Chapter 412 A Promise
Raziel's heart raced, his thoughts a whirlwind of panic and embarrassment. He looked left and right to see if there was any way to escape. Or should he just crawl away?
No…He knew he couldn't just sneak away like a guilty intruder; it would only confirm any suspicions of impropriety. His only option was to face the situation head-on with honesty and hope for understanding.
He took a deep breath, steeling himself to step out and apologize, but before he could move, her figure suddenly appeared in front of him. She was 100 years older than him but looked so youthful and radiant.
She was clad in a thin red robe with a sash around her waist that clung to her wet body, slightly transparent due to its dampness, accentuating her elegant form.
The robe outlined her slender figure, highlighting her curves in a way that left Raziel momentarily breathless.
Her arms were folded under her curvaceous medium bosom, enhancing her cleavage, and her ruby-red eyes bore into him with a mix of surprise and reprimand.
"Raziel! Were you really trying to peek at me? I thought you were a good boy," Selene's voice was soft yet stern, her lips parting in a chiding manner.
Raziel's face flushed a deep red, and he bowed deeply, his voice laced with frantic sincerity, "No, no! I am really sorry. I didn't mean to. I was only looking for you and accidentally came upon you here. I just wanted to know if you were alright after what happened yesterday. I had no ill intentions, nor was I trying to disrespect you. You have to believe me...please. I would never do anything of such sort to you, Matron Selene."
He remained bowed, too mortified to meet her gaze, his words tumbling out in a rush.
His heart pounded in his chest, a mix of guilt and the concern of losing face before her overwhelming him. He hoped his sincere apology would be enough to convince her of his innocence.
But then his thoughts froze as Selene's slender hand gently rested on his shoulder, her voice soft and reassuring, "Relax. I was only teasing you. I know you would never do such a thing. I have known you your entire life."
The tension in Raziel's body eased, replaced by a warmth that spread through him at her understanding and trust.
He slowly lifted his head, meeting her gaze with a sheepish, grateful smile, "Thank you for believing in me, Matron. I am glad to see that you are alright."
Selene's hand moved from his shoulder to ruffle his hair affectionately, her smile radiant and comforting, "I am touched that you came all the way here to check on me. But don't worry. I won't let anything happen to me as long as you are there. Otherwise, who is going to train you to help you achieve your huge ambitions?"
Raziel's smile became shy, his hand scratching the back of his head in a somewhat bashful manner.
His eyes lowered slightly, a hint of vulnerability in his voice, "Only you can..." He then looked up again, a spark of determination in his eyes, "So I want you to promise me you will stick to your words. Next time, please let me accompany you if you are going anywhere dangerous. I can at least support you in some way."
Selene's laugh was soft, filled with warmth as she regarded him, "Okay, I promise you, but I can't let you accompany me until you win the spar that Chief Caius will be holding."
Raziel's face lit up with excitement, his hand shooting up in enthusiasm, "I will definitely wi-" His sentence was cut short as his hand collided with a branch above, breaking it. Both Raziel and Selene looked down at the fallen branch, momentarily distracted.
However, the moment quickly turned awkward as Selene's eyes inadvertently fell on the noticeable bulge in Raziel's pants, making her eyes widen, and her pale cheeks get painted with a reddish hue.
Raziel, realizing what had caught her attention, felt his entire face heat up in mortification. He quickly turned away, trying to cover himself with his hands, utterly flustered by the situation.
His face turned a deeper shade of red, if that was even possible. He quickly covered the area with his hands in a futile attempt to hide his involuntary reaction, "I-I'm sorry, Matron Selene," he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper, "I didn't mean to... I mean, I wasn't... It's not what it looks like..."
Selene cleared her throat and said, "I know. You are just at that age where you are healthy and um...energetic, I would say. You don't have to feel bad about it," She then hesitated for a moment and asked, with her gaze shifting briefly, "But...isn't it hurting you if you let it be? Do you want me to...help it calm down?"
Raziel's heart skipped a beat as Matron Selene suddenly suggested helping him ease his unruly thing.
He didn't quite know how to respond, feeling both embarrassed and anticipation.
On one hand, he wanted nothing more than to avoid any further awkwardness between them, but on the other, he was curious and intrigued by her words.
With his back still facing her, he slowly turned his neck around and asked, "H-How exactly are you planning to calm it down?"
Selene let out an amused chuckle, seeing his expression, and said, "It's nothing complicated. Your blood is in an excited state. And since some of your excited blood is rushing down there, I can influence your blood to calm down and flow like usual. You know I am somewhat of an expert when it comes to influencing bloodstreams."
"True…" Raziel mumbled as he knew Matron Selene was proficient in the art of using blood to treat people. Even Grandpa Caius said she had better control over blood than any other vampire in their tribe.
"Okay, but…what should I do?" Raziel asked, his pulse still racing.
Selene's soft chuckle was soothing, yet Raziel couldn't help but feel a wave of nervousness wash over him as she stepped closer.
Her proximity, coupled with the delicate fragrance of roses that seemed to emanate from her, only served to heighten his already racing pulse.
"Right now, your heart is beating as loud as a drum. So..." She whispered, her voice a gentle murmur that brushed against his ears, "...first, close your eyes, relax your body, and take deep breaths."
"Oh... sure," Raziel quickly complied, shutting his eyes in an attempt to calm his racing thoughts.
The nearness of Matron Selene and the wet coldness emanating from her made it challenging for him to focus. Her scent, a blend of fresh roses and something uniquely her, filled his senses, making his task even harder.
"Clear your head and let your mind be empty," she continued in that same soft whisper, urging him to dispel the whirlwind of thoughts and emotions that threatened to overwhelm him.
Raziel willed himself to follow her instructions, striving to empty his mind of all thoughts since he didn't want to embarrass himself before her anymore.
He remembered her training, focused on the sensation of breathing, the rise and fall of his chest, and slowly, his body began to relax.
"Good. Now it will tickle a bit, but don't worry. It won't hurt," Selene reassured him, her tone soothing and pleasant.
Outside his field of vision, Selene positioned her hand above the conspicuous bulge in his pants with a faint blush still present on her cheeks.
Her hand, glowing with a soft red light, hovered just inches away from the sizeable bulge.
Raziel, still with his eyes closed, felt a warm, tingling sensation emanating from her hand. It was an odd sensation, not unpleasant, but certainly unusual, causing a slight shiver to run through his body.
Her technique was delicate and precise, her mastery over the blood flow evident in the subtle shifts Raziel began to feel.
Surprisingly, he could feel his little brother calming down, his nerves relaxing, and the tension that had arrested his body earlier, slowly dissipating.
He never knew she could make one feel this relaxed purely through her mastery over blood.
She was truly an amazing genius.
He always wondered what her true origins were, but he never asked since he didn't want to make her remember anything bad in the process.
"There... it's back to normal. Are you feeling better now?" she had whispered, her voice laced with a gentle, soothing quality.
Raziel nodded, opening his eyes, only to find her face mere inches from his own.
For a fleeting moment, their gazes locked, and in her radiant red eyes, Raziel saw a depth of warm emotions that just seemed to tug at his heart.
But his gaze inadvertently drifted downwards, catching sight of her exposed collarbones and the gentle curve of her breasts, barely concealed by the semi-transparent, damp fabric of her robe.
The sight triggered a reaction he couldn't control, and he felt a familiar tension rising within him once again.
Panic set in, and without daring to meet her eyes, he mumbled his hurried thanks and excuses.
"Uh... I... I should really be going to get the logs for tonight. But thank you for helping me out, Matron. I- I will see you later," Raziel's voice was a mix of gratitude and urgency, his words tumbling out in his haste to escape the situation. He can't afford to lose any more face by letting her notice it again.
He had trained a lot to keep his focus and willpower in check, but before her, he always forgot that training.
Selene watched him run off, her eyes blinking when he suddenly took off.
She then let out a quiet chuckle, shaking her head slightly as her eyes still fixed on the direction Raziel had disappeared.
Her smile lingered for a moment longer, briefly appearing wistful, before she turned and walked away.
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