«Yes, Jade, just like that! Like that! I'm coming, I'm—aaah!»
Nothing clears my mind like good sex, even if it only pushes the worries aside for a while.
I fall back onto the soft bed in my dorm room at Astralea Magic Academy, my eyes fixed on the void, restless.
Viktoria Nightshade drapes her naked body over mine as if to shield me from the dark thoughts gnawing at me. Her long black hair, shimmering with violet highlights, brushes across my chest.
«I've never seen you this worked up over some dumb semester tournament,» she mutters. «Since we got into Astralea, you've always won. This time won't be any different!»
«It's not the same. That girl, Rebecca Asheart… she bears within her the Sacred Phoenix Crystal…»
«So what?! You bear within you the Divine Dragon of Destruction Crystal! That makes you the strongest Crystalbearer in all the world! How can you be afraid of some first-year kid?» Viktoria snaps.
In ancient times, N'Raeth was home to beings of unimaginable power. Over the millennia, they vanished, but fragments of their magic remained. At times, that energy crystallized within a human heart, granting abilities linked to the creature as it grew.
Those of us blessed with such power are known as Crystalbearers.
«You've already forgotten that to reach the finals she beat Jasmine, then Selene, and even Arielle! Aside from you and me, those three are the strongest students in the academy. Yet Rebecca made them look like complete novices.»
Suddenly, a wave of nausea hits me, and I lean over the side of the bed, vomiting onto the floor.
Viktoria's worry deepens. She presses her hand to my chest, sliding it lower until her fingers wrap around my cock, still hard. Without hesitation, she pushes me back inside her.
«You know very well those three… aaah… no matter how strong… they're nowhere near our level…» Her words break apart with moans of pleasure. «They might be fifth-years like us, but the gap is huge… Rebecca made it this far because you and I were on the same side of the bracket. Otherwise I would've crushed her in the semifinals… aaah…»
«I know, but I can't afford any mistakes, not in an event watched by the whole kingdom. My reputation as the future king of Kristalia is on the line. My father will be in the stands, ready to humiliate me and say again that I'll never be a king like him. But… maybe you're right… maybe I'm worrying for nothing.»
I grab her arms and flip her over, taking control. My hands squeeze her generous breasts with hungry need. My cock slides in and out of her soaked pussy, each thrust harder than the last.
«F-Finally… that's the Jade I know… aaah…»
She wraps her arms tightly around my neck, pulling me into a long, heated kiss. Even with the foul stench of vomit on my breath, Viktoria doesn't show a hint of disgust. Our bond runs too deep for that. We've been friends for almost fifteen years now.
Back then, we were only four. There was never peace between my house—the Kyndrakes—and the Nightshades, the kingdom's second most powerful family. To ease tensions, my father, King Oswald Kyndrake, began hosting lavish palace events, inviting them. At one of those gatherings, Viktoria and I first met, and from that day on, we became inseparable.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
A sudden knock at the door interrupts us. Moments later, a girl with long, curly blue hair walks in without waiting for permission.
It's only Arielle Azuralis, our classmate and dear friend. Finding us like this doesn't embarrass anyone.
«Jade, your match is about to start. They're waiting for you in the arena in twenty minutes,» Arielle blurts out hurriedly.
I push myself up against the headboard. Viktoria is still straddling me, refusing to move. But that duty can't wait.
«Arielle, my combat uniform, please.»
She goes to the wardrobe, takes a full black bodysuit from the hanger, and hands it to me.
«Try not to lose your head out there. You've already lost enough,» Arielle remarks with a grin, her eyes glancing at the vomit stain on the floor.
Viktoria explodes with fury.
«HOW DARE YOU—»
«Calm down, there's no need to get upset,» I cut her off. «You've known her for five years now. You know how she is.»
Viktoria shakes her head in frustration.
«If you hadn't lost your match against Rebecca, Jade wouldn't be forced to risk his honor against some first-year brat!»
Arielle sticks out her tongue mockingly, making Viktoria even angrier. I slip out from under her, ready to put on my uniform. But Arielle stops me.
«Heading into a fight without cumming first isn't a good idea. You'll be distracted the whole time. Since Viktoria already had her fun with you, why don't you let me take care of it?» she says with a sly smile.
I nod slightly.
«Just make it quick. Jade's match is about to start, and there's no time to waste,» Viktoria mutters.
«Don't worry, Viky. Jade always says I'm the best with my mouth. You'll see, I'll make him cum in no time!» Arielle boasts.
In an instant, she sheds her school uniform and underwear, standing completely naked. She drops to her knees before me, grips my cock with both hands, and swallows it whole with the hunger of someone devouring a feast.
It only takes a few minutes. Her tongue and lips move in perfect harmony until my climax bursts inside her mouth, spilling from the corners of her mouth.
«We're all cheering for you, Jade,» Viktoria says, pulling me into a tight hug. «Go and show all of Kristalia once more what the prince of the Kyndrakes is made of!»
♡♡♡
And there she is, standing right in front of me. Rebecca Asheart, the Crystalbearer of the Sacred Phoenix—Elyrion. She's a small girl with light violet hair that falls to the middle of her back. She's so petite… it's hard to believe she made it this far by defeating the academy's strongest.
The commentator's voice booms across the massive arena, amplified by magic.
«And here we are at the final match of the semester's first tournament. Facing off, we have the legend of Astralea, still undefeated—Prince Jade Kyndrake of Kristalia!»
A roar erupts from the crowd. Everyone chants my name.
Damn it. Their cheers only pile more pressure on me, and I feel like I'll throw up any second. But vomiting here would be even worse than losing.
«…And on the other side, the prodigy student—Rebecca Asheart! It's been four years since a first-year reached the finals, and the last time it happened, it was Jade Kyndrake himself! Could this be fate? Will Rebecca be the one to break Jade's perfect streak? The most anticipated final in more than a hundred years of this competition is about to begin. Ready… GO!!!»