Under the pale moonlight, Flamira read a tome about fire magic. Though her mimicking innate talent was versatile, it couldn’t push her to a new height. Only when her understanding of the powers increased would she transcend her mindless imitation and breathe life into her skills.

She closed the books and rearranged the hand-written notes on her desk. Her hands relaxed, dropping the quill. A sigh escaped her mouth, faintly glowing under the soft candlelight. Silence accompanied her thoughts while cold winds massaged her tired body.

"Come out if you want to watch." Flamira turned to the door. Two pairs of eyes peeked at her. "However, if you break my concentration, I’ll lock you out."

"Thank you for your kindness!" The door parted. Artium stepped into the study room, making her way to a large sofa not too far from Flamira. "I'll make sure I do it in silence."

Artium smiled. Her playful eyes revealed a gleam that coyly teased Flamira. Her wrinkled nightgown fluttered and slipped, exposing her pink shoulders. She looked at Flamira, smirked, and beckoned for Serinda, who merrily giggled and sauntered to the Artium.

Flamira returned to her study, and then snapped her gaze to her friends. Artium lay on the bouncy cushions with Serinda on top of her. The two pressed their bodies against each other. Their hair mingled; her fingers intertwined. Milky mists seeped out of their reddened mouth. Warmth radiated from their caressing figures. They exchanged their saliva while their adventurous hands explored each other's flesh.

With the help of magic, no strange noise propagated around the room. Only tempting scent and heat lingered in the air.

Flamira shuddered. Her breathing grew rigid, her face pink. Their flavourful expressions aroused her, igniting ashes in her heart. As her desire to study rapidly dwindled, she gritted her teeth and pointed at them. A ray of orange light shot out of her fingertip and toward her friends. It struck the isolation barrier, creating a sea of sparks which devoured all traces of magic.

"Artium, you're too much!" Flamira’s thunderous voice shook the room. "If you're going to ruin my study, do it in moderation, not with this . . . unsavoury way. Anyway, you both are out. Go back to your bedroom and do whatever you want there!"

Flamira swiped her right hand. A gush of wind hurled Artium and Serinda out of the room. They gently landed on their feet. Their messy clothes revealed even more of their corrupted beauty, but they were no longer interested in playing around.

"We went too far." Serinda lowered her head. "We should go to bed. We've annoyed her a lot during the past few days. She barely got any time to study; it would be for the best if we gave her some alone time."

"She never blamed me once, and I took it for granted." Artium lightly slapped her cheeks. "Yes. We'll go to bed. But we must apologise first. We have to let her know we’ve learned our lesson."

Serinda nodded and stared at Artium. The two maintained eye contact while glancing at the closed door, in which Flamira was studying hard with her mood sour.

They both didn’t want to open the door and came under Flamira's painful gaze, but they also couldn't stay in front of the study room until Flamira left. When the silence turned discomfiting, Artium took a deep breath and moved. She grabbed the door handle, clicked it softly, and pushed the door little by little. Only the smallest noises resounded.

As Artium entered the room, Serinda closely followed behind. Flamira didn’t notice their presence. She distracted her emotions by reading the same paragraph over and over. Her hot breaths seeped out of her mouth, heating up her body. She repeatedly breathed in and out, but the flames in her chest only intensified.

It was their fault. They planted a seed in her, a seed that fostered under her desire, one that would never become satisfied until she released it.

Her restless body ached. Her fingers pinched her palms, and her legs curled inward. She repeatedly licked her lips. Dirty thoughts involving Artium and Serinda manifested in her head.

Despite her longing, she dared not move away from her position. After chasing them out, how could she shamelessly request to join them?

"Sister Flamira?" Artium said.

Flamira tensed. Red shades reached her ears, exposing themselves to Serinda and Artium.

Before they could say anything, Flamira tapped the table. Her Corruption Power enveloped the room, closing the door and windows. The powerful gush swirled in the room like Flamira’s desires in her heart. She turned around and looked at Artium, her reddened eyes demanding something precious.

"I've been feeling agitated since afternoon. This sensation usually happens when I'm under a lot of stress . . . or something bad is going to happen to me."

"We should've noticed, but We’d gotten inconsiderate. We’re sorry." Artium bowed. Her formal manner expressed her solemnity. "Will you give us a second chance?"

Serinda also bowed and made teary eyes. "Will you accept our promise?"

While saying that, she showed her pinkie finger.

Flamira looked at the delicate little finger and laughed. Her voice returned to its usual lovely tone, but there was a hint of mischievous spirit in it.

"No." Flamira slowly got up from her seat. "I won't accept any apology. I require compensation."

“What must we do?” Artium’s eyes sparkled.

"You two must extinguish the flame inside me."

Flamira leaned forward. Her mouth almost touched Artium’s when a muffled noise clicked. The sealed windows and door quivered as slithering starlight crawled into the room. They bypassed all isolation spells Flamira had put, heading straight to her.

Serinda hunched down and pressed her fingers on the floor. Black inky symbols gushed out of her fingernails, forming a magical pentagram. She was about to chant a spell when Flamira raised her hand.

"Do not panic, both of you," Flamira said, her voice trembling. She forcefully suppressed the heat inside her chest and undid her isolation spells. "The caster of this spell is my main body. It seems we'll get to speak with her today."

"Sister Iris is coming?" Serinda perked up. "Let me be on the call too!"

"Why would I exclude you?" Flamira walked to sit in the middle of the sofa. "This is a joyous occasion. Everyone will get to see my main body again!"

"Does that include me?"

The door swung open. Errenia gracefully entered the room. Adorned in a silver nightgown, she possessed a dignified aura befitting a Young Miss of a Warrior Family.

"You three have been fooling around a lot." Errenia closed the door and tapped on the lock. A series of glowing chains manifested and locked the room shut. "I'm jealous of you all, having no responsibility, no restrain, no worry. However, most of all, I'm furious. Why has none of you invited me? Are you monopolising my Iris?"

"I am not a property someone can own!" Flamira crossed her arms.

“But you are my maid, Iris. I own your body, and soon, I’ll own your heart.”

"I am not Iris, not the whole Iris. My main body has modelled me according to herself as well as you. Elementally, I am half-Iris-half-you. Do you still want to play with your sister?"

"Forbidden love excites me." Errenia walked to sit beside Flamira, squeezing between Serinda and Flamira. "Don’t forget. You make me into this. You must take responsibility."

"Who's making whom a property?" a clear, calming voice resounded. The study room descended into silence as everyone focused on an emerging static scene.

The white noises gradually stabilised, revealing a plain yet cosy bedroom. Two figures sat near the window, letting the moonlight bath their backs while the stars decorated their auras.

"Iris!" Errenia waved her hands. "Why did you not call me last time? Do you know how heartbroken I felt when I learned of it?"

While saying that, Errenia stared at the figure sitting beside Iris. She had a mysterious, mature air around her. Her unreadable countenance concealed her thoughts and emotions. Though she was beside Iris and should be a trustworthy friend, Errenia didn't like her, for she was beside Iris, while Errenia herself could not.

"Greeting, everyone. I am Iris’s girlfriend. We currently live together in my house, but it'll become our house when we get married." Ludmint wanted to speak more, but Iris pinched her hand.

"She is Ludmint, and there is no marriage. Due to a special circumstance, I’m acting as her girlfriend." Iris sighed. "I'm sorry, Errenia. That was the first time I’d ever cast this spell; I had no idea if it would connect or not. Will you forgive me?"

"Only if you compensate me." Errenia grinned. "May I have Flamira for a night or two? I promise not to break her."

"Hey. Who wants to be in your bed!" Flamira pouted as she turned to Iris. "Main Body, I . . . don't mind if it's Errenia, but the point is I'm not a property she can own."

"We'll talk about this later." Iris turned to Ludmint. "Ludmint is a famous scholar, and she is interested in the culture of the Central Continent. Please don’t blame her if she annoys you."

Ludmint nodded. "My wifey is the best!"

"We're fake fiancée, not married couples." Iris glared at Ludmint, who flashed a silly smile. "How has the situation been, Flamira?"

Flamira inhaled a puff of cold air, recollecting her thoughts, and frowned.

"A lot more chaotic. Though we’re still safe, peace no longer governs the Tentoid Empire. After the Crusade, there have been rumours about the downfall of the Church of the Seven Goddesses as well as the weakening of the Holy Bloodline."

"The Holy Bloodline?" Ludmint's eyes sparkled.

"Tentoid Empire's imperial family descends from a Legendary of the Seven Goddess Church," Errenia said. "It isn’t uncommon for powerful aristocrats to have their foundation built upon the legacy of their mighty ancestors."

Serinda nodded. "My family is like that too, though I don't know how powerful our ancestor is."

Ludmint narrowed her eyes and glanced at Iris. Iris shook her head. "I met Serinda and Artium during my exploration of Puppeteer Legacy Ground. Serinda has a series of spells related to divination, while Artium was the one who taught me the dream spells."

"You have a lot of unique individuals around you." Ludmint licked her lips. "Your charm is much more powerful than your magic. Will you not consider changing your tactic? Your slime body is perfect for it."

"This spell requires an extraordinary amount of energy, Ludmint. If you waste our precious time, I won't let you attend this meeting ever again."

Ludmint zipped her mouth and gestured for Iris to continue.