Just as Lucas lifted her onto the kitchen counter and began removing his suit jacket and shirt, the AI system rang out calmly:
"Master Lucas, your guest, Henry from the Obsidian Circle, has arrived."
Yuna stiffened instantly, Lucas's fingers still on her lips. Her face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and frustration.
Lucas clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Should we ignore him and continue?"
Before he could say more, Yuna slid off the counter and ran toward her assigned room, her cheeks burning.
Lucas blinked, still half-hard and shirtless.
"What the hell… leaving me like this?"
He sighed, quickly buttoned his shirt, adjusted his hair, and walked to the door.
Henry stood outside, offering a formal greeting.
"Young Master."
Lucas nodded. "Come in."
Henry entered, his sharp eyes tracking the details — the faint scent of a woman in the air, the fresh bite mark on Lucas's neck. He shook his head internally with faint disappointment. For a second, I thought he might be different from the others… but it seems I was wrong.
Lucas seated himself on the sofa and opened his palm. Henry passed him a folder with Professor Ava Whitlock's image on the front.
"Name: Ava Whitlock. Age: 31. Only daughter of Councilwoman Diana Whitlock. Father deceased. Diana Whitlock is unawakened, yet she holds considerable political power in the awakeners' world. After her daughter awakened, Diana tried to use Ava as a political pawn, but Ava left everything behind and joined the university where her mother could no longer control her life."
Henry continued, "Professor Ava Whitlock only completed her rank-up quest and ascended to A-rank a few months ago. She is one of the newest professors here. No known desires for academy politics, no desire for personal power. She spends most of her time teaching and helping students.
There is no exact nature of her class on record, but it is confirmed to be support-oriented. Many male professors have tried to pursue romantic relationships with her, but she has rejected everyone. She tends to help others in need, which has gotten her into trouble a few times. She has no personal disciples or strong connections to any major faction. The only person she openly respects is Professor Seraphina Hale."
Henry finished the report. Lucas nodded.
"Not bad."
He looked up. "So every faction keeps information on the professors?"
Henry nodded. "Just the basics, Young Master. To know who to avoid… and who to get close to."
Lucas nodded, satisfied. "Thanks."
Henry looked caught off guard. "No need, Young Master. We are here to serve you."
Lucas laughed lightly. "No need to act with me. I know I haven't done shit to earn the respect you're showing. If not for the Vanderbilt surname behind me, you wouldn't even glance at me." He admitted it openly. "But it won't be long. I'm sure one day you'll respect and fear me for who I am."
Henry wasn't sure what to say, but he nodded with quiet appreciation. He thought to himself, At least he knows his shortcomings.
Lucas continued, "Did you gather information on the final-year student Valentina D'Aramont?"
Henry nodded, unsure why Lucas was asking about that "crazy bitch."
"She is at mid-C-rank, Young Master. She mostly lets her pets fight, so her personal rank is somewhat irrelevant."
Lucas nodded. "Sophia is still the priority then."
He remembered the merits he already owed.
"The trash from before — did you take care of them?"
Henry smiled faintly. "As you ordered, Young Master. They can't walk outside without limping."
Lucas's eyes darkened. "Find them and tell them to collect 200,000 merits in one week. If not, I'll take their other legs and arms too."
Henry thought 200,000 merits was no small amount for low-rank students, but it wasn't his problem. "Understood. I will take care of it."
Lucas nodded. "You can go. Once again, thanks for the help."
Henry's face turned hesitant. He wanted to say something, but struggled. Lucas noticed.
"What is it? You can speak freely."
Henry took a breath. "The Guild Master asked me to convey that the Obsidian Circle is always ready to serve you, Young Master. If you can join us, we would be honored."
Lucas leaned back. "I will think about it. You can leave now."
Henry left quickly. Lucas sat alone, eyes darkening.
This is what happens when you don't have personal strength. That bastard doesn't even come himself to propose the invitation — he sends his vice.
**
Professor Ava Whitlock stepped out of the lecture hall after her final class of the day, the weight of the long hours pressing down on her shoulders.
The golden light of the setting sun filtered through the tall academy windows, casting long shadows across the polished corridors.
She walked with her usual graceful posture, but her steps were slower than normal. Her voluptuous figure swayed gently beneath her elegant professor's robe, the fabric clinging to her massive breasts and flaring over her thick, rounded ass with every tired step.
I expected Lucas to be arrogant and defensive, given all the rumors about his birth and background, she thought as she walked.
But surprisingly, he felt… in control. There is something about him that makes me uneasy. Like he knows what I would say before I even speak. Like he can predict my moves… Uff, I'm really overthinking this.
The academy provided a special residential district for its professors — a quiet, luxurious community separated from the student dormitories. The higher the rank, the better the accommodations.
As a newly ascended A-rank, Ava had been assigned an entire floor in the A-rank building. It was a generous privilege, yet it still felt small compared to what the S-rank professors received.
Ava stepped inside and pressed the button for the 9th floor, the highest level reserved for A-rank faculty. She leaned back against the mirrored wall, her chest rising and falling with a heavy sigh.
Just as the doors began to close, a frantic shout echoed down the corridor.
"Please wait!"
A scrawny man in a rumpled brown suit and square glasses sprinted toward the lift, clutching a stack of papers. He barely made it inside before the doors shut. The moment he saw Ava, his tired face brightened into a genuine, almost boyish smile.
"Professor Ava!" he greeted warmly, adjusting his glasses. "What a pleasant surprise. I didn't expect to run into you here."
Ava offered a gentle, tired smile in return. "Professor Owens. Good evening. Late day for you as well?"
Professor Owens — a late B-rank instructor known for his alchemy skills and groundbreaking work in mana studies — nodded vigorously, his messy hair bouncing.
"Very late. I had to supervise three extra practical sessions. Some of the Proven students are still struggling with basic mana flow control." He chuckled self-deprecatingly. "I swear, sometimes I feel more like a babysitter than a professor."
Ava let out a soft, understanding laugh, the sound warm despite her fatigue. "I know the feeling. Today's batch of first-years had more questions than usual about the tier system. They're starting to realize just how brutal the academy really is."
Owens glanced at her, his eyes lingering for a brief second on her figure before he quickly looked away, cheeks slightly flushed.
"I guess the personal discipline ceremony is going to start soon," he said, trying to sound casual. "I witnessed many professors trying to curry favor with the Apex students. And those two Mythic boys… they're going to shake things up, aren't they?"
Ava's expression softened, a hint of something unreadable flickering in her golden-amber eyes.
"They already are," she murmured. "Especially the older one… Lucas."
The elevator chimed softly as it reached the 9th floor. The doors opened to a quiet, luxurious hallway lined with elegant wooden doors and soft lighting.
Owens stepped out with her, still clutching his papers.
"Well… I hope you get some rest, Professor Ava. You look like you've earned it."
Ava gave him a small, genuine smile. "Thank you, Owens. You too. Try not to stay up too late grading those reports."
She turned and walked down the corridor toward her private floor apartment, her voluptuous figure swaying with each step. Owens watched her go for a moment longer than necessary, then shook his head and headed toward his own floor.
Ava entered her spacious apartment, the door closing softly behind her. She leaned against it for a second, letting out a long, exhausted breath.
The space was not as grand or ostentatious as the luxury penthouses given to Apex students like Lucas. Still, it was warm, functional, and deeply personal — a true reflection of her character.
The living area featured a comfortable cream-colored sofa, a large reading nook filled with stacked books and research notes, and a wide window overlooking the academy's mana-lit gardens.
A small but well-equipped kitchen sat to one side, and a dedicated study corner was visible through an open archway, its desk covered in neatly organized papers, glowing mana crystals, and half-finished lesson plans. Potted plants and soft lighting gave the entire floor a productive, lived-in feeling rather than cold luxury.
The moment she stepped inside, a small, high-pitched "Meow~" echoed from somewhere near the ceiling.
All the exhaustion weighing on Ava's shoulders vanished in an instant. A soft, genuine smile bloomed across her face.
"Dianna, my little munchkin… stop hiding and come to mommy," she called gently, her voice warm and affectionate.
A white, fluffy snowball of a cat — a rare snow lynx breed with soft silver-tipped fur — launched itself from the top of the tall bookshelf in an ambitious surprise attack.
Ava's A-rank senses made the cat's movement feel comically slow. She caught Dianna mid-air with practiced ease, pulling the purring bundle into her arms and collapsing onto the sofa with a laugh.
Dianna immediately began kneading Ava's chest with her tiny paws, purring loudly as she rubbed her face against her owner's neck. Ava giggled, pressing her face into the cat's soft fur and planting little kisses on her head.
"You little troublemaker," she murmured fondly, scratching under Dianna's chin. "Did you miss me? Or were you just waiting to pounce on me like a tiny assassin?"
Dianna meowed indignantly, as if offended by the accusation, then flopped dramatically onto her back, demanding belly rubs. Ava obliged, her fingers gently stroking the cat's tummy while Dianna's paws batted playfully at her hand.
For a few precious minutes, the weight of the day — the lectures, the politics, the constant pressure — melted away completely. It was just Ava and her spoiled little companion, the only creature in the world who saw her simply as "mommy" and not as a tool or a professor.
After a while, Ava gently set Dianna down and stood up. "Alright, time to freshen up, baby."
She showered quickly, letting the hot water wash away the fatigue. Changing into a comfortable silk robe, she moved toward her study corner. An unopened envelope waited on the desk — the same one that had been sitting there for two days. She had deliberately avoided it until now.
"I can't avoid this forever," she whispered to herself.
Ava sat down, picked up her favorite calming tea, and took a slow sip. With a resigned sigh, she finally opened the letter.
There was no sender's name. No greeting. Only cold, precise words:
Stop running like a coward and embrace your inevitability, my daughter. Without any support, what height can you possibly reach? You have a chance; I have declined many others. Call me immediately if you do not wish to see me explode.
Ava stared at the paper for a long moment. Then, with a quiet sigh, she burned the letter with a small flicker of golden flame from her fingertip, watching the ashes drift into the air.
"The least you could ask is how I'm doing… or whether my health is well," she murmured bitterly. "Why can't you be a normal mother for once?"
She leaned back in her chair, the warmth of the tea doing little to ease the familiar ache in her chest. The pressure from her mother had never truly gone away — it only changed shape.