The name slipped from Igaris’ lips unconsciously, a whisper spoken in the haze of lingering visions.
Evernight froze above him.
Her face hovered just inches from his, her expression suddenly unreadable.
"...How do you know my real name?" she asked, her voice low and slightly trembling.
From this angle, Igaris couldn’t help but notice the big perky mounds beneath the delicate fabric of her attire. A sweet, intoxicating fragrance enveloped him, making his pulse quicken.
Something stirred within him—a pull beyond logic, instinctual and overwhelming.
Without thinking, he reached out and pulled her body gently down onto his.
The warmth, the softness—it was unlike anything he’d ever felt. A wave of comfort and hunger swept through him all at once.
Her body fit against his like they were made for each other. The smoothness of her skin, the weight of her form, the subtle rise and fall of her chest pressed against his—all of it nearly sent him spiraling.
Her violet eyes widened slightly, but there was no anger. Only surprise... and something else.
It shimmered faintly in her gaze.
For once, the ever-poised Evernight—Calypso—was flustered.
She’d never expected such boldness from a human, let alone him. But the depth in Igaris’ eyes held something ancient, familiar. Something dangerous.
A Fallen Angel and a human. Bound not by fate, but by something older.
Their breath mingled. Their bodies stuck close, like two puzzle pieces refusing to separate.
A heated atmosphere crackled in the air between them.
"No... what am I doing?"
Evernight bit her lower lip, her inner conflict plain. Then, with a swift motion, she pulled herself away.
The sudden loss of contact left Igaris feeling hollow, his arms still half-extended as if trying to hold onto a dream.
But he had no strength to stop her.
Everything always came down to strength.
As she turned her back to him, hair fluttering lightly, Igaris stared up at the ceiling.
He didn’t just want her.
Her heart. Her body. Her everything.
But desire alone wasn’t enough.
To make her mine... I need power. Enough to seize fate itself.
And with that thought, a dark determination settled into his chest.
Evernight’s hands trembled slightly as she composed herself. After the flustering incident, she wordlessly resumed the massage, now far more mechanical in her movements. Still, there was a sense of care in how she touched him, her fingers pressing gently across his shoulders and back.
She didn’t meet his eyes again.
Her tone, when she finally spoke, was quiet—almost sulking.
"Don’t misunderstand, my liege. I am doing this just to obey you order."
"Mm-hmm," Igaris murmured, his face buried in the pillow. "I understand."
She paused, then sighed.
Like a dutiful housewife fulfilling her role, she continued in silence until he fell asleep.
Sunlight poured onto the Forsaken sky, filtered through gray clouds as the training grounds bustled with fresh energy.
Igaris stood at the edge of the platform, arms crossed, staring at the large group of twenty wide-eyed novices behind him.
Some looked nervous, others overly excited, all of them clutching basic contracting gear and Summoners Arts.
Standing apart were four experienced Summoners outfitted in light armor, each carrying strong weapon to their straps.
And then there was Nina, dressed casually but confidently, a teasing smirk on her face as she walked over.
"Haha... Igaris, it’s your first babysitting duty, huh?" she asked.
"I’m here to keep them alive, not entertain them," Igaris replied nonchalantly.
Nina chuckled. "You could’ve fooled me. With how they were whispering about you earlier, I thought you were a celebrity."
"Let them talk. But I am just a ordinary guy."
A senior Summoner, a grizzled man with gray streaks in his hair and a jagged scar across his brow, clapped his hands to grab everyone’s attention.
"We’re moving out. Our destination is the Hollow Plains—a secret hunting ground dense with mid-level magical beasts. Even the perfect society don’t have any news about it. That’s why we have to move in stealthily.
It the perfect place for contract attempts. Stay sharp, don’t stray."
He turned and pointed dramatically to the edge of the field.
"Also... we’re taking the wyverns."
The group turned to see them—five massive wyverns, their obsidian scales glinting under the faint sun. Each had wings like leathery sails, large fangs jutting from elongated jaws, and slit golden eyes that watched the group with mild disinterest.
One gave a roar, revealing rows of dagger-like teeth, causing half the novices to flinch or step back in alarm.
"They’ll carry us part of the way," the senior Summoner explained. "Fastest route through the canyon and over the ridgeline. Permission was granted by the Masters, so don’t waste it."
Igaris exhaled a sharp breath. Not from tension, but excitement. He would finally get to acquire more living magical beasts who will obey his orders.
But Nina misunderstood his expression.
"Are you scared?" She asked, nudging him.
Igaris gave a made up reply:
"I prefer ground. At least when I fall, I can survive."
"Then you better not fall."
The novices began lining up nervously under the guidance of the senior Summoners.
Igaris walked over to one of the wyverns, placing his hand against its thick scaled side. It flinched slightly, then exhaled—a burst of hot air washing over him.
"Evernight would probably hate these things," he muttered for no reason.
Soon, with saddles secured and teams divided, the five wyverns launched into the sky one by one, carrying groups across the landscape.
Igaris shared a mount with Nina and four rookies, all clinging to their gear like their lives depended on it.
The wind howled around them as the ground fell away. Valleys and cliffs zipped past beneath them, and in the distance, the Hollow Plains stretched like a living carpet of forest, streams, and hidden glades.
Nina leaned back slightly, glancing sideways. "This reminds me of when I did my first contract hunt. I almost got mauled by a Horned Bear."
"What happened?" Igaris asked curiously.
"I stabbed it in the face with a hairpin."
He blinked. "...That sounds like something you’d do."
She winked. "Cute, right?"
They descended hours later, touching down at a craggy ridge just outside the Hollow Plains. The wyverns screeched once, then took off again, their job done.
The senior Summoner clapped once again, voice booming.
"This is it! You’re each to head into the marked zones and attempt contracts. Do not wander outside your allocated grid. Stay in teams of three. If anything goes wrong, use your distress flares."
As the teams began splitting off, Nina strolled toward Igaris again.
"You want to tag along with me?" she asked casually.
Igaris glanced toward the dark line of trees ahead. "I’ve got my own targets."