The Flame's Shadow

"She was… particularly avoidant when it comes to you," Minjeong said after taking a sip from a soda can.

"Figures," I replied, shaking the bottle of iced chocolate in my hand.

"What did Jimin say?" Minjeong asked.

I stopped shaking my drink then placed it on the reception desk. It's Wednesday night, time to return Jimin's favor of covering my Archives' shift last Sunday when I missed it after exhausting myself during Yuna's rescue op. We turned off most of the lights, seeing as night shifts are usually uneventful — bar my last one when a full on skirmish between the Wild Hunt against Yeji's team and seeing Jimin and I running for our lives occurred. Yeah — pretty uneventful if you ask me. I can only hope this shift's going to be peaceful.

"We… never really had the timing to talk about it…" I replied.

"I told you not to screw this up," Minjeong sighed wearily.

"That was with the assumption that your sister won't be on the table," I retorted.

"You're saying that like you still have feelings for her," Minjeong turned her back against me and started absently manning the camera controls of the Archives, the clicking of the mouse and keys a little bit distracting. Her voice sounded a little bit judgmental, but also a little bit… jealous? Does that even makes sense?

"I… I don't know. She's my first love Minjeong, and we didn't exactly have closure. What we have right now is —"

"Unresolved trauma? Both of you blaming each other for losing each other?" Minjeong offered.

"No need to be that harsh, Kim Minjeong."

Minjeong sighed, then stopped fiddling with the computer, "For what it's worth, I know she missed you, even if she didn't explicitly said it."

And I didn't know what and how to answer that observation.

Then something clicked, something that should have clicked immediately when Minjeong said it, "She… Chaewon…" I started, trying to slowly find the words, "she blames herself for losing… what could have been… us?"

Minjeong rolled her eyes in frustration, "Why is this so obvious to the world but not to the two of you? Even Aeri, cold and rigid like her barriers, seemed more insightful than the two of you combined."

Discomfort spread in my very being, if Uchinaga Aeri was more insightful than me about this — what does that make me then?

"I mean… I get mine… like, I froze that time," I stuttered. "She was being taken by the Night Ladies and I just… watched. I get why she would blame me — I get why I would blame myself. But why would she blame herself?"

Minjeong looked at me like I am stupid — which is probably true considering the circumstances, "Why are you asking me?" She replied flatly.

I looked at her, brows furrowed and mouth open in exasperation, "Because you're her sister?"

"Yeah. But I'm not her," Minjeong retorted. "I can't answer for her. Also, whatever you say to me is useless. I'm not the right ear to hear them."

"Can't I just vent to you the way you vent to me?" I bit back.

"You could," Minjeong replied. "What I'm saying is — vent all you want, but unless both of you talk it out, nothing's truly going to be resolved — at the end of the day, both of you will still be blaming yourselves."

"Easier said than done," I muttered.

"If it were easy, everyone would be doing it," Minjeong said, taking another sip of her soda.

The light in the Archives seemed to get a bit dimmer. It was always cold, especially at night, but tonight, the cold seemed… heavier, like one of Aeri's barriers pressing down my body.

"Have you…" I began, trying to change the topic — again. Minjeong turned towards me with an expression that seemed to say "I'm tired talking about you and my sister's relationship," — which frankly, I would to if I was in her position.

I sighed heavily before continuing, "How is the application for the College's band?"

Minjeong's shoulders relaxed a bit. Funny how we're so tense talking about relationships then relaxed when the conversation shifts to something that could literally kill us if something goes wrong. Guess the thought of confronting death is a lot more comforting than confronting unresolved romantic trauma.

"Yizhuo and I made contact on Monday, they then replied this morning saying they'll have us do an audition for formality," she made air quotations with her fingers, "this Friday. Said that it's just to make sure we weren't rusty after not performing for a little more than a year."

I nodded, though I understood little of it. My mind still lagging from the previous conversation.

"Does Chaewon know?" And there it is — the conversation naturally loops back to her. And I hate it — do I? If I do then it shouldn't loop back to her, but it did. Damn it — I don't know anymore.

Minjeong scoffed, "She doesn't know the fact that I'm doing this to infiltrate the siren cove. If she did," she turned to me with a playfully cold gaze, "she'll burn you to ashes."

"Comforting, let's hope it won't get to that," I said uncomfortably, swallowing a lump in my throat and making Minjeong giggle at my discomfort.

"And the sorceresses?' I asked.

Minjeong smiled, "Eunchae's fun, we get along well — really well. Aeri on the other hand —"

"Yeah. I know," I rolled my eyes then took a sip of my chocolate.

"No, you don't," Minjeong retorted. "You interacted with her once then based your entire assessment of her personality on that."

"She dropped a barrier on my shoulders," I bit back indignantly, slamming the bottle lightly on the table.

"Did you even stop to consider why she did it?" Minjeong raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms.

"Well, I may have been a bit out of line with the princess but—"

Minjeong made a motion with her hands that seemed to say "there you go, that's what you did."

"— but does that justify her dropping a barrier on me?" I leaned in irritation, "a barrier, Kim Minjeong —" 

"Yeah, I heard you the first time," Minjeong clapped back. "But what did you expect her to do? Let you cross the line without repercussions?"

"A warning first would have been —"

"Would that have stopped you?" Minjeong snapped. "Even if it came from Chaewon and not Aeri, or the princess herself?" 

That gave me pause, because the answer was no — a verbal warning would not stop me from defying Princess Jang Wonyoung — not even if it came from Chaewon herself.

Minjeong scoffed mockingly at my silence.

"Since when have you been this perspective, Kim Minjeong?" I stared at her, trying to hide the amazement in my voice.

Minjeong smirked, "Since I started hanging out with Sullyoon."

I shrugged in affirmation, "Yep, that makes sense."

"You and Aeri feel like you're walking a frienemies to lovers trope," Minjeong mockingly teased.

"Oh no. Oh, no no. That's not gonna happen," I vehemently rejected.

"Why not? You're already involved with multiple women, why not add another one?" Minjeong doubled down.

"Is your existence made to torment me, Kim Minjeong?"

Minjeong grinned, the playful glint in her eyes returning, but the mocking tone never truly left, "No, your choices in life make me want to torment you."

We made eye contact, playful, competitive, almost the same thing that she and Chaewon usually did when they have a disagreement. Instead of being broken by laughter though — the appearance of a thin and slender pink cat that leapt to the reception's counter top drew our attentions. It sat, it's head turning to me then to Minjeong, then back to me.

"A pink cat?" Minjeong leaned back in surprise. "That's… cute and… new…" she said, then tried to reach to pet the cat.

The cat lowered her head, a snarl nearly coming out of her mouth. I snapped to hold her wrist, stopping her before she makes contact.

"What? Why—?" Minjeong yelped in surprise.

"That's no ordinary cat," I said. "Good evening, Sakura."

Minjeong looked at me in confusion then back to Sakura's cat form. Sakura relaxed then stretched like how a cat would.

"That's a werebeast?" Minjeong said, mostly to herself.

"Yep," I replied. "And a member of their Intel and Recon corps."

Minjeong was speechless. She clearly still wanted to pet Sakura, but was now hesitating to do so. I let go of her wrist once I saw both of them relax and calm down.

"What brings you here, Sakura?" I asked.

Sakura meowed softly. She then turned to look behind her, then meowed again urgently. Another cat's head emerges on the top of the counter, orange with a black left ear, stubbier and fluffier, it's front paws clinging at the edge. On its mouth is an envelope. The cat cutely struggled to climb up the countertop. Sakura sat then visibly rolled her eyes, Minjeong on the other hand seemed to want to help the orange cat but was now hesitant.

"Kang Haerin?" I asked as the orange cat now lifted half of her body on the counter. Sakura turned to me, meowed once and nodded in affirmation. Haerin meowed hesitantly as if asking for help.

"This is so… bizarre," Minjeong said, eyes wide with wonder. "— and cute," she added once Haerin finally pulls herself up the counter top. She looks at Sakura with those cute kitten eyes which would have made Minjeong and I melt — but not Miyawaki Sakura. Sternly, she gestures with her head towards me. Haerin gave a stifled meow before jumping from the counter top to the desk and dropping the envelope in front of me.

Haerin tilted her head to look at me, then turned towards Minjeong who had never took her eyes off of her. She looked towards Sakura who nodded wearily after a few moments. Haerin padded towards Minjeong and leapt to her lap, nuzzling and purring on her jacket.

Minjeong looked at me, eyes shining with excitement, her hands hanging tentatively above Haerin. "May I?" She asked me excitedly, then turned to Sakura, her grin widening, "May I?"

Sakura nodded, and Minjeong finally stroked Haerin's soft fur. The werebeast purred and Minjeong giggled cutely.

I didn't realize I was grinning like a fool with the serotonin surge until I turned to Sakura. An expectant look on her feline face when she motioned towards the envelope.

"Alright, alright," I chuckled, reaching for the piece of paper. I tore it open and reached for the note within.

"From Seulgi?" I said, looking at Sakura. Sakura tilted her head as if saying, "duh, idiot."

"Read it aloud," Minjeong said, still stroking Haerin's fur as the cat lay content on her lap.

I rolled my eyes and started to read, "Seren Vale," I paused. "No 'Dear'? That's ominous," I commented.

"Just keep reading," Minjeong urged, seconded by a meowing Sakura.

I gave her a pointed look, but otherwise kept reading, "Since you insist on trying to become a hero even when explicitly told not to," I closed my eyes. I remembered Seulgi explicitly telling me not to be one during the rescue with Yuna — and yet, I charged in anyway. We were successful but, clearly, Seulgi was not happy about it.

"Keep going," Minjeong said urgently.

"I'm self reflecting here," I replied.

"You wouldn't have to if you just tried not to become a hero like Detective Kang is saying," the girl quipped back and I could swear Sakura's feline mouth smirked.

I chose to ignore Minjeong and just kept reading, "Regardless of that fact, the Triarchy was impressed with your showing. They respect strength more than sense so that's to be expected —"

"Hah, she's basically saying you're all brawn and no brain," Minjeong chuckled on the side. Sakura turned proudly towards Minjeong, clearly giving her a reevaluation in her favor, Haerin purred on Minjeong's lap, clearly uninterested.

"If I needed your commentary, I would have asked," I quipped. Minjeong responded with circular motions from her free hand — the universal sign for "keep going."

"Your feats broke the impasse between Lord Leoric and Lady Choi," I continued. "Thus, they have elected to finally train you in the martial arts of our kind……" I read the last few words slowly to ensure I truly did understood them, then I read the line again — then I read the word again — "train." 

Minjeong and I then made eye contact, our eyes mirroring each other's excitement. My eyes slowly lowered back to the note to finish reading the rest of the letter, "Wait for Sakura after lunch on Saturday, she'll take you where you need to go."

I looked at Sakura who gave me an annoyed eye roll like she doesn't want to do what was ordered. Then Minjeong extended an open palm at me, and I answered it with a high five of my own — suddenly the Archives didn't feel as dim as it previously was.

"You're getting trained, Seren," she whispered almost reverently.

"I'm getting trained, Kim Minjeong," I echoed.

Sakura meowed, likely saying "Yeah, right. Can we move on now?"

Then another meow from Sakura, urgent, making Haerin stir from Minjeong's lap. The younger werebeast stretched, then jumped back to the desk, earning a cute whimper from Kim Minjeong. Haerin jumped again towards the counter top, but before both werebeasts can jump off, I stopped them.

"Wait, Sakura," I called. Sakura was about to jump herself, one paw suspended by the edge. She froze then looked at me with a bored expression — I never knew cats could be this expressive.

"You do know of our plan to infiltrate the siren cove through the College's choir, right?" I asked.

Sakura nodded, then slowly retreated and sat, making Haerin mirror her actions, their tails, orange and pink, wagging in the air. "And I think you also know by now that Minjeong and Yizhuo have…" I looked at Minjeong who was fixing me with an excited and expectant look — she knows where this is going, and she's excited for it.

I sighed before continuing, "They have decided to join the College's band and choir to get closer to the cove and…" Sakura looked at Minjeong expectantly as if sizing her up, then looked back at me. "Jimin had this idea that you could give them some pointers on covert work…" I said hesitantly.

Sakura sized Minjeong up once again, then looked at Haerin who gave her a submissive meow. "I also think it would be good for Haerin to meet new people outside of the werebeasts," I added, making Haerin meow more excitedly.

Sakura was about to swipe Haerin with a paw when Minjeong winced, making the pink cat freeze. Her gaze panned from Minjeong to me, to Haerin, then back to Minjeong. Haerin meowed again once, a cute, pleading sound that melted all three of us.

Sakura's stance lowered, which I interpreted as resignation. She turned and jumped towards the computer then tapped the keyboard. Minjeong turned to me in confusion.

"Pull up a program," I said.

"Something she can type with?" Minjeong's confusion never left her face as she opened a note program on the computer. And just when I thought I've seen it all — now I'm seeing a pink cat type on a keyboard. Sakura deftly pushed on the keys with one paw as if she's been doing it her whole life.

Minjeong turned to me, "This is so bizzare, Seren."

"Yeah," I replied, my eyes fixed on Sakura and the screen. "I heard you the first time."

Sakura finished typing and I read it aloud, "Will consider it. Will get back to you."

"Thanks, Sakura." I said, as the pink cat jumped once again on the counter top.

"Thank you," Minjeong echoed meekly, "and bye, Haerin," Minjeong followed with a tiny wave of her hand to which Haerin meowed her reply.

Sakura meowed in annoyance then seemingly pointed with her head at something behind us. Furrowing my brows, I looked behind then —

" – What the hell!" I exclaimed, startled and jumping from my seat as three cloaked and hooded figures stood still behind us. Minjeong turned and shrieked, pulling herself behind me by my sleeve.

"Sorry to surprise you," one of the Death Dealers said calmly, almost amused, although which one I can't tell for their masks barely moved. Their voices however, sounded familiar.

"Looks like the werebeasts beat us here, Saerom," another one said.

"It's not a race, Chaeyoung," replied another, Soyeon I remember, the one who helped me across the forest while carrying Yuna on my back.

"Where's the fun in that?" Chaeyoung replied.

"Uh… Sakura… a little —" I turned to see the werebeasts have now disappeared from the countertop.

"Easy, Seren," a voice, Saerom's I presumed.

"You're… Joohyun's personal guard," I said calmly, although Minjeong was still hiding behind me. 

"We're not here to hurt you," Saerom replied.

"I know," I responded. "If you do, we'd both be dead already."

The Death Dealers seemed to relax at that comment. The same cannot be said for Minjeong behind me though, the girl was shaking, her breathing heavy.

"It's good to see you all survived the fight," I said.

Another one scoffed, Chaeyoung by the sound of it, "We wouldn't be worthy of our princess's favor if we can't survive a battle like that," she said, confidence filling her tone.

I turned towards Minjeong, her hands trembling on my sleeve. "It's fine, Minjeong, they're…" I hesitated then turned back towards the Death Dealers, " — we're friends, right?" I asked warily.

"Of course," Saerom replied, "any friend of the Pale Princess is a friend of ours," she then tilted her head to look at Minjeong, "that includes those they call friends as well," she added gently, making Minjeong calm down slightly.

"Can both of you sit down?" Soyeon asked. "It feels like we're oppresors here."

I looked at Minjeong who was still hiding behind me even if her hand had stopped trembling. 

"How about this," I began. "You remove your hoods and masks so that the young lady behind me calms down?"

The Death Dealers took a while to consider, then with a nod from the one in the middle, Saerom, I presume, they removed their hoods to reveal long and luscious obsidian black hair and their porcelain pale complexion.

Then one by one, they removed their masks. The middle one looked, in one word — sharp, with an edged gaze and a chiseled jawline. "Lee Saerom, Captain of the Death Dealers directly under the command of Princess Bae Joohyun."

The one on the left, removed her mask next — she looked bored, or lazy, with drooping eyes and a lax expression. "Lee Soyeon, you conducted yourself well during the escape at the grove."

"All thanks to you," I replied with a curt nod.

Then the one on the right removed her mask — she greeted us with a smile not unlike Yuna when she's trying to seduce someone, only hers was more effortless and less predatory. "Lee Chaeyoung," she bowed like she's bowing at court. Then she smiled at me, baring her fangs. Strangely, Minjeong relaxed behind me, then slowly removed herself from hiding. There was something wrong though, her eyes were glazed, unfocused, and gazing only at Chaeyoung.

"Chaeng," Saerom said, gentle but stern. "Turn off your Charm."

Chaeyoung chuckled then suddenly, Minjeong shook her head. She looked like she was slapped awake when she looked at me, then the vampires. "What-?" The girl said softly in confusion.

"Sorry," Chaeyoung replied in a giggle. "Just had to see if he's really resistant to vampiric charm."

"You didn't believe our princess?" Soyeon asked lazily.

"I did," Chaeyoung replied with a satisfied grin. "I just wanted to see it in action."

"Don't do that again, Chaeng," Saerom commanded.

Lee Chaeyoung giggled with a teasing grin, "As my Captain commands."

"Sit down, Minjeong," I said gently. Minjeong eyed me in confusion, but otherwise followed me, her hands however held mine, and I held hers just to keep her comforted.

"What brings you here, my Ladies?" I asked.

"Ooh, courteous," Chaeyoung cooed. "I like him."

"Chaeng," Soyeon admonished.

Lee Chaeyoung is giving me a mix of Ryujin's chaos and Yuna's seduction — and so far, I don't know if I should be glad of that.

"We're here to deliver the same message the werebeasts did," Lee Saerom said, making me tilt my head in confusion.

"The same message?" I asked. "Do you mean… training?"

Saerom nodded in affirmation. I tried to restrain myself, these are not the werebeast whom I can remain casual with. This is the Verrathi Coven and these are Death Dealers — the extension of the will of the Heiress of the Coven, and they're known to maintain a certain… decorum, even though Lee Chaeyoung stands at the edge of violating those. So I tried to contain my excitement by squeezing Minjeong's hand a little bit too tight.

"You shall be trained at night, Seren Vale," Saerom delivered. "After you train with the werebeasts, you shall be directed to a place where we Death Dealers will train you."

"You will train me?" I asked.

"I would," Soyeon replied.

"Soyeon is our weapons specialist," Saerom expounded. "She knows more weapons and fighting styles than us — save perhaps, our princess. This is why she was chosen to train you with the… fundamentals."

"I'd be honored, my Lady," I bowed.

"When did you learn to be this courteous, mortal?" Chaeyoung asked flirtatiously.

I took a moment before answering, "Experience," I replied. "I had a crash course on it with another princess just two days ago."

Chaeyoung grinned then looked at me from head to toe.

"Our message is delivered, Seren Vale. We must now return to our duties," Saerom declared.

"Do we have to?" Chaeyoung asked.

"Don't start, Chaeng," Soyeon replied immediately.

"What? He looks fun to be with."

"We both know what your idea of fun is," Saerom said.

"Enlighten me," Chaeyoung quipped back.

"A lot of bodily liquids, sweat, spit, cum, a little bit of blood on the side…" Soyeon replied flatly. I felt blood rise to my cheeks, my palms go damp as it held Minjeong's — or was it both of our palms?

"Uhhh… too much information, ladies," I remarked hesitantly.

"Oh," Chaeyoung remarked in what was clearly faux shock. "I'm sorry," she then turned to Minjeong, "Kim Minjeong, right?"

Minjeong nodded stiffly, clearly still nervous, if not scared.

"Stop tormenting the poor girl, Chaeng" Soyeon admonished and Chaeyoung raised both arms in faux surrender.

"Good, we better get going now," Saerom said. "See you Saturday night, Seren Vale."

I bowed courteously, and the Death Dealers disappeared seemingly dissolving in shadow. I melted down on my seat, my heart started beating rapidly, almost in sync with my breathing. I looked at Minjeong, her face pale and her mouth agape. We still held each other's hands.

"Hell of a shift," I said.

"Hell of a shift," Minjeong echoed.

"So, training starts tomorrow, huh?" Jimin asked softly, kicking a small rock that was in her way while we walk out of campus, the sunset casting orange streaks across the grey skies. 

Talk of the sorceresses no longer dominate the gossip in school, most have seen them as a new normal, considering nothing abnormal was yet to happen. Gossip has now reverted to the usual campus small talks — disliked professors, subpar food at the cafeteria, and the grumble of deadlines to projects students have no intention of completing. News of Minjeong and I being close to the sorceresses spread quickly though, and it was in more than one instance that we were asked to introduce them to the sorceresses — something Minjeong politely refused while I most of the time did the same albeit a lot more awkwardly.

"Yeah," I replied almost in a whisper. Things between us have been — awkward to say the least, since Chaewon returned.

"Excited?"

"A little," I replied.

"Just a little?" She asked, the teasing tone returning subtly.

"It would feel better if we're not…" I started awkwardly before catching myself.

Jimin stopped then sighed, "Seren —"

"You said we'll talk about this," I said softly, stopping in front of her. "And the week's about to end and —"

"It's just…" Jimin sighed in gentle frustration. She hesitated, biting her lower lip and balling her fists, "I don't know whether to talk to you before you talk to her or after you talk to her."

"We could talk both times," I replied gently. I reached for one of her hands, she allowed me to lace mine in hers.

"I…" Jimin hesitated again. "I miss us," she whispered softly, almost inaudibly before she dips her head slightly, "Us before all this… Night Folk shit."

A lot of responses crossed my mind, I could explain, divert, deflect, comfort her even — and I settled for two words, "Me too."

The wind shifts, discussions of students passing by us became muted as we both wait for the first person to break the silence.

"Can you…" Jimin started, raising her head to look at my eyes, "can you give me tomorrow just for myself? Then we'll talk on Sunday."

"I have an Archives shift on Sunday —"

"Come to my apartment after," Jimin interrupts. "Spend the night there… and, we'll talk." Her hand on mine tightens and I squeeze back gently in response.

"Of course, I'll be there," I replied gently and with no hesitation. If I'm going to face my unresolved issues like Minjeong said, better start with the person who understands me more than anyone else and has been with me since all this — "Night Folk shit" began.

"Thank you, Seren," Jimin whispered.

Tomorrow, I thought. Tomorrow we'll both be preparing — me against the world that wants to pull me in. And Jimin against a world — her world, that she's trying to protect.

Our trance was broken when two figures looped their arms around Jimin's sides. Jimin yelped in surprise as Kim Minjeong and Ning Yizhuo excitedly pressed themselves beside her.

"Hiyah, lovebirds!" Yizhuo exclaimed.

"What—?!" Jimin exclaimed. "What are you both doing?" She asked, the earlier tension between us interrupted, but not necessarily unwelcome. We both let go as the two sophomores held each of Jimin's arms tightly.

"And why are both of you excited?" I followed.

The sophomores grinned, "We got in!" They simultaneously cheered.

"In? In the choir and the band?" I asked excitedly.

"Just the band," Yizhuo replied. "I asked not to be placed in the choir, that way I'd still be close to Minjeong… that way, you know—"

She'll be with Minjeong while they try to infiltrate the siren cove — Jimin's expression told me she also understood what Ning Yizhuo meant.

Jimin sighed, "At least you'll be together in case anything dangerous happens."

Minjeong and Yizhuo grinned, "We'll be fine," Minjeong remarked. "Seren set us up with Sakura."

Jimin looked at me curiously, "Sakura?" Then I remembered she hasn't met the intel corps werebeast yet.

"My contact within the werebeast intel corps," I replied. "She was the one who delivered the training invitation at the Archives. It was also the time I asked her to give these two some pointers, and……" I flicked both Yizhuo and Minjeong's foreheads, making both wince and whine adorably. "She hasn't confirmed anything yet."

Minjeong playfully glared at me, scrunching her nose in a manner not too different from Chaewon when she's annoyed — or pretending to be. Yizhuo however, kept clacking, "That's fine, Minjeong's sister is a sorceress. We're basically untouchable," she said confidently, naively unable to sense the awkward smiles and chuckles Jimin, Minjeong, and I gave at the mention of Chaewon.

"Don't. Get. Overconfident!" Jimin playfully teased as she reached around the two girls' waist to tickle them. There was however, a certain melancholy in her laughter, something probably only I — or maybe Minjeong as well — can hear.

"Anyway, we should celebrate this," Yizhuo remarked, disengaging herself from Jimin who now hugged Minjeong from behind.

"Celebrate what? Us getting into a dangerous mission where we may potentially die?" Minjeong replied sarcastically, making Jimin ruffle her hair and push her playfully towards Yizhuo.

"Exactly!" Yizhuo exclaimed, catching Minjeong in her arms. "Our place, both of you."

"Sorry, but I can't," Jimin replied. "I need to finish a project."

Minjeong and Yizhuo tilted their heads, "You can have the entire weekend to do it," Minjeong countered.

"Yeah… but… um… I have… other commitments as well," Jimin stuttered. I could sense she was trying not to say why she really didn't want to join so —

"Stop pushing, you two," I said, "Jimin says she needs to do something then we just have to…" I glanced at Jimin who was giving me an awkward but grateful look, "… respect it."

The sophomores looked visibly distraught, then Ning Yizhuo perks up, "Well, that just means you don't get to refuse, Seren," she exclaims cheekily.

"Wait what —?"

"I'm not suffering another rejection today," Ning Yizhuo whines, wrapping an arm around mine. I looked in disbelief at Minjeong and Jimin. "If Jimin can't come, then you should at least come." Minjeong and Jimin were now actively trying to stifle their laughter.

"But it's nearly dark," I countered. "I won't be able to get home if I go to your dorms." The sun has nearly set and the moon can now be seen in the clear sky.

"Then stay the night there, Seren," Minjeong said. "Your training's still after lunch, you'll still have enough time to go home and prepare tomorrow morning."

I looked at Jimin who shrugged, "I don't see the harm," she said nonchalantly. "And they're doing this for you, consider it your way of… showing gratitude," she added, smirking.

"Yeah, yeah!" Yizhuo jumped excitedly. "Without us you'd be stumped."

I chuckled then placed a hand on my forehead. "Fine."

Minjeong and Yizhuo gave each other a high five.

"Well I better get going," Jimin said before turning the other way.

"Jimin, wait—" I went after her, disengaging myself from Yizhuo.

Jimin stopped as I caught her wrists. She turned and gave me curious gaze, "Hm?"

I gazed back in her eyes, searching for something I don't know what. "Sunday," I murmured.

Jimin smiled tenderly then nodded, "Sunday," she echoed. She then looped both arms around my neck to pull me into a hug. I wrapped mine around her waist and lifted her quickly off her feet, making her laugh softly. And in that moment, it was like what we were before all the "Night Folk" shit, and nothing else mattered.

We pulled away, eyes meeting in a silent conversation, hands laced, my thumb brushing on top of hers. Jimin pulled away first, gave a smile as soft as the sunset, then turned to walk towards her apartment.

"What was that about?" Minjeong asked softly, a mix of curiosity and concern in her voice.

"Adult stuff," I quipped, making both girls look at me funny.

"You're only a year older than us," Yizhuo retorted.

"Exactly," I grinned. "Now lead the way, somophores."

Minjeong's brows furrowed at me and I met her gaze. Then she shrugged, as if saying "you deal with things the way you want — it ain't my problem how."

Yizhuo however, wrapped her arm around me and started leading me towards their dormitories.

"Champagne after ramyun seems like a bad idea, girls," I remarked as Yizhuo poured each of us a glass. "And how come you have champagne in your fridge but only have ramyun as a meal?"

"Meh, don't sweat the small details," Yizhuo replied cheekily. "Besides, it's a celebration, and no celebration's good if there's no drinks."

Minjeong just nodded at me. "Just… go with the flow," she said, as if she's learned the same being with her roommate for two years.

Their dorm is a little bit smaller than my apartment — but a lot cleaner and more fragrant. Well that probably makes sense as they are two girls and I'm one broke college guy. The colors probably helped — their dorm was dominated by white, pink, and other light colors. Mine on the other hand — is an abstract canvass of dark blues, blacks, browns, and grays — not to mention the mess.

I sat on the far side of their sofa, close to the windows. The moon was not in sight as it is a cloudy night.

"Ooh, smooth," I remarked as I took a tentative sip of the champagne.

"You like it?" Yizhuo giggled.

"Mhmm," I hummed while nodding before taking in a longer sip. The champagne was indeed good, but the Lady of Spring's wine which Yuna brought might have really ruined every drink for me.

"How was the audition, by the way?" I asked, leaning my back on the back rest.

"Exciting!" Yizhuo exclaimed, sitting on the opposite side of the sofa.

"Nerve-wracking," Minjeong sighed flatly, taking a seat on the high chair by the kitchen counter.

I raised an eyebrow at both girls who looked at each other and laughed.

"At least one of you enjoyed it," I teased, making the chinese girl giggle.

"So," I followed, "any first impressions? Anyone you think you should watch out for?"

"Yizhuo is pretty confident that Madam Son, the campus coordinator for everything related to performing arts — is a siren," Minjeong commented dryly.

"I'm sure she is!" Yizhuo countered. "Did you hear her sing? She makes high notes look easy — and she was sitting down!"

The two girls then started off in a debate of vocal technicalities where I understood absolutely nothing. Their bickering was cute though, and I found myself sinking comfortably in their sofa while watching them go on about octaves and breathing techniques with a smile on my face.

I must have spaced out because Yizhuo was suddenly waving in my face, having crossed the distance between us.

"Hellooo," the girl sing-songed with a heavy but playful vibrato, "Verrath to Seren."

I blinked twice then faced the girl, Minjeong chuckling behind her. "Yeah?"

"You never understood anything we said did you?" Minjeong snickered.

"Not a word, I mean — what the hell is an octave? Is that like a new species of octopus or something?" I replied, taking another sip, making both girls laugh.

"Did you hear Minjeong sing and play before?" Yizhuo asked.

I nodded, "A couple of times, she and Chaewon sometimes sing at the steps in front of their house, with Minjeong playing the guitar."

I found myself smiling at the memory, which was mirrored by Minjeong when I glanced at her. Strangely, I felt light talking about Chaewon this time — maybe it's the champagne, maybe something else, either way, I'm not complaining.

"Chaewon also sings?" Yizhuo asked in surprise, turning her head towards Minjeong.

Minjeong nodded, "I'm more musically inclined but, Chaewon's also not bad — she's pretty great actually."

"I'd love to hear both of you sing!" Yizhuo exclaimed then turned to me. "Who's better?" Yizhuo asked with sparkling eyes.

"What?" I asked in confusion.

Yizhuo rolled her eyes playfully, "You've heard both of them sing, who do you think is better?"

"Uhhh…" I looked at Minjeong as Yizhuo stared at me expectantly. Minjeong gave me a look that emphasized what she said earlier — "Go with the flow."

I then shrugged in resignation then took a moment to consider Yizhuo's inquiry. "I don't know anything about vocals or technicalities or whatever but…" I began. "I would love to join Minjeong in a sing along or a jam session. While Chaewon…" I paused, then smile as I recalled all the times I heard her sing.

"Contrary to her power as a pyro-sorceress…" I continued, smiling softly to myself and making Minjeong chuckle lightly, "Chaewon's voice would be the one I would like to hear singing me to sleep."

That made Minjeong smile softly while Yizhuo furrowed her brows in confusion.

"She did have a really soothing singing voice," Minjeong remarked with a tender look in her eyes.

"Huh," Yizhuo huffed. "I never got that from her."

Minjeong and I smirked. "Too temperamental?" I quipped.

Yizhuo nodded, "The amount of times she scolded Minjeong when we're together — and over the most mundane of things. I'm not complaining though, it's fun seeing Minjeong get schooled by her sister," she turned to Minjeong, sticking her tongue out to tease her. Minjeong just rolled her eyes and took a small sip of champagne.

I gave a choked laugh that might have been a scoff, "She still got anger issues, huh."

"Worse," Minjeong replied. "It's a crisis not an issue. She even scolds me on how I hold my chopsticks." There was no resentment in her voice though, only humor and affection.

"Any memorable episodes on your end, Seren?" Yizhuo asked, her smile wide and cheeky.

A memory clicked on my head immediately and I had to hold my laughter before I could respond, "There was a time when Minjeong tried to teach her the guitar —"

Minjeong immediately stifled a laughter, no doubt recalling exactly what I am about to say.

My left lip curved in a smile as I continued, "A for effort I guess but… not even five minutes in, Chaewon snapped the two bottom most strings…"

Minjeong's shoulders were now visibly shaking while Yizhuo's grin and her eyes grow wider.

"Her thumb had a small cut. She then proceeded to rant that the guitar was sentient and was sabotaging her and that she wouldn't touch a single instrument in her life again. Minjeong had to hide in her closet, clutching the guitar because Chaewon was threatening to snap all of its strings," I recalled.

"Mom had to sit her down, treating her thumb like it was a major surgery while she pouted and sulked all night long," Minjeong added.

"All the while me and their dad were playing video games in their console," I finished.

"You seem to be really close with their family, Seren," Yizhuo noticed.

I emptied my champagne wistfully. Good ol' days, I thought. Before any "Night Folk" shit, before my grandmother passed, and before Chaewon was taken as a sorceress. I miss those days, the days of innocence and youth. In the same way — I also miss the days when Jimin and I were just normal students — with simmering romantic and sexual tension that was just waiting to boil over. 

If only I can go back to both times.

If only both times can coexist.

If only…..

"You look like you're taking a trip down memory lane," Yizhuo commented softly. "Both of you," she finished, turning towards Minjeong whose gaze also seemed far.

"Do you still love her?" Minjeong asked suddenly and absently. Then she turned to me, eyes wide, like she just realized she said her thoughts out loud.

"I… uh… I miss —" I started even though I was taken aback by her question.

"— No, no. Do not answer that!" Minjeong interjected, placing her glass on the kitchen counter and rushing towards me.

"Why not? He was about to!" Yizhuo protested with a pout.

"We are not the ones who should hear it first," Minjeong countered, taking her seat on the desk.

"Can you like…" Yizhuo winced in disbelief, "not be mature sometimes, Kim Minjeong? Seren was about to drop some real good tea!"

Minjeong and I huffed in relief. Yizhuo may seem naive but sometimes she could display some degree of sensitivity, or maybe awareness, of the situation. In a way, she acts like the opposite of Haerin — she's sometimes moving too fast that she misses the small details the world leaves behind.

"Thanks for understanding, Yizhuo," I said. "I am not actually ready to talk about her that deeply yet."

"How about Jimin?" Minjeong asked.

My head dipped and I released another deep breath, "I guess we'll both know this Sunday." Minjeong nodded though she maintained a mostly neutral expression.

Suddenly, the air near their kitchen seemed to be sucked to nowhere, or air was being forcibly pushed inside the space of the girls' dormitory — or both were happening at the same time. We all turned, then from where the sound originated, right in front of their fridge — appeared the spatial sorceress, Hong Eunchae.

"Oh," her brows furrowed, her smile suspended somewhere between a greeting and amused confusion. "You're here, Seren Vale," she raised a hand in awkward greeting.

"And you're here, Hong Eunchae," I echoed, furrowing my brows quizzically to Minjeong.

"Eunchae!" Yizhuo sprang from the couch, her arms spread wide.

Hong Eunchae returned Yizhuo's bright smile then waved her hand. Yizhuo suddenly disappeared in front of us and reappeared in front of Eunchae, they met and trapped each other in a playful bear hug.

I raised a curious eyebrow at Minjeong, pointing at the two girls who are swaying playfully side by side.

Minjeong sighed then transferred from the desk to the couch. "She always goes here every night to play," Minjeong made air quotations at the last word. 

"Play?" I followed, even more confused.

Minjeong shrugged, "She and Yizhuo got along really well. They stay at her room for… I don't know how long. Eunchae's out of the dorms every time I wake up. Well, she can just… poof herself out whenever she wants to so it probably makes sense."

"Hey!" Yizhuo bounded back towards us, Eunchae in tow, both smiling widely. "Tell Eunchae what you just told me," she chirped excitedly, making the sorceress turn to us curiously.

"Which part?" I asked.

"Yeah, which part?" Minjeong echoed. "Most of it were pretty personal."

Yizhuo rolled her eyes then looked at Eunchae with a wide grin on her lips, "Apparantly, Chaewon can sing."

Eunchae's grin was wider when she turned to us, "That's news to me. Is she good?"

"Seren says she's one who he likes to 'sing her to sleep.'" Yizhuo answered for her, blissfully unaware of my awkward discomfort.

"Awww…" Eunchae melted on Yizhuo's arms, "that's so sweet." Then her gaze became connivingly mischievious, the abrupt change almost terrified me, "I'm going to terrorize her for this later."

"Just don't tell her I was involved in this," Minjeong sighed wearily.

"I'll say it was Seren," Eunchae quipped without missing a beat.

"Please, don't," I said flatly.

"That would actually be worse," Minjeong snickered.

"What are we celebrating anyway?" Eunchae points towards the champagne glasses.

"Minjeong and I got in the campus band!" Yizhuo exclaimed as she handed Eunchae her champagne glass. Eunchae politely received the glass and took a tentative sip, her brows however, furrowed skeptically.

"Congrats but —" Eunchae handed the glass back to Yizhuo, "would you both be fine? Your part timers at the Archives, right?"

"We talked with their officers," Minjeong replied. "We informed them of our shifts and said they will consider it in future schedules. Madam Son is a lot more flexible than the campus coordinator last year."

Eunchae nodded, her expression softened, the skeptical look in her eyes never left however.

"Something else concerns you, Ms Hong?" I asked warily.

"You can call me, Eunchae, Seren," the sorceress replied before sitting down slowly on the sofa. "And it's fine, it's nothing," she waved dismissively. I furrowed my own brows, I don't think she suspects that we are intending to infiltrate the siren cove. If anything, I know they know of the siren presence in the college, and that she is concerned for the safety of her new found friends — one of them the sister of her colleague.

Then, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I fished it out to see someone calling — Shin Yuna. "Excuse me, I'm going to take this," to which the girls nodded. I rose and proceeded to the dorm's hallway as the three girls' conversation faded when I accepeted the call.

I placed the phone to my ear. "Hey, Yuna. Everything fine?" I asked as I leaned against the hallway's wall.

"Yeah. Everything's fine. Are you home?" Yuna asked.

"I'm at Minjeong and Yizhuo's dorm. They roped me in for a celebration — they got in the campus band."

Yuna's voice brightened up and I could faintly hear Sullyoon cheering in the background. "Send them our congratulations, YoonAh's getting a little giddy here. Tell them also to be careful."

"I will. So, why did you call?"

"Heard you're getting trained tomorrow?" Yuna answered.

"I am."

"The werebeasts start after lunch, right?" Yuna followed.

"Mhmm." I hummed my reply.

"So you're free in the morning?"

"So far, why?"

"Well, about that thing…" Yuna hesitated, her voice softening bashfully. "About YoonAh and I training you…"

I raised an eyebrow and tilted my head. "Yeah?"

"We were thinking, since you're free in the morning… we could… train you… YoonAh with nature magic, and me in the use of fae glamour… since you already… you know… had sex… with both of us… twice."

I had to smile in spite of myself as Yuna shyly hesitated to say what she just said. "It sounds weird hearing you hesitate, Shin Yuna," I teased.

"Shut up," Yuna snapped softly. "So you coming?"

"I still need to go home at first light since I'm staying here tonight. Is 8:00AM good?" I asked.

"Yeah. We'll send you the location," Yuna replied.

"Thanks, Yuna. This really means a lot."

"It's the least we could do, Seren. See you tomorrow then?"

"Yeah, see you tomorrow." The line then cut off as Yuna hung up.

My lips curved into a smile. Tomorrow's going to be a busy day. Training with Yuna and Sullyoon in the morning, the werebeasts in the afternoon, and the vampires at night. Then I sighed, hoping I have the energy and stamina to still be alive and meet with Jimin on Sunday.

I returned to the dorm's living room to see Eunchae and Minjeong on their feet. Minjeong saw me return first.

"Hey. Um…" she began. "Eunchae was actually not here to play with Yizhuo, tonight."

I tilted my head at the sorceress, "I'm here to fetch this girl," Eunchae grinned while pointing at Minjeong. "Princess Wonyoung approved Chaewon's request to have her sleep in the palace tonight. Aeri and I will be bunking together while the sisters have their own — private bonding."

Minjeong sighed, pretending not to be excited — but the tension on her shoulders told me otherwise. Yizhuo on the other hand, was visibly sulking.

"Why am I not invited too?" The chinsese girl pouts.

"Do you have a sorceress for a sister?" I replied snarkily.

"No," she replied.

"There you go," I answered with a mischievous grin.

"But I'm her roommate," Yizhuo protested.

"If you're coming with us, who's gonna stay here with Seren?" Minjeong chuckled.

"Oh, right," Yizhuo replied, now with a dangerous, almost predatory glint in her eyes. "He might look at our drawers and take a sniff at our —"

"I'm not a creep, Ning Yizhuo," I protested.

Yizhuo shrugged sarcastically, "We may never know, Seren," she said, her grin growing wickedly wider and making Minjeong and Eunchae smirk.

"Anyway," the sorceress chimes, "as much as I would like to stay and talk a lot more — we have to go. Chaewon's waiting and I can't wait to make her sing me to sleep."

We all laughed before Eunchae took Minjeong's hand in her own.

"Yuna and Sullyoon sends their congratulations," I managed to say before they teleport away, making the sophomores grin.

"Send them our thanks, Seren," Minjeong gave us a tiny wave before she and the sorceress were seemingly sucked out of thin air.

"Well," I turned to Yizhuo, "what now?"

Yizhuo's grin now grew truly predatory as we were now left alone in their dorm. "Now… now you pay your debt to me, Seren," she whispered, low and inviting.

"What debt? I didn't borrow money from you, did I?" I asked, my breath hitching and my heartbeat rising.

"Not that kind of debt," Yizhuo walked slowly towards me. She gave my arm a tentative touch, making goosebumps rise on my skin. "Wait for me here," she whispered, "I'll be back in a while." Then she struts, her hips swaying sensually, intentionally, as she enters their room. She gives me one last flirtatious look, winked, then closed the door. I sank down on the sofa, thinking what debt I had on Yizhuo and what the hell have I gotten myself into.

I decided to clean up their dorms while I wait. I collected the champagne glasses and washed them. The cold water running down my hands and the short time of quiet eased my nerves and settled my body — well, as much as it could after two (or was it three?) glasses of champagne.

I should be excited for tomorrow, but instead, the shadow of Sunday loomed. 

What should I say? What would Jimin say? How would Chaewon factor in? How much should I say about Chaewon and I? Come to think of it, is there even anything to say between Chaewon and I?

I was pulled from my thoughts when I heard her bedroom door squeak open and Yizhuo's whispering voice called, "Hey, Seren."

"Yep?" I replied, turning the tap off, shaking my hands, and wiping them on my pants. I turned towards the bedroom door to see Yizhuo's head poking out. "What's my debt to you?"

"Uhm, about that," Yizhuo dipped her head, like she was embarrassed or something. Why would she be embarrassed?

"Can you help me with something first?" She said breathily, her cheeks and ears turning a light shade of red — the champagne probably, or something else.

"Would this clear my debt?" I teased.

"If you do a good job," the girl replied. "Which I know you would," she added in a low and flirtatious tone.

My head tilted and my brows furrowed in confusion and curiosity. I dragged my feet closer towards her bedroom door. 

Yizhuo's grin slowly got wider as I trudged nearer, which I felt was ominous. She looked excited and giddy, which I'm doubting if it is a good or a bad thing.

Then, when I was in her arm's reach, she opened the door, grabbed my arm, pulled me in, slammed the door shut, and pinned me against it.

"Uh… Ning Yizhuo… what are you doing?" I asked as Ning Yizhuo eyed my lips while biting hers. Then I noticed she changed her clothes. She now wore a white one piece dress that hugged her body tightly, her ample cleavage exposed intentionally and the dress reaching halfway down her hips, exposing the soft flesh beneath.

"Like what you see, Seren?" She asked, noticing my eyes ravaging her body.

"Uhm… yeah, but, what does this have to do with my debt?" I asked, swallowing a lump down my throat in nervousness.

Yizhuo bit her lip again while looking up at me, "I was looking forward to being alone with you for our shift last Sunday. Imagine my disappointment when I heard Jimin would be covering for you because you were off to rescue a damsel in distress."

"Uh-huh," I replied, feeling sweat drop from my forehead and my neck.

"We said we're going to finish what we started two shifts prior," Yizhuo pouted, more seductive than adorable.

I closed my eyes in exasperation. This girl — I thought. She still remembered that little "escapade" in the Archives shelves that was interrupted before something really happened. Yizhuo was disappointed but said she was excited to go "all the way" on the next shift — which obviously didn't happen.

"So my debt is —" I began.

"Is that you owe me a good fucking, Seren," Yizhuo replied, the bluntness of her tone surprising me. I can feel her heat radiate from her body as she rubbed her thighs together and despite my better judgment — I can feel my pants slowly getting tighter.

"I've waited for a week," Yizhuo continued, "I won't wait until Sunday now that I have you here alone."

Slowly, she pressed her body against me. I can feel the softness and the heat, and my body responds by placing my hands on her waists, squeezing them softly and making Yizhuo moan in pleasure.

"So, what do you say, Seren?" Yizhuo asked, eyes glazed, cheeks flushed, and body radiating with desire.

My thoughts blurred, the champagne, or by Yizhuo's heat, I don't know anymore. All I know is I lose control of myself at moments like these — or do I?

"Fuck it. I'm paying that debt," I whispered, then leaned in to catch Yizhuo's soft and sweet lips on mine. I felt her smile as I heard her gasp in pleasure.

The chinese girl pressed her body flush against mine. Her arms pulled my head in, pressing her lips which tasted faintly of champagne and fully of desire. I squeezed the soft flesh of her waist, running them down her body to feel her softer ass. I pulled the dress up and felt flesh.

"No panties," I chuckled, making Yizhuo whine when I pulled away.

"I was waiting for this so badly," she replied.

"Shouldn't have worn anything then," I felt her ass as I leaned lower towards her neck.

"Fuck," Yizhuo hissed as I tasted the salty sweet sweat on her neck. Her hands squeezed my shoulders, trying to pull me away as she pushed herself and me harder against the door. Her hips moved in sync with my hands as they knead them.

"You're so soft," I whispered in her ear, making her whine and lean her neck flush against my mouth. I can feel her folds drenching my pants, needy for more friction as it rubs on my hardening shaft. 

Then she pushed me hard, slamming against the door as she pulled away. Her half-lidded eyes' gaze lowered to the tent in my pants — and for a moment, she hesitated.

"Ning Yizhuo —"

"It looks big, Seren," Yizhuo interrupts me, and a chuckle of disbelief escapes my throat. The girl was hesitating because my cock looked big. I have to admit, it gave me a sick sense of satisfaction.

Ning Yizhuo bit her lip as she reached for my cock with one hand. My breath hitched once she cupped my pants, eliciting a smirk from the girl. She gave it a few tentative strokes before she knelt down, one hand reaching for the button while she hooks the other on the hem of the waistband.

I felt my hips loosen as my pants were unbuttoned. Yizhuo now placed both of her hands on the hem of my pants and with one swift motion, she pulled them down along with my boxers, finally exposing my hardened cock to the crisp old air.

The coolness was immediately replaced by Yizhuo's warm breath as she leaned closer to my cock. She stared at it with a look of awe, her hands softly resting on my thighs. She tilted her head then gave my shaft a tentative lick.

"Fuck," I hissed, making the girl smile.

"This was what you made me miss, Seren," she breathed, wrapping one soft palm on my shaft, making me clench my jaws in pleasure. Yizhuo started stroking slowly, and I had to close my eyes — big mistake. Her soft hands felt softer, the heat of her palms felt hotter, and the smooth friction made my hair stand on edge.

"Am I making you feel good?" Yizhuo asked, playfully teasing and fully knowing the answer.

I looked down at her, her grinning face right beside my hard cock as she strokes it. I stroked her cheek and she leaned into my touch, closing her eyes and humming in satisfaction. 

Slowly, I led her head closer to my cock. Her eyes opened and her grin got wider when she realized what I want her to do. She opened her lips and once she was close enough, she enveloped my cock with the wet warmth of her mouth.

"Gods damn, Ning Yizhuo," I whipped my head back, banging my head in order to feel a different sensation other than Yizhuo's slow and soft blowjob, or else I'll blow my seed too early.

The girl hummed in satisfaction, the vibration sending a chill down my cock towards my spine and ending to the tips of my hair. Slowly, my hips met her mouth, matching her rhythm.

I heard her gag, but the slow rhythm allowed her to adjust just enough until we slowly built momentum. The pace increased, and so did the pleasure. She swirled her tongue around my dick, giving a smooth and wet friction that sucked the precum out of my cock.

I fucked her face, my hands now holding her by the sides of her head. Yizhuo's hands rested on my thighs, gripping them tightly as she fought her instincts to gag on my cock. Tears were trailing down her cheeks and her eyes closed when I gave her one rough and hard thrust, filling her mouth and throat with my cock as her nose hit my pelvis.

I held her there for a good half a dozen seconds, relishing the feeling of her throat constricting to adjust to my length and thickness. That is until I felt one of her hands tap my thighs urgently twice. I let her head go and she released my cock with a loud pop.

Ning Yizhuo collapsed on the floor, her face wore a mask of satisfaction despite coughing and being in tears.

"You alright?" I asked, leaning on the door to support myself.

Yizhuo nodded almost absently, "That dick," she pointed at my cock playfully, "reached parts of my throat no other dick ever did."

And I laughed at the absurdity of the words coming out of her mouth — the same mouth that was just gagging on my cock not even a minute ago.

Yizhuo then rosed and strutted towards her bedside table. Her hips swayed invitingly, her soft ass in full display, slick trailing down her thighs as she teases a small look at her now dripping pussy. Then she bent over, legs spread, offering herself to me as if I needed the invitation.

I walked towards the girl, discarding my shirt as I drew closer. I held her waist, rubbing the tip of my cock on her wet folds and teasing her by prodding her entrance.

"Hmmm," Yizhuo hummed. Then she looked behind me with a look of someone who has completely surrendered to heat and desire. "Fuck me, daddy. Fill me up, tonight," she said in the most innocent way possible, her eyes sparkling with lust that made something inside me snap.

"Say that again," I growled low, pushing the tip of my cock inside of her pussy.

"Shit —" Yizhuo gasped. "I said to fill me up tonight —"

"No, the one before that —"

And Ning Yizhuo's grin grow wicked as she wiggled her hips, teasing the head of my cock with the pleasure that is to come. "I said fuck me —" then she paused, knowing that the anticipation would only raise the stakes even higher. She leaned back so her back was arched against me, she pulled me by the back of my head and whispered that one word that made something in me snap — "Daddy."

And I snapped my hips forward, penetrating Yizhuo with one swift thrust that her eyes roll to the back of her head and the scream she was about to release got trapped in her throat. Instead, she released a sharp gasp, her body coiled, her core tense, then like an uncoiling spring — Ning Yizhuo trembled from her legs, to her spine, then her head. A primal scream that was trapped in her throat was released as a wave of her juices dripped down my balls towards my thighs.

"Fuck, Yizhuo. Did you just —?"

"Shut the fuck up!" Yizhuo slapped my arm. "You're too big, allow me to — shit. Allow me to adjust." Yizhuo's hips twitched, one hand was on my abdomen as she tried to steady both of us.

"Fuck, you're tight," I said breathily, feeling her walls shift inside her as her orgasm subsides.

"Move," Yizhuo pleaded, turning her head with sparkly eyes. "Move, please, daddy."

This girl just knows how to push my buttons – so I moved, rough and hard. My hands gripped her waist allowing more leverage as the wet sounds of her pussy were like music to my ears every time my cock slams deep inside her.

"More, daddy, more," Ning Yizhuo was a whining, whimpering, and moaning mess. My hands moved to cup her still clothed breasts, feeling the hardened nubs underneath. I rolled my fingers on them and Ning Yizhuo's body went wild.

The girl squirmed, pushing her chest against my hands, her hips match my rhythm, and her mouth was spouting profanities which only raised our arousal.

"I'm close. Daddy, I'm close," Yizhuo announced, eyes rolling again to the back of her head. 

"Daddy — FUCK!" and then another scream, followed by the familiar quivering of her pussy, then a torrent of cum spills out of her as her whole body twitches violently.

Yizhuo pushed me away, forcing me out of her body and we both watched as copious amounts of her slick dripped down from her pussy, slowly creating a small damp pool on her bedroom floor.

Yizhuo, turned, her eyes displaying that she is now utterly consumed by lust. She pulled her dress off of her body, finally giving me a look at her nakedness — and it only made me want her more. Everything about her body looked so enticingly soft, especially her breasts, ample in size with hardened and inviting nubs.

Yizhuo propped herself atop her desk, spreading her legs wide, inviting me to ruin her now swollen pussy even more. "Come, daddy. You're going to fill me up, right?"

"Damn right, I will," I replied. I lined my cock outside her still dripping heat. My eyes were fixed on her tits, then I dove in, taking one nub in my mouth and making Yizhuo gasped.

"That's good, daddy. But I want your cock back inside me, filling me up — AHHH!" 

I thrust inside her with no warning. I groped her other tit with a hand while the other wrapped around her back, pulling her flush with every thrust.

Yizhuo looped her arms around my head, her legs also did the same around my hips. She pulled me back every time I pulled out with a force that shook the desk beneath us.

"Make me cum again, daddy. Please, let me cum again on that cock," filthy pleas spill forth from Ning Yizhuo's mouth as filthier sounds also spilled forth from her pussy while I fuck her with all the strength my lower body could muster.

My mouth alternated between her tits, driving her insane as the tiny desk threatened to give way from the force of our coupling.

"Fuck — just like that — daddy — FUUUCK!" Another hoarse scream, another torrent of slick forced its way out of Yizhuo's insides which clamped my cock so tightly I was forced to stop deep inside her. Yizhuo's nails dug down my nape as her body rocks stiffly while she rides her orgasm.

I raised my head to look at the mess I've made — Ning Yizhuo's head was whipped back, eyes rolled to the back of her head, breath shaking, and cheeks flushed with pleasure and satisfaction.

Then her head leans forward, arms pulling me in for a hungry and needy kiss. There was no gentleness, Ning Yizhuo devoured my mouth, and I responded in kind. 

When she pulled away, she looked at me with an expression that wanted more — because she knew I can give her more.

"Bring me to bed, daddy," Yizhuo pouted. The gesture would have been adorable, if not for her hips that were slowly grinding against me, making me feel every muscle and tissue inside her tight cavern.

I chuckled in spite of myself, "You're a naughty girl, Ning Yizhuo. Does anybody else know this side of you?" I asked as I lifted her off the desk and slowly made my way to her bed.

Ning Yizhuo shook her head, eyes focused at me, hips giving slow thrusts just to feel some friction and ensure that our arousal never subsides. "You made me this way, daddy. So I'm only like this to you." She gives me a quick kiss in the lips then whispers in my ear, "You can fuck me anytime you want, anywhere you want. If you want an escape from anything, something, everything…" she plants another soft kiss to my lips, "I'll be available for you."

The softness with how she said it was diarming it gave me pause, especially with the current situation — her in my arms, my cock still inside her — and she's saying all these erotically sweet nothings that it makes me feel both guilty and comforted. Guilty because I felt like I'm using her — granted, she seemed like she wanted to be used. But also comforting because I now know that there is at least one person I could go to if I want an escape from all the Night Folk shit and other personal storms I may have. Someone who would not judge, someone who would be a sponge — just absorbing, and then releasing.

"You're thinking too much," Yizhuo whispered as I stood still. Her hands softly cupped my cheeks.

"Your fault," I teased, "saying things like that."

Yizhuo grinned softly, "Then let me make it up to you by riding you until you fill me up… daddy."

The girl had the nerve to wink as I laid on her bed, head on a pillow as soft as her body, and cock still enveloped by her warm and wet folds. Ning Yizhuo moved her hips slowly, making my head whip back as I hissed with pleasure.

Yizhuo placed a hand on my chest and smiled, "Just let me take control, daddy. I'll make you feel really good." Then she gave one long and slow grind, making my hips buck up. Yizhuo's smile grew wider as she felt my hips move. The girl gradually picked up pace, one of my hands squeezed one breast while the other also squeezed her sides, it still surprised me how soft her flesh felt under my touch.

Yizhuo was now reduced to breathy gasps as her hips moved in earnest, as she tried to push me to the edge and fill her up like she wanted. I matched her rhythm, bucking my hips everytime she bounces and slams hers. She raises her arms, fingers pulling erotically on her hair with her eyes closed, pushing me closer to the edge at how sexy she looked.

"I'm cumming again, daddy," Yizhuo whispered in between gasps.

"Me too —"

"I know. I can feel it… feel your… cock twitch… inside me. Fill me up, daddy. Fill me up with that — shit. Fill me — shit, daddy. Shit, I'm fucking cum —"

And Yizhuo slammed her hips hard, a silent scream escaping her wide open mouth as she leaned down towards me, her hair cascading down my face. My hips bucked up to meet her, and her tightening walls milked my cock, releasing thick white ropes inside of Ning Yizhuo's cavern.

"Fuck. So full, so fucking warm," Yizhuo whispered in satisfaction. She laid her head on my chest, my hands wrapped around her back, slowly stroling it as our breathing steadies.

"That was, incredible, Seren," Yizhuo panted.

"Not daddy anymore, huh," I chuckled.

I felt Yizhuo's staggered breathing, like she's laughing but only the air came out. "I didn't know why I said that. It just felt.. good, especially seeing how it affected you." Yizhuo raised her head to look at me and booped my nose playfully with her index finger.

"So is my debt paid?" I asked, still chuckling.

"Mhmm," Yizhuo answered. "But I won't mind if you become indebted to me again. Especially with all this siren cove infiltration thing."

I stroked her hair with one hand while the other reached down to her soft ass, "You didn't really had to—"

"It was mainly for Minjeong —" Yizhuo replied, disentangling herself from on top of me and laying down beside me. "I told you I wanted to be brave too. Just like you were on the Archives attack, and on Yuna's rescue op," she said with eyes that implored me to say she was indeed being brave.

I leaned to kiss her forehead and she hummed in content, the gesture seemed to satisfy her plea. "You're very brave, Ning Yizhuo," I whispered.

"Hmmm," the girl hummed. "Are you going to fuck me more if I keep getting braver?" 

"If you're going to keep calling me daddy then I might," I teased back, earning a cute giggle from the girl.

She was then silent for a few minutes, my hands stroking her hair absently as I stared at the ceiling while my eyes grow heavier. And just when I thought Ning Yizhuo had already fallen asleep — "Good luck on your training, tomorrow, Seren," she whispered softly.

"Yeah," I whispered back. Training – finally, I thought. I don't care if it's going to be difficult, what mattered for me was that I'll get a fighting chance against people who want to hurt me and the people I cherish.

I gave Yizhuo's hair one last slow stroke, then whispered, "Good night to you too, Ning Yizhuo."