little cruel in victory.
Her mouth opened, ready to argue, but I didn't let her. My lips claimed hers again, harder this time, forcing her back into the fight.
She fought. Her lips pressed with new strength, her tongue trying to slip past mine, her fingers teasing the sensitive skin of my neck and stomach in ways that made me tense.
Where did she learn this…? I gritted against the waves of pleasure.
Not good. She was relentless.
I needed to tip the scales.
That's when I got the idea.
My hand that had been caressing her breast wandered higher, until I found the tip. I pinched lightly, carefully.
Her eyes flew wide open, her whole body jolting as though I'd struck lightning into her veins.
"Mmhhnn.. Mhnn.. Nnngg.."
Her chest softened into my hand, collapsing into my grip, her strength melting away.
Her arms, which had been moving with stubborn defiance, stilled. Her tense frame slackened.
She gave in.
Her lips parted under mine, surrendering as my tongue slipped in, claiming her. Her breath trembled against me, broken, heavy, but she didn't push me away.
I teased her slowly, my tongue dancing with hers, savoring the taste of her surrender.
My thumb flicked the peak in my palm again, coaxing another jolt from her body.
"Nnn.. Nhmm.."
Strike while the iron is hot.
[Activating Soft Touch]