Chapter 5: An unexpected contract
"Hahaha..."
Saraya’s laughter rang out in the living room, carrying a relief along with an undisguised mockery.
"Rank D?"
She looked Elowen over from head to toe, the corner of her mouth curling up full of contempt: "And here I thought the Center had found some formidable Succubus. Turns out it’s just a rank D piece of trash."
Hearing that, Elowen’s jade-green eyes wavered slightly, but she showed no anger.
She only said in a soft voice: "My compatibility with Mr. Erik is ninety-six percent."
The smile on Saraya’s face instantly stiffened.
"How much?"
"Ninety-six percent."
As Elowen answered, she lifted her head to look at Erik.
That single glance, and the state she had only just stabilized began to waver again. Her cheeks quickly flushed red, and the fingers gripping Erik’s shirt clenched tighter too.
Saraya saw her reaction and immediately understood.
"You went into heat the moment you met him?"
Elowen pressed her lips together slightly, her face growing even redder, but she still earnestly corrected her: "This is an energy resonance caused by excessively high compatibility, not going into heat."
"What’s the difference?"
"There’s a big difference."
"You dare talk back to me?"
Saraya stepped forward, but Erik immediately gave her wrist a light squeeze, stopping her from advancing further.
"I’ve said enough."
"Erik!" Saraya raged and yelled: "You’re treating me like this over a rank D Succubus?"
"I just won’t allow you to insult my guest."
"Guest?"
Saraya looked at the two of them practically embracing each other, so angry that her whole body trembled.
"Is this how you receive a guest?"
Erik lowered his head to look at Elowen.
She was still pressed close against him, both hands resting on his chest, her face flushed red, her gaze hazy yet with no intention of letting go at all.
The current posture really wasn’t convincing.
Erik drew in a deep breath, then tried to push Elowen back.
"Stand off to the side first."
Elowen reluctantly stepped back half a pace, but her two hands still held onto his wrist.
Erik: "..."
Seeing this scene, the fury in Saraya’s heart finally erupted.
"Fine!"
She yanked her wrist out of Erik’s hand, her voice full of anger and resentment: "If you like this kind of trash, then keep her! I want to see just how far a rank D Succubus can help you go."
Having said that, Saraya turned and rushed out into the hallway.
BANG!
The door being slammed shut made the frame shudder.
The living room instantly fell quiet.
Erik looked at the tightly shut door, then looked at the mess all around him, and felt nothing but a headache inside.
He turned to Elowen.
"I’m sorry you had to see something like this the very first time we met."
Elowen didn’t answer.
She was standing right in front of him, her head slightly lowered, her silver hair covering part of her face.
Erik felt the hand holding his wrist growing hotter and hotter.
"Miss Elowen?"
Elowen slowly lifted her head.
Her jade-green eyes had been covered by a thin layer of mist, and her gaze as she looked at him no longer held the calm it had before.
"Mr. Erik."
Her voice was very soft, carrying a bit of a tremble.
"What is it?"
"I don’t think I can hold back any longer."
Erik immediately grew wary.
"Hold on, we can sign a Trial Contract first."
Elowen looked at him and gently shook her head.
"I don’t want a trial."
"We only just met."
"But I’ve waited far too long for someone who could connect with me."
She stepped closer.
Erik instinctively took a step back, but right behind him was the wall.
Elowen stopped right in front of him.
The distance between their two bodies had almost vanished. The softness along with the warmth from her transmitted through the layer of clothing, making Erik’s breathing grow heavier too.
He brought up his hands to hold her two shoulders.
"Elowen, calm down."
"I’m being very calm."
"You don’t seem like someone who’s calm."
"Because you’re too close."
"You’re the one who pinned me against the wall."
Elowen blinked, as if only now realizing the situation.
"I’m sorry."
She said she was sorry, but she didn’t step back at all.
On the contrary, her soft hands slowly slid up Erik’s chest, then wound around behind his neck.
Erik felt her body gently press close, her warm breath brushing against his lips.
"Elowen."
"I’ve been through seventeen failed pairings."
She looked straight into his eyes, her voice growing softer and softer.
"This is the first time I’ve felt my body truly want someone."
Erik knitted his brows slightly.
He understood that high compatibility could affect a Succubus, but Elowen’s reaction was clearly stronger than what he had imagined.
"I’m not refusing to connect with you." Erik tried to keep his voice calm: "But at the very least we should start with a Trial Contract."
Hearing that, Elowen wasn’t pleased in the slightest.
On the contrary, a bit of grievance even appeared in her jade-green eyes.
"Are you afraid of me?"
"I just want to be careful."
"Or are you still wanting to wait for Saraya?"
"It has nothing to do with her."
"Then why only sign a trial contract?"
For a moment Erik didn’t know how to explain.
He had only just ended a failed pairing that dragged on for three months. No matter how high the compatibility between him and Elowen was, directly signing a formal contract at their very first meeting was still too hasty.
But Elowen seemed unable to keep waiting any longer.
The gentle fragrance on her body grew more and more distinct. Her originally clear eyes had turned hazy, her breath heating up, her soft body ceaselessly pressing against him.
Erik wanted to step back, but there was no more room behind him.
"Elowen, let’s talk first."
"I’m listening."
"Then step back a little."
"I don’t want to."
Erik: "..."
Elowen looked at the helplessness on his face, and a hint of amusement suddenly appeared in her eyes.
Even while losing control from the resonance, she still recognized that Erik hadn’t taken advantage of her state at all.
He was still trying to restrain her, and had even persistently proposed signing a trial contract.
That didn’t disappoint Elowen.
On the contrary, it made her feel all the more that she didn’t want to miss the man in front of her.
Elowen slowly rose up onto her toes.
Erik immediately held her shoulders tight.
"Hold on."
"You said you wouldn’t refuse to connect with me."
"I said a Trial Contract."
Elowen pressed her lips together, her voice very soft: "But I don’t want you to test me."
"That’s not what I meant."
"Then don’t push me away."
Before Erik could even reply, Elowen had lifted her head, her soft lips touching against his.
Erik’s eyes went wide.
The kiss was at first just a light touch, as if Elowen still held onto that last shred of reason.
But the moment their lips made contact, a surge of warm energy suddenly erupted between them.
Elowen’s body trembled.
The two arms wound around Erik’s neck immediately clenched tight, pulling him down. Her soft lips no longer stopped at a brief touch, but became scorching and full of longing.
The gentle fragrance on her body quickly enveloped Erik.
He could feel Elowen’s racing heartbeat, feel her soft body pressing against him, and at the same time feel each surge of strange energy flowing from her over to him.
Erik had originally wanted to push her away.
But the moment his hand landed on her soft waist, his very soul seemed to be pulled in by that resonance too.
A comfort he had never known before spread throughout his body.
Like two portions of energy that had already been waiting for each other for a very long time, finally finding the right place to merge together.
Elowen let out a faint, choked sound in her throat.
Her kiss was still a bit clumsy, but the initiative along with the longing was not hidden at all. Her fingers threaded into Erik’s hair, her body pressing closer, as if the moment she loosened her grip even a little he would instantly disappear.
Erik’s mind was left blank by that unexpected fervor.
He had only intended to sign a Trial Contract.
At the very least they should get to know each other for a few days, confirm that the two sides could live together, and only then consider the next step.
But Elowen gave him no chance at all to say it.
Just as he was about to tilt his head and end the kiss, a pale blue mark suddenly appeared between the two of their chests.
The light passed through the layer of clothing, quickly connecting their bodies with thin threads of energy.
Erik was startled.
"Elowen..."
The moment he parted his lips a little, Elowen was already breathing rapidly, her jade-green eyes hazy as she looked at him.
"Don’t stop."
Then she once again took the initiative to kiss his lips.
BOOM!
A surge of invisible energy erupted inside Erik’s body.
The mark between the two of them instantly shone brilliantly. The threads of energy quickly wound around one another, then merged into a complete symbol.
Erik felt another existence appear within his soul.
Warm.
Gentle.
Incredibly close.
He could feel the joy, the satisfaction, along with the sense of security flooding Elowen’s heart.
But right after, a thought made Erik’s expression change instantly.
This wasn’t a Trial Contract.
A Trial Contract couldn’t create a soul link this clear.
Erik hurriedly separated Elowen from him, both hands holding her shoulders.
"What kind of contract did you just sign?"
Elowen panted, her face flushed red, her lips slightly swollen after the prolonged kiss.
She looked at the mark gradually fading from the two of their chests, a blank look appearing in her eyes as well.
"The contract..."
"What contract?"
Elowen stayed silent for a few seconds, then said in a small voice:
"It seems to be a formal contract."
Erik’s eyes went wide.
"What did you say?"
At this very moment, a mechanical voice that had been silent for five whole years suddenly rang out in his mind.
[Contract established. Congratulations on successfully opening the Incubus System.]
[Congratulations on obtaining the rank SSS talent: Primordial Incubus.]