Sit together.

You can't blame her for choosing such a location. There's something about sitting upon something so high that you can cast your eyes upon all that surrounds you. There is no other place here besides the towering dark walls that could grant such a view, and being able to gaze down upon everyone going about their day along the snaking roads between colourful buildings that truly allows one to appreciate the true beauty of such civilization. You're surprised Shivra would choose this spot and not a dark corner somewhere, like Linzeri or Cat, though she does shine much brighter with skin like freshly frozen water.

You're already getting used to the chill. Not that you have much choice. You sit quite closely beside her as both of your feet dangle down over the ledge, while Amara rests on her knees just a few feet back.

Shivra breaks the silence first. "Creatures of this world are so fascinating to me. They can find desire in both a creature of heat and flame, yet also one so frigid that it hurts them. Perhaps people desire that of which they cannot have. That's the fun of it all, isn't it?"

"Or maybe someone just wants a woman as beautiful an icicle."

"Are you trying to woo me, Demon King?" She looks to you with a coy yet piercing stare as she brushes her hair off her shoulder. She allows the tips of her dark coloured nails to slip the thin string of her top down her arm as she stares hungrily into your eyes. "I've already given you permission to touch, silly boy," she says quieter now.

"Shivra... Why were you travelling with Stax and them?" you ask, ignoring her tease.

"What is there to say? A creature like me can't survive in this realm, with so many against me. And--Mmm. By the way. I have to ask. Why is that Amara girl here with us? Her silence is creeping me out."

"That's my emotional support elf," you reply. "What were you saying?"

She sighs. "Whatever. I wasn't saying anything else. That's all there is to it."

"But you're implying that you're not like other demons. Otherwise you wouldn't have been seeking company, and a means to survive here."

"What are you, my therapist?"

You eye her up and down. With your Kitty Sense, she may be difficult to read, though you swear you detect a fluctuation in temperature. You wonder if she has the ability to be warmer or colder at will, or if this is something else. Still, you can tell she's hiding her feelings, which you're certainly used to after living with many of the girls here. Though of course it isn't their gender that makes them so difficult. It's the fact that they're difficult that makes them so difficult.

Everyone in this world is strangely frustrating.

Shivra slides her fingers up her leg. As she does, the tip of her tail curls around to touch upon your back. It doesn't burn through your clothing, though you can certainly feel it drag down your spine. "You're ogling me again, Demon King. I thought you had more self control than that."

"You say that, but you've been staring at me just as much."

She lets out a short laugh through her nose. "I do like when they bite back."

"Do you ever wish you could touch someone else for real?"

"I don't know what you mean. Knowing how badly somebody wants my body brings me all the pleasure in the world, and when they find out they cannot, I get a tingle in the most euphoric way. Why would I desire anything more than that?"

You look her over once again. "You said I could touch you anywhere, right?"

She grins a little at your question. "Oh yes. Anywhere."

After taking a deep breath, you reach out towards her. Then in a smooth, quick motion, you wrap your fingers firmly between her own. You grab her closest hand, hold it tight, and you don't let go. Pain rushes through your body. It's like touching dry ice with your bare skin. Though despite that, you continue to sit there beside her with clenched teeth and a groan desperately trying to escape your throat. You can almost hear the sizzling of skin the longer you linger. Yet you keep still, squint your eyes, and turn slowly back to her when you notice her staring back.

"Wh-What are you doing?" she asks.

"Ah! I'm... I'm touching you... like you said," you mutter.

Amara gasps, realizing it's her queue. She hustles over to place her hands upon your back and whisper the spell, "Minor Heal".

Upon the warm sensation of Amara's comforting spell, you feel the pain subside and the wounds disappear, though only for a short window of time. With your hand still there, it simply returns once again. It's good for a few moments, but not for long. "Shivra," you say. "I just want you to know... that you can talk to me if you need something," you say.

"M-Minor Heal!" Amara says frantically from behind.

Shivra looks to you, shocked and perplexed. For once, she tries to pull away from you. "You idiot. You're going to lose your hand if you keep that up."

The pain spreads down past your wrist, but you stare at her straight in the eyes. "I've suffered worse than this. The warmth I feel from your touch is far more than enough to resist the bite of frost."

She clenches her teeth. "Th-That's so corny," she whispers. "Please. L-Let go."

Amara squeezes your arm. "I c-can not... I... Mmm~! M-Major... Ah, ah! Major H-Heal!" The poor elf shudders as the pleasure wells up to an uncontrollable level inside her body. You feel amazing after her mighty spell, though she looks positively exhausted. Mana usage aside, the quirk of her magic is putting her through the ringer, and thanks to the collar she wears, it has nowhere to escape. Her face burns red, perhaps even hot enough to melt through ice.

Then at last, Shivra slips free, not from strength, but from the wetness between your hands. She stumbles to her feet and looks down at herself. She's dripping. Shivra pants heavily as droplets of water run down her beautiful body. Her normally loose top clings to her skin. In a matter of moments, she looks as if she just stepped out of the pool. Suddenly embarrassed, she brings her hands between her legs--shorts just as drenched--and shuffles back with a face radiant with a darker shade of blue than usual. "Stop that," she whispers frantically. "Whatever you're doing, stop it!"

Amara smiles through her own heated breaths. "You are doing it, Kyle. You are making her melt."

"I-I am not melting!" But her body says otherwise. Shaking, she looks back down to her hands as they drip with water.

Then you stand. You walk over to her, and straight away you can tell that something is different. You no longer feel the freezing embrace of winter when she's near. In fact, you reach out and successfully touch the bare skin of her hands. As you pull them back, it feels as if you just ran them under a fresh spring. You bring your finger to your mouth and give it a taste. Refreshing, like the purest water you've tasted.

At that, she nearly falls over. "I... I have to go," she says quickly. Though just as she's about to run off, she looks to you once more. "Thank you for inviting me up here, Kyle." She disappears before you can respond.

You look down at the wet footsteps she left behind.

Amara giggles. "You did it, Kyle. You really are amazing. She started opening up to you, and you even managed to find an ice demon's weakness."

"I'm surprised that worked so well," you say. "And I'm glad."

Her hand then tugs on your sleeve rather tight. "If you are finished, may I ask for a favour?"

"Uh. Yeah of course. Just give me a--"

"It is a rather... urgent favour, Kyle."

You look back to her and see the face of utter desire. After all that's happened, so much pleasure has welled up inside her body that she's like a balloon that can't bring itself to pop. As she continues to pull on your sleeve, she uses the staff in her other hand to remain standing. Otherwise, she'd likely fall to her knees. She squirms in place with a face flushed red, and it only grows worse the longer you stare back at her.