Book 1: Chapter 18: Dome Replacing and Attractive Frustration

Book 1: Chapter 18: Dome Replacing and Attractive Frustration

"Mmm..." Sophie groggily opened her eyes and blinked several times once she noticed that another set of eyes were calmly watching her.N0v3lTr0ve served as the original host for this chapter's release on N0v3l--B1n.

"Lone... Lone! Lone! Lone!" she immediately wrapped her arms around his neck and began sobbing.

Unsure of what to do, Lone just returned Sophie's hug. "What's with the overreaction?"

Sophie pulled away from Lone momentarily in shock before she dove face-first back into the nape of his neck. "You... You wouldn't wake up! It's been so long!"

Sophie's cries filled the bedroom and did little more than make Lone feel both awkward and sorry.

It was never a very good sign when a girl was crying, especially when it was your name being said alongside the tears.

'Been so long'? How long, exactly? I got beat up pretty badly but Id healed myself too so it cant have been, what, more than a few days, right? Lone thought.

He continued to hold Sophie and gently pat her back as he waited for her to calm down.

It took some time, but after roughly ten minutes, Sophie managed to settle her emotions. She got off of Lone and scurried out of the room quickly before returning with some clothes and some soup.

"I-I'm not that good at cooking... Ive, uh, I tried to do what you taught me, she said as she passed the bowl of soup to him.

He brought it up to his nose and sniffed it. Mushrooms?

She nodded happily as she sniffled a bit. Mmm. I-I know it doesn't look that good, but I promise it's really tasty! I, uh, only picked the mushrooms you said were safe and I tasted it myself earlier. Sorry its cold" Lone couldn't help but smile at her.

He brought the bowl of soup to his lips and took a sip. 'Lacking in all flavour but her heart was in it. I give it a hmm 7/10. Could use more salt.'

He patiently enjoyed the meal of cold mushroom soup. He had an audience, after all. It would be rude to let her down when shed clearly tried so hard.

You went outside? he asked. To get the mushrooms, I mean.

She nodded slowly. Mmm. I teleported. I never stayed out for more than a few minutes. I, uh, didnt spot any more goblins I think.

Lone wore a ponderous expression on his face but didnt speak. Once he was done with his soup, he said, "It was delicious, thank you very much, Soph."

A smile bright enough to put the sun to shame appeared on Sophie's face. "I'm glad..."

"Soph, how long was I unconscious for?" Lone asked as he sat on the side of the bed and started getting dressed.

Without hesitation, the girl scootched right next to him. She was practically sitting on his lap at this point.

Apparently, his extended state of unconsciousness had made her more attached to him.

Not the best of signs, he thought.

"I-It's been four days..." she said in a soft tone, sadness clouding her words. I was I was worried youd never wake up.

"Four days Fuck I mustve been exhausted or what, huh? Lone laughed dryly.

He finished putting his clothes on and flopped down onto the bed. Is the dome still active?"

It only had a life expectancy of three days since it was still beginner rank. By all rights, it should have dropped and disappeared yesterday.

Sophie shook her head, N-No. Its still there, uh, kinda

How and what does kinda mean? Lone asked.

Soph crawled up next to him and asked, Dont get mad?

I wont, he replied.

Promise? she pleaded, looking right into his eyes with those dead grey ones of hers.

He raised an eyebrow. You saying this is making me think I should be mad. Just explain, yeah? You know Im a reasonable guy.

"O-Okay. She took a deep breath then explained, I-I've been giving it my mana... I'm really happy that you woke up when you did. Of course, I'm happy that you woke up in the first place, but I feel like the dome might explode soon."

"Well, you should have said that straight away. Still, you can funnel your mana points into my spell and keep it active? How does that even work?" Lone said as he got up and began travelling to the illusionary dome.

"It's fine. Not like it really matters, I'm just upset that my teachings didn't stick with you. Maybe I was a crap teacher after all?" Lone mused sarcastically as he stroked his growing stubble.

It had been two weeks since he'd last shaved but a fine-looking beard was starting to take root on his face.

Sophie got a bit flustered upon hearing his words. "Th-That's not it! I just always get distracted by your fluffy tails..."

"Hmm, I should really start regulating your access to my foxy limbs, shouldn't I? You're almost like a drug addict," Lone said with absolutely no seriousness in his tone.

Sophie's face fell. What Lone had just said to her was the equivalent of telling a normal person that the world was coming to an immediate end.

He knew that and so did she. He also knew she wasnt the best at picking up on jokes.

"Please don't do that! I-Ill try to remember whatever you say," she begged as if someone was holding a gun to her head.

Lone laughed. "I was only kidding. Anyway, why don't you show me your other forms? I'm curious about what you look like as a teen and an adult."

"Ah, thats good..." She scratched her cheek and said, "Sure. I, uh, don't mind showing you. D-Dont laugh though, okay? I probably look stupid"

I would never laugh at you, Soph. Not unless you did something funny, Lone said with a grin.

Soph pouted but didnt reply. She instead led him to their bedroom. Once there, she picked up the duvet and then stripped.

Look, I like you a lot Soph, but that isnt going to happen, Lone said as he averted his eyes.

Dummy. I dont want to r-ruin my clothes, she explained. I get bigger, after all.

Right. That makes sense, Lone replied as he saw her with the corner of his eyes using the duvet to cover herself.

Her body then grew before his very eyes. Her hair stretched to remain at its prior height of being just below her knees.

She easily shot up by a few inches and her childish face looked a lot more defined, elegant, even.

Yup, she could definitely have been a fashion model or a kid movie star or something. Fuckin gorgeous people with their gorgeous genes, Lone complained internally.

Sophie didnt stop to ask for opinions or anything but instead simply became her adult self.

Her hair flowed down to her toes. Her face was noticeably sharper, like a European beauty. She was certainly far less cute and much more graceful than her younger selves.

Lone ended up turning his head away after he found himself staring at her. 'Shit. She's exactly my type. Fuck was that a curveball. I did not expect that one bit.'

"Lone?" Sophie's voice trembled a bit though it was much more alluring now to his ears.

Gone were the childish inflexions, replaced by a soft and soothing voice with hints of a Russian accent. Thats so fuckin sexy! Shit! Control yourself, Lone. Shes the same person on the inside Shes just a 1,000-year-old woman who acts immature half the time Fuck. Nothing is normal about that.

She ran up to him and pressed herself against him. She grabbed a few of his tails and hugged them too.

Sophie then stared up at his face with those beautiful grey eyes of hers, tears threatening to leak out of them. "Why are you looking away? Am... Am I painful to look at?"

"Ah, fuck. No, no, thats not it," Lone felt like he had been sighing a lot today.

He could also feel something else not quite so harmless welling up inside of him. "Please go back to your kid form. Ill be honest, youre exactly my type in your, uh, adult one. Bit of a curveball if Im being honest. Im feeling very uncomfortable right now, so, uh, yeah, revert. Please?

Your... type? her face flushed red as she immediately shifted back. She quickly rushed over to her clothes and began dressing.

Lone looked down and sighed once again. And one problem is replaced by another, he muttered before leaving for the bathroom. Being a virgin sucks

Sophie couldn't be more puzzled even if she tried. "He said I'm really attractive, but why is he so... frustrated?"

She finished putting on her clothes and just sat down on the bed in a bit of a daze. She held her face in her hands and couldnt help grinning.

Im his type Heheh She grabbed a pillow and hugged it. Hes a virgin too, huh? Thats oddly comforting

Quickly, her good mood was ruined by a throbbing pain in her mind. Not now You cant come out!

She curled up and fought back, waiting for the pains to fade. Things were finally going her way. Sophie wouldnt have this be taken from her.

Not now, not ever.