Chapter 3: Whole Lot of Heat
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The flames crackled gently as twilight settled over the small forest clearing. Orange light danced across the trees, casting long, shifting shadows. Rylan crouched near the fire, turning the spit slowly—roasting the meat Esdeath had hunted earlier. The scent of cooked bird wafted upward, warm and comforting.
For the first time since waking in this strange world, he felt… alive.
Not safe, exactly, but grounded. Like something real had finally anchored him. Even if that something was an ice-empress waifu who could probably freeze the ocean with a flick of her finger.
Esdeath sat just across from him, legs folded gracefully, long coat unbuttoned slightly at the collar. The heat of the fire did little to melt her icy aura, but her expression had softened. She looked relaxed. Almost peaceful.
"You're surprisingly quiet when you're not freezing people," Rylan said.
"I speak when needed," she replied.
He smirked. "And when you're threatening to make me call you 'wife,' right?"
She tilted her head. "That wasn't a threat. That was a promise."
He chuckled nervously, turning the spit again. "Right. Of course."
Esdeath watched him for a moment, her gaze tracing the shape of his face in the firelight. "You've stopped trembling."
"I didn't realize I was."
"You were. When we first met." Her voice was calm, even. "Now… you're adjusting."
He shrugged. "Still feels like a dream. But… a warm fire, a decent meal, and a ridiculously overpowered companion kinda helps me accept the madness."
She gave a small smile. "You'll adapt quickly. I'll make sure of it."
The bird finished roasting, skin golden and crackling. Rylan carved into it with a sharpened stick, offering a leg to Esdeath. She took it, hands still gloved, and bit with perfect poise. He dug in less elegantly—mouth watering, fingers sticky. He didn't care. Hunger overruled pride.
After dinner, Esdeath rose without a word, walking a few paces away. The air cooled in her wake.
She began setting up a tent—pulled straight out of thin air. Literally.
"What the…?" Rylan stood, blinking.
"I have limited access to spatial storage," she explained. "Preloaded for survival scenarios."
"You have a tent just... stored in your cleavage or something?"
She looked back over her shoulder. "Would you like me to try storing something else there?"
Rylan choked on his own saliva. "I-I'm good!"
Esdeath didn't smirk this time, but he caught the tiny twitch at the corner of her lips.
The tent she unfolded was sleek and modern, large enough for two—barely. She stepped inside first and sat cross-legged near the edge, unbuckling her coat and laying it beside her like a blanket.
Rylan stood awkwardly outside.
"So, uh… you sure there's nowhere else I should sleep?"
Esdeath looked up. "There's only one tent."
"Yeah, but I could, y'know, take the ground?"
"No."
"…No?"
"I won't allow you to sleep outside. It's not safe. You're not strong enough to fight off anything that finds you while I'm sleeping."
"You sleep?"
"Even I need rest."
Rylan hesitated. "And… you're okay sharing?"
Her tone didn't waver. "I'm more than okay with it. In fact, I prefer it."
The air inside the tent suddenly felt a little tighter. A little hotter—despite the cold aura she naturally carried.
Rylan stepped inside slowly, carefully, crouching beside her.
They sat in silence for a while, listening to the chirping of distant bugs, the lapping waves not far away, the occasional rustle in the trees.
Then—
[QUEST PROGRESS: ONE NIGHT WITH AVATAR – 33% COMPLETE]
[NOTE: PHYSICAL PROXIMITY DETECTED. AFFECTION LEVEL: WARMING UP]
Rylan flinched, glancing at the message floating in front of him.
"Something wrong?" Esdeath asked, noticing his sudden twitch.
He waved it off. "No. Just… bugs. Probably."
She didn't look convinced. But she didn't press.
Minutes passed.
He couldn't sleep.
She lay beside him now, on the makeshift bedding, hair sprawled like silver silk. Her back was turned, but she'd unbuttoned the rest of her coat, revealing smooth skin beneath a thin undergarment—black, laced, and fitting her like it was molded to her body.
Rylan shifted uncomfortably.
His heart pounded like a drum.
Her voice broke the silence. "You're staring."
He froze. "N-No, I wasn't!"
"You are," she said, matter-of-fact. "You've been breathing faster for the last five minutes."
Rylan turned away, flustered. "Sorry! I just—look, you're really attractive, and I'm just a guy with average hormones, and this tent is tiny and—!"
A cool hand touched his wrist.
He stiffened.
Esdeath rolled toward him slowly, until her face hovered just inches from his.
"You're honest," she said softly. "That's… rare."
He swallowed. "I-I guess?"
Her fingers trailed lightly along his forearm. "Do you find me desirable?"
He blinked rapidly. "What kind of question is that?! Of course I do! I'm not blind!"
Her lips quirked slightly. "Then… why are you holding back?"
Rylan stared at her. Her icy scent filled the tent. Not unpleasant—just strange, like frost and flowers.
"Because I don't even understand this world yet," he muttered. "And I'm scared. Not just of pirates, or the sea. But of myself. Of screwing up. Of… you."
Esdeath's expression softened.
"I won't hurt you, Rylan," she whispered. "Not unless you want me to."
"Wait, wha—?!"
She giggled—actually giggled. A sound that completely didn't match her usually cold demeanor. And yet… it was beautiful.
She slid closer, resting her head against his shoulder.
"I'll wait," she said quietly. "Until you're ready. But you should know… once I claim you, I don't let go."
Rylan nodded slowly, heart still racing.
"Noted."
They lay like that for a long time. Her body close, the fabric of her outfit brushing his bare arm, the scent of her hair mixing with the lingering smoke of the fire outside.
Sleep eventually tugged at him.
Right before he drifted off, one last message hovered over his vision.
[QUEST PROGRESS: 75% COMPLETE – HIGH AFFECTION ZONE]
[SYSTEM TIP: PHYSICAL TRUST INCREASES SUMMON EFFICIENCY]
Rylan smiled faintly, whispering, "Weirdest game ever…"
Then everything faded into darkness.
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