The silence of the night was disturbed only by the discreet rustling of the paper sheets that Gerhman turned with regularity. Seated in a large black leather armchair, he was lit by the subdued glow of a minimalist desk lamp. A white shirt with the first buttons open revealed his silver necklaces that sparkled faintly. His gray eyes scanned the detailed reports that Electhra had compiled on the Cult of the Void.

Hae-neul stood a few steps away from him, motionless. She had traded her combat outfit for a more casual one, her usual black crop top highlighting her athletic musculature and her perfectly defined abs. Her flaming red hair, tied in a high ponytail, fell over her shoulders. She observed Gerhman’s profile with a nervousness she struggled to hide. The memory of the kiss she had stolen from him under the influence of alcohol the previous evening still burned in her mind, making every second spent in this room stifling.

"These reports are incomplete," Gerhman suddenly declared without lifting his eyes from the documents. "You talk about Heralds and Zealots, but the information on the Apostles is vague. Why?"

His voice, calm and monotonous, made Hae-neul jump. She took a step forward, her boots creaking slightly on the thick carpet.

"The Apostles are entities that appear only very rarely in public..." she explained, trying to stabilize the tone of her voice. "Electhra thinks they are protected more strictly than the other members. The Aegis Prime guild has lost several informants while trying to infiltrate their upper circles. All we know is that they serve the Tower Masters directly."

Gerhman let out a disdainful sigh. He placed the file on his knees and finally turned his gaze toward her. Hae-neul felt a shiver run down her spine under the effect of that gray gaze that seemed to probe her soul.

"Tell me, Hae-neul. Electhra ordered you to stay by my side. Is it out of simple obedience or out of a form of devotion?"

The young woman frowned, her red eyes shining with a gleam of uncertainty. She crossed her arms over her chest, a defensive posture she often adopted to mask her shyness.

"Electhra saved me," she answered firmly. "Before meeting her, I was just an ordinary office employee who had just awakened. My healing powers were unstable and everyone made fun of me because of my clumsiness. She is the only one who saw my potential. She trained me, she taught me how to transform my mana into physical strength. My loyalty to her is absolute because she gave me a reason to exist in this world of monsters."

Gerhman tilted his head slightly to the side, observing the sincerity that emanated from her.

"She has always had a soft spot for lost causes..." he said with a touch of irony.

Hae-neul moved closer, intrigued despite herself by the mysterious relationship that united her superior with this arrogant teenager.

"You talk about her as if you have known her forever..." noted Hae-neul. "Yet, officially, you are just a new D-rank member. Why does she treat you with such respect? Why does she call you Master when she is the most powerful Awakener in the world?"

Gerhman stood up slowly, his tall stature dominating Hae-neul. He slipped his hands into the pockets of his black pants.

"I don’t think you need to know but since she trusts you, I will tell you a little about our relationship." declared Gerhman. "As she mentions, I am her master and if she follows me everywhere, it is because the same thing happened as with you."

"She is the only one who did not stab me in the back when everything was collapsing."

Hae-neul remained silent for a moment, absorbing his words. She perceived a sadness behind the stoic face.

"She is obsessed with you," added Hae-neul in a low voice. "She cannot stand any other woman near you. She entrusted me with your protection, but I know it costs her. She has a visceral fear of losing you again."

Gerhman sketched a half-smile, his eyes fixed on his own reflection in the window. Then he stood up and walked toward Hae-neul.

Hae-neul’s face instantly turned crimson. She looked away, staring at an imaginary point on the carpet.

"Why did you look away when you saw me?" asked Gerhman as he stood in front of Hae-neul.

"I... I don’t know what you are talking about..." she stammered.

"Why pretend when deep down you know you are lying?" said Gerhman as he caressed her arm.

Hae-neul clenched her fists, her frustration boiling under her skin.

"You are unbearable!" she exclaimed, regaining her aggressive temperament to mask her embarrassment. "You think you can do whatever you want because Electhra worships you! I am the vice-master of Aegis Prime, I could break your bones in a second if I wanted to!"

Gerhman did not flinch. He took a step toward her, reducing the distance to the point where she could smell the shampoo emanating from him.

"Then do it..." he provoked in a low and provocative voice. "Use your abilities and show me if your strength matches your tongue..."

Hae-neul held his gaze for a few seconds, her red eyes defying his. However, the pressure Gerhman exerted, even unconsciously, was so heavy that she eventually lowered her eyes. She felt her legs weaken slightly.

"Why are you so interested in a person like me?" she asked, her voice still trembling a little.

"Isn’t it obvious? It’s because I am interested in you," replied Gerhman.

Hae-neul wanted to protest, to open her mouth to tell him that she did not belong to him, but the words got stuck in her throat. Gerhman reduced the space even more, his face now only a few millimeters from hers. She could see every detail of his gray eyes.

"You should accept the feelings you have..." he murmured against her lips.

Without giving her time to answer, Gerhman sealed his lips against hers. Hae-neul gave a brief start of surprise, her hands placing themselves on Gerhman’s chest to push him away, but her fingers ended up clenching on the fabric of his shirt.

Their tongues met, entwining in a feverish dance. Hae-neul let out a muffled moan against Gerhman’s mouth, finally abandoning all resistance. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingers getting lost in his grayish hair. Gerhman held her tighter against him, his hand sliding down to rest firmly on the curve of her lower back, pulling her against his own warm and muscular body.

Hae-neul felt herself drifting, carried away by a whirlwind of new sensations. Gerhman’s taste, a mixture of mint and something darker, completely intoxicated her. The kiss became passionate.

Gerhman detached himself for a moment to kiss the line of her jaw, descending to the hollow of her neck, where her pulse beat with uncontrollable frenzy. His lips brushed Hae-neul’s tattoo, provoking a new moan from the young woman. She threw her head back, exposing her throat to his kisses, her red eyes now veiled by a mist of pure desire.