Across Eternity Bk. 07 Ch. 09

Team Building

With the assailants dealt with and the chaos put to rest, Noah and his friends returned to the Platinum Inn. Roc stepped into his dark bedroom and sat on the bed, sighing in exhaustion. The plan was to depart the next morning to go after Lupin, but after being pulled out of bed to deal with the assassins, he wouldn't mind sleeping in a little. His fatigue also came from worry. He then perked up as he heard a soft tap on the window. Cynatas was perched outside on a flagpole, illuminated by the glowing crystals that lit the street below.

Roc went over and opened the window. "Hey, what are you doing here?"

"I wanted to talk. Can I come in?"

"Of course. After all the times you visited me, it's nice to be able to let you in."

He stepped back, and Cynatas hopped through the window, her dress fluttering as she landed as softly as a feather. Roc sat down on the bed and took a moment to admire her beauty, even when she was doing something as simple as tucking her hair behind her ear.

"What did you want to talk about?" he asked.

"I noticed you seemed a little despondent at the meeting. What's wrong?"

Roc paused and averted his eyes, but Cynatas placed her delicate hands on his cheeks and forced him to look at her. "Are you really so ashamed by what you feel that you can't even tell me what it is? Even when it's the most important thing in the world to me?"

"It's Prince Lupin. Once we save him, you'll have to marry him, won't you? The two of you are engaged, right?"

"We were, but that marriage was set up by our fathers, both having passed away, and I am tired of enslaving myself to the will of the dead. Now that I have fulfilled my oath, I am no longer bound to this city or even this nation. I can go wherever and do whatever I want, and I want to be wherever you are and do whatever you do."

"Is that why you're going to help us save him? Because I'm doing it?"

"Mostly that, but also because I owe Lupin. I never loved him, but I do respect him, and if I'm going to break our engagement, I might as well save his life as an apology. But that's not all that concerns you, is it?"

"It's Seraph, his brother. I think he's fallen for you. When you were being attacked, I saw the same anger in him that I felt, the same desire to protect you. But I realized that he's stronger than I am. He can protect you better than I can."

"And? You're worried that I'm just a dumb floozy attracted to strength?"

"Of course not. But what man could love a woman like you and not worry that he isn't good enough? Besides, I am mortal, while you are an elf. Are you sure you want to spend your time with me, knowing that you'll just have to bury me when I'm an old man, while you'll look just the same as you do now? I don't want to be a scar on your heart for you to carry for eternity."

"Oh, Roc," she murmured, hugging him to her chest. "I'm over sixty years old, and I'd rather spend the next sixty years happy and in love with the perfect man than spend them alone while searching for an immortal one. And if you don't think you're good enough, then let me prove you wrong."

She then stepped back and pushed her dress off her shoulders, letting it fall down to her feet, along with her undergarments. She stood naked before Roc, leaving him in awe. Despite her short stature, she had a sultry, hourglass figure, and though she tried to put on the airs of a confident, knowledgeable older woman, the blush of her cheeks and the glimmer of her eyes spoke of her inexperience and nervousness.

"Those pants of yours are going to get in the way," she teased. Even with one arm, Roc got up and took them off in a flash. Cynatas stepped forward and touched him on the chest, hitting him with a burst of wind that knocked him onto the bed. She climbed on top of him, tickling him with her long raven hair.

"Do you have experience doing this sort of thing?" she asked.

"Well, there was a girl in my village that I fooled around with once or twice, and a party that Noah threw in Colbrand, but uh... I never actually got very far. Honestly, those moments were more embarrassing than educational."

"Most of what I know comes from overhearing the palace maids' gossip and reading some romance novels I found hidden away. But that's fine. I'm sure we each know enough to get started. As for the rest, we'll find out together, the way I've always wanted."

She lay atop him with their naked bodies pressed together like their lips. Roc wrapped his arm around her, wishing he had both arms more than ever before, if only to hold her better. Without the prison bars separating them, they could kiss with unbridled passion, immersed in each other's sweet taste as their tongues got acquainted. They took their time, wanting to make sure they had mastered kissing and all its pleasures before advancing.

Eventually, Cynatas broke the connection and began to move down, using her lips to admire Roc's muscles. Her fingers, small and delicate, wrapped around his manhood, sending both their hearts racing. Though he didn't admit it, Roc couldn't deny his pride in how big he felt in her hand. She gently stroked him, getting accustomed to the feel in her grip. It was hotter than she expected, and the firmness made her hair stand on end. Curiosity drove her to begin playing with his balls.

"Are these really as sensitive as men say they are?"

"Ah, careful, please," Roc muttered, feeling like he had a knife to his throat. Her fondling felt good, but even the softest grip sent a bolt of lightning up his spine and made his stomach twist.

Cynatas giggled at his reaction. "Fine, you big baby. I'll leave your precious family jewels alone." She put her hand back on his cock and resumed stroking him, now with more vigor. Roc began to tremble and pant, and once again, a coy smile crossed Cynatas's lips from his reaction. "Oh? Oh? Is my sweet songbird going to chirp for me?" she teased.

Roc soon grunted as his pent-up lust was released in the form of several gooey white ropes, shocking Cynatas. "Wow. I had heard, but... I didn't think it happened like that. Hey, you're not going to fall asleep on me, are you?"

"No, no, but I'll need a couple minutes to... uh... get back on my feet."

"Well, don't worry. We have all the time in the world."

She grabbed a handkerchief off the nearby table and used it to clean up the mess. She then turned and tossed it aside, and at that moment, Roc went on the attack. He laid her on her back, pinning both her hands with his one, and leaving Cynatas with wide eyes at the sudden reversal. He kissed her hard and passionately just as she had done to him, eventually pulling his lips away so that he could run them along her neck and make her hum in bliss. Lust compelled him further south, and he took his time to toy with her breasts, indulging his curiosity in their softness against his tongue and their sweet taste. Every pull of his lips on her nipples brought forth a euphoric whimper, with Roc enjoying his turn at being the one to tease.

He let go of her wrists so he could advance further south, running his tongue down her flat belly before spreading her legs. He had never gone down on a woman before, and was suddenly grateful that he and Foley had wandered into the Knight's Sheath while Noah was giving his seminar. Now he just wished he had done the lemon training to prepare for it.

He went down on Cynatas with his warrior tenacity, leaving her struggling to contain her voice. Her elven sweetness was addicting, with Roc using his tongue to prime the pump of her arousal like he was dying of thirst. He couldn't help but wonder if he was drinking from the Fountain of Youth, and imbibing in her nectar would give him some of her elven longevity.

Soon, he got bold. As Cynatas wrapped her legs around his neck, he wrapped his arm around her waist and sat up with her resting on his shoulders. Even with her small size, doing this with one arm should still have been difficult, but she was so light that Roc could carry and move her however she wished. Sitting up and wearing her like a mask, he continued to probe her deepest recesses with his tongue, relishing not just her taste, but the softness of her thighs against his cheeks.

Cynatas held onto his head as though afraid she'd fall to her death. She could no longer stop from moaning, with pleasure forcing her voice out as he brought her to climax. Fortunately, the door to Roc's room was heavy, and the walls were thick, keeping her lustful cries contained. Roc lay her down, admiring her beautiful body and the flushed look on her face as she gasped for air. He couldn't wait any longer. He had to take her. He extended his left wing and curled it, using it like a replacement arm to help hold himself over her.

"Cynatas, I love you."

"I love you too, Roc."

They kissed once more, then separated, for what came next could not be done while they were face-to-face. Roc adjusted his position over her, and Cynatas once more spread her legs for him, with her hands wrapped around his member. After all their foreplay, she was as ready as she could be and could feel his own throbbing anticipation, but was still nervous about its size.

Regardless, it was time to take the plunge. She guided his key to her lock, and given the all-clear, he took a deep breath and penetrated her. Cynatas tensed up and released a whine as her diminutive body struggled to accept his mass. Roc struggled as well with how tight she was, but that would soon change.

"Are you ok?" he asked, only a third of the way in her.

"I'll be fine. Don't stop."

He continued on, staining the sheets red and burying his cock up to the base. He gave Cynatas a moment to collect herself and get used to the sensation, then slowly pulled back. After letting her rest for another moment, he pushed himself back in, coaxing out a pained moan, followed by a second and third, but by the fourth, there was pleasure in her voice. Though it took some effort to acquaint himself with the movement and mechanics, Roc set himself into a slow and steady rhythm, driving deep into Cynatas's body, with the tightness fading with each thrust.

Cynatas held onto him with her face buried in his chest, rendered blissfully dizzy by his masculine scent. With each deep drive into her womanhood, Roc would kiss the top of her head, savoring her scent as she did his, as well as the softness of her hair. Never before had he felt so right in his actions, like he was exactly where he was supposed to be, with who he was supposed to be with, and doing what he was supposed to be doing. It was as though the planets had aligned to deliver him to his perfect moment.

Cynatas raised her arms, sliding her hand under his so that they could interlace her fingers, while she reached up and stroked his hair. Like him, she did not take the perfection of the moment for granted. In a city full of people who looked at her with disdain for her elf blood, she found a man who truly loved her and gave her all the happiness she had always wanted. She loved Roc, and she always would. Now, thanks to him, she felt like her life could truly begin. After sharing a simultaneous orgasm, the two of them lay side by side, gazing into each other's eyes. They were wrapped in Roc's wings, not saying anything. Nothing needed to be said.

The next morning, everyone woke up and made preparations for the journey. It would have been nice to take their time, but Seraph was pulling them like a frantic dog on a leash. They packed their things, gathered food, and readied their horses, though one member of the group was delaying the departure. Foley had gone out to run some last-minute errands for the trip and said he would meet everyone by the city gates. They all gathered, waiting for him to show up. Both Roc and Cynatas were with them, but neither had mounts.

"Man, where the fuck is Foley with my ring?" Daniel asked, having loaned it to Foley to help him carry the stuff back.

"When he arrives, he's going to be rushing to get out of here, and there may be people after him," said Noah.

"What makes you say that?" Valia asked.

"Just a hunch."

Foley soon arrived, running over and climbing onto his donkey. "Sorry, I'm late! Well, let's get going! Come on! Come on!"

"Hey, give me back my ring," said Daniel.

"I'll give it back later! Let's hurry! We're wasting daylight!"

Deep in the city of Duravound, alarm bells were being struck, and soldiers could be heard shouting.

"Called it," said Noah.

"You really did," Valia added.

The nearby guards manning the city gates were starting to put two and two together and approached Noah's group, armed with spears and questions.

"Well, we don't want any part of what's going on back there. Let's get going!" Foley exclaimed, ushering his donkey forward into a gallop.

With the whole city reacting to the alarms like an overturned anthill, Noah and the others took off after him, not wanting to be questioned by the guards. Roc and Cynatas took to the sky, and they raced away from Duravound, not daring to slow down until they were sure they weren't being followed. Once they were back on the roads and a safe distance from dwarven troops, Foley removed his family shield from Daniel's ring and tossed it back to him.

"Ha! Finally!" he cheered.

"I hope that shield was worth it. If they catch you, you'll be lucky not to end up with your head on a pike," said Noah.

"Oh, it was very worth it. Do you know how long my family has wanted this shield returned to us? When I get back home and hang this over the hearth, my brothers will have no choice but to line up to kiss my ass."

"You realize that when we inevitably have return to Duravound, there will be a lot of angry dwarves glaring at us, don't you? We could all end up imprisoned for this," Alexis chided.

"Like when you took your family's heirloom bow to hunt some ogres?" Noah reminded her. Alexis simply scoffed with a smile in response.

"The king isn't going to arrest you guys, not after all the shit that's happened," Foley groaned. "Besides, by the time you return, he'll have probably forgotten all about it and moved on to something else to fuss over. As for me... well, yeah, I should probably avoid stepping back through those gates. Hey, I tried to do things the proper way. I tried to be polite and respectful, but once that royal prick found out the details of my family's banishment, there was no reasoning with him. The way I see it, I had no choice."

"What's done is done," said Cyrilo. "If we're going to be fighting scores of Profane, I'd rather we do it with the best shield ever made."

"See? She gets it!" Foley exclaimed.

"Just so you know, I will be hiding exclusively behind you when the shit hits the fan," said Daniel.

"How long will it take us to reach Lupin?" Seraph asked.

"As long as we stick to the lowlands and avoid wasting time by scaling mountains, it should take us around two weeks, though that may be a generous estimation. We'll just have to hope the roads and bridges remain passable as we get further north."

"And that'll give us plenty of time to get back to Duravound for whatever the Profane is planning, right?" Sophia asked.

"Yeah. No matter what they try to do, we and Duravound will be ready."

Along with Lupin's existence, Noah had also let slip that the Profane had plans for the city. It would be unusual for an assassin to know so much about the schemes of the upper echelon, so Noah left things vague, saying that some kind of weapon would arrive by ship in a little under three months. However, he was unaware that the schedule had been moved up.

With everything settled, Noah and his friends journeyed north. Everyone was glad to be beneath the sun once more, no more so than Roc and Cynatas. They flew overhead, keeping a watchful eye on the horizon and scanning for obstacles and enemies ahead, occasionally dropping down to check in. For the most part, they were just enjoying the freedom and seclusion of the sky.

Finally, night fell, and everyone gathered to make camp. The group had swollen to eleven members, so the meals had to be even bigger. Game was ample here in the mountains, but they packed a lot of alchemically dehydrated fruits and vegetables, as well as special compressed bread that would rapidly inflate into a softer form. Roc sat with Cynatas in his lap, the two of them taking turns eating from each other's plates. Because of this, Seraph kept his eyes downcast throughout dinner so as not to look at them.

"So, Noah, you got a story for us tonight?" Daniel eventually asked.

Noah put down his plate and leaned back. "I've always got a story. The problem is, which one do I pick? Let's see... Ok. So, a long time ago, I used to be what's known as a ring racer."

"Let me guess, it involved riding in some kind of big metal ring made of your absurd other-world technology?" Alexis asked.

"A decent guess, but no. The ring was the track. Specifically, the rings of Saturn."

"Bullshit!" Daniel exclaimed.

Noah smiled. "Let me show you. False World."

The forest around their campsite disappeared, replaced with the emptiness of space, minus the vastness of the planet Saturn behind Noah. The ground beneath them was replaced with the ring that encircled the planet, stretching as far as the eye could see. Everyone scrambled in shock, looking around in all directions and trying to figure out where they were and what was happening. Only Valia and Shannon remained calm, having already helped Noah experiment with his new magic, but even they were left shocked by the sight. Since this was simply a visual demonstration, he didn't need to flash everyone with the Rune of False in his eyes.

"Relax, it's just an illusion. You're still sitting on the ground in Vandheim. I'm simply showing you my memories," said Noah, calming everyone.

"What is this place?" Cynatas asked with wide eyes.

"This is space, the realm above the sky where all planets reside, a realm so high that I doubt even you, with your powers, could reach it. The world we live on is like an island in a vast ocean of stars. Space is the harshest environment in existence, with no air to breathe, inhospitable temperatures, and little to no gravity. There is no "up" or "down," only "towards" or "away" from different heavenly bodies.

But just because it's dangerous doesn't mean humans won't do everything they can with it. The vastness of space simply means that there is more than enough room for all kinds of activities, such as the age-old tradition of finding out who is fastest. This planet behind me is Saturn, a ball of condensed gas with a diameter around 9.5 times that of this solid, rocky planet, and I assume 750 times the volume, or something close. This ring you see is composed of dust, rock, and ice, and like I said, we used it as our racetrack."

The view then shifted, as if they were circling the planet on a flying carpet. They arrived at a group of ships at the starting line. These elegant space cruisers were the cutting edge in speed and handling. To the inhabitants of the magical world, who were unable to understand how these crafts could possibly function or be used, they appeared almost like giant aquatic animals and birds, made of metal. Crustaceans, birds, dolphins, and fish; their streamlined appearances were like an homage to the wonders of evolution.

Numerous other ships had gathered, filled with spectators eager to watch the race. Holographic screens were projected, where the announcer, in his flamboyant suit, egged everyone on to build excitement, speaking in a language only Noah could understand. That said, since this was space, nothing was actually audible.

"That's my ship right there, The Gamma Ray, made of high-quality steel, blood, and sweat." He pointed to an elegant craft with a bottle green exterior. "Let me show you the inside."