"Lord Lux," Nina called out as they packed the last of the supplies. She lowered her goggles, looking concerned. "The Saintess... she's glowing. Literally."
Lux turned. Seraphina was standing by the window of the general store, clutching her chest. Her skin was radiating a feverish golden light that pulsed rhythmically, like a heartbeat gone wrong. Veins of pure mana were visible beneath her pale skin, threatening to burst.
[System Warning]
[Target Status: Mana Overload.]
[Cause: The removal of the Suppression Collar caused a 'Mana Dam' effect. Her circuits are flooding. If not stabilized, she will detonate.]
[Time until Critical Failure: 30 Minutes.]
"Seraphina!" Lux rushed to her side, catching her as her knees buckled. Her body was scorching hot—not the lustful heat of his skill, but the dry, burning heat of raw power.
"I... I can't control it," Seraphina gasped, tears evaporating on her cheeks. "The Light... it's too loud. It hurts."
"We can't make it back to the Estate," Lux cursed. He looked at Nina. "Do you have a back room? Somewhere private. Now."
"Y-Yes! The storage room has a cot!" Nina pointed to a curtained doorway.
Lux scooped Seraphina up in his arms. "Elara, guard the door. Let no one in. Not even Nina."
Elara nodded, her face serious. She drew a black dagger and stood before the curtain. "No one will disturb you, Master. Fix her."
The Stabilization
The storage room was dim, smelling of crates and spices. Lux kicked the door shut and laid Seraphina gently on the cot.
She was thrashing slightly, her hands clawing at her own throat as if the collar were still there. "It burns... Lux, please..."
Lux straddled her hips, pinning her flailing hands to the mattress.
"Look at me, Seraphina. I'm going to draw the excess mana out. But you have to open your core to me. Totally."
"I... I surrender," she whispered, her golden eyes unfocused and desperate. "Take it."
Lux took a deep breath. He didn't use [Aphrodisiac Hands] to stimulate this time. He needed to absorb.
[System Skill Modified: Eros Cultivation (Drain Mode)]
[Initiating Mana Cycle.]
He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers.
It wasn't a gentle kiss. It was a seal.
The moment their lips touched, a shockwave of energy slammed into Lux. It felt like drinking liquid sun. The golden mana rushed from her mouth into his, burning his throat, filling his lungs.
[Mana Absorbed: 50... 100... 150...]
[Host Mana Capacity: Overflowing.]
'Too much,' Lux realized. 'If I take it all, I'll burn out too. I have to circulate it back, refined.'
He broke the kiss, gasping for air. "System! Convert Mana to Stamina! Cycle it!"
He ripped his coat off, tossing it aside. He placed both hands on Seraphina's exposed stomach, just below her ribs—the center of her mana core.
"Haa... ahh!" Seraphina arched her back, a sound of pure relief escaping her lips.
Where Lux touched her, the burning pain vanished, replaced by a cool, soothing pleasure. He began to massage her core, kneading the tense muscles. He moved his hands lower, pressing firmly against her lower abdomen.
"Connect with me," Lux commanded. "Don't just give it. Share it."
Seraphina's hands came up, gripping his shoulders, her nails digging into his skin.
"Yes... yes, my Lord..."
The golden light filling the room began to dim, condensing into a soft, intimate halo around the cot. The violent pulsing slowed to a rhythmic, sensual thrum.
Lux lowered his head, trailing kisses down her jawline, to her neck—the very spot where the collar had been. He bit lightly on the sensitive skin.
Seraphina shuddered, her legs wrapping around his waist instinctively.
"Lux... I feel... heavy. But good."
[Stabilization: 80%]
[Target Affection: Maxing Out.]
[New Skill Unlocked: Holy-Eros Resonance.]
"One last push," Lux whispered against her skin.
He sat up and pulled her into a sitting position, hugging her tightly against his chest. Skin to skin. Heart to heart.
He flooded his own dark, aggressive mana into her, mixing it with her light.
Yin and Yang. Shadow and Light.
Seraphina let out a long, trembling sigh, her head falling onto his shoulder. The fever broke. The burning heat dissipated, leaving a warm, comfortable glow.
[Stabilization Complete.]
[Seraphina Lightsworn has been 'Bonded'.]
[Party Buff Unlocked: The Saintess's Grace.]
Effect: Passive Health Regeneration for all party members. 50% Resistance to Dark Magic.
Lux stroked her platinum hair, which was now soft and silky again.
"Better?"
Seraphina pulled back slightly to look at him. Her face was flushed, her lips swollen from the kiss, but her eyes were clear and sharp.
She didn't look like a victim anymore. She looked like a woman who had found her purpose.
"Better," she whispered. Then, she leaned in and kissed him quickly on the cheek. "You taste like fire, Lux."
Lux smirked, helping her stand. "And you taste like trouble. Come on. Elara is waiting."
The Departure
When they emerged from the back room, Elara turned. She scanned Seraphina instantly.
Noticing the flushed skin and the stable aura, Elara nodded in approval.
"You look ready for war, Saintess," Elara said, handing Seraphina her staff.
"I am," Seraphina replied, her voice steady. She looked at Lux with a look of absolute devotion. "The Baron won't know what hit him."
Lux donned his midnight-blue coat, buttoning it up. The collar hid the bite mark Seraphina had left on his neck during the transfer.
"Nina," Lux called out. The merchant girl popped up from behind the counter. "We're leaving. If we don't come back by dawn... well, keep the gold."
Nina saluted, though she looked worried. "Kick his butt, my Lord! And... come back. Please."
Lux opened the door. The sun had set. The sky was a bruised purple, and the moon was rising—blood red, just as Gareth had warned.
The Red Banquet had begun.
Lux stepped out into the cool night air, flanked by his assassin and his saintess.
Lux said to his team,I am a Greylock. We are going through the front door."
Elara smirked, spinning her dagger. "I love a dramatic entrance."