The Melancholy of Macedon (Maria/Kiran, from Fire Emblem) (Patreon)

The Dining Hall was a rowdy place.

Was.

It used to be a truly chaotic location, but it had been a long time since you had seen it in such a state.

One would think it would grow louder with your presence. Once upon a time, it in fact did. Some heroes wouldn’t hesitate to make a big deal out of your presence even though you yourself never saw yourself as a big deal.

But now, things were different. Whenever you were seen entering the Dining Hall, some would tense up, and others would quiver a little in fear.

Heroes didn’t react this way because of you specifically, of course. They did so for your presence was an indication of what was to come.

You did not eat alone-- you were always with another person, and it was that person who they feared. Some heroes considered this place their second home, and they weren’t so easily going to forget the one time he snapped and almost killed somebody.

Michalis was the man they feared. He was a reserved hero, preferring to eat by himself. However, he didn’t mind eating with members of his family, and somehow, you were included on that very short list.

It was still weird to think that you had found yourself on this exclusive list in the first place.

One of the first hurdles you had to overcome during your time in Askr was two heroes who simply couldn’t get along. Michalis and Minerva had history-- an immense amount, in fact, especially as they were siblings.

But things started to look up when their little sister, Maria, was summoned. Being brought forth to a new world was a stressful experience for the girl, but her siblings were eager to put aside differences to make her stay here a comfortable one.

...at least, that was how things were initially. Much had happened since her summoning, and recalling it all still made you question whether everything had truly happened or not. There were just some things that were too surreal.

___

“I need your help,” Maria had taken you to one side, wishing to speak to you in private. “You’re the only one I can ask this of.”

“...sure, what’s up?” you were a little worried, mainly because of the girl’s current expression. Maria was biting down hard on her lip, and her face looked damp. It wasn’t because of the onslaught of rain pouring down outside either.

“I… look, this is going to sound strange, but…” she murmured, not particularly sure how to word whatever she had to say. It was difficult for you to read her tone too. She sounded confused, saddened, and even a little… giddy? It was a strange combination. “My siblings are fighting again. I heard they did it a lot before I was summoned… but now, they’re at it again.”

“Ah, yeah... they are,” you mumbled, more than familiar with the feud she was referring to. Michalis and Minerva did not get along, but when they acted so endearing towards their little sister when she was first summoned, you hoped any conflict between the two would seize to be thanks to the cleric’s presence. Unfortunately, after the emotion from the reunion had faded, it was like they had forgotten about their little sister, and the arguments started anew. “It’s a shame… I had hoped you being here would make them realise they both had something they wanted to protect, and that they could look past their differences because of that.”

Maria walked towards the nearby window, her focus on the relentless weather outside. She seemed mesmerized by the rain, perhaps because it was something visually appealing to latch onto while she was lost in thought. Its sound was muffled thanks to being indoors, but it was because of that that it sounded comforting.

You waited patiently, knowing she needed time to think about things. She was in an awful situation, with barely anyone to turn to; not many from Archanena had been summoned, and those who were present were not guaranteed to be approachable. You were likely only on her list since you were a familiar enough face and had chatted with her a few times. You were fairly acquainted with her brother too, and she often spent time with him, which didn’t sit too well with her sister. Because her options were so limited, you felt compelled to help her any way you could. You couldn’t leave her to suffer alone.

“...have you tried approaching them and telling them about how you feel?” you muttered a suggestion, but you immediately felt foolish for bringing it up.

“There’s no point,” she answered. “If I do, maybe I’ll get them to stop, but only temporarily. Michalis… he wants to make amends, I know this… but Minerva… she can’t forgive him for what he’s done, and I can’t blame her for that either.”

Her voice was on the verge of breaking, but Maria was an incredibly strong-willed girl, refusing to let any tears out. It was tempting to tell her that it was okay to cry, but you weren’t sure you had the right to tell her that. You only knew a summary of what she had been through, so your understanding of her pain would be limited.

Silence reigned momentarily, aside from the sound of splashing. It was typically an annoying sound that was a sign that your plans had been hindered, but right now, you hoped it was soothing her. You joined Maria in gazing at the foggy horizon, noticing a ray of light emerge from the clouds. It was a signal that the torrential downpour would soon be reaching its conclusion, so at least that was something to look forward to, even if the rain was comforting to the ears.

Maria spun around, facing you with a miraculous look of determination. Before you could question it, she spoke. “I have an idea. That’s why I need your help… it’s just… a little embarrassing to ask this of you…”

She scratched her cheek, backing up her words by beginning to look bashful. It was an adorable face, far preferable to the anguish that previously painted it.

“I’ll do what I can to help, so don’t be afraid to ask,” you reassured her. “I want them to get along too.”

“In that case…” she mumbled, her look of embarrassment gradually growing more prominent. Whatever was going through her mind was certainly unnerving her, but when she realised she had paused for quite a long time, she gathered her courage, shot forward, and grabbed your hand. “I want you to be… my new big brother!”

Never in a million years did you think you’d hear such words. Maria shared her plan with greater enthusiasm-- and volume, prompting you to look around. Fortunately, this secluded corridor was a good location to share a master plan… even if that plan was a strange one.

“Um…” you had no idea what to say. You stared at her, unable to think properly. All that was on your mind was how unbelievably soft her hand was!

“...don’t look at me like that,” Maria noticed the confusion painting your face, and you were thankful she was misinterpreting it. She was at least prepared for an odd reaction, and it was far preferable to how you could have reacted. You could have laughed, furthering her embarrassment. Confusion could at least be sated with elaboration. “I’m… going to disown them. Not literally, of course. But… I will tell them that. I will tell them I’ve had enough, and I’m going to be serious. I don’t want to solve things temporarily, so I need to tell them that, well, I’m on the line. They’re not going to take me seriously unless I threaten them.”

Maria’s solution was dramatic… but strangely plausible. Better plans undoubtedly existed, however, and you were worried about how easily something like this could backfire horrendously.

“...uh, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I am afraid your brother hearing this may make him want to kill me,” you confessed.

Hearing your fears made Maria laugh. It was an adorable giggle, bewildering and mesmerizing you simultaneously. Of course, you knew Maria was a cute girl, but hearing her laugh for the first time was a little magical. You didn’t know her all too well, but she was undeniably enchanting, and perhaps… this plan of hers was a good way to get to know her better… even if there were risks.

“He won’t do that, because he knows it would upset me,” she made a fair point.

You had a fair point to share too. “Then he’d hate me. A lot. More than he probably does already. That could be bad for the Order.”

“Not if the plan works, though!” Maria sounded awfully confident. As if expecting you’d ask how, she continued. “Michalis and Minerva are both going to be insanely jealous, but more importantly, it’ll actually make them consider how awfully they’ve been treating me, and each other too!”

You still weren’t fully convinced, but you couldn’t say no to such enthusiasm.

You had one more question.

“...do I have to be your big brother?”

Maria giggled, but it didn’t last long. Her expression was soon coated in a shade of red. “Well… I did have a different idea originally… where you were my, uhm, b-boyfriend… and we like, uhm, eloped… but well, I didn’t mention it since you would probably think I was weird and uh-”

The Macedon girl shut her mouth quickly, widening her eyes.

It was clear she did not intend to say that out loud. The adrenaline from the confession was clearly still in play, it seemed.

As amusing as the mistake was, it was making Maria panic. Her embarrassment had escalated beyond belief.

But you had the power to fix that… well, at least remove the ‘panicking’ part.

“Sure, let’s go with that idea. I like it,” you told her.

You had only asked about the big brother part as a means of teasing her a little. You were even going to ask if she was going to actually call you ‘big brother’.

...but things had changed quickly. The idea of her being your girlfriend, pretend or not, was nerve-wracking, but you couldn’t back out now. It was the only thing you could do to minimise the impact of her mistake, and luckily, your gambit did pay off.

Maria took a deep breath, successfully calming her nerves. She was still bashful about what had happened, but rather than panicking with a flare of embarrassment, she was instead feeling a little giddy… with that same flare, naturally.

“...ah… b-boyfriend… you... “ she giggled again, clasping her cheeks with her hands while she wavered from side to side. She legitimately looked like a girl with a crush, and now you were curious if your idea was actually making her feel things for you! Maria then slapped her cheeks and laughed. “How was that? Did I look convincing? I need to look like I’m a girl in love, unable to stop looking at my dashing new lover!”

“...aha… y-yeah, you had me fooled for a second there…” you muttered, not sounding that believable at all. Fortunately, Maria seemed to be in her own little world, dancing a little while humming. Deciding to make your internal state of affairs dramatically worse, she grabbed hold of your arm with both of hers, effectively latching onto you.

...just like a girlfriend would.

It was during this moment that you really noticed how enamored you were with Maria. You obviously knew she was outright adorable, but whenever you were lucky enough to be in her presence in the past, you felt all sorts of emotions around her. You had wanted to help her for so long, but you were well, a mere acquaintance. She knew you, but you didn’t believe you knew her well enough to have the right to intervene. That was why her making the first move of sorts was such a pleasant surprise.

It had been difficult to resist that temptation, especially with seeing how often she had bags under her eyes.

“Let’s go pay them a visit, then!”

As soon as she started dragging you off, you bit down hard on your lip, hoping to dispel the brewing anxiety dwelling within. There was simply no way this was going to end well, right?

It did not.

Minerva and Michalis were not difficult to track down. They were both training--independently, of course, but Maria had the power to call them over. They were perplexed as to why Maria was clinging onto you so hard, but things were not hard to figure out.

Just in case they needed it, Maria made sure to spell it out for them too. “He’s my new boyfriend! I’m going to be spending all my time with him from now on!”

If only.

You had expected Michalis to react angrily, but he seemed… indifferent on the matter. Well, that was how you were interpreting his sheer lack of reaction, at least. Surprisingly, Minerva was the one who was reacting negatively about it.

“Boyfriend?! What is the meaning of this?” she almost yelled. She seemed awfully in denial more than anything else, but you couldn’t blame her for feeling that way. It did come out of nowhere.

“That’s right,” Maria said with a grin, but it did not last. “Are you jealous, big sis? Maybe if you didn’t spend so much time fighting with Michalis, maybe you’d be able to find a man too!”

That sentence was likely supposed to be sound playful and teasing… but her voice did not express that.

“Maria, you-” Minerva spoke, but she was interrupted quickly.

“You know, I’m sick of having a brother and sister who always fight, so now that I’ve found someone who genuinely loves me, I am going to be spending all my time with them instead,” Maria was not afraid to be snappy, refusing to give either sibling a chance to intervene. For someone who claimed they weren’t going to be too serious about this and that they just wanted to scare them… their voice was breaking an awful amount. When you saw a tear fall out of her eye, you knew then that this wasn’t a game any longer. “I can’t stand the sight of you two! I don’t want a brother and sister who fight all the time, so from now on, I’m not going to consider you two my siblings any longer.”

As Maria continued and her tone grew fiercer and fiercer, especially when Minerva looked like she was about to interject, you started to worry. The girl was speaking from the heart, no longer able to hold back how she was truly feeling. It was inspiring, but you were afraid about how things would be after.

The Red Dragoon looked over at her brother, and the two stared into each other’s souls, both thinking many things but unable to share a single word.

Michalis turned his gaze towards you. His stare was a little unnerving, but it lacked the sinister aura you were anticipating. He was undeniably thinking about much, but he didn’t seem disheartened by his younger sister’s comments, oddly enough.

You were more familiar with the man than you were with Minerva, for he had been by your side the longest. He was a reserved individual, keeping to himself unless provoked, where he could lash out quickly. It was difficult to approach him at times as he was prone to almost violent outbursts, but he was able to keep himself fairly under control.

The appearance of Minerva and Maria, almost simultaneously, changed things quickly. While still somewhat stuck in his ways, he grew gentler, and could even tolerate annoyances (only when around his family, admittedly). Although Minerva often verbally clashed with him, he rarely fought back, for it was clear his priorities were shifting towards safeguarding Maria. You were tremendously glad that his younger sister’s presence had helped soothe him, but that was why you were concerned he would react badly to her announcement. Everything related to her was taken very seriously.

“I see,” he spoke quietly. “If that is your decision, then very well.”

What was he seeing that you weren’t? You weren’t sure, but you were extremely glad for it. You were legitimately half-convinced Maria’s plan would result in you being a dead man. The only thing that kept you calm was her incredible confidence, and it seemed you were right to believe in it more than your own fears.

“You approve of this, Michalis?” Minerva did not sound angry. She sounded scared. Terrified. There was an ever-present fear in her voice that was reminiscent of her sister’s emotional outburst moments before. “Maria is disowning us!”

“Yes, and you ignore why,” he hastily responded. Minerva scowled, and it prompted him to continue. “Askr has given us the chance to be a family once again, but we cannot be one if we continuously clash.”

“It is not easy for me to forget the things you have done,” Minerva answered sternly, crossing her arms in defiance.

You kept your focus on Maria, noticing she was not liking how her sister was reacting. The argument had caused her hands to curl into fists. She squeezed her fingers tightly, venting out her frustrations, but you knew that wouldn’t be enough to keep her under control. Maria was done being a spectator to these clashes. It was time for her to intervene. “This is exactly what I’m talking about. Did you even listen to a single thing I said, Minerva? I’m done playing these games. I am leaving, and there will be no protesting about it. Understood?”

A quick tug on your arm indicated she was ready to depart, and you helped her leave, leaving the two siblings alone.

Maria’s destination seemed to be any place that was devoid of people, and upon finding that location, she collapsed onto your chest, letting out all of her troubled emotions.

“W-What have I done...?” she muttered, unable to say anything else that sounded coherent. Her voice was drowned by a heartbreaking wail, and hearing it broke your heart. It was a sound that made you understand why she had taken you to a secluded location.

You did the only thing you could do. You held her, giving her a shoulder to cry on. This was a girl who needed comfort more than anything else, and you weren’t going to abandon her. Your grip tightened when you felt her body gave way, a sudden lack of energy preventing her from keeping her feet on the ground. It was an awkward position for her, but she was at least able to let loose her emotions out on something.

Maria cried for a long time, and as much as it broke your heart to hear her wails, you said nothing. It was frustrating, because you wanted to say something! You desperately wanted to! But deep down, you knew you could only sympathise with her feelings, not empathise. There was nothing you could say that would help. There was no advice to give. You simply didn’t have an adequate understanding, but you were at least grateful you could bring her some amenity by holding her.

The cleric calmed down over time, her cries turning into silent sobs. When she finally released herself from your grasp, her face was stained in water.

“I’m sorry…” was the first thing she said, rubbing her eyes many times.

“You have nothing to apologise about,” you quietly answered her.

“I’m… a lot more cheerful than this, you know…” she murmured. “But this… this fighting… it’s getting to be more than I thought. I’ve been stubbornly optimistic, thinking their fractured relationship will mend itself eventually, but there’s been no sign of change. Minerva and I have been here for months! Nothing has changed. Nothing!”

You lacked knowledge of a lot of the history, but you disagreed with her there. You believed you had witnessed what you believed to be a turning point. Maria did not see it as such, but you could not blame her for not noticing. She was used to the status quo, while you weren’t.

It was time you returned that smile to her face, because there was hope; there was something to be stubbornly optimistic about.

You prayed you weren’t wrong. You weren’t sure if this girl’s heart could handle getting cracked a second time.

“I am so scared...” she continued, her voice still just as painful. “I was naive to think this plan would work. They hate me now. I am certain of it! I didn’t want this...”

Noticing she was on the verge of tears, you forced her into another hug, this one even tighter. Its main purpose wasn’t to comfort, however, but rather distract. “Don’t be so hasty with assumptions, Maria.”

She didn’t say anything for some time, but your peculiar sentence wasn’t left unnoticed.

“...what do you mean?”

“Your sister sounded the same way you do now,” you explained. “She was distraught. She fully believed what you said, and it made her panic.”

“...t-then I’ve made an even bigger mistake…” she groaned. “I don’t want my big sister to feel like I do right now…”

“Maria, this is a good thing,” you corrected her, continuing hastily since you knew such a claim needed elaboration. “You told me earlier that Michalis wanted to make amends, but Minerva simply cannot forgive him. Correct?”

“Uh-huh…”

“Well, I believe that’s going to change,” you continued, placing a hand on her head. You had prevented her from falling to despair, but her body was shivering with anxiety. You gently rubbed her crown, hoping it would help soothe her soul even a little. “She may not forgive him still, but she will understand how much pain this is causing you, for she is experiencing the same. Because of that, she will do her best to get along with him, for your sake.”

Maria listened intently, but she took her time responding. You continued to embrace her, thankful that her body’s internal calamity was slowly but surely dissipating.

When she let go a second time, she stepped back and breathed deeply. She looked a lot better, enough to even muster a slight smile. “...do you really believe that?”

“I do.”

“It… felt awful-- yelling at them like that,” Maria confessed. “I wanted to scare them. I wanted to be selfish. I wanted to express my feelings through this silly boyfriend plan. But… when I heard Minerva’s reaction, I was so angry! The only time she showed some sort of care for me in weeks and it was because of something she didn’t approve of!”

It was nice to hear her talk with a stable voice. There were still hints of fracture, but she had significantly calmed down. “You expressed your true feelings, Maria. I’m proud of you. I don’t think I could do something like that.”

Maria gazed up at you, her eyes beaming. “Do you really, really mean that?”

“Of course.”

Taking a step back, she placed her hands behind her back and let loose a short giggle. “Thank you. That means a lot.”

“You’re very welcome,” you resisted the urge to pat her head again. Too much would embarrass her, and you didn’t want that.

Maria evaded eye contact momentarily, but it didn’t stop you from noticing the warm blush on her face. What you didn’t know was whether it was a result of all the emotions she had experienced, or perhaps…

“Thank you for being my pretend boyfriend too,” she giggled. “You know… I wouldn’t mind if…”

She cut herself off, biting down hard on her lip. It wasn’t to prevent any anxiety this time, however, but rather to make sure she didn’t say something she shouldn’t.

Still, it didn’t stop you from curiously nudging her for more information. “You wouldn’t mind if…?”

“...I think I’ve had enough speaking from the heart for one day!” she laughed, doing a little twirl. It was adorably distracting, and you suspected she knew that, especially when she continued with a change of topic. “Would you be okay with escorting me back to my room? I… don’t really want to be alone. Not just yet.”

“Sure. It would be my pleasure,” you were humble, but genuinely were happy to hear that. You didn’t feel comfortable leaving her be just yet, especially when she was so volatile moments before.

Surprisingly, she ended up latching to your arm again, but unlike before, she was content with taking her time with walking. In fact, she snuggled up a little more than before, humming quietly to herself.

“...uh, is this necessary, Maria?” you’re not sure why you asked her that, considering you were loving this attention, and she doubtlessly was too. Then again, you couldn’t exactly reveal that.

“Ah, well… I think it’s good we keep pretending for a little while,” she answered a little messily. “We have to look convincing to everybody else too!”

“Uh-huh…” you mumbled, not really sure what else to say. Still, you saw no reason to complain. It was nice having Maria cling onto you like this, even if her grasp was a tight one.

The walk back to her room was surprisingly uneventful. You ended up bumping into nobody, which was actually a little frustrating. You were mentally prepared to explain yourself, but that moment never came.

When you and Maria finally arrived at her room, she paused.

“Oh… that’s not good…” she whispered to herself, sounding suddenly distressed, as if she had realized something a little too late.

“What’s the problem?” you were a bit concerned about that tone of hers.

Maria looked at you with quite the poker face. “I, uh, forgot that… Minerva and I share a room.”

...Of course she had forgotten that. Your mind immediately went towards what she’d subsequently say because of that, and it made you believe this girl was more cunning than you first thought. Then again, considering how chaotic the day had been, it was a reasonable thing to forget. Maria undoubtedly had many things going on in her head, so you figured you’d give her the benefit of the doubt.

“That isn’t good,” you agreed with her. “Do you have a place to stay?”

...now why did you go and say that? You had essentially given her an open invitation! Your heart was having a little bit of cheeky influence on things, it seemed.

Maria let go of your arm, returning your focus to her. She stepped forward, turning around and facing you intently. “...uhm, not really, so would it be okay if... “

Her voice trailed off quickly, and even though she looked like she wanted to continue, she opted to keep her mouth shut and look away bashfully.

She really was going to ask that, wasn’t she? Part of you figured she wouldn’t be confident enough to do so, especially since you weren’t close, but Maria’s options were undeniably limited. You knew that much despite your limited knowledge.

At this point, you were expecting to wake up to find out you were in a dream. So much ridiculous stuff had happened in one day, and dreams had a tendency to tease you by showing you what you wanted, only to wake you up to a cold reality.

“Sure you can,” you gave her your answer.

Maria placed her arms on her hips and pouted, but it quickly morphed into a slight smile. “I didn’t even say what I wanted yet!”

“You want to stay with me, don’t you?”

“Mmm… I wouldn’t mind that…” Maria’s smile grew adorably, but it looked a little awkward. It was as if she was trying her best not to grin so much, yet she was failing misery. “But I must ask one thing! Do you realise how forward this is-- asking a lady to spend the night with you? I hope you don’t have ulterior motives!”

To think that this girl could go from being a tearful mess to a cheeky brat in such a short span! Still, it was nice to see her happy, and it gave you the confidence to be a little cheeky yourself.

“On second thought, maybe not,” you spoke with the best neutral tone you could muster.

“H-Hey! Don’t be so hasty!” Maria’s attitude changed hastily. She tugged on your arm, looking up at you with beaming eyes. “I don’t have anywhere else to go! I can’t exactly stay with Michalis either, for more reasons than you know!”

That was a vague answer, but you supposed she had a point. That pleading look in her eyes wasn’t easy to resist either.

“Fine, but just to make things clear, I’m only inviting you because of that, and also because it would be good to get to know each other better,” you explained, shifting her expression to a puzzled, but slightly amused one. You let out a long sigh to help gather your thoughts, realizing that was a comment open to many interpretations. “If we’re going to be doing this ‘pretend’ business for long, we need to sell it well, right? Therefore, it’s good that we get to know more about the other. Agreed?”

“Mmm… you’re right!” she clapped her hands together, looking impressed by your proposition. “I am quite curious about you too, you know, so this works well for me...”

Maria really knew how to mess with your head with that bold tone of hers. You had no idea what she was thinking, but honestly, you didn’t mind too much. After all, if it was undeniably making her feel happier, then it was all worth it. You didn’t want to see her in that distressed state again.

“Right… then shall we go?” you asked her, praying she did not hear how unstable both your voice and mind were. It was taking a lot to keep them appearing cohesive.

Maria answered by returning to your arm, clutching onto it tightly. This kind of embrace seemed to be a preference of hers with how frequently you did it, but it did feel nice.

The walk to your room was as unnerving as the walk to hers, but fortunately, you had less distance to cover; the chances of running into somebody was slim. You half-expected your luck to run out by this point, but surprisingly, the journey was a quiet one.

Oddly enough, Maria seemed quite astonished by your room when you arrived. She charged in, jumping onto your bed and letting her body sink into the mattress. She let loose several giggles, raising her body and waving at you as you closed the door.

“You’re so lucky!” she playfully groaned, unable to hold back that smile on her face. You were mesmerized by it, and wished it would never fade. “I have to share a bed with Minerva, which is fine since it’s a big one, but I wished I had one all to myself.”

Her comment made you realise how bad of an idea it was for you to invite her here. You had a large bed, but it was the only bed in this room. Because of that, you had to share.

And well, there wasn’t really any way out of this now, was there? Well, not with that attitude...

“I can sleep on the floor,” you offered.

“N-No! I didn’t mean it like that,” she hastily responded to your joke. “I’m just a little envious, and I never said I didn’t mind sleeping with you, y’know…”

“Don’t get any funny ideas,” you told her.

“Does it count if I already have some?” Maria asked, that trademark smirk of hers appearing.

“Weren’t you the one telling me not to have any ulterior motives?”

“Oops, you caught me~”

This girl…

Askr was a typically eventful place, but usually, things would be spaced out far enough for you to at least process what the heck was happening.

In the span of an hour, you had become Maria’s pretend boyfriend, comforted after she cried her heart out, and now, you were offering her a place to say. It was incredible how everything fluctuated between serious to downright silly.

“...sorry, I’m making you uncomfortable, aren’t I?” Maria shifted back to a saddened tone, and although you hated to hear her sound so discouraged, you were more confused than anything else.

What was going through this girl’s head? It was hard to tell, but you did have a plausible theory. No one could experience such an abundance and variety of emotions in such a short amount of time, unless they were...

“Maria… you’re still upset about earlier, aren’t you?” you questioned her. Maria’s smile, which you honestly believed would not fade for a long time, faded in an instant. Her reaction to what you had to say was unsettling, but it was an indication that you had hit the jackpot. “You don’t have to put on a brave face. Not here, at least.”

Maria closed her eyes and fell back onto the bed, sighing loudly. She turned away from you, curling in her knees and sitting there for a while. You decided to say nothing, figuring it was best to let her respond at her own pace. For some time, you were only met with groans of annoyance, but she muscled her way back up, staring at you with tears forming in her eyes.

“You saw right through me…” she rambled, sounding displeased, but you didn’t believe that voice was particularly aimed at you. You weren’t particularly happy to see her look so shaky and unstable again, so you joined her on the bed, sitting beside her. She watched you closely while you did so, reacting fast to your close proximity by immediately clinging to your arm with the tightest grip yet. That gesture soon changed into an outright hug. Maria buried herself in your chest, and you did not hesitate to hold her just as firmly.

Her insistence on holding you wasn’t just to keep up the act. It was a source of comfort-- a means to hide the endless temptations to cry.

But she did not cry this time, for she had already exhausted all her tears. When Maria eventually retreated from your embrace, she looked tremendously tired.

“I’m sorry,” she apologised, the previous enthusiasm now vanquished. “I’m really trying to stay positive, and you’ve done a great job at cheering me up… but I can’t stop thinking about the worst-case scenario. You... must think I’m pathetic.”

“Of course I don’t,” you answered. “There is nothing wrong with worrying, Maria. If it helps you in any way, you’re welcome to hug me for as long as you want.”

“...are you sure you aren’t trying to woo me? Part of me thinks you are…” she giggled.

Despite what her comment was about, you smiled, simply because it was nice to hear her sound a little carefree again. Some of her laughter before had been forced, but this time, it was undeniably genuine.

“You’re smiling,” she smirked. “That must mean I’m right.”

“No, that’s not it,” you responded quietly, not wanting to sound too evasive. Truthfully, as much as you believed you shouldn’t, you were thinking about it. Of course, you couldn’t outright say that, but Maria’s current position and her consistent teasing were having an effect.

Maria kept up her cheeky grin, squinting her eyes too. She slowly started to climb onto your lap, and although doing so was a very easy prelude to something else, you didn’t resist her. You couldn’t resist her. You weren’t sure if she was aware of it yet (but you wouldn’t be surprised if she was), but this girl had you wrapped around her little finger.

“...you know, I wouldn’t mind,” she was starting to be a little too forward, and that was not good for your head. That cheeky snicker of hers wasn’t doing it any favors either.

“I…” you wanted to be more honest with her, but no more words came out.

Maria was unbearably tempting. She was clearly interested, and even though you were too, a rational part of your mind held you back. Maria was emotionally unstable, and you feared that if she jumped into this, she’d end up regretting this. That was the last thing you wanted.

Wrapping her arms around your neck, she leaned in. You prepared yourself for an unexpected kiss, but it never came. Instead, she chose to rub her nose against yours, and upon seeing your startled expression, she laughed again.

“I know what you’re thinking,” she said. “You fear it would feel like you’re taking advantage of the girl who cried in your arms, correct?”

“Well, that… sums it up pretty well, yeah,” you were truthful with her, surprised at how well she read you. It was unnerving, but at least you were both on the same page.

“Well, you won’t be. I promise that. And just in case you need some more convincing...” she responded, leaning close to your ear. Her breath was hot and jittery, a byproduct of the lustful adrenaline soaring throughout her body. “I want you to comfort me. I want you to embrace me. I want you to make love to me.”

In an amusing turn of events, you were now the emotionally unstable one. Maria pulled her body back, gazing at you with a stupidly satisfied smile. Eager to take advantage of your disorientated state, she leaned back in, this time gifting you with a soft peck on the lips. The touch of her mouth was heavenly, and it departed before you had the chance to truly appreciate it.

There was no need to be hesitant with her anymore. She wanted this, more than you probably knew. You cut off Maria’s retreat by placing your hands on her soft cheeks, drifting your head forward so you could return the favor. The second embrace slightly caught her off guard, but her heart urged her to return it. This next kiss only lasted for a measly few seconds, but it was nothing short of magical.

Seeing Maria’s face painted in red when it concluded made your heart skip a beat. She had never looked this adorable before! She curled her lips into her mouth, characteristically looking slightly away, but nerves weren’t going to stop her for long.

You learned this when Maria lunged at you with incredible vigor, pushing you down onto the bed. Her hands rested by your head and her short hair dangled down, mildly getting in the way of her eyes. You brushed it away for her, prompting her to meet you in yet another kiss.

However, this one was far more passionate than the last, and you soon discovered she wasn’t going to stop there. As one smooch ended, so too did another begin.

Maria was a greedy girl, it seemed. Addicted to the feeling and taste of your lips, she bombarded you with an uncountable number of pecks, and every single one you eagerly returned.

“Mmm…” she hummed and hummed, and you too joined her chorus of fractured breathing. Never had it felt so good to lose one’s breath.

Ultimately, both you and Maria needed to take a break. As much as you wanted to kiss her over and over, your bodies could not keep up. The cleric rested on your body, cuddling you as much as she could in her staggered state, but you soon discovered she was able to recuperate rather quickly.

Maria looked like she was ready to smash her lips against yours once again, but her mouth met a new target. You shivered when their soft texture tickled your neck, even more so when light curious pecks became a bombardment of smooches.

“You liked that, didn't you?” she whispered into your ear.

“...yes…”

“That’s only the appetizer, you know…” Maria giggled. She was shockingly in control, like she had rehearsed this moment over and over. She knew how to play with a man’s heart, specifically your heart.

“Appetizer…?” you questioned her, no longer caring that she could hear how broken your voice was. Maria was mesmerizing. There was no other word that could describe her so perfectly.

Maria stumbled off your body, motioning you to lift yourself up. You did as she told without question, and your instability grew to even greater heights when she knelt in front of the bed, right between your legs…

It took some time for the girl to fish out her prize, but the wait didn’t ruin the mood. If anything, it elevated it, for the growing realization about what she was going to do was driving you mad.

When Maria finally pulled out your cock and you felt her tiny fingers rub against the sensitive head, you were shocked you didn’t pass out. The anticipation for this moment was making the pleasure far greater than you imagined it ever being, and this was the start. If it was already feeling this good, you had to mentally prepare yourself for things to grow even more incredible. If you didn’t… well, you feared for the consequences.

“Reacting this way already, are you?” she grinned. It was still difficult to wrap your head around the idea that Maria could be this cheeky! What happened to the innocent cleric who was eager to help everybody? Was this how she secretly was, deep down? It was astonishing to see such a forbidden side to her. As mischievous as that smile was, you knew it was a happy one. The girl was having the time of her life, and it was putting your doubts to rest.

You just never believed keeping her happy involved your personal torment. Maria played with your shaft curiously, but she made no effort to adventure beyond that. It was still breathtaking, but you really wanted more!

“Watching you is really fun,” Maria snickered. “You’re so hard… to think you could get this way in front of me! Am I really that cute?”

You knew what game she was playing, and as much as you didn’t want to lose so quickly, you had to. If you didn’t, she wasn’t going to give you what you wanted! “You are… really cute. Unbearably cute!”

“Mmm… I like it when you compliment me,” Maria rewarded your efforts, clenching your member and slowly beginning to jerk you off. Her eyes remained glued to you as she did so, watching your reaction. “...and I bet you like my little hand jerking you off, don’t you?”

“Maria… you’re driving me mad…” you had to confess.

...but you felt silly for even saying that. She clearly already knew that.

“I know,” she grinned. “But I’ll play nice this one time. You let me cry in your arms, and I think I should reward you for that.”

Before you could even ask what she meant by that, Maria answered for you, gobbling up the head of your dick into her humid mouth. You exhaled loudly, an insane amount of pleasure coursing through your veins, and it would not stop intensifying. You looked down with squinted eyes, watching as Maria swallowed up more and more of your cock, until almost all of it was wedged down her throat.

You had no choice but to clench the bedsheets in the hopes it would provide even an ounce of stability. You had never experienced something so heavenly before! The only thing more astonishing was that your dick actually fit down this girl’s throat! You had no idea what she was feeling herself right now, but it certainly wasn’t stopping her from gazing up at you with joyful eyes. No tears emerged from them. You saw nothing but happiness and love. Maria was loving this.

When she started to eject your cock at a fast rate, you expected it was because she couldn’t resist her gag reflexes any longer. She blew your expectations out of the water when she hurriedly swallowed you all the way back up. She repeated the motion, and soon enough she was bobbing her head at a frantic rate. She sucked without hesitation, curling in her mouth so the innards of her cheeks would tickle your shaft, and she made sure to always soak your shaft in a new batch of hot saliva whenever she could.

Maria knew what she was doing. You weren’t sure how, but she knew. Had she practiced before on some inanimate objects? The prospect of that wasn’t too unlikely, and the thought of the girl training herself so she could suck a cock with such incredible passion was mind-blowing. You were one to last quite a while too, and already you were unbearably close. That was how good she was!

This girl was thirsty. More thirsty than you could comprehend.

In fact, you were starting to believe that her excuse of giving you a ‘reward’ was just a ruse-- a means to hide how desperate she was to suck you off. This felt more like a reward for her than one for you!

“Fuck… Maria…” you groaned heavily. Maria did not acknowledge your comment in any way, as if she was in a trance. She continued to suck and suck… and before you knew it, you were blowing your load into the deepest parts of your mouth. The sensation of your cum flowing into her wasn’t left unnoticed by the girl, as indicated by her widening eyes. As startling as it was, she regained control quickly, gulping down your semen. She was still small, however, and unable to hold it all together, so a fair amount of your seed spilled out of her mouth, dripping down her chin and onto her clothes.

As your climax came to an end, her eyes looked up at you eagerly, as if she was pleading for more of your delicious treat. You so desperately wanted to give it to her, especially after how hot it was to see her gulp it all down, but you were spent.

...but that soon changed when you saw her eject your shaft. Maria could have done so quickly, but she chose to take her time, making sure you watched her while she pulled away. It was a purposeful tactic-- a way to show you how much she truly had deep down her throat, and it was a lot.

If this girl was capable of taking so much into her mouth, then maybe…

Maria started to cackle, but her laughter sounded off. It was ludicrously giddy; the girl was unable to keep a straight face, and her body was shivering.

“Ah… ha… you tasted… so good...” her voice sounded just as nonsensical.

It was not hard to figure out what was happening to her.

Maria could not keep her dominance intact forever. Drinking your semen had triggered a need within her body. She wanted more, and she wasn’t willing to play games any longer.

“You made such a mess on my dress too…” she gathered up some of the cum on her attire, licking it with a massive grin on her face. “Well, it looks like I can’t wear this for a while…”

After finishing her sentence, the cleric wasted no time in stripping. There was no elegance or teasing in her little strip show. She was hot and bothered, and those clothes were simply in the way. Maria was left in nothing but her bra and underwear, but she did not hesitate one bit to take them off too. Before you had a chance to truly comprehend what was happening, the girl was naked, already climbing back onto your body. The unexpectedness of it all brought you back down onto the bed, and you were gifted with a gorgeously alluring sight.

“Your cock… put it inside me… ah… I need it… need it…” she begged. "I need your big cock…"

Maria attempted to place your member inside her, but her quivering prevented her from doing so. It was causing the girl quite some frustration, and you felt like it was time for you to intervene.

Raising your body up, you let her drop onto your lap. The cleric gazed at you with so much need, content with letting you take charge temporarily. Her arms wrapped back around you and she held onto you tightly, not wanting to let go; the only thing greater than her lust was the girl’s need to be held.

Seeing your brightened face brought back some of that mischievous energy, but you cut her off with a kiss. It was a brief one, but it put her back under the lustful spell.

Maria had fun playing with your body, and it was time for you to return the favor.

It was fortunate that she was safely on your lap, for as soon as your lips dashed against her neck, she shivered uncontrollably. It forced you to hold her as well, and you did so firmly, leaving her no choice but to endure the torturous pleasure that was embracing her neck.

“Ah… fuck… fuckkk…” she moaned loudly. The cheeky, in-control Maria was now a thing of the past. In her place was a girl who wanted nothing but an unending amount of pleasure, even if it meant she was physically a horny mess, but you were more than willing to give her what she wanted. Hearing her actually swear encouraged your efforts, and you did not back down when her fingers dug into your skin. Any resulting pain was mitigated thanks to your attire still being on, but part of you wished it wasn’t; you weren’t scared of a few battle wounds.

Well, you could give her some of your own…

The fact that you were even thinking these thoughts showed just how much this girl had turned you on. When your next neck kiss turned into a small nibble, she groaned, her voice crackly.

“Ah… do it… mark me…” she made her request, and it sent your mind ablaze. She knew what your surprise was going to be, and she wanted it!

That knowledge vanquished any doubt. You bit down hard onto her heck, listening to her let loose what sounded like a howl of pain and pleasure. Her grip tightened dramatically, and you reacted to those growing pains by making hers even more astronomically wonderful.

When you finally released yourself from her grasp, a bright red bruise was leftover. Never did you think you’d do something like this, but a spur of the moment paired with an energetic encouragement could make you do anything, it would seem.

Maria chuckled, but it was difficult for her to keep it together. “Now everyone will know…”

“...know what?” you struggled to breathe.

“That someone forced themselves on me… a poor, innocent little cleric…” she tried her best to sound dramatic.

This girl was being cheeky again, wasn’t she? Fortunately, you no longer had anything to hold yourself from retailing. You could be cheeky too.

“I haven’t forced myself on you yet,” you corrected her.

Hearing some of her medicine dished back at her made her almost faint. She took several deep breaths, only able to stay sat up thanks to your support, but even then, it wasn’t enough. Maria had a solution in mind, however. Raising her legs, she held onto you tightly as she shuffled forward and locked you in place with them. Maria’s insistence on holding onto you was reaching new heights, but you weren’t complaining.

“Mmm… I wouldn't be opposed to you doing just that…" she whispered, smirking at you. Her comment was ridiculously stimulating, and you quickly decided to focus on other things momentarily for the sake of your sanity. Without the allure of her neck in the way, you took some time to properly observe her body. She was petite in all areas, but she was mature in many areas too. Her hips weren’t anything to scoff at her, and while her breasts were small, there was plenty to theoretically grab and squeeze.

Well, there wasn’t anything stopping you, was there? Keeping her steady with one hand, you grabbed one of her boobs, listening to her quickly coo. As you expected, there was plenty to play with, but once you realised she grew the loudest when her nipple was played with, you prioritised it.

Holding onto her back was starting to become stale too, so you reached down and grabbed one of her cheeks, surprised at how much your hand sunk into it. Maria cooed, enjoying both her chest and rear being stimulated, and those adorable noises only made you grope her more fiercely.

“Which one do you like more…?” she asked in an innocent tone.

“Do I have to answer that?” you rebutted. “I like both-- a lot.”

“C'mon! Tell me! I’m curious!”

“Well, if you insist…” you muttered, making her yelp by squeezing her ass violently. “Those clothes of yours hid this well.”

“Mmm… it’s why clerics wear such baggy clothes, you know,” she murmured. “If men found out what we were hiding, they’d want a different kind of healing!”

“...are you serious?” you legitimately weren’t sure. She was speaking so sincerely!

Maria burst into laughter, giving you your answer. “Nuh-uh, but seeing your reaction was very cute!”

“Maria…”

“It’s okay,” she snickered. “But I wasn’t fully lying about that ‘different kind of healing’, by the way. Maybe I’ll show you, someday, but first…”

It was easy to figure out Maria didn’t want you thinking about that riddle of hers for too long. Your thoughts grew erratic when her hand reached down to your shaft, stroking it softly. This entire time, your cock had been resting by her belly, inches away from her snatch.  The cleric slowly raised her body, making sure her grasp on your body wasn’t too disturbed in the process. Eventually, she was high enough for the tip of your member to align with her pussy.

You wanted to say something. You wanted to ask her if she was really sure about this.

But that side of your mind could not break through. It was eclipsed by how much you needed this. Her mouth was immaculate. How fantastic would her pussy feel? She was such a small girl, and would unbearably be so tight! The thought of it was driving you-

Maria gave you no time to think about anything else. Within an instant, your head breached her barrier, overwhelming your senses with pleasure so incredible, your thoughts emptied immediately. She moaned while she continued to lower herself, her actions akin to the earlier blowjob. To take your dick into your mouth in one swoop was unthinkable, but to force it inside her pussy with no complaint?

You couldn’t think. It hurt to think. Never had you ever experienced such bliss. Twice had the pinnacle of pleasure been breached. You weren’t sure if you could handle it happening thrice.

Maria’s insides were boiling hot, but they were also ridiculously wet, letting your dick slide into her effortlessly. Her walls tickled and squeezed every fiber of your shaft, and she had taken it all.

“Mmm… do you like it?” she asked, barely able to keep together a comprehensible tone. “Your big cock… inside my little body! It’s all the way in, you know… I took it all…”

“Maria…” was all you could say. Saying her name alone hurt your head.

As fragile as your mind currently was, it was honestly easily ignorable. Maria felt that good, and you weren’t sure if you could wait for her to start riding you! There were countless arguments for both sides.

It was shocking that Maria was still somewhat stable. Noticing your inner calamity, you felt her small but tender hand rub against your cheek, stroking it gently. It diverted your attention to her warm smile again, and although it still looked as cheeky as ever, she could not hold back her raw happiness; the grin was larger, and so was that blush of hers.

“Relax! You’re so tense!” she playfully scolded you, finding some amusement in your situation, but there was concern there too. “Do I really feel that good?”

“Y-Yes… ridiculously so…” you had to confess. You were not ready for her to start riding you, as much as you really wanted her to do so anyway!

Maria hummed, letting her body fall onto yours, but made sure not to put too much force into it; she didn’t want you to fall over again. She embraced you in a tight, yet soothing hug, and you instinctively returned it, focusing on the feeling of body against body.

You needed this. Not only was she giving you time to adjust, but the softness of her body was tremendously calming.

“Mmm…” Maria hummed, but she sounded strangely out of it. You couldn’t see her expression since she was buried in your shoulder though, but the difference in tone was enough to prompt a question.

“...are you alright?” you asked her.

“Ah, y-yes, I was just… worried about you,” she admitted, forcing a chuckle. “It’s wonderful to see you feeling so good, but I didn’t consider the lack of experience you might have.”

“...are you implying you have experience?” you were curious about that last part.

Maria retreated from your embrace so you could see her, gifting you with a radiant smile. “I’m a curious girl.”

“That’s a vague answer,” you pointed out.

“It means I know a thing or two,” she elaborated. While it still felt like she was hiding quite a bit, the answer was satisfying enough for now.

...especially as it was becoming increasingly more difficult to resist how tight this girl was down there. It was astonishing that she looked so unphased.

“Mmm… it looks like you’re done chatting,” Maria observed. “Good. Me too. I'm not sure I can resist you any longer…! Your cock feels amazing… but it’ll feel even better if I do this…!”

The cleric started to raise her body, sending an excruciating amount of euphoria throughout your body while her walls slid across your member. The pleasure started high but fortunately decreased over time, giving you an opportunity to adapt… that is, until she suddenly forced her body back down, restoring that pleasure at a colossal rate.

“So big… I love it…” she murmured, her lewd voice sounding even sexier than before. Fortunately, your brief break had paid off, and all these astonishing feelings were at least comprehensible and not too overwhelming. You watched Maria raise her body again, using your shoulders as support while she did so. She was slow and steady with her approach, but you believed the position was what was limiting that. In a way, you were thankful for the slow start, but it was making you desire something faster too…

Her comment about you forcing yourself on her stuck in your mind. There was a way you could do just that, and she looked so focused too! Considering she had ambushed you so many times, you believed it was time for some playful payback.

“Ah… so good… I love this…” she sounded enchanted. Maria was giving it her all, accelerating gradually over time, but her stamina was not infinite. She looked exhausted, only reinforcing your urge to take charge.

“Hold on tight, Maria,” you gave your one and only warning.

“H-Huh? What do you- kyaa!”

The cleric was not ready for you to stand up so suddenly. The loss of balance from your lap made her react instinctively. Her legs curled around your back, holding onto you brutally, and her arms forced their way around your back as she held on like her life was on the line.

Maria’s breath was taken away by the sudden sensation, but to reassure her you had no intentions of letting go, you tightened your grip dramatically. She was not prepared emotionally for you to suddenly seize control like this, but it only took her a few more moments to get used to the position. She gawked at you, still a little unstable, but eagerly awaiting your next move.

You had a feeling Maria was going to be light, but she felt like a feather. Her mass was nothing you couldn’t handle, and you made sure to take advantage of that. You slowly pulled out, only to push back in abruptly, making her gasp.

Maria’s gradual transformation from dominant to submissive was wonderful to behold. You accelerated dramatically, knowing the girl was more than capable of taking it, and you were rewarded by cute frequent gasps. The position had hindered her voice somewhat, but the alternate sounds were by no means bad!

As tight as she was, you weren’t finding it too hard to thrust inside her. Maria had loosened up dramatically with how overwhelmingly wet she was, and thanks to that, it didn't take much time before you were pounding her pussy remorselessly. There wasn’t any reason not to; it felt unbelievable, and hearing her voice grow wilder and more broken every time you pushed against her cervix was the cherry on top.

“Aaahh... I… ah…” she tried to speak, but was unable to let out anything comprehensive. She tried to keep her mouth shut, perhaps growing wary of how loud she was becoming, but it was hard not to let out so many adorable moans. She did find a solution though, and it was not one you could have anticipated.

Maria bit down hard on your shoulder. It successfully silenced her, with only a few muffles breaking through the barrier. Her attack did hurt, but it wasn’t too bad, and knowing why she was doing such a thing was an incredible turn-on.

It wasn’t just her voice that was facing turmoil. Her body was drenched in sweat, making it a little difficult to hold onto her with how slippery she was getting, but you adapted by forcing a stronger grasp, not afraid to squeeze her a little. While you did so, you continued to fuck her as fast as you humanly could. You could only begin to imagine the euphoria this girl was experiencing, and you were curious to whether it had a limit or not.

Your answer didn’t take long to manifest. Her pussy, once effortless to ravage, abruptly tightened up while you were poking against the entrance to her womb. The rigorous squeezing caught you off guard with how much it amplified the pleasure, and it was more than enough to bring you to her end, just as you had brought her to her own.

Maria bit down harder as she came, knowing it was the only way she could keep her voice concealed, but you didn’t mind one bit. If anything, it enhanced your climax. Your legs wobbled as you flooded her womb with a tidal wave of semen, but you endured, determined not to succumb to your exhaustion until every last drop was inside her. Miraculously, you succeeded, even if it took over a minute, but the knowledge that so much of your cum was inside this girl was baffling.

Finally, you fell back onto the bed, bringing the cleric down with you. It was a painful fall, but the comfort of your mattress suppressed a lot of the discomfort. Maria finally let go of your shoulder, leaving some deep teeth marks. A little blood spilled out from the wounds inflicted by her canine teeth, but it was a small amount, so you weren’t concerned. You were honestly impressed she was able to break through.

Maria looked exhausted, barely able to keep her eyes open. She looked adorable and innocent like this, heavily contrasting how she was moments before.

But it didn’t take too long for the girl to recuperate, as indicated by that cheeky smirk of hers reappearing. Before, you weren’t sure what your opinion on it was. It was cute, but you feared it a little. Now? You adored it.

“Ehehe…” she tried to giggle, but it was difficult. “That… ah… w-was… fuuuunnn…”

“I… can’t believe we just did that…” you were honest with her, but your giddy tone made sure to let her know you regretted nothing. Why would you regret having sex with such a cute girl? Well, Michalis’s wrath was something to be concerned about, but… he didn’t need to know.

“...mmm… thank you…” Maria purred. “I feel so relaxed… could we sleep like this?”

“It might get a little cold,” you pointed out. You weren’t under the covers, after all.

“...I… don’t think I can move, honestly,” she admitted, winking after. That made you doubt her claim, but you had no problem with doing what she probably wanted you to do.

It was tiring to stand back up, but you knew it was a temporary thing. Maria held onto you, and with just one hand, you peeled back the covers, enough for you to get into bed. It was an awkward task, especially as you were still inside her, but in the end, it was a success. Maria did her part by pulling the covers over your bodies, and she giggled while babbling into your chest. Usually, you turned the lights off whenever you needed to sleep, but this girl had exhausted you so much that you doubted it would be an issue.

Besides, it was nice to see her adorable face whenever you wanted to.

Maria was understandably the first to fall asleep, and hearing her quiet snores was naturally comforting.

Sometimes, you would see her with bags under her eyes. She did a good job at cleaning herself up and making sure they weren’t noticeable, but she couldn’t eradicate them entirely.

Tonight, you were certain she would sleep soundly.

___

When you awoke, you immediately noticed the absence of weight on your chest. Maria was gone, and for a moment, you pondered as to whether or not you had dreamt anything.

“You’re finally awake, sleepyhead!” her voice soothed your worries. She was at your desk, perhaps being a little intrusive with how all your notes were scattered around, but you didn’t care.

She looked happy. She was smiling.

“I woke up a little while ago, and I didn’t want to wake you up, so I started reading some of the notes you have here,” Maria confessed, scratching her cheek adorably. “Sorry for being nosy.”

“It’s fine,” you answered. “I do have one question for you though.”

“Yeah?”

“Why are you naked?”

Maria smirked. “Like what you see?”

“That’s not an answer,” you scolded her, but truthfully, you did like what you were seeing. Maria had a phenomenal body, after all, and knowing you had claimed it last night made you feel a little dizzy.

Knowing your eyes were on her, Maria started to spread her legs, presenting her most intimate part to you. A beautiful blush formed on her face, and your breathing grew cold at what you were seeing. “Say… it’s still pretty early, so how about we-”

A knock on the door put an end to her plans fast. She pouted, but hastily realized that it was best she was not seen. You forced yourself out of bed, putting on your attire fast, while Maria took your place in it, spontaneously deciding it was the best place to hide. Her clothes were still scattered on the floor, so you made sure to throw them at her so she could hide those too.

You had no plans to let anyone in, but you had to be prepared in the event someone had to. You were thankful Maria was anticipating the worst too.

When you opened the door and saw the individual who had knocked, you believed the worst-case scenario had arrived.

Michalis stared down at you, his expression presenting no emotions. “Good morning, Summoner.”

“G-Good morning, Michalis,” you tried your best to speak normally. You hoped it sounded genuine.

“I have a question,” he stated the reason for his appearance. “Is Maria here?”

“She stayed here overnight,” you answered truthfully. Internally, you smacked yourself. That was not something to say to a girl’s older brother. Fortunately, you had prepared for the prospect of someone questioning where she was. “Sorry if I look a little cranky, by the way. I slept on my chair while she had the bed. It wasn’t fun.”

He did not need to know the finer details.

“I see,” he still looked pretty neutral, which was terrifying. “I take it she is not here now, then?”

“She left about an hour ago,” you answered with a quick lie. “She said she was going for a walk, to clear her mind.”

“Do you know if she will return?” Michalis continued the questions.

“I believe so. Do you want me to pass on a message?”

“Yes, I would appreciate that,” he answered, taking a deep breath to gather his thoughts. “First of all though, loosen up. You look tense, Summoner, and I doubt it is because of your sleeping arrangements.”

“Uh… sorry?” you hadn’t anticipated such a response.

“I do not believe you are in a relationship with my sister,” he elaborated. That single comment alone calmed your breathing. “I understand why she’s doing what she is doing, however. My message to her is that Minerva and I had a long talk last night. There is much we disagree on, but we both came to the conclusion that Maria’s well-being is our top priority. We ask if she can meet us at the Dining Hall as soon as possible. We would like to talk to her, and to formally apologise.”

You heard some shuffling from your bed. You prayed Michalis didn’t, and to make sure his focus wasn’t hijacked, you responded swiftly. “I will pass on that message. It is good to see you both want to help her. She was convinced she had been forgotten.”

“Yes, we are aware of that now,” he looked saddened, but a deep breath dispersed that frown. “I must thank you as well, for being for her when we couldn’t, or rather, weren’t allowed to. We desperately wanted to see her, but she made it clear we couldn’t do that. That is why we are making this request. It is up to her whether she would like to meet with us.”

“Understood,” you acknowledged what he had to say. It was a reasonable idea, but you were thinking only from your perspective.

Michalis excused himself and left, and as soon as that door closed, you breathed a sigh of relief. The man got on well with you, but you did not want to know what would’ve happened if he realized you slept with his sister.

Maria was still under the covers, showing no signs of movement. Had she decided she was going to hide her for all eternity? When you peeled back the covers, you saw she was hugging her knees, and she understandably looked like she was thinking a lot.

“...you okay there?” you asked her calmly.

“...mhmm…” she murmured back. “I… am not sure what to do, honestly.”

You sat behind her, letting her lean into your body like it was a makeshift pillow. You gently played with her hair. “What’s your gut feeling, Maria?”

“I think I should,” she was truthful, but there was more on her mind than that; something was holding her back. “I do want to see them too, despite everything.”

“But?”

“...I fear they’ll just get into an argument again,” she conceded her doubts.

“Well, if they do, then you’ll know they didn’t take you seriously enough,” you advised her.

“And what do I do then?” Maria raised a fair point.

Honestly, you didn’t know. If the siblings weren’t taking their little sister sincerely enough, it would eradicate any hope for their family to be restored.

“I’ll come with you,” you offered. “You’ll need your boyfriend to back you up, right?”

Maria blushed at your comment, gifting you with the warm smile you knew and loved. “I hope I won’t need to cry on you again.”

“If you ever need to, you can.”

“...thank you.”

___

It didn’t take long for Maria to get ready. She didn’t want to leave her siblings waiting, especially since they would likely be there already. Her dress was a little stained, but it was lucky that she wore white.

As soon as you stepped out, she clung onto your arm once more. Now that you knew it was a means to help keep her emotionally secure, you let her hold you as tightly as she wished. The likelihood of running into people on the way there was higher than ever, especially once you reached the location, but you didn’t mind. Whether anyone gossiped or not wasn’t your concern; Maria’s happiness was.

This time, a few familiar faces did spot you and she on the way there, but no one made any comment on it, even if they found the scene a little strange.

The Dining Hall was… shockingly empty. It was very early in the morning, but typically, it would be half-full at this moment, rather than about a quarter-full.

Michalis and Minerva were not difficult to find, and interestingly enough, the other people in the room seemed to be as far away from them as possible.

Some of the individuals did not react so positively to seeing you walk in with Maria.

However, their reaction was of… fear? You saw and heard many gulps.

Maria, knowing she had to face her siblings primarily by herself, freed herself while you and she approached them.

“...Michalis,” she bowed respectfully.

“Maria,” he nodded.

“...and Minerva,” she repeated the gesture. Minerva said nothing, but nodded in acknowledgement.

“We got you some breakfast,” Michalis motioned towards a plate close to his sister.

“Thank you,” Maria was polite. You applauded her internally for how calm she currently was. Undoubtedly, she was in shambles internally; you hoped the conversation would go well enough for her to breathe a little better.

“I didn’t realise you would join us, Summoner,” Michalis turned his attention towards you momentarily. “I understand you are here for Maria’s sake?”

“Of course,” you responded. “I want to help her too.”

Michalis showed a rare smile. “Then I am glad you are here.”

When it came to his youngest sister, he was incredibly soft and gentle, and he would share this side to any who made Maria happy, it seemed.

“Sorry, we didn’t get you any breakfast,” Minerva apologized after being silent for a while. She sounded a lot calmer than she did yesterday. “Would you like me to get you something?”

“No, that’s not necessary, but thank you for the offer,” you didn’t want to delay things for Maria. She clearly had a lot to say, and it would do her good to say those things as soon as possible.

“Very well,” Minerva acknowledged your declination.

“Let us waste no time then,” Michalis ended the introductions and pleasantries. “Maria. Minerva and I still do not and likely will not ever agree on many issues, but when you rightfully snapped at us yesterday, it made us realize that our arguments pushed us away from you, somebody we both love unconditionally.”

“We will do anything for you,” Minerva continued. “And that means we will get along. This isn’t us pretending to do so for your sake either. We will get along. It will be genuine. We… had a lot of realizations last night, Michalis and I...”

Minerva’s voice trailed off a little, but she shook her head rapidly, as if to wake her up from a trance.

“Askr is like a second chance for the both of us,” she continued, clearing her throat. “And while it will be difficult for me to forgive and forget, I will give Michalis a second chance. I want to do this, not just for your sake. I would like us to be a family again, for if we can’t make amends now, we may never have another chance.”

Maria listened intently, and while she was doing a great job at hiding it, you saw her slight quiver. She looked down at her lap, not wanting them to read her expression while she had yet to come to a conclusion.

Michalis and Minerva were patient. Neither even touched their half-eaten food as they awaited their sister’s response.

“...one chance…”

Maria’s mumble was barely comprehensible thanks to the surrounding chaos of the Dining Hall. Why the siblings chose this as a place to reconcile was beyond you, but despite the noise, they heard her.

With a look of determination painting her face, and some tearful eyes, she raised her head. “One more chance, okay? Don’t mess it up, and if you do, no protesting!”

“We understand,” Minerva answered on their behalf.

“...I’m glad… brother… sister…”

Maria liked calling her siblings that again. They appreciated it too.

“I do have one question, if you don’t mind,” Minerva suddenly sounded… strangely serious. It was like she was about to scold her, which didn’t seem too appropriate in the current situation.

“What is it?” Maria asked calmly. She smiled radiantly, undoubtedly loving the feeling of being able to breathe easily again.

“Where did that mark on your neck come from?”

You froze. So did she.

You… had forgotten all about that. Your eyes drifted briefly towards her neck, and while it had faded a fair bit, the bite mark was still significantly visible.

“I was wondering about that as well,” Michalis added. You wished he hadn’t.

“...when I went for a walk earlier, I wasn’t paying attention and I tripped and fell,” she thought of an excuse hastily. You weren’t sure if it was an adequate one, but the swiftness of her response aided her.

“Why haven’t you healed it?” Minerva questioned her.

“...there was… too much on my mind,” she answered, and you were glad that her reasoning sounded pretty solid. “The wound was little compared to how terrible I felt.”

Maria sounded upset, but you couldn’t tell if she was putting up a good act or if she was feeling guilty for deceiving them like this. Regardless of the reason, her tone was believable.

“...ah, well… just promise to heal it as soon as you get your hands on a staff,” Minerva shared her request in a calm manner, not wanting to sound demanding. “Leave it too long, and it might get infected, okay?”

“I know that,” Maria chuckled. “You don’t need to act like a mother to me, sister.”

“...ah, I… apologise…” Minerva backed off.

After that point, the conversation concluded. There was still some small talk, and you briefly excused yourself to fetch a snack (and take a few deep breaths), but nothing truly eventful happened while everyone ate their meals.

Minerva requested Maria to return to their room. Apparently, Minerva wanted to give her little sister a gift to show how remorseful she was. Maria initially denied it, saying such a thing wasn’t necessary, but Minerva was very insistent. Before the cleric left, she whispered some quick thanks, and while you had a feeling she wanted to say more, there wasn’t an opportunity to say anything before she was dragged off.

That left you and Michalis, and when he looked at you with a sudden stern look, you shuddered.

“I want you to be honest with me,” he spoke quietly, not wanting anyone but you to hear. “You caused that mark on Maria’s neck, did you not?”

...well, shit.

You were really fucked now, weren’t you?

Well, there was no point in lying to him. Maybe he’d punch you one less time for telling the truth.

You nodded.

In a million years, you would have never expected him to smile.

“Have you noticed that Maria has not slept well recently?” he oddly changed the topic.

“Uh… yeah, I have,” you remained honest. “She’s tried to hide it, but I’ve noticed the bags under her eyes.”

“She lacked them today,” he pointed out.

“She did,” you swallowed, still feeling a solid amount of nerves.

“You need not be so tense around me,” he noticed. “You are making Maria happy, and I cannot thank you enough for that.”

Had he conveniently forgotten about the bruise on her neck? There were strong implications around that, surely? Did he not care?

“I want to do my part to make her happy as well,” he continued. Michalis sighed, and he uncharacteristically looked a little upset. “I… do not believe I have the right to be in her presence, if I am to be honest. She has done so much for me, and what I have offered in return is simply not enough. She may have forgiven me, but I have not forgiven myself.”

Michalis’s cryptic comments were certainly crafting your curiosity, but at this point, there were simply too many questions and not enough answers.

“...Michalis, why are you telling me all this?”

“My… sister is smitten with you,” he answered. “There is a reason she came to you for aid and comfort. You are kind to everybody unconditionally, and she shares these traits. In you, she sees a kindred spirit she knows she can trust, and because of that, she has developed quite the crush on you.”

“...I… how would you know this?” you weren’t really sure how to process this information. If he was telling the truth, then…

“I know how my little sister works,” his explanation was logical. “When you have been in her presence before, have you not noticed she has struggled to speak with you?”

“...well, of course, but I assumed she was being shy,” you answered.

“Shy?” Michalis… laughed. Loudly. The surrounding people dropped any conversation they had immediately, wondering what has caused such an unusual outburst from the Dining Hall terror. When his chuckling concluded, the nearby people resumed their chatter, albeit in whispers. Michalis sighed, and it made you realise why they had chosen this place to have such important conversations.

No one could eavesdrop. Michalis clearly had a role to play in scattering them, and since they continued to chatter amongst themselves, it would be obvious if someone tried to listen in. They’d have to get awfully close, after all.

As the volume levels of the room returned to normality, he continued. “My sister is not a shy person. She’s not immune to nerves, of course. However, in your case, what you interpreted as bashfulness was actually her resisting the urge to confess on the spot.”

“...are you serious right now?” you were flabbergasted by that comment, not only because of what it meant, but because it was her brother who was saying it! How would he even know such things?

“Maria trusts me a lot,” Michalis elaborated, answering what was on your mind unintentionally. “She tells me a lot of things, including who she has a crush on. She’s been wanting to tell you how she feels for a while now, but fear has held her back. She is not sure if you like her back.”

Well, clearly, she hadn’t told him about what happened last night.

...you were a little worried she eventually would.

“I… still don’t understand why you are telling me all this,” you were bewildered.

“To see if you like her back,” Michalis smiled. “And you do, don’t you?”

...was Michalis, of all people, setting you up with his little sister?

“There’s no use in denying it, I guess,” you confessed, but it still didn’t explain one thing. “Maria trusts you though, so why tell me this? Aren’t you breaking her trust by doing so?”

“She asked me to do it when you briefly left to fetch a snack,” he swiftly responded with something you wished he opened with. It would have caused a lot less anxiety. “Her own doubts cloud her mind. She does not know if you truly like her that way, or if you’re just giving her attention out of pity.”

“I care for her,” your response came even faster. “A lot, in fact.”

“I know that now,” Michalis nodded. “All I ask is that you take care of her. It is better if… I do not see her as much.”

“What do you mean?”

Truthfully, you had a hunch. Michalis carried many sins, and although one sister had forgiven him and the other was in the process of doing so, it didn’t mean he could forgive himself so easily. He loved his family, that was blatantly clear, but if it wasn’t for Maria’s insistence on being a family again, you suspected he would have cut ties with them for the sake of their well-being.

“I just want to make sure she is in good hands,” he evaded the question, but you didn’t blame him for it. “Take care of her in place of a foolish brother who could not. That is all I ask.”

There was much you wanted to say, but you couldn’t form the appropriate words; there was still so much to learn about this family.

“I shall,” you nodded.

You wanted to be there for Maria.

You wanted to be there for him, and Minerva too. If they were smiling, then Maria’s smile would be even brighter.

___

Michalis excused himself pretty quickly, stating he had to get ready for some business he had in the evening. When he left, the entire Dining Hall breathed a sigh of relief.

When you made your leave, you weren’t sure what to do. There weren’t any notable duties you had to fulfill, and the next summoning session wasn’t scheduled until the next week. Essentially, today was a free day. Usually, you spent such days patrolling and conversing with all the heroes, but Maria would not leave your head!

Last night was not something you’d ever forget, and you would be lying if you denied wanting more. Of course, you wanted to see her for the sake of seeing her too, but it would be difficult. If you showed up unannounced at her room, it would make her think you were smitten with her, and the teasing would be relentless.

Then again, Michalis had told you the girl was enamored with you too, so it would make her happy.

It was amusing. The idea of being your girlfriend, albeit just to threaten her siblings, was likely what Maria’s original idea was. In hindsight, she had likely changed it to ‘big brother’ to not make her crush appear too obvious, but you had ended up approving of her original plan.

You were learning that you were quite oblivious too, apparently. Then again, were you not just experiencing the same fears? She did not believe you liked her back, and you believed the same, thus you and she likely removed the possibility as an option.

It was a little surreal to think about these things, considering well… you ended up having sex with her.

You let loose a long sigh. Michalis was clearly pushing you to do this, so it was about time you confessed to her and made things official.

It would make her happy if you did that.

It would make you happy too.

But on your way, you bumped into somebody you weren’t particularly expecting.

“...ah, Minerva,” you greeted her with a wave.

The Red Dragoon was still a little intimidating, especially as she hadn’t reacted fondly to the idea of you dating Maria, even if it was faked at the time.

...was she actually aware it was all a ruse? You weren’t sure.

“Good day. Did your conversation with Michalis go well?” she asked with a calm tone, one that was common for her. You were glad to hear it. “Maria asked him to talk to you about something, but they didn’t share the specifics.”

“Yeah, it did,” you answered, deciding not to elaborate. You weren’t sure how much Minerva knew about everything, nor did you know if it was good for her to know more. She was definitely the family member you knew the least.

“I am glad, and I’m thankful I ran into you, actually,” the wyvern rider spoke. “You are a kind soul, and a wonderful match for my little sister. I know you will treat her well, which is why I must apologise for my reaction to your relationship yesterday. I was caught off guard by it, and I wasn’t in a good mood at the time.”

Well, that answered one of your questions.

“It’s not a problem,” you accepted her apology, unsure whether it was right to correct her or not. If you played your cards right, there ultimately wouldn’t be any need to do so.

“I have a message to pass onto you from Maria, as well,” she continued, a slight smirk forming on her face. The sisters shared a mischievous grin… “She wants you to meet with her in our room. I hear she wants to thank you for all you’ve done for her.”

You crossed your arms, sharing a smirk of your own. “I was actually already heading over there.”

“Wonderful,” she said. “Believe it or not, I am… on a date tonight, so don’t you worry about being disturbed.”

Well, that was certainly unexpected, but did she really have to say that last part?

...were you going crazy, or were both Michalis and Minerva leading you to Maria so you could have sex with her?

You had to be going crazy with these wild misinterpretations, surely!

...right?!

Minerva excused herself while you were thinking insane things, laughing while she did so. You weakly waved goodbye, and stood there for some time, bewildered by… just about everything, really.

In the end, you continued your journey towards Maria’s room. Confusion still roamed your mind quite a bit, but the promise of what awaited you was exciting.

No matter what, you were going to see the girl that had captured your heart. You could not wait.

When you knocked on her door, you did so a little nervously. The knowledge that she liked you back wouldn’t leave your mind! This was going to be a turning point in your life-- a day you would not forget.

“Who is ittt?” Maria adorably asked.

“It’s me,” you answered hastily, hoping she didn’t hear the anxiety in your voice.

You wanted to see her so, so desperately! The feeling of seeing that scarlet hair… her divine smile... was making your heart pound ruthlessly.

You were actually shaking at the idea of seeing her again! She had captured your heart, but you didn’t know she had this much of a grasp on it!

“Come innnn!” she sounded excited too.

...when you opened the door, you soon discovered why, and it was not for the reason you anticipated.

The double bed Maria and Minerva shared was directly opposite the door, and she was laying down on it, her eyes gazing at you with the brightest blush you had ever seen.

Maria was laying down on her front, her head tilted to face you. Her legs were raised and she was waving them rapidly, showing off the thigh-high white socks she was wearing.

They were cute, but contrasted with the rest of her very naked body.

“Close the door,” she instructed. “This is something only you are allowed to see.”

You did as you were told, and she giggled at your lack of vocal response.

What could you even say in such a situation? The presence of thigh-high socks alone was close to driving you into a frenzy. They fit her so well, and knowing she was wearing nothing else was perfection.

This girl knew what you liked. You weren’t sure how, but she knew.

Maria stuck out her tongue and winked.

“Don’t just stare,” she giggled. “Come and play!”

You did not need to be told twice, and as you got closer, you realised just how much you had undervalued the girl’s ass. You had copped a feel for it before, but seeing it up close showed you just how large her rear truly was. Her baggy clothes certainly hid it well!

Maria didn’t give you a whole of time to stare, opting to hop out of bed… and jump into your arms-- literally. You reacted fast as her arms and legs enveloped themselves around your body, and you held her by her squishy butt, your greedy fingers sinking in quite a bit. Eager to keep you on your toes, Maria embraced you in a deep kiss-- one that she was not afraid to use her tongue with. It wasn’t the longest of smooches, but it definitely set the mood.

“Mmm… I want you, so much…” she groaned seductively, her face already leaking sweat.

“What brought this on?” you obviously weren’t complaining, but you were curious.

“I want to reward you,” she was honest. “Is that a problem?”

“You don’t have to do-”

“I want to, though!” she cut you off. “Besides… I have quite a few entertaining ideas…”

“Oh?”

Maria loosened her grip, letting her body slide down your own until she was back on her feet, but she continued to hold you.

“You like my ass, don’tcha?” she asked, looking up at you with a mischievous look. “...do you want to fuck it?”

Hearing that made your breathing grow cold and rugged. The thought of doing that with her was ludicrous, especially as she was the one to suggest it! You had yet to properly process that you actually had ordinary sex with this girl, so learning that she wanted to spice things up already was ridiculous!

...ridiculously hot, that is.

“...doesn’t that require a lot of preparation?” you asked. You were no expert on anal sex, but you knew it could hurt if the receiver was unprepared. You tried your best to stay calm and composed, not wanting her to rush into something that could hurt her.

Maria let go of your body, and immediately you missed its warmth. On the plus side, as you watched her skip over to her desk, you were able to see her ass in all its glory once again, and the way it jiggled was especially mesmerizing. She opened a drawer and pulled out a container, showing it to you with a smirk on her face.

“It’ll be fine with this!” she giggled. “This is especially designed for anal!”

You knew of such things, but her possession of the item raised a question. “...how did you even get that?”

“Anna’s secret shop!” Maria answered. “It’s a secluded hidden place, but they sell all sorts of interesting things there…”

...you were not aware of a secret shop, but it was not hard to guess what was sold there.

“...are you sure about this?” you questioned her. There was still a chance she was rushing into this, underestimating how painful this could be even with preparation.

“I’ve had your cock in my mouth and my pussy, and now I want it in my butt,” she spoke plainly. “I think the person who helped my family reconcile deserves a reward, don’t you think?”

“...Maria, you are incredible,” you were honest with her, but there was still one concern on your mind. “Just... promise me you’re doing this because you want to, and not because you feel compelled to give me something in return, okay?”

“I promise,” she answered with a calm tone, devoid of any cheekiness. She noticed you were serious, and she was giving you a serious answer. Her characteristic nature couldn’t stay secluded for long, however. Maria wavered her body from side to side, looking at you awfully bashfully. “...are you just going to stare?”

You hadn’t even noticed you were. “Sorry, you’re just really cute, and beautiful too.”

Maria pouted, but you had a hunch it was to hold back a squeal. Opting to push things in a certain direction, she offered you the container. As soon as it was free from her hand, she returned to her bed, bending over and giving you the most glorious view of her ass yet. Unsurprisingly, she was drenched, and just knowing what you were about to do to her had massively turned you on. There was no need for any traditional foreplay, but you still had a job to do.

Unscrewing the container, you dabbed some of the liquid on your finger. It was a messy substance with a strong smell, and it was a little sticky too, but it would do the job. With one hand, you spread one of her cheeks out of the way. Seeing her butthole up close was perplexing-- how were you going to fit inside there? It looked impenetrable.

Well, you supposed that was where the lube came into play.

Maria shivered when your lubricated finger slid across her rear, especially more so when you forced it open with your finger, letting it sink in.

“Let me know if I go too far, okay?” you made a request. You were naturally going to take your time, but there was always a possibility Maria needed to be treated even more delicately.

...there was also an equal possibility she didn’t.

“Okay.”

Maria hummed as you sunk more of your finger into her, fortunately showing no signs of discomfort. Her anus was extraordinarily tight-- every muscle was hard and rough against your finger, but it wasn’t an unpleasant feeling. You carefully twisted your finger around, hoping to make her muscles slippery. When you retreated to re-lubricate your finger, you heard Maria sigh with relief.

“...too much?”

“N-No…” she answered. “It is intense, and feels a little strange too, but I can handle it, I promise. It… actually feels kinda nice, honestly.”

When you heard her laugh a little at the end, you decided there was no need to worry.

The next batch of lube was squirted onto two of your fingers. Getting her anus used to something penetrating it was a good first step, but it also needed to be capable of dealing with larger objects too.

Maria cooed when you inserted a finger back in, and already you were seeing the fruits of your labor pay off. While still tight, there was less resistance from her muscles, and the lube made it easy to push in deeper as well. This time, you didn’t stop until you were fully inside her, and only after waiting a few moments did you decide to use a second finger. This act was not unnoticed by the cleric, and you paused when you noticed her quiver.

“I-It’s okay…” she spoke before you could. “Keep going…”

Keeping the initial finger stationary, you continued to slide in a second, keeping a close eye on her body language. Her legs were starting to wobble a little, and while that was concerning, you didn’t want to frustrate her by being too worried about her well-being. This was a girl who could handle her throat and pussy being pounded, after all. You made sure to remember that.

Once both your fingers were inside her, you initiated the third stage of your plan-- getting her butt used to thrusts.

As soon as you pulled out, you started to twist your fingers, stretching a different part of her butt and spreading the lube. You pushed back in shortly after, and heard nothing but delightful moan after moan.

“Fuck…” Maria swore, and hearing it was as satisfying as ever. “This feels… surprisingly good…”

You were pretty shocked to hear her purr like that. It was difficult to believe this was supposed to be an unpleasant experience considering her reactions!

With just your fingers alone, you had experienced how tight she was. The idea of fitting your cock inside still sounded unlikely, but if she could handle your fingers just fine, the concept didn’t sound too impossible anymore. For that reason. you were starting to desire this a lot.

“Ah… please… I can’t…” Maria suddenly sounded a little out of it, and in response, you guided your fingers out of her.

“...sorry, too far?”

“N-No, not that…” she muttered, chuckling a little. “The opposite, actually. Your fingers feel wonderful, but it’s making me want your cock inside me even more…”

Maria’s absurd confidence when it came to saying blatantly lewd things always caught you off guard, but on the plus side, it was always hot to hear.

“Do you think you’re ready?”

“Yesss…” she answered without hesitation.

You were glad to hear that answer, for your pants were growing a little too tight. You discarded them swiftly, unsurprised to notice you were rock-hard, and the notion that you were about to put this thing in Maria’s cute little butt made sure to keep you at peak performance.

Using the lube once last time, you soaked your hand in it, jerking yourself off to spread the liquid. While you did so, you pushed your member up against Maria’s butt, enjoying how snuggly you fit in between her cheeks. Showing her appreciation for the sensations, Maria wiggled her butt, finding a rhythm that effectively allowed her to jerk you off with her cheeks alone. It was an incredibly hot scene to witness, and as much as you wanted her to play with your dick like this, you couldn’t resist the thoughts of penetrating her.

“...I’m going to try it now. Let me know if it’s too much, okay?” you asked her one final time, warning her that this was the real deal.

“Understood,” she acknowledged.

Amusingly, your voice was more shaky than hers.

Aligning your cock, you began to push forward, realizing quickly that it was going to be difficult to penetrate her. You took your time, however, knowing the end result would be more than worth it. At last, you found the sweet spot, and the head of your length slipped in, stretching her anus out.

Maria hummed loudly, her voice expressing both satisfaction and a little discomfort. Being opened up by such a large foreign object was definitely going to be a bit unpleasant, but she was proving once again how strong she truly was.

“I’m okay…” she knew you had a habit of being worried. “I can handle it, I promise… so please, don’t stop!”

Holding her hips firmly, you began to push deeper. Maria groaned, and although it was difficult to restrain your concern, you trusted her to tell you if she was in a lot of pain. You were met with the same extraordinary tightness as before, but feeling its roughness coiled around your cock instead of your fingers was phenomenal. The lubrication made it easier to push in, and you watched as more of your cock sunk into her ass.

“Fuuuuckkk…” she moaned. “This, ah… feels so weird… but I think I like it… a lot… ah...”

Maria’s voice expressed so much calamity, but an equal amount of lust too. You could only begin to imagine how intense this was for her, but you were happy you had doubtlessly mitigated a lot of the pain.

Eventually, there was no more for you to push in. Maria’s ass had accepted your entire length, and the end result was staggering. The grasp her ass had around your member was almost painful, but it also felt so good!

“...go onnnn… fuck meee... fuck my ass…!”

This girl was driving you insane! She was so needy!

Naturally, you were more than happy to accept her request, but you took things gradually. Pulling out alone was intense for both you and her. There was no way you could give her butt the pounding she craved right away-- not until she was a lot more loosened up, at least.

But that moment would come with time. You started to thrust at a respectful pace, and with it came the clapping sound of sex you were acquainted with, paired with a squishy sound likely originating from the lube. The visual treat was stunning too; the sight of her bubbly butt jiggling with each thrust was something you prayed you’d never forget.

Maria’s moans grew in both frequency and instability, almost resembling screams. It was hard to tell if they were pleasurable or agonizing sounds, but deep down you knew this girl was loving this either way.

“Ah… fuck... fuck, fuck fuuuuckkk…!”

“Do you like this, Maria?” you asked her, adoring how she was swearing so often.

“Yeeesss! I love it… it feels… so good…!”

Hearing her voice her approval put any lingering doubts to rest. You accelerated dramatically, no longer treating her butt with care. Maria could take it, and she did. The girl turned into a visible and audible mess, her mind overwhelmed with pleasure she could not comprehend.

But she couldn't take it forever.

“S-Stop!” she suddenly yelled, and immediately you stopped pounding her. Maria peeked at you with a face absolutely soaked in sweat. She looked completely worn-out too.

“Sorry… did I go too far?” you asked.

“N-No, I just…” she murmured. “...miss you holding me, that’s all.”

How did you not see that kind of comment coming from a mile away? It was so her.

You nodded, gradually pulling out of her, marvelling at how much raw cock the girl actually took.

Seeing firsthand the damage you had done was incredible. No longer was her ass a sealed, impenetrable hole. It had been forced open, and you couldn’t wait for your cum to drip out of it.

Maria forced herself to her feet, but it was clear she was aching a bit. It wasn’t anything a tight hold on your body couldn’t fix though, and knowing she loved to be picked up and held firmly, you made sure to do just that. Maria giggled, planting an adorable kiss on your forehead. Even though she trusted your grip on her to be strong, she still clasped onto you with both her arms and legs.

“...can you put it back in, like this?” she sheepishly asked.

You nodded, and while it took some attempts since you were operating blindly, her ass had opened up enough for you to slip right back in.

Maria’s decision to shift positions was one you were now very thankful for. You were now able to witness every raw reaction. Intensity painted her face, but you knew she was loving this deep down.

There was little need to take your time with pounding her butt this time. Maria could take it, and every squishy sound paired with an adorable squeal indicated as such. There was no discontent in her voice whatsoever.

Thrusts were a lot easier in this position, and it was especially fun to hold her by her ass while you fucked it. Maria’s hold on you being so rigid made it easy to get carried away with your speed, and you were gifted with so many beautiful visual and audible reactions. She was a mess.

You had seen her like this before, but not to this extent. It was a wonderful thing to witness, but you knew it would not last forever. Her tight ass constantly pleasured you with every thrust, her rough walls squeezing your sensitive shaft as it attempted to reject your member. You weren’t sure whether or not her ass was more pleasurable than her pussy, but it was bringing you to your climax just as quickly.

“Maria… I’m so close…” you warned her.

“Inside meeee…” she was predictable with her answer, but that didn’t stop you from hearing her messy voice beg for me. “Cum inside my ass…!”

That wondrous peak of pleasure emerged as soon as you were fully inside her butt, and in one magnificent moment, the girl’s ass was flooded with semen for the very first time. Maria groaned vehemently, the grip she had on your body tightening, enough for her nails to dig in. Deciding she needed something more stable to rest her body onto, you gently laid her onto the bed, the emotion ejecting your shaft out of her butt.

The aftermath left Maria in a state of constant giddy giggling. She was a little in disbelief at what she had done, but she regretted nothing.

“...that was wonderful,” she laughed, observing the large quantity of cum dripping out of a hole not meant to be fucked. “Did you enjoy yourself?”

“Of course!” you told her. “It was certainly a unique experience.”

“Mmm… then you wouldn’t be opposed if I asked for more, would you?” Maria placed a finger on her lips and tilted her head, trying her best to look as adorable as possible. It was frankly a wasted effort, since you considered her the pinnacle of adorableness at all times.

“Of course, but first things first…”

Maria was caught off guard by you lunging at her, planting a messy kiss on her lips. She melted in the embrace, enjoying the passion you were gifting her.

“Mmm… what made you do that? Not that I’m complaining…” she giggled.

Now was the time to tell her. You couldn’t hold it back any longer, especially now that you were feeling more confident than ever.

“...Maria, I love you.”

The cleric froze as she heard those words, a look of shock forming gradually on her face. It was… a strange reaction.

Did you make a mistake? You weren’t sure.

“...are you alright?”

“Y-Yes, it’s just…” she murmured, biting her lip. Now you were worried. “...t-that’s just… quite a thing to say to a girl whose ass you just fucked!”

Maria started to giggle. You were both happy and frustrated to hear her laughter. Your heart sunk so much when you saw her bite down on her lip!

Seeing the look of displeasure on your face, Maria wiped it away with but a single kiss, followed by a comment that mended your heart. “I love you too.”

“Maria…”

“B-But we can talk about that later!” she looked and sounded excitedly jittery. It was not hard to figure out why. “We have my room to ourselves, and I’m not going to waste the time we have alone!!”

Before you had an opportunity to respond, Maria latched onto your lips again.

This kiss was different from the rest. It was restless at first, but pulling the girl into a hug put her at ease, allowing for an embrace that was gentle and caring. For a moment, lust temporarily was laid to rest, replaced by nothing but love.

This short moment was full of smiles so big that they started to hurt.

Naturally, things did transition back to being lewd again after a while, but you appreciated that short moment while it lasted. Your heart had never beat so fast.

You weren’t going to complain about indulging in the beauty that was her body though, especially since she was desperate for so much more.

The next several hours were spent appeasing her. She subsequently satisfied you in return.

Anal sex turned out to be a favorite of hers. As much as she loved sucking your cock or being fucked ordinarily, the painful pleasure of anal was especially alluring for your cleric lover.

You lost track of how many times you came inside her, and just as you believed everything was coming to an end, Maria revealed her secret stash of stamina potions, because of course she had a collection. Breaks did occur so you could eat, but it was becoming obvious that this was a day meant for you and her, and nothing more.

But things took a fateful turn as the sun started to set. The sound of skin smashing against each other and her unending moans were what you had grown accustomed to, so when a loud bang entered your ears while making love to Maria under the covers, you were startled. Y

ou were both laying down on her pillow in the middle of a passionate anal sex session, and you were both close to your respective orgasms too, so this interruption was not a welcome one.

As you processed the noise, you realized there was also… chatter?

Being under the covers kept you both in darkness, but you both knew what was happening without even looking at each other.

Minerva wasn’t going to be out forever. She would return, and the constant hours you and Maria had spent in each other’s arms had pushed that fact to the back of your minds.

The door was locked, so she had to spend some time unlocking it first, but what good would that do? As soon as she turned on the lights, she would see everything, and there was no place for you to hide. Sure, it wasn’t like your relationship with Maria was a secret (kind of), but she probably wasn’t expecting you nor Maria to still be going at it, so many hours later.

When the door burst open, you resigned yourself to your fate.

What you didn’t expect was to hear a combination of moans, laughter, and very loud kissing.

“Ah… where’s the light…?” Minerva asked loudly.

“...I don’t… doesn’t matter… bed...” you heard a man’s voice respond in return… which was not what you expected. The individual was more mindful of the volume of their voice, which made it difficult to listen in.

“You are sho drunk… hic!” The Red Dragoon burst into laughter, only for her voice to suddenly become muffled.

“...quiet…”

“You be cry it!” her voice was still boisterous, even while restrained.

Their conversation continued, albeit in whispers. Minerva learned to hold back her voice, but it did little to impact her frequent laughter.

You and Maria said nor did anything. You merely hoped you would somehow not be caught.

...the probability of that increased substantially when you felt weight on the other side of the bed.

“...mmm… I’ve been… waiting for this…” Minerva spoke softly, humming after.

The bed started to rock, and neither you nor Maria could believe what was happening. The only solace to be gained now was that the bed was a large one. That meant that so long as Minerva and her mystery lover kept their attention on each other and didn’t move around a whole lot, it was unlikely you’d be caught.

Knowing you were inches away from this lunacy was absurd, but considering how eventful the past two days were, this was pretty par for the course in a way. You and Maria were hidden under the covers, so you had no idea who was fucking Minerva, but your lover was beginning to fidget quite a bit. You currently had your arms wrapped around her and were balls deep inside her ass, and her squirming was starting to be pleasurable.

Maria was not expecting you to start thrusting, and to make sure she was quiet, you placed your hand over her mouth. She’d probably scold you for this later on, but you were feeling cheeky, and it wasn’t like you it would increase your odds of being caught.

Minerva was that loud. Whoever she was having sex with knew not to treat her delicately either. There was only one sound that came close to the volume of her moans, and that was the sloppy sounds of rough fucking.

The two went at it for the good part of an hour, and while you and Maria kept yourself occupied with some gentler fucking of your own, it was hard to reach a climax with how distracting the sounds were.

But their time together did come to a close eventually, and after some goodbyes were silently murmured, and the sound of a door closing came shortly afterwards, both you and Maria sighed with relief.

The cleric forced herself out of your grasp, peeking out from above the covers. After surveying the area, she tapped your shoulder to indicate all was well. It had gotten even darker thanks to twilight falling, but you could just about see the silhouette of Minerva’s naked body.

“...I can’t believe we were witnesses to that,” Maria whispered, sounding agitated, but relieved too since it was all over.

“I’m not sure if ‘witnesses’ is the right term to use.”

Maria hit you lightly on the arm, but even in the shadows, you could see her smile. “...now then, shall we continue?”

You actually expected her to say something along those lines,  but there was a potential problem.

“...you do realise she might wake up, right?” you pointed out.

You were more than acquainted with how fierce sex with this girl could get. There was no way Minerva wouldn’t wake up, even if she was a drunken mess.

“Let me tell you a secret,” Maria wore the cheeky smile you knew and loved. “My sister is a deep sleeper, especially so if she’s been drinking.”

“How do you even know that?”

“...let me demonstrate.”

Maria knelt in front of her sister, carefully spreading her legs. The remaining sunlight pouring through the window, paired with your eyes adjusting, helped you see Minerva in all her glory. The woman had large breasts, and to help demonstrate her point, Maria fiercely grabbed one of them.

...that was not what you were anticipating.

“See? I can play with them all I want,” she giggled, jiggling her sister’s breasts. “Now do you believe me?”

“...I never said I didn’t…” you were astounded by what you were seeing. Was this a normal thing for sisters? No… of course it wasn’t. But this was the Macedon family. They weren’t an ordinary trio of siblings at all.

“...isn’t it hot to think that both me and her were being fucked at the same time, right next to each other?” Maria sounded awfully horny.

Well, of course it was hot, but it was still hard to wrap your head around the notion that she didn’t care about being touchy-feely with her sister… and apparently really liked the idea of having sex next to her sister, apparently. Maria was proving to be full of surprises even now. You liked it though; you had no idea what sort of crazy shenanigans would emerge from her mouth or actions next.

“...yeah...” you admitted the truth.

“Before we continue, are you okay with me cleaning her up first?” Maria asked. “Her lover made quite a mess.”

That explained why she spread her sister’s legs. It wasn’t hard to guess Minerva had been creampied, and it was weirdly considerate and hot to learn her younger sister was willing to clean her up.

“Sure, go right ahead.”

...you had expected Maria to go fetch a tissue or something.

You did not expect her to dig right in, treating her sister’s pussy to a bombardment of licks and sucks. Minerva groaned in her sleep, her body quivering at the sudden pleasure echoing throughout her body.

You had no idea how to process what the heck you were witnessing.

This was not what you were anticipating in the slightest. You knew Maria was unpredictable, but this was especially absurd!

It was honestly a little fucked up... but that was what made it so hot! You wished it wasn’t so dark! You actually wanted to see this degenerate display in all its glory.

Maria wasn’t doing this to get her sister off, so she didn’t take long to back off . “...this taste is… ah…”

“Huh?”

“...it’s nothing,” she refused to elaborate. “Sorry if that caught you off guard, by the way.”

“That’s… not a problem,” you weren’t particularly sure what else to say.

Maria knelt up, only to shuffle a little forward towards her sister’s body. “Good! Now then, let’s spice things up, shall we?”

Continuing her trend of leaving you speechless, Maria fell onto her sister’s body, though caught herself with her hands before she could properly crash into it.

...did she actually want you to fuck her like this?

Maria gazed back at you, noticing your complete lack of action. “You okay?”

“Yes… this is just… a little surreal,” you still weren’t sure how to respond to her. “How has she not woken up yet?”

“I’ve already answered that!” Maria giggled. “Nothing will wake her up, and I want to have a little payback by being fucked right on top of her. She won’t know, of course, but it’ll be satisfying for me.”

“...Maria, you are incredible,” you repeated your words from earlier… but you had more to say to her this time. “Incredibly degenerate too.”

“And yet, you have not complained one bit about it,” she snickered. “We are cut from the same cloth.”

The shadows still hid much of her expression from you, but you couldn’t miss that wink.

You didn’t believe she was wrong with that statement of hers either.

Maria groaned pretty loudly when you plunged back into her, seemingly not caring about turning into a moaning mess right in front of her sister. It put into question why she even bothered to whisper initially… unless she didn’t care about her sister waking up to this heresy.

In a strange, convoluted way, it was fair. Minerva had disturbed Maria, and her cheeky little sister was having some payback, even if that meant her sister would wake up to this degeneracy. It was astonishing to think that this was the same individual who cried her heart out over the fear that her sister may hate her. This girl had many quirks, and you had a feeling you had yet to discover many of them.

Your entire relationship with her was going to be a wild ride, but gods, was it going to be exciting!

As wonderful as her ass felt, it was time for her pussy to receive some attention. Besides, you were worried fucking her butt even more wouldn’t be particularly good for it-- it definitely needed time to heal after how ruthless you were with it!

You had a hunch that this girl was always soaking wet. Ramming her at a ruthless speed was an effort task, and you spared no thought for your subtle worry that Minerva would wake up; it would disturb your concentration on fucking the beautiful lady in front of you, and you knew she didn’t want that.

Maria’s ass jiggled with every thrust, and while it was of course a pleasure to see, it made you miss the comfort of her hugs. You had grown accustomed to her clinginess, and amusingly, she had an outlet for that need of hers through Minerva.

It was difficult to see what Maria was doing, but her position and motions made you wonder if she was actually sucking on her sister’s tits. Her head was resting on one breast, and her voice had grown muffled. You didn’t know for certain, but was there any other explanation?

The very thought of this possibility encouraged you to accelerate, until ultimately, the only prominent noise was the clapping of her cheeks. Feeling such wonderful sensations was a godsend after having to endure the slow fucking that took place during the last hour, all because you didn’t want to get caught.

It wasn’t shocking to discover Maria had felt the same way. Her walls tightened up dramatically as soon as you experienced the first signs of your climax. The constant, almost painful squeezing, narrowed down the time it took for you to cum.

The feeling of filling her womb for the second time was a welcome one, especially after a countless number of anal creampies. Maria let go of her sister’s nipple just to share her own delightful moan, eventually ending in her collapsing on her sister properly.

You fell back, feeling the simultaneous warmth and dampness of sweat. You had no idea what time it was, but the sun had certainly set by now.

That meant you had spent the majority of your day fucking Maria.

“Mmm… that was so good…” Maria applauded your efforts, reluctantly pushing herself off her sister’s body. Her claim was correct-- Minerva didn’t look disturbed in the slightest. “...care for another round?”

You stared at her with a blank expression. “I think I’ll die if I do.”

Maria giggled. “Good thing I’m feeling pretty exhausted too. Shall we call it a night? You can stay here if you want.”

“No, not with your sister here,” you reminded her of the woman’s presence. Minerva would awake eventually from natural means, and you did not want to be there. Sure, evidence suggested that the Red Dragoon was more than aware you’d be fucking her little sister, but it wouldn’t stop things from being awkward… especially as you had essentially shared a bed with her.

“Fiiiine,” Maria gave in, but she seemed to be in an understanding mood. “...I’ll see you tomorrow, right?”

“Of course.”

“...I’m glad… my boyfriend…”

Hearing her say that wasn’t doing any wonders to your already exhausted heart.

Now that you thought about it, you had both confessed your love to each other, but had yet to properly establish the relationship. Having more anal sex was too important, apparently.

“That’s quite a thing to say after being fucked on top of your sister,” you pointed out.

“Big words from the person who confessed their love to me after fucking my ass,” she reminded you.

“...touché.”

“...I like my boyfriend a lot.”

“...and I like my girlfriend a lot too.”

The back and forth made it difficult to leave her, but you needed to rest in the comfort of your own bed. There would be an opportunity to be lovey-dovey in the future. You left as quietly and carefully as possible, since although Minerva wasn’t going to be disturbed, you didn’t particularly want anyone catching you leaving the room. Rumors would start, and you didn’t want that at all.

Fortunately, the trek back to your room was uneventful, and anyone you passed by didn’t question what you were up to.

It took some time to get to sleep once back in your room. Your mind had a lot to process, but when you finally entered the realm of slumber, you slept wonderfully.

Naturally, you dreamt of your new girlfriend.

___

It had been about a week since your relationship with Maria had begun.

You expected things to be significantly different, and while they were, everything was a lot tamer than you anticipated it to be.

You and Michalis ended up conversing a lot more than usual, for you were typically the first ones to arrive in the Dining Hall out of your typical group.

Well, that was one notable change. Long gone were the days of a rowdy cafeteria. Everyone was terrified of this man, and were perhaps hoping you were doing your best to keep him calm. Someone had tried to talk to Maria rather innocently a few days back, and he did not approve. It was a miracle he liked you, in all honesty. Sometimes, you wondered if you just got lucky, but he was proving to be a valuable friend.

Eating with the Macedon family became a common occurrence. Maria wanted to spend time with her boyfriend and her family, so why not do both at the same time?

It was shocking how well Minerva and Michalis were getting along. They didn’t clash one bit, and seemed to always be spending time with each other too. Maria was naturally happy her siblings were friendly towards each other, but you found it perplexing how much their attitudes towards each other had changed in such a short span. Had Maria’s strategy really changed them this much?

“Hey, hey…” Maria whispered into your ear. “Minerva and Michalis will be out training all day today, you know what that means, right?”

You were now starting to get worried about your Summoner responsibilities.

Hopefully, the Order of Heroes would understand if you took yet another day off.

Hopefully.