Chapter 103: Can a virgin?

Lumine had the upper hand, and she knew it. Her strikes came at Cassian with a relentless rhythm, pushing him harder and faster. Her smirk widened with every graze she managed, every bruise that marked Cassian's defenses. He was on the back foot, sweat running down his face as he dodged, ducked, and parried, his muscles aching from the constant strain.

Yet despite the pressure, Cassian's mind was strangely clear. As he endured each of her blows, a thought began to take shape—small observations about her movements that began to connect like pieces of a puzzle. He noticed the subtle way she shifted her weight before each swing, the slight hesitation in her footwork when she transitioned from an upward slash to a thrust.

The more he suffered her attacks, the sharper his focus became, like a blade being honed under constant pressure.

He began to see the pattern beneath the chaos of her attacks. Her overconfidence made her movements bolder, but also sloppier. She left herself exposed for just a fraction of a second after her heavier strikes, trusting that he wouldn't be able to counter quickly enough.

Cassian gritted his teeth as another strike landed on his side, a sharp sting burning through his ribs. But instead of recoiling, he focused through the pain, seeing the timing of her movements as if in slow motion. 'There—she shifts her stance to the left before a heavy strike,' he thought, watching the next move unfold in his mind before she even made it.

When Lumine launched another heavy swing toward his shoulder, he was ready. He stepped in, raising his blade to deflect her strike at just the right angle, knocking her sword off its path. For the first time in the duel, she hesitated, caught off guard by his sudden, precise move.

Cassian seized the moment. He saw another opening, right as she tried to recover her balance. With a calculated twist, he drove his practice sword toward her stomach, aiming directly for the solar plexus—a weak spot he knew could disrupt her body's rhythm if he hit it right.

The blow landed with a resounding thud, the force behind it sending a shockwave through Lumine's body. Her eyes widened in surprise, her breath catching in her throat as the impact struck her core. The shock rippled through her, paralyzing her for a split second as the wind was knocked out of her lungs.

She doubled over, arms instinctively wrapping around her midsection, and lost control of her footing.

With a choked gasp, Lumine collapsed backward onto the ground, her body curling in on itself as she tried to fight through the sudden pain and disorientation. She hit the dirt with a dull thud, struggling to regain control over her breathing, each inhale coming in sharp and uneven. For a moment, she could only stare up at the sky, stunned by the force of Cassian's counterattack.

Cassian stood over her, chest heaving, his own body worn down from the relentless fight. He could feel the ache in his muscles, the sting of the bruises she'd inflicted on him, but he allowed himself a small, triumphant smirk. He knew that she hadn't expected him to strike back with such precision and power, and for once, he had turned the tables on her.

He smiled smugly at the pained and shocked expression on her face as he offered her his hand. When she took it, he pulled her up, leaning in close, his breath brushing against her ear as he whispered, "Better get ready to lose your virginity now."

Lumine's cheeks flushed crimson as she remembered the reckless bet she had made if she lost. She'd been so focused on embarrassing Cassian, trying to make him admit he was gay as punishment for losing to her, that she had completely forgotten the stakes she'd set for herself. Now, with Cassian standing so close, the reality of her own words hit her hard.

Seeing Lumine blush, Cassian chuckled, his amusement only growing as some of the officers cheered for him, with Robert being the loudest among them. Lumine shot Robert a glare, but the flush on her cheeks made her look more cute than intimidating.

'Looks like she really is a virgin...' Cassian mused with a smile. His excitement dimmed a little as he realized she probably wouldn't follow through with her bold promise of "riding him" if she lost. But the thought didn't bother him much—there was still plenty of enjoyment to be had from the victory itself.

He shook off the distraction, focusing instead on the satisfaction of winning his first duel. It was just the beginning, with nine more victories to claim in his training task.

[Accepted training tasks]

Win ten friendly duels [Won: 1/10]

Kill ten low-level magic beasts on your own [Killed: 0/10] Sёarch* The nôvelFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Give 10 perfect, satisfying full-body massages [Done: 0/10]

......]

He was pleased with his win, but as he felt the exhaustion settle in, he realized just how much energy he had poured into the ten-minute fight. He had initially planned to tackle multiple opponents on days when Julius held lectures, like today, but now he wasn't so sure. The duel had taken more out of him than he'd expected.

Feeling worn out, he tiredly made his way to wash up his face, though not before Robert insisted on getting a treat from him to celebrate the victory.

The lecture had ended some time ago, and most of the students had already dispersed, leaving only a few behind to watch the duel between Cassian and Lumine. Now that the fight was over, the stragglers had moved on as well, leaving the training grounds quiet, save for the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze.

Cassian, still feeling the sting of fatigue, walked over to one of the open sinks by the training grounds to wash his face.

As the cool water splashed against his skin, he caught sight of Lumine sitting nearby, her head down and a slight frown on her lips. She looked a bit dejected, her usual sharpness dulled by the outcome of the duel. Cassian couldn't resist a smirk as he approached her, wiping the remaining water from his face with the back of his hand.

"Are you sad because you lost, or because now you'll have to lose your virginity?" he teased, his voice carrying a playful edge.

Lumine's eyes snapped up, and she shot him an annoyed glare. "Of course, it's because I lost…" she grumbled, her tone sharp but lacking its usual bite.

Cassian, still smug, glanced down at her as she sat, a grin playing on his lips. "Well, sorry I won..." he said, though his tone and expression were anything but apologetic, clearly enjoying his victory over her in the duel.

Lumine's expression shifted from annoyance to outright anger as she glared down at Cassian. "You little bastard..." she growled, frustration lacing her voice. Before Cassian could react, she grabbed the collar of his shirt, towering over him by a head.

Her eyes blazed with a fierce intensity as she looked down at his stunned face, the smugness disappearing from his features at the sudden shift in control. Without giving him a moment to process what was happening, she yanked him closer, pulling him up toward her lips.

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Lumine's lips met Cassian's in a kiss that felt almost hesitant—her eyes tightly shut, her grip still firm on his collar as she leaned in. It was more of a long peck, her lips barely brushing against his. The pressure was there, but the movement was stiff, like she was forcing herself through it rather than letting the moment unfold naturally.

Cassian's surprise quickly gave way to an inward chuckle, his thoughts turning smug once more. He could feel the awkwardness of her touch, how tightly she pressed her mouth to his without any real finesse or passion behind it. He'd had a taste of real, practiced kisses before—twice, from women he considered to be far more experienced.

They'd left him with a sense of what a kiss could be, smooth and confident, and this... well, this wasn't quite it.

But still, he didn't pull away. Instead, he allowed the moment to stretch, feeling the tension in her grip and the warmth of her breath. He couldn't help but find a bit of amusement in the situation—Lumine, so fierce and prideful, now caught in a clumsy attempt to assert herself through this unexpected kiss.

Soon, she broke the kiss, her face flushed red as she tried to maintain a confident expression. "See? I can do this. Can a virgin do that...?" she challenged, her voice wavering slightly despite her attempt to sound bold.

Cassian didn't bother responding to her taunt. Instead, he mirrored her move, grabbing her collar and pulling her down toward him, pressing his lips against hers in return.

But unlike her, Cassian knew that merely pressing their lips together didn't qualify as a real kiss. Instead of just touching, he leaned in and began to suck gently on her bottom lip, catching her off guard. Lumine instinctively tried to push him away, but his grip on her collar kept the kiss going longer than she anticipated.

As he worked his magic, she felt a warm tingle spread across her lips, a sensation that took her completely by surprise, before she was able to stop him.

When she finally pulled back, breathless and wide-eyed, her cheeks were still flushed, a mix of embarrassment and confusion evident on her face. "What was that?" she stammered, trying to regain her composure, but the spark of exhilaration in her eyes betrayed her.

"I was just showing how people who aren't virgins kiss," Cassian said, a smug expression on his face as he emphasized certain words.