Chapter 34 - 34: Elf Culture
As Saria and I walk side by side down the winding cobblestone path, the campus is relatively quiet. Most students are either in class or studying in the library.
Suddenly, a familiar voice rings out across the quad, shattering the peaceful atmosphere:
"Hey, you knife-eared cunt, what the fuck do you think you're doing with my boyfriend?!"
My head snaps up to see Octavia storming towards us, her white hair streaming behind. She's clearly just finished her combat training. Her skin glistens with a sheen of sweat that catches the golden light, making her look like some fierce warrior goddess. Her chest heaves with exertion and anger as she closes the distance between us with long, purposeful strides.
Despite the venom in her words, I can't help the thrill that runs through me at her possessive tone. My heart races, torn between anxiety at the confrontation and excitement at Octavia's fierce display.
Before I can react, Octavia's hand clamps around my wrist like an iron manacle. Her grip is bruising, bordering on painful, as she yanks me away from Saria. But rather than resist, I find myself melting into her touch. The strength and possessiveness in that grip sends a shiver of desire through me.
As Octavia yanks me close, I let out an involuntary whimper. Octavia's golden eyes lock onto mine, fierce anger melting into tender concern for just a moment.
But the gentleness is fleeting. As quickly as it appeared, it vanishes, replaced once more by blazing fury as Octavia's gaze snaps back to Saria.
"Hey, you can't just grab him like that!" Saria protests, her emerald eyes wide with shock. "You just hurt him!"
Octavia scoffs, her lips curling into a knowing smirk. "No, he wasn't yelping in pain," she says, her voice dripping with smug satisfaction. "He was whimpering because he's a masochist. He literally likes being handled like this."
As if to prove her point, Octavia's free hand comes up to grip my hair, fingers tangling in the strands and tugging sharply. Another whimper escapes me, louder this time, and I feel myself melting further into her touch. My body betrays me, leaning into her possessive hold as if desperate for more despite the embarrassment I feel.
'Chat we are so cooked.'
Octavia sighs, a sound of exhaustion. "See?" she says to Saria, gesturing at my flushed face and rapid breathing. "Look at him. He loves this."
Saria's emerald eyes widen as she takes in the scene before her. Her gaze flicks between Octavia's possessive grip and my flushed face, lingering on the way I lean into Octavia's touch. A myriad of emotions flashes across her delicate features, shock, confusion, and finally, a deep, aching pity.
Her lips part slightly as if she wants to say something but can't find the words. She shakes her head slowly, her long, elfin ears drooping slightly. The look she gives me is one you might give a wounded animal or a child who doesn't understand they're being mistreated. It's a gaze filled with such profound sadness and concern that it makes me squirm uncomfortably.
Finally, Saria finds her voice. "Your boyfriend had a run-in with Yu Huo today," she says softly, her tone careful as if she's delivering grave news. "Are you familiar with her?"
At the mention of Yu Huo's name, Octavia's grip on my wrist tightens even further. Her golden eyes blaze with renewed fury, but there's an undercurrent of fear there, too. She whirls to face me.
"Are you okay?" Octavia demands her voice a mixture of anger and concern. Her free hand comes up to cup my cheek, surprisingly gentle compared to her iron grip on my wrist. "Did she hurt you at all?"
I shake my head, leaning into her touch. "No, she didn't hurt me," I assure her. "She tried to buy me and wouldn't let me get a word in edgewise."
Octavia's eyes widen in horror. She winces as if physically pained by the thought of Yu Huo trying to buy me. In an instant, her demeanor shifts. The fierce, possessive warrior melts away, replaced by a tender, protective lover.
She pulls me into a tight embrace, her arms wrapping around me like a shield against the world. I sink into her warmth.
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"You helped him?" Octavia asks Saria, her voice muffled against my hair.
Saria nods, her emerald eyes wide with surprise at Octavia's sudden change in demeanor. "I... yes, I did," she confirms, her voice soft and uncertain.
Octavia takes a deep, shuddering breath. I feel her chest expand against mine, then slowly deflate as she exhales. When she speaks again, her voice is steady, almost formal.
"Thank you," she says, the words clearly costing her some effort.
The sincerity in Octavia's tone catches both Saria and me off guard. Saria blinks rapidly, her long lashes fluttering like butterfly wings.
"Uhh... yeah, no problem," Saria stammers, clearly thrown by this unexpected turn of events.
Octavia pulls back slightly, her golden eyes locking onto mine. The intensity in her gaze makes my breath catch in my throat.
"Yu Huo is extremely dangerous, Elwin," she says, her voice low and urgent. "She's loaded, and she gets bored easily." Octavia's fingers dig into my shoulders, emphasizing her words. "She funds terrorists."
Then, leaning in close, her lips brushing against my ear, Octavia whispers only to me, "But I'll take care of her, alright?"
"Huh?" I start to say, my brow furrowing in confusion. But before I can voice a full question, Saria cuts me off.
"You know that much about the Han empress?" she asks, her emerald eyes narrowing suspiciously.
Octavia's golden gaze flicks to Saria, a hint of annoyance flashing across her features. "I know a lot about the people here," she says curtly.
Saria looks at Octavia with growing uncertainty, her eyes roving over the hero's face as if searching for hidden truths.
Saria's emerald eyes darken, a shadow of concern passing over her delicate features.
"You know," Saria begins, her voice soft but carrying an undercurrent of tension, "too much knowledge can be a dangerous thing."
The words hang in the air between them, heavy with implication that goes way over my head.
Octavia's eyes grow cold, the warmth draining from her golden irises until they resemble chips of golden ice. Her posture stiffens, her muscles coiling like a predator ready to pounce.
"What the fuck do you mean by that, elf princess?" Octavia snarls, her voice low and dangerous.
Octavia's hand trembles as it moves to the hilt of her sword, her fingers curling around the grip.
Saria's composure breaks, her earlier confidence crumbling in the face of Octavia's barely contained rage. Her emerald eyes widen in panic. A sheen of sweat breaks out on her forehead.
"I... I just mean," Saria stammers, her voice quavering, "you should do whatever it takes to keep Elwin safe."
But her words only seem to fan the flames of Octavia's anger. The hero's golden eyes flash dangerously, like lightning in a stormy sky. Her grip on her sword tightens, knuckles turning white with the force of her grasp.
"And what the fuck do you think I'm doing?" Octavia growls, her voice dripping with venom and barely contained violence.
Saria takes an involuntary step back, her slender frame trembling slightly. She raises her hands in a placating gesture, palms out as if trying to calm a wild beast.
"I... I didn't mean..." Saria begins, but her voice trails off as she sees how offended Octavia truly is.
With a deep, exaggerated sigh that seems to come from the very depths of her being, Octavia rolls her eyes dramatically. Her hand falls away from her sword hilt, tension draining from her body like water from a broken dam.
"Whatever," Octavia says, her voice laced with equal parts annoyance and resignation. "I'll give you a pass today because you helped Elwin." Her golden eyes flash once more as she fixes Saria with a steely glare. "But if you ever fuck with me in the future, I will burn down the World Tree."
Saria's reaction is immediate and visceral. Her emerald eyes widen to the size of saucers, her mouth falling open in a perfect 'O' of shock. She stumbles back a step, her slender frame trembling like a leaf in a storm.
"N-no normal flames could ever do that," Saria stammers, her voice barely above a whisper. Her gaze darts nervously between Octavia and me as if seeking confirmation that she heard correctly. "But a threat like that... it could be seen as a major act of aggression."
Octavia's lips curl into a smirk, a dangerous glint in her golden eyes. She saunters over to Saria and leans in close. Her voice drops to a low whisper, the words meant for Saria alone.
I can't hear what Octavia says, but the effect on Saria is immediate and dramatic. The elf princess's eyes go impossibly wide, the color draining from her face until she's as pale as freshly fallen snow. She staggers back, her legs seeming to give out beneath her. She catches herself against a nearby tree, her fingers digging into the rough bark as if it's the only thing keeping her upright.
"H-how..." Saria gasps, her voice trembling. "How could you possibly know that?"
Octavia walks over to me, her stride confident and purposeful. Her golden eyes shine with a mixture of pride and possessiveness as she reaches for me.
Her arm snakes around my waist, pulling me close against her side. I can feel the heat radiating from her body, still warm from her earlier training session. The scent of her sweat mingles with the crisp autumn air, creating an intoxicating aroma that makes my head spin.
Without looking back at Saria, Octavia says, "Come on, my love. I need to get the smell of these dogs off of you."
As we begin to walk away, I can sense Saria's gaze boring into our backs. The weight of her stare feels almost physical, a tangible pressure between my shoulder blades. I resist the urge to turn and look, instead focusing on the feeling of Octavia's arm around me, anchoring me to her side.
The campus around us seems to fade into the background. All I can focus on is Octavia, the steady rhythm of her breathing, the subtle flex of her muscles as we walk, the warmth of her body pressed against mine.
"What did you say to her?" I ask, curiosity finally getting the better of me.
Octavia's lips curl into a smirk, a hint of danger glinting in her golden eyes. "I told her how I'd burn down the World Tree," she says casually as if discussing the weather.
I nearly stumble, shock coursing through me like an electric current. "Wait," I say, my voice barely above a whisper, "you can really do that?"
Octavia stops walking, turning to face me fully. There's something in her gaze that makes her look almost creepy. But I love it.
When she speaks, her voice is low and intense, resonating with a power that makes the air itself vibrate. "I'd do anything to keep you safe, Elwin," she says, each word dripping with sincerity and barely contained violence. "Anything."
"That's hot."