⚠️ ADULT STORY - Magical Realism
In the quiet, lantern-lit streets of Matsushima, Sharva stumbles upon a small ramen shop hidden between towering buildings. Hungry and desperate for warmth, he steps inside-only to be captivated by Aika, the enigmati...
The night air was cool as you and Aika walked back to her apartment, the stars gleaming like scattered crystals across the velvet sky. She stayed close by your side, her steps mirroring yours, savoring the tranquil silence that had settled comfortably between you.
After a time, she broke the quiet, her voice soft and edged with a hint of vulnerability.
“Can I ask you something … personal?”
Hearing the delicate timbre in her voice, I turned to her, a gentle smile lifting my lips. “Of course, Aika. You can ask me anything. What’s on your mind?”
Aika gazed at me, her eyes searching mine in the dim light, a mix of curiosity and caution reflected in her soft expression. “Have you ever… been in a serious relationship before?” she asked, her voice gentle yet laced with an unexpected solemnity.
I paused, letting the weight of her question sink in before answering. “No, I haven’t… not one that ever lasted long enough to be called ‘serious,’” I replied quietly. “I’ve always been rather shy and introverted, so forming deep connections has never come easily to me.”
I let out a quiet chuckle, a touch of self-consciousness slipping into my voice as I toyed with the hem of my jacket.
Back when I was still the dragon prince, there were plenty of women who wished to be my wife. I was wealthy, intelligent, powerful—and, though I’m not proud of it, my mind would often wander.
“But somehow… my heart always held itself back from love. Even brief romances felt empty to me. Yet these past few days, being around you… I’ve realized how much I treasure our time together, how much I want to know you better.” I keep my past a secret
Aika listened intently, her gaze softening as though she sensed the loneliness tucked into my words. When I finished, she reached out and gently took my hand, her fingers curling around mine in a gesture both tender and reassuring. “I understand what it feels like to be alone,” she murmured, her thumb tracing gentle patterns over my knuckles. “Sometimes, even surrounded by people, we can feel unseen.”
She looked up at me, her gaze warm and sincere. “I’m so grateful we crossed paths, Sharva. Your kindness… your gentleness… they’ve touched me deeply. I want you to know that you’re not alone anymore—I’m here, and I see you.”
Her smile grew as she lifted her hand to brush a stray lock of hair from my face, her touch lingering. But before I could respond, four large men emerged from the shadows, their movements silent yet filled with menace.
My heart leapt as I instinctively stepped in front of Aika, shielding her. “Who are you? What do you want?” I demanded, keeping my voice steady despite the tension winding tighter in my chest.
One of the men darted forward, pressing a cloth against my mouth. A sickly sweet scent filled my lungs, making my head swim as I fought to stay conscious. Through the haze, I vaguely heard Aika calling my name before the world went dark.
***
When I came to, a throbbing ache pulsed through my head, and my vision was blurred. My arms were bound above me, chains digging into my wrists, forcing me into a kneeling position. My legs, too, were restrained, holding me captive in place.
Then, across the room, I saw something that made my blood freeze.
Aika was hanging by her wrists, her slender form bruised and vulnerable, clad only in her shorts and bra. Fury surged through me, my muscles straining against the chains, but they held firm, and the dragon’s power within me remained locked. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to remain calm—losing control could only endanger her further.
“Let us go! What do you want?” I shouted, the force of my voice reverberating through the room as Aika stirred, her eyes fluttering open. As she took in her own state and saw me, a look of horror crossed her face.
Her expression quickly hardened, her voice cutting through the oppressive air. “It’s okay. I’m here,” she whispered, though her voice was hoarse. “We’ll get through this… together.”
Aika twisted against her restraints, her eyes scanning the dimly lit room, taking in our captors and the ominous setting. “We don’t know why they took us,” she murmured, her voice steady yet quiet, “but we’ll have to stay strong and clear-headed if we’re going to escape.”
The door creaked open, and a tall, muscular man stepped inside, his lips twisting into a sneer as he took in the sight of us bound and vulnerable. “Well, well,” he drawled, his eyes alight with malicious glee. “Our little heroes are awake. You two really shouldn’t have meddled in our business.”
He walked toward Aika, his gaze lingering over her in a way that made my blood simmer.
Aika’s jaw tightened, her eyes narrowing as she spoke with defiance. “You should be ashamed, treating people like this!” she spat, her voice trembling with fury. “You’re looking for Tsukishiro Himemori, aren’t you? I know where she is—let him go! He has nothing to do with this!”
The man laughed, his voice harsh and devoid of warmth. “You knew what we were looking for. We’ll see just how cooperative you are soon enough.”
He leaned in close to her, his breath foul and hot. “And as for your pretty little friend here,” he sneered, his gaze shifting toward me with mocking amusement, “I bet he’d fetch a good price on the market. Handsome, strong—you’d make a fine slave.”
Aika’s face paled, her stomach churning as she processed his words. “No! You won’t touch him!” she cried, her voice laced with desperation. “Take me instead! Let him go!”
The man’s sneer widened as he gripped her chin, his fingers pressing cruelly into her skin. “Such a brave little act,” he sneered, leaning closer. “But you’ll be begging soon enough.”
At his vile words, a low growl escaped my throat. “Stop… don’t touch her…” My voice was thick with fury as I strained against my chains, feeling the dormant power within me flicker awake, like embers catching flame.
“Aika…” I rasped, my voice raw. “Don’t… trust him…”
The leader only laughed, his grip tightening around my throat as he watched me struggle. Black spots swam before my eyes, but I held on, refusing to yield to the suffocating darkness. I had endured enough helplessness—now was the time to act.
“Let… her… go…” I snarled, summoning every last ounce of strength as the power within me surged, awakening like a tempest held barely at bay.
One of the other men moved toward Aika, his gaze roving over her with unrestrained malice. His hand reached toward her, but before he could lay a finger on her, she reacted, her knee snapping up to strike him hard in the groin. He stumbled back, clutching himself with a pained groan.
The leader’s face twisted with anger as he released me and stormed toward her, delivering a brutal slap across her face. The sight of Aika’s head snapping back sent a surge of power crashing through me, the dragon’s strength flooding my senses like wildfire.
“I’ll kill you all,” I murmured, each word dripping with barely contained rage.
The leader’s cruel smirk faltered, replaced by a flicker of unease as he saw the change in my eyes. He realized too late the depths of his mistake. The true battle was about to begin, and I would make them regret every breath they took in this room.
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29 Oct 24
I hate my limited English skill. 😭 The feel when in my native language is way much better than this.
