We left behind the Gilded Anchor, ran past the seaport and headed towards Cappesand with haste.

The evening was even colder now, and I felt Florencia shiver beside me. But in our haste, we ran into Enzo Carus. He was enjoying a relaxed walk with his lady friend, who was late into the stages of childbearing. I never knew he had a mistress, but I was glad he did. Enzo looked different from a few hours ago. He had on checkered trousers of bright colors and pointed boots with a simple dark red coat hanging on his shoulders. His mistress, whose name I did not even think to ask, had on a very modest dress which left her swollen belly ample room, and a thick short cape to keep her warm.

"I'm sorry!" I apologized before even looking up, instead of checking whether I had scratched my boots.

"It's quite alright," he replied with an amused tone, and politely bowed his head towards Florencia. "It's a nice evening, and the coronation ceremony decorations are lovely."

"I now understand why you needed to leave as quickly as you did," he said. "I would have done so as well."

He again talked with some amusement and smiled warmly at Florencia, his scarred face and goatee dimly lit by the many lanterns or light-glass beads. He turned to her and said: "Jonas is my trainee at Espa Duverte. I teach sword fighting there, as you probably understand from Espa. He is a very talented. Skillful with a sword."

"Oh, I'm not that good. Just decent footwork, as you said yourself," I said, trying to lessen myself in front of Florencia. Hopefully that won't anger her further.

"Good footwork is the most basic building block of a good fighter. It amplifies good swordsmanship, which is in itself easier to learn than pacing, footwork, and mental strength. You have much to learn, of course, but with much, much potential," Enzo explained.

Florencia looked at me and Enzo with a puzzled look for a moment, but then her eyes narrowed in irritation. I felt a sudden rush of hurry; a need to move on. Florencia was not interested in what the swordmaster was saying, and was filled with more thoughts that she then projected at me. There was no mistaking where the evening was going, and we had to get somewhere private before the moment was lost.

Enzo noticed Florencia's distracted expression and caught on to the situation. He quickly said: "I apologize for taking too much of your time. But do think about what we talked about before."

Before we could leave, he stepped close, and said: "You are one very lucky young man."

"Come on, Jonas. I'm actually getting cold," Florencia said.

And with those hurried words, we left for Cappesand again.

We almost jogged back to the academy, made our way through the immense courtyard between the many Cappesand buildings, where in the middle were two statues of the founders of the Cappesand Academy. The story is told that they were two ancient mages, powerful and very knowledgeable. Both were dressed in long and flowing robes, one holding up an esoteric book, and the other with his arms reaching towards the mountains, as if summoning the power from them to build the foundation for what would become Cappesand.

Florencia was in an even greater rush than I was, and guided us towards my room. It was simply closer, so we headed there. We charged into the dormitory wing, where Florencia slammed the thick double doors open with an impatient hand wave. I dawdled for a second after entering, but she impatiently pulled me after her. We turned towards the right and headed to the carpet-covered staircase. In our haste, we passed Keon again, who seemed to have fixed his arching back. While standing in the middle of the grand hall, he stood straight and observed us running past him, unmoving; but his face was shrouded in a dark shadow and all I could see was a faint grin forming on his lips.

I did not notice the long shadows his hollow cloak cast on the weathered red and golden carpet; the shadows almost looked alive, as if they were moving by themselves, while Keon stood still. It reminded me of the statues we just passed.

Before going towards my hall, I turned and looked back at him. He looked odd, and I'd never seen him this way before. He was always strange and quiet, and few people liked him to begin with, but he never stood out as strange in a creepy way. When I whipped my head low toward the grand hall again, there Keon still stood unmoving and looking up at me, still with this knowing grin and his eyes hidden in shadow.

Florencia pulled me ever forward, though, and I had little time to think about Keon. She slammed my door open again, and we rushed in. It was cold there, with some ice forming on the small window; with a concentrated effort, Florencia made the fireplace burst aflame, and the brass candlestick with eight candles exploded alight as well.

Immediately, my room was warm, but soon almost unbearably so, and not because of the fireplace. It was because as soon as the fires were lit, Florencia launched herself at me with nothing held back. I would've expected at least some kind of hesitation or modesty, but that was not so. Our lips met in furious lust and she pulled me tight against her. I tasted her sweetness and her hunger, which she had been holding back for years. She grabbed my neck and pulled my lips hard against hers and she ruffled my hair with affection I'd never felt before.

Florencia then backed towards the small nightstand, which held the few books I read over the past months, carelessly pushed on the floor all the books there, jumped on, and wrapped her legs around my waist. "The expressions of logic" from Indino Massimo fell on the floor, its spine breaking apart and pages flying across the floor. A few landed in the flaming fireplace and burned to a cinder in seconds. We didn't care.

For the first time, I had Florencia where I wanted her - in my arms. I had dreamed about this moment for years, too many years. She looked so amazingly gorgeous in the dim candlelight, how her hair was messy now, and the braided bun barely hanging loosely on the pin. There were no questions left to be asked, there was no hesitation. We kissed and we kissed and we explored each other's body over and under our clothes, most of which we threw off in passionate heat.

"I need to breathe!" she blurted suddenly and exhaled.

"Oh heavens. Wait, please. I need to... Rest for just a moment," she said, panting breathlessly onto my neck. She caught her breath while I pressed her against me, and placed gentle kisses on her sweet neck. Her deep red lipstick was smeared on her lips and cheeks, and most definitely was all over me as well.

"You need to work on your endurance, Flo," I said, and kissed her one more time. "I've got something for you. Let's call it the actual gift. The Gilded Anchor was just-"

"Foreplay?" she giggled.

"Oh stop it," I laughed.

"You can't blame my dirty mind," she said in retaliation.

"Not blaming you at all."

She winked in reply and waited stood there like a young girl waiting for a present.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

I took out from the pocket of my coat a small pouch of dark cloth and put it unceremoniously in her palm. "Your actual present. Happy birthday, Flo."

She stared at the pouch for only a second before she, as unceremoniously as me, shook the amulet out of the pouch. Her eyes gleamed when examining the silver amulet in the shape of a fish, with engraved scales and golden inlaid eyes.

"Jonas!" she called out. "It's gorgeous, I love it!"

We embraced again, but Florencia was growing tired, while I had more energy than before. But I didn't mind slowing down for all was well. All of my hard labor was finally paying off in the best way. We had to work on Florencia's endurance, though. It was then that she noticed the tiny initials J.E. on the back of the amulet. She burst into tears and placed a wet kiss on my cheek again, while the flames in the fireplace brightened and candlelight flickered taller. Florencia didn't even mean to do this; it happened because she was overwhelmed.

"Jonas, this must've cost a fortune."

"Not a fortune, but it wasn't cheap."

"You didn't have to give me something this expensive! Even the dinner was wonderful."

"I know, but who knows where you'd be in ten years. And who knows where I'll be then? But now you'll have something to remember me by."

"Ugh, shut up!" she cried. "You're talking silly."

I didn't argue with her. I might have been silly thinking like this and the recent development might change that. Florencia felt exhausted and jumped on the bed. She laid on her stomach, and swung her feet slowly and jiggling her butt, but looking up at me and idly tracing her lips with her thumb. She looked indescribably gorgeous there, wearing that scanty white underwear. I put three logs on the fire, laid down next to her, and there we stayed, simply bathing in the fireplace's warmth. It was truly cold outside and my paned window had frost on it, but it was warm inside.

After some time, Florencia faced me and said victoriously: "I'm amazing, do you know that? My plan worked out perfectly. How does it feel knowing that I'm a master manipulator?"

"Awful! I feel cheated and played. You're the worst."

"Aww, too bad. But you're stuck with me now."

"Ugh, yeah. How awful," I said and kissed her some more. "So, because I want to know, and with no ulterior motives, how long were you trying to seduce me? Honest to Yannua, I never realized before this morning."

"For like a year. But it doesn't matter," she whispered, closed her eyes and tangled herself against me under the covers. "I'm really tired now. You have to take care of me tonight."

"Oh, the horror," I whispered.

"A whole year? I'm surprised you didn't give up halfway."

"I don't like giving up on things," she said.

"Well, thank Yannua for that."

"Don't thank Yannua. Thank Kaya for annoying me about it for months until I finally listened."

"I'll be sure to send her some flowers."

"She hates flowers."

"No flowers then," I said and finally felt tired enough to sleep. It was a long day well spent and I fell into sleep.

That night I felt like I was caressed by angels, so warm and protected, as nothing would hurt me. It was the deepest and most restful sleep I've ever had in my life. The fireplace smoldered almost until morning, and the faint smell of smoke filled my room. The eight candles had burned out earlier and now only empty spikes of brass stood there. I needed to buy some more, especially now when the nights grew longer and the day shorter.

The first rays of light entered my room, and Florencia was still sleeping next to me. To be more precise, she was sleeping on top of me and entangled herself all around me. She had pressed herself tightly against me during the night at some point, and I could not make out where I stopped and she began. And it was so that we shared each other's heat under the covers for a long night and a longer morning. I let her sleep and gently doze off and skimmed the mystical edge of dreams and sleep for what felt like hours.

It was amazing feeling her heart slowly beat on my chest, smelling her sweet scent, and seeing her golden blonde hair the first thing in the morning. It almost seemed like a dream, to call it with such a cliché.

"Good morning, my loveliest Jonas," she said, half-asleep still and yawned. I replied and yawned myself, for they were contagious.

"How late is it?" she asked.

"Barely past sunrise."

"Hmm," she hummed into my neck. "I've got classes soon, but you know what? I think I got sick last night. Yeah... I feel a cough coming on."

"I hope you know the game you're playing."

"I can piss them off a bit," she said dreamily. "But I have to make that up doublefold."

"Is that worth it?"

"Shut up!" she laughed and gently punched my arm. "It's not like I'm going to skip classes every night."

"Damn it. You owe me a new book, by the way."

"Just use mine."

"You scribbled it full of your impossible handwriting."

"It's called speed writing; you should learn it. Comes in handy all the time."

"Looks awful though."

Life around the academy awoke, and we heard many steps now all around us, along with faint voices of all kinds. Soon there were many people walking past my door, securely bolted as it was, and we found it impossible to doze off again. The frost on the windows receded now, with the morning sun shining on them. And inside it was warm, unlike last morning.

"Ugh," I groaned and walked with stiff legs towards the window to let some fresh air in, and not because it stank of smoke but of lust and arousal.

"Don't, Jonas. I don't like the cold."

"I know, but-"

We heard many footsteps, quick and decisive, heading our way. It was unmistakable. I could recognize the sound wandering students make or the rare master or teacher who passes through the halls now and then, and these steps were different. I shot an inquisitive look at Florencia, who raised an eyebrow and sat up in the bed, pulling the covers on her back. Not even a minute later, the many footsteps stopped in front of my door, exactly as I thought.

"Jonas Espian!" there was a loud knocking at my door. "Jonas Espian! This is Master Almon."

"Yes?" I shouted back from behind the closed door.

"You must come with me this instant! Do you know where Florencia Regalla is? We haven't found her. This matter concerns her as well."

"She-" I said, but stopped, asking with an expression if I should say she was here. Florencia nodded.

"She's here."

We heard mumbling and disgruntled voices.

"How many?" I lipped to Flo.

She frowned her brow for a second, and it felt like an invisible wind going through me. Then she said: "Five!"

Whatever this was could not be good. Was this the immediate response to Florencia's actions the day before? She couldn't be under such a tight leash, could she? And I knew I had done nothing out of the ordinary.

"Anger!" Florencia said then with a shaky voice. I shot her a surprised look, and she shrugged, equally growing in suspicion. The five people behind my door were angry, and I began to sense it as well for it was so powerful.

"Mr. Espian!" came the thunderous voice of master Almon. "You have one minute to come out of your room with miss Regalla."

"Shit!" Florencia and I both whispered. Moving as if sped-up, we washed what we could wash and dried what we could dry in the span of a minute, and threw on whatever clothes we found. Florencia didn't want to put on the dress from last night, so I threw her the outfit I wear at the warehouse shift. The garments still smelled of fish and sweat, and the woolen work jacket looked comically large on Florencia's smaller frame, and the long trousers with suspenders made her look even more odd. But that did not matter and I threw on the clothes from last night.

"Mr. Espian! Time is up. Come out now!" master Almon said with a booming sound. My room then grew hot, unbearably hot and tight, as if my body was compressing into itself. We heard whisperous sparks cracking all around and the bolt on my door shook and the boards bent inward and outward. "Last warning. Come out now!"

"Coming!" I said and undid the bolt.

Outside waited master Almon, proctor Philemon Petridies and his secretary Caia Rais, master Vanda Canno and master Karim Mas. As we exited my room, the looks on masters' faces, save for the proctor and secretary, were of disappointment and disgust. Someone should've made their expressions into an oil painting; so expressive they were.

"It is good that you finally joined us," master Almon said with his double chin shaking vigorously. He was a fat short man, but the one who was appointed to guide me and my studies. We never got along too well, but we had an unspoken understanding which worked out well for the both of us. Now he stood next to the junior proctor of the Cappesand Academy Philemon Petridies, who was a tall man, especially next to the stout Almon.

"What is this about?" Florencia asked fiercely.

"Come with us downstairs, there we shall explain everything," master Almon said.

"Master Canno?" Florencia asked.

"Come now, miss Regalla," she said and simply showed which way to go.

Such a scene did not go unnoticed by the other students. The dormitory wing was not where many masters spent their time, they simply let their secretaries or senior aspirants go in their stead. This morning was different; there were three masters of their craft in the further wing of the dormitories, along with the promising and ambitious young proctor. Students, young and old, gathered around us and whispered theories among themselves; some were grinning, others shocked. While I knew most of them by name, I was a friend with none. Florencia's involvement was a matter of much more speculation, though.