The dynastic library of the Houtz imperial family did contain interesting books. Forgotten history, traditions, inner schemes of the empire... Amyr shouldn’t have allowed me to have access to the library.

I did reunite him with his son and heir, but me knowing about some covered-up genocides wasn’t exactly a good thing for either party. And boy, there were a lot of killings. Not just draconids doing horrible stuff, but also ellari, merfolk, centaurs, humans, and whatever these ‘orcs’ were.

They weren’t orcs in the sense I knew them. But they were automatically translated into such in my brain.

In conclusion, genocides are commonplace in this world.

And to be honest, that was a given. Starting on the tenth star, power got high for it to be in the hands of a single person. And mages of that caliber weren’t exclusive of the ellari. Draconids, elementals, merfolk. These three races also had access to them.

Hmm, elementals.

They weren’t mentioned on the whole war crimes list. Either they were really good with subterfuge and hiding their tracks, or elementals were the only decent race on this planet.

I closed the book and returned to Lan’el.

I didn’t stay all night in the hidden library reading trivial but disturbing things, this was the third day of me gorging on the forbidden knowledge.

It was currently midday. I had gone to give the library a quick read before going to train with Alatea.

I took my time walking to Sin’fal. And, Lady forgive me, I used the gondola.

I considered it a waste, but Alatea pushed me hard on resting, not pushing my body and such. And that included something as basic as walking. Magic was fair game though.

So, I rode the slow gondolas, treating myself to the incredible views, sun rays bathing my face. I was being unfair to the gondolas before. They were slow, yes, but the channels actually skipped over a lot of the walkways, and overall, took a more direct path to their destination.

The walk from Lan’el military camp to Sin’fal healing ward was more than an hour, but the gondola only took forty-five minutes, and there was also the plus of not walking.

A somewhat good-ish trade.

It was still Frost, but the warm day felt like Bloom or even Scorch. The hot feeling may be because of my body, though. Slowly but surely, I was regaining all my physical faculties as my body was practically healed, making me more aware of the nice things in the world.

I had become a bit narrow-minded as of late.

I made my way into Alatea’s office like any other day, but when I opened the door, my first view wasn’t of an empty room or the healer, but of a beautiful woman in an open dress which accentuated her shape deliciously.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

That woman was Marissa.

Before I could say anything, she lunged to my lips, and in an unconscious but agreeable action, I responded equally, pushing my tongue against her.

My clouded mind filled with thoughts of danger, magic, and political drama was suddenly dispelled as I looked into her sky-blue eyes.

Marissa undid the kiss, but quickly enclosed my neck with a warm embrace and returned to her attack, another kiss. I wasn’t against it.

I hadn’t even noticed that I had circled my arms around her waist, tangling us together in a mutual hug.

A warmth surged in my body. She hadn’t said a single word, yet I felt better than ever. I pushed her a bit closer to me. She ended the second kiss with a rugged breath and then slowly moved her hand up my cheek.

Then she spoke.

“So, when were you going to visit me?” Marissa’s smile was enchanting, but her eyes hid sharp daggers. “It’s been a week.”

“Oh.” The sound left my mouth.

Looking back, it had indeed been a week since I had last seen her. I was just so busy, that I hadn’t even pondered it. But I didn’t say so. That would have been a pathetic excuse.

Instead, I said. “Sorry.” Then I kissed her. It was as long as the previous ones, but this time, I was the one who started it.

Marissa looked at me with a pleasurable smile. “Well, I guess I can forgive you.”

She partially undid the embrace, one hand lingering on my shoulder, there other climbing up and finally caressing my ear.

The cold touch sent shivers down my spine.

Marissa responded with a grin, full of sadism. She enjoyed herself, but I wouldn’t deny I wasn’t also doing it myself.

I felt as if I almost were going to lose control and jump on top of her, but a cough returned me to my senses.

“Is the lovebirds act done?” The voice’s source was none other than Alatea. “Or should I keep watching in uncomfortable silence as you make out?”

Marissa quickly dislodged from the embrace and separated away from me. Her visage shone in a cute pink with shades of violet.

“I-I’m sorry.” She told to Alatea. “It’s just that, well, you know, I haven’t seen Edrie for so long,” Marissa toyed frenetically with her icy hair, “and so, that, yes, umm, well, I was excited to see him again.”

I patted her head.

“Marissa, you are digging yourself deeper with every word, you look like a geomancer. You should stop.” I added with a smile as I looked at her, which only helped to intensify her blush.

Seeing Marissa so nervous and fidgety felt... ecstatic. For a lack of a better word, of course.

The aeromancer didn’t say a single extra word and dropped on top of the cushion mount that Alatea had for a sofa. Then she literally drowned in pillows, avoiding both of our gazes. I think I even heard a scream coming from the mound.

“So, did she just come here to see me, or did you tell her to come here for a checkup,” I asked Alatea.

“A bit of both.” The mystic shrugged. “Apparently, your friend Monica saw you yesterday coming out of the healing ward and told Marissa about it. Though I do intend to call her for a preventive health checkup in the foreseeable future.”

“I see.” My face was a stone wall, yet internally I was gliding my tongue through the walls of my mouth. “Monica could have stopped me and saluted me if she saw me. Oh, well. I guess I didn’t leave the best impression when I left.”

“Well, you could go visit her now, if you want,” Alatea said. “It will take me some time to check Marissa’s health, we hadn’t even begun when you arrived.”

“I guess I could do so.” I turned my head to the burrowed Marissa. “Are you fine with that, Marissa?”

“Mmhm.” She grunted in agreement, still refusing to show her face.

Cute.

“Then I’ll leave you to it, Alatea,” I told. “Do you know how much time it will take you?”

“An hour, give or take a few minutes.” The healer replied. “But you can take your time. I’ll also want to talk with her. She shares your equal suicidal instincts.”

Alatea gave a hateful and penetrating stare, which I could only shrug in response. It was true that Marissa and I were coolheaded... until we weren’t. Then we became totally hotheaded, head-first into danger, self-preservation yeeted out of the window.

The healer sighed.

“Isn’t the saying that opposites attract?” Alatea commented under her breath as I left her office. “Because these two are very alike.”

I made it as if I didn’t hear her and went to visit my academy friends.