The tension hanging over the academy entrance was almost solid enough to be cut with a dagger.

While my mother, Baroness Elara Bartfort, maintained her porcelain smile and impeccable posture, I felt the weight of the System’s invisible chains on my shoulders.

My abilities were blocked, gray icons on an interface pulsing with a threatening red. At that moment, I was just a sweaty, exhausted young noble, without the support of magic or Aria’s omnipresence.

It was then that the sound of rhythmic boots echoed through the stone courtyard. A small group approached with an aura of authority that made even the gossiping students step back.

At the front was a middle-aged woman with a gaze that seemed to read anyone’s soul: Director Valerius. Beside her was Vice-Director Marcus, a man with a severe appearance and hunched shoulders, acting as the director’s subordinate shadow.

"Baroness Bartfort," Valerius’s voice was like velvet over razors. She stopped a few meters away from us, solemnly ignoring the guards and the buzz around us. "I heard that the mother of one of our most... talked-about students had arrived. It is a pleasure to welcome you again to our domains."

"The pleasure is all mine, Director Valerius," my mother replied, tilting her head with an elegance that hid a shocking familiarity. "I see the academy remains magnificent, despite the recent... setbacks with the barrier."

I observed the exchange of glances between the two women. It wasn’t the formal greeting of two strangers from different classes. There was a subtext there, a weight of years of coexistence or shared secrets. Could my mother have once been friends with the director? I thought, feeling a bitter taste of distrust.

That would explain a lot. My admission to this academy, an elite institution, had never made sense for a clan on the brink of bankruptcy like ours. Connections. Everything in this world came down to who you knew before you needed a favor.

"Marcus, make sure tea is served in my private office," Valerius ordered, without taking her eyes off Elara. "The Baroness and I have state matters to discuss. Matters that do not concern the curious ears of the students."

My mother turned to me, the mask of affection returning for a moment.

"Shade, darling, I will accompany the director. Stay close and try not to get into any more trouble until I’m finished. Lila, stay here. Wait for me until I return."

Lila simply bowed her head, eyes fixed on the ground.

"Yes, ma’am."

The two women withdrew, followed by the vice-director, leaving a trail of expensive perfumes and mystery in the air.

I stood there, motionless, watching Elara’s back disappear down the main corridor.

The System took advantage of the silence to glow again in my vision:

[DAILY MISSION — TIME REMAINING: 1 HOUR.]

I looked at Lila. She looked like a marble statue, obeying Elara’s order with a submissiveness that made me nauseous.

Without my manipulation or time-stop abilities, I would have to convince her the old-fashioned way.

"Lila," I called, approaching her.

"Yes, Young Master?" she replied, without raising her face.

"Come with me. I’ll show you the academy. It doesn’t make sense for you to stand here in the sun like a garden ornament."

"I’m sorry, Young Master, but the Baroness ordered me to wait here. I cannot break her orders," she said, her monotone voice hiding the hesitation I knew existed deep down.

I took a step into her personal space, feeling the heat emanating from her body.

"My mother may be your mistress, Lila, but I am also your master. And as your master, I am ordering you to come with me now. If she asks, I’ll take responsibility."

Lila hesitated. Her fingers tightened against the fabric of her simple servant’s dress.

She finally raised her eyes, meeting mine. There was conflict there — duty against desire, or perhaps just the fear of displeasing me.

"As you wish, Young Master."

We began to walk.

Without Time Stop, every step felt like a risk. Every student who passed us was a potential witness.

I led her away from the main buildings, skirting the magic area and heading toward the transportation sector, where the domesticated magical beasts were kept. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

The place was rustic, built with dark wood and rough stone.

The smell of hay, leather, and the hot, wild breath of the creatures filled the air.

They were cargo drakes, patrol hippogriffs, and other smaller beasts, all housed in individual cabins that functioned as elite stables.

At this hour, the instructors were all busy with the barrier investigations or in the infirmary. The pavilion was deserted, plunged into a comforting gloom.

I took her to the back of the pavilion, where the cabins were larger and less illuminated.

The rhythmic sound of a magical beast snorting in its box created a natural sound barrier.

"No one will bother us here," I said, pressing her against the rough wood of one of the empty cabins.

Lila was breathing fast.

"Master... if someone finds us... if the Baroness finds out..."

I didn’t answer with words. The urgency of the System and the fact that I was "disarmed" of powers made every touch more electric, more real.

I pressed Lila against the rough wood of the empty cabin, the smell of fresh hay and leather mixed with the soft, warm perfume that came from her tanned skin. It was a light, feminine scent, slightly sweet, as if her body held its own heat even in the middle of the stable. The tanned skin glistened subtly with the sweat already forming on her neck and the neckline of the simple maid’s dress.

"I was fucking missing doing this with you, Lila," I murmured hoarsely against her ear, my voice low so it wouldn’t echo. "Missing feeling this hot body squeezing me."

Lila took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling quickly. The tanned skin of her face flushed.

"I missed you too, Young Master... I missed you... but if the Baroness finds out... if someone comes in..."

I didn’t let her finish. I lifted the skirt of her simple maid’s dress with both hands, the light fabric rising to her waist, and pulled her white panties down to her knees in one quick motion. Her pussy appeared, swollen lips already wet, the tanned skin around it glistening with the honey dripping out. I spread her legs a little wider with my knee and pressed the thick head of my cock against the hot entrance.

I pushed in slowly at first, feeling every inch of her tight pussy opening to receive me. The wet heat enveloped me completely, the inner walls pulsing and sucking my thick cock until I was all the way inside. Lila let out a muffled moan. I covered her mouth with a firm hand and started thrusting from behind, deep and urgent strokes, her body pressed against the rough wood. My other hand squeezed one breast over the dress, feeling the hard nipple rubbing against my palm.

Each thrust made her tanned body tremble. The wet sound of skin against skin echoed softly, mixed with the distant snorting of the drake in the next cabin. I thrust deep, balls slapping against her, feeling her pussy tighten more with every stroke.

"Fuck, Lila... you’re squeezing me so hard..."

She moaned against my hand, hips pushing back, asking for more. I sped up, fucking her hard, sweat running down the tanned skin of her back. When I felt the climax rising, I buried myself deep and came hard inside her. Thick, hot jets of cum filled the tight pussy, overflowing a little and dripping down her tanned thigh while I pulsed.

It was at that exact moment that the System emitted a sharp sound in my mind.

[ABILITY UNLOCKED: SENSORY BOND / THOUGHT READING]

Suddenly, a wave of sensations invaded my head. They weren’t just my feelings. I felt what she felt. The heat of the cum inside her, the throbbing of her full pussy, the fear mixed with insane pleasure.

*Master... it’s so hot inside me... I feel every jet... please, don’t stop... I’m so yours...*

I smiled, still inside her, my cock throbbing.

"This ability is fucking interesting," I thought, voice low just for myself.

I continued thrusting slowly, enjoying the bond. I changed position: I pulled her to the hay-covered floor and put her on all fours. Her skirt still lifted, panties caught at her knees, her tanned pussy dripping my cum. I entered her from behind again, now deeper, holding her wide hips. Her thoughts came through clearly:

*He’s using me... I love this... the Baroness will kill me if she finds out... but I don’t want him to ever stop...*

I thrust rhythmically, feeling every spasm of her pussy as if it were my own.

Suddenly, heavy footsteps echoed at the entrance of the pavilion.

"Is someone there?" shouted the gruff voice of the instructor.

Lila froze. I felt her panic explode through the bond like a shock:

*He’s going to see us... the Baroness will destroy me... I’ll be expelled... but he’s still inside me...*

I covered her mouth tightly, pulled her tanned body against mine, and dragged us both into the deep shadows of the cabin occupied by the colossal drake. The animal snorted but didn’t move. I pinned her against the wooden corner, body pressed to hers, and continued penetrating her slowly, slow and deep thrusts, never pulling out. The hand over her mouth muffled every moan she tried to release. My cock slid in and out slowly, the cum from the first round mixed with her fresh honey dripping down her tanned thigh.

The instructor stopped right in front of the cabin. His shadow appeared through the gaps. Lila trembled all over, her pussy squeezing my cock from pure terror and lust.

*Please, don’t look... but keep going... Master, keep going...*