The King's Beloved

"It is one thing to say no to things you don't need," the City Lord mumbled as he watched Rania and Elliot. "But it's a completely different matter to refuse those that you absolutely desire".

"Must you truly do it in this manner, my friend?" Ducis asked as he tightened his brow into a frown.

The City Lord turned to Ducis, "Yes, my friend. This is still a trial and only when he is pushed to the extreme, will his true character show". Then, turning back to the mirror, "Many great nations fell into ruin when their rulers got ensnared by women. And temptation is not temptation if it doesn't come in the form of their wildest dreams".

"If you think that Rania will be a hindrance to him in the future, then you are utterly mistaken," Ducis said with much conviction in his heart.

The City Lord raised his eyebrows, "Oh? That's interesting. For you to vouch for a woman, and a human at that".

"I am merely stating the truth. She is not what you think she is. And even Elliot. Do not underestimate them and their bond".

The City Lord's lips curved into an evil grin. "I see … Then, let the real trial begin".

"Hah … hah …," Elliot breathed heavily. His body began to burn up from all the touching and kissing that Rania was doing. Little by little, he felt addicted to her smooth and soft lips that he almost opened his mouth and responded to her advances.

Elliot bit his lips and furrowed in agony as he felt himself get hard. He must be innocent in a lot of things pertaining to romance, but he's not oblivious to how the human or a Magi's body worked. No matter how much he stopped himself from feeling anything, the flesh always found a way to react according to its nature. 

Until … Elliot noticed that Rania was already removing her robes while she continued to kiss him intensely. When he felt her breasts touched his own, he jolted, waking up from his intoxication and immediately grabbed Rania's robes back to cover her. 

His face was beet red. He pushed Rania by the shoulders, to part from his body and with a deep breath, he sighed. 

"Rania … I …," Elliot's face wrinkled as he stared into Rania's eyes. "I'm so sorry".

"No, it's not your fault," Rania wanted to tell him. "It's all because of me. I … sniff .. I let myself become a trap to you. And I was supposed to help you fulfill your destiny! But now I'm just … sniff … a temptation to you. I'm sorry".

  Elliot caressed Rania's cheeks, "If only I noticed sooner, then maybe you wouldn't have had to spend your first kiss with me. I'm really sorry". Elliot's face painted great remorse. 

Then, Elliot embraced Rania and parted her hair from her back, pulling them to Rania's front to cover her chest. 

"Rania, I'll have to remove your robes. Please bear with it for a moment".

Elliot did as he said and pulled off her robes as he covered her body in an embrace. 

A magic circle! There was a magic circle drawn into Rania's skin!

It was the same purple magic circle, with a pentagram and a basilisk in the middle - the one they saw when they first arrived into the realm. As if turning a dial, Elliot traced the circle with his forefinger, drew a cross on top of it, and as if lifting a plate, the magic circle detached from Rania's body. Once detached, Elliot crushed it with his bare hands and the magic circle shattered like glass and dissolved into thin air.

"Aghh …," Rania gasped and clenched Elliot's shoulders as pain traveled through her body. Finally, she was freed from the control magic and able to speak and move again on her own accord. Though the process was painful for a human's body.

"Rania, are you alright?" Elliot asked, still worried about everything that happened. He helped Rania put her robes back on as she gasped for breath.

"Y-yes, I'm fine. Thank you, Elliot," Rania nodded. "And … I'm sorry for -"

Elliot immediately shook his head, " - No, it's not your fault. Your first kiss … I'm the one who -"

Rania hushed Elliot and placed her forefinger on his lips. "Then, it's no one's fault and let's stop blaming ourselves. As for the kiss … it's fine. Besides, I …," Rania halted. Her eyes lowered and suddenly turned sullen. 

"You what?"

Shaking her head, she replied, "Nothing".

"Her eyes … She's hiding something," Elliot thought in his mind. "But if she doesn't want to tell me yet, I won't force her".

Elliot patted Rania's head. That's when he realized - there's something wrong with her body again.

His eyes widened in disbelief. "Rania, you're burning up!"

The City Lord chuckled. "So, it's finally kicking in … my aphrodisiac incense magic".

"Now that you mention it," Rania smiled wryly, "I have been feeling too hot since …" Then, her body fell on bed.

"I knew it! There was something wrong with that smell! How can I be so careless?" Elliot started blaming himself again. He quickly released a little of his aura and the mist surrounding the room blew off, cancelling the incense's magic. 

However, even if the magic was cancelled, its effect remained on their bodies. 

Then, the City Lord's sinister laugh echoed throughout the room.

"Hahahaha! What will you do now Elliot?"

Elliot felt his blood boil from anger. He was so angry that his spiritual energy shook the whole city. "You bastard! Stop this right now!" 

"Awww, that hurts. But you see, that magic is irreversible once it takes effect. And since you've been exposed to it for so long, you'll both feel like you took ten aphrodisiac candies. Don't worry, if you just let your steam out, nothing will happen to your bodies. Well, except for pleasure pains, if you know what I mean".

"No! I won't touch her!"

"That's very sweet of you. But little boy, she's a human. The effect of this magic is doubled on her. If she doesn't release it out, then she'll die from fever".

Elliot's hands bled from clenching too hard. "If I see you ever again, I swear I-"

"Ugh," Rania groaned and tears started falling from her eyes. It was like having a typhoid fever - her body felt too hot, and all her energy seemed to be leaving her.

Elliot despaired at Rania's suffering. Not minding the City Lord's taunting, he leaned unto her and embraced her again.

But this time … he did it in order to transfer the effect of the magic from her body to his own.

"I won't let you die," Elliot whispered. "I'd rather suffer than see you in pain".