The sun was high in the sky, its shadows casting long and irregular shapes across the clearing where the training was taking place. Strax stood before Bela, his gaze focused and attentive. The training had become a regular routine between them, but today there was something in the air. The energy felt different, as if the atmosphere was charged with something else. Something Strax couldn't quite identify. Bela's gaze was sharp, but there was a subtle tension in her posture, an expectation she tried to hide.
"Today, you'll see me shine, Strax. Be ready," Bela said, her voice firm, but with a slight hesitation that didn't escape his notice.
Strax raised an eyebrow. He knew Bela was a relentless trainer, but there was something different about her behavior today. The way she adjusted her sword in her hands, the stiffness in her body... It was as if she was fighting herself more than fighting him.
"Are you nervous?" Strax asked, trying to break the ice, unsure of what was happening. His smile was playful, but there was a hint of curiosity. Something was wrong, but he couldn't figure out what.
Bela clicked her tongue, her expression shifting into a mix of disdain and confusion. "Nervous? Me? No, of course not. I just... want to see if you've learned your lesson from yesterday." She spun her sword in the air with impressive skill, but the tension in her shoulders betrayed something more.
He was on alert now, but couldn't help but notice the way she moved. There was grace, strength, but also a certain vulnerability that Bela was trying so hard to hide. He stayed silent, watching her, as she focused on her stance.
Bela closed the distance quickly, her sword in motion. But instead of attacking with full force, she made a calculated move, aiming to strike at his sides, as if testing his reaction. Strax instinctively dodged with the agility of a cat. However, before he could fully recover, Bela advanced again, but this time her strike was uncontrolled, as though she was being driven by some repressed rage.
"Are you trying to kill me, or just scare me?" Strax asked, smiling, though there was a hint of concern in his voice. He had dodged a strong attack, but the aggression in Bela's move caught him off guard.
Bela stopped for a moment, her eyes fixed on him, as if searching for something. She bit her lip, briefly looking away, before responding sharply, almost as if holding herself back: "I'm just... trying to do my best here." Her voice was strained, an internal battle visible in her eyes.
Strax was confused. He knew Bela was hiding something, but what was it? He could feel the tension in the air, the fire she was trying to control. She was at war with herself, something was deeply bothering the woman in front of him, but what could it be?
"Are you okay, Bela?" he asked, his tone now softer, more concerned. "You're different today. You don't seem like yourself."
Bela looked at him with sudden anger. "And what do you know about how I am?" she shouted, almost involuntarily. Her sword clashed against his, a metallic sound echoing through the clearing. She was on edge, and Strax could feel it.
He didn't answer right away, just observing, trying to understand. Bela was standing there, seemingly calm, but her actions, her words, and the way she was behaving indicated the opposite. She was at war with herself.
Strax gave a half-smile, not caring about her denial. He moved closer, his expression more intense than before. "It's not a provocation, Bela. If you want my blood, here it is. Come."
He leaned slightly forward, his hand lightly touching his neck as if inviting her, his gaze defiant and calm, but also charged with something more. Something Bela didn't know how to handle.
"Come, Bela," he said again, his voice husky and low, almost like an order. "Take what you want, I'm here."
Bela was completely paralyzed. She felt a growing heat in her body, her heart pounding in her chest. The sight of Strax's exposed neck before her was hypnotizing. His pulse seemed to sing in her ears, almost like an invitation to approach and give in to temptation. She knew she shouldn't, she couldn't give in. But the desire inside her was overwhelming.
She swallowed hard, her eyes fixed on his soft, vulnerable skin. "I... don't need this." She tried to pull away, but the idea of rejecting his invitation now seemed impossible. She was so close that she could feel the heat of his skin as if the touch were inevitable.
The internal battle within Bela was clear. She wanted to leave, to return to her state of control, but everything in her body was screaming for her to go to him. The temptation was right there, in front of her, offering everything she wanted, and at the same time, everything she feared.
Strax, noticing the conflict inside her, said nothing more. He simply waited, his gaze fixed on her. He knew he was pushing her limits, but he also knew that the only way to understand her was to force the situation. Maybe she was the key to something more than he imagined. He didn't want her simple submission, but something deeper, more visceral.
Bela took a step towards him, almost without thinking, as if an invisible force was pulling her. The sensation was too intense. She was losing control, and it scared her. With trembling hands, she moved closer, her eyes still fixed on Strax's neck. The tension was palpable, the air between them charged with something more than just desire. It was a battle of wills.
"I... can't," Bela murmured, her voice barely a whisper. She wanted to stop, but her body didn't respond. The impulse inside her was stronger than any resistance.
Strax, still with his unshakable calm, tilted his head to the side, as if inviting her once more. "Don't be afraid, Bela. Come."
His tone, the way he spoke, was breaking down her last defenses. Bela hesitated for a moment, but then, she finally gave in, her hand almost touching Strax's neck. She closed her eyes, letting herself go, but just before she could get any closer, something inside her made her stop.
"I can't," she repeated, her voice more firm now, but the struggle still visible in her eyes. "I... can't. If I do this... I'll never stop."
"Who said I would stop you?" Strax teased as he moved closer to her, just enough for her to try pulling away...
"I already told you. Come." He commanded as his eyes seemed like two possessed black holes.