A soft breath was released when Jered's concentration slipped. Slowly, but at a controlled pace, his feet touched the ground.

[Float has become Lv.25]
[Experience: 2%]
[You can now float up to ten meters in the air.]

'Float' wasn't taxing to cast—at least, not anywhere near as much as the other spells he learned over the course of the past two months—but it did require a lot of mental strength and determination. Jered could hold himself still in the air for only about ten minutes. And in that timespan, he couldn't move. Hell, the first time he couldn't even blink. His mind had been too focused on counterbalancing gravity with his mana, and then enveloping his body in an upward stream of wind.

That resulted in his feet leaving the ground—for about five seconds—before his shift in concentration made him flail in the air like an idiot and then fall down.

And that was two months ago.

Thankfully, he had come a long way since then.

Jered followed Rainey's advice and dedicated all of his time training, either his body, mana, or spells.

He ran a hand through his damp hair, "Library."

A screen rolled down in front of him.

—Special—

[Soul Eater]

—Neophyte Tier—

[Mana Orb, Lv.72]

[Mana Beam, Lv.56]

[Everyday Charms, Lv.MAX]

[Mana Manipulation, Lv.81]

[Fireball, Lv.70]

—Adept Tier—

[Vizier's Light, Lv.41]

[Fire Wall, Lv.39]

[Giza's Gaze, Lv.35]

—Elder Tier—

[Mana Sense, Lv.15]

[Float, Lv.25]

[Telekinesis, Lv.50]

[Turbine Slash, Lv.17]

[Mana Barrier, Lv.27]

—Royal Tier—

[Pharaoh's Flame, Lv.1]

[Shadowport, Lv.1]

Learning higher-tier spells made leveling up the lower ones incredibly easier—that was especially true due to his 'Mana Manipulation'. Once he absorbed 'Telekinesis', it fused with his 'Low Telekinesis' and its level skyrocketed to high heaven. That certainly made his AUC matches even more of a cakewalk. All he had to do was crush his opponents with an unseen, overpowering grip.

Del later asked him to stop because it wasn't flashy enough.

His name in the arcane circle was getting more and more recognition, and many more people came from all over the country to watch his fights.

Rainey barely contacted him to see how he was doing.

As for Kenny. He never replied to Jered's message.

He wondered if his effeminate friend had finally realized how toxic his feelings for him had become, and now was keeping his distance from Jered.

Everything considered, it didn't make sense for Kenny to do that. He was too stubborn to give up right when a sliver of hope had pierced through his dark clouds.

But that wasn't his most pressing concern.

Evelyn's belly had slightly bulged out, and wearing baggy clothes was not a permanent solution. She told him she was going to take a leave from school; it was not like she really needed to work anyway. Jered recalled suggesting that she should quit. She briefly took it into consideration before promptly turning down the idea. Apparently, she loved teaching.

Now they had to deal with the fact that people were going to find out. How would Ambrose react to the news?

How long until Jane found out?

That was one of the reasons why Jered pushed himself so hard. He had to be prepared for the consequences. He had to become a stable, powerful pillar that would protect both Evelyn and their child. Jasmine was another important target that had to be protected and hidden from the public eye for as long as he could. What Rainey said still rang out in his head. Jasmine, eventually, will be out there making a name for herself too. And Rainey hoped to rope her in from the get-go.

Jered was not against that. He'd rather have her around where he could watch her, instead of gallivanting around Archiland unmonitored.

"Psst, Jered!"

He turned around, frowning slightly at the messy smudges on Jasmine's face.

"I'm done!" she chirped with a satisfied burp.

Speckles of blood smeared her mouth, some of it dripping down her neck and shirt.

"Looks like we'll have to buy you an adult-sized bib. You don't know how to eat properly."

That offended her. She wrinkled her nose at him and pouted, "I'm not a child."

"You eat like one though."

Jasmine seethed in silence.

He waved his hand and cast 'Cleanse'. The sub spell, now powered by more potent mana, washed over the room like some sort of exaggerated tv commercial about cleaning products. The crimson fluids on the ground were scrubbed away, and Jasmine's bloody slobbery faded out. Rainey had been kind enough to deliver Jasmine some quality food. Instead of a corpse, she sent them a bag full of human rib fillets.

"That old lady is soooo nice!" Jasmine smiled as she got up and stretched, "My tummy is full. I could use a dessert though," she said that last bit while staring at him.

That was one of the things that didn't change. Jasmine had always been touchy-freely, and her heated looks, coy smiles, and sultry bat of her eyes were being noticed. That resulted in a rather drastic change in Jane's attitude. She was being colder, more analytical, and more attentive. Sometimes she would even corner him, and with a concerned frown, ask him if everything was okay. If there was anything she had to know.

He had no doubt that, somehow, she knew. Or at the very least, she suspected something.

And with that potential ticking bomb in their hands, Jasmine intensified her pursuit for the forbidden fruit. He demanded her to stop, and contrary to his expectations, Jasmine accepted, but she demanded something in return.

Jered extended his hand, turned it around, and jutted his wrist out.

She wanted his blood. It was a relatively small price to pay to have her cooperate with him.

However, sometimes she'd get a little too greedy.

"Nuh-uh!" Jasmine bit her bottom lip, a feral sparkle in her eyes, "I want the neck."

"You know, I might just go back on my offer. If you don't care about our mother finding out, then why should I?"

She panicked, "No! Wait! I'm sorry... c-can you make an exception just this one time? I promise! Only this time!"

Jered didn't know why sometimes she could bend him to her whims so easily. He was supposed to be stronger than that. With a sigh, he sat down on the bed, and unbuttoned his shirt. Jasmine watched enthralled as the garment slipped off his toned shoulders, unveiling his wide, strong back. It might have been because it was the first time in a long while that she saw her brother's torso exposed, or maybe it was because of the remnants of his mana still lingering about. But she felt a tingling itch on her lady parts.

She ignored it, hopped on the bed, and knee-paddled behind him.

There was something sexual about the whole situation.

The atmosphere was tense, electrifying, and Jasmine knew that all it would take was a slight touch on his part, a well-delivered whisper right next to her flushed ears, and she'd be undressing faster than a prostitute. It was out of respect for Jered's choice that she didn't do anything extreme. However, lately, she had been contemplating the ins and outs of rape, and whether Jered would be against it.

Jasmine shook herself free of unnecessary thoughts, and with a shuddering breath, ran her hands across the well-built curves of his back.

The warmth, the smooth skin, and the sinewy muscle underneath her hands made those thoughts about rape resurface with renewed vigor. And all of a sudden, her lungs were not pumping enough oxygen. Jered, naturally, noticed the hot rush of her breath against his neck, "What are you hesitating for?"

"I'm just... you know... thanking God for the meal," Jasmine said through gritted teeth, "I can't believe I'm doing this."

"..."

She brought her hands over his shoulders, his collarbones, and up to his neck.

Jered tilted his head to the side, giving her easier access to his carotid artery. Jasmine brushed her hair aside so it wouldn't interfere with her sucking, and inched closer to his unprotected neck. She sniffed it—something she loved to do only when it came to him—and ran her tongue over the bulge of his carotid artery. He closed his eyes at the soft, warm wetness on his neck. She was doing it on purpose, that he knew.

After her pre-bite ritual was done, she sunk her canines into his skin.

A stab of pain made his face scrunch up.

Jasmine hissed when his blood flowed into her mouth, "Mmmmmh ~" she moaned, her eyes screwed shut as she gulped down his life juice. It tasted and felt so good that the fire in her loins begged to be doused out. And she knew of only one way to do that. With one hand she held Jered's shoulder, while with the other she skittered it down her navel, straight into her pants. And as mouthful after mouthful of her brother's delicious blood filled her belly, her fingers filled her dripping pussy.

She gasped, the overwhelming sensation rocking her body. She didn't know what to focus on—drinking or fingering herself. So Jasmine decided to do both. And the combination drove her mind crazy. She could faintly hear the Shadow's feminine, warped voice moan with her. Her body quaked as she slipped her fingers in and out of her drenched folds. Her love nectar trickled down her hand and onto the fabric of her pants.

The excitement was clouding her head so much that her sucking had become sloppy, and thus Jered's wound was free to squirt blood all over his back.

Jered could make out what was going on from the squeaky moans and the trembling body pasted against his back. He wanted to call that out, but something else snapped his attention towards his closet. The doors were ajar, and between the slight gap of darkness, an eye stared back at him.

Seriously?

The demonic entity, after getting caught peeping at them, slammed the doors shut. Jered, though, had no doubt that she was hearing them, "Okay, this is enough," he stated with a tone of finality.

Of course, Jasmine was too busy pleasuring herself to register his voice.

With a frustrated grunt, Jered cast 'Telekinesis' on his sister. Her canines plopped out of his neck as she was levitated off of him. His mana acted up, and the holes on his carotid artery healed up within a few seconds. He climbed back to his feet and promptly turned around, only to roll his eyes at the sight of his sister, sprawled clumsily on his bed, her mouth messy with blood, and her hand busying itself in her panties.

Jasmine looked up at him, "I... I... couldn't resist myself, hehe..." she groaned out, panting, but still managing to meet his eyes, "I'm sorry?"

She didn't look sorry at all.

"I wonder what our mother would say if she were to see you like this," he said, "You're such a handful."

Somehow, Jasmine managed to pout amidst her moans, "M-Mean... Mmmmmh ~ I-I'm f-feeling so... Mmmmmh ~ dizzy... c-can you give me a Mmmmmh ~ hand?"

"Hah, no. That's your problem. Just remember to start the washing machine when you put the dirty bedsheets in there. We don't want our mother to get more evidence of your... lack of control."

"B-But... I could finish faster if you did!"

Jered cast 'Cleanse' on himself as he headed out, "Yep. Not my problem."

...

At some point, during the day, he heard a high-pitched scream coming from his room.

Thank God his mother was not at home.