24 Hearts

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The twenty-fourth fragment, Carpe Diem

Judah opened his eyes to the feeling of someone stroking his hair. All was a blur except for Tia, who was watching him dearly as she lay with him, naked. Of course, it was her who had been caressing him.

“Good morning.”

Judah nodded in response. What happened last night wasn’t a dream. It started when she tackled him by the door until they ended up talking on the sofa. Judah told her what he wanted to say, and she also accepted Judas. The roles were reversed, yet the result satisfied them both.

He wondered if she was drunk the whole time, but seeing her in good shape now, it seemed like she wasn’t. She was very different from last year, all confused and remorseful about their kiss in the carriage.

“Are you okay?”

Judah’s question that Tia could interpret in so many ways her into a fit of laughter.

Was he asking about her hangover or the mess they made last night? Maybe both. And for that, the answer was no.

It was not okay at all. Tia laughed, but her head ached thanks to her hangover. And inside, guilt lulled in her mind for having made love with her student after drinking.

However, the guilt soon turned into pride. In the first place, she was a beast. She had a human form, but she was a predator. She did it because she wanted to do it, so would that be a problem?

Rather, she was happy that she was able to relieve the lust that had been suppressed by her useless heart. She even heard Judas say he loved her in a sweet, tender voice. That was enough.

‘No, perhaps it’s not enough?’

Tia stroked Judah’s head, watching him under yearning eyes. Judah’s voice that was struggled with pleasure, his face of ecstasy and his change from being a boy into a wild beast all replayed in her head. She wanted to do it again. She was in a mood to wrap Judah around her with her slender legs, but she held back. It was morning, and she can always wait for the night. Tia pushed away from her desires with a chuckle.

“It’s okay, everything’s fine.”

“That was amazing. I never thought that Tia, who is always struggling to get up every morning, would get up first and watch me.”

Tia teased him, sticking her tongue out before bursting into laughter. She did wake up before Judah could, and this was the day she first realized that mornings weren’t bad either. This was very special for her, waking up by herself and stroking Judah’s face first thing in the morning. A sound coming from outside snapped her out of her musings.

“Are you hungry? Wash and tidy up. I’ll make something delicious.”

Tia got up from where they laid, coaching him with a soft voice before disappearing out of the room.

‘Get some clothes on.’

She walked off with no clothes on, and Judah could only tilt his head at such a picturesque way to start his day. Everything felt like straight out of a movie. As he came to, it dawned on him that he was lying in bed and not the sofa.

‘Weird. I’m sure I fell asleep on the sofa last night.’

Judah smiled briefly at the thought of Tia bringing him to bed. He then yawned before getting out of bed and into their living room. As soon as he stepped out, a bold smell hit his senses. He approached the sofa, constantly sniffing to find its source.

“Oh.”

On the sofa were traces of their lovemaking from yesterday night. The furniture was covered with love juice and semen, and to his recollection, Tia had even soiled herself. Given everything, the scent was no surprise. However, this wasn’t something he could fix with a simple damp cloth. He needed to clean it thoroughly. With a small sigh, Judah first went to the bathroom to wash. He bathed and dressed up before getting to work with the sofa while Tia prepared their breakfast in the kitchen. Judah opened the windows to ventilate the air, changed the sofa’s sheets and cushion, and cleaned the floors to get rid of any other marks.

The mopped floors were so clean they shone, the sofa’s seat was brand new, and Judah’s cherry on top was the air freshener he sprayed into the air. He was finally able to breathe. After his chore, Tia called for him in the kitchen. He went and found her taking a break from cooking, sitting on a chair.

“What are you looking at? Come on and sit down.”

Tia cooed, her face smug, with her hands resting by her sides. Judah grew flustered the moment he saw her, still naked.

“Tia, wear clothes before that.”

“Ah.”

Tia looked down at herself. An apron was the only thing covering her up. As she smiled and tried to approach Judas, she pondered for a moment and nodded. Well, there was still a lot of time left, and she didn’t need to seduce Judas in the morning. She let out a chuckle.

“I’m sorry. Go, eat ahead! I’ll get dressed!”

Judas hummed happily as he saw Tia running for her room. She gave him a sight he would never forget. The surreal sight of her just wearing an apron while cooking. Something that he knew might not happen again.

‘Don’t forget and remember that.’

Making a useless pledge to himself, Judah took his seat and waited for Tia. On the table were tomato pasta mixed with sausage, which was a bit heavy to eat in the morning, grilled meats, and rice. Spaghetti and rice was a combination he hasn’t tried, but it could be delicious, although too big for breakfast. His musings were cut sharply when a loud thump erupted, and suddenly Tia, finally clothed, jumped right in front of him.

“Huh? You’re not eating yet?”

“I have to wait. How can I eat without you?”

Moved by his remark, she took her seat and began their breakfast. They fed each other as they shared their lovely meal in laughter. Ever since he came to this realm, he can finally say this was his first time being truly happy.

It wasn’t just one day.

Before his coming-of-age ceremony, the three of them spent three months in love.

We strolled together, shopped together, slept together, and went hunting together.

Everything they did, they did together. From the outside, people who saw the teacher and the student often said that they were lovers. Every night, love poured from each other’s mouths. They would exchange their profession of love in hushed voices, laughing at themselves afterward. When Tia asked him what it was like to be young, he replied that love was the only thing he liked and how they were always together.

For a moment, Tia would pause in shock. Before, her lips would grow into a big grin as she hugged him in her arms. How could he say such precious things?

It was truly a happy time. They were so happy their days felt like a dream.

In the blink of an eye, their days passed by. The time came as quickly as it was sweet. Today was no exception. Judah sat on the sofa, leaning against her. Tia had him in her embrace as they talked.

“Judah, it’s your coming-of-age ceremony tomorrow. Do you want anything?”

“Well, anything Tia gives is good for me.”

“Anything? What if I give you something you don’t like?”

Judas nodded, heaving a dreadful laugh.

“You still gave it, so I have to cherish it.”

“Really? Then, shall I give you a present tonight?”

Her hands began to roam his body. Tia’s fingers caressed him like one would play the piano, tracing over his body that had grown stronger from their recent hunts.

“Sorry, but not today.”

“Why?”

Judah jumped off the sofa as she retaliated. Looking back, he was met with her disappointed glare.

Sometimes, Tia was a great teacher. Sometimes, she was a mature woman. But of course, she had moments, like this, where she felt like a cute child. He could only laugh as she complained.

“I’m going to sleep alone today. I’m thinking of having an emotional night-”

Tia’s face darkened. Then Judah leaned in, cradled her face with his hands, and placed a kiss on her lips. As their lips touched, he felt his heart fall. It was a short kiss, but its sound was strong in his ears. Judah went up the stairs saying good night, facing her tearful eye for the last time.

It was time for him to spend time alone in his room. Judah opened the window, the outside breezing pouring in. It was cold and mellow. Echoing into the night was the far off laughter of drunken passers-by.

He raised his head to look up at the night sky. Countless clusters of stars twinkled to form the Milky Way. The night sky in this world was clean like a secluded countryside, free from any sort of pollution.

“If tomorrow…”

June 25th was right around the corner, the coming-of-age ceremony waiting for him.

It was all Judah waiting for. The special day. Because of this, he had to decline her offer to sleep together. He opened the -bag- and took out the lucky pouch Xian gave him.

──────────────────────

[Name: Unknown Pouch]

[Rating: Legend]

[Effect]

Experience gained + 20%, physical growth rate + 15%

[Explanation]

It is a strange pouch given by Xian. It looks like a lucky bag, but… How exactly is it lucky? There seems to be something valuable inside, but it is sealed with strong power and cannot be opened.

-Passive: The seal is released on the day of your coming of age ceremony.

-You are in me! (Passive): This is the object you desperately desire.

└??? (Passive): Part of the power of the sealed object flows out and affects you.

Faster than anyone, more superior than others (Passive): This pouch containing Xian’s power is special. Just what you own will be affected by that power. Your ability to acquire is improved as you learn, and you receive a bonus for developing talent.

──────────────────────

It was a magic pouch he couldn’t open no matter what force he used, nor can he tear it with Anything at all. The pocket, small enough to fit in the palm, still refused to open. Judah looked out the window another time before he turned his back and lay down toward the bed. He stared off into the ceiling, a feeling of nostalgia running through him.

It had been a very long time.

He was called out to this world by Xian and had to kill the first thing when he came to, and he had to live alone without knowing the things he needed for his journey.

He had no friends to rely on or talk to, so the library books became his aid.

Knowing that only power and strength can protect him, he trained his physical strength little by little every day, and after that, went to Kaseun for training.

He tried to win while being wary of Kain.

After spending such a long time, he met her… Gentia. Tia.

He could still remember his first meeting with her.

He remembered her looking down at him like he was interested in her golden eyes, which felt like the gaze of a tiger. The first time they met, he already found her beautiful, and he couldn’t have been more frustrated to have the body of a child.

After a long time, he finally made love with her, and it became a deep relationship between whispering love to each other. For the first time in this world, he felt happy, and he valued their time together. However, it was also nearing its end.

Ten days at the very least, and as soon as possible, he had to leave Serenity Castle within five days. He felt bitter that he had to leave this place full of wonderful memories, but he couldn’t help it because he had to collect all the twenty-four fragments to see the end.

He didn’t want just to sit around, grow old, then die. It would be okay to settle down and live in one place, but it was unlikely that he would be able to return to the original world or see the end just because he was immortal.

Probably, if he died of old age, he could go back to the day when he obtained a fragment, or wherever it is, that would take him. His life would be a never-ending loop. Given his chance, it was best to see it through the end.

“…….”

He was left staring at the ceiling as his thoughts ceased. He couldn’t even sleep because he remembered all the things he could be missing out on in his real life. The pathetic feeling bubbled inside him as he tossed and turned.

The noise from his window had died down. The silence around him thickened, leaving him and the open sky staring at each other in utter solitude.

Pak!

A flash of light, then the unmoving string of the pouch in his grasp came loose. Judah freaked out, watching as the string fell from his hand.

[The seal of the unknown pouch has been lifted.]

A pouch, untouchable by any force, finally opened itself after several years of waiting.