Lyra, still reeling from the internal shock, barely had time to process Kiara's approach. Her widened eyes betrayed her surprise, and for the first time in their battle, a flicker of doubt crossed her face.
Kiara saw it, and her smirk deepened.
But just as she was about to strike, a sudden surge of mana erupted from Lyra's body. The ground beneath them trembled violently as an invisible force burst outward, disrupting the air like an unseen explosion.
Kiara's instincts screamed at her, and she immediately halted her charge, flipping backward just in time to avoid the pulse of raw energy. As she landed, her feet skidded across the stone floor, the lingering force pressing against her.
When the dust settled, Lyra was no longer kneeling.
She stood at the center of a small crater, the remnants of her explosive mana surge evident in the shattered ground beneath her. Her breath was slightly uneven, but her eyes now held a steely determination. She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and fixed Kiara with a firm gaze.
She wiped the blood from her lips, her gaze locking onto Kiara's. "You almost had me there," she admitted, a rare sense of confidence lacing her tone. "But I won't let you get that close to me again."
Kiara grimaced. She knew Lyra wasn't bluffing. She had hesitated at the last moment, failing to capitalize on her advantage. Now, Lyra was fully prepared.
With her stronger magic and far greater mana reserves, Lyra had the upper hand in a prolonged fight. Kiara knew she had to close the distance again—but this time, Lyra wasn't going to let that happen.
After that brief exchange, the battle resumed with renewed ferocity. Kiara became relentless, her form blurring as she shot forward, attempting to bridge the gap between them. She weaved through the relentless barrage of magical spells, her superior physical abilities allowing her to avoid several direct hits. But Lyra wasn't about to let her get close again.
Each time Kiara closed the distance, Lyra would respond with a well-timed counter. Massive stone walls erupted between them, sharp spikes of hardened earth shot out, and torrents of water formed unbreakable barriers. At the same time, spells continued to rain down upon Kiara, forcing her into a constant state of movement. If she stopped even for a second, she knew she'd be overwhelmed.
A few times, Kiara managed to break through, forcing Lyra into close-quarters combat, but each time, Lyra would retreat behind another layer of magical defenses, forcing Kiara to start over. The fight dragged on, stretching into several minutes, with Kiara's movements growing more frantic as she felt her mana reserves dwindling.
She knew she didn't have much left.
Her body was screaming at her to stop, her breathing was ragged, and her limbs were growing sluggish. Yet she pushed on, knowing that this was her last chance. If she could just land one decisive blow—
But Lyra remained steadfast, calmly maintaining her defenses while launching well-aimed counterattacks. She wasn't taking any unnecessary risks. Kiara would have to accept severe injuries if she wanted to force her way through, and in the end, she wasn't willing to go that far. This was just a spar, after all, not a life-or-death battle.
Finally, as expected, the inevitable happened.
Kiara's vision wavered, her body feeling like lead as the last remnants of her mana burned away. Her legs buckled slightly, and she forced herself to a stop, panting heavily.
She raised her hands in surrender. "You won," she admitted between heavy breaths, placing her hands on her knees for support. Her body was drenched in sweat, exhaustion weighing her down.
The next moment, the Earth Dome behind Lyra crumbled to dust as she stepped forward, her violet hair flowing behind her as she approached. Though her breathing was slightly heavier than usual, it was clear that the fight had taken far less of a toll on her. After all, as a C rank mage, her mana reserves were leagues above Kiara's. And unlike Kiara, who had been forced into constant movement, she had remained mostly stationary throughout the fight, conserving her energy.
Kiara had fought with everything she had, but in the end, she had simply run out of fuel.
"When you used that sonic attack to bypass my Earth Dome, you really caught me off guard," Lyra admitted, a trace of genuine admiration in her voice. "That was a well-thought-out strategy."
Kiara, still catching her breath, looked up at her and gave a small, tired smile. "Thanks." She was about to say more, but before she could, a familiar voice cut through the air.
"True, that was really something else."
Both girls turned toward Mikael, who was walking toward them with a small smile playing on his lips. It was clear that he had thoroughly enjoyed watching their battle.
Lyra and Kiara exchanged a brief glance, sharing a hidden smile. Their plan had worked. Mikael no longer seemed as gloomy as before.
Mikael's gaze shifted to Lyra, his eyes glinting with curiosity. "You were able to use a double elemental cloak of Water and Earth. That was impressive—I didn't know you could do that!"
Lyra fidgeted slightly under his gaze, feeling unexpectedly shy. "Uh… it hasn't been long since I learned it," she admitted. "It's just that after seeing you and Amelia train so hard, I decided to put in more effort myself. And this was the result."
Mikael's smile widened. "That's amazing. Would you be willing to teach me? I'd love to learn how you did it."
Hearing those words, Lyra's face brightened. "With pleasure!" she said, a happy smile spreading across her lips. The idea of both researching and spending time with Mikael was something she cherished deeply.
Then, before the moment could settle, Kiara suddenly spoke up.
"Considering how exhausted and sweaty we are, why don't we all take a shower together?" she suggested, her tone surprisingly casual.
A silence fell over the group.
Mikael blinked, momentarily stunned. "A shower… you mean, the three of us?"
"Yes, that's what I mean!" Kiara replied without hesitation, though the faint redness on her cheeks betrayed her nervousness.
Mikael stared at her in disbelief. Normally, he would've immediately agreed—after all, he wasn't a monk, and the idea of showering with beautiful girls he had feelings for was far from unappealing. But this was Kiara. Kiara, the yandere who was obsessed with him. Kiara, who was extremely possessive. And now, she was willingly suggesting… sharing?
His gaze flickered toward Lyra, expecting her to be embarrassed or flustered by the proposal. But instead, she looked just as stunned as he was, clearly taken aback by Kiara's words. Lyra as her friend knew Kiara's personality well—this was completely out of character for her.
Kiara, noticing their stunned expressions, crossed her arms and huffed. "If you don't want to, forget about it," she muttered, sounding mildly annoyed.
That snapped Mikael out of his daze. Without hesitation, he reached out and pulled Kiara into his arms, coaxing her out of her sudden frustration. "No, no, I'd love to take a shower with you. Don't misunderstand—it's just… you really caught me off guard." He then glanced at Lyra. "The question is, would you be okay with this?"
"I-I don't mind," Lyra murmured softly, fidgeting with her clothes. She avoided eye contact, her gaze lowered toward the ground, a small blush coloring her cheeks.
Mikael exhaled, still not sure how this situation had even come to be, but at this point, he wasn't about to question it.
This was going to be… interesting.
***
Steam curled through the spacious marble-tiled shower, the sound of cascading water echoing in the enclosed space. The warm mist clung to their skin, heat enveloping their bodies as droplets traced slow, tantalizing paths down their bare forms.
Mikael stood beneath the central stream, water trickling down his toned physique, his muscles subtly flexing under the dim lighting. His gaze shifted between the two women before him—one shy, hesitating just beyond the reach of the falling water, her more petite frame just outside the cascade, and the other bold yet visibly restraining herself, dark blue eyes clouded with an unmistakable possessiveness.
Kiara had never been one to share. The very idea of another woman standing this close to Mikael should have driven her mad with jealousy. And yet… she was trying. For Lyra, for her friend.
Even so, the way she clung to his side, her hands gliding over his chest in slow, claiming motions, made it clear she wasn't willing to relinquish her place.
Her short dark blue hair clung to her wet skin, the strands sticking to her cheeks and neck, while her supple breasts pressed firmly against Mikael's chest as she hugged him tightly.
Mikael's left arm slipped behind her slim waist, pulling her snugly against him before his hand wandered lower, caressing her as it descended, his fingers tracing slow, teasing patterns until they reached her firm, perfectly shaped backside.
"Mhhh~"
A pleased moan escaped Kiara's lips the moment he gave her a firm squeeze, her fingers twitching slightly against his skin. Her body arched into his touch, but Mikael didn't take it any further, merely leaving his hand resting there as his attention shifted.
His gaze wandered to Lyra, who stood a short distance away, watching with a face so red it seemed ready to burst into flames.
Her relatively small breasts were barely concealed by the strands of her purple-pink hair, damp from the rising steam, while the rest of her naked form remained fully exposed. Yet, despite her nudity, her most intimate spot was hidden by two small, timid hands as she kept her gaze firmly lowered, refusing to meet their eyes.
Nervousness and shyness radiated from her as she fidgeted on her feet, her toes curling slightly against the wet tiles.
Standing there, she exuded an aura of innocence that contrasted starkly with her nakedness, an alluring contradiction that tugged at something deep inside Mikael. His gaze traveled over her, captivated by the sight. While Lyra was undoubtedly smaller in some areas compared to Kiara—and especially Amelia—her delicate frame had its own charm, stirring both a protective urge and a wicked temptation within him.
His thoughts drifted momentarily, contemplating the stark contrast between Lyra's bashful demeanor and her undeniably beautiful body. Despite her clear embarrassment, he couldn't help but admire the way the water droplets clung to her delicate skin, accentuating every subtle curve. However, before his mind could wander any further, he was abruptly pulled back to reality as Kiara's arms tightened around his neck, her possessiveness seeping into her touch.
Mikael gave her a small smile, his green eyes glinting with amusement as the water continued to cascade over them. "Can you wait two seconds? I think Lyra needs some of my attention," he murmured, his voice calm yet firm.
Kiara narrowed her eyes, clearly displeased at having her moment with Mikael interrupted. Her lips parted as if she wanted to argue, but she quickly took a deep breath, reigning in her frustration. After all, she was the one who had suggested this in the first place. She had wanted to help her friend take the next step with Mikael, but she hadn't anticipated just how difficult it would be to control herself in the process. It was pure torture to let Mikael's attention shift away from her, but for Lyra's sake, she clenched her jaw and forced herself to nod in reluctant approval.
Still, inwardly, she was seething.
Mikael, unaware of the silent storm brewing within Kiara, turned his head toward the hesitant figure lingering at the edge of the water's reach. His voice, uncharacteristically firm, cut through the gentle sound of running water. "Lyra, come here."
His tone left no room for refusal. It wasn't an order, not exactly, but it carried an undeniable authority that made Lyra's heart pound. Mikael rarely spoke to his women this way, and the shift in his demeanor caught her off guard. However, she understood why he did it. Stepping into the shower with him had already taken a tremendous amount of courage, and he knew she needed an extra push to take things further.
Her throat felt dry despite the moisture in the air. She hesitated for a second, her hands clutching the ends of her now-damp strands before she swallowed her nerves and took a careful step forward. Then another. And another.
Author Note:
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