Lars was trapped.Not by the weight of the buxom girl, nor by the blade that could not pierce his magical s.h.i.+elds. He was trapped like a rabbit that stood frozen in the headlights of the oncoming car; knowing that trouble was headed straight for him, and yet unable to move a muscle to make haste and flee.
He felt as if a cloud or fog had settled on his consciousness, hazing his rationality while at the same time an irrepressible heat and fire blazed through his veins!
Her fragrance was irresistible, the musky and sweet smell daring him to stick out his tongue to taste the pearly white skin on her neck... Just a little taste would do... 10 to 20 seconds would be enough...
He breathed heavily, eagerly waiting to see what would happen even as he heard a still small voice calling out: "No, Lars, no! Remember who you are! Remember who you belong to!"
Alas, the young teenager, though a veteran of many a war, was no match for the seasoned temptress" wiles and skills honed through bringing many a boy or girl to fall into depravity for her!
This was a consummate succubus, one who, like a puppeteer, had nearly a dozen boys and girls wrapped around her finger. This was a manipulator extraordinaire, a master at her craft.
As Seline delivered her skilful ministrations to his inert body that only moved in a certain place, she squealed in delight every time he involuntarily twitched in reaction. Finally, after roughly 30 seconds of teasing, she moved on to the next stage - to provide the final bait after the carrot had been dangled in front of him.
A pity then for her that the boy had not just one, but two sets of souls and consciousness merged into one.
Gradually, even as she continued speaking, a sense of coolness began to pervade the youth"s inner being, driving away the unnatural (and natural) reaction he had moments ago.
But despite regaining his sense of self, the 14-year old boy listened intently, waiting to see the outcome of her "offer".
"Mmm... We both know that here in this Arena, our bodies are just as much a weapon - and an a.s.set - as outside. But I promise you, as long as you ditch that b*tch--" The female cat in heat scowled, pouting and sticking out her lower lip petulantly as she released a hot breath of moist air onto his face. "--And promise me to forget about her..." She drew the fingernails of her right hand over his chest and abdomen, then stopped agonisingly close to his lower body. "...You"ll find I have many, many other... Skills and charms to make you deliriously happy!" Seline smiled, this time sweetly and like a girl in love.
"Is this woman... Really that crazy about me...?" Lars felt his heart moved once more, nearly shaking his resolve. But it was a ludicrous proposition brought to the table, one easily denied.
"Seline..."
"Mmm...?" Her gaze brightened considerably, her eyes almost sparkling as she optimistically leaned forward to hear the answer she had been waiting for.
Only, it was not she had in mind.
"...Are you crazy?" The now cool-headed boy spoke quietly; with little inflexion. But the words alone were sufficient even without any caustic tone. He felt a chill down his spine and the slightest of trembles on the blade at his neck, but pressed on with his diatribe as the redhead"s face turned black and her smile faded.
"First of all, I don"t know about the "activities" you enjoy with your pets, but I don"t want to be any part of it." He spoke quickly, leaving no room for interruptions despite being held at knifes-edge.
"Second, are you crazy?!? Don"t you know that, just a few months or maybe even just a few weeks later, we"ll all be dead - except for just one of us...? Do you have the confidence to take on that monstrosity Linges? Really?" Lars threw that in despite knowing that the berserker would inevitably face defeat when faced against himself in the ring.
He continued on, exasperating further the already speechless vixen whose mouth hung wide open.
"Then what"s your plan? Enjoy a few moments of bliss, then die? Worthless, pointless sensations? A chasing after the wind, meaningless, meaningless, thrice meaningless?!? Or do you have a plan, huh? To take down the entire Arena of Valour and their backer, the great and eternal Kingdom of the Sands! Hah!"
He barked out a laugh, ignoring the frigid killing intent bearing down on him, released by the incensed young woman still on top of him. Without a pause, his tirade persisted, rising in conviction and tension. "Third! Moira! Is! The! One! I! Love!"
"And lastly! Don"t you know what kind of girls men like...? With all those acts of debauchery, you"ve already sullied yourself in... After having lost your dignity as a pure girl, as a woman, in what way do you consider yourself attractive to me?!" He conveniently glossed over the fact that he had been pretty much completely enthralled not so long ago.
The girl who did not know whether to bite him, stab him or cry was incredulous, and blurted out in reb.u.t.tal, "B-But! You, that b.i.t.c.h, and Moira, you, the laundry are-" She stumbled and stuttered, confusing herself with her words.
But Lars refuted her completely: "I"ll have you know that until this day, the most me and Moira have done is embrace!!"
"AHHHHHHH!!! SHUT UP SHUT UP!"
The she-dragon snapped, roaring in fury and clutching her head with her free right hand. She nearly pulled her hair out before realising what a preposterous thing she was about to do and then thought better of it, eyes flas.h.i.+ng with madness. The murderess-to-be then clambered off him as the bed released creaking sounds in protest at the weight and rough movements, then landed nimbly on the cool granite floor, all the while keeping the sharp edge of her blade against her unrequited beloved"s neck.
Her provocateur lay dumbly on the bed, indifferent to the rage he had just stoked. The Legendary Mage had no fear whichever way; even if she struck out now at point-blank range, he would not even receive a scratch. There was no way for even the bane of the Arena Linges to leave a dent in his fortifications, much less this top 10 ranker!
And if the schemer dared approach the blonde Moira...
Lars" eyes narrowed.
He would put her down where she stood.
Where Seline stood right now was above him, panting, heaving, drawing in breath after breath.
The seductress delivered her ultimatum.
"Choose! Miller! Knight! Larsson! Choose you this day who you will love... Choose wisely..." She frowned, eyes reddened with anger. "Or die!"
The voluptuous trainee was borderline hysterical but wisely chose to keep her voice down - not that it mattered, as the nurses and physicians were aware of her presence from the start. It was just that they hoped the b*tch would help them off the boy who had given them a sleepless night last night - as a borrowed knife! And then the criminal would be executed as well anyway, lessening their workload by 2 trainees...
The young man in a teenager"s body lay still, then delivered his answer, a smack to her face.
"There was never any choice to be made. There was always only one."
Various emotions flitted through the almost pitiable conspirator"s eyes, first disappointment, then the inklings of hope, then a deeper despair that blackened her deep violet, almost red eyes.
"I choose Moira."
Unexpectedly, it was silent. Once more the only sounds were that of dripping water, a leaky faucet, as well as two trainees heavy breathing.
Lars could sense that the girl"s muscles were tensed up, ready to make a move. He smiled internally, a spectator interested to see her next action.
Then the silence was broken.
*Drip* *Drip* *Drip*
The sounds of the single dripping water source were joined by two more harmonious partners, accompanying it in a steady stream.
The former Hero of the War was dumb-founded and unable to react.
"I... Okay... Alright... I..."
The queen-bee, dominator of countless others and resident ruler among the ma.s.ses was crying.
Her faced scrunched up and turned red from the hurt and pale from the sense of defeat.
She sobbed, dropping her knife which fell to the floor with a jarring *clang!* sound.
Seline did not, could not finish her sentence as she staggered off, dejected, lost and lifeless.
The beautiful lady walked slowly - and yet before the astonished and mentally shaken boy noticed it, she was already gone.
As Lars lay there staring at the ceiling, confused about the girl who he was certain would try to take his life, the muddled boy couldn"t help but feel... Guilty...? Slightly remorseful...? Towards the crying girl.
The romantically unlucky young legendary mage shook his head, reminding himself to stay focused. But he did wonder.
What if...?
Perhaps it was the fate of the heart-broken mage to break the hearts of others as well.
* * * * *
[Outside the infirmary area]
Tear-streaked face, congested nose, heaving chest. Seline was in a poor condition right now.
Especially when she heard the telltale sound of limping footsteps falling on the granite floor of the hallways.
The depraved Invigilator Sarin was on his way.
And blocking off the only path to and from the infirmary.
She tensed up, ready to run.
Then she relaxed. Why would she run?
She didn"t care anymore, anyway.
The lithe girl slumped against the wall, limp and without strength.
Knowing him, he was just toying with her - giving her the sense of hope that she could escape, only to crush it s.a.d.i.s.tically.
That was okay.
She had no reason to live anymore, anyway.
And not long later, she would probably just let herself be killed in the deathmatches...
Maybe the darkness of the afterlife would bring her peace.
The now apathetic Seline leaned against the wall, awaiting her sealed fate.