The air was alive with a subtle magic, a kind of humming energy that settled over the sect grounds like a protective veil. Floyd stood atop the central spire of his newly completed sect—Celestial Ember. The moon above cast a silver glow across the landscape, lighting the crystalline edges of the towering walls and shimmerleaf trees that dotted the perimeter. Magic beasts patrolled the outer areas, bound to his will, their glowing eyes visible in the dark like stars embedded in the earth.
The sect was unlike anything the world had ever seen: floating platforms, automated training halls imbued with spell matrices, enchanted hot springs that healed fatigue and bolstered cultivation. Every stone pulsed with enchantments; every building was a testament to his divine affinity.
It had taken less than a year after getting into adulthood in this new world to rise from nothing.
And it was all his.
But tonight, he wasn't focused on expansion or cultivation. Not even the Sect Tournament approaching next year had his mind racing.
Tonight, it was Sophia.
She'd grown. Blossomed. Her auburn hair now flowed past her shoulders, silky and slightly curled at the tips. Her body, trained from combat and blessed with youthful vigor, had taken on womanly curves—a supple hourglass form that moved with grace. Her golden-brown eyes had deepened, too, often shimmering when she looked at him. It was a look that spoke louder than words.
Floyd sat quietly on the temple balcony, legs crossed, eyes closed in quiet meditation—until the sound of soft footsteps interrupted his calm.
"I knew I'd find you here," Sophia said gently, stepping into the moonlight.
She wore a silken training robe, loosely belted, revealing one smooth thigh and the soft valley of her cleavage. Whether it was intentional or just Sophia being herself, he wasn't sure.
"Can't a guy meditate in peace anymore?" he said with a smirk, eyes still closed.
"I think you've had enough peace for one night, oh mighty sect master."
He chuckled, opening his eyes slowly to see her standing before him, arms folded and leaning against the railing. "To what do I owe this visit?"
Sophia hesitated, then walked over to him, kneeling just across from where he sat.
"I've been thinking…" she began, "about everything. Where we started. Where we are. I still remember that little boy who gave me a flower behind the stables and told me he'd protect me forever."
Floyd's smile softened. "And I meant it."
"I know you did." She reached out, placing a hand gently over his. "And you've done more than I ever imagined."
Silence settled between them. The breeze lifted her hair slightly, carrying her scent—honeysuckle and something wild beneath it. Her thumb grazed his knuckles slowly.
He didn't pull away.
Instead, he turned his hand upward and laced his fingers through hers.
"You've been by my side through everything," Floyd said. "Before the magic, before the system, before the power… you saw me. Just as I was."
Sophia leaned in slowly. "I still do."
Their lips met softly at first, a quiet moment of contact that bloomed into something deeper. Her hands moved to his shoulders, and he pulled her closer, his other hand sliding around her waist.
Her robe shifted with her movement, and as her body pressed against his, he could feel her breasts beneath the thin fabric—soft, full, and warm. She gasped gently when he slid a hand up her back, then down to the small of her waist, drawing her completely into his lap.
"Floyd…" she whispered against his mouth.
"Mm?" His lips brushed her jaw, then her neck. He could feel her heartbeat.
"I'm not some innocent maiden anymore. I want you to know that."
"I know," he said, hands wandering slowly over her hips.
Sophia moaned softly as he kissed her collarbone, his hands cupping her bottom through the thin robe. Her curves molded against him naturally, her skin feverish where their bodies met.
They were both trembling—but not with fear.
It was longing.
But Floyd stopped before things went too far, pulling back just enough to meet her eyes. "Sophia, I—"
"I'm not asking for everything tonight," she said, catching her breath. "I just want you to hold me like this. Let me feel how real all of this is."
Floyd nodded, arms wrapping tightly around her as she curled against him, her cheek resting on his shoulder.
For a while, they just sat there beneath the stars—lips swollen, robes slightly disheveled, hearts pounding as one.
The world outside might still be dangerous.
But here, in the warmth of his arms and the haven of his power, Sophia was safe.
And for Floyd Jitters, that meant everything.
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