One could only imagine Elisa’s shock the next morning. She woke full of anticipation, straddling Wude—only to find his left arm wrapped around a human-shaped figure. Hard to describe… but in the end, Elisa ran out in tears.
Alreis shakily climbed off Wude, soul seemingly lost. She trudged back to her dorm. There, lying quietly on her bed, was a slightly damp pair of panties.
After all, Wude had kept tracing characters on her thigh all night—a genuinely unbearable sensation. By midnight, her panties were soaked. Luckily, Elisa was asleep, so Alreis used spatial magic to teleport them back. Otherwise… utter humiliation.
At the memory, Alreis covered her face, hugged her knees, and rolled on the floor. *Wude’s bed is probably damp too…*
She couldn’t face him again. Her dignity was shattered. She could already picture it: Wude noticing, flashing that sly smirk, teasing, “Alreis… were you *that* excited for your master?”
“Ahhh!!!” She rolled harder. *Thud!* Her head bumped the wall. Finally, a little calmer.
Shame lingered, but life went on. Today, they still had to find the Blessing of Life. Alreis knew Wude’s desperate longing to resurrect Lingyue. She could guess Lingyue’s importance… yet a faint unease prickled her heart.
Wude was her only “friend.” But he had others—people he valued more. Wasn’t feeling a little uncomfortable… natural?
Alreis stripped, conjured a water orb with her Level 3 (yet functional) water magic, and enveloped herself. Water magic was wildly practical even at low levels. Unlike Wude’s wind magic… useless except for lifting skirts.
After washing and drying with wind magic, she pulled fresh clothes from her spatial storage. Hesitating, she retrieved one more item: a plain, unassuming small box. Better prepared for the Blessing of Life.
Alreis didn’t believe Wude would unlock her power. Their bond relied on the Slave Contract—master and slave, or friends. But if it dissolved? She’d no longer be a Level 3 mage’s slave. She’d be Alreis: strongest across time and space, master of spacetime itself. A matter of standing.
Truthfully, she had no idea what she’d do if the contract broke. Deeply troubling. So she even harbored a tiny hope he *wouldn’t* break it. That’s why she’d shared strength-training methods—logically, she *should’ve* wanted him weak.
*What if Wude grew so strong that even with my full power… I couldn’t break the contract? Could we stay like this… forever?* Alreis couldn’t help wondering.
Lost in thought, she returned to Wude’s door. Swallowing embarrassment, she knocked.
“Coming!” Wude opened it. Hair damp, bare-chested, towel tied low—he’d just showered. Alreis’s cheeks flushed slightly. *He didn’t mention it… so I won’t either.*
“Okay, I’ll wait here!” She stepped aside. Moments later, Wude emerged in fresh clothes, looking crisp.
“Let’s find Elisa!” He offered his arm. Without thinking, Alreis latched on. Both froze. *Addicted to hugging last night?*
*Ahem!* *Ahem!* They stepped back, pretending nothing happened.
Awkward silence followed them to Elisa’s door. Wude sighed inwardly. *Dealing with her… feels familiar. Lingyue used to exhaust me too.* He might *look* like a harem protagonist, but he wasn’t built for it. How did those anime MCs handle this?
*Knock knock!* “Elisa! Important business awaits!”
“No one’s here! And no scumbag gets my door!”
“Just let me explain!”
“I’m not listening! Mom says men lie at times like this!”
Wude sighed. *Furious.* Time for Plan B.
“Alreis, let’s leave her. We’ll stroll town.” He winked.
Alreis stomped two heavy steps away—then teleported them back instantly.
Inside, heartbroken Elisa heard the silence.
*Did they… leave?*
“Brother Wude?” she called weakly.
Silence.
*They went on a date?! Abandoned me?!* She felt like the legendary “defeated dog”—that tragically pathetic creature from Brother Wude’s stories.
*No!* Her mother taught: fight for happiness! She sprang up, smoothed her clothes, flung the door open—
“Wah!!!”
“Took you long enough?” Wude smiled.
“B-Brother Wude?! You didn’t go on a date?!” Relief lit her face.
“Of course not. We’re here for your quest.” He ruffled her hair fondly.
“Wuwu… Brother Wude…” She leaped into his arms, nuzzling his chest.
…
“Um… Should we go?” Alreis, ignored and uneasy, interrupted gently. *Focus on the mission?*
Somehow, one day felt endlessly long.
Finally, the trio strolled the bustling street. Alreis knew the Blessing’s location but feigned ignorance. *Ugh. If it were just Wude and me… we’d have found it already.*
“Elisa, any mirror reaction?” Wude asked politely.
“Let me check!” She channeled magic—nothing.
“Brother Wude, this quest’s impossible. The academy *doesn’t want* us to finish. Can we play instead?” Elisa reasoned clearly.
“But complete it,” Wude countered, “and the Sage might personally receive you.”
“Hmm… True! How about Alreis goes alone?”
“??” Alreis froze. *Me? Alone? Watching you two, then getting tasked? Do slaves have no rights?*
“??” Wude blinked. *This blunt?* Her honesty was cute… but *this* direct?
“Wait—it’s fine!” Alreis cut in, winking at Wude. *“You two won’t help. I’m faster alone.”* He read it perfectly.
“…Sigh.” He *would* slow her down.
“Alreis, come here.” He pulled her aside. Elisa hesitated—*Soon it’s just us…*—and stayed quiet.
“What is it?”
Wude leaned close, voice low: “If danger comes… use your full power. Permission granted.”
“Eh?!” Her eyes widened. Before she could speak, he’d returned.
“Take care, Alreis!”
Alreis stood frozen, watching them walk away…
