Years passed quickly in the village of Oakhaven. Caelum grew from a quiet baby into a young man with a body that seemed built to draw attention. He was lean but toned, with tan skin and those haunting, golden eyes that seemed to look right through people's clothes and into their very souls.
By the age of sixteen, Caelum had figured out the "logic" of this world. Magic wasn't just about chanting spells; it was about **Resonance**. When two people were close, their Aether mists rubbed together. If they liked each other, the energy became sweet and smooth. If they were intimate, that energy exploded, making them both stronger.
One afternoon, Caelum was in the forest helping **Lyra**, the village chief's daughter. Lyra was eighteen and had the kind of body that made every man in the village trip over their own feet. She wore a short, sleeveless tunic made of thin linen that clung to her curves whenever she moved. Her Aether was a bright, breezy teal.
"It's so hot today," Lyra sighed, wiping a bead of sweat from her collarbone. The movement pulled her tunic tight across her chest, showing the firm shape underneath.
Caelum watched her. He could see her teal Aether pulsing. She was frustrated and tired, which made her energy "jagged."
"Let me help you with that," Caelum said, his voice smooth and deep.
He stepped behind her and placed his hands on her bare shoulders. Lyra jumped slightly, her skin turning a soft pink. Caelum didn't just touch her; he sent a tiny pulse of his golden Aether into her skin.
Lyra's eyes fluttered shut. "Oh... Caelum, what are you doing? It feels... like a warm bath inside my skin."
"I'm just balancing you," he whispered, leaning closer until his lips were inches from her ear. He could smell the scent of wild jasmine and warm skin coming off her.
As he massaged her shoulders, he felt her teal energy start to wrap around his gold. It was a perfect chemical reaction. The more he rubbed her skin, the more her body relaxed, but her breathing became shallow and heavy. She leaned her head back against his chest, her hair brushing his face.
"You're so different from the other boys," she breathed, her hand reaching back to grip his thigh for support. "When they touch me, it's clumsy. But you... it feels like you're inside my head."
"I understand how your body works better than they do, Lyra," Caelum murmured.
He slid his hands down her arms, his fingers grazing the sides of her breasts. Lyra let out a soft, shaky moan. Her teal Aether was no longer jagged; it was swirling in a beautiful, hungry circle with his gold. This was **Minor Resonance**—a small taste of the power he could gain if they went further.
Before things could go too far, the sound of a horn echoed from the village. The Academy scouts had arrived.
Lyra pulled away, her face bright red and her eyes hazy with desire. She looked at Caelum like he was a delicious meal she wasn't allowed to eat yet.
"We... we have to go," she said, her voice trembling. "But Caelum? Don't stop doing that. Ever."
Caelum watched her walk away, noting the way her hips swayed more than usual. He looked at his own hands, which were still glowing faintly with her teal energy. He had just learned his most important lesson: pleasure was the fastest way to bridge the gap between two souls.