Y/n Pov

Heavy drops of rain hit the window and there was no sign of it stoping probably any time soon. There was no class today for me and Elsie which meant we could do whatever we wanted. Leaning over the desk I was writing down what I had found the day prior with Rose resting on my lap.

Once I went past that gate in the lower levels of the academy, thick miasma covered the floor and putrid smell of burned and rotten flesh filled the air. The endless halls were covered in markings of magical sigils and circles, all of which seemed to form a patern with a distinct distance between them. Like a wall keeping somethng inside. Something the Academy did not want to escape.

Further in there were empty prisons, maybe for keeping test subjects inside. Dried blood covered the surface of those cells. I could only shudder at what experiment those poor beings had to endure. It wasn't clear who or what was kept inside.

At the end of the hall a room opened itself to me, in the middle was a table with latches all around it and tomes. Their titles were known to me, due to Irene's teachings. "Beastiary guide to monsters of the world and. Anatomy of monsters." It came clear to me now.

I came to the conclusion that the academy had been doing research and experiments on the outworldly beings which roamed the lands. The Tome went from Arachas to Zeugl, detailing it into the tiniest details.

The notes which spread over a table mentioned the mutation of certain monsters to fit into the climate, but none of the notes I could find mentioned anything of trying to create their own abomination. One that could be of importance to Zeref.

Heavy banging on my door startled me, causing Rose to jump up in fear. Juliet burst inside with panic written all over her face. "Elsie, she's gone!" She shouted jumping forwards and pushing a piece of paper onto my hands.

A letter? I quickly opened it. "Don't come looking for me, I'm going on a monster hunting job alone, Rudeus had given me the idea, to make some more money in case I wanted to buy something, I'm going out into the north east in the forest, I'll be back by evening no doubt."

The letter was written hastily, no doubt about that. "When did she go?" I quickly asked and felt a strange sensation in my heart. I was worried in this climate for her. "I don't know probably hours ago." Shit.

I ran outside quickly and flew up into the air trying to reach the place she described north east. After a few minutes of flying I got to a clearing. The presence of her magic was clear but her footsteps weren't visible in the rain all too well. It was pouring out of everywhere. "Yes Finaly." I heard a feminine voice shout out in the distance.

Again, that strange feeling in my body, an aching sensation, every time she was in any kind of danger I felt an unnerving tingle. I ran forwards seeing her hunched over a massive beast with its head cut off, coming closer I could make it out to be a Manticore. "Elsie what the hell were you thinking!" I shouted and she turned around facing me. For a split moment our eyes met as we stood a few feet apart. "Y/n?" She tumbled forwards and I caught her just in time.

Why does she make me worry so much as of late? I had to get her someplace safe. I looked down to her. The water drops hitting her face running down on her cheeks, exausted almost sleeping in my arms, I moved a strand of hair from her face Her breathing was shallow now. Looking around I could make out a cave nearby, it must have been the one from the beast, which meant it would be empty. I picked her up getting her into a bridal carry. I had to get her into a dry spot inside of the dark cave.

After a few minutes I was able to get a fire to work. I created a makeshift rack out of some pieces of wood to dry my clothes on. I turned around and looked over to her, the one who caused all of this. My gaze slowly moved up and down her trembling figure. She was thankfully awake but shamefully looking down onto the ground as if she was afraid I would be scolding her any moment now. "Elsie you need to take off your clothes." My voice was soft asI didn't want to scare her even more. She shook her head in a no.

She was trembling and would fall sick surely if she didn't take them off. "I. . . I can't, not by myself." Her words were silent but clear. For a brief moment I looked at her, slowly fidling with her hand at her clothes. "Do you want me to turn around?" I asked and she looked up cheeks flushed. She grabbed my hand as I had come closer. "No, you need to do it." What? My heart pounded harshly, almost unbearable. Did she really mean what she just said? "If you can't undress yourself then I will have to."

In the heart of the wilderness, a relentless downpour painted the world in a shimmering curtain of silver. The rhythmic drumming of raindrops on leaves and the distant rumble of thunder echoed through the cave. Her clothes clung to her body like second skin.

We had sought shelter in a cave, our refuge from the relentless storm. Cold and soaked to the bone, we exchanged weary glances of nervousness, both acknowledging the necessity of warming oursselves by the flickering light of the fire that danced in the center of the cavern.

The fire cast long shadows against the cave walls, playing a seductive dance that mirrored the sparks flying between Elsie and I. Her clothes clung to her, heavy with rain, and the chill in the air sent shivers down our spines. With an unspoken agreement, I began the delicate dance of shedding her saturated garments down of her pale porcelan skin.

My fingers fumbled with the buttons of her robe, the damp fabric resisting my efforts. Elsies, her drenched dress clinging to her every curve, watched me with a mixture of excitment and nervousness to what was coming. As I finally freed her from the wet robe, I couldn't help but meet Elsies gaze, a spark of warmth and connection passing between us.

Elsie, watched as I slowly peeled her off layer by layer of her clothes. The wet dress clung to her like a second skin, revealing the contours of her silhouette. The air in the cave crackled with an electric tension, not born of desire but of vulnerability. It was an intimacy that transcended the physical, a shared experience of discomfort and the rawness of being exposed to the elements.

As I unzipped her pants, she caught my eyes. There was a quiet understanding, a shared acknowledgment of the absurdity of the situation. The mess we were in was undoubtedly a problem, brought together by the unrelenting force of the storm, finding solace in the warmth of the fire that crackled between us.

The cave became a sanctuary, a cocoon of flickering flames and the soft patter of rain outside. the two of us, now down to our undergarments, huddled closer to the fire. The warmth began to seep into our chilled bones, and a comfortable silence settled between us. A silence which was slowly getting uneasy.

Wrapped in blankets salvaged from our discarded clothes, we sat side by side, gazing into the heart of the fire. The dance of shadows played across our faces, creating an intimate tableau that transcended the physical distance between us. It was a moment suspended in time, a brief respite from the storm both outside and within.

As the fire crackled, its glow revealing the contours of her face, I couldn't help but marvel at the girl in front of me. Fate had drawn us together, two souls seeking refuge due amidst the chaos of the storm. In the dance of the flames, we saw a reflection of the warmth that had kindled between us, a connection forged not in passion but in shared vulnerability.

Elsie, her eyes reflecting the flickering firelight, turned to me. There was a softness in her gaze, a quiet appreciation for the warmth we had found in each other's company. The storm outside raged on, but in that cave, time seemed to stand still.

The air was thick with a quiet understanding, a unspoken pact that bound us in that moment. The rain continued its gentle symphony on the cave entrance, a distant reminder of the tempest that had weathered together. the moment felt excruciatingly perfect, wrapped in blankets and the shared warmth of the fire, sat in a companionable silence, grateful for the unexpected connection that had blossomed in the heart of the storm.

Elsie leaned closer, embracing me. "Thank you." She whispered and looked up, our eyes meeting together, it was different then the other times we had gazed at each other. "What are you saying Elsie? I did it because I care more about you then you think, way more." I replied and she tilted her head. Her chocolate brown eyes felt warm to me, but she started to tear up. She jumped up with nothing on but her underwear. Exposing herself to me. "Y/n do you know what love is?" She asked shyly gazing at me.

Was she testing me? How could she talk about love right now. "Love? That's when you feel safe and comfortable around a person, not having to worry about anything because you will be protected." I said and she smiled warmly. "Than what I'm feeling is love?" She questioned in confusion tightening her hold on my arm.

Her eyes sparkled of joy. "In that case I love you." She started to slowly cry out of happiness. I felt a pang in my heart again but not out of pain but out of something more, for her. My pointer and thumb moved up to her chin, gently pushing it up. Our eyes met, and in that moment that very moment, I knew this would be it. I leaned down instinctively waiting for what she was going to do.Her eyes closed and lips lightly apart.

As the rain outside gradually subsided, leaving behind a world refreshed and glistening, Elsie and I remained in our cocoon of warmth. The fire, now slowly reducing to a bed of glowing embers, still cast a soft glow on our faces. In the quiet aftermath of the storm, we found solace not just in the flickering flames but in the understanding that, sometimes, the most unexpected moments could lead to the most profound connections.

And so, in the embrace of the cave and the fading echoes of the storm, Elsie and I discovered that warmth could be found in the unlikeliest of places, and sometimes, the most powerful connections were forged not in passion but in the shared vulnerability of being drenched, undressed, and warmed by the fire's tender glow. Our lips parted of each other, a blush formed on each of our faces with a tiny smile now on Elsies lips. Now I understood the feelings I had constantly around her. I cared deeply for her, not as just a friend but as someone I want to be with. It only took a few months for us to realize we were meant to be for each other.

. . .

Getting back to the academy I insisted that she would stay a while with me. The rain outside had dimmed down to gentle drops. Dressed in nothing but our underwear we kept sitting on the bed feeling the warmth of the fire burning in the fireplace.

The tension between us was palpable her cheeks still flushed from what had happened before. The heat in my body was boiling over, almost unbearable. I couldn't keep the thought in my mind and I had her here. "Elsie." I whispered silently and she looked over. Panting softly and intoxicated from the drink we had, the only thing on our disposal to quench our thirst was wine which in our state worked like an aphrodisiac.

She pulled on her shirt feeling the heat but we still needed to warm up, our extremities were still cold. Maybe we would even have to share the bed, something I dreaded dearly.

We both reached for the jug to quench our thirst but instead of the handle, our hands touched each other. Looking up to her I could sense it. The unbearable feeling and desire to be wanted and loved, to be caressed gently in my arms. Her scent made its way into my perception. I tried and tried for all but a few seconds but I finaly broke down and had to give in. My urges won as it was now pure pain to fight against it. A battle I could never win, not if the other side was an extremely loving and caring person who whished nothing more then to know happiness.

My hand went past the handle, taking hold of her wrist. A surprised gasp escaped her soft and luschious lips. At this moment the two of us knew this night would stay forever in our memories. It would be a night to remember.

I pulled her up gently by taking her hand. "You can't hold on anymore?" Her words were not a question but more ones of acnowledgement that she too couldn't keep it that much longer, the longer we tried to fight it the harder it tried to push us. 

Her hand trembled lightly to what was about to come, I pulled her in closer. my right hand touching a strand of her red hair, tucking it in behind her ear. Her eyes vivid, expressed everything I needed to know. Our bodies touched earning a light mewl from her and her cheeks now painted in a deep red hue. I gave a slow nod and she gulped down. Elsie moved close to my ear, her breath tingling my neck. "Then, take me as you wish." With that nothing stood between us anymore.

I led her slowly down onto the bed. Moving over her I felt my heart pounding along at every movement I made. Touching her skin I felt an electric shock go through me. She clenched her hand her eyes filled with nervousness. This would change everything between us. My right hand traced along her underarm up to her hand, our fingers slowly intertwined, the warmth spreading from mine to hers. At this moment, the two of us knew we'd have a new kind of conection.