A Night Under the Stars

“Are you hurt?!

”Master…… I’m fine.”

Seeing Kaelan’s figure, Saranya hurriedly wiped away her tears, her eyes still red at the corners.

Damn, no one saw my awesome battle, and now my crying has been witnessed by my master!

The ground was covered with scorched marks. The priestly siblings lay motionless on the stone pavement. Paresha, the younger sibling, was relatively okay; she probably just had a fracture and a concussion, and she would be fine after healing.

Westir, the older sibling, was in a worse state. His right shoulder was ruined, half of his body was charred, and his once handsome face was marred with scars. In contrast, his scriptures and holy relic box were intact, protected by his embrace against his abdomen.

Inside the carriage, Kaelan cast a spell to set Paresha’s broken bones.

“What about Westir?”

“Without the right materials, healing spells alone can’t treat these burns. The fastest way is to go into the city and have the church handle it.”

The carriage wheels rattled, and the cabin swayed gently in rhythm. Saranya half-closed her eyes, her expression distant.

Mmm…… sleepy.

My master is watching, and I haven’t explained the situation yet. Plus, after entering the city, I’ll have to help carry the injured. There’s so much to do; maybe I shouldn’t sleep now.

But…… I’m really tired, both physically and mentally.

Before she knew it, Saranya had closed her eyes.

When she opened them again, she found herself surrounded by darkness. The priestly siblings lying beside her were gone, and so was Kaelan. The carriage was stationary, and everything was eerily quiet, not at all like they had entered Verro City.

Something must have happened!

Saranya’s heart raced as she fumbled to open the cabin door.

The night breeze was cool, brushing against her forehead. She noticed the carriage was parked in a clearing, surrounded by lush green grass. Above her was a deep, starry night sky, the stars twinkling, and the scenery was breathtaking.

Kaelan was kneeling on a spread-out blanket, with a campfire before her. She sliced a bright red beets into pieces, dropping them into a thick soup, and sprinkled some orange spices. She picked up a wooden spoon and stirred vigorously with both hands.

Mmm, the aroma of the stew wafted over……

Is this a dream? My master is cooking for me?

“Oh, you’re awake. Go help me set up the tent.”

“What’s going on?”

“I left Leif in the city. Today, we’re camping out here.”

With the campfire as the center, various camping supplies were scattered around them: utensils, food, fuel, and more, all procured by Kaelan alone.

Saranya sat cross-legged next to Kaelan, feeling a bit overwhelmed as her master served her a bowl of stew.

The soup was mild and sweet, with a hint of spiciness and a touch of bay leaf flavor. After a few sips, a wave of comfort washed over her entire body.

“Master, in the crypt, Paresha and the others——”

“It’s already taken care of. We can discuss that tomorrow.”

Kaelan tapped the iron pot with the wooden spoon, interrupting Saranya. Her black hair, illuminated by the fire, turned a beautiful orange, making her look even more stunning.

“…… Okay.”

She agreed, but what else could they talk about?

Saranya suddenly realized that she barely knew anything about Kaelan, except for her career and political affiliations. There seemed to be no other topics to bring up.

“You have elvish blood……”

“Hmm?”

Kaelan tilted her head to listen to Saranya, her hands still busy with the cooking, “I do have elvish blood, part of an ancient lineage. I grew up in the forest.”

“How did you learn magic?”

“Half talent, half effort.”

Saranya couldn’t help but twitch her lips at the standard answer.

“So…… how old are you?”

Hearing this, Kaelan’s lips curved into a slight smile as she looked at the anxious Saranya: “You really don’t know how to make conversation, do you?”

“No, it’s just……”

Saranya realized that Kaelan’s beauty wouldn’t fade with time. By the time she herself was old and gray, Kaelan probably wouldn’t have a single wrinkle. Standing next to her would make her look pitiful.

She wondered what Kaelan’s reaction would be when she saw her age and eventually pass away.

Sigh, forget it. With their strange and complicated relationship, there’s no point in thinking about this. Who knows, if Kaelan gets upset, she might just kill me.

Suddenly, the campfire crackled loudly, and both of them jumped slightly. Kaelan’s wooden spoon fell into the pot, and the splashing soup left a thin, golden trail on her collarbone.

“Don’t move.”

Such beautiful shoulders, it would be a shame if they got scarred.

Saranya moved closer to Kaelan, gently wiping her skin.

Kaelan leaned in slightly, and a silver earring brushed against Saranya’s wrist, the cool touch feeling pleasant.

Saranya’s movements slowed, and she instinctively raised her eyes, locking gazes with Kaelan.

The air seemed to freeze.

The night breeze rustled the low grass, and the sound of the leaves rubbing against each other was deafening.

Saranya tried to look away, but Kaelan suddenly grasped her trembling wrist. She unfolded Saranya’s fingers, covered in soup, and pressed them against her own slightly red lips.

“Master?!?”

“What, aren’t you happy with the reward?”

Ever since the Red Water Tavern, she had imagined this scene. Apparently, Kaelan had seen through her long ago.

“No, it’s not that, Master, I…… mmm!”

Soft, wet, followed by a tingling sensation that spread from her fingertips throughout her body. Saranya let out a soft gasp, her body went limp, and her mind went blank.

The once cold and commanding master was now pleasing her……

“Ah…… Kaelan……”

She was so happy, she loved this side of Kaelan.

Unfortunately, Kaelan seemed to have reached her limit——her throat tightened unnaturally, and she lightly patted Saranya’s wrist, murmuring urgently, “Stop.”

Stop?

Saranya looked at Kaelan, seeing the faint frown and painful expression, and a strange feeling surged into her heart.

It was a vague sense of possession, violent, cruel, twisted, uncomfortable, yet tantalizing like the forbidden fruit of Eden.

No, am I going crazy? I absolutely can’t do that to Kaelan……

Saranya shook her head, forcibly suppressing her delusions, and withdrew her finger from her master’s mouth.

Her long, glossy fingers hung with a thread of saliva from her master’s lips, shimmering with temptation under the campfire light.

Was that…… the end?

A sense of loss crept into her heart, and Saranya didn’t want it to end just yet.

“Relax, don’t rush……”

“Huh? Mm~”

Kaelan leaned in, apparently thinking the same, neither wanting it to end so abruptly.

Both girls blushed, their hot breaths intertwining.

“I’m not entirely sure, but I heard that the earlobes of my mixed-race elven lineage are even more sensitive than those of pure elven earlobes……”

Kaelan unfastened the silver chain holding her hair, and her long, silky strands cascaded down, adding an ethereal beauty under the moonlight. Her eyes held a sultry gaze, and her voice was as sweet as honey,

“Want to try?”

Saranya was completely enthralled by her master, panting as she leaned in close to Kaelan’s ear, only to be pushed away.

“Promise me you’ll serve me wholeheartedly from now on.”

Saranya nodded.

“Tell me about your hometown, your experiences, everything about your past.”

Saranya continued to nod.

“And……”

Kaelan paused, seeming to remember something else. Her lips started to quiver with excitement, and she looked at Saranya with a bold, unmasked gaze, clearly showing her desire for control,

“Saranya, I want you, your passion, your faith, everything beautiful about you…… I want it all, and you’re never allowed to refuse my demands.”

“……”

My master is so sneaky, especially at a time like this……

“Well…… if you want so much, you should pay a price, right~”

Saranya leaned forward, this time not waiting for Kaelan’s permission, and bit Kaelan’s ear~