Leopoldine approached Alice with the mysterious object held in her hand. Esato tensed, her body rigid as she watched the young woman. Noelle's gaze remained locked on Leopoldine and the object, her sharp eyes studying it intently. The group grew silent, the tension in the room palpable. Alice stood still, her heart beating rapidly as Leopoldine came closer. The object in Leopoldine's hand gleamed in the dim light of the volcano, its purpose still a mystery.

The object was small, fitting snugly within Leopoldine's palm. It was smooth and shiny, with a faint glow emanating from within. Alice couldn't make out any details, but she could sense a powerful energy radiating from the object.

Leopoldine stopped just a few inches away from Alice, her gaze fixed intently on the young girl's face. The object in her hand seemed to pulse with a faint, rhythmic glow, as if it was alive.

"And here it is, my dear," she purred, her voice soft and persuasive. "This here is what we call a Connexus~”

The group's collective breath hitched as Leopoldine spoke the name of the object.

Noelle's eyes widened in realization, "A Connexus...isn't that..."

Leopoldine just nodded. "Indeed, it is. A Connexus is a...unique object, one that links the user to others in...intimate ways~”

Esato's face hardened at Leopoldine's words, her grip on her clenched fists tightening.

Alice's heart pounded in her chest, both dread and excitement coursing through her veins. She didn't fully understand what a Connexus was, but Leopoldine's tone made her skin crawl.

Leopoldine chuckled, clearly reveling in the discomfort of Esato and the others. "Oh, don't look so tense. A Connexus isn't inherently bad. In fact, it can be quite useful if used correctly~”

Leopoldine chuckled, clearly reveling in the discomfort of Esato and the others. "Oh, don't look so tense. A Connexus isn't a bad thing. In fact, it simply keeps a record of the connections you make with others~”

The group exchanged looks, skepticism etched on their faces.

Rachel broke the silence first. "What do you mean by 'connections'?”

Leopoldine's smirk widened as she answered. "Connections come in many forms, my dear. Friendships, alliances, enemies...even more intimate relations~”

There was another pregnant pause as the group digested this information.

Noelle suddenly spoke up, "and you want Alice to have this...Connexus?"

Leopoldine nodded, her gaze never leaving Alice's face. "Yes, I believe she would greatly benefit from it. It would help her on her journey, give her access to a world of possibilities~"

Leopoldine then leaned closer to Alice, pointing at the Connexus and manipulating the touchscreen with a delicate finger. "You see this, my sweet? This here is you. These lines represent the people you are connected to, with the different colors representing your relationship with them. The line connecting you with me, for example, is yellow, showing that your relationship with me is a casual one. The line connecting you and Rachel, though, is blue. Blue showcases a very close relationship with her.”

Alice's eyes followed the lines on the Connexus's screen, her mind spinning with confusion and unease.

Rachel's face was pale as she watched the lines connecting her to Alice. "That's...creepy," she muttered.

Leopoldine just chuckled again. "Not at all, my dear. It's merely a visual representation of the bonds you've formed. Very...fascinating, don't you think?”

Esato's face was a mask of anger and concern as she watched Leopoldine manipulate the Connexus. "It's an invasion of privacy, that's what it is. You're trying to control Alice by giving her this...this thing.”

Leopoldine's smile never wavered as she responded. "Control? My dear Esato, you always jump to the worst conclusions. This is simply a tool. A tool to help Alice navigate her relationships and interactions more smoothly. It's not about control, it's about connection~”

Esato bared her teeth in frustration. "It's about manipulation. You're trying to mold her into something she's not."

Leopoldine chuckled again, her tone patronizing. "Oh, Esato, you're so dramatic. There's no harm in keeping track of the connections you make with others. And by the way, here's another neat feature," she paused, scrolling over to a new graphic. "You see these grayed-out profile pictures surrounding Noelle, dearie? These people are individuals deeply connected to her whom you yourself have yet to connect with. Meanwhile, grayed-out profile pics surrounding you, dear Alice, signify people you have met, but didn't form a connection with. Like a stranger you happened to grow a bit fond of, but didn't develop the relationship any further than that. Neat, right~?”

Alice nodded and looked at the grayed profile pictures surrounding her own, seeing Naphi, Teigen and Mars among them.

The group fell silent as they processed this information. Esato's face contorted with anger and concern, while Rachel's face remained ashen. Even Noelle's usually calm expression was tinged with unease.

Alice stood there, her eyes wide as she looked at the Connexus in Leopoldine's hand. The concept of keeping track of connections in such a visual way was both fascinating and terrifying.

Leopoldine seemed to sense Alice's internal turmoil and used it to her advantage. "Don't you see, my dear? This is a useful tool. It can help you navigate your relationships and even help you form new ones. And if you're willing to look a bit deeper..." she paused, a sly gleam in her eyes, "it may even show you something quite...enticing~”

Esato bristled at that, her claws digging into her palms. "Don't you even think-"

Leopoldine silenced her with a wave of her hand. "Now, now, Esato, don't get all worked up. I'm simply telling the girl about another feature. No harm in that, is there?"

Esato looked like she wanted to protest, but held her tongue, glaring at the regal woman.

Leopoldine flashed her a victorious smirk before turning back to Alice. "Now, darling, have you ever wondered what happens when you form a...closer connection with someone?”

Alice's face grew even more flushed as she shook her head. Rachel made a noise of disgust, while Esato's glare remained deadly. Noelle watched the scene unfolding silently, her eyes flickering from the Connexus to Leopoldine's face and back again.

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

Leopoldine chuckled, clearly relishing in the discomfort she was causing. "Oh, but it's such a unique thing, when two individuals decide to...forge a deeper bond. So unique, in fact, that the Connexus shows it in a very different way~"

She tapped the screen again, a new graphic appearing. This one was more detailed than the others, and had a series of red and purple lines.

The group's eyes widened as they took in this new image. Even Esato's expression softened a bit, intrigued despite her reservations.

Leopoldine gestured to the lines, a wicked gleam in her eyes. "These...are special connections, dear Alice. Connections that show a level of intimacy beyond mere friendship. They're known as close bonds or..." she paused for dramatic effect, "romantic bonds~”

Rachel let out a strangled noise as the others gasped.

The red lines on the graphic were thick and vibrant, clearly representing very intimate relationships. The purple lines were fainter, showing a less intense but still significant bond.

Leopoldine smirked at their reactions, clearly pleased with herself. "I told you, it was a fascinating device. You see, the Connexus doesn't just keep track of ordinary relationships, it also records these...special connections. And what's more, it can help you foster these deeper bonds~”

Esato bristled at this, her anger resurfacing. "You can't be serious. You're going to use this...this thing to manipulate Alice into forming romantic relationships? That's sick."

Leopoldine feigned innocence, placing a hand on her chest in mock-outrage. "Oh, come now, Esato. I'm not manipulating anyone. I'm simply helping Alice explore a whole new world of possibilities. Is that such a crime?”

Esato was about to retort, but Leopoldine cut her off with a raised hand. "Speaking of romance though, perhaps we should take a look at some of the connections here...like me for example."

Leopoldine began tapping at the screen again, this time focusing on herself.

On the Connexus's screen, a detailed profile of Leopoldine appeared, complete with the yellow line connecting her to Alice. But beneath her profile, there was an option labeled "Active Connections.”

The group watched as Leopoldine tapped the option. A list popped up, and as the others leaned closer to look, their eyes widened in shock at what they saw. Almost all of the names on the list were women, and the lines connecting them to Leopoldine were either red or purple. And there were a lot of them.

Esato's face twisted with disgust as she looked at the list, while Rachel just looked stunned.

Noelle's face remained stoic, but even she couldn't mask her shock at the sheer number of intimate connections Leopoldine had formed.

Leopoldine just smirked, her voice dripping with pride. "Impressive, isn't it?”

Esato growled low in her throat, her body tensed as if ready to pounce.

Rachel looked sick, her face almost green as she processed the information.

Noelle remained silent, her sharp eyes studying the list and Leopoldine's expression carefully.

Leopoldine chuckled at their reactions, clearly enjoying the impact she was having. She then turned her attention back to Alice, her gaze intense.

"Now, my dear, you might be wondering what else the Connexus can do. After all, it's not just about connections, it's about..." she paused, her voice dropping to a low purr, "pleasure~”

The group froze at this, their discomfort and disgust palpable.

Esato growled, her voice low and dangerous. "What are you saying?"

Leopoldine smirked, her eyes fixed on Alice. "I'm saying that the Connexus can do more than just record relationships. It can also...enhance them."

The group exchanged panicked glances, their stomachs clenching at the implications of Leopoldine's words.

Alice, caught in a daze, looked from the Connexus to Leopoldine and back again. "Enhance...how?" she managed to ask, her voice barely above a whisper.

Leopoldine chuckled, clearly enjoying herself. "Oh, there are many ways, my dear. But why don't I show you one particularly interesting feature of my own Connexus?”

Without waiting for a response, Leopoldine pulled out her own Connexus and began tapping away, her screen displaying a new option labeled "Intimacy Enhancement.”

The group watched in horror as Leopoldine's slender finger hovered over the option, her smirk growing wider by the second.

Esato bared her teeth, her voice a low hiss. "Don't you dare-"

Leopoldine ignored her, pressing the option with a flourish.

A new graphic popped up, this one displaying a different set of lines. They were thicker, almost glowing, and the Connexus was pulsing with energy.

Leopoldine chuckled, her voice dropping to a raunchy, seductive pitch. "Now, this is the fun part. This is how my Connexus enhances intimacy~”

The group was silent, their shock rendering them speechless.

Leopoldine stepped closer to Alice, her hand coming to rest on the young girl's shoulder, "Alice dear, hold still for a moment.”

Alice, her mind and body on autopilot, remained motionless as Leopoldine began fiddling with the Connexus again.

Esato was barely holding back her fury, her body shaking with rage. Rachel looked like she was about to vomit, while Noelle's eyes were narrowed, studying the scene with calculation.

Without warning, Leopoldine tapped the screen with finality. The Connexus suddenly lit up, the lines on the screen glowing intensely. A jolt ran through Alice's body, starting from the point where Leopoldine touched her shoulder and spreading throughout her being. It was an overwhelming sensation, as if every nerve in her body was suddenly on fire.

The group gasped as Alice's eyes widened, her face contorting in something between pleasure and pain, mostly the former.

Esato took a step forward, her protective instincts kicking in, but Leopoldine just held up a hand, her eyes never leaving Alice. "No, no, dear Esato. We're just getting started~”

Alice struggled to speak, her body trembling as the sensation continued. "What...what is this?" she managed to gasp out.

Leopoldine just chuckled, her fingers drumming against the Connexus. "Just a little...enhancement, my dear. You see, my Connexus is quite unique compared to your own. It has a particularly powerful feature. Something to...amplify the sensations, you might say~"

The group watched in horror as Alice's expression shifted from surprise to what could only be described as ecstasy. The sensations coursing through her body were overwhelming, a mixture of pleasure and something darker, something that made Esato's blood boil.

Esato was vibrating with anger, her claws digging into her palms. "Turn it off," she growled. "Now."

Leopoldine just chuckled, her attention back on the Connexus. "Oh, no, my dear Esato. We're just getting started. You don't want to miss this~"

The group exchanged panicked glances, their concern for Alice growing by the second. Alice's moan of pleasure was soft, almost involuntary, and it sent shivers down their spines.

Esato was about to explode, her body tense with barely contained rage. "Enough!" she barked, her voice thick with emotion. "You're torturing her!"

Leopoldine smirked, her fingers dancing over the Connexus again. "Oh, my dear Esato. Torture is such a strong word. I prefer to think of it as...heightening her experience~”

Alice was beyond speech, her body twitching and jerking involuntarily as the sensations continued to overwhelm her.

Esato couldn't take it anymore. She lunged forward, her claws extended, aiming for Leopoldine's wrist.

But Leopoldine was too quick. She dodged to the side, laughing cruelly as she did.

"My, my, Esato. You're quite the spitfire, aren't you? But I'm afraid you'll have to wait your turn~”

Esato snarled, her body tense as she prepared to pounce again.

Noelle intervened, placing a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Esato, calm yourself. You'll only make things worse."

Esato's eyes snapped to Noelle's, almost feral. "Calm myself? How can I calm myself when that...that sociopath is torturing Alice?!”

The two stared each other down for a tense moment, before Leopoldine's voice cut through the tension.

"Now, now, calm down. I'm not torturing anyone. I'm simply...awakening certain sensations in our lovely Alice here~"

Her words were dripping with a sickly sweet sarcasm that made Esato seethe with anger, the dragon girl's flames burning with intensity that threatened to burn Leopoldine to a crisp.

Esato was on the verge of losing control, her entire body tensed and her claws and teeth bared. She was trembling with fury, her breaths coming in ragged gasps.

Noelle, sensing the dangerous escalation, pressed down firmly on Esato's shoulder, anchoring her in place. "Esato," she warned, her voice authoritative and clear, "control yourself. You're not helping anyone by charging blindly into this.”

Esato struggled for a moment, her instincts screaming at her to attack, to protect Alice from this sadistic monster. But finally, after what felt like an eternity, she took a shuddering breath, closing her eyes and forcing herself to calm down.

Noelle patted her shoulder, her expression softened with understanding. She whispered, "Good. Now let's think of a better way to handle this.”