Jon was so absorbed that he almost didn't notice the slight change in the mana flow around him. When he looked up, Elara was already there, standing in the doorway with tears glistening on her face. He blinked in surprise, but soon opened a warm smile.
"Are you done yet... how was it?"
Elara didn't answer immediately. The tears, previously held back, began to fall again in silent rivers. She crossed the room in quick steps and threw herself into Jon's arms, pressing her face against his chest.
"Thank you, Jon... thank you so much... this... this is..." Her voice broke amidst the crying.
Jon, caught by surprise, just hugged her back, feeling the young woman's trembling breath against him. Gently, he lifted her face by the chin and sealed her lips in a light kiss, almost as if he just wanted to convey comfort.
When he pulled away, the mischievous smile returned. "I may not have tons of money, so my gifts might not be so traditional."
Elara, still emotional, clenched her fists and gave a small punch to his chest. "I never asked you for anything, you fool."
Jon chuckled softly, but the sparkle in his eyes disappeared when her expression turned serious.
"Jon... what kind of miracle pill was that?"
He raised his eyebrows, confused. "Was it that big of a deal?"
Incredulity was stamped on Elara's face. She took a half-step back, staring at him intensely. "You really don't understand common sense, do you?"
Jon blinked, trying to follow her reasoning. "Explain."
Elara took a deep breath. "Advancing from apprentice to intermediate is something that defines a genius. Someone who reaches that level at twenty is already considered a rare talent, envied by entire families. And I... I just crossed that barrier now, in just an instant."
Her words echoed heavily in the air. Jon maintained a serene expression, but inside he reflected. So this is the weight this pill carries in this world. Something that seemed trivial in the store... here it's a turning point of destiny.
Elara narrowed her eyes, a mixture of fascination and doubt. "And you come tell me it's nothing? How did a simple pill take me straight to the intermediate level, Jon? That doesn't exist. No family, no guild, no empire has anything like that."
Jon looked away, buying time to think. He couldn't just reveal the existence of the system store. Letting that secret slip would be like offering his head on a silver platter.
"Maybe..." He scratched the back of his neck, as if looking for a convincing excuse. "Maybe it's a rare recipe. An alchemy experiment I learned in some obscure book. I'm not sure I could reproduce it."
Elara studied him in silence. Her eyes still shone with newfound energy, and her breathing betrayed the constant flow of mana that now coursed through every fiber of her body.
"Even if that's it..." she murmured, more to herself than to him. "You gave me something that completely changed my path. I don't know if I should be scared or happy."
Jon approached, placing his hand on her head and gently ruffling her blonde hair. "Then choose to be happy. You deserve it."
Elara closed her eyes for an instant, allowing herself to relax under his touch. But when she looked at him again, the seriousness was still there.
"Jon, a gift like this... it will raise questions. I don't want you to put yourself in danger because of me."
He just smiled, but inside he reflected coldly. If even something so simple can change so much, I need to be even more careful. The system is not just my trump card. It is my curse and my protection.
And, for the first time, Elara felt that Jon was hiding more than he was willing to reveal.
Jon handed over the notes he had prepared. The sheets were well organized, divided into sections, with small drawings illustrating the concepts. They were no more than twenty pages, but they had the clarity of a true guide. Elara opened the first page and, seeing the ideas described there, her eyes widened in astonishment.
'Why is everything he does so unusual?' The thought crossed her mind as her eyes scanned each line.
Jon noticed the silence and the way she frowned, too concentrated. "It was just a glimpse of enlightenment when I studied elemental magic," he commented casually, trying to break the seriousness of the moment.
Elara bit her lip, refocusing. But Jon didn't let her sink too deep into the pages. His hands rested gently on her shoulders, beginning a light massage that drew a sigh from the young woman.
"Rest would be good. Leave the reading for later," he murmured with a low laugh.
Elara turned her face, lightly kissing the hand that touched her. Her cheeks flushed as she asked in an almost shy voice, but loaded with mischief: "Are we really going to rest?"
Jon needed no further encouragement. He pulled her firmly onto the bed, and the two fell together in a mixture of muffled laughter and intense gazes.
The first kiss was soft, but soon turned into something voracious. Their lips collided with urgency, as if they wanted to devour each other. "Mhh... ahn..." soft moans escaped Elara with each new caress, while Jon ran his neck with hot kisses, slowly descending until he found the daring peaks that were already reacting to his touch.
"Ahhh... Jon..." Her voice trembled when he enveloped one of them with his mouth, sucking with desire and leaving her arched in pleasure. Each suck drew new sweet sounds, "Hnn... haah...", until her fingers intertwined in his hair, as if she wanted to stop him from stopping.
Jon didn't seem to have any intention of pulling away. The addictive sensation of savoring those peaks left him intoxicated, and every time Elara moaned his name, he felt a wave of heat run through his body.
Elara, panting, decided not to be just a receiver. With a determined look, she gently pushed Jon onto the bed and, with a daring movement, positioned herself over him. The blush on her face was undeniable, but the firmness of her action demonstrated her decision.
Jon's eyes widened for a moment when she leaned over, staying on top of him in an intimate position. Her mouth found his in a deep kiss, but soon slid, exploring his body with ardent kisses. The heat of her tongue made Jon hold his breath, until a deep groan escaped his throat.
"Elara..." he murmured, feeling pleasure invade every fiber of his being.
The young woman smiled between kisses, but did not stop. Jon, taken by the sensation, closed his eyes for an instant. However, when he felt her audacity increase, he himself reacted.
Holding Elara's waist, he gently guided her until they met in perfect harmony, in a daring 69 position that left him stunned for an instant. The sight of her, surrendered and confident, made his breath catch.
Still shaken, Jon did not resist. His lips descended to Elara's moist and delicate flower. The first kiss in that region drew a loud groan from her, "Ahhhhn... Jon\!", which echoed through the room.
The heat emanating from the young woman was sweet and overwhelming. Jon explored her with kisses and caresses, each movement making her flower tremble in response. Elara, in turn, did not stop, and the heat of her mouth kept Jon trapped between pleasure and madness.
The mixed moans filled the room, creating a melody of sighs, whispers, and passionate murmurs. "Haaah... mmmhh... Jon... ahhh...", each sound fueled the fire within him, making it impossible to think of anything else besides the warm body and the mutual surrender that united them.
In that moment, the whole world disappeared, leaving only the two of them, drowned in the pleasure of discovery and the intense desire that seemed to have no end.