Chapter 16 Dual Cultivation Partner

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Liana pulled out a small pair of scissors, twirling them in her fingers as she sized up Caelum's hair. The rest of their friends had already drifted off, leaving the two of them alone in the dimly lit common room. Caelum sat cross-legged on a low stool, looking both amused and a bit wary, watching her with an unreadable expression.

Liana grinned, positioning herself behind him and draping a towel around his shoulders. "Don't worry, I'm not going to butcher it," she teased, running her fingers through his hair to even it out. Caelum leaned forward slightly, relaxing into her touch, though he couldn't resist a skeptical look.

"Don't get too confident. I've seen some terrifying haircuts around here," he said with a playful smirk, making her roll her eyes.

She carefully snipped at his hair, working with steady hands and a level of precision that surprised Caelum. Her fingers moved skillfully, shaping each section with a deftness that felt practiced. It wasn't just random cuts; she was giving his hair actual structure, subtly taming the wild waves that framed his face. Curiosity got the best of him, and he found himself asking, "You're pretty good at this. Did you… learn from somewhere?"

Liana paused for a brief moment, her expression softening as a distant look crept into her eyes. "Actually, yeah," she replied, resuming her work. Her tone was casual, but something about the way she spoke made Caelum listen more closely. "When I was a kid, I didn't exactly have a place to call home. I grew up on the streets."

Caelum's brow furrowed slightly, though he didn't interrupt, sensing there was more to her story.

"Things were… rough, to say the least," Liana continued, carefully trimming a section near his ear. "But when I was eight, a barber took me in. I was this skinny little thing, and he must've felt sorry for me. He was old and cranky, always scowling, but he had a good heart. He'd make me sweep the shop floors and run errands, and sometimes he'd even teach me how to cut hair."

As she spoke, Caelum could feel her lingering nostalgia, the memories weaving into her words. He closed his eyes, letting her voice wash over him as she worked.

"I lived with him for years. But when I turned sixteen, I left. He was getting older, and I didn't want to be a burden. Besides, I had… dreams, things I wanted to do that didn't fit into a barber shop," she said, her tone shifting with a mix of pride and melancholy. "Since then, I've been on my own."

Caelum's eyes opened, a flicker of surprise and sympathy crossing his face as he turned his head slightly, trying to catch a glimpse of her expression. "So… you're an orphan?"

Liana gave a slight shrug, her eyes not meeting his as she focused on an uneven strand. "Guess you could say that. But don't look at me with those pity eyes, Caelum," she chided, smacking him lightly on the head. "It's fine. I never knew them, so there's nothing to miss."

He winced, rubbing the spot where she'd smacked him, though he couldn't stop the small smile from tugging at his lips. "Fair enough."

For a moment, silence settled between them as she continued trimming his hair, each snip of the scissors echoing softly in the room. Caelum felt a newfound respect for her, admiring the strength it must've taken for her to survive on her own all these years. But he also sensed something else lingering beneath her words, a quiet unease that hadn't quite dissipated.

As the silence stretched on, Caelum's curiosity began to gnaw at him. There was something different about her tonight, a tension in the way she moved and a flicker of something unspoken in her gaze. He could feel it as clearly as he felt the scissors grazing through his hair.

Unable to hold back any longer, he finally broke the silence, his voice soft yet direct. "What is it?"

Liana paused mid-cut, blinking in surprise as she looked down at him, momentarily caught off guard. "What is what?"

Caelum tilted his head, studying her with a knowing look. "You… seem like you want to tell me something. I can feel it, but it's like you're holding back. What's on your mind?"

Liana hesitated, her eyes flickering with something unreadable before she quickly masked it. She opened her mouth to say something, then closed it, her grip on the scissors tightening slightly. It was rare for her to feel unsure of herself, but something about this moment left her feeling exposed, as though Caelum could see right through her walls.

Instead of answering immediately, she returned to her task, the quiet snip of the scissors filling the space between them. But even as she resumed cutting, she couldn't shake the feeling that he was waiting, patient but insistent, for her to let down her guard.

And as she looked at him from over his shoulder, she wondered if she was ready to reveal the secrets she had kept buried for so long.

Liana hesitated, her eyes searching Caelum's as if debating whether or not to continue. The vulnerability in her expression was something he hadn't seen before. Usually so composed, she looked almost uncertain now, as if she were stepping into uncharted territory. After a few moments, she took a deep breath and decided to speak.

"Caelum, there's… something I haven't told anyone." Her voice was quiet, but her tone was resolute, carrying a gravity that immediately silenced the room. She set the scissors down on the table beside her, facing him fully as she tried to gather her words.

"When we first arrived at the academy and went through the awakening ceremony…" She paused, and Caelum could feel the weight of her hesitation. He nodded, urging her to continue, his attention unwavering.

"An elder approached me afterward. He pulled me aside and… said that my lust level was too high." She looked down at her hands, fingers nervously twisting together. "He told me that I would need a cultivation partner—someone to help manage my… urges, and to keep my magic from becoming unstable."

Caelum's brows knitted together as he absorbed her words. He'd heard that high lust levels could impact a mage's magic, but he hadn't realized the implications could be so immediate, or that a cultivation partner could be essential for balance. "And did he… suggest anyone?" he asked carefully, a mix of curiosity and concern in his voice.

Liana let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. "Yes. Himself."

"What?" Caelum's voice was sharper than he intended, his eyes widening in shock. "The elder offered… to be your cultivation partner?" His mind reeled at the thought. An elder with a student—it was something he'd never even considered possible, much less acceptable within the academy.

"Apparently, it's allowed," she replied, her tone wry but tinged with an underlying discomfort. "As long as the student consents, it's not against the academy's rules. In fact, it's fairly common practice when a student has an unusually high lust level, or needs guidance with dual cultivation."

Caelum's expression twisted as he processed this new revelation. The idea that the academy would condone such an arrangement between elders and students didn't sit right with him. He thought of Liana being pressured into something like that, the power imbalance and how vulnerable she must have felt. The realization filled him with a quiet anger. "That's… I mean, I get the need for balance, but still. It feels wrong that they would put you in that position."

Liana gave a slight shrug, as if trying to downplay the situation, though her gaze softened at his concern. "He didn't force me into anything. Just… made the offer. But still, it was unsettling. I didn't want to be pressured into that kind of relationship with someone I barely knew, especially someone so much older."

Caelum's gaze softened, sympathy and admiration mingling in his expression. "I don't blame you for feeling that way. I imagine… well, you probably weren't short on other offers either." He offered a faint smile, trying to lighten the mood, though he meant it as a genuine compliment. "Honestly, if word got out that you were looking for a cultivation partner, I'd bet every guy here would line up at your door."

She laughed softly, the sound tinged with a hint of nervousness. "You're probably right." Her gaze turned serious again, her eyes locking onto his with an intensity that caught him off guard. "But I don't want just anyone, Caelum."

His heart skipped a beat at her words, and he swallowed, suddenly unsure of where this was going. He hadn't expected this conversation to take such a personal turn, and he certainly hadn't expected her to look at him with that kind of sincerity.

"Caelum…" she began, her voice barely above a whisper, "would you… would you consider being my cultivation partner?"

Caelum's eyes widened, the words hanging in the air like an electric charge. He was taken aback, completely blindsided by her request. "What?" The word escaped him before he could process it, his mind racing as he tried to grasp the implications of what she'd just asked.

Liana's expression was uncharacteristically vulnerable, her gaze steady yet filled with an uncertainty that told him how much this question had cost her. She held his gaze, waiting, as if bracing herself for his reaction.

And as Caelum looked at her, at the raw honesty in her eyes, he realized that this was more than just a practical arrangement for her—it was a genuine connection, a trust that went beyond mere necessity.