Reborn as a Succubus: Time To Live My Best Life!-Chapter 398: Departure

Melisa stared at the packed bag on her bed, double-checking the contents for the third time.

[Clothes, check. Spellbooks, check. Emergency runes, check. Why do I feel like I’m forgetting something important?]

Three days had passed since graduation. Three days of Zephyra’s offer bouncing around her skull like a hyperactive ping-pong ball.

A kitsune village. Research.

"Educational opportunities."

[Yeah, because nothing says ’education’ like Zephyra Vortell wearing strategically placed fabric and that smile that promises trouble.]

But the curiosity won. It always did.

She closed the bag and slung it over her shoulder. Time for goodbyes.

---

Isabella’s temporary workshop occupied a converted storage room near the merchant district. Melisa found her cousin surrounded by literal mountains of wands, each one carefully organized by size, material, and enchantment capacity.

"Forty-seven ash wands with bronze cores, fifty-two oak with copper inlay, thirty-eight willow for precision work..." Isabella muttered, scratching notes on a ledger. "Where the fuck did I put the birch ones?"

"Behind you. Next to the crate."

Isabella spun, her pink tail nearly knocking over a display rack.

"Mel! What are you doing here? I thought you were leaving today."

"I am. Wanted to say goodbye first."

"Oh." Isabella set down her ledger, a genuine smile crossing her face. "That’s sweet. Come here."

She pulled Melisa into a hug that was more tackle than embrace. Her breasts pressed against Melisa’s, her cock stirring against Melisa’s thigh.

[Even now. Even during goodbyes. Jesus, Bella.]

"I’m going to miss you," Isabella said into Melisa’s shoulder. "Who’s going to keep me entertained while you’re gone?"

"You have about seven hundred people who’d happily volunteer."

"True. But none of them are you." Isabella pulled back, her blue eyes serious for once. "Be careful with Zephyra. She’s brilliant but she’s also completely insane."

"You’re one to talk."

"And don’t do anything I wouldn’t do."

"That leaves literally everything on the table."

"Exactly!" Isabella’s grin returned. "Have fun. Learn things. Come back with some scandalous stories."

Melisa kissed her cheek.

"I’ll try."

---

Finding Armia proved a bit harder. She wasn’t at home, wasn’t at the training yards, and wasn’t answering her door.

Melisa finally tracked her down at a weapons shop, examining practice swords with intense focus.

"Armia."

The darian looked up, surprise flickering across her stern features.

"Melisa. I thought you were leaving today."

"In a few hours. Wanted to see you first." Melisa leaned against the counter. "How’s guard training?"

"Fine."

"Just fine?"

Armia’s jaw tightened.

"There’s a recruit named Garrett who’s making it his personal mission to prove I don’t belong. Captain Narim is watching me like a hawk for any sign of weakness. And yesterday I had to run twenty laps because someone sabotaged my gear."

"Damn."

"It’s fine." Armia set down the sword she’d been inspecting. "I knew it would be difficult. I’m handling it."

[She’s absolutely not handling it well but she’ll never admit that.]

"If you need to talk—"

"I don’t." Armia’s yellow eyes met hers. "But thank you. Have a safe trip. Be sure to learn whatever Zephyra wants to teach you."

The dismissal was clear. Armia had already turned back to the weapons display, her focus absolute.

Melisa left her to it.

---

Raven was the hardest to find.

Not because she was hiding, but because she blended into shadows like she’d been born from them. Melisa eventually located her on a rooftop near Javir’s manor, sitting with her legs dangling over the edge.

"How did you know I was here?" Raven asked without turning around.

"Lucky guess." Melisa climbed up beside her. "You always liked high places."

"Better vantage points."

They sat in silence for a moment, the city spreading out below them. Afternoon sun painted the buildings gold and orange.

"I’m leaving for a few weeks," Melisa said.

"I know. Isabella told me."

"Right. Of course she did." Melisa picked at a loose shingle. "I wanted to tell you myself. And to ask you to keep an eye on everyone while I’m gone."

Raven’s grey eyes flickered toward her.

"Keep an eye on them?"

"Yeah. Make sure Armia doesn’t murder any guard recruits. Make sure Isabella doesn’t accidentally blow up her workshop. Make sure..." Melisa trailed off. "Just make sure everyone’s okay."

"Why?"

"Because I trust you."

Raven was quiet for a long moment.

"Somehow, even after these last few years, I’m still shocked by that."

"But I do." Melisa bumped her shoulder. "You’ve changed, Raven. I know you don’t see it, but everyone else does. You’re not the same person who tried to kill me."

"I still dream about it sometimes. Succeeding, I mean."

[... Well that’s kinda horrifying.]

"But you didn’t succeed. And now you’re here, sitting on a roof with me, being trusted to protect people you once tried to hurt." Melisa stood, brushing dust from her pants. "That means something."

Raven didn’t respond, her gaze distant and unfocused.

[She’s definitely distracted by something. But pushing won’t help. Never does with her.]

"I’ll be back in a few weeks. Try not to brood too much while I’m gone."

"No promises."

---

The palace summons had arrived via royal messenger, a sealed letter with Aria’s personal seal.

Private tea. My quarters. This afternoon. - A

[Subtle as always.]

Melisa arrived promptly, her heart doing stupid acrobatics in her chest. A guard escorted her through marble corridors to Aria’s private wing, a section of the palace few people ever saw.

Aria’s sitting room was elegant but not ostentatious. Soft furniture, large windows overlooking the gardens, and a tea service already prepared on a low table.

Aria herself wore a simple grey dress, her white hair loose around her shoulders. Without the crown and formal robes, she looked younger. More human.

[Fuck, she’s beautiful.]

"Melisa. Thank you for coming."

"Of course, Your Majesty."

"Aria. When we’re alone, it’s Aria."

"I know. It’s just more fun calling you Your Majesty," Melisa replied.

They settled onto a couch, the tea steaming between them. Aria poured with practiced grace, her movements precise and controlled.

"I hear you’re leaving with Zephyra."

"News travels fast."

"I’m the Queen. News travels to me first." Aria handed Melisa a cup. "Foxhollow is deep in Yalmir territory. Beautiful but... different from the capital."

"Different how?"

"Less restrained. Kitsune culture is more open about certain things." Aria’s grey eyes met hers. "Relationships. Pleasure. Boundaries that we maintain here don’t exist there."

[Is she warning me or...?]

"I can handle myself."

"I know you can. That’s not what worries me." Aria set down her cup, turning to face Melisa fully. "I’ll miss having you nearby."

The words hung in the air between them, heavy with meaning.

"I’ll miss you too."

"Will you?" Aria’s voice dropped lower. "Or will you be too busy with whatever educational pursuits Zephyra has planned?"

"Aria—"

"I’m not jealous. I have no right to be jealous." Aria reached out, her fingers tracing Melisa’s jawline. "We’ve yet to define what this is between us. Never put words to it."

Melisa’s breath caught.

"What do you want it to be?"

"I don’t know. I’m a queen. You’re a nim mage about to become one of the most influential people in Syux. We both have responsibilities, expectations." Aria’s thumb brushed across Melisa’s lower lip. "But when you’re here, when we’re alone like this, I don’t want to think about any of that."

Melisa closed the distance between them, her lips meeting Aria’s with desperate hunger.

[Fuck responsibilities. Fuck expectations. I want this. I want her.]

Aria responded immediately, her hands tangling in Melisa’s black hair. The kiss was all heat and yearning, days of tension breaking loose. Aria’s tongue swept into Melisa’s mouth, tasting like tea.

Melisa’s hands found Aria’s waist, pulling her closer. Her tail wrapped around Aria’s leg, the heart-shaped tip trembling with need.

Aria pulled back, gasping.

"We shouldn’t—not right before you leave," Aria inhaled slowly. "That’s just going to make it harder for me to focus on my work."

"Then why did you summon me here?"

"Because I’m selfish. Because I wanted to see you one more time before you go spend weeks in a kitsune village surrounded by beautiful women who will absolutely try to seduce you."

Melisa laughed breathlessly.

"Are you jealous?"

"Terribly." Aria kissed her again, softer this time. "Promise me you’ll be careful."

"I promise."

"Good." Aria rested her forehead against Melisa’s. "Because I’m not done with you yet."

They stayed like that for a long moment, breathing each other’s air, neither wanting to break the spell.

Eventually, reality intruded. Aria pulled back, smoothing her dress and rebuilding her regal composure like armor.

"You should go. Zephyra will be waiting."

"Right. Yes." Melisa stood on shaky legs. "I’ll write. If I can."

"I’d like that."

At the door, Melisa paused.

"Aria?"

"Yes?"

"This thing between us. When I get back, can we figure out what it is?"

Aria’s smile was small but genuine.

"I’d like that too."

---

The magical carriage waited outside the city gates, purple runes glowing along its frame. Zephyra lounged inside, her legs crossed and her outfit somehow even more scandalous than usual.

"There she is! I was starting to think you’d changed your mind."

"Just saying goodbyes." Melisa tossed her bag inside and climbed in. "This is really happening."

"Oh, it’s happening." Zephyra knocked on the carriage wall. "Driver, to Foxhollow!"

The carriage lurched forward, magic humming through the wheels as they began moving at speeds no normal horse could match.

"So," Melisa said, settling into the plush seat. "Are you going to tell me what we’re actually doing in Foxhollow?"

"Research!"

"What kind of research?"

"The fun kind." Zephyra’s smile turned wicked. "You’ll see when we get there. Don’t worry, you’re going to love it."

[I’m either going to learn incredible magic or die of embarrassment. Possibly both.]

The city fell away behind them, the landscape shifting from urban sprawl to rolling countryside. Trees thickened, the road narrowing as they entered deeper into Yalmir territory.

Zephyra kept up a constant stream of chatter, flirting shamelessly, dropping cryptic hints about what waited in Foxhollow, and somehow managing to make even mundane observations sound suggestive.

"The village is built around a hot spring," Zephyra explained. "Very relaxing. Very... communal."

"Communal how?"

"You’ll see."

[I’m going to regret this. I know I’m going to regret this. So why am I excited?]

Hours passed. The sun began setting, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. The forest grew denser, ancient trees towering overhead.

"How long until we arrive?" Melisa asked.

"Three days, give or take. Depends on road conditions and how many breaks we take." Zephyra stretched, her body arching in a way that made Melisa’s eyes travel places they shouldn’t. "Don’t worry. The carriage has sleeping quarters. We’ll be quite comfortable."

[Three days alone with Zephyra in a magical carriage. What could possibly go wrong?]

The runes along the carriage walls pulsed with steady rhythm, propelling them deeper into Yalmir territory. Outside the window, the world shifted from familiar countryside to something wilder, more primal.

Melisa settled back into her seat, watching the landscape blur past.

[Aria’s waiting back home. Armia’s fighting to prove herself. Isabella’s building her empire. Raven’s... doing whatever Raven does.]

And Melisa? She was heading into the unknown with a woman who defined chaos.

But somehow, that felt exactly right.

"Get comfortable," Zephyra said, her eyes glinting with mischief. "This is going to be an interesting journey."