Seraphine slowly woke up, feeling light and relaxed, as if she had rested for days. Her mind, however, was clearer than ever. A notification shone before her eyes.
Skill Learned: Cultivator.
She stared at the message for a few seconds before sighing. "Haaah..." The soft sound filled the silent room. She wasn't worried about the achievement itself, something that in her position was just a detail. Her eyes scanned the surroundings, as if looking for someone. When she realized she was alone, she let out another heavier sigh.
"He's already gone."
The words escaped her lips in an almost imperceptible murmur. It made no sense to expect Jon to stay there until she woke up. He had his own routine, his own life. Still, a strange tightness gripped her chest.
'What am I thinking? I'm too old for this.'
She shook her head, trying to ward off the foolish thoughts, when the sound of the door opening interrupted her daydream.
*Creak.*
"You're awake, how are you feeling?"
Jon's voice filled the room, accompanied by the sight of him carrying a small tray with some snacks and a steaming kettle. Seraphine's heart raced for an instant, and a faint blush colored her cheeks. Quickly, she composed herself, getting up and sitting at her desk, adopting her usual proud and controlled demeanor.
"As you can see, your achievement is truly impressive, Cultivator." Her voice sounded firm, but cold. Still, behind that mask of indifference, Seraphine couldn't avoid an uncomfortable thought.
'Now I understand why that young woman is so in love.'
Little did she know that Jon hadn't done anything grand for Elara besides offering her something new. But in a monotonous life, any different spark could turn into fascination and passion.
Jon smiled and placed the tray on the table. "You better regain your strength. This tea will help relieve fatigue."
She arched an eyebrow as she brought the cup to her lips. The flavor was intense and refreshing, the fragrance almost addictive. "What kind of tea is this? I've never tasted anything so... revitalizing."
Jon, without blinking, lied. "Nothing much, just something I bought in the city." He wouldn't reveal his system store.
Seraphine narrowed her eyes, suspicious, but didn't insist. She knew he was hiding many things. Still, the naturalness with which he spoke made it seem impossible to wrench the truth from him by force.
After a few minutes of comfortable silence, the two sat facing each other, their cups warming their hands.
"Jon," she began, resting her chin on her hand, "if you truly wish to continue on this path, you will need strong allies. Even your luck and talent have limits."
He nodded. "I know. That's why I want you to accept me as your disciple."
Seraphine stared at him. "Are you sure?"
"Yes." Jon's voice was firm, but his eyes revealed sincerity. "I need your patronage, and I want to protect my family. I know your prestige as an S-Rank Healer is greater than that of many noble families. If you guide me, I will not only become stronger, but I can also negotiate protections for Riverwood."
The name of the village caught Seraphine's attention. "Riverwood? What's special about that place?"
Jon took a deep breath and, after a moment of calculated hesitation, revealed: "There's a secret goblin dungeon nearby. I found it. If properly explored, it can yield constant resources. Furthermore, it's the perfect place to set up a branch of your potion shop and a teleportation matrix. That way, even if my parents don't want to leave the village, they'll have a quick escape route if necessary."
Seraphine's eyes sparkled for an instant. The idea was daring. Goblins were despicable monsters to many, but in large numbers they produced valuable cores and useful bodies for alchemical ingredients. A secret dungeon meant guaranteed profit.
"You talk as if you've already planned everything," she commented, slowly stirring her cup.
Jon smiled. "Perhaps I have. I can't afford to wait for the world to be fair to me. I need to prepare the ground."
Seraphine maintained a steady gaze, but inside she felt something different: admiration. Few young people thought so far ahead. Many only sought immediate power, but Jon calculated every step, like a veteran strategist.
Finally, she sighed and leaned back in her chair. "Alright. I accept. But know that, by asking me to be your master, you are binding yourself to me in a way that you cannot easily undo."
Jon lifted his gaze, firm and confident. "That's exactly what I want."
Seraphine looked away towards the window, hiding the slight blush on her cheeks. 'This boy... he really is dangerous.'
And, as they finished the tea that sealed that new bond, both knew that the future had changed at that instant.
—
Jon walked through the wide corridors of the S wing with light steps, as if the weight of weeks had disappeared from his back. The smile on his face was impossible to hide. Every detail of the plan he had been crafting was finally starting to fall into place. '*Seraphine as a master... with this I can guarantee protection for my family and also strengthen Riverwood. Finally, a concrete step.*'
Turning the doorknob of his room, he entered without suspecting a thing.
"Why are you smiling so much? Did something good happen?"
The sharp voice made Jon almost choke in surprise. His eyes moved quickly, finding Elara sitting on his bed. The young blonde woman stared at him with her arms crossed and a smile that seemed too sweet to be natural.
"Elara?" Jon blinked, trying to understand. "What are you doing here?"
"Waiting for you, obviously." She tilted her head, analyzing his every reaction like a curious predator.
Jon scratched the back of his neck, surprised, but didn't let his mood be affected. "Well... you won't believe it. Seraphine accepted me as her disciple\!"
He spoke excitedly, the thrill escaping in his voice. His heart was racing with the prospect of all the plans that could arise from this alliance.
But, instead of sharing his joy, Elara arched an eyebrow and narrowed her eyes. "And what exactly is so good about that? Do you perhaps need her to teach you something?"
Jon blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"
"Don't play dumb." Elara uncrossed her arms, getting up from the bed with a look that mixed frustration and irony. "Everyone knows you're already a genius in magic, alchemy, sword, bow... and now you spend hours alone with Seraphine, in a private room. Should I believe it was just to become a disciple?"
Jon was speechless for an instant, surprised by the intensity of her tone. 'What is happening here? This... it looks like a fit of jealousy.'
A playful smile appeared on his lips. "Wait... are you jealous?"
Elara didn't hesitate for a second. She straightened her posture, put her hands on her waist, and replied firmly: "Yes, I am. So what?"
Jon's eyes widened. He hadn't expected such honesty. Elara didn't look away; on the contrary, she held his gaze with an almost challenging determination. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, but her tone was serious.
'Incredible. She's not afraid to admit it to my face.'
"So that's it?" Jon took a step forward, approaching slowly. "You're jealous of me with Seraphine?"
"Of course I am\!" She replied almost explosively, but her eyes sparkled with emotion. "You always do everything alone, make decisions without telling me anything, and now suddenly you spend hours with her, as if I didn't exist."
Jon felt his heart clench. Her sincerity hit him like a sharp arrow. But, at the same time, the mischievous side inside him couldn't resist. He approached faster, closing the distance between the two in a matter of seconds.
Before Elara could react, Jon gently pushed her back, making her fall onto the bed on her back. Her gaze wavered, but only for a moment. Jon leaned over her, supporting himself with one hand on the headboard, while the other held her waist.
"Want to know something?" He murmured with a mischievous smile. "I think that's adorable."
Elara barely had time to retort before Jon's lips met hers in a fervent kiss. The initial shock quickly gave way to surrender. She grabbed his shirt, pulling him closer, as if to prove that those words were not just jealousy, but also a desire she couldn't hide.
Their hearts were racing, the silent room now filled only by the muffled sound of gasping breaths and the soft *mwuah* of kisses.
Elara closed her eyes, allowing herself to get lost in that moment. Jon, still smiling against her lips, thought to himself: '*Perhaps this is the best way to respond to any fit of jealousy.*'
"Ohhh... Jon..."
In that moment, the whole world disappeared, leaving only the two of them, drowned in pleasure and intense desire that seemed endless.