The moon hung high, illuminating the purple spire of the Archmage. From the courtyard below, few soldiers knew that a faint purple light was pulsing in the top-floor window—a sign that Selene was conducting private research. But tonight, he was not alone.
Ren stood before the wooden door carved with resonant runes, steadying his unsteady breath. Selene's invitation from earlier that afternoon rang in his ears: "Come after sundown. There is a new spell I wish to read with you." The word "with" made his heartbeat beat louder than the drums of war.
The door swung open before he could knock. Selene stood on the other side of the threshold, holding the door open with only her fingertips. Her silver hair was half-bunned, leaving loose strands hanging loosely over her shoulders. She wore a thin lavender robe, embroidered with small crystals at the collar—almost transparent in the crystal light of the room. Her gray eyes studied Ren briefly, then motioned him inside.
Selene's private chamber was different from the usual meditation chamber. It was smaller but warm, filled with deep purple pillows and a personal bookshelf. In the center, a low table of black glass displayed a layered array of runes—the main circle glowing faintly, as if breathing itself. On the glass lay two manuscripts: one written in Selene's hand, the other blank for Ren to copy.
"Sit," Selene said, her voice soft but urgent. She gestured to the right side of the table, but did not move to the other side; instead, she folded her legs next to Ren, just wide enough for a thin blanket. When Ren sat, his thigh brushed against Selene's robes—the warmth of her body transcending the fabric.
Ren swallowed, trying to concentrate on the manuscript. But his eyes were drawn to the exposed curve of Selene's neck, where a pulse was beating rapidly. "What spell is this?" Ren asked, keeping his voice as low as possible.
"The Breath Co-resonance Ritual," Selene answered, letting the scholarly tone mask the pounding of her heart. "Two mages regulate their breathing rhythm together, then recite a synchronous rune verse. It is said that the power of dual mana is born not from the body, but from… the harmony of the soul."
Ren smiled thinly. "Sounds dangerous."
"Also very useful." Selene stared at Ren—long, deep—before opening the manuscript. "Shall we begin?"
They sat cross-legged, knees touching. In the small space, each breath became real. Selene closed her eyes, counting: "In… two… three… Hold… two… three… Release…" Ren imitated, but the air felt hotter than it should have. Each breath stirred the scent of Selene's hair—cool peppermint mixed with the scent of pure leather.
"Now recite the first verse with me," Selene whispered, her eyes still closed. Her lips moved slowly, reciting ancient script. Ren followed, bringing his face closer so his voice wouldn't break. As she spelled out the last syllable, Selene inadvertently leaned forward—her breath brushing against his lips, stealing half the air.
They were both silent. The runes on the table vibrated, purple sparks dancing on the glass, as if responding to a hidden pulse. Selene opened her eyes slowly—her pupils dilated, reflecting the crystal fire. Unconsciously, Ren raised a hand, touching Selene's fingers on the table's surface. The touch was brief, but the runes beneath the glass glowed brighter, their lines pulsing to the rhythm of the double hearts.
"Maybe… we're too close," Selene whispered, her voice choked.
"Maybe… not close enough," Ren replied, barely audible. He himself was surprised by the boldness of his voice, but he didn't pull his hand away. Instead, his fingers traced the back of her hand, tracing small circles in time with the runes. Selene shivered, but didn't flinch; her eyes closed, her eyelashes trembling.
The light of the crystal dimmed, leaving a soft violet glow. Selene lowered the manuscript, letting it slide to the floor—something she wouldn't have done if she were in perfect control. She turned, their noses only a hair's breadth apart.
"Ren…" her voice was shaky, half spell, half plea.
Ren didn't answer; he let his breath touch Selene's lips, waiting for the agreement that came in the form of Selene's hand gripping the hem of his own robe—shivering, but not refusing. When she parted her thin lips, the table's runes glowed, creating a small vortex of light between them—as if to testify to the harmony that was born.
Ren raised a hand, touching Selene's cheek with the back of his finger, tracing the line of her jaw to the tip of her chin. The witch's skin was cold, but a hot lightning was running through it. Selene closed her eyes again, as if losing control of her eyelids. "The spell… isn't finished," she whispered, her voice almost gone.
Ren leaned forward, but before their lips met, he stopped for a breath. "Are you sure? I don't want to ruin your research," he said softly, half joking, half sincere.
Selene opened her eyes, a flash of silver behind the half-darkness. "Research sometimes requires… unexpected experiments," she whispered, her cheeks flushed. She moved closer herself, noses touching noses. Their breaths mingled, melting into warm, misty steam between untouched lips.
The first touch was not a kiss, but a shared sigh—a held breath that finally escaped, shaking their chests. The table runes exploded a final purple glow, then went out, as if surrendering to a heat that could not be measured by the illusion of mana.
Ren pulled his face away slightly, just enough to see Selene's reaction. He saw a pair of eyes lose their icy coldness—replaced by a soft, bold ember. Selene placed her palm on Ren's chest, feeling the wild beat. "Too close," she said almost laughing, a pool of feeling in her voice.
"Then, don't move away," Ren replied, his voice—miraculously—still calm. He kissed the corner of Selene's lips, a small test. Selene didn't move; she only sighed, then responded with a touch of her own lips—light, but instantly numbing consciousness. The wet kiss lasted only a breath, before the two separated, staring—amazed and satisfied—as if the most complicated rune had just been opened with just their lips.
Ren's hand moved to Selene's waist, tracing the elastic of the thin fabric. Selene held her breath, but this time guided the hand higher, towards her ribs, as if to show where her mana pulsed most clearly. Ren massaged gently, feeling the subtle tremors beneath her skin.
But as Ren's fingers began to descend again, a sudden knock sounded on the wooden door. Both of them flinched—the crystal light automatically brightened. Selene quickly moved away, her face half panicked, half suppressing a smile. "Who?" her voice trembled slightly.
"Akira," the flat voice outside answered. "I… need to talk about a new spell distribution route."
Selene's face paled, then she turned to Ren. A strange sense of guilt and relief was born. Ren straightened his back, catching his breath. Selene stood, straightening her robe—the movement causing the hem to fall to her knees, revealing pale thighs before she quickly closed it.
She whispered quickly, "Put my manuscript away. We'll continue… another time."
Ren ducked his head, tucking the paper into the inner folds of his robe. As Selene opened the door, Akira glanced inside—only to find Ren picking up a scroll on the floor, its runes extinguished. Akira's eyes narrowed; the confrontation had escalated a level, but it had not yet erupted.
Selene held Akira at the threshold, walking with him—they spoke inaudibly away down the corridor. Ren waited until the footsteps faded, then looked at the table. In the dark glass, the light of the extinguished runes had become a thin line resembling the shape of lips.
He sighed—a mixture of gratitude and frustration. Tonight, one step closer to a hotter fire, but enough spark to light the long fuse in Selene's heart. Ren's chest was still warm, his lips still trembling, and in the silent room, only the sound of his breathing remained—testimony to a night where the most powerful spell was created not with words, but with a first kiss.
In the corridor, Akira glanced briefly into Selene's private room, his eyes dark. In his hands, the guard's report on Ren was getting crumpled in his grip. While Selene, walking beside him, hid a small smile beneath the collar of her robe—a smile born from the one breath they had once shared.