Ray sat comfortably on a luxurious couch as he awaited Eleanor to arrive.
The room he was in was on the left side of the manor, in which one could gaze upon the sunset and the beautiful garden outside through its wide-paned windows.
The room was modest in size yet decent in appearance— the kind of chamber where whispered secrets and political favors were exchanged.
Rich, wine-colored curtains framed the windows, their silk threads catching the last light of the day and throwing faint crimson patterns onto the polished marble floor.
A soft, patterned rug lay beneath the low table before him, bearing intricate designs that spoke of far of lands.
Another additional curved couch adorned in emerald velvet with golden trim, stood opposite of where he sat.
A chandelier of crystal and silver hung low from the ceiling, its candle-shaped lights flickering gently, casting soft shadows that danced along the cream-colored walls.
Bookshelves lined one side of the room, sparsely filled with books and ledgers.
On a side table beside Ray, a porcelain vase held fresh lilies, their delicate scent mingling with the faint aroma of incense burning from a carved bronze dish.
Every piece of furniture and decoration was clearly accounted for—not simply for comfort, but to quietly assert wealth and subtle power.
It was not a room meant for leisure. It was a room meant to impress, and perhaps intimidate.
But Ray could care less as he took another sip of water.
He was growing impatient with each passing second since he had been cooped up in here for almost an hour with no sign of Eleanor or Alaric showing up.
He finally placed the empty glass down with faint clink against the wooden table.
From the corner of the room, a maid who had been standing with silent poise stepped forward, responding more to his actions.
Her steps were light, trained not to disturb, yet purposeful.
She halted beside him with a small curtsy. "Would you care for another, sir? Or perhaps… something else while you wait?"
Her tone was polite, but behind the courtesy was a hint of professional sympathy—she'd served many who'd waited in this room... and they always ended up with similar fates.
Ray didn't look at her right away, his gaze lingering on the window as if lost in his own thoughts.
'Haah, won't this woman have enough? Now he is her next target...poor guy. It has already begun working on him.' She said inwardly as she observed Ray.
Finally, he let out a breath and turned to her, offering a tight smile. "No, thank you. Just let me know the moment lady Eleanor will final come."
The maid nodded once and retreated with the same quiet grace, leaving Ray once again in the well-decorated silence of the waiting room.
'Huh is it me or did the air suddenly get hot.' He murmured as he gazed around.
~
To his surprise, his vision began being blurry, and when it cleared up he found a beautiful woman starring back at him.
They were in a forest, and had just finished setting up their camp for the night.
"Gaela?" He gasped upon recognizing her.
"..."
"Where is Davin?" He asked will looking around.
"..." She still didn't reply, instead she moved closer to him. That's when he also realized something else...
Gaela looked younger.... as from ten years ago when they had first met.
'Is this another memory?' He wondered as Gaela stood right in front of him.
"Since you want to die so badly... I'll make use of you. By turning you into my loyal servant." She said before using her aura to hold him in place and took out a slave collar from her spatial storage.
She swirled it around playfully before putting it on his neck.
"There, it is a perfect fit!" She nodded happily as if very pleased with enslaving him.
~
Suddenly he felt a burning sensation on his neck causing him to grimace in pain, he turned to Gaela but she had suddenly disappeared.
His earlier scenery of the forest was suddenly replaced with the previous extravagant room in Eleanor's manor.
Realizing something was terribly wrong, he rose from the coach and begun staggering towards the door. All while clutching his aching neck.
He felt like his entire body was a mess, he was uncomfortably hot, his heart pounded fast, and his neck felt like many needles were continuously piercing it.
Even walking alone proved difficult since his blurry vision made everything seem hazy.
With sheer determination, he reached the door in ragged breaths.
He then took a long pause before mastering the strength to open it.
As the door creaked open, he met Eleanor right outside with an amused grin plastered on her face.
"What's the hurry sir Ray? Or do you not care anymore about your son's whereabouts?" She said her voice dripping to a whisper...
"..." He felt so weak that he even failed to respond.
"Don't worry though, I'll take good care of both of you." She added as she pushed Ray back into the room.
'Why is my body acting this way?' He wondered as his attempts to resist her push turned futile.
"And for your information, you are now mine...." She said as her hand traced his facial features.
Before she gently shoved him backwards causing him to stumble backwards and plop on the nearby coach.
"Since the pricey enslavement potion has done it's charm. Just give in and enjoy the moment... don't you agree?" She spoke lewdly as she sat down next to her prey.
"..." Ray could only watch helplessly as she began unbuttoning his pants!
He immediately felt even more powerless as his resistance faltered ever so gradually.
'This isn't happening... my body is completely immobile! Damn you Eleanor!' He thought as he once again tried to channel his aura but failed miserably.
'So this is how my story will end...'
'After training on aura and martial arts for nine years in order to protect my family. I ended up losing to a perverted woman?'
'And my family scattered by forces I can't comprehend.'
'Why is it happening again? Me ending up all as a victim of my own weakness...'
'Nothing to worry about though, since I'm about to lose my will and mind to slavery's corruption. And become nothing but an obedient doll...' He laughed pathetically inside his mind, since he knew how enslavement potions work.
Which always leave it's victims in a doll-like state!
'Gaela... you should have just let me die ten years ago....'