[Current Balance: 44,990,972,982 akçe]
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A week passed and Alaric sat alone on the wooden bench he'd made, gazing out at the mesmerizing view through the large hexagonal window.
The underwater ruins and the drifting sea life outside the Isu structure offered a strange sense of calm that helped settle his racing thoughts about the lost time.
He was no longer wearing his usual dark, practical attire. Kassandra, using materials Alaric had procured through the System and her own millennia of skill, had insisted on making him something... different.
Now, he wore a soft, silky white long-sleeved polo shirt with subtle pleated ruffles down the front. Over it was a tailored black vest, intricately embroidered with elegant gold patterns along the seams and edges.
Around his neck hung a loose necklace Kassandra had crafted for him… a smooth, polished turquoise gemstone set in dark metal, with a small, intricate ruby cross dangling just below it.
His usual black trousers were freshly cleaned, tucked into the familiar black boots he'd bought years ago in Bristol. His hair, perhaps due to the strange energies of this place or maybe just needing a cut, seemed a shade lighter, almost platinum blonde, and felt unusually silky.
Combined with the refined clothes, the effect was striking; he looked less like a wandering adventurer and more like nobility, his already handsome features somehow sharpened, refined.
He pulled a fresh pack of cigars from his pocket, slid one out, and returned the pack. Lighting the tip with a casual flick of his finger, he took a long, slow drag, letting the smoke curl towards the high, shadowed ceiling.
He was just passing the time, waiting. Kassandra had insisted on 'getting ready' properly before they finally departed this place, and she was taking her sweet time about it.
He admired the view for several more minutes as the silence was broken only by the hum of the Isu chamber. Then, he heard her approach. He turned his head as Kassandra emerged from one of the hidden side chambers she used as her personal quarters.
Alaric's breath caught. She wasn't wearing her usual practical tunic and leggings. Instead, she wore a dress made of a soft, light-colored satin that shimmered faintly. It was simple yet elegant, cut in a style that was perhaps vaguely Grecian but also timeless.
Short sleeves ended in delicate trim, and a row of small, pearl-like buttons ran down the front of the fitted bodice. A wide sash of a complementary, darker silk with subtle golden borders wrapped around her waist, tied in a neat bow at the side, emphasizing her athletic yet feminine silhouette. The skirt flowed gently around her long legs, ending mid-thigh… enough to be playful and alluring, yet retaining an air of dignity. It showcased the toned lines of her body in a way her usual gear never did.
As she walked towards him, a hesitant smile on her face, Alaric's eyes widened, taking in the sight of her, the dress, the way it highlighted her curves, her legs... the cigar slipped from his lips and fell silently onto the Isu floor.
Kassandra stopped before the bench, fidgeting slightly, looking uncharacteristically uncertain. "S-So?" she asked, her voice softer than usual. "H-How do I look?"
Alaric could only stare for a moment, momentarily speechless. "Y-You..." he stammered, finding his voice. "You look... too beautiful, love. Absolutely... stunning."
A genuine blush spread across Kassandra's cheeks at his sincere, awestruck compliment. Then, her eyes flickered downwards for a split second, noticing the very obvious effect her appearance was having on him, the unmistakable 'column' rising beneath his black trousers. A mischievous smirk instantly replaced her blush.
She stepped closer, leaning down slightly towards Alaric, who was still seated on the bench. "Alaric..." she purred playfully, her voice dropping to a husky whisper right beside his ear. "You're a bad... bad boy..."
Alaric's breath hitched, heat flooding his veins at her proximity and playful tone. He reacted instinctively, his hands shooting out to grasp her waist, pulling her closer until she was standing between his knees.
"Then how 'bout," he replied, his voice suddenly rough, "you be a good girl?"
He leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to the smooth skin of her stomach just above the sash, inhaling her scent. Kassandra gasped, a soft moan escaping her lips as shivers ran down her spine.
Kassandra's hands instinctively finding Alaric's shoulders as his lips lingered on her skin. The satin of her dress was cool against his mouth, but the heat of her body beneath it was undeniable, radiating through the thin fabric.
His hands tightened on her waist, fingers digging into the silk sash, and he pulled her closer, urging her to straddle his lap.
She didn't resist. With a grace that belied her warrior's strength, Kassandra settled onto his thighs, the short skirt of her dress riding up to expose more of her toned legs. Her hands slid up to cup his face, thumbs brushing over the sharp lines of his jaw as she leaned in, her lips hovering just above his.
"You're trouble," she murmured, her voice thick with desire, her eyes glinting with that familiar mix of challenge and mischief.
"And you're a damn tease, you look too hot right now..." Alaric shot back, his smirk was wicked as he tilted his head to capture her soft lips. The kiss was slow at first, deliberate, a savoring of the moment. But it didn't stay gentle. Kassandra deepened it, her tongue teasing his, and Alaric groaned, his hands sliding down to grip her hips, pulling her flush against the straining bulge in his trousers.
She gasped into his mouth, rocking against him instinctively, the friction sending sparks through both of them. The bench creaked beneath their combined weight, but neither cared.
Alaric's hands roamed, one slipping beneath the hem of her skirt to trace the smooth skin of her thigh, the other tugging at the sash until it loosened, the silk pooling around her waist.
"Alaric…" Kassandra breathed, breaking the kiss to nip at his jaw, her hands working the buttons of his vest with ease. The embroidered fabric fell open, and she pushed the silky polo shirt up, exposing the hard planes of his chest. Her fingers traced the scars and muscles there, her touch both reverent and hungry, and Alaric's head tipped back, a low growl rumbling in his throat.
"Keep that up," he warned, voice rough, "and I won't be gentle."
Her laugh was low, wicked. "Who said I want gentle?"
That was all the permission he needed. With a swift motion, he lifted her off his lap and spun her around, pressing her back against the smooth Isu wall beside the hexagonal window. The underwater ruins outside cast a faint, ethereal glow across her face, highlighting the flush on her cheeks, the fire in her eyes. Alaric pinned her there, one hand braced beside her head, the other sliding up her thigh to hook her leg around his waist.
Her dress bunched higher, and he pressed himself against her, letting her feel the full extent of his arousal through the thin layers between them. Kassandra's breath hitched, her hands clutching his shoulders as she arched into him.
"Gods, Alaric…" she whispered, her voice trembling with need.
He didn't waste time. His fingers found the pearl buttons of her bodice, undoing them with a speed that spoke of impatience rather than finesse.
The satin parted, revealing the curve of her breasts, and Alaric's mouth was on her before she could draw another breath, kissing and nipping down her collarbone, then lower, teasing the sensitive skin until she was writhing against him.
"Fuck, you're perfect," he muttered against her, his voice muffled as he tugged the dress down her shoulders, baring her to the waist. Kassandra's hands tangled in his hair, pulling him closer as he lavished attention on her, his tongue and teeth drawing gasps and moans that echoed in the cavern.
But she wasn't one to be outdone. With a sudden burst of strength, she pushed him back, reversing their positions so his back hit the wall. Her hands were at his trousers, deftly undoing the fastenings, and before he could react, she'd freed him, her fingers wrapping around his dick with a boldness that made his knees weak.
"Kassandra..." he started, but the words dissolved into a groan as she stroked him, her touch firm and teasing, her eyes locked on his with a smirk that promised trouble.
"Quiet," she ordered, sinking to her knees before he could protest. The sight of her there, dressed in satin and looking up at him with that wicked glint, nearly undid him. When her lips closed around him, hot and deliberate, Alaric's hand slammed against the wall, his other tangling in her hair as he fought to keep control.
She was relentless, her mouth and hands working in tandem, driving him to the edge with pure skill. He cursed under his breath, hips bucking despite himself, and just when he thought he couldn't take more, she pulled back, standing with a smug grin.
"Not yet," she purred, stepping back to shrug off the rest of her dress. It pooled at her feet, leaving her in nothing but the glow of the underwater light, her body was a masterpiece of strength and curves.
Alaric didn't give her a chance to gloat. He closed the distance in a heartbeat, lifting her effortlessly and carrying her back to the bench. He laid her down, the wood cool against her skin, and spread her thighs, settling between them. His mouth found her clitoris, and Kassandra's back arched, a sharp cry escaping her as he tasted her, his tongue relentless, his hands pinning her hips to keep her still.
"Alaric...fuck!" Her voice broke, her hands clutching the bench's edge as he pushed her higher, her body trembling under his ministrations. She came with a shudder, her thighs clamping around his head, and he didn't stop, drawing out every aftershock until she was gasping, pleading.
He rose, wiping his mouth with a smirk, and positioned himself above her, penetrating her in one smooth thrust. Kassandra's moan was raw, her legs wrapping around his waist as he set a rhythm... deep, steady, but building fast. The bench creaked ominously, but neither cared, lost in the heat of each other.
"Harder," she demanded, her nails digging into his back, and Alaric obliged, slamming into her with a force that made her cry out. She met him thrust for thrust, her strength pushing back, their bodies a perfect clash of power and need.
They didn't stop there. When the bench became too precarious, they moved to the floor, Kassandra straddling him again, riding him with a ferocity that left them both breathless. Then against the wall again, her legs over his shoulders as he took her standing, her screams echoing through the cavern. Each round blurred into the next, their stamina pushing them beyond reason.
They lost track of time, of how many times they'd climaxed, of where one peak ended and the next began. Kassandra was a wildfire, her body trembling with overstimulation, her voice hoarse from crying his name. Alaric was relentless, his strength unyielding, driven by a hunger that matched hers.
At some point, they collapsed together on the cavern floor, a tangle of limbs and ragged breaths. Kassandra's head rested on his chest, her body still quaking with aftershocks.
"You… you're going to kill me," she rasped, a weak laugh escaping her.
Alaric chuckled, his voice equally wrecked. "You're tougher than that, misthios." He brushed a damp strand of hair from her face, his touch gentle despite the havoc they'd wrought.
"How many…?" she mumbled, too exhausted to finish the question.
"No clue," he admitted, his hand tracing lazy circles on her back. "Does it matter?"
She shook her head, nestling closer. "Not a bit."
---
Minutes passed as Alaric and Kassandra finished getting dressed, the earlier playful intimacy replaced by a calm and serene mood.
Alaric checked the small, almost empty cigar pack in his pocket, then looked at Kassandra. "Are you ready then? No other ancient artifacts or millennia-old keepsakes you need to bring?" he asked, managing a slightly teasing tone.
"I am ready. The Staff is all I truly need if there is fighting..." Kassandra rolled her eyes but smiled and he paused, then added with a playful wink that sent another jolt through Alaric, "...and money-wise, well, I have you, don't I?"
Alaric chuckled, shaking his head. "Right then. If you're ready..." He clapped his hands together once. "Let's teleport!"
Kassandra raised a curious eyebrow. "Teleport?"
Instead of answering verbally, Alaric squatted down slightly, placing his right palm flat on the smooth Isu floor. He channeled a minuscule amount of chakra, infusing it with the complex formula for the Hiraishin no Jutsu marker.
When he lifted his hand, a faint, intricate pattern of ink-like symbols remained etched onto the metallic surface, a permanent anchor point should he ever need to return here instantly.
Kassandra peered at the strange symbols, her brow furrowed. "What is-"
She didn't get to finish her question. Alaric straightened up, smiled reassuringly at her, and placed his left hand firmly on her shoulder. With his right hand, he made a single, swift hand sign… the Ram seal.
Kassandra barely had time to register the gesture before her entire perception twisted violently. The vast Isu cavern vanished in an instantaneous flash of displaced space. One moment she was standing on the cool metal floor beneath Thera, the next...
She stumbled forward, the world swimming around her. She saw rough wooden walls, smelled brine and tar, felt the gentle rocking motion of a ship at sea.
They were inside a cramped, dimly lit space… likely a storage hold or an unused cabin. The sudden spatial transition hit her physiology in a way a simple travel never could. A wave of intense nausea washed over her.
Her eyes widened in alarm as she clamped a hand over her mouth, looking around desperately. Spotting a relatively empty corner piled with old sacks, she lurched towards it and promptly threw up, emptying the contents of her stomach onto the dusty floorboards.
Alaric appeared beside her, looking entirely unaffected by the teleportation, though he wore a slightly wry smile as he watched her retch. He scratched the back of his head.
'Right,' he thought, observing Kassandra's reaction. 'Forgot about the potential side effects of Hiraishin on first-timers, especially those not used to rapid spatial displacement. Seems that's the after-effect...'. He'd have to remember that for future travels with companions. 'But… I'm a first timer too…?'
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