Crunch.
Crunch.
Stomp.
Soft footsteps echoed through the silent forest beneath the night sky.
Noah and Akari walked side by side along a narrow path winding between towering ancient trees.
Although there was no moon visible overhead, the forest was strangely illuminated by a gentle silver glow. The mysterious moonlight filtered through the thick canopy, casting shimmering patterns across the ground.
A cool breeze drifted through the woods, gently rustling the leaves overhead. For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
The peaceful silence was oddly comforting.
Noah took a slow breath, enjoying the fresh air.
"It’s actually not that bad here," he said with a faint smile.
"Everything is so quiet... so peaceful. The gentle wind, the forest... it’s relaxing."
Akari looked around before smiling softly. "Yes..."
She brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"If you have someone to share it with... this place isn’t such a terrible place to live."
Noah smiled. "Well, now you have me."
He folded his hands behind his head as they continued walking.
"So from now on, you won’t have to spend your days here alone anymore."
A warmth flickered across Akari’s eyes. "...You’re right."
Her voice was quieter than before. "I suppose this place has become much more enjoyable."
The two continued walking in comfortable silence. After a while, Noah suddenly remembered something.
"Oh, right. I noticed something this afternoon while I was meditating."
He looked toward her. "The mana density here is incredible. It feels much richer than the outside world."
Akari nodded. "That’s correct. The concentration of mana here is nearly twice that of the outside world. It allows us to progress much faster."
Noah’s eyes brightened. "No wonder..."
He had already noticed how quickly his mana recovered after training. Now it finally made sense.
"Actually..."
He turned toward her curiously.
"What rank are you now?"
Akari glanced at him before answering with a calm smile.
"I’ve reached the Sovereign Core—High Stage."
Noah’s footsteps abruptly stopped.
"W-What?"
He stared at her in complete disbelief. "You’ve actually reached the peak of the human realm?"
’She is as strong as Principal Adrian...more maybe more.’ He thought.
Akari covered her mouth with one hand and chuckled elegantly. "Hehe... Yes. I’ve had sixty years with nothing to do except train. It would have been stranger if I hadn’t reached this level."
Noah let out a long breath. "That’s... That’s incredible."
Then another thought crossed his mind. "So... Your natural potential limit was Sovereign Core?"
Akari’s smile became slightly more subdued. "...Yes. It was."
Noah looked at her with renewed admiration.’She’s unbelievably powerful. A Sovereign Core. She’s probably among the strongest humans alive. If anyone can help me grow stronger... it’s definitely her.’
A determined smile appeared on his face.’I should learn everything I can from her.’
Akari resumed walking.
Realizing he had stopped, Noah hurried to catch up. For a brief, unguarded moment his gaze drifted to her figure.
Even beneath the elegant blue-and-black kimono, her silhouette was impossible to ignore—tall, composed, and quietly commanding.
The traditional obi cinched her slender waist with deliberate grace, while the soft, flowing fabric traced the long line of her back and the full, womanly curve of her hips.
The heavy folds could not quite conceal the rounded weight of her rear, the subtle sway of it with each measured step.
’She really is a milf,’ he thought, the observation landing with a quiet, heated certainty.
Noah immediately looked away and quietly cleared his throat.
’Get yourself together. She’s kind enough to take me in and help me. Don’t start thinking nonsense.’
He shook his head with a helpless smile before matching her pace once more.
Soon, the two disappeared deeper into the peaceful forest, their quiet conversation blending with the gentle whisper of the night breeze.
After walking for a while, they arrived at the tranquil lake where Noah had first awakened.
Moonlight shimmered softly across the crystal-clear water, painting silver ripples over its surface. A gentle breeze drifted across the lake, carrying the scent of fresh grass and wildflowers.
Noah stopped near the shore.
"This is where I first woke up."
Akari followed his gaze.
"So this is where you brought by that portal..."
There was a strange softness in her voice.
She quietly lowered herself onto the grass, sitting gracefully in seiza, her legs folded neatly beneath her kimono. Even such a simple movement carried an effortless elegance.
Noah sat down beside her.
He sat close enough to enjoy her company. Yet careful enough to keep a respectful distance.
For a while, neither of them spoke. They simply watched the peaceful lake together.
The silence between them wasn’t awkward. It was comforting. After a while, Noah smiled. "Akari."
"Hm?"
"When can I finally see your full dragon form?"
There was unmistakable excitement in his voice.
Akari glanced sideways before letting out a soft laugh.
"So eager?"
"I am very much eager. Every man wanted to see a real dragon ever since they were child."
She smiled gently.
"Then tomorrow. I’ll show you. And while we’re at it... I’ll help with your training as well."
Noah’s eyes lit up.
"Really?"
She nodded.
"Of course."
A comfortable silence settled over them once again.
Noah looked at the beautiful woman sitting beside him.
Her fair skin glowed beneath the moonlight. The sapphire-blue scales along her neck shimmered like polished gemstones.
Her elegant profile looked almost unreal.
’She’s... beautiful. Not merely because of her appearance. There was a grace about her. A maturity born from decades of solitude.’
Something that made her seem both gentle and heartbreakingly lonely.
Noah lowered his eyes.
Her chest was a huge pair. Noah knew that much. Even tightly bound by her kimono, they still looked big. In reality, they were probably enormous.
Again he shook his head.
’Damn, this woman is dangerous for my heart. First Lyria and Arisha. Now her. Sometimes I wished I was like those protagonists who never react to beautiful ladies—always cold and detached like some gay. Sigh... I don’t want to be gay... I’m still better than them.’
In the end, Noah accepted his inner demon and slid closer to her until their thighs were only inches from touching.
’Should I tell her? About Ophelia. About everything that happened.’
His chest tightened. He couldn’t. He was still worried how she would react.
Not yet, not on the very first day.
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