However...

He couldn’t go further than this with her... at least, not yet.

So, he gently but firmly parted his lips from hers, pulling back just enough to look at her flushed face.

His hands moved to her shoulders, holding her steady and halting her movements.

"Elárien... not yet," he whispered softly into her long, sensitive ear.

Her pointed ear fluttered cutely at the warm breath, a shiver running through her body.

Elárien’s hazy, blushing face looked up at him. She bit her lower lip, eyes still clouded with desire, and asked in a low, almost pleading voice:

"...Why?"

Gray leaned down and softly planted a kiss on her forehead.

"I don’t deserve it yet..." he mumbled against her skin.

"Just give me time to organize my thoughts."

At his words, Elárien remembered the blank, hollow look he had given her earlier.

The pain that was hidden behind his eye, and her expression softened with understanding. She nodded lightly, her voice coming out shy and quiet.

"...Okay."

Gray smiled faintly and planted one last soft kiss on her lips.

Then he slowly pulled away, standing up from the bed.

"Heugh... ah."

Elárien stayed lying there for a moment, breathing a little heavily, her cheeks still flushed.

She watched him with soft golden-green eyes, not angry or disappointed. She pulled the blanket over herself slightly, sitting up against the headboard.

Gray ran a hand through his hair, trying to calm himself down.

He glanced back at her, seeing the faint blush on her cheeks and the way her long ears were still slightly red at the tips.

"...Thank you."

Elárien gave him a small, gentle nod, replying in a low and sweet voice. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"I’ll wait. As long as you need."

Hearing those words, Gray felt a little guilty as he remembered that he was going to be away for a few weeks.

So, scratching his eyebrows, he called out her name.

"Elárien... I need to leave for a while."

She didn’t say anything at first.

She simply sat up a little straighter, adjusting the blanket over her chest as she watched him. Her golden-green eyes were calm, but there was a quiet concern hidden behind them.

Gray ran a hand through his messy black hair, letting out a slow breath.

"I have some things I need to take care of. Personal things. I don’t know how long it’ll take... maybe a few weeks. Maybe longer. I just... I can’t stay here right now."

Elárien tilted her head slightly, her long silver hair falling over one shoulder.

She didn’t look angry or hurt. She just looked at him with that same patient, understanding expression she always had.

"Is it dangerous?" she asked softly.

Gray paused.

He didn’t want to lie to her, but he also didn’t want to tell her the truth.

"Yes... It’s a little dangerous, but nothing I cannot handle."

Elárien was quiet for a moment. Then she reached out and gently placed her hand on his arm as if reassuring him.

"I understand," she whispered.

"You don’t have to explain everything. I know you carry a lot inside. Things you don’t share with anyone. If you need to go... then go. I won’t stop you."

Gray turned his head to look at her. For the first time in days, something soft flickered in his cold eyes.

"You’re not mad?" he asked quietly.

Elárien shook her head, a small, gentle smile appearing on her lips.

"No. I’m not mad. I’m worried... but I trust you. You’ve always come back before. You’ll come back this time too."

She paused, her fingers tracing a light pattern on his arm.

"When you return... I’ll be here. Waiting. Just like before. You don’t have to carry everything alone, Gray. Even if you don’t tell me what’s wrong... I’ll still be here when you need someone to hold you."

Gray stared at her for a long moment.

Then, he reached out and gently took her hand, squeezing it once.

"Thank you for being so understanding."

Elárien’s smile widened a little as she leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.

"I told you before," she whispered against his skin.

"I’m yours if you want me. All of me. Even the parts that wait in silence."

Gray closed his eyes for a second, letting her words settle over him.

Then he stood up slowly, pulling his clothes back on. Elárien watched him quietly, her expression calm but her eyes full of quiet worry.

"When do you leave?" she asked.

"Tomorrow morning," he answered.

"Early. Before most people wake up."

She nodded, pulling the blanket a little higher around herself.

"I’ll make sure no one disturbs you tonight," she nodded faintly. "Rest as much as you can. And when you come back... I’ll be waiting."

Gray looked at her one last time before walking over and leaning down, pressing one last gentle kiss to her forehead.

"Thank you, Elárien."

She closed her eyes at the touch, a small, warm smile forming on her lips.

"Always," she whispered.

Gray straightened up and walked toward the door. He stopped for a second, hand on the handle, before turning back to look at her one more time.

"I’ll come back," he said quietly.

"I promise."

Elárien nodded, her eyes soft.

"I know you will."

With that, Gray opened the door and stepped out into the hallway, leaving Elárien alone in the room.

She stayed sitting on the bed for a long time, staring at the closed door, her fingers lightly touching the spot on her forehead where he had kissed her.

A small, sad but hopeful smile stayed on her lips.

"I’ll wait," she whispered to the empty room.

"As long as it takes."

...

Gray woke up before dawn.

He lay still for a few seconds, staring at the ceiling of Elárien’s room.

The warmth of her body was still beside him, her breathing soft and steady in sleep. For a moment, he almost stayed. Almost let himself sink back into the comfort she offered.

But he couldn’t.

He sat up quietly, careful not to wake her.

He didn’t pack any clothes or take anything extra. He simply stood, glanced at her sleeping face one last time, and walked out of the dormitory without a sound.

The sky was still dark, painted with the faint glow of early morning. The campus was empty and quiet, the only sound being his footsteps on the stone path.

He had only taken a few steps when he noticed her.

Aurora was sitting languidly on a stone bench under an old tree, with legs crossed, her long auburn hair falling over one shoulder like liquid fire.

She rested her chin on her fist, watching him with those vivid red eyes, sultry, knowing, and full of amusement.

Gray stopped in his tracks.

Aurora smiled slowly, tilting her head.

"Are you actually going to try and kill Duke D’Aurélion?" she asked in a teasing, almost playful voice.

Gray’s expression turned speechless, and deeply stared at her for a long second.

’How did she know...?’

Aurora let out a soft laugh, clearly enjoying his reaction. She leaned her head a little more on her fist, giving him a flirtatious wink.

"Surprised?" she purred.

"But like I said, Gray... I know everything about you~"

Gray didn’t reply immediately.

He stood there before asking inwardly.

’Jasmine. Is there something strange with Aurora?’

Jasmine was quiet for a few moments, as if carefully scanning.

[...No.]

She finally answered, sounding genuinely puzzled.

[I really can’t find anything strange about her. Her mana is clean, and her soul is stable. There’s no hidden power, no possession, no unusual aura. She’s just... Aurora. Extremely strong and extremely interested in you, but nothing out of the ordinary.]

Gray’s frown deepened slightly.

He looked back at Aurora, who was still watching him with that lazy, seductive smile.

She stood up slowly, her tall, voluptuous figure moving with natural grace as she took a few steps closer.

Step, step...

Without a word, Aurora closed the remaining distance between them.

Boing~

She pressed her body against his, letting her massive, soft breasts push firmly into his chest.

The thin fabric of her robe did little to hide their size and warmth. She leaned in slightly, her breath brushing against his neck as she tilted her head.

Her long lashes fluttered slowly, blinking in a deliberately sensual way that made her red eyes seem even deeper, more inviting.

The small black mole above her reddish-pink lips only added to her mature allure.

"Gray..." she whispered, her voice turning low and velvety, like warm honey dripping over his skin.

"Must you leave so soon? The night is still young... and I’ve been so lonely waiting for you."

She shifted her body ever so slightly, deliberately rubbing her breasts against him in a slow, teasing motion.

Her hand came up to rest on his chest, her fingers tracing light circles over his shirt.

’...Is she trying to seduce me again? Why now, though...’

Normally, Gray would think that this was just a mere daily interaction between them, but since he knew that Aurora knew that he was going to try and kill his father...

’She’s hiding something...’

She was probably trying to stop him for some reason.