After the opening ceremony finally concluded, the atmosphere of the Edrath Imperial Academy gradually settled into a calmer rhythm. At least, calmer by continental tournament standards.
Many contenders returned to their assigned dormitories to prepare for the first trial scheduled for the following morning. Others eagerly explored the capital, treating the summit as both a competition and a rare opportunity to sightsee within the Holy Empire.
Foreign nobles attended banquets, guild representatives sought business opportunities and the professors exchanged theories and challenged one another's researches.
The campus remained lively long after sunset.
But unfortunately for Crown Prince Cassian Valemont, one particular problem had yet to be resolved.
Sora Curzon.
Because Sora had officially been registered as a provincial female transfer student, Elias had been forced to assign him to the heavily guarded female dormitory sector located on the western edge of the academy. Elias wasn't really worried about Sora troubling the females because he knew very well that Sora was only drawn to Cassian and deeply much so. It was an arrangement that Cassian also deemed "logistically sound" not draw any suspicions.
Unfortunately, that exact fact was the problem. Cassian only categorized the arrangement as only 'logistically Sound', nothing else but that.
But Sora's possessive, pregnancy-enhanced Moonborn instincts categorized the situation as 'abandonment and an emotional violation.'
*****
At 2:45 AM.
The Senior Elite sector was completely dark. The high-tier security wards designed by Celia to protect her treasured crown prince were pulsing with a steady, rhythmic purple glow, designed to incinerate any entity attempting to cross the threshold of the royal suites. Anyone attempting unauthorized entry would immediately discover why Celia's reputation as a magical genius was terrifying.
*Flash!*
With a fluid, silent grace that defied natural physics, Sora's female form blurred through the courtyard shadows. His high-tier half-elven agility allowed him to systematically read the micro-frequencies of the wind wards, stepping through the gaps with a childishly easy, mocking precision. He didn't scale the stairs; he casually leaped from the branch of a willow tree straight onto the marble balcony of Cassian's private royal suite, his raven hair catching the starlight.
He watched Cassian through the glass.
Cassian sat at his desk, wearing a loose black silk robe, his tunic and his white gloves discarded on the blotter as he mapped out the asset seizure plan for the scepter
"One possible method of legal acquisition is winning the tournament."
*Scratch.*
His quill moved. "Let's scratch it out just in case something unforeseen happens.
"Now, Two methods involving diplomatic pressure if ever I suggest changing the reward to something else."
*Scratch.*
"Then....One extremely effective method is....—theft. Mhm we'll consider that one."
Just then his balcony doors opened. He didn't even look up as the pale, beautiful blur slammed directly into his lap.
"Sora," Cassian deadpanned, his hands instinctively catching her waist as she wound her legs tightly around his hips. Not because he expected it, but because this happened often enough to qualify as routine.
Sora's silk nightgown rolled up his curvy thighs and Cassian couldn't help but steal a glance before dragging out a sigh as he looked up into his face.
"Celia's security wards carry a five-hundred-volt defensive charge. Your current infiltration strategy is highly risky, especially for you and the child Sora."
"The beds over there are cold, Cassian," Sora whimpered, her voice a wild, frantic whisper as she buried her face in his neck, her teeth lightly grazing his collarbone in an intense, territorial display. She was practically vibrating with a sudden, unhinged lust, her fingers tearing at the lapels of his robe.
"Sora the female dormitories are equipped with enchanted heating systems."
"They're still cold."
"They maintain a stable temperature though."
"They're emotionally cold." Cassian pinched the bridge of his nose with a loud huff.
"There is no measurable unit for emotional temperature."
"There is for me."
Sora tightened his grip around his neck and Cassian could practically feel the complaint radiating from Sora.
"You abandoned me."
'Ah there it is.'
"Sora you were only assigned a room as a student, like everyone else."
"You abandoned me." Sora repeated, his eyes unmoving.
"You agreed to the assignment."
"You manipulated me."
Cassian stared.
Sora stared back.
And the silence lasted several seconds.
Then—
"You manipulated me."
"... —Well...pherhaps I did."
"Exactly."
Cassian sighed again, another defeat.
Then Sora glanced at the papers on top of the desk and he raised his brow out of curiosity.
"My Lord....in the late of the night, what are you plotting now?"
"Asset acquisition."
"That sounds illegal."
"It is only illegal if someone proves it."
"That sounds even more illegal."
Cassian ignored him and Sora smiled, his gaze softening up. The possessive tension that had plagued him all day gradually faded and comfortable silence settled between them.
"Do you remember the promise I made this morning my lord?... I said if you allowed me to come with you to the tournament I would pay you back earnestly.....and in this female form too. You seemed to like it very much."
Cassian's crimson eyes dilated, a sudden, violent rush of blood heading straight to his head as Sora's soft curves pressed flush against his frame.
"That may be true but I like every form of yours Sora."
Cassian knew better that to upset a pregnant being by comparing their appearance if he valued his life, after all he has also experienced it for himself, with his own body that once upset, chaos insues and their minds change easily and he didn't want that, especially when his other member was slowly swelling underneath his robes.
And right now the visual features of his beautiful female form, combined with the intoxicating scent of Sora's stabilized natural mana, completely shattered his restraints.
"Lucien was right, you Moonborns are truly, remarkably dangerous with your shape shifting." Cassian growled softly, his hands locking onto her hips with an intense, unyielding possessiveness as he pulled her up onto the desk, scattering whatever document was on top of the desk and sent them flying across the floorboards as he cooped Sora's legs around his waist.
The silk robe rolled off his body seamlessly as he leaned closer to kiss Sora. And then he pulled out his voice purring on Sora's lips.
"You know, in all honesty, I was truly curious about whether you'd be able to shift this part as well" Cassian trailed his eyes in between Sora's legs and Sora giggled spreading his legs wider.
"Do you want me to?" Cassian quickly looked up at him. "Is that possible?"
"For you.... anything is possible my lord." Sora winked humming his mana to swirl around his legs and Cassian's eyes nearly fell out of his head as he watched the entire transform unfold.
"Unbelievable–..."
"The appearance may be convincing but we can't be certain about the sensation...and I can only maintain the form for 15 minutes."
"That's enough time and let's worry about sensation later darling, I'm just happy to see this again." Sora giggled as he watched Cassian carefully kneel down in front of him and he proceeded to bury his face in between his legs. Sora scoffed throwing his head back, eyes closed. He felt strange, he could feel Cassian's tongue and saliva rubbing against him but still–...there was something missing....a spark, pleasure and libido.
'Truly, no matter what, nothing can mimick the creation of gods. If anything I need to work hard with my transformations from now on.'
'But let's leave him be, he seems to be enjoying himself.'
*****
As the two made love in the quiet of the royal suite, it was a frantic, silent battle of endurance. After the vaginal form duration lapsed and Sora shifted back to his natural, pristine form. Sora was completely insatiable, yearning for more than Cassian could endure. Blame it to the pregnancy. Sora's childlike dependency shifted into something more fierce, breathless control as she whispered wicked, possessive promises into Cassian's ear, his body yielding to every surge of his cold, dark mana. Cassian was forced to balance his exploding lust with the terrifying operational risk of his own guards detecting the massive mana spike from inside.
Outside the door, Sir Lucien Arden stood vigil in the dark corridor. He could hear the faint, rhythmic thudding of the obsidian desk against the wall, the muffled, ecstatic gasping of the elf, and the low, dominant growls of the prince he worshiped and protected.
Lucien closed his eyes, his knuckles turning white as he leaned his head against the stone wall, his emotions cooking his veins in silence. He didn't draw his sword. He didn't report the breach. He simply stood there, a loyal, corrupted watchdog, ensuring the Crown Prince could indulge his beautiful, heretical distraction in absolute peace.
But then–
Unexpectedly, a smirk formed on his lips. Something within him shifted, into a dark twisted emotion instead of jealousy and he liked how it thrilled him.
"We'll see how long this will continue your highness. I'll wait....but once the tournament ends as promised–..." His voice trailed off.
'Haaaa.....—by then your entire world will change." Lucien slightly opened his eyes and narrowed them into glacier slits as his grin also lopsided into something unexpectedly wicked. Something he couldn't control as well.
It was a huge part of himself. His true intent.
*****