Chapter 402: Make it so he only thinks about you

“…me?”

“Yes, you.”

Vitaria nodded.

Lavinia hesitated at first, but as her eyes fell on Kael, his trembling body, sweat pouring down his face, his jaw clenched as if he was in pain, she nodded with a determined look on her face.

“O-Okay.”

“Hold him.”

Vitaria instructed quietly.

“…yes.”

Lavinia muttered under her breath. This obviously wasn’t the first time she was going to do this, but for some reason, today, her hands felt strangely heavy as she reached forward.

Slowly, she wrapped her arms around Kael’s chest, pressing her cheek against his shoulder. His body was burning hot, far hotter than it should have been, but she did not let go.

“Right, I forgot to mention this before. Even if it was caused by a nightmare, right now, Father is sick, and like most sicknesses, this sickness can infect others if they get too close.

So if you continue, be aware that your body may develop a fever as well.

You can stop if you wan—”

“Is this enough or do I need to get closer?”

Vitaria tried to warn, but Lavinia obviously, completely ignored her warning. Kael meant too much to her for her to move away from him in fear of a little fever.

When the Fox saw her reaction, a small, mischievous grin that she believed no one saw appeared on her face before it disappeared quickly.

“Only Father can answer that question.”

Vitaria answered as her eyes started glowing faintly. In the air above them, the screen showing Kael’s nightmare suddenly moved, appearing at an angle where Lavinia could see it as well.

“Igni! Stop it!!”

The Dream Kael screamed, his voice cracking in pain and despair while his voice was muffled by the Stonefang screams.

“Murderer’s Dragon is going to kill us all! Murderer!

RUNN!!

AGGGGHHHHH!!!!”

More Stonefang children shouted as they tried to run but were burned alive. It seemed like the nightmare was continuing without any changes, no change could be seen in Kael’s body either, his state was still as bad as before.

“Get closer.”

Vitaria instructed.

Lavinia nodded, shifting her body closer, letting Kael feel her presence.

“Kael, calm down.”

She spoke in a soft, gentle voice and suddenly, something happened.

The despairing Dream Kael, who was begging his children to stop the carnage, suddenly felt something heavy on his body. He looked and saw Lavinia hugging him from behind.

“Lavinia…?”

He tilted his head, confused.

“W-What happened to your hand…?

How did it grow back…?”

He questioned, seeing how Lavinia’s missing arm had grown back.

“It’s working.”

Vitaria whispered.

“Tighter.

Make him feel more of you.”

The Fox instructed.

“Even more…?”

Lavinia asked awkwardly as she looked around. She was already quite close to Kael, more than usual actually.

“Yes.”

The Fox nodded, completely ignoring the Mage’s awkwardness.

Lavinia stared at the rest of the Bonds and they all stared back at her, as if waiting for her to make the move.

These Bonds probably had the sharpest minds in existence. They obviously knew that Lavinia felt a little shy around them. Here, the right step was for them to return to the Sanctuary and let Lavinia take charge.

Igni even thought of opening the Sanctuary and taking everyone with him, but when he saw his siblings’ eyes, he quickly realized how pointless his idea was.

Cirri was watching Lavinia’s every move so carefully that it felt like the Dragon would be able to redraw this exact moment even after a thousand years.

The very fact that Vitaria could not leave since her powers were needed made it even more difficult to take Cirri away.

And it wasn’t just the Sky Dragon, the Ant and the young Laviatharid were no different. They were all glued to this scene as well.

They all wanted to see what was happening and what was going to happen.

’They need to learn how to give Father some time alone.’

The eldest snorted in his mind while his eyes stared at the nightmare and then at his Father and Future Mother.

“This is no time to hesitate, Lavinia.

Get close to Father.”

Vitaria instructed, pulling Lavinia out of her reverie.

“Y-Yes.”

Lavinia nodded as she awkwardly adjusted herself. She slid closer until her body pressed fully against his. She pulled his head gently toward her chest, her fingers brushing through his damp hair. Her cheeks burned at the closeness, but she didn’t let go.

And this time, the Dream Igni, who was constantly drowning the Stonefangs into the Sea of Fire, finally stopped.

“I-Igni…”

The Dream Kael called out, his eyes brightening a little.

“Lavinia! He stopped!”

He exclaimed as he glanced at Lavinia.

“Of course he did. You told him to.”

The Dream Lavinia smiled gently and, unable to hold himself back, the Dream Kael hugged her.

An action that the real Kael somewhat copied, his hands gently grabbing Lavinia’s hand, almost as if he was stopping her, making her flinch at the sudden contact.

However, before the Mage could panic or react too strongly, Vitaria’s calm voice was heard.

“Your presence is affecting his mind.

He feels you,

But it isn’t enough.

Only Brother Igni has stopped, the rest of us have only slowed down and the fire is still killing the Stonefangs.

Get closer, we need him to completely forget about the Stonefangs and even us.

Make it so he only thinks about you and no one else.”

“He… only thinks about me?”

Lavinia repeated those words, sounding a little taken aback.

“Yes, imprint yourself onto his mind, as strongly as you can.

Get closer.”

“But I am already close…”

“Even closer.”

Vitaria urged.

“Is getting even closer possible…?”

The Mage blinked.

“You want me to picturize it for you in your mind?”

Vitaria questioned back, her purple eyes flickering with magical light, but before she could do anything—

“N-No, I am fine! You don’t need to go that far. I-I will do what I have to.”

Lavinia quickly shook her head.

Allowing her to ’show’ her something at a moment like this…

The Mage knew what the Fox was like, she would never make such a mistake.

In the end, Lavinia stared at Kael’s face from up close and prepared herself.

“Remember, make it so he only thinks about you—

No one but you

.”

The Fox whispered into the Mage’s ears. To an outsider, she resembled a demon who was manipulating an innocent soul into doing what she wanted.

Lavinia, who was staring at Kael from this distance, only nodded at her words, somewhat influenced.

“Now move,

Get close.”

Lavinia nodded again and moved. Her heart pounded in her chest as she shifted even closer. The Mage carefully inched closer, her legs brushed against his. For some reason, his unusually warm body enveloped her with a strange sense of comfort.

She pressed her face into the curve of his neck, unconsciously inhaling the faint scent of pine and something… uniquely Kael.

This was… more intimate than she’d ever imagined, this closeness…

The Mage felt something she couldn’t describe.

Soon, however, she shook her head, getting rid of all these thoughts. With her arms around him wrapping tightly, she pulled herself so close that not even air could slip between their bodies. Her chest pressed against his side, her heart felt like it might leave her body any second now.

Her fingers, hesitant at first, found the hem of his shirt.

For a moment, she paused, hesitating—

But then—

’Make it so he only thinks about you—

No one but you.’

Vitaria’s words echoed in her mind.

’Get closer.’

And slowly, her hands slid beneath the fabric. His skin was warm, too warm. It was worrying yet…

Lavinia felt a strange sense of comfort washing over her. For a moment, she stopped thinking, her mind forgot the purpose of it all as her instincts took over. Her hands traced the lines of his abs, her fingers moving with a mix of curiosity and care.

As she moved naturally, Kael’s nightmare began to change as well. One by one, his surroundings began to fade out of existence. The Dream Lavinia started becoming… more and more attractive.

The Dream Kael felt a strange sense of… attachment as he hugged her.

And soon, he felt an urge that he could not control and he hugged her much more tightly than before, almost as if he was scared that she would disappear.

The same was reflected in reality. Kael’s body shifted, his arm draped over her, pulling her even closer.

His hand found the small of her back, his fingers slipping beneath the edge of her shirt, grazing her bare skin. The contact sent a jolt through Lavinia’s spine, her breath hitching as his touch mirrored hers.

In an instant, Kael’s touch brought the Mage back to her senses and when she realized what position she was in, her face turned completely red. She didn’t even dare to look up since she knew the children were watching everything.

Or maybe…

She did not want to move up and look because…

It felt too comfortable to stay like this…

The Mage’s face stayed pressed against Kael’s neck, her lips brushing the pulse point just below his jaw. She felt his heartbeat that had now slowed down compared to before.

It was strange.

Holding someone like this.

Lavinia never imagined herself doing something like this.

But… a strange feeling crept in.

The warmth.

The steady weight of Kael’s body leaning into hers.

The way his ragged breathing calmed just a little under her touch.

It felt… good.

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