Akumi: Redemption

The Smitten Spell

Liv, Akumi's Elven roommate, sat in the living room of their apartment, relaxing at the computer. She was engrossed in an article about the strange goings-on around the Hexrealms while listening to a podcast detailing the past crimes of previously captured bounties. Her peaceful moment was interrupted when the automated front door vertically opened. Liv turned around in her swivel chair, expecting to see Akumi, but she was joined by someone she had never "really" seen before.

Liv's eyes widened as she took in the stranger beside Akumi. He was taller than she expected, his presence filling the room with effortless authority. The first thing she noticed was the bowler derby sitting snugly on his head, casting a shadow over his striking features. His skin was a deep, warm brown, and his sharp, alert eyes scanned the room as if assessing every detail. He wore a dark vest over a black shirt, with the sleeves rolled up to reveal strong forearms. Her gaze dropped to the gun belt slung low on his hips, the polished revolvers catching the light.

For a moment, Liv forgot how to breathe. There was something about the way he stood, so calm and composed, that made her heart race.

"Sup, Liv! We're back from our trip, and James got his bounty hunter license-along with his own drone!" Akumi said excitedly.

But Liv barely heard her. She was too enamored with James, unable to look away from him.

"Helloooo... Liv, are you there? Is everything okay?" Akumi asked, waving a hand in front of Liv's face.

The sound of Akumi's voice snapped Liv back to reality. She blushed with embarrassment and fidgeted nervously in her chair.

"Um... Akumi, who's this? What happened to your other friend, James?"

Akumi blinked in confusion, bewildered by Liv's question. It was as if Liv had forgotten they all lived together.

"Liv, have you been spraying insecticide with the windows closed? This is James. You were acting weird around him when you first met, complaining about how dark it was in here even though the lights were on. And you rudely called him a 'creature.'"

"Oh, right... sorry. Nice to see you again," Liv stammered, feeling foolish.

"Anyway, we took a trip to this shop in town and ran into a lady who gave him this strange necklace. It blocks that dark stuff you were talking about. It's working-no one attacked him, and no other girls pounced on him. But how are you feeling? Are you okay now?"

Akumi was right. The darkness, dread, and fear Liv had once felt in James's presence were gone. She could finally relax in her space without that oppressive aura. But now, it was replaced with new emotions, none of them negative. For the first time, Liv could truly see James without his dark aura clouding her perception. She couldn't stop ogling him; his handsome features left her absolutely smitten.

Rather than radiating an aura darker than the night, James now exuded a powerful animal magnetism that Liv found irresistible.

"I'm... um... fine, no problems here. The eerie sensations are gone, and the vibes in here feel... hotter than usual," she said, nervously fidgeting.

"There you go again, saying things that don't make sense. The AC is on, but if you're feeling hot, you should just open a window and let some fresh air in," Akumi said, tilting her head in confusion.

"That's not what I... ugh, never mind. I'm gonna go make dinner. Hope you like tilapia with couscous and mashed potatoes covered in gravy," Liv said, storming off to the kitchen in frustration.

"That sounds great, actually. Come on, James, let's go watch *Exodus*. It comes on in two minutes," Akumi said, guiding him by the arm to the couch.

"Sure, sounds interesting," James replied.