**[WARNING: EXPLICIT R-18 CONTENT]**
Dawn light filtered through the windows of Seraphina's room, painting everything in shades of gold and amber. Anthonio woke slowly, awareness returning in stages—the softness of expensive sheets, the cool body pressed against his, the subtle ache of well-used muscles.
Seraphina was still asleep, her white hair spread across the pillow like spilled moonlight. She looked peaceful, younger somehow, all the ice princess armor stripped away to reveal the vulnerable woman beneath.
*Mine,* Anthonio thought with savage satisfaction. *The first heroine, claimed completely. And Kael Stormborn has no idea.*
He shifted carefully, not wanting to wake her yet, but Seraphina's eyes opened immediately. Her ice-blue gaze found his, and a slow smile spread across her face.
"Morning," she murmured, stretching like a cat. The sheets slipped down, exposing her bare breasts, and Anthonio felt his cock harden instantly despite the activities of the previous night.
"Morning," he replied, his hand sliding up her thigh. "How do you feel?"
"Sore. Satisfied. Happy." Seraphina's smile widened. "And apparently ready for more, judging by what I'm feeling against my leg."
She reached down, wrapping her hand around his erection. Anthonio groaned, his hips jerking into her touch.
"We have orientation in an hour," he managed. "We should—"
"We should fuck one more time before we have to pretend we're not together," Seraphina interrupted, already straddling him. "I want you inside me again, Anthonio. I want to walk into that orientation with your cum still dripping out of me."
*Fuck.* The image that created destroyed any thought of restraint.
"Against the wall," Anthonio commanded, sitting up and lifting her easily. "I want to see your face when you come."
He carried her to the wall, pressing her back against the cold stone. Seraphina wrapped her legs around his waist, positioning herself perfectly. Anthonio thrust up into her in one hard motion, both of them groaning at the sensation.
"Still so tight," he gasped, his hands gripping her ass to support her weight. "Even after last night, your pussy is still so fucking tight around me."
"Only for you," Seraphina moaned, her head falling back against the wall. "God, Anthonio, fuck me. Hard. I want to feel this all day."
He obliged, pounding into her with brutal intensity. The position let him go deep, hitting spots that made Seraphina cry out with every thrust. Her nails raked down his back, leaving marks he'd have to hide later.
"Close," she gasped after just a few minutes. "Already so close, you feel so good..."
"Come for me," Anthonio commanded, one hand sliding between them to rub her clit. "Come on my cock, beautiful. Show me how much you love it."
Seraphina shattered, her pussy clenching around him as she screamed his name. The sound was loud enough that anyone passing in the hallway definitely heard, but neither of them cared. Anthonio kept fucking her through it, chasing his own release.
"Inside," Seraphina gasped. "Come inside me again, I want—"
He did, burying himself deep as his cock pulsed, filling her for the third time in less than twelve hours. They stayed like that for a long moment, both trembling, before Anthonio carefully lowered her back to the floor.
"We really need to get ready," he said, though neither of them moved. "And we need to leave separately. Can't let anyone know we spent the night together."
"I know." Seraphina kissed him softly. "Secret relationship. At least for now. Until we figure out how to handle my father and the political mess this creates."
"Exactly. In public, we're just friends. Casual acquaintances from the debut ball."
"In private..." Seraphina's hand wrapped around his softening cock again, stroking gently. "In private, you're mine. And I'm yours."
"Deal."
---
Anthonio left Seraphina's room thirty minutes later, using the Lightning Step to avoid being seen in the Transcendence wing where he didn't belong. He made it back to his own room without incident, showered quickly to wash away the evidence of the night's activities, and dressed in the Academy's standard training attire.
The central arena was massive—easily large enough to hold ten thousand people. When Anthonio arrived, hundreds of students were already gathered, divided roughly by cultivation level. Manifestation students clustered in one section, Transcendence students in another, with the rare Consolidation-level admits relegated to the back.
Seraphina was already there, standing with other Transcendence-level students. She was surrounded by admirers—nobles introducing themselves, attempting to curry favor with the ice princess. She handled them with practiced grace, polite but distant.
Their eyes met across the arena for just a moment. No one else would have noticed, but Anthonio saw the small smile that curved her lips, the slight flush on her cheeks as she remembered what they'd done less than an hour ago.
*She's thinking about my cum dripping out of her while she talks to these nobles. Fuck, that's hot.*
"Anthonio Crimsonhart?"
He turned to find a beautiful girl approaching—maybe sixteen, with auburn hair and amber eyes that sparkled with curiosity. Her cultivation was Manifestation 6-Star, and her expensive robes marked her as nobility.
"That's me," Anthonio confirmed. "And you are?"
"Elena Ashford. Third daughter of Count Ashford." She smiled brightly. "I heard about you—the exiled Crimsonhart who somehow reached Manifestation 9-Star despite having Broken Veins. That's impressive."
"Lucky, more like. I found some resources during my exile."
"Lucky or not, it's still remarkable." Elena moved closer, her body language openly flirtatious. "I was thinking maybe we could train together sometime? I could use a sparring partner at my level."
*She's interested. Very interested. And she's beautiful—not Seraphina-level, but definitely attractive.*
"I'd be open to that," Anthonio said, letting his gaze travel over her appreciatively. Elena noticed and her smile widened.
"Wonderful. Maybe we could—"
"ATTENTION!"
A voice boomed across the arena, amplified by cultivation techniques. Everyone fell silent as a man stepped onto the central platform—elderly, powerful, his Sovereign 8-Star cultivation making the air itself feel heavy.
"I am Headmaster Aldwin," the man announced. "Welcome to the Royal Aethermoor Academy. For the next four years, this institution will be your home, your crucible, your path to greatness—or to failure. The choice is yours."
The orientation speech was exactly as Anthonio had written it—inspiring words about dedication and perseverance, warnings about the Academy's difficulty, promises of resources for those who proved themselves worthy.
Anthonio listened with half his attention, the rest focused on cataloging the other students. He recognized several from his novel—characters who would become important later. Some were allies in the original timeline, others enemies, most just background.
And then he saw her.
A girl with midnight-black hair and golden eyes stood near the edge of the Manifestation section. She was watching Kael Stormborn with obvious interest, her cultivation at Manifestation 8-Star radiating controlled power.
*Aria Goldenheart. The second heroine. Fire essence user, daughter of a fallen noble house, destined to become Kael's second love interest after meeting him during a training exercise.*
In the original timeline, she and Kael would bond over their shared status as outcasts—him a bastard, her from a disgraced family. They'd fall in love during a dangerous mission in their second year.
But Anthonio was going to intercept that connection long before it could form.
The orientation concluded with class assignments. Students were divided by cultivation level and specialization—lightning users with lightning instructors, ice users with ice instructors, and so on.
Anthonio's first class was "Advanced Lightning Manipulation" with Instructor Valdris, a Transcendence 6-Star lightning cultivator who had apparently spent decades perfecting his techniques.
The class was small—only fifteen students, all Manifestation 7-Star or higher. Anthonio recognized a few faces but no one significant.
Except for one.
A girl with silver hair and violet eyes sat in the front row, her Manifestation 9-Star cultivation marking her as one of the strongest students in the class. She looked bored already, clearly believing the instructor had nothing to teach her.
*Cassandra Stormwind. Lightning specialist from a military family. Not a main heroine in the original novel, but a talented side character who eventually becomes an instructor herself.*
Instructor Valdris began the lesson with basic theory—how lightning essence flows, how to control discharge, how to prevent backlash. Most of the students took notes dutifully.
Anthonio already knew all of this. He'd written it, after all. But he played the role of attentive student, asking intelligent questions that made him seem competent without revealing his true knowledge.
"Crimsonhart," Valdris called midway through the lesson. "Your lightning is described as crimson in your admission papers. That's unusual. Would you demonstrate?"
Anthonio stood, letting a small amount of the Primordial Red Lightning leak through his suppression. Crimson electricity crackled across his fingers, controlled and precise.
The class went silent. Even Valdris looked surprised.
"Remarkable color variation," the instructor murmured, moving closer to examine the lightning. "I've only seen crimson lightning once before, in historical texts. It's supposed to be a sign of primordial essence, but that's..."
"Just a coincidence, probably," Anthonio said quickly. "I found some old cultivation resources. They must have been tainted by whatever created the color."
"Perhaps." Valdris didn't look entirely convinced, but he let it drop. "Regardless, your control is excellent for someone who only recently achieved Manifestation. You may sit."
Anthonio returned to his seat, very aware of multiple students staring at him now. Cassandra in particular was watching him with intense interest, her violet eyes analytical.
*Great. Drew too much attention. Need to tone it down.*
After class, several students approached him with questions about his lightning. Anthonio deflected most of them, maintaining his cover as someone who'd gotten lucky with mysterious resources rather than someone with genuine primordial essence.
Cassandra was more persistent.
"Anthonio Crimsonhart," she said, cornering him after the others had left. "Your lightning control is far better than Manifestation 9-Star should allow. And that color—I've researched rare essence variations extensively. Crimson lightning only appears in texts about primordial forces."
"Lucky mutation," Anthonio said with a shrug. "I don't fully understand it myself."
"Bullshit." Cassandra's eyes narrowed. "You're hiding something. Your actual power level, or your knowledge, or both. But I can't figure out which."
*She's sharp. Too sharp. Need to redirect this.*
"Tell you what," Anthonio said, stepping closer. Cassandra didn't back away, meeting his gaze steadily. "If you're so curious about my lightning, maybe we could have a private training session. I'd be happy to... demonstrate."
The double meaning wasn't subtle. Cassandra's eyes widened fractionally, then a slow smile spread across her face.
"Are you propositioning me, Crimsonhart?"
"I'm suggesting we could benefit from sparring together. What you read into that is up to you." Anthonio let his gaze travel over her body appreciatively. "Though I admit, you're very attractive when you're being analytical."
Cassandra laughed. "Forward. I like that. Fine. Tonight, training ground seven. It's usually empty after dinner."
"I'll be there."
---
The rest of the day passed in a blur of classes and introductions. Anthonio met dozens of students, cultivated the image of a competent but unremarkable Manifestation cultivator, and carefully avoided drawing more attention than necessary.
He saw Seraphina twice more during the day—once in the dining hall, where she was surrounded by admirers and barely acknowledged him beyond a polite nod, and once in the gardens, where they exchanged a look loaded with unspoken promise.
*Tonight,* that look said. *After I finish with Cassandra, we'll meet somewhere private.*
Dinner was a political affair. The dining hall was divided by social standing—nobles at the front tables, commoners toward the back. Anthonio sat with other Manifestation-level nobles, listening to their gossip about who was competing for whose favor, which families were forming alliances, who was sleeping with whom.
Kael Stormborn held court at the center table, surrounded by his usual crowd of admirers. Anthonio watched him carefully, noting the confident posture, the easy charisma, the way other students gravitated toward him naturally.
*The protagonist in his element. Beloved, admired, destined for greatness. He has no idea his predetermined future is already collapsing.*
Elena Ashford found Anthonio after dinner, her smile suggesting she'd been waiting for an opportunity.
"About that training session," she said, her hand resting on his arm. "Did you mean it, or were you just being polite?"
"I meant it," Anthonio confirmed. "Though I have something scheduled tonight. Tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow works." Her fingers traced down his arm suggestively. "I'm in the eastern wing, room 156. We could train in the morning... or evening. Whatever you prefer."
The invitation was clear. Elena wasn't subtle about her interest.
"Evening," Anthonio said. "After dinner. I'll come by your room."
"Perfect." Elena leaned in, her lips brushing his ear. "I look forward to seeing what you can do, Anthonio Crimsonhart."
She walked away, and Anthonio couldn't help but appreciate the view. *That's two women interested already, plus Seraphina. The harem is building faster than expected.*
---
**[EXPLICIT R-18 CONTENT - SCENE 1: CASSANDRA]**
Training ground seven was indeed empty when Anthonio arrived after dinner. The area was designed for lightning cultivation—metal rods for channeling, insulated floors, spiritual formations to contain wild discharges.
Cassandra was already there, dressed in tight training clothes that left little to the imagination. She'd tied her silver hair back in a practical ponytail, and her violet eyes gleamed with competitive fire.
"You came," she said. "I was half expecting you to be all talk."
"I'm many things," Anthonio replied, moving into the training area. "But I'm not all talk."
"Prove it. Show me what makes your lightning special."
They sparred, and Anthonio was careful to hold back appropriately for someone at Manifestation 9-Star. But even restrained, his control and technique were impressive—Cassandra found herself pushed harder than she'd expected.
"You're good," she admitted after twenty minutes, breathing hard. "Really good. That's not just lucky resources. You have actual training."
"I've had time to practice during exile."
"Bullshit again." Cassandra moved closer, her eyes intense. "You move like someone with combat experience. Real experience, not just practice. Who trained you?"
*She's too perceptive. Need to shut this down before she uncovers too much.*
"Why are you so interested in my secrets?" Anthonio asked, closing the remaining distance between them. "Is this about my lightning, or about something else?"
"Maybe both." Cassandra didn't back away. "You're interesting, Crimsonhart. Mysterious. And mystery is attractive."
"Is that so?"
He kissed her.
Cassandra responded immediately, her hands fisting in his shirt to pull him closer. The kiss was aggressive, competitive, both of them fighting for dominance.
"Training room," Cassandra gasped against his lips. "There's a private room attached to this ground. Now."
They made it to the private room—barely. Clothes came off in a frenzy of desperate hands and heated kisses. Cassandra pushed Anthonio against the wall, her hand wrapping around his cock.
"Fuck," she breathed, stroking him. "You're huge."
"You want it?" Anthonio growled, his own hands exploring her body. She was all lean muscle and controlled power, her breasts small but perfect, her body a weapon honed through years of training.
"I want you to fuck me," Cassandra said bluntly. "Hard. No romance, no pretense. Just fucking."
"I can do that."
He spun them, pressing her against the wall instead. Cassandra wrapped her legs around his waist, positioning herself. Anthonio thrust into her in one hard motion, and she cried out at the sudden fullness.
"Yes," she hissed. "Like that. Fuck me like that."
He did, pounding into her with brutal intensity. There was no finesse here, no gentle exploration like with Seraphina. This was pure physical need, two competitive people using each other's bodies for release.
"Harder," Cassandra demanded, her nails raking down his back. "Come on, Crimsonhart, I thought you said you weren't all talk—"
Anthonio's hand wrapped around her throat, not choking but asserting dominance. "Careful what you ask for."
He fucked her even harder, each thrust driving her back against the wall. Cassandra's eyes rolled back, her competitive fire melting into pure pleasure.
"Fuck, fuck, yes," she moaned. "Right there, don't stop—"
She came with a scream, her pussy clenching around him. Anthonio followed seconds later, groaning as he filled her.
They stayed pressed together for a long moment, both catching their breath. Then Cassandra laughed.
"Okay. You're definitely not all talk."
"Told you." Anthonio set her down carefully. "Same time tomorrow?"
"Absolutely." Cassandra grinned. "But next time, I'm on top. I want to ride that cock."
"Looking forward to it."
---
**[EXPLICIT R-18 CONTENT - SCENE 2: SERAPHINA]**
Anthonio met Seraphina an hour later in a rarely-used section of the library. The restricted archives were accessible only to Transcendence-level students, making it the perfect place for a secret rendezvous.
She was waiting for him between the stacks, her ice-blue eyes dark with desire and something else—jealousy?
"You smell like another woman," Seraphina said quietly.
*Shit. She knows.*
"I can explain—"
"You don't need to explain anything. We never said we were exclusive." But her voice carried an edge. "I just... I need to know if last night meant anything, or if I was just another conquest."
Anthonio pulled her close, his hand cupping her face. "Last night meant everything. You mean everything. But Seraphina, I told you—I'm not the politically advantageous choice, the safe choice, the hero everyone expects you to choose. I'm going to have other women. I'm going to build power in every way I can, including through connections and..." he paused, "intimate relationships."
"A harem," Seraphina said flatly.
"Eventually, yes. I won't lie to you about that." Anthonio's thumb stroked her cheek. "But you're first. You're the one I love. The others... they're attraction, desire, political advantage. You're real."
Seraphina was quiet for a long moment. Then: "I'm not happy about sharing. But I understand the reality of power and politics. And I'd rather share you than lose you entirely."
"You'll never lose me."
"Then prove it," Seraphina said, her hands already working at his clothes. "Fuck me right here. Make me forget about whatever bitch you were with earlier. Remind me why I chose you over Kael fucking Stormborn."
Anthonio lifted her onto one of the archive tables, pushing her dress up around her waist. She wasn't wearing anything underneath—clearly she'd planned this.
"You came prepared," he observed, his fingers sliding through her wetness.
"I've been thinking about this all day," Seraphina gasped as he pushed two fingers inside her. "Sitting through boring classes, pretending to be interested in noble gossip, all while remembering what you did to me this morning."
"Tell me." Anthonio worked her with his fingers, his thumb circling her clit. "Tell me what you were thinking about."
"Your cock," Seraphina moaned, her hips rolling against his hand. "How it felt inside me. How you filled me so perfectly. How I could still feel you dripping out of me during lunch and it made me so fucking wet—"
Anthonio's control snapped. He pulled his fingers out and replaced them with his cock in one hard thrust. Seraphina cried out, her back arching off the table.
"This what you wanted?" he growled, pounding into her. "Wanted me to fuck you in a library where anyone could walk in and see the ice princess getting ruined?"
"Yes," Seraphina gasped. "Yes, fuck me, make me yours, show me I'm different from the others—"
"You are different." Anthonio leaned down, his lips at her ear. "The others are just fucking. You're mine. Completely. Forever."
Seraphina came with a muffled scream, biting into his shoulder to stay quiet. Anthonio kept fucking her through it, prolonging her pleasure until she was trembling.
"Inside," she gasped. "Come inside me again, mark me—"
He did, his cock pulsing as he filled her for the fourth time that day. They stayed locked together, both shaking with the intensity of it.
"I love you," Seraphina whispered. "Even knowing you'll have others. Even knowing I have to share. I love you, Anthonio."
"I love you too," he murmured back. "First and always, Seraphina. No matter how many others there are, you're the one who matters."
They cleaned up and left separately, Seraphina first, then Anthonio ten minutes later. No one saw them together.
The secret remained intact.
---
Anthonio returned to his room near midnight, exhausted but satisfied. Three women in one day—Seraphina twice, Cassandra once. And Elena tomorrow.
*The harem is already building. Seraphina as the primary, the one I love. Cassandra as the competitive fuck buddy. Elena likely to join tomorrow. And I haven't even started approaching the main heroines from the original novel yet.*
He collapsed onto his bed, letting his suppressed cultivation breathe slightly. Transcendence 7-Star power flooded through him, reminding him of what he truly was beneath the disguise.
*Kael Stormborn thinks he's building his legend. Gathering followers, impressing instructors, establishing himself as the Academy's rising star.*
*He has no idea his destined bride already chose me. No idea I'm going to steal every heroine he was supposed to have. No idea the exiled trash is actually the greatest threat to his predetermined future.*
Crimson lightning and absolute darkness swirled around Anthonio's hands, merging into shadow-lightning.
*First day complete. Seraphina claimed and secured. Two additional conquests. More to come.*
*Welcome to the rewritten story, protagonist.*
*This is my Academy now.*
---
**END OF CHAPTER 14**
---