Elior hurried out of the dining hall the moment he finished eating, hoping distance would cool his face down.
It didn't.
By the time the afternoon class started, his heart was still stumbling over the last thing Kael said.
The classroom was quieter than usual, sunlight dimming as clouds rolled in. Students settled into their seats, and the instructor walked in.
The instructor entered the room, clapping his hands once.
"Pair up. Same partners as the morning session."
Elior's heart sank.
He turned slowly… and Kael was already beside him, looking far too pleased.
Kael tilted his head. "Are you ready?"
Elior blinked, flustered. "A-Again…?"
Kael's smile sharpened. "Yeah. Ready for the next round."
Elior swallowed hard, face heating. "Y-You mean… practice, right?"
Kael raised an eyebrow, pretending to think.
"Oh? What else were you imagining?"
Elior nearly choked. "N-No! I— I wasn't imagining anything!"
Kael leaned closer, voice dropping deliciously low.
"Mhm. You sure? Because your face says otherwise."
Elior looked away, ears burning.
Kael let a slow smirk spread across his lips.
"Well… that thing you're thinking of…"
He paused, letting the tension stretch.
"…might need some time."
Elior froze. "W-What thing— I wasn't thinking anything—"
Kael whispered near his ear,
"Because we're not alone. But if you don't mind…"
His breath ghosted over Elior's skin.
"…I don't have a problem doing it here."
Elior jumped back a full step. "K-KAEL!! We're in class!"
Kael laughed quietly — low, warm, sinful.
"Then stop looking at me like that, little one."
Elior's face went crimson.
The instructor frowned from across the room.
"Kael, Elior — focus."
Kael slid right behind Elior again, hands brushing his wrists as he positioned them.
"I am focusing," Kael murmured.
"I'm focusing on the one who can't even stand near me without thinking dangerous things."
"I— I'm NOT—!!"
Kael chuckled in his throat, fully satisfied.
"Then prove it. Let's start."
He guided Elior's hands, pulling him close enough that their shoulders touched, his breath warm against Elior's neck.
"Breathe," Kael whispered.
"Or I'll think you're nervous for the wrong reason."
Elior's heart hammered.
The practice began… but Kael's teasing didn't stop.
Not even for a second.
Kael's gaze didn't waver as Elior tried to focus on his stance. Every small movement Elior made seemed to fuel Kael's amusement.
"You're trembling again," Kael murmured, voice low, almost a purr. "Tell me… is it because I'm too close, or because you're thinking about me?"
Elior's face went scarlet. "I-I'm not thinking about—!" he stuttered, only to feel Kael's hand lightly brushing against his wrist as if to punctuate the tease.
Kael leaned closer, letting his breath ghost over Elior's neck. "Hmm… I think your heart's giving away more than your words. Ridiculous little thing… you make it far too easy."
Elior swallowed hard, feeling his pulse spike. "K-Kael… s-stop… people are watching!"
Kael smirked, dark and slow. "Let them watch. They'll only see what I allow them to see. You're mine to fluster, Elior."
The words hit harder than any spell, and Elior's hands fumbled, trying to regain composure. Every glance from Kael made his cheeks hotter, every whisper made his chest pound.
After a while, Elior couldn't bring himself to look at Kael, his face burning every time Kael's gaze landed on him.
Elior finally dared to glance up at Kael — and instantly regretted it.
Kael wasn't looking at the practice circle.
He wasn't looking at the instructor.
He was staring only at Elior… with an intensity that felt like a hand closing around his spine.
Elior swallowed hard. "K-Kael… y-you're staring too much…"
Kael didn't look away.
"Am I?" he murmured, voice low, dark. "Then maybe you should stop looking so… distracting."
Elior's breath caught, his face burning. "I-I'm not—! I'm just practicing!"
Kael leaned in slightly, eyes half-lidded, voice dipping into that sinful softness only Elior ever heard.
"If this is how you look during practice… Elior…"
His fingers tightened just a little around Elior's waist.
"Don't blame me for what I start imagining."
Elior froze, heart slamming against his ribs so loudly he was sure Kael could feel it through their joined hands.
"D-Don't say things like that in class…"
A classmate glanced over at them, suspicious.
Kael's expression shifted instantly — slow, dangerous, possessive — like someone had dared to look at something that belonged to him.
Elior tugged his hand away, flustered. "Stop glaring at people!"
"Then tell them to stop staring at you," Kael replied smoothly.
He lowered his voice again.
"Because you're mine to look at."
Elior's knees almost gave out.
Elior's pulse was still racing when the instructor finally clapped loudly.
"Pairs, wrap it up!"
The spell connection snapped, and Elior stepped back like he'd been released from a trap.
Kael didn't move.
He just watched Elior retreat — slow, steady, predatory.
Elior pretended not to notice.
He failed.
His whole body felt too hot, too aware. Kael's touch still burned into his waist. The way Kael had whispered "mine" was echoing so loudly in his head he couldn't think straight.
He stuffed his gloves into his bag with shaking fingers.
Behind him, Kael's voice came low.
"You're running again."
Elior flinched so hard he dropped one glove.
"I—I'm not running!"
Kael picked up the glove before Elior could.
Their fingers brushed.
Elior jerked his hand back like he'd touched live electricity.
Kael raised the glove between two fingers, leaning close enough that Elior felt his breath on his cheek.
"Then why," Kael murmured, "are you trembling?"
"I—I'm n-not—!"
His voice broke uselessly.
Kael smiled — slow, knowing, dangerous.
That smile that made Elior's knees forget how to function.
"Come here," Kael said quietly, as if giving a command wrapped in honey.
Elior blinked, confused. "W-Why? Class is done—"
Kael gently placed the glove into Elior's hands… but didn't let go.
He held it — held Elior — with that soft, terrifying patience.
"You should say goodbye properly," Kael whispered.
"Not… run."
Elior's breath hitched again.
"I wasn't running…"
"You always run," Kael murmured.
"And I always catch you."
Elior's heart stopped for a full second.
Before he could even respond, someone from behind shouted:
"Kael! You coming to study hall tonight?"
Kael didn't look away from Elior.
"No," he answered simply.
"But—"
"I said no."
The classmate backed off instantly.
Elior swallowed hard.
He didn't know if he should be flattered or terrified.
Maybe both.
Kael finally loosened his hold, letting Elior's hand slip free… slowly.
"Let's go," he said softly, hand brushing Elior's elbow as he guided him toward the exit.
Elior froze again. "W-We're just… walking out. That's it."
Kael's voice dropped lower.
"Then walk with me."
Elior could feel the eyes of half the class burning into them as they walked side-by-side out of the hall.
Kael never once moved away.
Their arms brushed with every step — lightly, accidentally-on-purpose.
Elior's breath refused to steady.
Outside, the sky was turning orange, warm and soft against the courtyard. Students stood around chatting, laughing, gathering bags.
Kael moved closer until they were practically sharing a shadow.
Elior fidgeted, voice tiny.
"You—you don't have to walk me …"
"I want to," Kael said.
Too simply.
Too sincerely.
Elior felt his heart trip.
Kael's gaze scanned the area — checking who was looking at Elior, who was approaching, who dared to stand too close.
His jaw tightened at two boys laughing near the gate.
Elior tugged Kael's sleeve lightly.
"Don't do that…"
Kael raised one eyebrow. "Do what?"
"That look," Elior whispered.
"The one that makes everyone scared of you."
Kael leaned closer, breath brushing Elior's ear.
"Then tell them to stop looking at you like they want something they shouldn't."
Elior's entire face went up in flames.
"Kael—!"
Kael didn't let him finish.
He stepped in front of Elior — not blocking, but claiming space, subtly guiding Elior away from the other boys without touching him.
Elior's heart gave another helpless flip.
At the gate, Elior hesitated, shifting his bag nervously.
"Um… I—I go this way."
"I know," Kael said softly.
Elior looked down. "So… goodnight."
Kael didn't say anything.
Elior looked up slowly.
Kael's expression was unreadable — too soft around the eyes, too intense everywhere else. Like he was holding something dangerous back.
Finally, he spoke.
"Say it again," he murmured.
Elior blinked. "What?"
"Goodnight," Kael said, voice lowering even more.
"But look at me when you say it."
Elior's heart practically exploded.
He lifted his gaze, shy, flustered, completely helpless.
"G-Goodnight… Kael."
Kael inhaled sharply.
Barely.
But Elior saw it.
Kael leaned closer — not touching, but close enough that the air between them tightened.
"Goodnight, Elior."
The way he said his name made Elior's knees go weak.
Elior turned quickly, face burning, practically jogging toward the dorm path.
Kael watched him the entire way.
His eyes darkened.
His fingers curled.
His expression shifted to something unguarded, obsessed, almost hungry.
And then—
the magic in the air around him began to stir.
—by Aurea; "Where a glance, a whisper, and a heartbeat write the rules of possession."