Chapter Thirty-Nine: Ember Under the Tree

Night cloaked Verdant Crest Academy in a velvet stillness, stars piercing the indigo sky above Training Ground Three, their light glinting off the charred remains of wooden dummies. Roderic Vane stood bare-chested, sweat cooling on his lean, sun-kissed frame, red novice robe slung over his shoulder, trousers clinging low, hair damp and wild, eyes still alight with the fire of his practice. His boots crunched softly on the packed dirt as he retrieved his robe, the Shattered Veil relic in his core pulsing faintly, a warm echo of the flames he'd unleashed. His breath steadied, muscles aching from Maris's rigorous training, but his voice remained low and resolute, a quiet reverence for the cultivation that had pushed him to Middle Initiate. The field was empty now, the jealous stares of novices, adepts, and seniors fading into memory, their silent envy a weight he shrugged off with his easy grin.

He slipped on his robe, the red fabric brushing his skin, and turned toward the academy's stone paths, the dormitories looming in the distance. The night air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of scorched straw and Maris's lingering ice-and-fire aura, a reminder of his progress. His steps were steady, boots thudding rhythmically, thoughts drifting to Tansy—safe in Hearth Hollow, but never far from his mind—and the relic's hunger, a whisper he silenced with focus. "Rising fast," he murmured, voice smooth with a casual lilt, "but that shard's ravenous. I'll master it."

As he rounded a bend near the eastern gardens, a familiar figure caught his eye, standing beneath a towering oak, its branches heavy with shadow. She was a vision of quiet fire—slender yet strong, with a cascade of auburn hair falling in loose waves past her shoulders, framing a face both sharp and soft. Her amber eyes glowed with fierce resolve, catching the starlight, and her skin bore a faint tan, kissed by sun rather than toil. She wore a simple brown dress, belted at the waist, no adornments save a silver ring on her left hand, a contrast to the silked-up clan girls, yet she carried herself with a grace that turned heads. Her figure was striking—perky breasts, well-shaped hips, and a soft, rounded ass that swayed gently with each step she took, a sexy allure that drew gazes. A faint breeze stirred, carrying the whisper of wind qi around her, a subtle current that danced through her auburn hair, marking her as Aurelia Vance, a gem from Hearth Hollow he'd met during the academy's brutal assessment test. Back then, her beauty and extra ordinary talent had dazzled the elders and examiners, but his raw talent—fueled by the relic—had stolen the spotlight, leaving her shine dimmed in his wake.

Roderic's grin widened, the relic in his core humming louder, its dual pull stirring as he approached. "Well, look at you, Aurelia," he said, voice smooth, hazel eyes glinting with quiet confidence. "Still glowing like you did during that test—Hearth Hollow's gem, but I stole your thunder, didn't I, with my blaze?"

She turned, amber eyes locking on his, a flicker of recognition and a flush rising in her cheeks as the relic's magic wove through the air, unseen but potent. Her breath hitched, attraction blooming sharp and sudden, drawn to his rugged charm, the fire in his gaze, the quiet power she'd sensed during their first meeting. A gentle gust of wind qi swirled around her, rustling her dress, as she replied, voice soft but steady, a hint of amusement in her tone. "Roderic Vane, you did, with that wildfire of yours. But I'm still here—under this tree, wondering if you've got room for more than just flames and fury."

He chuckled, stepping closer, the relic's pull intensifying, her amber eyes widening, body leaning toward him instinctively, the wind around her softening, drawn to his presence. "Always room for a spark like you," he said, voice low, eyes tracing her auburn hair, her sexy curves, hips swaying as she shifted. "Care to sit under this tree? I've got time."

She nodded, heart quickening, the relic's influence weaving a thread of desire she couldn't resist, the wind qi around her settling like a caress. They settled beneath the oak, its branches casting dappled shadows, the grass cool under them, her brown dress rustling softly, a faint breeze teasing her auburn waves. Roderic sat close, his sun-kissed arm brushing hers, the relic's hum a quiet fire in his core, amplifying her attraction, her cheeks flushing deeper, wind qi whispering around them.

"So," he said, voice relaxed, grin disarming, "what's a fire like you doing out here alone? Not hiding from my shadow, I hope, after that test."

Aurelia's lips curved, amber eyes sparkling, but a flush crept up her neck, which she quickly masked by turning her face toward the stars, hair falling to cover her cheeks. Her voice was warm but measured, a gust of wind lifting her hair briefly. "I needed air—academy's loud, full of eyes. I saw you training today, flames roaring. You've grown, but I'm still digging deep with earth, soaring with wind. Does that blaze of yours ever quiet?"

Roderic caught the flush, his hazel eyes narrowing slightly with amusement, the relic's pull deepening, her attraction growing palpable. He leaned in, voice smooth, hand resting near hers on the grass, wind qi brushing his fingers. "Quiet? Not with you around, Aurelia. Your wind's a whisper, your earth a root—I'd trade my fire to hear it closer. That test showed your spark, but I burned too bright, didn't I? Let me make it up to you."

Her blush deepened, but she turned her face further, pretending to study the oak's leaves, auburn hair shielding her expression. Her voice softened, a tremble in it, wind qi swirling gently around them, hips shifting subtly, ass soft against the grass. "Make it up? You stole the shine, but I'm not bitter. My elements ground me—earth steady, wind free. But your fire… it's wild, dangerous. I felt it back then, and now, under this tree, I feel it pulling me in."

He grinned, voice low, hazel eyes locked on hers, the relic's magic sparking, her pulse racing, perky breasts rising with each breath, hips swaying as she adjusted. "Dangerous, yeah, but I'd tame it for you—earth, wind, and flame, a perfect storm. You're a gem, Aurelia, even if I blinded the crowd. What's it take to see that fire of yours burn brighter, not just in tests?"

She bit her lip, amber eyes flickering back to his, the flush returning, quickly hidden by a tilt of her head, hair cascading over her shoulder. Her voice was warm, but hesitant, wind qi rustling the grass. "Brighter? I've been training, weaving wind and earth into something strong. But your blaze… it's more than luck, isn't it? I sensed it during the test, that raw power. It's intoxicating, Roderic, but I'm wary—academy eyes are sharp."

He shifted closer, sun-kissed arm brushing her soft skin, the relic's hunger stirring, qi flaring faintly, wind qi dancing between them. "Intoxicating, huh? I'll take that," he said, voice playful yet steady, eyes tracing her sexy curves, hips swaying as she leaned in. "Wary's smart, but I'd guard you from those eyes. My fire's mine, yeah, but it's yours too, if you want it. Imagine us—your wind lifting my flames, your earth grounding my blaze. What's your next move, under this wind and stars?"

Her blush flared again, but she ducked her head, auburn hair shielding her face, voice trembling with attraction, earth qi grounding her as wind qi whispered. "My move's forward, but careful. I'd… I'd like to see your fire again, Roderic. Maybe here, tomorrow night, same spot? Under this tree, just us, with wind and earth to match your flame."

He grinned, voice low, hand brushing hers, the relic's pull binding them tighter, her amber eyes glowing with desire she couldn't fully hide. "Tomorrow, same tree—I'll bring the blaze, you bring the wind and earth. We'll light up the night, Aurelia, no tests, no shadows. Deal?"

She nodded, cheeks burning, but she turned away, pretending to adjust her dress, hips swaying softly, ass settling against the grass. Her voice was warm, wind qi rustling the leaves above. "Deal. I'll be here, with earth and wind ready. But your fire… don't let it consume you, Roderic. I saw it in the test—there's a hunger in it."

"Never," he said, voice steady, relic humming, a whisper of its curse in his core. "I'll guard it—and you. Tomorrow, under this oak, we'll see where this blaze leads."

They lingered, the night deepening, her amber eyes stealing glances at his, the relic's pull weaving their connection, her quiet fire, earth, and wind stoking his. But beneath her physical strength—slender yet powerful, rooted in earth and soaring with wind—her mental resilience wavered, weak and fragile, easily swayed by the relic's seductive magic, much like Lira had been. The more Roderic's cultivation soared, his Middle Initiate rank growing, the more his power amplified his charm, drawing higher-class and stronger cultivator women into his orbit, their resolve crumbling under his gaze. With a final, shy smile, she rose, auburn hair catching the starlight, hips swaying as she stepped away, wind qi whispering farewell. "Good night, Roderic. See you tomorrow."

He stood, watching her retreat toward her dorm, the relic's hum a triumphant pulse, her sexy figure a lure he knew he'd claim soon. "Good night, Aurelia," he said, voice low, grin widening as he turned toward the dorms, boots thudding on the stone path. His hazel eyes glinted with confidence, knowing the blaze between them would ignite into passion, her seduction assured, his cultivation power ensuring he'd soon have her in his arms, their dual path sealed by the relic's hunger.