The world swam back into focus on a tide of gentle, insistent whispers. "Kaela... Kaela, hey... You awake yet, beautiful?"
Eis's voice was a soft murmur, a warm breath against her ear as his fingers carefully brushed the tousled strands of hair from her face. The tenderness in the gesture made her want to sink back into the blissful oblivion of sleep, but she blinked, the dim light of the room slowly defining his concerned, smiling face.
It had only been thirty minutes since their world had narrowed to just the two of them, and the scent of their shared passion still hung faintly in the air.
"We need to eat," he continued, his thumb stroking her cheek. "And we should call Mom."
A soft, drowsy hum was her first response. "Mmmmm, sure. Let me heat it for you."
With a languid stretch that made her muscles protest pleasantly, she slipped from the warmth of the furs and stood.
The cool air was a shock against her skin. Bending down, she gathered her discarded dress, the simple cotton soft and familiar in her hands.
She slipped it over her head, the fabric settling around her with a whisper, before moving to the hearth.
Kneeling, she struck a flint, the sharp clack echoing in the quiet room. A spark caught on the tinder, and she coaxed it into a small, hungry flame, feeding it carefully with dry kindling until it was strong enough for the logs.
The fire's orange light danced across her skin, painting shifting patterns of gold and shadow.
She lifted the heavy iron pot of stew onto the hook above the flames, the rich, savoury aroma beginning to permeate the space as she picked up a wooden spoon and stirred.
Eis watched her for a moment, a fond smile playing on his lips, before he pulled on his trousers and headed outside. "I'll find her."
The brief chill of the evening air washed over him as he scanned the clearing. His mother's usual spot by the herb garden was empty, the door to her small cottage firmly shut.
A faint sense of unease prickled at him, but he dismissed it; she was a woman of her own mind and her own paths. He ducked back inside, the warmth welcoming him.
"Hey, I couldn't find her," he announced, brushing a hand through his hair. "I think she went somewhere."
He stopped just inside the doorway, his words trailing off. The sight before him stole his breath. Kaela stood at the counter, bathed in the fire's glow.
She was humming a soft, absent-minded tune, her body swaying almost imperceptibly to the rhythm of her stirring. The simple dress clung to her form, and the light outlined the gentle curve of her back, the shift of her shoulders, the tantalising silhouette of her hips and the swell of her backside as she moved with a natural, unthinking grace.
He moved as if drawn by a string, his footsteps silent on the packed earth floor. He didn't speak, didn't announce his presence.
He simply closed the distance and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her back flush against his chest, burying his face in the crook of her neck.
"Kaela," he breathed, his voice thick with a fresh wave of awe and desire. "How come you look more beautiful than a second ago?"
A soft, breathy laugh escaped her. "I don't know. How should I know that?"
She replied, her focus seemingly still on the pot, though she leaned back into his embrace, a silent acceptance.
His hands slid from her waist, his palms smoothing over the rough-spun cotton of her dress.
Slowly, his fingers gathered the fabric, inching it upwards until the hem was gathered at her hips, exposing the smooth skin of her thighs and the gentle curve of her bottom to the fire's warm caress.
He pressed a kiss to the sensitive spot just below her ear, then another along the cord of her neck, his stubble a delicious friction against her skin.
A shiver ran through her. "Mmmmm, Eis..." she murmured, her stirring slowing. Her head lolled back against his shoulder, her eyes fluttering closed. Another soft, involuntary sound escaped her lips, a tiny, breathy moan as his lips found a particularly sensitive spot.
Yet, her hand, as if moving on its own volition, continued its slow, circular motion with the spoon, the rhythmic scrape against the iron pot a steady counterpoint to the unsteady rhythm of their breathing.
She was a portrait of divided attention, her body yielding to his touch while a stubborn, wifely part of her clung to the simple, domestic task of finishing their meal.
A profound, almost dizzying thought pierced the haze of his desire. This is what they call a soul tie. It wasn't just passion; it was a fundamental intertwining, a need to be as close to her essence as physically possible.
Guided by this overwhelming impulse, his hands on her hips gently urged her to bend forward over the counter.
The moment she felt the hard, insistent pressure against her, a jolt of reality broke through her own rising pleasure.
"No, Eis, no," she gasped, her voice strained. "You will make me burn the food... wait... uuuhhg..." Her protest dissolved into a sharp intake of breath as he entered her pussy, the sensation robbing her of coherent thought.
The world narrowed to the rhythmic, primal sound of flesh meeting flesh, a damp, driving cadence that filled the small space.
"Eis... pahhh... Eis... pahh... the pahh... food... pahh..." she tried to speak, each word punctuated and broken by his movements, her knuckles white as she gripped the edge of the counter.
"Kaela, I promise, I will be fast," he breathed into her ear, his voice ragged.
Slipping deep within her welcoming warmth, he began thrusting faster, a man caught between the promise of release and the need to honour her half-spoken plea.
"Eiiii..s," she moaned, her body arching. "No..t soooo. hard."
"What? You want me to stop?"
"Nooo!!!" The denial was immediate and desperate. "Just... finish... before my foooooood burrrrns."
Her sentence ended in a drawn-out cry as a new, powerful sensation began to coil deep within her, stealing her breath. "Eis... it's something... is commmmmi....ng."
"Wait, I'm close," he gritted out, his control fraying. "Let's do it together."
Increasing his pace to a frantic, driving rhythm, he held both her arms, using them as an anchor to plunge deeper, faster.
The world dissolved into a whirlwind of sensation, the heat of the fire on her face, the slick friction of their bodies, the sharp, woody scent of the stew beginning to simmer too vigorously.
"I'm gonna... ugggghhh!" A guttural groan was torn from his chest as he reached his peak, spilling into her with a final, shuddering thrust, his entire body tensing against hers.
For a moment, the only sounds were their ragged, panting breaths and the ominous, angry bubble of the pot over the fire.
"Hey!!!!" Kaela's voice was a breathless, half-hearted scold as she pushed herself upright, her body still humming.
She snatched the wooden spoon and frantically stirred the now violently bubbling stew, saving it from the brink of burning.
"That was not quick, Eis," she said, panting, but a deeply satisfied, rosy glow was on her face, betraying her true feelings.
He nuzzled the back of her neck, his arms still wrapped around her waist.
"Sorry, I thought it would be quicker. I am sorry," he murmured, his voice laced with a boyish remorse that made her heart soften.
"Youuuu..." she began to protest, but it melted into a soft murmur as he turned her head and captured her lips in a tender, apologetic kiss. "Mmm... mmm... y...mmmm. Okay, okay," she finally conceded, gently pulling away with a smile.
"Sit. I will make you a plate." She smoothed her dress back down, the simple act a return to domesticity.
Just then, the door creaked open, and their mother, Elara, stepped inside, her shoulders slumped with weariness.
"Hey, I'm back," she announced, her tone heavy. She held up a dusty bottle of iridescent blue liquid.
"No one is coming to the party. I invited everyone I could, but... they don't want to. I bought some Mana Pool wine for the celebration, at least."
She sighed, placing the bottle on the rough-hewn table. "Your auntie was called to the village chief. There is a monster horde gathering in the Whispering Woods.
It seems like many warriors were hurt in the skirmish, so she is healing them." She managed a tired but genuine smile for her son. "So, it will just be us. Mom, come sit." Eis gestured to the space beside him, then patted his lap.
"Okay, mom," Kaela said, her voice warm.
"I will bring the plates and cups." She moved to the cupboard, retrieving three sturdy metal plates and matching cups. After dishing out the hearty stew, she placed it on the table. "Okay, all done."
Elara, instead of sitting beside him, moved to his lap, sitting sideways and curling against his chest with a contented sigh. She raised her cup, the strange, glowing wine swirling within.
"Okay, today we celebrate my sweet son becoming a warrior and becoming an adult," she said, her voice gaining strength and pride.
"Congratulations, son," she whispered, and before he could react, she leaned in and planted a soft, lingering kiss on his lips, a seal of her boundless love and pride.
They began to eat, the rich flavour of the meat and vegetables a comfort. When Eis drank the wine, it was like swallowing liquid starlight; a cool, effervescent energy surged through him, and he instantly felt his core, his internal mana reservoir, fill to the brim with a vibrant, potent power.
[Level Up: Tier 1, Stage 9]
[Strength: +9]
[Agility: +5]
[Vitality: +10]
[Intelligence: +20]
"Wow," he breathed, his eyes wide. "The combination of the meal and this wine... It's very good."
After the meal, as the fire died down to embers, they prepared for sleep. The single bed, meant for the family, stood in the corner.
"Eis, you should go to sleep," Elara said, beginning to unbraid her hair.
"What do you mean? Don't we sleep together?"
"Well," Kaela interjected softly, a hint of old sadness in her eyes. "You sadly started sleeping on the ground a few years ago. It hurt us, but we never stopped you."
A look of firm resolution crossed his face. "No. That has changed. I will sleep with you guys from today," he declared, climbing onto the bed and settling in the middle.
"Really?" Elara's face lit up. "That's great, son! I will sleep on top of you, since I missed you so much," she said, already draping herself over his chest like a human blanket.
"Hey, what about me?" Kaela pouted playfully.
"Well, didn't you get him for a whole three hours earlier?" Elara teased back, her voice muffled against his tunic. "You still want more?"
Eis laughed, a low, happy sound in the dark. He wrapped an arm around each of them, pulling them close.
"It's okay, guys. You will change tomorrow." He leaned over, first planting a gentle kiss on Kaela's forehead, then one on his mother's. "Let's just get some rest for now."
Surrounded by the warmth and love of the two most important women in his life. For the first time in his life, the Eis was genuinely happy.