Fantasy World - Chapter 11 (Older Edition)
Han sat in his usual seat and listened to another interesting lesson from Ha-Yoon. They were learning more about how to control magic, and being able to use it in numerous scenarios.
"Now remember, the purpose of magic is being able to utilize the mana that is surrounding us. The ability to use a higher level of spells is increased by a person's relationship with mana." Ha-Yoon spoke.
"Watch as I take the mana and transform it into fire. The use of incantation is only used to help direct the mana into what you are picturing." She explained, holding both her hands out as if holding an invisible globe.
In moments, a small flame appeared and hovered in the air. There was nothing impressive about how it looked, as it floated in the air. Having no traditional fuel source the fire was just a sphere.
Looking at everyone in the classroom, Ha-Yoon continued, "This is something everyone, regardless of your aptitude with fire, should be able to do. Where aptitude comes into play is when you are trying to transform it into something other than its basic form."
With her hands, she moved them in a way that seemed to stretch out the flame, transforming it into a fiery snake. After the length of the flame had exceeded ten feet.
It floated around the classroom, occasionally snapping its mouth at a student, making them flinch. As if it were a real snake, a tongue flickered out.
"For a human, she appears to have some talent," Anacolis said under her breath.
Making the fiery snake vanish, she was silent as everyone digested what happened. Excited whispers were head between students, mostly about how they wish they'd be able to perform such spells in the future. Some nobles bragged about being able to conjure a dragon instead of a snake.
When it looked like the class was ready to continue, Ha-Yoon said, "As a Fire Blade Master, I do utilize incantation as mages do. My magical abilities help to improve my martial skills to dominate battles within my range of influence."
"You can think of influence as the distance that an enemy needs to be for me to engage with them," She said for the few that looked lost.
Going to a nearby table, she slammed her hand on top of it, startling everyone. "If you were to view this table as a battlefield," She walked over to the bookshelf in the classroom and grabbed a book. Going back to the table, she placed the book on top, "This would be a person's influence inside of a battle."
From the purse that was hanging by her side, she took out varying coins. "Let us say that this gold coin represents me and this" she held up a copper coin "is Yi." She glanced at him, to judge his reaction.
Han grinned at her childish attempt to get a reaction out of him. Ever since the time that he killed off all of those monsters, on the first day, Ha-Yoon had shown an interest in him.
It seemed as though she was curious about what his background was. Han figured that it was due to her adventurer background, and the inherent competitive spirit they all showed.
He felt the arm wrapped around him tense when they heard Ha-Yoon insinuate that Han was weaker than her. They shook with fury, holding back from acting out on their emotions.
"Anacolis, there is no reason for you to be upset. She is just a child that has no idea what they are saying." He intertwined his fingers with hers and kissed her hand. Hearing her sigh in delight, the tension in her arms disappearing, made him smile.
Smiling, Han thought it cute how she behaved like an over-protective older sister.
"Master, why do you not have myself and my sister handle this woman. For the past couple of months, she has been trying to bait you and has shown such disrespect. I want to drag this woman into my jungle and show her what disrespecting you looks like." She hissed.
"Something about her intrigues me. I sense that there is something behind that facade, and so I am waiting to see what she is hiding." He grinned.
Ignoring the whispering between Han and Anacolis, Ha-Yoon continued. "As I have said, a person's influence dictates their ability to interact with an opponent. When Yi enters my influence, this means that I can immediately engage with him."
Moving in front of the table, she motioned her hands and said, "Let my flame slice through all those who oppose me!" A hissing noise was heard and soon a blade made out of glowing white light materialized in front of her. The air around the weapon warping from the heat.
Those sitting in the front of the class tried to back away from the radiating heat. The temperature inside the classroom rose drastically, making everyone sweat.
"This is one of the strongest skills I possess. If I were to slice at a person wearing heavy armor, I would be able to easily cut through them. The best part is that the heat from the blade cauterizes the wound, so there is no blood. Even better is how the heat reacts with the blood inside of a person." She grinned at how some of the students' faces paled in fright with that imagery.
After her vicious demonstration, the class was over.
As Han was getting ready to leave, he noticed Elivionia Nightborn looking at him. Her eyes were piercing as if to gauge his value.
It took only a moment for him to remember that she was the Fourth Princess of the Elven Kingdom, who had a decent amount of ability. Whenever they did practical skill demonstrations, Elivionia was usually at the top of their class.
When Elivionia noticed that Han had noticed her looking at him, she gracefully headed towards where he was sitting. A few of the male classmates turned to look at her as she passed by them.
Standing in front of him, she said, "Even though we have been in the same class, for several months, I have not properly introduced myself to you."
"You are the Fourth Princess in the Elven Kingdom." He said to indicate he was already aware of her. "I am unsure why you felt it was necessary to approach me in such a formal manner, though." Han inquired while thinking that she had some kind of ulterior motive.
"Yes. I feel honored that you would remember who I am, in this city where titles have no meaning. Though we only share this class and have not talked with one another, until now, I hope you would call me, Eli. It is my desire for us to become close friends." She said cheerfully.
Looking at Anacolis, Eli inquired, "You must be one of Yi's servants? I have noticed that he often arrives with one of you attending to him. Rather intimately as I have noticed." She grinned mischievously at the last part.
"What I do with my Master is not any of your business, girl," Anacolis hissed menacingly.
Raising a hand, Eli said, "I apologize if I have given any offense. It was not my intention to criticize your relationship with your master. I am merely commenting on something that has been gossiped about in the Academy."
Patting Anacolis on her arm, Han asked, "I am still unsure why you have approached me, Princess."
"Yes... I must confess to having a reason for approaching you. Considering the way you handled the first school trip into the Monster Nest, I guessed you might be interested in something related to the Overflow." She said, arching one of her eyebrows.
Looking uninterested, Han replied as he got out of his chair, "Sounds like an interesting adventure, but unfortunately my time is rather limited. I appreciate the offer, but I will be taking my leave." Heading towards the door, with Anacolis slithering next to him.
"Wait!" Eli called out to him, sounding frantic. She quickly chased after him.
"Is there anything else, Princess?" He casually asked.
"This is an excellent opportunity to find treasure," Eli said hoping to gain his interest. Seeing his disinterest, Eli took a different approach and tried to look like a damsel in distress. "I am sure an individual such as yourself would not let a Princess go off to some dangerous ruins, correct?" She pleaded with him.
Turning around to face her, Han said, "I feel like you are not being completely honest with your intentions of asking me to go with you." He looked her directly in the eye and stabbed a finger to her chest, making clear that he knew she was not forthcoming.
Blushing a little, from Han touching her chest, she laid a hand on her breasts. His harsh words in addition to his physical touch looked to hit her hard, with her shoulders slumping and knowing her methods were pointless.
She looked a little guilty. "I apologize. The ruins that I am heading to is very dangerous." Seeing Han lose interest, she quickly stammered, "B-but the ruins may have a clue about helping us fend off the Overflow!" No longer did she look to be trying to manipulating his emotions, but looking honest.
Hearing such news, Han became intrigued "Hmmm... That is an interesting bit of information. Do you know what kind of information is located there?" He asked her.
Her forehead creased, as she tried to remember. "I looked through some ancient books, back in my mother's library and found hints to the origin of the Overflow. There could be some information in these ruins that could lead us to more clues."
"I am guessing that you are inviting more people, than just ourselves? I may have some strong abilities, but I do not have confidence that I would be able to protect myself in such a scenario." He told her.
Nodding her head in agreement, Eli explained, "I used some of my allowances to hire an adventurer party to escort us to the ruins. They have been completing difficult missions, and most of them are A-rank, so we should be okay.
Looking at Anacolis and back to Han, she said, "Feel free to invite anyone that you think may be helpful. We still need someone that can use healing magic, so if you know anyone, it would be greatly appreciated."
"When and where will this adventure take place?" Han inquired.
"Let us meet in three days, just outside the city. I still need to gather up some supplies and equipment, which will take some time." She stated.
Nodding his head in acknowledgment, Han headed back to his home.
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"Master, are you sure about going along with this woman's plan?" Helania asked.
Han was sitting in the library, enjoying a smoothie that the chef made for him. The banana and strawberry mixed fully. Since he preferred more banana in his smoothies, it went down well. He appreciated having a kitchen that would make any type of food he requested.
Looking at Brittany, he could see that she was getting frustrated at his lack of concern. They all worried too much about his safety, though compared to the alternative it felt nice.
"There is nothing that they can do to me. I understand that you are all worried, but there is no reason to be." He said soothingly.
"Even if Master is unable to be hurt, I still do not care to think of someone trying to hurt you." Queen chimed in.
Resting his elbow on the arm of the leather chair and placing his head on his hand, he pondered as he sipped his smoothy through a straw.
"Aside from Helania, who will be busy, I will be taking all of you with me. This should help alleviate any concerns you are having." He tried to ease their concerns.
All of them sighed in relief, happy that they will be there to look after him.
Seeing their reaction, he looked forward to what the trip would be like, and if it would be anything like his first school trip or worse.
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The days flew by fast; he looked in on those working in the city and answered any issues that came up. Before he knew it, the day to depart for the trip had already arrived. Looking at the overcast sky, Han wondered if it would rain during this adventure.
He enjoyed the rain, but that was when he was inside. There was nothing like listening to the rain, while one or two of the girls were cuddling up against him.
"Yi! I hope you didn't wait for us long!" Selene called out to him, with Lithia walking behind her sister.
Han waved back at her, thinking it was good to invite those two. With their skills, this trip would be a great experience. As long as nothing major came up, they could improve their combat skills.
Having Lithia along with them would also be a benefit, considering her healing abilities. Compared to when he first met them, her skills have become decent. Instead of only being able to heal minor injuries, Lithia could now heal significant cuts and stab wounds.
"So... where is the Princess?" Selene asked after greeting his companions. Each of them had met and familiar with Selene and Lithia, so they had what could be considered a mild friendship.
"There is some time before they are supposed to be here," He pointed out.
"Brittany, you're outfit is so cute!" Lithia exclaimed, complimenting Brittany's battle garment.
Smiling and showing off the light blue and dark purple outfit. Brittany was sporting a short skirt, with a halterneck that exposed her belly and mainly covered the front of her breasts with the cleavage showing.
With Brittany's ability, she didn't need to wear any armor or carry weapons. A couple of seconds was all she needed to be battle-ready, and even without the armor, she was still strong.
"Thank you! Master said I looked sexy." She blushed, using both hands to cover her cheeks.
Selene snickered. "Must be nice to have all these ladies around you," Rolling her eyes at Han.
Compared to all his companions, Selene bonded closest with Brittany, likely due to the age similarity. The two of them would often go shopping together, in addition to exploring outside the city to enjoy the surroundings.
Along with their playful trips around the city, Selene also had the opportunity to battle against Brittany. With Selene primarily dealing with close combat magic, it helped to boost Selene's skills when combating with Brittany.
Lithia also got along with everyone, though she was initially very shy and stuck close to her sister. Often, Lithia would visit his home to spend time with his companions. She would enjoy what the chef prepared, likely contributing to the frequency of her visits.
Han noticed a group approaching them, with the Princess in front.
Behind her were several adventurers, looking ready for whatever came their way. Just looking at the different armor used, it was clear how balanced the team's dynamic was. Some wore heavy armor, while a woman with rabbit ears wore light scout related equipment.
In addition to the adventurers, Eli appeared to have brought along some servants and guards. Several of her servants and guards were driving wagons, which all of them were likely to use when traveling to the ruins.
When they approached Han and everyone, Eli started to organize everyone and assigning who would be in which wagon.
As the adventurers came closer, Han noticed someone familiar.
"How have you been, Selestra?" Han asked.
Selestra blushed, looking at her feet, and mumbled, "I have been well. How about you?"
"I heard that you recently became an A-rank adventurer? That is pretty impressive. It makes me feel safer knowing that I will be guarded by someone as qualified as yourself." Han said to her, enjoying the reaction that was being generated.
"You are teasing me, Yi." She complained, pouting but still looking shy.
Han grinned. "How could I tease an A-rank adventurer with such skills?"
Walking up to her, he used his index finger to lift her chin, so he could look into her eyes. "It is good to see you, Selestra. I did not know that you would be part of the party that would be escorting us, so I am pleasantly surprised." He moved his head next to her and whispered into her ear.
"I am happy to see you, too, Yi" Selestra answered, her cheeks reddening.
Out of the corner of his eyes, Han noticed one of her hands reaching out to lay it on his chest but was quickly withdrawn.
Moving his head away and standing straight, Han looked to see the wagons that Eli rented for the trip. Pointing behind him, Han said to Selestra, "Instead of traveling in those wagons, how about you travel with me?"
"Ok." She stated in a quiet voice.
The heavy clinking of armor was heard as a young man came up to Han and stated, "Selestra is part of our party! As the team lead, I won't tolerate you making unilateral decisions on one of my members."
Not letting his eyes leave Selestra's eyes, Han asked, "Who is this uncouth man? Judging by his reaction, he seems to be your lover. I hope I am not stepping over a line, interacting with you so intimately."
"N-n-no! He is j-just my team lead." She stammered raising both hands and waving them, her eyes wide with worry about Han misunderstanding their relationship.
"Then let me lead you to where you will be accompanying me." He soothed her fears. He brushed back her hair and slid his hand to her back and guided her.
He walked to an open area and waved his hand to create an open carriage. The carriage could only be described to have been made out of a beautiful tree, appearing as if it was still alive.
It was similar looking to what elves in video games would be riding on. In front of the carriage was Andrea, who was always in charge of driving Han around. With her long dark hair and expressionless look, she still looked like a cool beauty.
Bowing to Han, Andrea said, "As the moon is present, whether, during the day or night sky, I am always here to serve, Master."
"It is good to see you again, Andrea. We will be journeying towards some ruins, so I will be relying on your services, again." He commanded.
"I am here only to serve." She quietly stated. Quickly moving off of her seat, Andrea opened up the half-door, waiting until both Han and Selestra had boarded.
For his companions, he summoned two Death Horses for Brittany and Queen to ride on. These creatures were something he experimented on when he was looking for an animal that would be as useful as a horse but without its shortcomings.
It was created by merging a horse with a dragon and making it into an undead creature. This meant that the Death Horse was a being that resembled a horse, but had the strength and endurance of a dragon and undead creature.
Both of the Jungle Sisters with their natural abilities didn't require an animal to sit on and would easily keep pace with the carriage.
Summoning mana from deep within him, Han summoned two strong horses for Selene and Lithia to ride on. Compared to horses they could have received from the Academy, his creations were mild-tempered and obedient, better for the two.
As the two of them relaxed in the carriage, the wagon that the Princess was riding on approached them. "I am always amazed by your ability to summon items that you need. They are always of such a high quality, which makes me curious about your ability and background."
"You are looking at a humble boy from a modest background. I purely wished for this lady to have a relaxing journey." He said while holding Selestra's hand.
Seeing how they were behaving, Eli coyly asked, "Maybe I shall accompany the two of you?"
Gently shaking his head, Han said, "Princess, you are leading this expedition. How would it look for the financer to be in a better position than the help that they hired." He phrased it in such a way that conveyed his concern over this matter.
Eli looked at Han with an expression that said that she knew what he was doing.
Shrugging her shoulders, to say that she would not meddle any longer, she instructed, "Yi, considering that I know the way to the ruins, I will be leading the way there. Use your servants to inform me if there is anything you need. I plan to stop just before evening, where we will make camp and eat."
"I will obey the Princess's wishes." Han bowed his head.
Snorting, Eli instructed the driver to continue ahead. Behind the wagon that had the Princess, along with several of the adventurer, another wagon passed by, containing all their supplies.
This one was a larger wagon and was being driven by the man that approached Han earlier. The team leader of the adventurer group threw daggers with his eyes at Han, seeing Selestra sitting so close to Han and giving off an intimate atmosphere.
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After traveling for several hours, Han watched as the landscape passed by. Being in an open carriage, there was always a gentle breeze that flowed through his hair.
Turning his head to face the front of the wagon, he looked at Selestra who was also enjoying the view. Her long red hair gracefully danced with the wind. Occasionally revealing her graceful neck and her porcelain skin.
Sensing that Han was looking at her, she turned her head and saw Han staring at her.
"Yi, there is no reason for you to look at me so." She said bashfully.
"I do not mean to make you uncomfortable." He told her, looking away.
"N-no! I did not mean it that way." Selestra hurried to smooth over her words. "I do not know what I have done to have you look at me like that."
"Since I have not seen you since our school trip, I was worried about where you had gone off to. I was wondering about how you had been." Han spoke while staring off into the distance.
In a quieter voice, Han said, "I wondered if our previous interaction had offended you in some manner." His voice laced with concern as he turned his head back towards her.
Placing her left hand on her chest, she appeared to be trying to calm herself down. "I am sorry for making you worry. Ever since that time, I have not forgotten it. That moment... It still vividly stays in my mind."
"I am happy to hear that." He reached out his left hand and placed it on top of hers. "I also remember it vividly, and it still intertwines itself throughout my mind."
Lifting his hand off from hers, he placed it on her right cheek and asked, "Have you, truly, been well?"
Closing her eyes, she tilted her head towards Han's hand, her lips turning up into a slight smile. The world passed on by as they shared their connection.
"I have been well. Being an adventurer was a little hard at first, but as I became used to it, I was able to grow stronger." She kept her eyes closed as she answered him.
Pulling away from his touch, she lowered her head and said, "I am sorry for being so arrogant, the first time we met. During my time, I learned how horrible us nobles have been." Her voice trembled as she remembered.
Han became quiet after hearing her words. He never figured that she would change as much as she had. From the moment back in the monster's nest, Han pegged her for a spoiled brat, reminding him of the previous women in his life.
A part of him toyed with the idea of using Selestra's feeling as a way to get back at those who had hurt him. It never dawned on him that she would willingly choose a harder life, and become a better person. This made him reassess his feelings for her, from being something to pass the time into something else.
When Han became silent and didn't respond to her comment, she looked at him trying to figure out what he was thinking. The concern on her face let him know that she was worried that his feelings for her had changed.
From thin air, Han materialized a rose where the petals were made out of rubies and the stem made out of emerald. He presented it to Selestra, who was speechless after seeing his creation. "Who you were in the past is none of my concern. I just know you like someone as captivating as this rose."
Selestra gently held the rose in her hands; tears welling up in her eyes. "You do not think I am a horrible woman?" She gently spoke, as tears trickled down one cheek.
Resting his forehead against hers, Han whispered, "I think that you are a kind-hearted person."
Hearing Han's answer, she covered her mouth and sobbed. Looking as if an emotional boulder was lifted from her shoulders.
Han took one of his arms and pulled her into his chest. Though she looked like a strong person, he began to realize that she was an innocent woman who just wanted to be loved and needed.
Though she could fight off monsters and take care of herself, she was still a young woman who didn't know much of the world. She never experienced heartbreaks and other things that are normal for the average person, so the world still seemed magical.
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Han enjoyed watching the sun slowly head towards its final destination below the horizon. Raising a hand and using fingers to gauge how long it was until sunset, Han estimated that they would be looking for a spot to rest.
They had made good progress traveling through dense forests and open fields. As they traveled the world gave a distinct impression of civilization not fully leaving a mark, with some roads getting swallowed up.
Seeing such tranquility, a part of him pictured himself living in a cottage away from humanity, raising a family and not worrying about his powers.
This thought caused him to look down and see a peaceful face belonging to Selestra as she slept. The warm sunlight and cool breeze provided the perfect environment for a daytime nap, especially with the comfortable seat.
Taking a finger, he brushed back stray strands of hair that was covering her face. As if she knew what he had done, Selestra smiled in her sleep.
[Master, are you alright?] Anacolis asked him telepathically, upon seeing his pensive expression. She navigated herself to keep pace with the carriage and was within arm's length of Han.
[I am fine, Anacolis. I am just wondering what my intentions with this girl are. Initially, I wanted to toy with her as a way to gain revenge from those that toyed with my heart...] Han trailed off.
[Now you are feeling conflicted? Has Master started to develop feelings for her?] She asked him.
[We barely know one another. The time I have interacted with this girl has been brief, so to say that I have developed feelings sounds so childish.] He sighed.
Smiling at Han's thoughts, Anacolis said, [I do not think there is anything wrong with developing feelings of affection. When I am around Master, I feel as if you are someone that can emotionally connect with those around him.] She reached out with her hand to hold his. [As someone who loves Master, I know that this is the case. I am happy to see you find another to share your feelings with.]
[No feelings of jealousy?] He teased her.
Chuckling at his joke, Anacolis responded, [Master, I know that you are genuine about your feelings with all of us, so how can we be jealous? Even if I were not able to spend as much time as I wanted with you, I know that I am in your heart just as you are in mine. We are not like those mortal creatures, who tie their bonds with flimsy strings of fate.] She blushed after saying such intimate words.
[I am happy to hear you say that, Anacolis.] He stroked the back of her hand with his thumb.
[Master, the Princess, has informed me that we will be stopping soon.] Brittany informed him.
When around others, Brittany took her job as his attendant very seriously, making sure to communicate everything to him, so he knew what was going on. She had been riding near the front, gathering information and delivering it to him.
[Thank you, Brittany. I feel comfortable knowing that everything is being handled by you.] It was always a good feeling to know that there were qualified people handling the minor matters, leaving him free to do what he wanted.
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When the Princess found a spot, both of the wagons began to slow down. Andrea matched the speed of the two wagons, and the carriage slowing down was felt. Han could feel Selestra begin to wake up from the movement. Looking up, she saw Han smiling down at her.
"Did you have a nice nap?" He asked her.
Selestra blushed and turned her face into the seat, trying to hide her face.
"You looked adorable with a little drool coming out." He teased.
She whipped her face to look at him, horrified at the thought of him seeing such a disgraceful image.
"You did not drool. I was just teasing you." He laughed, seeing her expression go from horror to anger.
"You are a bully! How could you?!" She yelled, hitting him on his chest as he continued to laugh.
Seeing him not reflect on his actions, Selestra pouted and turned away from him. Even as they exited the carriage, she still acted angry at Han for teasing her.
Though she was angry, she didn't leave his side, which made Han feel pleased as they headed towards where everyone was setting up camp.
The man that interrupted them before approached the two, after taking care of the wagon. "Selestra, we should probably get everything ready. Sarah said that she found a great place to set up all of our tents. I'll help you with yours."
"Frank, I was thinking about setting up my tent near Yi's. If you do not mind?" Selestra asked while glancing at Han to see if he had an issue with her doing that.
Seeing her look to Han for approval, Frank frowned. "Selestra, you know that we should stick together. As an adventurer, we are expected to demonstrate some level of professionalism." He lectured her, trying to change her mind.
"I am sure that the Princess, your employer for this trip, will not have an issue with Selestra staying in my tent. If she has an issue, then just have the Eli come talk to me about it." He grinned, placing his arm around Selestra's shoulder and pulling her towards him.
Looking at the two of them, Frank looked to be annoyed but didn't appear to want to fight about it. "Just make sure that you're awake and ready before we leave in the morning." He growled while looking at Han as he informed Selestra.
Frank stormed towards the rest of the adventurers, who looked towards Han and Selestra to see what the issue was.
"Are you sure you do not want to join your comrades?" He asked Selestra. Though he enjoyed teasing her team leader, he was a little concerned that it would negatively impact her.
Nodding her head, she said, "Frank is just dedicated to the group and wanted to make sure that I felt included. He had helped me out when I first met them, which I greatly appreciated."
"Are you sure that it is not anything more than just helping you out?" He asked, looking at Frank who still looked agitated while the bunny-eared woman talked to him.
"No. He just sees me as a younger sister." Selestra denied.
Even if Selestra tried to deny it, Han knew that Frank had romantic feelings for Selestra. Him lecturing her was just to show how he had rights over her and to let Han know to back off.
If Frank really did see Selestra as a sister, then he wouldn't have been so adamant about getting Selestra to come back with him when she obviously had other plans.
Han remembered a close friend of his, who he was close and tried not to sway to his own agenda. He admitted to being a little pushy, but it was due to his own issues of insecurities.
His friend had come into his life when he didn't have many friends, so he was often worried that he would be left behind when she no longer needed him. There were memories of arguments inside his car and the house they stayed in, which caused him to chuckle at how childish he was back then.
A true friend would be considerate and makes sure to keep their friend's happiness in mind, instead of trying to control them.
Seeing Eli helping out her servants and guards set up their camp, he headed towards them.
In her hands were long wooden poles, getting them organized by size to save time when needed. Some of the guards glanced at Han and Selestra as they approached Eli. Though he was a classmate, they still performed their duties with being wary of all people.
When Eli noticed Han approaching them, she handed the poles to a servant and walked over to greet them.
"Looks like the two of you had an enjoyable journey," she grinned. It was an inside joke in their classroom about how unashamed Han was when it came to public displays of affection. "I did not realize that the two of you were so close."
"Princess, you too are going to tease me?" Selestra complained.
"I am sorry. It is just too easy, so I can not help myself." Eli raised a hand to her mouth and giggled. "Please, call me Eli. I feel that going on such a journey should allow us to ignore formalities?"
"I would be honored, Eli," Selestra answered.
"It looks like you are busy with setting up your camp?" Han observed.
"Well... not all of us can use summoning magic as easily as pouring out a glass of milk." She retorted sounding annoyed. Though she looked to not mind helping out, Eli was still a Princess.
Eyes widening, she pointed at the object in Selestra's hand. "What do we have here?" Eli questioned when she noticed the rose Selestra was holding.
Blushing, Selestra held up her gift from Han so Eli could see. "Yi made it for me."
"It is very beautiful! Maybe someday Yi will make me something similar?" She coquettishly looked at Han, with a raised eyebrow.
"Sorry. This is only for pretty ladies." He joked with her.
"Obviously you do not have eyes if you feel that way," Eli said pretending to sound arrogant. The three of them laughed.
Even though Eli was a Princess, she was never arrogant and aloof like the other nobles in class. Though they only talked for a little bit, Han already felt like they could be friends.
"So how long is this journey going to be?" Han asked her.
Looking at him with astonishment, Eli asked, "You are just asking this now?! I would think that this would be something you would ask before we left."
Shaking her head, as if to say that she wasn't surprised, Eli answered "It will be a month of traveling. We will be southwest for some time and eventually leave the kingdom."
Seeing Han react, she said, "Cutting through the Elven Kingdom will allow us to go around the Great Desert to the south of the Kingdom. Afterward, we will enter the Sinking Swamp and reach the ruins that are deep inside of it."
Looking as though she wasn't excited for the swamp, Eli said, "Once we enter the Sinking Swamp, we will need to leave behind all of our gear that we can not carry. As you can tell by the name, the swamp will swallow anything heavy like a wagon. I hope you two are not afraid of getting dirty cause we will need to wade through the swamp, which is waist-high."
"I think we will be fine." He said smiling.
Eli's eyes were suspicious about his comment, but she sighed and said, "Remember to get enough rest. It may be pleasant now, but it will get progressively more difficult." Wishing them a good night, she returned to assist her people with the final preparations.
Placing his hand on her waist, Han guided Selestra back to where his companions, along with Selene and Lithia, were waiting.
The sisters started to set up their tents, with his companions assisting them. They had the tarp and poles neatly arranged.
Anacolis used her tail to clear a large enough area of rocks and pebbles, while Aracia spun some of her webbings without the adhesive elements to be used as ropes.
"If it isn't the great Han, who has no need to waste time putting on his tent," Selene sniped when she saw Han. Next, to Selene, Lithia was giggling at her sister's reaction.
With Han's ability, there was no need to worry about setting up a tent. Arriving at a place he thought provided enough room, he imagined a large tent with enough room for his companions and Selestra.
This time, Han made two separate bedrooms instead of the usual one. Using the manga flowing out of him, he pictured plenty of comfortable furniture filling the inside of the tent. Even if they were only going to spend one night, they didn't need to live in squalor.
While the outside of the tent was black, the inside had a myriad of colors. Selestra gasped when she saw the inside. Even though it was only a tent, it could compete with a royal palace.
"Glad to see that you enjoy it. Instead of having your own tent outside, I thought you would appreciate staying in this environment," He whispered into her ear.
Selestra remained speechless as she looked around.
His companions followed after him into the tent. Each part of the tent had an area that his companions enjoyed.
There was an area dedicated to Brittany's interest in art, filled with various tools and supplies.
Inspired by Brittany's artwork, he created a large museum in the center of the city near the Stronghold. There they held art competitions and displayed pieces created by Brittany and citizens of the city.
The creation of the museum was appreciated by everyone and led many to follow an interest in the field. He made sure to create golems that were well versed in teaching about art in the schools, so those with a desire had plenty of opportunities.
Though art never led to a direct economic result, he desired for a city where people would be able to pursue a field without needing to stress about whether they could provide for their family.
For Queen, Han provided an area where she could design new weapons and maintain them. With her being a battle maniac, Queen enjoyed pursuing the field of arms development.
She was constantly developing new weapons, whether for individuals or armies. Han would often see her sharpening her weapons or designing new ones.
Anacolis and Aracia developed an interest in music. With Anacolis, she started to teach herself how to play the harp.
Whether to compliment her sister, Aracia discovered that she enjoyed singing. For anyone entering their domain, they would be entranced with an ethereal voice and harp drifting throughout the jungle.
Sometimes Han went into the jungle and had them lull him to sleep. Being sisters, it wasn't surprising that they enjoyed something similar to one another.
"Master, what would you enjoy for dinner, tonight?" Brittany asked him.
"Have the chef prepare me a steak and an assortment of seasonal vegetables. Make sure to tell him to make the steak a medium-rare. Biscuits and butter would pair nicely with it, too." He ordered.
Looking at Selestra, Han asked, "is there anything that you would enjoy eating?"
"What kind of food did you guys bring?" She asked sounding a little confused.
Brittany giggled at Selestra's confusion. "We have the chefs in the stronghold prepare the food with the waitresses serving them. How could we possibly bring such a variety of food, considering how Master has a wide interest in food preparations?"
"You are able to bring food from outside?" Selestra was truly startled by this news.
Looking patiently at Selestra, Brittany said, "How could we do any less with the ability that Master has?" She phrased it as something not worth thinking about, an obvious fact.
Selestra appeared to have a difficult time digesting this information.
Han understood that magic in this world was advanced but compared with his power it was overshadowed. "The chefs are very talented, so do not feel constrained in your request." He tried to gently guide her back to the topic at hand.
"I-I-I don't know." She stuttered.
Smiling understandingly, Han said to Brittany, "Have them prepare barbecued beef short ribs, along with a combination of side dishes and lettuce for wraps."
"Yes, Master," Brittany said, before disappearing back to the stronghold to oversee his order.
Sitting down on one of the couches, he gently pulled Selestra to indicate she should have a seat. She leaned against him still a little dazed.
"Are you alright?" He asked. Holding her with his left arm, he gently massaged her upper arm.
"I never realized how much power you had." She murmured, her head resting on his chest.
There was a pause upon hearing Selestra's words. "Is that an issue?" He asked.
She shook her head. "Knowing that someone is powerful is very different from actually seeing it," Selestra stated.
Seeing that she was still holding onto the rose, he thought for a moment about getting her something to keep that in but still allow her to view it. Concentrating for a bit, Han created it.
{Sentimental Ring
This ring was created to store important mementos while allowing the wearer to view the object without placing it in harm's way. The user only needs to hold an item and will it into the ring.
Once the item is inside of the ring, the user only needs to hold the ring in front and picture the image. The object will be displayed for the user to view.
Decorated with a Princess cut diamond with a white gold band. The ring is an accessory that would steal the breadth of any woman.}
Holding the ring in his between his index finger and thumb, he casually moved so that he was facing Selestra. "Instead of holding onto the rose, how about you store it inside of this?" He presented it to Selestra.
She looked at him with a shocked expression on her face, then at the ring.
Gently, Han took her right hand and held the ring in front of her ring finger. He could feel Selestra's hand begin to tremble. Gently sliding the ring onto her ring finger, he then let her hand go. Even without him holding her hand, it stayed in the same place where he raised it to.
"It looks beautiful there." He whispered.
"Yi..." Her voice trembled and overflowed with emotion.
"Do you hate it?" He asked.
She frantically shook her head. "I have never seen anything so beautiful." She raised her head, and her lips trembled into a smile. There was an abundance of emotions dancing on her face.
"With this, you can place the rose inside of it and look at it whenever you want to. I did not want to give you a simple ring to wear, so I wanted to make something that reflected the person you have become ever since becoming an adventurer." He said.
"Initially, you may have been an individual that was arrogant and apathetic towards those who were of a lower social standing, but you are now a completely different woman." He raised both of his hands and cupped her face.
Tears ran down her cheeks, as she listened to his words. Selestra was only able to nod her head at what he was saying, as she was too overcome with emotions to voice anything.
After some time had passed, Brittany arrived along with several waitresses. Han stood up and held Selestra's hand and walked over to the dining table. Sitting down at the head of the table, he gestured for Selestra to sit on his right side.
On his left sat Brittany and the remaining companions sitting wherever was convenient.
The waitresses placed each dish in front of the person that requested it. Each dish looked superb. Along with their dish, each person was poured water and a juice of their choosing. Once there dishes and drinks were served, the waitresses waited to the side until everyone was finished.
Selestra looked at her dish and looked confused by all the parts. Seeing the meat and rice, the side dishes, sauces, and leaf lettuce.
Han chuckled at her expression and got up to stand next to her. Taking a piece of lettuce, he cupped it into his palm. Materializing some chopsticks, he used them to grab a piece of short rib and placed it onto the center of the lettuce. Placing a small portion of rice, he then topped it with an assortment of side dishes.
Skillfully, he wrapped the ingredients with the lettuce, so that it was easy to eat.
"Open your mouth wide," Han whispered into her ear.
Submissively, Selestra opened her mouth and accepted the wrap. She chewed the wrap and moaned in pleasure from the different flavors interacting with one another.
Sitting back down, he cut off a piece of his steak and enjoyed how juicy it was. The meat felt like it was melting in his mouth. There was barely any chewing needed, the meat tender and fat rendered.
"Tell the chef that I am very satisfied with the food he has prepared. I am sure that everyone can agree with me." He smiled. Everyone nodded in agreement, enjoying the delicious food.
Even Anacolis and Aracia nodded their heads, the food seasoned and still slightly moving.
After eating half of his steak, he noticed that Selestra wasn't eating her food. Looking at her, he asked, "Are you full?"
He knew that she enjoyed the food, so he was confused about why she didn't eat the rest of it after he showed her how to make a wrap.
With a blushing face, Selestra murmured, "I want you to feed me."
"Do you now?" He laughed.
It seemed that receiving a ring from him made her very submissive. Getting up and going towards her, he stroked her hair. "You seemed to have become very spoiled." He chuckled.
Grabbing a piece of lettuce, he repeated the process and placed each ingredient into the wrap. With the steadiness of someone who had eaten at numerous Korean BBQ establishments, he wrapped the ingredients. Lowering his head, he whispered, "Open that adorable mouth of yours."
Obediently, she opened her mouth and ate the wrap that Han placed into her mouth.
"That's a good girl," He said to her as he petted her. Selestra smiled happily, being fed by Han.
----------
Han lay on top of his bed, enjoying how comfortable it felt. If there were a way to sleep on top of a cloud, the experience would be similar to how the mattress felt.
The bed was huge and lay on top of the tent's floor. There were pillows strewn all across the bed, along with thick and fluffy fur blankets. He sighed in relief, just enjoying the moment.
A part of him felt like some warlord as he lay on top of everything. Considering that he had a harem of women, calling himself a warlord was a relatively apt description.
At the sound of footsteps, he rolled to the side and rested his head on his hand. He was surprised by who was entering his bedchamber. Instead of his companions, it was Selestra who was wearing a very sheer robe. The mana crystals lit up the interior and showed her outline.
"What do we have here?" He grinned at her.
Out of all the girls he knew, he didn't expect such an innocent girl to be so bold. The reason why he created the second bedroom was that he didn't intend to move things in this direction. Considering the number of beautiful women that were around him, it was unnecessary to force a woman into such an intimate scene so soon.
Though Selestra was blushing, considering how she wasn't wearing anything under that robe, she walked towards him. It was an interesting combination where Selestra looked both submissive and confident. She looked like she knew what she wanted, but was still looking for permission. Stopping just in front of his bed, she stood there waiting.
Start of Sexual/Mature Content - For those 21+ years old
"Slowly, turn around." He ordered, feeling his blood beginning to pump faster.
Like a dancer, she gracefully turned around so that her back was facing him. There was no straight line on her body, her hips and rear voluptuous. Turning her head slightly, Selestra looked behind to see his reaction.
Trying not to rush the moment, he calmly said, "Remove your robe."
Her hands moved and soon the silk belt was undone. The top of her robes slowly opened up as her pale shoulders were exposed.
Instead of falling to the floor, Selestra had the robes slowly glide off her body like water down a mountain stream. Soon the top of her back was exposed, revealing slight definitions of her shoulder blades as they moved under the skin.
Her forearms were perpendicular to her body, to hold up the robe. Like a glacier, her hands lowered and soon her back was fully exposed, with a little of her ass showing.
Compared to having the robes fall quickly, the way she dragged out the process quickened his breathing. He couldn't believe such an innocent woman knew how to make him desire her so much.
He could feel her eyes on him, imperceptibly nodding his head his eyes were glued on her body. His desire to see her fully revealed being evident.
Seeing him give her permission, she lowered her hands and let the robes flow off her arms. Like the pink petals from a sakura tree, the robes fluttered to the ground around her feet.
With the robes no longer covering her, the image was night and day. The color from the mana crystals against her pale skin made it look luminous. She reminded him of those Asian folklores he used to read, where a farmer would stumble upon a celestial woman taking a bath.
Even though she may not have been the most beautiful girl he had seen, the fact that she was so obedient made a carnal emotion well up from deep within.
As calmly as he could, he lifted up his wrist, keeping his hand loose and pointing to the ground. Lifting up only his middle, ring, and pinky finger, he kept his index finger loose. With his index finger, he made a circling motion to let her know to face him.
Without any hesitation, Selestra turned around so that the shape of her breasts was slowly exposed to him. When she was facing him, she didn't even bother to try and cover her front with her arms.
His index finger curled to signal for her to come towards him.
Reaching the bed, Selestra got on all fours and crawled towards him.
Before she got any closer, he placed a finger on her collar bone.
Stopping she didn't appear confused or embarrassed, being on all fours with her breasts hanging down. It was as if this position was the most natural position for her to be in.
Using his left hand, he caressed her face and then proceeded to gently move her hair, so that all of it was cascading down left shoulder.
With his index finger, Han traced the outline of her face. "You are so obedient. What made you come to me, like some fawn ready to be devoured?" He asked her.
Red began to spread on her cheeks, though her eyes stayed on his. "The moment you placed that ring on my finger, I no longer wanted to be apart from you. I talked to the other girls, and they gave me permission to come to you wearing only a robe."
"Coming here, I wanted to let you know I belong only to you. There is no one else that I want to possess me." She said as she began to breathe in deeply. Though she was trying to stay calm, the pace of her breathing was slowly getting faster. Breathing in deeper was her way of trying to control the feelings that were seeping out.
"You want me to possess you?" He asked grinning. "Are you sure that having me possess you and own you is what you desire?"
Hearing him talking about owning her, both of her pupils fully dilated and her lips parted. "Yes." Was all that she said. She swallowed the excess saliva that was being produced in her mouth.
Placing his fingers on her neck, a black leather collar decorated with blood-red rubies materialized around it. The front of the collar had a ring to allow a leash to be attached.
[Lover's Collar
You have created a collar to symbolize the fervent love of one that considers themselves to be your property. Such devotion could only be adequately shown by something that signifies submission.
In addition to giving the subject a sense of belonging to something greater than themselves, this collar provides high defense against physical and magical attacks. It also provides various boosts to physical attributes, while giving regenerative healing and locational tracking across all dimensions.
The collar is only able to be removed by the owner of the subject wearing the collar.]
Feeling the collar around her neck, Selestra used her fingers the feel the object that symbolized her being owned by another. Knowing that she now belonged to Han, her lips began to twitch into a smile.
Seeing that she enjoyed the gift that he gave her, he also felt himself smiling. Grabbing the metal ring, Han pulled it towards him, forcing Selestra to move.
Without needing to be told, Selestra passionately kissed Han.
He felt her tongue enter his mouth and attempt to wrap around his own. She moaned in pleasure as their lips were sealed together. Seizing the side of her collar, he yanked her down onto the bed.
As she lay on the bed, Han could see that her switch was flipped. Positioning himself, so that his torso was between her legs, Han placed both of his hands on either side of her stomach.
Under his palm, Han could feel how smooth her skin was. There was no blemish on her body.
Sliding his palms up towards her breasts, his hands cupped both of them along the edge of his index and thumb.
He enjoyed the feel of both of her breasts, the way they gave into any pressure. Her breasts were full and voluminous, not allowing a single hand to be enough to cover them. Gently squeezing them, caused her to sigh in delight.
Both of her nipples were fully erect. Seeing how much she was enjoying him feeling her gave him pleasure.
Lowering his head, he began to gently kiss her belly just above her belly button. The muscles tensed and relaxed as she felt his lips touch her skin. With each kiss, he moved his head towards her lower lips.
"Spread them open," He ordered her.
Placing both of hand between her legs, she spread open her pussy. Due to how wet she was, Han heard a slight sucking noise from the viscous fluids. A slight dribble of love juices followed the natural funnel created from either butt cheek.
Moving towards the exposed entrance, Han used his tongue and slowly licked the outer labia. Selestra's hips shivered in enjoyment from feeling his tongue on her. As he continued to lick her, gauging Selestra's reaction, Han noticed her clit begin to swell and appear from under the hood.
Moving towards the clit, he gently licked it as if he was licking the inside of a cantaloupe. With each movement of his tongue, Han could feel more blood flowing into her clit.
Using his index and middle finger, he gracefully entered her. It felt like a mouth that was sucking his fingers deeper inside. Feeling for the rough patch indicating the g-spot, he began to stimulate it while concentrating on her clit. The gyration of her hips clear of how much she enjoyed the attention.
Progressively, he applied more pressure and increased stimulation. Selestra began to make high pitched gasps, as her hips rose up and down to his rhythm. Han made sure to match the signals that she was provided him, causing to her make high-pitched noises.
"M-m-master~~~!! W-what is h-hap-happening?" She called out to him, confused about what was happening to her body.
Waves of pleasure were coursing through her body, indicating that she was close to climaxing.
She continued to call out to him, in short gasps. When it seemed like her voice couldn't get any louder and higher-pitched, she screamed, and a jet of liquid squirted out. Her entire body was trembling as if she was having a seizure. The way her body was spasming following the peaks and valleys of her orgasm.
Both of her arms were splayed out, clutching the blankets in a death grip. Her facing showed a euphoria, as she tried to understand her feelings. The amount of stimulation she was experiencing was completely foreign to her.
To give her something to focus on, he gently kissed her belly.
He smiled, enjoying the way her body trembled in delight. When it was over, he moved to kiss her lips. Still a little dazed but feeling his lips made her wrap both arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. It was as if she was never going to let him go.
"Master, I love you!" She suddenly said, between kisses.
"I love you too, Selestra," He said back. This caused her to kiss him fiercely and passionately.
When her legs loosened their vice grip, he could feel his erected penis glide across her pussy. The way she was responding to him caused him to become aroused, affecting his erection. With it being so stiff, he was able to insert it into her and enjoy how she felt.
Selestra gasped in surprise, feeling him inside of her. Not wanting to be too fast for her first time, he gently thrust his hips. Her face was surprised but slowly changed to a look of enjoyment. Seeing that she was enjoying it, Han increased the force and pace of his thrusts.
Adjusting his hands, so that his forearms rested against her back he placed his hands on either shoulder. Having better leverage, he used both the force of his thrust and pulling her shoulders down to thrust deeper inside of her.
Her mouth gaped open and grinned from the pleasure. Drool started to drip out of the side of her mouth, with her eyes rolling back exposing the whites of her eyes. Seeing her with such an expression, he felt his penis grow in girth from being squeezed by her walls.
Selestra seemed to just have a permanent grin on her face as she felt cycles of pleasure throughout her body.
With each penetrating thrust, Han could feel himself getting closer to finishing. He didn't know how much time had passed since they started. It felt like days had passed, with how deeply their body connected.
There wasn't anything more important that what was happening in the current moment. Deep down inside of him, he could feel the need to release everything inside of him.
As he got closer, he sped up his pace until it didn't seem like he could go any faster. There was a faint voice, able to pierce the animalistic desire raging through him. Focusing on the sound, he realized that it was Selestra just saying one word.
"Master. Master. Master. Master. Master. Master..." Selestra sounded completely different than normal, as she was gobbled up by her lust.
"Selestra, I'm going to pour it all inside of you." He grunted.
Upon hearing him about to release everything inside of her, Selestra had a surge of energy and clamped to him. She changed what she was saying to "Yes. Yes! Yeeesss!! Yeeeesssss!!!" Each one became materially louder, as she expected to be filled up by him.
"Here it comes!!" He shouted as he discharged all of his cream inside of her. Compared to previous times, it felt like flood being injected into her.
Once he finished, it felt like all the energy he had inside of him drained away.
He felt himself collapse on top of Selestra, who cooed from having him stuffed everything inside of her. She kissed his face and neck with joyful glee. Sweat drenching her face, her hair adhered to her skin.
Laying down next to her, he pulled her closer towards him. Compared to other guys, Han also enjoyed the afterglow and liked to cuddle with the girl.
Looking at Selestra's face and how her eyes were having difficulty focusing on anything. There was nothing that needed to be said, so they just enjoyed holding one another with the occasional kiss.
Before he knew it, Han had drifted off to sleep.