Episode 45
“The mirror doesn’t work?”
Hans repeated in disbelief.
“According to the report, the basilisk’s gaze, when reflected in a mirror, doesn’t affect humans. Looks like the lord tried to come up with some kind of countermeasure out of desperation.”
At that moment, an idea flashed through my mind. I didn’t hesitate to speak.
“So looking at a basilisk through a mirror doesn’t paralyze you.”
“That’s right.”
“What if we fought it with our backs turned, using the mirror?”
At my suggestion, the squad members exchanged glances and nodded.
“Fighting an enemy behind your back… It’s a first for me, but not a bad tactic.”
Antonio’s lips curved upward for the first time in a while.
“Alright. Let’s rest for now. We’ll need our strength for the fight.”
The members dispersed into their tents one by one. I was heading to a tent with Kallen when I stopped. Something deep in my chest tugged at me. A sense of unease, like a noose tightening around my neck, told me this wasn’t enough. I slowly turned and looked at Antonio.
He was still standing tall, his broad shoulders straight. Holding the report in his hand, he seemed deep in thought. Without hesitation, I approached and tugged on his sleeve.
He looked down at me with tired eyes.
“…Why?”
“I want to… sleep in your tent tonight.”
I said it with unwavering determination.
I had to do something. If I wanted to grow stronger—even a little—
“….”
“Give me your mana.”
Now wasn’t the time to worry about what others thought. I needed to grow stronger.
Antonio’s brow twitched slightly. His gaze pierced through me as if trying to discern what I truly meant.
He turned his head slightly to look up at the sky. Moonlight gently illuminated the side of his face.
Then he looked at me again. His expression was calm, but his eyes held a strange mixture of compassion and resolve.
“Come to me after the sun has fully set.”
The sun had set and darkness had fully fallen.
The knights, having washed away the fatigue of the day, were resting inside their tents. A few remained by the campfire, roasting mushrooms and chatting in low voices.
“You know…”
Hans began while blowing on a mushroom skewered on a stick. The others naturally turned toward him.
“Don’t you think… the way Antonio looks at Josephine is kinda… intense?”
The conversation stopped cold.
Everyone glanced at Hans in silence.
“What? You guys didn’t see it? Or am I imagining things? I swear, he’s got that look, like—‘If you want it, I’ll give you everything.’”
Hans squinted and mimicked Antonio’s low voice in a silly manner. The others’ expressions soured.
Bartol slowly turned the skewer he held and gave Hans a side glance.
“Stop it. That’s not even close.”
“Come on! Am I wrong?”
“If you’re done with your mushroom, go wash up and sleep.”
Kallen tossed her used skewer into the fire and stood. Hans, seeing everyone’s chilly reactions, shrugged and went quiet.
The sound of mushrooms sizzling on the fire filled the awkward silence.
Soon, even those around the fire drifted off into their tents.
I thought I heard a whisper of Antonio and me…
I stepped out of the tent and looked around quietly.
There—Antonio’s private tent. While the male knights shared tents, Antonio, as the commander, always had his own space. That was the rule of the order.
It was fortunate for me. I could receive his mana in private.
With everyone gone, the camp was wrapped in silence. I swallowed hard and began walking.
Each step was careful. Dry leaves rustled underfoot. The sound of soft earth. Every noise prickled at my senses.
Even though the others probably already knew, it felt shameful to be caught in such a secret meeting.
I stopped in front of his tent. No sound from within.
The tightly closed flap felt like a wall between us.
But I didn’t hesitate—I lifted the flap.
A massive shadow loomed before me.
“You’re here.”
His deep, heavy voice came from the darkness.
Before I could react, Antonio grabbed me. His touch was rough and hot. I caught my breath and looked up at him.
Even in the darkness, he glowed. His sharp features were like a sculpture carved from marble. His lips curved in an enticing line.
His golden eyes gleamed like fragments of the sun, piercing straight through me.
The desire to grow stronger. And the desire to be closer to him.
Even the deepest darkness couldn’t dim his brilliance.
Just looking at him made my breath catch. I wanted to run—but also to be held by him.
It felt like my heart was beating in his palm.
He effortlessly lifted me. I landed snugly in his arms, his breath brushing my face.
His breath touched my lips.
Our lips met. He slowly took my lower lip between his and then sucked it in, breathing heavily.
His hand slipped under my tunic and wrapped around my waist. A warm energy spread from where he touched me.
His mana, like his body heat, was stronger than ever.
A tingle ran up my spine and left a prickling sensation at the top of my head.
“Hhh…”
A moan escaped as I instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck.
Skin against skin. Every brush of our lips melted my thoughts like molten steel in a forge.
Chup. Our lips parted with a wet sound. He bit my earlobe without warning. I flinched at the heat pressing against the sensitive skin under my ear.
“Mm…”
My eyes half-closed, I stared blankly into the dark void. My thoughts had evaporated.
“Focus.”
His damp voice whispered warningly at my ear.
Our lips met again. I pressed my body tightly against his chest, savoring the kiss. As saliva mingled, his mana pooled deep inside my lower abdomen. Pleasure tingled through every fingertip, every toe—so much it felt like I might melt.
Chup. Chup.
Wet sounds echoed endlessly. His rough tongue licked my lips before plunging in. I squeezed my eyes shut.
Every swirl of his tongue made my shoulders shiver. His mana poured endlessly into me.
Even breathing through my nose, I was gasping.
“…Should we take a break?”
Antonio pressed a kiss to my cheek and gently laid me down on the blanket.
Then he began undoing the buttons on my tunic. My collarbone and skin were exposed.
“You said rest…”
“I changed my mind.”
His lips slowly traced down my collarbone, and my body reacted on its own. Every place his lips touched lit up like sparks.
His tongue glided softly along my thin, sensitive skin. I swallowed, curling up slightly. I couldn’t hold back the moans.
This is why we couldn’t do this during combat operations.
“Haa… Antonio.”
I couldn’t help but call his name. Every touch of his lips and hands made my skin hypersensitive. My nerves came alive under his fingertips.
He slowly, persistently trailed kisses down my neck. Each bite and release sent a shiver through my whole body.
With every touch, his mana sank deeper and deeper into me.
His hand moved down my side, sliding along my waist. I felt every bit of his warmth where he touched me.
His golden eyes gleamed wickedly in the dark—like a beast ready to claim its prey.
“Why are you so…”
He didn’t finish. His lips landed on even more sensitive skin, drawing it in to leave marks.
“Sweet?”
But his voice—his voice was the most intoxicating.
He was enjoying my reactions. Driving me into deeper pleasure with his relentless hands and lips.
His hand traced up my thigh. When his fingers brushed a sensitive spot, pleasure surged like spilled water. His mana had completely overtaken me.
In this moment, as our boundaries blurred, I could forget everything else.
That someday, he would rise too high for me to reach. That our worlds would drift apart.
He was a shining sun, destined to rise higher and higher. I would remain in the shadows, gazing up at him.
Every lingering touch made that reality hurt more.
I knew this was fleeting, that it wouldn’t last—but I couldn’t let him go.
His hands and breath peeled me from reality and locked us in this shared, private world. Here, we didn’t need names or roles.
Just for this brief moment, I wanted to believe he was mine.
