A confused embrace

Aria's cold body flushed with waves of heat coming from her heart. Her frigid fingers cupped Travis's warm face as she moved closer to him. Her leg brushed against the spherical artifact in his lap, and then immediately moved it away. With a crystalline jingle, the Orb of Truth fell to the floor and rolled away, forgotten.

However, as Aria's legs moved forward on Travis's hips and the distance between their faces decreased, she felt... nervousness rise up within her spirit. Feeling the man's breath mix with her own, she realized what was happening. New tears emerged as she froze in place.

"...I...*Sob*" her lips parted, shaking a little. "W-What the hell am I doing..." her tone quivered as her hands escaped his face. She began crying again, her head let down. She wasn't sure what she felt. Disgust at herself? Arousal? Pain? Nervousness? Anger? Perhaps... all of them.

She felt the man reach out and rub her shoulder gently. Not a word left his mouth, but she could feel his touch emanate the tenderness that she craved right now. Tears went down her cheeks as she hugged him again with a ferocity reminiscent of a wild animal. He ran a hand through her hair, caressing her with utmost care. She was like a porcelain doll in his hands.

"I... I-I..." she started speaking again between her sobs. "I just... I w-want this to b-be my choice..."

"Aria," he whispered into her ear. "I know you're confused. You have a lot on your mind. Don't do something you'll regret," he advised, his lips right next to her ear. In response to his words, he felt her body shake slightly.

"I... I want this..." her voice trailed off for a moment. "B-But... is it 'me' who wants it?" she asked before sniffling a little. "I'm just... confused. Are my feelings... truly mine?"

"...I don't know," came a surprising answer. "Do they feel like they are?"

Aria remained silent for several seconds. Only her sniffling and the man's calm breathing could be heard in the room. Her heart was beating like crazy, and her mind flushed with uncertainty. Feeling as though she was having the mood swings of her life, the white-haired woman traced back the memories of how she felt in that place. Penalty Zone, as the man called it.

...

Back then, she felt happy to see the man come for her. He suffered through hardships to save her. Was that time when she began developing a crush on him? Or was it only after they came back? She wasn't sure. Throughout the entire month when he was gone, he was on her mind almost constantly. She wanted to see him again back then. She felt ecstatic when she found him in Lodiz. Hopeful when he agreed to help her. In awe when he described what happened in that hell.

And...

...aroused when she imagined embracing him.

...

Were her feelings fake? Or were they true? Did they belong to her? Or were they implanted into her mind?

...

She already knew the answer. She wanted this herself. She wanted to see this man. She wanted to join him. She wanted to stand by his side, no matter the hardships.

"...They are," she finally replied, gripping the man even tighter. "They are," she sobbed heavily into his shoulder.

A long minute or so passed before she started calming down. Fighting through her long sniffs, the white-haired woman swiped the tears away. Her breathing began to stabilize. The shaking in her hands was still present, but now barely a shade of what it once was. She stared deep into Travis's eyes, seeing his tender expression. Slowly, she moved her face closer. He did so in unison as well, their lips touching after a short second.

An explosion of euphoria filled her stomach. She felt lightweight. For at least a moment, nothing else mattered. There was only here and now.

"Travis..." she spoke as she broke the contact. "I... I-I want... t-to take this f-further," she felt her body quiver with stress. "I-If... it's fine with you."

"Only if you really want to," he reassured her, his hand gingerly running alongside her back. "Don't **** yourself to anything."

"N-No, I want to... I just... I've... n-never done it," she blushed profusely as she whispered, her gaze escaping sideways.

"Want me to take the lead?" he asked, nudging his face closer to her.

Aria's face became beetroot-red as she gently nodded. Her white hair could've hidden her face from Travis, but it did not hide the sense of abashment that washed over her.

The brown-haired man slowly brought his lips closer to her face. Pecking her thin lips a little, he felt how easily she gave in to his tongue. For a couple seconds, they were stunned in the hot and wet embrace, Aria feeling the man's warmth spread across her body. Her cold hands traced along his back, unsure where to go.

As they broke the contact, Travis lowered his head a little, gently kissing her neck. As he bit a bit of skin gently, he felt her shudder, a cute moan escaping her mouth. Taking this as an invitation, he repeated his action, after which he made a bit of distance from her. Her slightly confused stare was met with his hands getting a hold of the hem of her shirt. He raised his eyebrows in a questioning expression, to which she nodded nervously.

With her shirt removed, her small chest and smooth stomach became visible to the man. The white-haired woman was not wearing a bra, her pink nipples standing proudly. With a gentle caress, the man rubbed her breasts and kissed them all over. Aria's body buckled at the contact as she let out a stifled moan. She felt how his member was prodding at her leg. Undoubtedly, he was also enjoying this contact. But... why should she be the only one to receive care?

She ran a hand through his hair before pulling at it, prompting the man to stop what he was doing. Looking at her with a slightly confused face, he noticed how she bit her lower lip with a sultry expression.

"...c-can I do something next?" she asked, bringing her face closer to him. After pecking his lips, she awaited his answer. He nodded approvingly.

Aria decided to not waste any time. Moving her hips backward, she got hold of the hem of Travis's pants and pulled slightly. Gently, she got a hold of his penis, feeling its heat in her palm. Travis shuddered at the cold contact but did not stop her actions or even voice a complaint as she gently caressed it, stroking its length sluggishly. She felt a bit of saliva build up in her mouth, her every instinct telling her to take the push further. She had starved herself of pleasure for the past week, anticipating when she'd see this man again. And now...

Aria threw her legs backward, dropping off the bed. Lowering her head, she eyed Travis's tool pulsing in her hand. For but a moment, she sniffled a little, the man's smell entering her nostrils. Then, with a gentle yet fluid motion, she took his entire length in, feeling it throb furiously as it pushed against the back of her throat. The white-haired woman felt her pussy quench her panties.

She bobbed her head up and down a little, making sure to spread saliva all over it. Travis let out a faint moan which told Aria that he was definitely enjoying her care for him. She sped up her motions, caressing the hard dick in her mouth to the best of her capabilities. And damn if she did not have those. Sticking a hand in her own pants, she slid a single finger into her cunt, moving it around gently. Her soft moans reverberated on the surface of Travis's cock, further adding to his pleasure.

Travis wasn't sure how such a lithe, cute woman was able to use her mouth like that. Even Leaf, the sexy and proficient elf who had probably a higher sex drive (and experience) than nine out of ten women, was not this good with her mouth. Clutching his hands on the sheets, he had to brace himself to not blow his load within the first ten seconds. This was simply incomparable. Natural talent spoke for itself in volumes.

A loud popping noise filled the room as Aria dislodged his penis from her mouth. The woman took in a few short, ragged breaths, her lips stretched in a sultry smile. She brought her face closer again, letting the hard tool rub tenuously against her skin. Both of them shivered at the contact. The Mage stuck her tongue out before ascending a little, running it along the entire length.

'Delicious.' was the only thought that appeared in her mind. Her own sex was now pulsing and itching furiously with every beat of her heart, demanding more action than her hand could provide. A long moan escaped her mouth as she gave Travis's cock one last, long suck on its very tip. And then, she got up. With a quick motion, she got both hands into her pants and slid them down, exposing the delicate and smooth skin of her hips. Their width and girth were apparent, as with but a simple step, a substantial amount of skin moved, creating delightful ripples. What also was visible were the woman's white panties, a visible stain on them.

Without waiting for anything, Aria slid them down as well. Her hips buckled a little, a bit of her juices traveling down the length of her inner thighs. Travis, watching her while supporting himself on his elbows, only felt his dick spring further to life. Taking the invitation, the white-haired woman came closer, her hand brushing on his pants before pulling them down to his ankles. No words were necessary as she moved onto the bed, one knee on either side of his body. Shifting closer, she sat down just below Travis's shaft, letting it rub below her navel. Her already red face flushed further as she realized just how much of a jump she was about to perform. Her form shook slightly, her head turning away in embarrassment.

Travis sat up, his hands reaching out to her sides. He stroked her skin for a moment before reaching out to her face with a hand. With a delicate caress, he got some hair out of the way, seeing the timidness in her face, her eyes gazing to the side with uncertainty. Nevertheless, the need in her was still evident. He leaned in closer, his hold gentle as he nudged her cheek with his nose.

Aria kissed his cheek lightly, her tongue lingering on his skin for a moment. In response, Travis moved his hands to her buttocks. Feeling his hands sink in slightly, he gave them both a solid yet delicate squeeze, gauging the woman's reactions. Judging by how she closed her eyes whilst biting her lower lip, she enjoyed it.

Slowly, he moved a hand to her stomach. Descending into her nether regions, he felt the small trickle of hair on the way. He leaned in and planted a small kiss on her neck whilst reaching the steaming-hot slit. His fingers became almost instantly wettened in response, and Aria let out a quiet cry, leaning her head on his shoulder.

Slowly sliding a finger into her cunt, he felt her tremble uncontrollably. Parting her mouth, she almost licked his skin, her hands exploring his body.

It didn't take long for her to come. Her moan turned to a quiet shout of pleasure as she buckled forward, squishing Travis's shaft between them. Eyes closed, Aria trembled while embracing him, feeling the wave of pleasure wash over her.

The brown-haired man slowly moved her head, his nose pressed against her temple as he kissed the side of her head.

"Are you ready?" he whispered tenderly.

Aria nodded sheepishly.

Travis got hold of her buttocks, prompting a short moan mixed with a squeal. Lifting her up a little, he felt his dick fall down a little, poised and ready for penetration. Aria's green eyes looked at Travis's golden ones as their foreheads touched, noses rubbing against one another. The uncertainty in her stare was melting, giving way to an affectionate gaze that told him she was prepared.

Slowly, he lowered her on his dick. The moment the head made its way in, Aria's body almost convulsed with pleasure. She lunged at the man, hugging him tightly for a moment as he stopped the movement, letting her take the sensation in. After a short second, she started moving her hips on her own, prompting him to let her take it further in.

...

A sting of pain erupted within her body. Aria's mouth made a distressed sound before she moved her lips to Travis's shoulder and bit him lightly through his shirt. However, she did not stop him, instead moving her hips to take the entire length in. Hesitantly, he allowed the movement, and she eventually sat down on his crotch, her insides stretched by his tool.

"Are you alright?" he asked, tenderly running a hand through her hair.

"...y-yeah," she answered, letting her lips leave his skin. Short pants that she expulsed were slowly transitioning back to stable breathing.

"How does it feel?"

"It hurt at first, but... now it's good," Aria spoke slowly, sending breaths of hot air on his neck. She kissed his skin sloppily. Slowly, she attempted to gyrate her hips. The movement, however, caused her lover's penis to press in a particular spot that caused an explosion of pleasure. "Kya!" she made a sound before hugging the man tightly. Likewise, her pussy squeezed his shaft strongly. 'I really came that easily... I may be sensitive, but this is just... too good.' she felt her lips turn into a silly smile.

"Does it hurt still?" she heard him ask, and couldn't help but feel the concern in his tone.

"No... I just need a second," she answered, closing her eyes.

...

As a few moments passed, Aria breathed deeply before finally moving. Shifting her mass upward, she began riding Travis slowly, supported by his hands. The man felt the intense resistance on the way slowly begin to give with every next thrust. Aria's breathing turned into pants as she closed her eyes, enjoying the immense pleasure.

Soon after that, a change in position came. Taking his shirt off, Travis used it to wipe his dick of any blood that was mixed with Aria's juices before she took his tool into her mouth again, bringing him off with her incredibly skilled tongue.

He returned the favor, eating her out as the woman rubbed her clit intensely.

Then, they embraced each other in a missionary position before the woman decided to take matters into her own hands and rode him.

...

...

...

"Haaah... haah..." she panted heavily, completely spent. Her body was on fire with exhaustion while also brimming with the immense pleasure she'd felt, but no more strength could be mustered up by her muscles. Her naked body was covered in sweat and flushed all around. She could feel her cunt pulsing strongly with every beat of her heart, simultaneously begging for more and refusing any further penetration. Glancing to her right, she saw how Travis was looking at her, a tiny smirk gracing his face. "...what?"

"Nothing," he answered, stretching a leg slightly. "You just look cute like that."

"...shut up," she huffed in response, bringing a hand to her chest. A momentary pout entered her face.

...

Travis shuffled on the bed slightly. Rising on the mattress, he shifted his weight, turning to the bedside. However, he heard Aria call out to him, "Travis."

"...?" he glanced at her, an eyebrow raised, his golden eyes meeting her emerald points.

"I... Listen, I..." she started speaking before doing her best to sit up in her position. Clutching the duvet to her chest for but a wink, the white-haired woman looked at her hands. "All of this... has been a lot. Too much, too quickly. And... *Sigh* I'll be honest, I have a hard time piecing everything together. What you said, what happened... all of this is..."

"...I understand," he nodded lightly.

"...a-and I know that I said some... harsh words before. I'm just... gah, I can't even put into words how confused I am. I just... I really wish all of this were just a nightmare. But... j-just in case it isn't... can we talk about it again tomorrow? Just... stay the night, and we'll talk about it like adults."

"...alright," he nodded a little, shifting his position.

Both still naked, they covered themselves with the duvet. As time passed, Aria shuffled closer to Travis, eventually hugging him. Her head rested on his chest, feeling his heartbeat through the skin contact. The sleepy haze was quickly overtaking her mind, and judging by how his eyes were closing, he wasn't going to stay awake for much longer, either.

Aria closed her eyes, a small smile donning her face. Within minutes, she was sound asleep.

...

...

...

*Ting!*

Travis's eyes shot open at the sound. Feeling Aria's head on his chest, he did his best to not flinch. Focusing his attention on the blue panel ahead of him, he noticed that the room was already bathed in dim darkness.

[The rewards have been calculated.]

The words that lit up the notification screen caused his heart to beat stronger for a moment. The rewards for the linked quest. Given the amount of steps, the prizes were bound to be good, or at least plentiful. Therefore, there was hardly any hesitation as Travis swiped his hand, closing the panel and allowing others to show.

[Completed main objectives: 6/6

Completed optional objectives: 7/7

Completion rate: 100%

A special reward has been issued for maximum completion.]

'...seven out of seven? So... RALS did count my fight with Chris as my win... Alright, next.'

[You have received 12 stat points and 1 skill point.]

[All stats except Endurance and Wisdom have been increased by 3 points. Endurance has been increased by 7 points. Wisdom has been increased by 4 points.]

[Affinity with Rebecca Nimmel is increased.]

[Rebecca will remember your contribution to weeding out corruption in Forna's authorities.]

[Affinity with Clint Ylan is slightly increased.]

[Clint will remember your contribution to weeding out corruption in Forna's authorities.]

[Your actions have significant consequences that will reverberate in the future of the country. Many lurking in the shadows are becoming aware of your existence.]

'...The rewards are nice, but the last part is a straight-up warning. I already expected as much, but I still feel uneasy about it.' his gaze ventured to the peacefully sleeping woman. Though the darkness was thick, he saw the outline of her face. Her small nose inhaled and exhaled in a stable rhythm, indicating that her slumber was peaceful. He felt his mouth curve upward at the sight. He turned his gaze forward again.

[Affinity with Aria Brinn is already maximized. The reward has been changed.]

[You have received 'Exemption Ticket'.]

'...Exemption Ticket?' he pondered upon the meaning of the word momentarily. With gentle movements, he got hold of Aria and put her down to his side. Then, he moved to the bedside and dressed up. Standing on the cold floor of the bedroom, he yawned slightly before extending his hand. 'I accept.'

In an instant, a glint of light formed above his palm before transforming into a small parchment of black paper with some inscriptions on top. Intricate patterns formed near its edges, looking like silver vines woven into the material. The center of the paper had more similar ornaments on it. The entire thing looked... weirdly cosmetic. Focusing his gaze, Travis was promptly surprised by the item's information.

[Exemption Ticket

Rating: Legendary

*When used, the current day's Daily Quest is canceled. Neither rewards nor penalties will be applied.

*Single-use.

A parchment imbued with a unique enchantment. Tearing it releases its magic.

Weight: 10g]

'...it's a valuable item, though it would have been more helpful on the first day.' he thought with dismay as he pocketed the item. 'Well, still good.' a small sigh escaped his mouth as he summoned the status and confirmed the hour. '...it's almost time for Rulebreaker's Piece.' he nodded to himself as he knelt by the bed, reaching out to his pack.

However, as he got the box in his hands, a new notification sprung forth.

[The special reward has been prepared.]

'I accept.' he nodded at the notification as he put down the box on the bed and stood up. Suddenly, a new panel appeared.

[Your actions have caused significant unrest. The corruption of authorities in Forna will begin surfacing thanks to your efforts. It is an achievement that will be remembered by many.]

'Remembered by many? Don't tell me that Nimmel is going to openly speak about my involvement in this?'

[It is not the first time your actions have been led by your sense of righteousness. Helping those in need was something you did unprompted before, even if it bore risk or was inconvenient for you.]

'...is it speaking about Norbert? Or about Jeliah... or perhaps, both?'

[Even when, at times, it was much easier and more opportunely for you to run away or ignore what was happening, you decided to save those who were tangled up with you. It is something that not many would find the strength or courage to do.]

'...Aria, Leaf, and Violet... it's speaking about them. Why? What are those messages trying to convey?' he thought, dismissing the panel and prompting the next one to appear.

[Those who were helped by you acknowledge your involvement. To each of them, you symbolize something else. To one, you are a friend who went through hardships hand-in-hand, to another - a savior who gave them the will to fight for another day. To those whose plans you have thwarted, you are a blockade in their way. Between the badmouthing and the praises aimed at your person, one term is starting to be used to describe you - Apostle of Justice.]

'...Apostle of Justice...? Sounds rather strange.' he frowned slightly. 'There is no 'God of Justice', and I wouldn't call my actions that righteous.'

[A title such as that is supposed to bear a meaning. It should reflect the type of person you are and support you on your way. Its weight ought to be recognized even without needing you to prove it.]

...?

[However, acknowledgment of others is not uniform, be it in its genesis or form. No such thing exists that can express it adequately.]

'It doesn't exist?' he frowned deeply at the notification. 'Is this why it took so long to be calculated?'

[It is not a skill that can be learned, a stat point that increases your abilities, or an item that has external functions.]

Travis sat down on the bed.

[It is something born of your own achievements that can be used to describe 'you'. It is unique to your own person and should not be looked at separately.]

...what?

[The title system has been opened. You have obtained the title 'Apostle of Justice'.]