Reborn as a Succubus: Time To Live My Best Life!-Chapter 406: Emotions and Essence

Tessa was... old.

Not in the way humans got old—wrinkled and bent and slow. She was old the way ancient trees were old. Six tails fanned behind her, silver-white fur matching the long hair that fell past her waist. Her face was unlined but her eyes held depths that made Melisa feel like a child playing with matches.

[Jesus Christ...]

"Essence manipulation," Tessa said, settling onto a meditation cushion in her study, "is not about power. Any fool can throw essence around. What separates a true master from a talented amateur is precision."

Melisa knelt across from her, trying to match the elder’s perfect posture. Tessa’s eyes closed.

"Essence doesn’t just identify someone. It reflects their emotional state. Their intentions. Their desires. Learn to read these, and you’ll never be surprised by anyone again."

[That sounds incredibly useful. Also slightly terrifying.]

"How do I start?"

"Focus on me. Not just my signature—you already know what that feels like. Look beneath it. Feel for the currents running through my essence."

Melisa closed her eyes and reached out.

Tessa’s signature blazed like a bonfire. But Melisa pushed past the surface, searching for something subtler.

There.

Beneath the power, she felt... patience. Calm. A faint undercurrent of curiosity. And something else—a gentle amusement, like a grandmother watching a toddler take their first steps.

"You’re... patient. Curious about me. And you think this is funny?"

Tessa laughed.

"Very good. Most students take weeks to sense even basic emotions. You did it in minutes."

[I’m guessing that being a nim probably helps. We’re already tuned into other people’s energy from all the essence draining.]

"Now try something harder." Tessa gestured toward the window. "There’s a kitsune walking past outside. Read her."

Melisa extended her awareness through the wall. A signature moved along the street—bright, feminine, distinctly kitsune.

She pushed deeper.

Worry. Exhaustion. An undercurrent of fear, tightly controlled.

"She’s scared of something. Tired. Worried."

"Likely one of those affected by the sickness," Tessa murmured. "Good. You’re learning quickly."

They practiced for hours. Melisa read passing villagers, sensing joy and boredom and lust and contentment. She learned that emotions had textures—anger felt sharp and hot, sadness was heavy and slow, happiness bubbled like champagne.

The concentration required was immense. By midday, Melisa’s head throbbed.

"Break," Tessa announced. "You’ve pushed hard enough for now."

Melisa sagged with relief.

"Thank you, Elder Tessa. This is... incredible. I had no idea essence could tell you so much."

"Most don’t." Tessa poured tea from a pot that had been warming nearby. "It’s a dying art. Fewer mages bother learning it when flashier magic exists."

[Their loss.]

Melisa accepted the tea, letting its warmth soothe her aching head. The question that had been nagging at her finally pushed its way out.

"Elder Tessa... the sickness. The one affecting the village. What’s causing it?"

Tessa’s expression shifted. Not quite a frown, but close.

"I wish I knew. It’s been happening for a few months now. Kitsune feeling drained. Tired. Low on essence, as if something is siphoning it away." She shook her head. "The healers can’t figure it out. No infection, no curse, no obvious cause."

"That sounds serious."

"It could be, if we don’t solve it soon. Some of the affected are getting worse. If their essence drops too low..." Tessa didn’t finish the sentence. She didn’t need to.

[They’ll die. Just like nim die without enough essence.]

"What do people think is causing it?"

"Theories abound. Some think it’s something in the water. Others say it’s stress—the village has been through difficult times lately. A few blame outsiders, though that’s just fear talking." Tessa sipped her tea. "I’m sure we’ll figure it out eventually. The healers are working on it."

She didn’t sound worried.

[How can she be so calm about this? People could die.]

But Melisa kept her thoughts to herself. She was a guest here. Pushing too hard on sensitive topics wouldn’t help anyone.

"Thank you for telling me," she said instead. "And for the lesson. Same time tomorrow?"

Tessa smiled.

"Same time tomorrow."

---

The bar was warm and loud when Melisa walked in that evening.

Sylra spotted her immediately. The nim woman’s face lit up, her tail giving an excited little wiggle behind her.

"You came back!"

"Did you think I wouldn’t?"

"After how fast you ran out last night?" Sylra grinned. "I wasn’t sure."

Melisa’s cheeks heated.

"I had training. Early."

"Uh huh." Sylra slid a drink across the bar before Melisa even sat down. "How was it?"

"Intense. Good, but intense." Melisa took a long sip. "I learned to read emotions through essence signatures today."

"Fancy." Sylra leaned on the bar, propping her chin on her hand. "So what am I feeling right now?"

Melisa reached out with her new skill.

Sylra’s essence pulsed with warmth. Interest. Attraction. A playful edge of mischief.

"You’re happy to see me. And you’re planning something."

"Guilty as charged." Sylra’s smile widened. "Tell me about yourself, Melisa Blackflame. I know the rumors, the news. But what’s the real you like? What’s your life in Syux actually look like?"

Melisa blinked.

[She wants to actually talk?]

"What do you want to know?"

"Everything. Your friends. Your family. What makes you laugh, what makes you angry." Sylra’s red eyes held genuine curiosity. "I’ve been stuck in this village my whole life. You’ve seen the world. I want to hear about it."

So Melisa talked.

She told Sylra about Isabella—her shameless, brilliant cousin. About Armia, the darian knight who’d was slowly embracing who she was. About Raven, the former assassin who was still learning how emotions worked. She told her about her parents, still adjusting to city life after years in a small village. About Hazel, her little sister who was already showing magical talent. About Javir, the teacher who’d changed her life by believing in her.

"It sounds amazing," Sylra said softly. "Having all those people."

"It is." Melisa stared into her drink. "But sometimes I wonder if I’m doing enough. For nim, I mean. I have all this power, all this influence, and what am I actually changing?"

She stopped herself.

"Sorry. I didn’t mean to dump all that on you."

"Don’t apologize." Sylra reached across the bar, her fingers brushing Melisa’s hand. "That was fascinating."

Melisa nodded slowly.

"I just..." Melisa sighed. "I feel caught between two worlds sometimes. The humans see me as proof that nim can be civilized, that we can be trusted. But some nim see me as a traitor for working with humans at all. And I don’t know which side is right."

"Maybe neither side is completely right." Sylra’s thumb traced circles on Melisa’s knuckles. "As far as I’m concerned, your side is the only one that matters." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"I can’t tell if that’s wise or selfish."

"Well, I’m just a bartender. What do I know?" Sylra’s playful grin returned. "I’m only good at certain things, after all."

"Oh? Like what?"

"Like this."

Sylra leaned across the bar and kissed her.

This time, Melisa was ready.

She kissed back immediately, one hand coming up to cup Sylra’s jaw. The angle was awkward with the bar between them, but neither of them cared. Sylra’s lips were soft and warm and tasted like honey wine.

The kiss deepened. Sylra made a pleased sound, her tongue sliding against Melisa’s. Essence flowed between them—a gentle current that left Melisa’s skin tingling.

[Okay. Okay, this is happening. This is definitely happening and I’m definitely into it.]

When they finally broke apart, both breathing hard, Melisa caught movement in her peripheral vision.

Several kitsune at nearby tables were watching them. Their expressions were... dreamy. Dazed. Happy smiles plastered across their faces like they’d just received really good news.

[Wait. Are my pheromones leaking again?]

She checked. They weren’t—she’d kept them tightly controlled.

So why were those kitsune looking at them like that?

Sylra followed her gaze and laughed.

"They’re just jealous."

Melisa snorted.

"Jealous of what? There’s like five couples fucking in this bar right now."

"Jealous that I got to you first." Sylra’s tail curled around Melisa’s wrist. "The famous Melisa Blackflame, making out with a nobody bartender? That’s the kind of thing people remember."

Melisa giggled.

[I guess.]