It was nearing dawn.
That still, breathless hour just before sunrise, when the stars begin to fade but the sky has yet to bloom with light.
The forest was quiet.
No birds. No wind. Only the soft murmur of the stream, as if it whispered to itself in reverence.
For a moment, Aexl didn't move.
Her words lingered in his mind, echoing louder than any war drum.
Not a command. Not a plea.
A promise… offered like a reward, wrapped in something deeper than lust.
For a heartbeat, the commander in him hesitated.
But the man understood.
He leaned in and pressed a quiet kiss against the curve of her neck.
"I will," he said, his voice low and steady. "I promise you."
There was no theatrics in his tone.
No grand gesture.
Just the calm certainty of someone who had already decided.
"Now… it's time to head back and rest."
Selene's lips curved into a faint, knowing smile.
She turned without a word and began moving through the water, her silhouette rippling against the faint starlight as she made her way toward the bank.
Aexl followed.
Slower.
The restless fire still coiled in his gut, his body still hot with the memory of her touch.
But he forced it down.
Controlled it.
The stream cooled around his legs.
Morning crept in like a cautious scout, laying frost on the air, but it did nothing to dim the heat he carried.
As they stepped from the water, droplets slid across their skin, painting fleeting lines of light across bare muscle and curve.
Their clothes waited ahead, draped over stones and roots.
Simple things. Practical.
Yet in that moment, they felt like armor waiting to be worn again.
Masks to be put back on.
Commander. Strategist. Warrior.
Whatever tenderness they had shared was theirs alone.
And the forest, ancient and silent, would keep their secret.
No one would ever know.
Not their enemies.
Not their allies.
Only the trees.
Only the stream.
And maybe, in the stillness of the next night, they themselves
***
Selene dressed in silence, her motions smooth and practiced.
She fastened her tunic, laced up her boots, then ran her fingers through the folds of her gear, as if searching for something.
If she noticed anything missing, she didn't say.
Instead, she calmly slid into her pants and began buckling the leg straps.
Aexl's gaze shifted.
His cape lay nearby, draped lazily over a rock.
Then it hit him.
The treasure.
Without hesitation, he stepped over, picked up the cape, and slipped the hidden prize into his pocket before Selene could notice.
But as he straightened, his eyes betrayed him.
She was still dressing.
Still exposed.
Still... not wearing anything underneath.
He caught just a glimpse as she pulled her pants up — smooth skin, bare curves — before the fabric concealed it all.
The soldier in his trousers stirred again.
Eager. Alert. Ready for a second campaign.
Selene's eyes dipped.
Only for a breath.
A heartbeat of silence.
Then the corners of her lips curled, just slightly.
She said nothing.
No tease.
No jab.
She simply continued strapping her thigh armor as if she hadn't seen a thing.
Aexl coughed, quickly turning away, dragging his eyes toward the trees, the stream, anything but her.
Control. Discipline.
He forced it back into place.
By the time he finished adjusting his belt and slipping into his coat, something caught his attention.
The Ephone.
Its screen pulsed softly with a new glow.
Fresh system message.
The Ephone pulsed again, its glow sharp against the dim morning light.
[System Notice]
Congratulations.
You have captivated a woman with a wild spirit and unlocked a unit.
(Click to View)
Aexl blinked. His mind spun.
Wait—what?
Another line flashed across the screen.
[System Notice]
You have leveled Up!
Level: 1 → 2
Ability Points Gained: +3
Unit Capacity Increased: 6 → 12
He almost laughed aloud.
I just slept with her… and the system's giving me a reward?
His lips curled into a half-smirk.
"Well… that's one hell of a reward."
He tapped (Click to View).
The screen shifted, displaying a listing of categories.
[Taverns]
[H-Lords] [Specialist] [Gacha]
His eyes narrowed on the highlighted option.
[H-Lords]
Berserser Unit-Arme…
Unlocked – Condition Met
[Hint: Capture a Wild Maiden's Heart]
(Price: 800 Command Coins)
Before he could dig deeper, Selene's voice cut across his thoughts, casual but edged with curiosity.
"What's got you so fixated on that blue light?"
Aexl froze. The screen still glowed in his palm.
"Ah—this? Nothing."
Selene's gaze lingered, narrowing slightly.
"Nothing?"
Thinking fast, Aexl tapped the camera app. The lens view popped up, and he flashed a grin.
"Come here," he said, slipping an arm around Selene's waist and tugging her closer. "Let's take a selfie."
"A… self-ie?" she repeated, voice laced with suspicion.
"It's magic," Aexl said with mock gravity.
Before she could question further, he flipped the camera to face them.
Snap.
A bright flash burst across the air.
Selene flinched, blinking rapidly. "What was that?"
Aexl angled the screen toward her.
"Look. You closed your eyes."
She barely even noticed her expression on the photo. Her focus stayed locked on the glowing device.
"What sort of mirror is this…? One with light… that keeps both our faces together?"
Aexl smirked at her disbelief.
"It's not a mirror. No movement. That's why it's called a picture."
Selene's brows furrowed as she reached for the screen, trying to move her reflection. Her eyes narrowed when it didn't follow her touch.
Fascination flickered through her features.
"Here," Aexl chuckled, tugging her close again. "One more time. And this time, don't close your eyes."
Another snap. Another flash.
The second image froze her mid-tilt, head cocked in puzzled curiosity, while Aexl grinned openly at the lens.
He glanced at the photo, satisfied.
"This'll do for now," he muttered.
Selene leaned in again, her eyes caught in the glow. She stared at her own reflection — the elf girl with long black hair, caught in frozen light beside a stranger from another world.
Her lips parted slightly, mesmerized. "So this… is me?"
Aexl smirked, thumb already typing across the screen. He added a small caption beneath the image:
"Day 2 in a fantasy world. Together with the beautiful killer of fifteen orcs."
He locked the screen and slipped the Ephone into his pocket, still grinning to himself.
"Come on," he said at last, his tone shifting back toward command. "We've got work to do."
The stream behind them whispered its secret, carrying the memory away — but the image remained, sealed in his device, proof that even here, in a world of steel and blood, there were moments worth keeping.
***
It was already breaking dawn when they reached the village. The first pale light crept over the rooftops, washing the air with that quiet calm that comes only after a long night.
Selene gave a brief goodbye and turned toward her home, two houses down from the village hall. Aexl watched her go for a moment, then made his way toward the stables.
Kentucky was waiting, feathers damp with dew. Aexl removed the bird's armor piece by piece, but the cuckoo gave a sharp cry and bolted across the yard as soon as it was free, as if it hadn't run all night.
He shook his head and began stripping off his own armor.
The Ephone pulsed.
War Dominion App
He tapped [Armory].
Selected Kentucky and his own armor.
Then tapped Restore.
The pieces shimmered and vanished, dropping neatly into storage. The floor cleared, leaving only the echo of battle behind.
Aexl's stomach growled.
He entered the house, heading straight for the kitchen, but stopped short. Food was already laid out on the dining table.
And then she appeared.
Juvia.
She froze when she saw him, a blush rising to her cheeks. Aexl's mind flickered back to the night before, to the candlelit room and the way she had whispered his name.
Her voice came quick, avoiding his eyes.
"Eat up before you sleep. Lyssa already left for the broken castle to fetch something. She ordered that if you need anything, I should make sure to provide."
Provide.
The word lingered. Was it just her tone? Or was it him, still riding the fire Selene had stoked hours earlier?
Aexl took a steadying breath. Focus.
But it wasn't easy. Not with Juvia in a simple maid dress and apron, the fabric brushing her form just enough to tempt the mind into picturing what lay beneath.
She set down a plate, her hands careful not to brush his.
"You can eat here," she said softly, placing a thick sausage in front of him.
His eyes lingered on her longer than they should have. He rose slightly, moving toward her, but she shifted back quickly, sidestepping like prey avoiding a predator.
"I'll be in the kitchen if you need anything. Bread is in the basket, covered."
She pulled the cloth aside delicately, careful again not to let her skin touch his. Then she turned and slipped away.
The kitchen door closed with a soft thud.
Aexl exhaled, muttering under his breath.
"You'll have your time."
Because he knew the truth.
Earth or this world, women were no different.
And as he ate, he couldn't shake the thought that Juvia's careful avoidance was less about fear… and more about wanting.
By the time Aexl finished eating, fatigue was creeping in like a weight across his shoulders. He made his way to the bathhouse, letting the warmth of the water strip away what the stream had not. The stains of battle still clung to his skin, stubborn reminders of the night.
When he finally stepped out, steam trailing off his frame, he dried quickly and reached for his Ephone.
The screen flickered to life.
He set alarms.
Checked the tactical overview.
Red markers tracked the orc movement.
Green markers glowed faintly on the rendezvous slope.
Lyssa and the others. Already in place.
"Time to rest," he muttered, slipping the device away.
He pushed open the door.
On the table, neatly folded, lay a set of brand-new clothes. His old ones were gone.
He stilled.
Someone had been here.
Someone had peeked.
The faint rustle by the doorway gave it away. He didn't chase it. I didn't need to.
He simply muttered, "Thanks," enough for whoever lingered in the shadows to hear.
And on the other side of the thin wooden wall, Juvia pressed her palm against her lips, trying to keep the sound in.
Her thoughts tangled. Her breath quickened.
Why… why can't I stop?
Every time she saw him, every time he looked at her — even without touching — her body betrayed her.
Her fingers slid lower, curling against her apron, slipping beneath the fabric.
The way he eats, the way he commands, even the way he just… exists. It makes me burn.
She clenched her thighs, her other hand covering her mouth as the faintest whimper escaped.
I can't contain this anymore. The more we meet… the less I can hold it back.
Behind the door, she trembled, drowning in a desire she could neither confess nor smother.
When Aexl stepped out of the bathhouse, the yard was empty. Whoever had been there was already gone.
He scanned the quiet path once, then let his lips curl into a thin smile.
If I catch who it was… no mercy.
The thought came sharp. The suspicion was already alive in his mind. And with that idea, the soldier beneath his trousers stirred to salute.
He chuckled quietly to himself and turned toward his quarters.
"Tough day," he muttered. "Already."
Inside, he set his gear aside and lay back for a moment. But there was still one thing to check before sleep.
The Ephone glowed in his hand.
[Taverns]
[H-Lords] [Specialist] [Gacha]
His eyes narrowed on the highlighted option.
[H-Lords]
Berserker Unit – Arme…
Unlocked – Condition Met
[Hint: Capture a Wild Maiden's Heart]
(Price: 800 Command Coins)
Aexl tapped (Purchase).
The screen flared with an animated sequence — glowing lines weaving together into a crest, then spinning out into a clock.
Summoning in progress… 6 hours remaining.
He frowned.
"What is this? I don't have time for this."
With a sigh, he set the Ephone on the table beside him.
Sleep pulled at his body, heavy as armor. His eyes slipped shut, mind drifting away as the countdown ticked quietly in the background.