Buried in softness

After a hasty attempt to regain his composure, Liam headed for the bathroom. He freshened up, he moved sharply and efficiently as he dressed and combed his hair. He took a deep breath and stared at himself in the mirror, trying to shake off the anxiety he was feeling as a result of the task and the countdown.

Finally, he took a deep breath and opened the bedroom door, making his way to the dining room where the three women were already seated and waiting.

The dining room was exquisite with colourful designs showing scenes from historical battles, providing a dynamic backdrop to the rich feast spread out on the glistening hardwood table.

The centrepiece was a gleaming roast of beef surrounded by a rainbow of fresh vegetables, golden loaves of bread, and exotic fruits that enticed the senses with their aroma. Golden goblets were filled to the capacity with a rich crimson wine, and beautiful porcelain dishes were expertly set for each guest.

Liam sat at the head of the table, his chair resembled a throne with its tall back and detailed carvings. The seat was surprisingly comfortable, padded with plush velvet, but it only contributed to the bizarre atmosphere of the situation.

Lysandra sat to his right, her silver hair reflecting the light as she delicately arranged her napkin on her lap. Her piercing blue eyes moved about the room, still holding a tinge of her earlier agitated energy, but she appeared to be regaining her calm.

Selene, the woman with the horns, sat to his left. She leaned back in her chair casually with confidences as her tail swinged lazily behind her. Her presence was captivating, and Liam couldn't help but feel a little intimidated.

Erynn sat across from him. Her sky-blue eyes sparkled with mischief as she surveyed the table, and her lips curled into a teasing smile. She appeared completely at ease, her posture relaxed as she leaned forward slightly, her blonde hair streaming over her shoulders like a cascade. She caught Liam's eye and gave him a little taunting wink, which made him even more uncomfortable.

Servants moved quietly around the room, refilling goblets and setting additional food on the table, but the three women appeared to pay little attention. Instead, their attention was focused on Liam.

Liam shuffled uncomfortably in his seat, unsure how to behave in such an awkward situation. He looked at the food in front of him, his stomach growling despite his nervousness. He broke the pause with an embarrassed, "So, uh…this is quite the spread,"

Lysandra chuckled softly, her voice low and melodic. "You'll find that the king spares no expense when it comes to hospitality," she said, her crimson eyes glinting as she took a sip of wine.

Liam cleared his throat and straightened his back, trying to project a calm confidence that he certainly didn't feel. " "I'm Liam," he said, a bit awkwardly. "Liam Carter. I'm a college student back home..."

The three women exchanged puzzled glances.

"What's a college student?" Erynn asked, her brows furrowing.

"Never heard of that before," Selene added.

Liam rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly aware that he'd slipped up. "Uh… It's not important. Just... forget I said anything."

Selene smiled, an expression that revealed a hint of fang.

As Selene and Liam conversed, a shadow of movement caught his eye. In the space before him, the screen reappeared, its surface casting a shimmering glow over the table. The countdown clock now read "00:23:12."

Liam's heart skipped a beat, and he shifted his eyes downward to avoid the others from seeing his panicked expression.

A new message then appeared on the screen and the new message on the screen stated, "Gradual host termination will begin in 05:00," and was accompanied by a secondary countdown clock that began ticking down in seconds.

Liam forced a smile, trying to brush off the strange message on the screen. He decided to ignore it for now.

As the minutes ticked by, Liam felt a growing unease in the pit of his stomach. The secondary countdown on the screen was now at "00:30," and he couldn't help but glance at it every few seconds.

"Are you feeling alright?" Lysandra asked suddenly, her voice soft but laced with concern. Her icy blue eyes narrowed as she studied him. "You look a bit pale."

"I'm fine," Liam lied quickly, forcing a smile. He chuckled nervously, but his laughter caught in his throat as the countdown hit "00:00." Almost immediately, a wave of weakness washed over him. His vision blurred slightly, and his limbs felt heavy, as if he'd just run a marathon. He gripped the edge of the table to steady himself, his breathing becoming shallow.

"Hero?" Selene's voice cut through the haze, sharper now. Her crimson eyes locked onto his, her earlier amusement replaced with concern. "What's wrong?"

"I… I don't know," Liam stammered, his voice shaky. "I just feel… really weak all of a sudden."

Lysandra stood up quickly, her chair scraping against the floor. "You're sweating," she said, her tone urgent. "And your pulse is racing. Something's not right."

Erynn's playful demeanor vanished, replaced by a look of genuine worry. "Should we call for a healer?" she asked, glancing at Lysandra.

Before Liam could figure out what was happening, the screen in front of Liam flickered again. A new message appeared, its words glowing ominously: **"Host termination in progress. Time remaining: 04:59."**

Liam's heart sank as he read the words. His body felt as if it was shutting down down, his strength dropping with each passing moment. He tried to stand, but his legs gave out, and he slumped back into his chair, breathing laboriously.

"Hero!" Lysandra rushed to his side, her hands hanging over him, as if unsure what to do. "What's happening to you?"

Liam realized with a sinking feeling that he had no choice—he had to complete the task, or it was game over for him. The thought of his life literally ticking away was enough to push him into action, despite the fear and embarrassment coursing through him.

"Lysandra," he said weakly, his voice barely above a whisper. "I… I need your help. I can't stand."

Lysandra's she didn't hesitate. She stepped closer and reached out to support him. "Lean on me," she said. "I've got you."

Liam nodded, his legs shaking as he attempted to stand. He placed an arm over her shoulders, letting her bear the majority of his weight. Her body was warm and unexpectedly strong.

As they moved on, Liam's mind raced with a plan. He needed to accomplish the task quickly.

"Careful," Lysandra said, her voice low as she adjusted her grip on him. "You're heavier than you look."

Liam managed a weak chuckle, though his heart was pounding. "Sorry," he muttered, his voice strained. Then, seizing the moment, he pretended to stumble, his legs giving out entirely. He let his weight shift suddenly, pulling Lysandra off balance.

"Hey, be careful!" Lysandra cried out as they suddenly slumped forward.

As she turned her body to catch him, Liam's head landed with a soft thud, his face nestled in the curve of her bosom.