With his sister's unsettling presence replaced by the lingering, almost imperceptible hum of her power, Orion turned his full attention to the two women who were rapidly becoming the center of his world.
He approached them with a deliberate, unhurried stride, his footsteps soft on the ancient cobblestone path. His presence was a gentle tide, washing over their deep meditative states and slowly pulling them back to the surface of reality.
Lisanna's eyes, the color of molten gold, snapped open first. In an explosive burst of energy that was so quintessentially her, she shot to her feet, the perfectly manicured grass barely registering her movement.
She closed the distance between them in a heartbeat, her hands instantly finding Orion's, her grip surprisingly firm as if she could physically wring the secrets of the universe from him.
"Alright, that's enough of that!" she declared, her voice a torrent of pent-up energy. "We got our day of rest, a whole day of sitting around and feeling our Aether Cores churn! Now, no more games. Hurry up and tell us! Just how in the world are we going to reach B-Rank purity?"
Elysia rose with the practiced, fluid grace of a queen ascending her throne, her composure a mask of immaculate calm. But as she drew near, her piercing blue eyes, narrowed into icy slits, betrayed the same desperate, burning intensity that Lisanna wore so openly.
"Indeed," she stated, her voice as crisp and cool as the first frost of winter. "You have had your fun with your grand declarations. This is no time for any of your typically annoying antics."
A low, rumbling chuckle escaped Orion's lips, and his thumb began to subconsciously caress the back of Lisanna's hand, a simple gesture that sent a jolt of warmth through her. "Yes, just how you two will reach B-Rank purity," he mused, his gaze flickering between their two beautiful, expectant faces. "But here's a better, more interesting question for you both: how do you think we'll reach it?"
He let the question hang in the air, a mischievous glint dancing in his eyes. "Given that a simple kiss, a mere taste of our connection, made you two grow so quickly… what would be the most logical, the most intimate, the most powerful next step?"
The implication, as potent and direct as a physical blow, struck Lisanna first. Her breath hitched. An explosive, scarlet blush consumed her face, climbing from her neck to the very tips of her ears. Her grip, already tight, became a vise.
"Making love!" she shouted, the words bursting from her with absolutely no filter. The sound seemed to hang in the tranquil garden air, both scandalous and profoundly honest. "You… this is… it's so sudden!"
Elysia's reaction was a study in contrasts. Her regal posture remained unbroken, but a similar scarlet hue stained her cheeks, a wildfire of uncontrollable heat spreading rapidly through her body.
She averted her gaze, her eyes suddenly finding the intricate pattern of the cobblestones utterly fascinating.
Orion's smile was wry, but his confidence never wavered. He had no real relationship experience to speak of, a life lived in the shadows of the Sump affording little time for such luxuries. His feelings for Elysia and Lisanna were a new, genuine, and sometimes overwhelming force within him.
But he knew, with absolute certainty, that this was not a moment for stuttering or hesitation.
With his free hand, he reached out and gently took Elysia's arm, pulling her closer until she stood beside Lisanna, the three of them forming a tight, intimate circle. He gave them both a smile they couldn't look away from, a smile that was both a promise and a challenge.
"Yes," he confirmed, his voice dropping to a low, magnetic timbre. "Making love is the next step. Our bonds, the symbiotic link that allows me to share my strength, will grow tremendously. We will be truly, completely fusi—"
"I shall be first," Elysia interrupted, her voice shockingly firm. Her grip on his arm was surprisingly strong, her determination a palpable force.
Her gaze, now locked onto his, was a blazing blue fire, a stark and captivating contrast to the blush that only served to make her all the more enchanting.
"Eh?" The single sound escaped Orion's lips before he could stop it. For a rare, fleeting moment, he was utterly stunned, speechless.
Before he could process the sheer audacity of her claim, Lisanna pouted, her lower lip jutting out. "Hey! What do you mean you're first? You think you can just call dibs on something like this? That's not how it works! I was still in shock, that's no fair!"
A smug, triumphant smile bloomed on Elysia's face, the very picture of aristocratic satisfaction. "My, my, I am simply playing by your own rules, Lisa," she purred, her voice dripping with condescension. "After all, how many times over the years have you called 'first' on some trivial matter and acted so insufferably smug about it?"
Lisanna huffed, a small storm cloud forming over her expression. "Yeah, well, that's that, and this is completely different! You can't just—"
She paused, her eyes widening as a new, brilliant idea took hold. The storm cloud vanished, replaced by her own blossoming, competitive smirk. "Alright, fine. Be first for all I care. Because I know who will have the more memorable, more passionate time with him. Which, of course, will be me."
"You—" Elysia narrowed her eyes, a glacial chill entering her voice as she snorted. "Hmph, delusional as always. I bring a royal class to the proceedings, a level of elegance and refinement that is simply, undeniably superior."
Lisanna let out a peal of bright, undeterred laughter. "Mere 'royalness' can't hold a candle to pure, unadulterated passion, Your Highness."
"You girls..." Orion murmured, a wryly amused smile playing on his lips. He had expected the typical blushing maiden responses, perhaps Lisanna pouting and calling him a degenerate playboy, or Elysia glaring daggers while labeling him an idiotic pervert.
But this... this fierce, almost shameless competition... they were almost too eager.
As he considered it, however, a certain logic began to crystallize in his mind. The rapid, Aether-fueled deepening of their bonds had certainly accelerated their emotional connection far beyond normal parameters.
But his actions, his raw display of power, had made a tremendous impact as well.
Witnessing him utterly crush the Valerians—their lifelong rivals, the architects of so much of their families' frustrations—with such casual, absolute ease must have fundamentally altered their perception of him. He wasn't just someone extremely powerful and talented anymore; he was a force of nature, the key to a future they had never dared to dream of.
The specific reasons they were this eager were a delicious curiosity he could unravel later.
For now, he simply acted. With a smooth, decisive motion, he pulled the bickering women snugly against his waist, their bodies fitting perfectly against his.
"Ah—" They let out small, synchronized gasps, surprised by the sudden, intimate move.
Before a single protest could be formed, Orion sealed their lips with a kiss, first Elysia's, then Lisanna's. It wasn't a simple press of lips; it was an infusion of intent.
Waves of warmth, pleasure, and a profound, joyous connection flooded their senses, instantly extinguishing the fire of their argument and replacing it with a far more potent heat.
When he finally pulled back, their eyes were hazy, their breaths were short, and the desire in their gazes had intensified tenfold.
He chuckled, the sound deep and satisfying. "Well then, since you two are so eager, let's do this right."
His eyes, dark and intense, locked with Elysia's. "Elysia, I am expecting to see if you can truly back up that 'royal class' claim tonight."
Lisanna giggled, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Hmph. All full of hot air, I reckon."
Elysia scoffed, her confidence swelling to fill the space. "Orion, tonight will be a moment that is simply and irrevocably burned into your memory."
Orion chuckled and turned his burning gaze to Lisanna. "And of course, I'm expecting to see the absolute limits of that legendary passion of yours."
Lisanna let out a proud, boisterous laugh. "Only the best of the best for my man! I'll show you things you've only dreamed of!"
"Don't overestimate yourself," Elysia snorted, the familiar bite returning to her tone.
At that moment, Orion's smile turned devious. "Alright, now that that's settled, it's time for some intense training."
"Eh?" The synchronized sound of disbelief was almost comical.
Elysia and Lisanna froze, their eager, passion-filled expressions wiped clean away and replaced with sheer, unadulterated shock. Their eyes widened, and Elysia's voice, which had been so firm moments before, actually stuttered for the first time. "Orion, you… you cannot be serious. At a time like this… preparations need to be made! Baths, perfumes, mental readiness!"
Lisanna nodded furiously, instantly latching on to the excuse. "That's right! There are procedures! All the proper steps need to be followed through! You can't just rush into something this important!"
Their voices, laced with such earnest, theatrical panic, would have fooled a lesser man.
But Orion just chuckled, his amusement palpable. "Hey now, what did I say about skimping on training? I gave you that rest day precisely for this. You need to be at your peak, in every way."
He leaned in, his voice dropping to a low, intimate whisper that sent shivers down their spines. "Besides, getting you two all worked up, pushing your Aether to its limits, will only make what's to come that much more exciting. And..."
His gaze drifted down their forms for a tantalizing second. "...seeing you two all sweaty, your training clothes sticking to your bodies... that's a divine sight I am very much looking forward to seeing."
"You—!" Elysia and Lisanna choked on their words, their hearts hammering against their ribs from his sudden, devastating verbal assault. Utterly defeated, they sighed in unison and sagged against his chest.
"Always such a savage brute," Elysia remarked, though her words lacked any real venom, replaced by a tone of weary resignation. "Annoying."
Lisanna just smiled wryly, burying her face in his shoulder for a moment. "Just gotta get through this. Just gotta get through this crazy guy's methods."
As the two women mentally prepared for the grueling hours ahead, Orion was filled with nothing but eager, uncontainable anticipation for the night to come.
…
The day flew by in a blur of focused exertion and shimmering Aether. Orion was a demanding instructor, a taskmaster whose expectations were as high as the Apex towers.
He drilled Elysia and Lisanna relentlessly, not on raw power, but on the finer points of Aether control and manipulation that separated a mere Talent from a true master. He pushed them past their perceived limits, forcing them to manifest their powers with a speed, complexity, and precision that left their old selves in the dust.
Elysia learned to weave lattices of ice so fine they were like frozen lace, yet strong enough to stop a charging beast.
Lisanna was made to create hard-light constructs not just as shields or blades, but as intricate, multi-layered arrays that could refract energy in complex patterns.
But as grueling as it was, the true goal of the day was not the training. That was merely the prelude, the sharpening of the senses and the heightening of the body's energy, all in preparation for the night's main event.
When the training concluded under the deepening twilight sky, Elysia was the first to depart. With a huff and a pointed glare that promised retribution for his slave-driving methods, she declared she needed to prepare immediately and swept away towards the manor.
With her gone, Orion dedicated the remaining time to Lisanna, wanting to ensure she didn't feel neglected or overly resentful about the evening's arrangement.
He was pragmatic, but not heartless. He had prepared for this earlier, sneaking into the Wintercroft kitchens to craft Lisanna's favorite comfort meal—a steaming bowl of spicy Aether-infused noodles, the broth shimmering with latent energy.
He brought the meal to the guest wing she typically used, a suite of rooms that was now, for all intents and purposes, hers. The moment Lisanna, fresh from a quick shower, saw the steaming bowl, her eyes lit up like twin suns.
She rushed forward, abandoning all pretense of fatigue, and planted a sloppy, appreciative, and noodle-scented kiss on his lips.
"Good move, playboy," she giggled, her earlier exhaustion melting away. "You're getting smarter. But with this, how are you going to top yourself tomorrow?"
Orion simply gave her a calm, mysterious smile. "You will see."
They enjoyed the delicious meal together, the evening air filled with easy flirting and playful banter that was their natural rhythm.
Afterwards, as Lisanna cuddled up against him on a plush sofa, he gently stimulated their symbiotic bond, not with passion, but with a soothing warmth that rippled through her body, easing the last of her training-induced aches.
Unknowingly, enveloped in this comfortable, loving heat, Lisanna's eyelids grew heavy. Her bright smile turned serene as her eyes began to flutter closed.
She managed one last, sleepy kiss, huffing softly against his chest. "Tomorrow... will be a moment carved... into your very soul..."
She promptly fell asleep, her breathing deep and even. Orion gently scooped her up and tucked her into the plush bed. With a final, tender kiss to her forehead, he turned his sights towards his primary objective: Elysia's room.
He first made a detour back to the kitchen, retrieving the second dish he had prepared for her—a delicate, pan-seared sea bass with a light, shimmering Aether-citrus glaze, a meal befitting her refined palate. Then, with purpose in his every step, he walked straight to her chambers.
Upon entering, he was greeted by a sight that would freeze any man's soul, not with cold, but with overwhelming beauty.
Elysia sat upon the edge of her massive, four-poster bed, garbed in a nightdress of deep sapphire silk that clung to and accentuated every divine curve of her body. Her long, dazzling silver hair, unbound and pristine, flowed down her back and pooled on the velvet bedspread like a frozen waterfall.
Her beautiful face was a captivating portrait of conflicting emotions: raw eagerness warring with deep-seated nervousness, all layered under an undercurrent of her innate, unshakeable regal pride.
When her stunning blue eyes met his, she began to speak, her voice a low, resonant hum intended to be seductive.
"Orion, tonight will be your—" She trailed off, her carefully prepared speech dissolving as her gaze fell to the plate of food in his hands.
In that single, jarring instant, the carefully constructed momentum shattered. Her eyes narrowed into their usual, haughty daggers of ice. "Hmph. On a night like this..."
"On a night like this, it's time to have some fun," Orion finished for her, his smile unwavering as he moved closer and offered her the plate. "Now eat up. I know you can't resist this."
The mouth-watering aroma of the perfectly cooked fish and the subtle, enticing scent of the Aether-glaze caused Elysia's imperious temperament to crack.
She scoffed but took the plate, grumbling under her breath about his 'uncivilized timing' as she succumbed to the temptation. Orion sat down beside her, eating his own share with a relaxed air.
"Made this myself, you know," he remarked casually between bites. "Wanted to show off at least one more time before our lovemaking."
"Ah—!" Elysia nearly choked on a delicate bite of fish. She coughed, leaning slightly into Orion's side as she recovered. "I... I cannot even be bothered to mind your crass words," she managed, though the tips of her ears were turning pink again.
She took another bite, struggling to suppress an overwhelmingly pleased smile that fought to bloom on her lips. "And this dish... I suppose it is... quite alright. You could still use more tips from Chloe."
"I'd rather get tips from you," Orion purred, his voice a low vibration beside her ear. "In fact..."
Before Elysia could formulate a witty, cutting retort, he set his own plate aside on the nightstand and, in one smooth motion, scooped her up into his arms.
"Hey—Orion!" Elysia yelped, startled by the suddenness of it all. But a shiver of pure, unadulterated anticipation ran through her as she found herself held effortlessly and securely in his grasp. Locking his intense gaze with hers, Orion let out a roguish, predatory smile.
"I'd rather just taste you altogether."
He sealed her lips in a searing kiss that instantly heated the grand, chilly bedroom by several degrees. It was a kiss of pure possession, of promises made and promises about to be kept.
When he finally pulled back, Elysia's face was flushed a deep crimson, her eyes heavy-lidded with desire as she panted softly, her carefully constructed defenses melted into nothing.
She rolled her eyes, though the effect was completely ruined by her breathless state. "As expected... a brute like you always does things his own way."
With a huff of feigned annoyance, she reached over from his arms and set her half-eaten plate on the floor beside the bed. Then, with a newfound fire, she locked her determined, desire-filled eyes with his.
"Come here," she commanded, her voice no longer crisp or cool, but a husky, breathless order. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down towards her, desire now rampant in her voice, in her touch, in her very soul.
"Gladly," Orion replied, meeting her with all the eager, world-conquering anticipation he possessed.
Elysia's nightdress slid to the floor. As did Orion's clothes, leaving both bare to the night air.
Elysia's skin was a flawless canvas, as pale and perfect as marble, but warm to the touch. Her full, round breasts heaved slightly, the pert nipples already hard.
The sight sent a rush of blood straight to Orion's cock. Elysia was beautiful, he realized anew. Beautiful like a sculpture of a goddess. Like a celestial being. The moonlight that poured into the room seemed to reflect off her perfect form, making her glow in the darkness.
His eyes traced the lines of her body, following them all the way to the glistening pink of her pussy, wet and waiting. Her blue eyes followed his, and the flush that crossed her cheeks deepened.
"I am... ready for you," she said, her voice husky and low. "Take me, Orion."
Her voice was a spell. His hands were on her. He lifted her by the thighs, pulling her legs up to wrap around his hips, and she complied. They kissed again, tongues entwining, their mouths melding. As they broke apart, Elysia's eyes were dazed, her lips parted.
"Take me," she whispered.
Orion obliged.
With a single thrust, he filled her to the hilt. A ragged gasp escaped Elysia's lips. Her head snapped back, exposing the pale curve of her neck.
"Yes..." she breathed.
He began to fuck her, slowly at first. Their bodies rocked together, her pussy clinging to his cock as he pushed in and out of her, sending jolts of pleasure through both of them. His pace gradually picked up. He leaned forward, pressing his mouth to her breasts, teasing her nipples with his tongue.
"Oh, Orion..." she moaned, arching her back to press her breasts into his face.
She was tight. Tight and wet and perfect, and the noises she made only served to further inflame him. He gripped her tighter, his pace quickening, and she moaned louder, her cries echoing throughout the room.
"Harder," she demanded, and he obeyed. He thrust into her, driving his cock deeper and deeper, her moans turning to screams as he filled her completely.
"Fill me," she gasped, her eyes rolling back, her voice breaking. "Make me yours, Orion."
"Fuck," he muttered. He was close. The pleasure was building, a white-hot tension coiling in his core. His movements became frantic, erratic, and Elysia matched his desperation. Her body writhed beneath him, her hips bucking, her pussy clenching around him.
"Come for me," she begged, and he did. With a final, shuddering thrust, he spilled his seed inside her. She came, too, her body going rigid, her lips parted in a silent scream.
He collapsed on top of her, his breathing heavy. She clung to him, her legs wrapping around his waist, her arms circling his back.
"That was..." Elysia breathed, her voice barely audible. "It was..."
"Amazing," Orion finished for her, grinning. She chuckled lightly.
"Amazing, yes. But, ah... it seems you still have much to learn. Your performance was good, but far from perfect. Here, allow me to demonstrate."
Elysia's eyes began to glow. Orion felt a wave of power wash over him, and the next thing he knew, he was pinned underneath her, the roles reversed.
"What are you—?" he began, but his words died in his throat.
Elysia's pussy, still impaled upon his cock, felt even tighter than before. In addition, his entire body was tingling, the sensation of their souls merging growing more intense.
"Now, I'll show you the proper way," Elysia declared, her lips curving into a smirk. "You are about to have the time of your life."
Aether surged through their bond, amplifying the pleasure tenfold.
Orion was a bit surprised, but a calm smile was still plastered on his face, much to Elysia's annoyance.
Orion truly could stay calm at this moment. He didn't know exactly why, but his System, it was supplying him with such stamina that it barely felt like he used any energy at all.
Orion simply said, "Well, come on then, show me."
Elysia's eyes flashed, and she began to move. Orion groaned as her pussy slid along his cock, the Aether coursing through him magnifying the sensation.
Amazingly enough, Orion discovered Elysia was a fast learner even in bed for her first time. Her movements were smooth and deliberate, her body rising and falling like a wave. She rode him expertly, her hands moving to his chest, her nails digging into his skin.
The pleasure was indescribable. It was as if his entire being was enveloped in an ocean of ecstasy, a torrent of bliss.
Elysia's face hovered above his, her eyes shining with triumph and desire. She leaned forward, capturing his lips in a passionate kiss.
Her pace increased, and the pressure built inside him, an inexorable tide rising within him. Elysia's voice echoed in his ears, low and seductive.
"Come for me, Orion. Fill me again. I want all of you."
Her words tipped him over the edge. With a guttural groan, he came, his orgasm tearing through him. Elysia came with him, her body shuddering, her pussy clenching around him, milking him dry.
They clung to each other, riding out the waves of pleasure, the sensations crashing through them.
Finally, the moment passed. They collapsed into a sweaty, panting heap, their limbs tangled together. Elysia looked at Orion, a smug smile on her face.
"How was that?" she asked, her tone teasing.
"Perfect," Orion murmured, kissing her on the forehead. "Simply perfect."
They lay there for a while, basking in the afterglow, until Orion suddenly smiled. An cheeky look crossed his face as flipped their position.
Elysia squeaked in surprise but soon found herself once more pinned under his body, his cock sliding into her again.
"Round three?" he asked, his smile growing wicked.
"Round three," she agreed, her own grin matching his.
The night was long and filled with many more rounds.