Arthur had not expected to see her again so soon.
It was evening when Brandt sent him to collect a small load of special coal from a warehouse near the northern walls.
The area at that hour was almost deserted.
The guards’ torches only lit the wider streets in stretches, and the alleys remained in shadow.
He was arranging the sacks on the cart when he heard footsteps behind him.
“You again.”
He turned.
Kael was there, still wearing the dark leather armor, her black hair gathered in that same high ponytail.
She had an almost amused expression.
“You didn’t go back to the shop,” she said, coming closer.
“I looked for you earlier.
I wanted to thank you properly for the leather yesterday.”
Arthur took a step back out of habit, but the cart blocked his way.
“There was no need.”
Kael did not stop.
She kept advancing until she was only a short distance from him.
Her light eyes studied him calmly, descending for a moment along his neck and chest.
“You still have that scent,” she murmured.
“Actually… it’s stronger than yesterday.”
Before Arthur could move away, Kael took another step.
Her body pressed against his.
One hand rose behind his nape and forced him to lower his face slightly.
The other gripped his hip with decision.
“Wait—”
He did not have time to finish the sentence.
Kael kissed him.
Arthur remained paralyzed for a second, then his body betrayed every attempt at control.
The curse reacted at once: a sudden heat rose along his back, his skin became hypersensitive, and every point where she touched him seemed to catch fire.
Kael pushed him backward until his shoulders hit the stone wall.
She kept kissing him while one leg slipped between his thighs, pressing deliberately against him.
Arthur let out a choked sound against her mouth.
Her hands were already under his shirt, warm palms exploring his chest and hips.
When her fingers found the places where the body had begun to soften, Kael made a small sound of surprise and interest.
“Interesting…,” she whispered against his lips.
“You’re not quite what you seem.”
Her hands went lower.
She unfastened Arthur’s belt and slid one hand inside his trousers.
Her fingers closed around him, squeezing and beginning to move with a slow but decided rhythm.
Arthur threw his head back against the wall, a low moan escaping his throat.
The pleasure was too sharp, too amplified by the curse.
Every caress seemed multiplied.
Kael did not stop.
She kept touching him while her other hand gripped one of his buttocks, pulling him harder against her.
Arthur’s hips moved on their own.
She smiled against his cheek.
“Like that… just like that.”
Then she sank to her knees.
With a look from below, she freed him completely and took him into her mouth.
The wet heat of her lips and tongue was too much.
Kael worked with an experienced rhythm, one hand at the base, the other gripping his thigh.
Every now and then she looked up at him, and that sight almost made him lose control completely.
He felt the pleasure rising too fast.
He tried to warn her, but his voice came out only as a ragged breath.
Kael did not pull back.
Instead she sped up until Arthur came with a violent shiver that ran all the way down his spine.
She stayed a few more seconds, then slowly drew away.
She stood up without hurry, wiped the back of her hand across her lips, and looked at him.
Arthur was still against the wall, trousers down, breathing unevenly, his body trembling.
Kael came close again and spoke into his ear, her voice rough:
“I don’t know what’s happening to you… but your body is a lot more honest than you are.”
She fixed his trousers, then gave him one last, shorter kiss.
“Maybe we’ll see each other again before I leave the city.”
She walked away into the dark with the same confident step as always, leaving him alone.
Arthur remained still for a long time, his legs weak.
When he finally managed to move, he took refuge in the deepest shadow and opened the Status with a trembling hand.
[Name: Arthur Age: 18 Level: 1 Class: Apprentice Blacksmith (Weak) Strength: 4 Agility: 6 Endurance: 5 Magic: 3 Intelligence: 12 Dexterity: 8 Skills: – Basic Sharpening (Lv.2) – Tool Organization (Lv.3) – Excessive Shyness (Passive) [Curse: Gender Transformation – Blood of Lysara] Phase: 1/4 Progress: 52%]
From 33% to 52%.
Nineteen points in a single time.
He ran a hand over his face.
The scent had become intense.
Under his clothes he could feel that the changes of Phase 1 had taken a clear step forward.
He straightened himself as best he could and started walking toward home, his body still crossed by residual shivers.
He had tried to resist.
He had failed.
And now the curse had taken far more than he had been ready to give.