No one is in the library as usual, and I'm happy about that. I'm happy that I can just be in silence without my friends moaning and whining.

I walk over to a shelf and glance around the racks in thought. There's bound to be something on my topic here.

"Good evening, Queen of Knowledge," I smile, stroking the shelves. "I've missed you. I hope you'll give me a chance to be here for a while. I'd like to find some information on the topic of 'conflict of powers'. Could you help?"

The racks immediately come to life and start moving. I look forward to the results. But something strange happens, because everything comes to a standstill, and love novels appear in front of me. Is this some kind of joke?

"Hmm, I guess I gave the assignment wrong. I'm looking for anything that has to do with power conflict. Help me find that information."

The library comes alive again, but it's the same all over again. More shelves of romance novels. Yeah, what the hell's wrong? What if there's no power conflict at all?

"Okay, let's try this another way. Find me some information on the conflict of energies of dark and light powers," I try with hope.

The same thing happens. The shelves move, and I stare at the brightly colored spines of love stories. With a moan, I raise my head to the ceiling and curse under my breath.

"Didn't even doubt I'd find you here, Kan."

Turning my head, I meet Seraphus's grin. Glancing over at him, I swallow at the sight of him. His black shirt is undone a few buttons, revealing golden smooth skin and the dimple between his pecs. Black pants are tight around his legs, leather boots fitting him perfectly.

My heart races, pounding against my chest as a flush of heat spreads across my cheeks. The mere sight of Seraphus, his alluring physique and captivating smile, ignites a fire within me. My palms grow clammy, and my breathing becomes shallow, struggling to find its rhythm.

I avert my gaze, desperately trying to regain my focus, but it's a futile attempt. His image lingers in the recesses of my thoughts, taunting me with its seductive power. I can almost feel the softness of his skin beneath my fingertips, and the warmth of his body pressing against mine. It's as if an invisible force pulls me towards him, urging me to surrender to the forbidden fantasies that haunt my every waking moment.

A bead of sweat trickles down the back of my neck. I bite down on my lower lip, attempting to distract myself from the overwhelming desire coursing through my veins.

I try to remind myself that he is simply my teacher, an authority figure to be respected and admired from a distance.

"Good evening, Seraphus. Were you looking for me?" I glance around the shelves. Oh, I guess I'll have to explain why I'm staring at romance novels.

"No," he lets out a chuckle and steps closer. "Of course I don't. I was reading, and I sensed movement. It's rare for anyone to come in here at this hour. Who are you hiding from again?"

"No one," I shrug. "Just thought I'd read some new material."

Seraphus turns his gaze back to what the library has offered me and raises a dark eyebrow questioningly.

"That's not what I was looking for," I mutter. "The magic finder broke because that's definitely not what I was looking for."

"You probably set the wrong question."

"I asked it right."

"Good, and what did you want to find? I can help."

Our eyes meet, and I take a deep breath. There's nothing wrong with learning something new, right?

"I was looking for books on the conflict of forces or energies."

Seraphus's face immediately contorts. He presses his lips together in frustration and stiffens.

"Why do you need this information?" His tone becomes icy and harsh. "It's not part of the curriculum."

"Hmm, Fima suggested that I couldn't find the dark power within myself precisely because of the conflict inside me. I decided to find out more."

"You've already found the dark power. The problem solved itself."

"And anyway, Seraphus, I'm interested. Maybe it will happen to me again."

"It won't."

I squint, sensing his very clear reluctance to tell me.

"Why can't I find out about a power conflict?"

"Because it won't happen to you. It only affects pureblood beings," Seraphus cut off. "It's time for you to go to bed."

"It's only the beginning of ten. I don't want to. I'll find something else to read then, or I'll still find what I want."

"Kan," Seraphus sighs heavily and shakes his head, "why are you so stubborn? If I told you that you don't need it, then just believe me."

"And I do believe you," I quickly assure him. "But I want to know. In fact, if I wasn't stubborn, I'd hardly be here. So I consider it a good thing to have."

"Well, then you'll have to find a pureblood to find out the answer to your question," Seraphus snorts.

"I've already found one." I take a step toward him, holding the tenacious gaze of golden eyes. "You, Seraphus, are a pureblood."

"But I won't say a word to you about it."

"Why?" I wonder. "What's the big deal about this information since you're afraid to share it with me? Could it get you killed?"

Seraphus closes his eyes and turns away. I see him clench his fist, sharp claws digging into his palm, and a few drops of blood fall to the floor.

"I won't tell anyone. I swear," I assured him in a whisper. I touch the demon's shoulder and instantly feel the warmth of his energy coursing through my veins. "Please."

The muscles beneath the thin material of his shirt tense, and it feels so good. I'd like to touch his skin... naked skin, lick it, kiss it, taste it and....

My hand drops from Seraphus's shoulder, and I snap out of my thoughts. I take a quick step back just in case he's still suspicious of me, even though I drank the medicine he gave me. It's working. Does it work on him, too?

"You should know. That question will come up someday anyway," Seraphus says with a sigh. The question I want to ask is, why should I know? I do, but I'm afraid that if I make a sound, he'll change his mind.

"Power conflict is rare, as it only occurs when pureblooded light and dark converge. At first, it doesn't feel like anything, not even a change. But then it gets worse and worse, and suddenly. The powers disappear, there is weakness, rejection of food, pain from sunlight, slits in the eyes, the body dries up, and eventually it all leads to death."

"Hmm," I frown at his words. "But aren't the rulers of all the kingdoms pureblooded members of the clans?"

"They are," Seraphus nods.

"I've heard that they meet to discuss conflict issues, and they told us about it in the World Economics and Politics class, too. And if it's so categorical, how do they spend their time in each other's company? They also meet at balls or dinners, and not only them but also their offspring, brothers and relatives. The purebloods, they may be few, but they have enough."

"You're absolutely right. Meetings are necessary to resolve issues and maintain at least a semblance of peace between the powers. I wasn't talking about regular purebloods. They certainly feel the presence of a conflicting force, but they don't spend enough time with each other to make it a problem. Nor does the conflict have much effect on them."

"Then I don't understand."

"Power conflict has only been documented once, and even then, unofficially. The information is classified and only a few beings know about it, now you."

"I won't tell anyone," I whisper quickly.

"I know. That's why I'm telling you this."

"It turns out that the power conflict isn't really that dangerous, right?"

"No, not dangerous, but dangerous to... lovers," the last word Seraphus barely audibly whispers. I freeze. My pulse jumps sharply at the realization of what he means. I'm ice cold, my stomach clenches with some unfamiliar feeling, and my palms sweat.

"You and the elven crown prince were lovers," I say affirmatively.

Seraphus doesn't answer, doesn't even look at me. I don't need words anymore. It's true. They were lovers, that's why the information is secret. After all, there was a war between the light powers and the dark powers at the time, and Seraphus and the prince were studying here.

I'm starting to feel nauseous.

"Not just lovers, Kan," Seraphus says bitterly. "We were true to each other."

I think I'm about to fall apart from the information. True? Dark and light? During the war? Mother, you are so cruel. Why did you do this to Seraphus? Why did you curse him like that?

"Were?" I exhale.

"Were," Seraphus nods.

"Past tense?"

"Exactly. We gave up the gift, blocked out all feelings, and never met again. Are you satisfied?" Anger and pain boil in Seraphus's eyes.

"I'm deeply crushed and shocked," I confess. "Incredible cruelty on Mother's hand. We are all her creatures. And it turns out that she created us as opposing sides from the beginning. Dark and light is already the natural conflict of our entire world. Is the Mother so cruel that she did this to you, Seraphus? Is what she teaches us a lie? What about our tenets: Do not kill your kind? We are taught from birth that true feelings, love, are the rarest and most important thing in our lives. How many creatures have died in the war against their feelings? Unbelievable."

I press my lips together, holding back bitter tears.

"I can't accept...accept something like this. It just hurts, Seraphus. It hurts because I, too, dream of falling in love, of meeting someone I can spend every day of my life with. And yet Mother punishes and kills some of us with love. Why? It's unbearably cruel. I didn't realize Mother was so callous and cruel, so hateful of her own creatures. It's not fair. It's just not fair to make you both suffer. I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, Seraphus. I apologize for bringing up the subject and making you remember this deep wound. I... I'm so sorry."

And yet a traitorous hot tear rolls down my face. I didn't want to show him that part of me. The weak part, too vulnerable, too sensitive. Lua had often told me that I couldn't be like that, that I couldn't feel sorry for everyone, that there was no justice, that I would suffer because of my kindness to everyone. And now...it's happened again. My heart aches for what Seraphus has told me. He loved... No; he loves. I don't believe in the past tense. I don't believe in love disappearing so easily, especially true love. It also proves that nothing and no one will ever be as important to Seraphus as the elf prince. No one... always second roles, substitutes.

I hold my breath when the tip of the demon's fingernail touches my face. He presses, but so softly, so gently, that everything inside me flares with delight again. I look up at Seraphus and turn my head to him.

"You are the purest and most beautiful being in the whole world, Kan. There is no malice, no hate, no rottenness in your heart. And that's impossibly wonderful," Seraphus whispers, blowing the heat of his breath over me. My heart quickens its rhythm, forcing my body to submit to such foolish feelings that will never be returned. I know that now. And yes, it hurts too.

"Seraphus..."

He puts a finger to my lips.

"Don't say a word, Kan. Just let me look at you. It had been so long since I'd felt admiration at the sight of a creature, and I'd seen many very powerful mages, demons, elves, vampires. But none have ever made me want just to look so badly. Not to break ... so fragile in appearance, and so strong inside."

As his face inches closer, I can almost taste the intoxicating allure that surrounds him. The air becomes thick with an electrifying energy, crackling with a magnetic pull that I find impossible to resist. It's as if time stands still, and everything else fades into insignificance, leaving only the two of us in this moment.

His scent envelops me, wrapping me in a cloud of seduction. It lingers in the air, a heady mixture of musk and something indescribably alluring. Each breath I take fills my lungs with his essence, intoxicating my senses and clouding my judgment.

But it's his eyes that captivate me the most. They hold a depth that I've never encountered before, drawing me in like a moth to a flame. In their depths, I see a reflection of my own desires and vulnerabilities, a mirror that reflects the unspoken connection between us. They speak volumes without uttering a single word, silently urging me to stay, to explore the uncharted territory of this unspoken attraction.

At this moment, I stand at the precipice of a choice. The rational part of me knows that I should run, escape the potential trouble that awaits. I am torn between reason and desire.To leave would be to deny myself the chance to explore what lies beyond this precipice. To stay would be to surrender to the unknown, willingly diving headfirst into a sea of passion and vulnerability.

His lips barely touch mine, and I make a choice. Everything in this world is worth a moment's intimacy with Seraphus. Literally everything, and even I would give my life for a kiss with him.

A sharp pain pierces my entire body like a bright and violent flash. It travels lightning fast from my legs to my temples and pulls them down like slabs. I wriggle and scream at the pain. I clutch Seraphus's shirt with my hand. Through the noise in my head and the horrible pain that's about to tear through my body, I hear Seraphus calling to me, slapping my cheeks. But I can't open my eyes. My body twists as if it's about to break in two. A blinding flash before my eyes close throws me out of my body and into the darkness.