The Liberation of the Mages Heart

The Banquet

Ruth was sighing deeply, as he went through a pile of sketches for the new magical devise that Riftan had assigned him to construct.

For some reason he was failing to concentrate properly, a piece was missing and he just couldn't figure it out.

"Ughh....", he groaned shifting on his chair.

"This won't do.", he mumbled and leaned back, letting his eyes wander around his chamber.

"Probably a change of setting would do...", he thought and closed his eyes for moment contemplating on moving his work to the library. Suddenly an image of Belisent popped up in his mind and he was wondering what she was doing right now.

She would most likely be taking a bath.

His heart started to pound fast against his chest as he decided to quickly slip into his bedroom chamber in his tower. He couldn't remember the last time he felt that particular urge, that hunger for this sort of relief, or the last time he enjoyed the company of a woman, but right now, he needed release badly.

The thought of her naked body drove him crazy. Drove him wild. And the spell protecting his heart definitely didn't shield him from this sort of desire and lust of his flesh.

He closed his eyes and surrendered to his imagination of the beauty's bare body, her curves, her scent.

He envisioned how he would slide into the bath tub with her, how his arms would embrace her petite frame, how his hands would gently glide over her soft, delicious skin. His mind danced with vivid images of the delicate contours of her face, the gentle cascade of her hair, and the warmth of her touch. In the tapestry of his dreams, they lay together losing themselves in the depths of their hearts.

As he conjured the fantasy, Ruth felt the imaginary brush of Belisent's fingertips against his skin, a phantom caress that stirred the arcane embers within. The scent of wildflowers and magic enveloped him, creating an intoxicating ambiance in the sanctum of his thoughts. Lost in the reverie, Ruth whispered words of affection, the incantations of his heart, into the imaginary night. In this ethereal realm, their connection transcended the boundaries of reality, weaving a tapestry of desire and longing.

As the night embraced his musings, Ruth silently vowed to navigate the delicate dance between their friendship and his condition. After cleaning himself up, he packed his sketches and moved his workplace to the library, continuing completing his task.

****

Meanwhile Belisent was enjoying her bath. The hot water relaxed her tensed muscles and she sighed, sinking deeper into the water, staring at the rose petals that were scattered on its surface. The last bath she took was in Elam, a land far away, the night before their departure.

„I wonder whether he missed me...", she murmured deep in thought. She knew she missed him very much.

She had thought about him every single day for the past three years. He was the reason that she resisted several marriage proposals during her time in Elam.

***

„Who is he, the man that owns your heart?", the tall young handsome Elamian asked her gently, joining Bell who was looking at the night sky.

„What do you mean?", Bell answered in confusion.

„Have you really not realized? Your heart is already taken. It's the reason why you can't bring yourself to open up to anyone here - regardless of how handsome, polite and wealthy your suitors here are..."

Belisent shook her head: „That's not it... I just have a hard time finding love, I guess..."

„It's never hard to find love if your heart is open for it.", the Elamian said, gently removing a strand of hair from Bell's face, running his hand through her smooth hair in the process and kissing the hair strand: „Tell me about him."