"With your talent, you could become a great alchemist—perhaps even one of the greatest," said Professor Nyxara.
"But first, I have a favor to ask." She gestured for Xavier to follow and led him to the fourteenth floor of the main building, a floor reserved for the professors’ residences and private research labs.
He trailed her into her laboratory. From a bookshelf she drew a volume, opened it, and retrieved a key concealed within its pages. Next she lifted a painting from the wall, revealing a vault. The key turned smoothly; she withdrew another book and laid it open on the table.
"This is an ancient alchemy text that once belonged to the greatest alchemist who ever lived. It is more than ten thousand years old, and this is only a fragment of the original," she explained as Xavier leaned closer to examine the carefully preserved, age-stained pages.
"So, Professor, what sort of favor do you need?" he asked, half-hoping it might be something intimate.
Perhaps she requires the seed of someone with pure mana. The thought flickered through his mind more than once.
"Ruskberry fruit—its extract, to be precise. One of the projects I’m pursuing from this book calls for an extremely pure aromatic oil drawn from the fruit. The oil is highly volatile and must be blood-red. The closest I’ve managed is a deep crimson, but never quite the right shade. That’s where you come in. I have only one batch of fruit left. If this attempt fails, I’ll have to wait another month for the next shipment."
"It sounds difficult. What if I ruin it?" Xavier asked.
"Don’t worry. I’ll handle every stage of the process. I only need your help in the final step—infusing your mana. Even then, I’ll guide you," she said, taking his hands in hers.
"Will you help me? It never hurts a student to be owed a favor by a professor." As she spoke, she unconsciously drew their clasped hands nearer her ample chest until they nearly brushed the soft curves beneath her tight shirt.
At the sight of her full breasts shifting under the fabric, the words of agreement left Xavier’s mouth before he could think. They set to work at once. The alchemy lecture had ended early, leaving ample time before lunch.
Nyxara assembled the apparatus and began the procedure while Xavier watched her practiced hands move with economical precision, wasting neither motion nor material.
Soon the final step arrived.
"Now come here and imbue your mana as the mixture heats," she instructed, setting a flask on the stand.
Xavier positioned his hands near the glass. Before he could channel anything, Nyxara stepped directly behind him. Her generous breasts pressed against his back, her cheek nearly level with his, and her hands settled lightly over his own.
"Let your mana follow the traces of mine. Do your best not to lose control," she murmured, her breath warm against his ear.
He wanted nothing more than to abandon the task and claim her soft lips, yet the slightest mistake could ruin the extract—or worse, blow up in their faces. He forced himself to concentrate, carefully matching the flow of her mana.
The liquid in the flask shifted from pink to red, then to deep crimson, and at last to the precise blood-red hue required. Nyxara swiftly cut the heat and plunged the flask into an ice bath.
The moment the extract stabilized, she spun toward him in pure delight and pulled him into a tight embrace, burying his face against the yielding softness of her breasts. Xavier offered no resistance, savoring the warm, plump flesh pressed to his cheeks.
"Yay! That step was a success!" she exclaimed.
"I’m glad I could help," came his muffled reply from between her breasts.
"Oh, this is only the beginning. We’ll continue the project together from here. There are many more stages that will require your presence."
"You won’t back out now, will you? I’ll excuse you from ordinary lectures and even award extra credit on your midterms," she added.
"I would have helped without any of that, Professor."
"Nonsense. I’m not so shameless as to take a student’s aid for free. And that isn’t all—you may come to me if you ever need something else as well."
"Those are generous terms. If you insist, I’ll accept," Xavier replied, knowing there was little point in refusing such privileges.
"Good. Be here four days from now—Monday, before dawn. I’ll be waiting." She finally released him from the soft prison of her chest.
He agreed, and she dismissed him. Xavier made his way to the cafeteria just as lunch hour began.
There he found Elena already seated, her plate filled, waiting for him. He collected his own meal and took the chair beside her.
"So, how was your day?" she asked.
"Fine. I helped my professor with an extraction for an ancient potion recipe," he said.
Elena laughed, clearly taking it as a joke. "Sure, and I declared war on the neighboring territory during my tactical warfare lecture." Her sweet giggle followed.
Xavier let the matter drop.
"Any other lectures planned?" he asked.
"None. I’m heading to the library after this. What about you?"
"I was thinking of conjuration. I find it fascinating."
"It is fascinating," she agreed, finishing the last of her food. "I wish I could take it, but I have no talent for the subject. Guess I’ll see you back at the dorms."
As she rose, Xavier spoke again. "Are you free tonight?"
Elena’s eyebrows lifted.
"I may have figured something out about that clue you gave me," he said.
Her eyes brightened at once. "Yes—absolutely. For that, I’m free anytime. Just come by whenever. You don’t even have to knock if it’s something important."
"All right. I’ll see you tonight," Xavier said. He stood as well, parted from her, and set off toward the conjuration lecture hall.