Mana Transfer Ritual

**Content Warning: Sexual Activity**

Tycon changed his position in the bed and embraced the smaller Aurala with strong, protective arms, "Can you tell me about him?"

"Y-yeah... It was a few years ago. Or a lot of years ago, actually."

Aurala's voice was calm, like she'd told the story a dozen times before, "We got news that my brother had an accident overseas. He threw himself onto a grenade, they said. He saved 13 other people."

Tycon pulled her close and touched his forehead to hers. She smiled, a nostalgic and reminiscent smile, "Mom was pretty devastated. She cried for days. But she had me and Thea to worry about, so she had to go back to work after a week."

"Some Officer showed up at our door. A Captain or Lieutenant-Captain or something, but he was old and his coat dangled with medals when he walked. He talked about how brave my brother was and that he was sorry and that we should be proud. They named a Chow Hall after him, I guess. Dad poured him a drink."

"You wanna know what the worst part is?" Aurala looked up, her voice starting to quaver.

Tycon nodded for her to go on.

"One of our family friends was a guy in his team. He got drunk one night and told everyone that my brother blew his brains out. Like, he couldn't handle the pressure or whatever and he just ate the bullet. Everything else was a cover-up, the award he got, the medal they mailed to the house. But those 13 people knew.

"His sister, Jessa told me. I was pretty numb when I heard it. I mean, I wasn't surprised. My brother always had a self-esteem issue. And we were all pretty surprised he joined the military. I just don't understand it, you know? How bad could it have been?" Aurala curled up in Tycon's arms.

"...It's not easy," Tycon finally said.

He didn't understand much of what Aurala was saying, but he understood the gist. He and Aurala came from very different worlds, not that she needed to know that.

Tycon spoke, gently stroking Aurala's back, "The worst affliction of military members is the doubt. Why am I still alive when they aren't? Why do I deserve to live when I'm not as fast, as strong, as smart? And does anyone truly care?"

"But I cared. Mom and Dad cared. Jessa's brother Owen cared," Aurala argued.

"I know. And I won't speak ill of the dead, but it's important that we always reassure our own that we care."

Aurala pouted in silence, enjoying her back and hair being stroked like a cat.

"I'm waiting for it, Aurala."

"Waiting for what?"

"For you to tell me you care about me," Tycon teased.

Aurala hmphed, turning away, "What makes you think I care about you?"

Tycon kissed her on the forehead, "I'm half-naked in your bed. Your trust and care is implied."

"How do you know I sleep here, anyway? I could just be keeping you company because of the big sad."

Tycon sighed, "You gave yourself away, just now. You basically confirmed that you do sleep here."

The blonde princess pursed her lips, "What if I didn't?"

"Have you not noticed that I have an excellent sense of smell? The entire courtesan house outside of this room is filled with smells that give me a headache," Tycon explained nonchalantly. "Which is why I'm here, in your bed-- which smells like the person who sleeps in it, enjoying the scent of your body."

The reddening princess growled, "That's-- that's not fair. Pervert!"

Tycon pulled her in slowly and deliberately for a deep kiss. He grabbed her hips and pulled her to straddle his waist where she could feel his hardness. As they kissed he began to pull her dress off. Tacitly, she raised her arms to allow him to remove the garment over her head.

"Prince?"

Tycon kissed her deeply, allowing his arms to grab and caress whatever he felt like, "Yes, Princess?"

"What... are we?" Aurala asked in an uncharacteristically tiny voice.

"How difficult," Tycon replied... "We're allies with a common background that are physically and emotionally attracted to each other."

Aurala frowned. It wasn't the answer she wanted.

"Would you prefer being lovers? Are you so intent on that mana transfer ritual?"

"That..." She averted her gaze, allowing Tycon to admire of the cute side of her face and her gorgeous neckline.

Tycon pulled her close, kissing and running his teeth along her neck, breathing into her ear, "Would you have me as your lover? To be quite honest, I'm fairly controlling. At the very least, you'd have to cancel all of your plans for tomorrow morning."

"I... That..." Aurala was conflicted. The heavy intimate contact was clouding her judgment.

"It will hurt," Tycon kissed her again. He applied pressure to her lower back, grinding her hips against his.

"I know," Aurala gulped.

"And when the hurt goes away, you'll be quite sore," Tycon kissed her, and again, sucking lightly on her tongue.

"I-it will?" Aurala whispered.

"I can assure you it'll be quite nice in between," Tycon chuckled, gently matching Aurala's grinding rhythm.

The princess moaned lightly in response. The girl's body was certainly honest. It was a weakness, if anything.

"You might fall in love," Tycon warned, half-teasing, half-serious.

"I... I might already have," she whispered breathily.

Tycon leaned towards her ear, lightly nibbling on it, leaving a breathy whisper in her ear, "Even if I'm not human?"

Aurala's eyes widened in shock, "You're not? What are you?"

Tycon deeply kissed Aurala, twirling his tongue and playing with hers. He quickened his grinding pace, rubbing her sensitive areas, matching her moans. Aurala embraced him, grabbing at his hair, pulling him in for hungry kisses to match his fervor.

Finally, when they were both somewhat content, their lips parted... with Tycon pecking her on the lips once more. He had to get that last kiss in.

She kissed him back. Drat.

"What are you?" She repeated, her eyes unfocused, clouded by lust.

Tycon laughed, "A snake."

...

A black-haired, no-makeup princess glared at Tycon while he was putting on his tunic and trousers. Her illusory make-up had worn off several bells prior.

"You're a beast. What the hell? I'm sore EVERYWHERE!!"

Tycon offered a shrug, "I told you."

"I thought you just meant... you know! My legs! And maybe my thing!" Aurala raised her voice. She didn't seem incredibly upset. But she was greatly annoyed.

"You were rather insistent last night that it felt better when it was sore."

"Well... Yeah. But that was... Shut up!!" Aurala threw something at Tycon. Tycon caught it. Her balled up underwear?

"Are you giving this to me? Hm." Tycon briefly considered actually taking it.

No. No, that wasn't in his best interests.

"G-give it back!" Aurala pouted. She sat up, crossing her arms, barely covering her ample chest.

"Or perhaps I should go back to bed to have another taste?" Tycon grinned.

"Whatever, you pervert!" Aurala hid underneath her blankets, "What time is it, anyway?"

Tycon checked his pocket-watch, "It's about 9. Have somewhere to be?"

She threw a pillow, which Tycon deftly dodged, "We've been doing it for the past 2 hours, why didn't you tellllll meeeeee!??!"

"I feel obligated to tell you it was a bit over 3 bells."

Aurala bundled herself up in her blankets, "Ughhhh. I don't wannnnna goooooo. I'm so sooooooore."

Her face peeked out of the swaddled blankets, "This is all your fault, Tycon."

Tycon chuckled as he approached the bed, stripping off his tunic and tossing it aside.

"N-nnnot again?! You-- you!!" Aurala yelled.