"Shut up," Aren muttered, his face twisting in mild irritation as a faint flush crept up his neck.
"It's my passive, apparently the more prideful I act, the stronger the card's effects become," he added, clearing his throat in an attempt to mask the growing embarrassment building beneath his confident act.
"Really? That's how your skills work? That's actually kind of good," Raven replied, her tone laced with interest as her mind already spun into overdrive, calculating the potential for staged performances, public intrigue, and flashy, headline-grabbing PR stunts.
Aren gave a slight nod, eyes glinting with reluctant amusement. "Hmm… you're kind of right. A hunter who acts out roles to become stronger? That's actually kinda fun to watch."
"Right!?" Raven echoed, her voice suddenly brighter as she surged forward. Her hands latched onto his shoulders in a sudden burst of enthusiasm, her face far closer than either of them realized.
"Looks like you were worth it after all!" she exclaimed, her grin wide and unfiltered, completely oblivious to the narrowing gap between their faces.
Aren smirked, tilting his head slightly as a mischievous thought sparked in his mind.
'I could try taking revenge here.'
"Why so close?" he said aloud, voice dipping into playful arrogance. "Do you want another kiss?"
Raven's entire body froze like a statue mid-glitch. Her eyes widened, face reddening instantly at the memory, and without a word—
SMACK!
"Ow—!" Aren yelped, clutching his head with both hands.
"Enough of that," Raven huffed, though her voice lacked any real bite. Her head tilted to the side, hair falling slightly across her cheek—and though she tried to look annoyed, the unmistakable blush blooming across her face betrayed the truth.
She was remembering the kiss too.
"Anyway," she began, quickly shifting gears and pacing in a slow circle like a general planning her next campaign. "We already know your combat capabilities. Now we just need to find a dungeon to get you stronger."
Aren, who had barely recovered from the playful assault, raised his hand like a student trying to impress the teacher. "We could head to my guild. If you come along, I think we can get a fairly high-rank dungeon to test things out in."
Raven paused, visibly considering the idea—only to shake her head. "Nah. Too many paparazzi. We wouldn't get a semblance of peace there."
Aren chuckled, the sound tinged with amusement at her obliviousness. "It's a guild, Raven. I'm sure my guildmates will be happy to act as bouncers to give us space inside HQ."
That gave her pause. She stopped walking, arms folded, brow slightly raised as she reassessed the plan. "Hmm… fair point."
She turned toward him again, her eyes narrowing slightly as she caught the smug expression spreading across his face. Something about it tickled at her instincts.
"Why do I feel like you just insulted me in your head?" she asked flatly.
Aren didn't say a word. He just kept smiling—that smile. The kind that could both charm and enrage in the same breath.
"You're imagining it," he said smoothly.
THUD!
She dropped her hand on his head with a light downward smack—not hard enough to hurt, but enough to get her point across. Aren flinched slightly.
"I'm starting to think you're doing this on purpose," Raven said, narrowing her eyes with mock suspicion. "Are you a masochist?"
Aren laughed aloud, not even trying to deny it. Another opportunity to get under her skin? Absolutely worth it.
"For you maybe," he quipped, lifting his head just enough to meet her eyes.
The moment their gazes locked, Raven's breath caught slightly. Her lips parted, stunned, and another blush—more vivid this time—rose to her cheeks like fire climbing a fuse.
"You're having fun messing with me, aren't you?" she said, her voice half-accusation, half-resignation, lips twitching as she tried to suppress a grin.
"But enough of that," she snapped—though not convincingly—as she turned briskly toward the exit of the training room. "Let's head to your guild. You'll be providing directions."
Aren scratched the back of his neck sheepishly, trailing after her with an amused smile tugging at his lips. "Yes, ma'am."