July 16

A week has passed since then. Zinon hasn't laid a finger on me. We go together to the Magic Academy together, always eat lunch together, and come home together, repeating this routine. Zinon is usually rather aloof, and just because we're engaged doesn't mean we have to be overly affectionate. We still talk normally, but…

(The contrast is too stark, isn't it?)

For the past two years, he's been kissing me and holding me close almost every day.

"I've been holding back these two years."

Zinon's piercing gaze from his deep blue eyes comes to mind, striking my heart with his intense expression. Perhaps he regrets suddenly coming onto me?

There's a knock on the desk in front of me.

Startled, I look up to find Axel looking at me with a tilted head and a baffled expression.

"What are you daydreaming about, Richeli?"

"Ah, sorry, Axel. Oh, is the potion ready? I got sleepy while waiting."

Remembering that I had left the magic potion over the fire for the final touches, I quickly stood up and checked the still steaming like a boiling pot.

In one of the laboratories of the Magic Academy, which feels like a luxurious science room on Earth, Axel and I are the only ones left. Everyone else has left as it's getting dark outside.

"Everyone's gone home. I'm taking you home today, so we can't be too late, or Zinon will get annoyed."

"Sorry, sorry."

Zinon was absent from the academy today due to official duties with the king. In his place, Axel, who had some work at the lab, accompanied me.

"Ah, look, Axel. Isn't this a success?"

The iridescent liquid flows smoothly into the glass from the silver still, filling it to the prescribed amount as per the recipe. The recipe said the potion would shine a deep pink, but it looks slightly different…? But I'm sure I weighed the plants correctly according to the recipe... 

"Hmm?"

When I lift the iridescent glass and change the angle, it looks deep pink depending on the angle… Well, this should be fine, right?

"Here, Richeli. Pour the finished magic potion into this bottle and take it home."

"Thank you."

I pour the potion from the beaker into the black bottle Axel brought, which has been sterilized by boiling.

"Richeli, drop the potion here. Let's test if it has any effect."

Axel lines up two small glasses, like sake cups, on the desk.

"Right, if it works, I'll give it to my father and mother and Wanda and Mira."

"I've been quite tired this week, so it'd be great if this works. Then make it again."

We clink our small glasses together and drink the potion in one gulp.

"Wow, it's sweet and delicious."

As I smile, Axel closes his eyes and tilts his head.

"Hmm? What's in this? It's unusually sweet… Potions usually have a citrusy taste."

"Is that so? But I think there's a bit of sourness, too."

"Hmm, well, alright. Let's clean up and go home, Richeli."

"Okay."

As I removed the distillation apparatus and washed it in the sink, the beaker, the stirring rod, and the two cups, I suddenly started sweating. It's suddenly hot.

"Axel? Isn't it hot? Did you close the window? …Hey, …what's wrong?"

When there's no response, I turn around.

Axel has his back to me.

He's leaning on his knees and breathing heavily. I rush over in surprise.

"Do…don't touch me."

At Axel's unusually weak and faint voice, I'm more surprised. I bend down to Axel's eye level and look into his face.

"Axel… what's wrong? Your face is all red… Are you feeling unwell?"

"Richeli…"

Axel, whose silver eyes are moist with tears, looks at me with a pained expression.

"Richeli… what exactly did you put in this potion?"

"Eh?"

I quickly turn pale, fetch the recipe on the desk, and show it to Axel.

"This, just this."

After glancing at the recipe in my hand, Axel looks at the still.

"Don't you have any leftover herbs or magic plants used for the potion?"

"I used them all."

Hearing my reply, Axel sways. I rush to support him by pressing my arms against his chest so he doesn't fall.

"Nn... Ah...!"

Axel's body shudders. I'm taken aback by the feel of his firm, sweaty chest and the suddenly sultry sound of his voice.

"A- Axel? What's… what's wrong…?"

"This isn't a potion… Richeli, this…"

"Eh?"

"Probably… it's an aphrodisiac…"

"Eh?! "

At Axel's words, my mind goes into a panic.

An aphrodisiac? An aphrodisiac, you say. This? Eh? But I made it according to the recipe, compared it to the illustrated plants, and collected them properly… Question marks fly around in my head.

However, realising that Axel, who's squatting and trembling, is staggering, I quickly support him. The touch of Axel's hand on my shoulder sends a thrilling pleasure through my core, and I'm shocked.

"!"

It's hot. What's this?

I'm hot.

I thought the room had suddenly become humid, but that's not it. It's my body, the core of my body, that's hot.

Once I realise this, an intense heat throbs between my legs, even without being touched, my honey pot gets wet and overflows, and an intense pleasure builds up, making me twitch.

"A- Axel… what… what should we do?"

My voice trembles.

Even though it's my body, it feels as if it's not my own, as it picks up pleasure on its own. Axel bites his lip and looks at me with tearful eyes. When I lower my gaze…

A huge bulge is visible in Axel's lower garment.

"!"

"Richeli… calm down…"

Even as he says this, Axel's breathing is ragged, and his knees shake.

"First of all, let's… let's take our hands off each other… slowly…"

"O- okay… ah…"

"…U… ugh…"

As we try to separate our touching fingers, the movement causes vibrations that echo a strong pleasure, teaching us our erogenous zones, and we both let out moans.

"Ah… mm… ha… aa…"

"Ugh… mm… huff…"

Barely breathing, we slowly take our fingers off, one by one. Each time, we panted and repeated the process.

Then, the door suddenly opens with a bang.

"!"

"Ah! Wai… kyaa! I… I'm sorry!"

A few unknown girls enter the room, and when they notice Axel and me, they scream and hurriedly close the door.

While running away down the hallway, their excited voices gradually fade away.

"This is… extremely… bad."

"I'm sorry… Axel."

Axel and I look at each other.

We've been seen.

Probably, from an outsider's perspective, Axel and I must have looked like we were touching each other's bodies and panting. Yes, that's what was happening. But it was different.

As we continued like this, a throbbing pleasure surged in my v@g*n@. The overwhelming pleasure made my hips give way, and I crouched on the floor. The touch of the floor against the inside of my legs felt so good that I let out a moan of pleasure.

Axel leaned on a chair, his back to me, writhing in agony.

"Richeli... Call Zinon."

"…Eh...?"

Call Zinon? How?

"Richeli, just call Zinon... quickly..."

Huh? Call Zinon? Just call him?

"Zinon…help."

Not fully understanding, I called Zinon's name, naturally seeking help. Just hearing myself call Zinon's name somehow made me feel relieved.

Whether it was from that sense of relief, I started to lose consciousness gradually. As my vision turned white and foggy, Zinon suddenly appeared. His bright blue eyes widened as they reflected me.

I was shivering, unable to sit anymore. He firmly held me from behind.

"Zinon..."

The warmth of his chest and the feel of his strong muscles, which I hadn't felt in a week, filled me with a sense of relief. A warm feeling spread deep in my chest.

I surrendered to unconsciousness.