He wondered just how deep its effect truly ran, because he hadn't expected Nyssa to draw that many words out of him—words that felt too genuine to be just strategy. Her questions had been sincere, directly reflecting the cold truth of the academy's hierarchy and the pride that defined it, confirming his own observations.

almost… vulnerable, and her reflections on the academy's hierarchy were sharper and more honest than anything he'd heard before.

He ran a hand slowly over his face, brushing through his hair as a quiet grin curved his lips.

"I didn't even expect I'd say those things," he murmured under his breath. "Guess her words pulled it right out of me."

Lowering his gaze, he let out a thoughtful hum.

'Hm… she's different. A noble with real potential—her sense, her humor, the way she observes… goes far beyond what I imagined.'

He paused for a heartbeat longer, then straightened his posture, his steps echoed lightly through the long corridor, the silence wrapping around him like a familiar cloak. His thoughts were still, yet alive... replaying fragments of Nyssa's words, the flicker in her eyes when she spoke. The academy's marble floors gleamed faintly beneath the lantern glow as he passed, his hand brushing against the stone walls with idle ease.

By the time he reached his chamber, the quiet felt earned. He pushed the door open with a soft click and stepped inside, letting the stillness swallow him whole. For a heartbeat, he stood there, eyes tracing the dim light filtering through the narrow window, before a low exhale slipped from his lips.

With a smooth motion, he dropped onto the bed, the fabric giving beneath his weight. A faint grin curved his mouth as he stared at the ceiling. Not bad for the day, he thought. Not bad at all. The soft hum of his system still lingered quietly at the edge of his perception, a reminder of the power that had nudged Nyssa's emotions earlier.

He rested an arm behind his head, the other loosely on his chest. The calm that followed wasn't emptiness, it was satisfaction. The kind that came when a plan quietly shifted in his favor.

And for a long, deep moment, Eran parted his robe aside, shifting lazily against the sheets until he found his comfort. The soft rustle of fabric filled the quiet as he leaned back, a low hum of amusement escaping his chest. A slow exhale followed, one that carried both calm and the faint thrill of the day's subtle victories. His gaze softened toward the ceiling before his eyelids grew heavy.

He let the silence linger, unbroken and still, as his thoughts faded into the dark and slowly, Eran drifted off to sleep.

***

Several hours had passed when a calm knock tapped against the chamber door.

At first, Eran didn't stir. The sound was too soft, too distant to pull him from his drifting calm.

Then came another... sharper, deliberate.

He groaned quietly, brushing a hand through his hair before rising from the bed. His steps were slow, heavy with the kind of exhaustion that clung after a long day. When he opened the door, his gaze lifted, and there she was.

Selene stood before him, posture poised, calm as ever. Every inch of her radiated the grace and composure of her noble lineage.

Eran's lips curved faintly. "Hm… my professor."

A ghost of a smile tugged at her lips. "Eran," she murmured, her tone both patient and amused. "When are you going to stop teasing?"

He only gave a quiet shrug as she stepped past him.

Selene moved toward the bed, her robe loosening with each motion until only the soft, clinging fabric beneath remained... tracing every elegant curve and the subtle warmth of her body.

With a low, tired exhale, she sank down onto the bed, resting back with her eyes on the ceiling.

"It's been a long day," she said softly. "I just needed a moment to breathe… to relax."

Eran leaned against the edge of the table nearby, arms folded as his gaze drifted toward her. "So it's already this late. You've been up since the duels ended—still working with the disciplinary committee?"

Selene's voice came out in a calm murmur, her eyes half-lidded. "Not exactly. I took a few hours to rest, though it was rather late. I stopped by Nyssa's chamber first. She told me everything went smoothly, that she healed your wounds completely."

Eran nodded slowly, his expression unreadable, though his gaze lingered on her longer than necessary.

Selene's next words came softer, almost thoughtful. "She said you handled yourself well today… and that you surprised her."

His gaze lingered on Selene for a moment longer, his expression unreadable yet faintly curious. Her words about Nyssa echoed quietly in his mind. He wondered if Nyssa had mentioned their earlier conversation, or if Selene was simply reading between the lines as she always did.

Before he could think further, Selene's voice cut through his silence. She sat up slightly on the bed, her tone soft but commanding.

"Let me see where you had those bruises earlier."

Eran's lips curved, the corner of his mouth lifting into a knowing smirk. "Haha, well, if not… there's my professor, always so caring toward her student."

Selene exhaled through her nose, her eyes narrowing playfully as she reached out and tugged at his top, parting the fabric lightly to one side. Her touch was careful, her eyes tracing the faint marks that had already begun to fade.

A small groan escaped her, half teasing, half amused.

"Shit, Eran... will you stop teasing for once?"

He let out a low chuckle, his laughter mixing with hers as it filled the quiet chamber.

For a moment, the tension between them eased warmer..

Selene shifted closer, the soft rustle of her skirt brushing against the sheets as her palm came to rest on Eran's shoulder. A quiet sigh escaped her lips, her touch warm, grounding.

"Eran," she murmured, her voice low and threaded with emotion, "I was so worried about you out there during the duel… especially at the final moment."

Her eyes lifted to his, glimmering with quiet frustration and concern. "You know how nobles see a commoner—no sympathy, no regard. If anything had gone wrong, they'd have cheered."

Eran met her gaze, emerald meeting steel, and for a moment the warmth in her voice tugged at something deep within him. Her words were true... every one of them. Yet knowing that Selene had once stood among those same nobles, proud and distant, made him let out a quiet, amused breath and shake his head lightly.

Selene caught the gesture instantly and pinched his shoulder with a half-scolding, half-playful tone. "You always think too far, you know. I wish I could see all those thoughts running through your head right now."

Eran turned slightly toward her, a knowing smile curving his lips.

"Do you really wish to know?" he said, his tone teasing but edged with sincerity. "You were once like them, Selene. But seeing how far you've come, how much you've changed... honestly surprises me."

The words struck deeper than he intended. Selene's breath hitched softly; her eyes searched his, glassy with something she couldn't quite name. Without a word, she leaned in, closing the space between them.

Her lips brushed his.. slow, and deliberate, before pressing fully, a kiss that carried both confession and claim. When she finally parted, her breath lingered against his skin as she whispered,

"This is what you did to me, Eran. You showed me a light I couldn't resist… even when I tried. Somehow, I found myself drawn into you completely. And now..."—her voice trembled faintly—"we are one. I won't let anything happen to you, not as long as I exist."

With quiet thoughts stirring behind his eyes, Eran brushed a finger along Selene's lips, slowly tracing the moisture there before parting them slightly.

"In as much as you exist for me," he whispered, his tone low and deliberate, "I exist for you. And I won't let anyone hurt you… or take you away from me."

The room fell into absolute silence, his words hanging in the air like a quiet vow. Selene's chest rose and fell; she closed her eyes briefly before letting out a soft sigh.

"Hm, I know you will," she murmured, voice warm with certainty. "You never give up."

She drew him closer, her nails grazing his back in a slow, caressing motion that left a faint heat trailing across his skin. Then, with a teasing chuckle that eased the tension, she added,

"But still… you almost got your whole ass beaten up by Miyu."

Eran blinked, caught between amusement and surprise, as Selene continued... her voice mixing humor with something thoughtful.

"She's a Velmeirion bloodline, remember. Her lineage runs deep, and her traits follow her even as a Grade D noble. She's the top of my class, in fact."

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