༺ Training (3) ༻
1.
Eloa closed the door to the rooftop and briskly made her way home.
She hastily retrieved a bottle of liquor from the pantry, almost as if searching for a medicine for someone who was having an asthma attack.
The strong liquor with 52% alcohol flowed down smoothly in her throat.
“Phew…”
But even after that, she still felt unsettled, so she splashed cold water onto her face in the bathroom.
Yet even after her bangs got soaked, she still felt on edge.
“What’s going on…?”
Confusion clouded her mind.
And there was a reason for it.
The unfortunate incident during their recent sparring session.
Usually, their training session that always lasted twelve hours each day, would follow a repetitive pattern.
1) Siwoo would try something.
2) Eloa would stop it.
3) Both of them would go over the problem and find a way to improve.
4) Repeat the first two processes until the problem was resolved.
Sparring was the most effective way for Siwoo to improve his skills.
Although their spar wasn’t as intense as real combat, it still helped him learn ‘how to move his body effectively’.
The fact that he always came up with various strategies only added to the effectiveness.
Yesterday, he even attempted multiple takedowns during their spar.
But, even though his efforts were commendable, she could easily counter his attempts. She could theoretically let herself get hit by him, but that wasn’t an option she could choose.
Because if she were to allow such sloppy attacks to succeed, there was a huge chance that it would have negative consequences in the future.
But, since he had worked so hard for it…
She thought that it wouldn’t hurt to let him see a glimpse of what he had been working on.
Seeing him fall over and over again, yet never giving up even after all that, she decided to let him have a little fun.
Obviously she’d tell him afterwards that it was a bad idea to use submission holds on someone who possessed a spirit body that had been enhanced with magic.
But the moment she turned her back on Siwoo and he stuck on her like glue…
After further reflection, that moment didn’t last long.
Interestingly, their position resembled that of a bear hug.
Since Siwoo was taller than her, he could easily rest his chin on top of her head.
But, the feeling she got from something that was pressing against her back was solid and firm. She could even feel its heat through her clothes…
“That was…”
She didn’t need to think much, it was obviously his manhood.
It was fully aroused, just like when he had a sexual intercourse with Sharon, rock hard from the rush of blood.
Moreover, the breath that brushed against her ear felt different from the rough breathing he always let out during their spars.
It felt more ‘instinctual’, almost as if he let his primal instinct go.
Regardless, that was the first time she had ever felt that kind of breath.
“Are you crazy…?”
Eloa absentmindedly stroked her back before shaking her head.
Though she only had superficial knowledge of male-female relationships, she knew exactly when ‘a man would get an erection’.
At Trinity Academy, they had classes on such things that were considered crucial not to miss.
From those classes, she knew that a guy would only get an erection whenever he felt excited sexually.
Of course, erection was something that usually happened naturally, sometimes it would even happen when one had the urge to urinate.
Unfortunately, Eloa’s didn’t know that.
“I can’t do this.”
She quickly got to her feet and undressed herself.
Her confused mind wouldn’t settle like this.
So she decided to take a bath to cool down both her body and mind. She filled up the tub, grabbed a bottle of liquor then got in.
A towel was wrapped around her head to keep her hair dry then she started to ponder inside the warm water.
“…Sigh…”
Her hot breath, filled with the fuzz from the alcohol, created ripples on the surface of the bath.
The past few days had brought her a sense of tranquility, but it didn’t fit her usual vibe.
She still had restless nights, she still woke up sweating from nightmares and sometimes she’d clutch her chest, lost in thoughts of Ravi, but…
Things were gradually changing, bit by bit.
Her once regret-filled and sigh-heavy days were slowly morphing into something new.
Just like the frozen ground that had begun to thaw under the gentle touch of spring, heralding an unspoken revolution of vibrant green.
She no longer cried alone as often now.
Instead, a smile would decorate her lips more frequently than before.
She started cooking again, something she hadn’t done ever since Ravi left her, and she started spending her days sitting at the dining table to enjoy her meals leisurely.
Rather than using alcohol to forget all her pain, she did it to relax, savoring the flavor and the aroma of the wine.
And she knew the reason behind this change.
Because she saw Ravi in Siwoo.
Through him, she could return to those days when just by thinking about Ravi, a smile would bloom on her face.
Those days when they trained together, shared meals together and raised their glasses together in camaraderie.
Eloa found solace in his presence.
And so, she owed him a lot for that.
Though they weren’t officially a master and an apprentice, she saw him as a cute student of hers.
And she believed him to see her as his mentor too.
But…
“Does he…see me as a woman…?”
That realization caught her off guard.
She hadn’t really interacted with men before.
That was why something like this had never crossed her mind prior to this.
So, rather than feeling joy, discomfort or disgust towards him seeing her that way, she was confused instead.
It was like a strangely shaped golden beetle clinging to one’s clothes. One couldn’t shake it off, but they couldn’t catch it either.
‘Wait, no…’
The more she tried to compare the feeling to something, the more confused she became.
So, she took another sip of her drink and continued her train of thought.
“Still…”
She knew Siwoo was sincere, gentle, and kind-hearted.
While she cherished him deeply, she had never seen him as anything more than a disciple.
If Siwoo did have romantic feelings for her, she’d be grateful, but she still had to turn him down.
“…Wait…”
‘How can I reject him without hurting him?’
When she debated whether to just brush it off like today or if there was any other way to reject him, a certain fact came to her mind.
‘Wait, wait.’
‘He’s already dating Miss Evergreen, isn’t he?’
It felt like a complex puzzle was thrown at her, who lacked the basic knowledge about dating.
Though she wasn’t even drunk, she felt dizzy.
But she still tried to sort things out, one thing at a time.
The idea of him, who was already involved with Sharon, developing feelings for her was already mind-boggling.
This matter didn’t end with her feeling embarrassed, it went much deeper than that.
As an apprentice witch, she had learned from Ms. Sua about the proper conduct of men and women.
Even considering that her teachings were out of date, ‘two timing’ was something that was considered wrong, both morally and ethically.
Now, if that was the extent of the problem, she could just scold him, remind him to not do it again and move on, but…
Considering his usual behavior, he didn’t seem to be the type to casually juggle between multiple partners, which only made her even more confused.
“This isn’t good.”
She couldn’t come up with anything by herself.
But, it wasn’t like she had anyone to share her worries with either.
And so, she decided to keep this matter buried deeply inside her chest.
That was when she remembered back when Siwoo looked at her, he seemed embarrassed.
The look on his face suggested that even he himself didn’t expect this kind of situation.
‘It’s probably just a spur-in-the-moment thing.’
‘No need to make a big deal of it.’
‘Isn’t it normal for men to act on impulse anyway?’
He was too important for her to push him away over something so small.
Eloa got out of the bath, dried herself off and changed into her pajamas.
Since her hair was a little messy, she used a bit of her magic to tidy it up.
As she entered the living room with a full glass of liquor, she noticed things that she usually overlooked.
Maybe he was concerned about her dealing with her struggles alone.
After the training sessions or whenever he felt like it, he frequently visited her place.
Not only that, he always seemed to be carrying something with him.
This was why his presence started to become noticeable all over the house.
Even the previously empty room started to feel more lively.
First, the fridge was filled with various ingredients.
Then, the cabinet that was once filled with booze, now had various things like bottles of soy sauce, vinegar and olive oil.
In her bedroom, there were soft cushions and a cozy looking bedside lamp.
Even the pajamas she was wearing were a gift from Siwoo.
With all the care and concern she received from him, she had no desire to nitpick or dwell on his minor flaws.
“It’ll all work out fine.”
She flopped onto the bed.
‘Let’s just act like nothing happened.’
‘Tomorrow, let’s stick to our routine and invite him over for a meal.’
‘Then, we’ll enjoy a drink and have a nice chat about things.’
As she let this thought sink in, the dizzy feeling she felt began to ease a little.
“Hoahm…”
She let out a soft yawn as she laid in her bed.
Every single day, she had to ensure that she got at least four hours of sleep.
The bath, the alcohol she consumed and the comfort of Siwoo’s soft cushion slowly enticed her to sleep.
Despite all these things lightening the load on her mind somewhat, she still felt fear and dread looming over her.
Because this was the moment when she had to confront all the suppressed memories in her past mistakes.
She felt as if she were being pulled in as her consciousness faded into darkness. And then…
It went on and on…
She cautiously, very cautiously, blinked her eyes open.
Wondering which dreadful past she’d revisit today.
“…?”
Suddenly, her eyes snapped open.
She was in her own room.
Obviously, this wasn’t a place where her memories with Ravi were etched.
Nor was it a place she ever visited in her dreams.
It felt like only a moment had passed since she closed her eyes, yet now she could see the sky outside her window was tinged with the shade of blue.
“No dream…?”
‘I didn’t dream about anything…?’
None of the nightmares that usually haunted her, causing her dread as night approached, showed up.
She sat up in her bed, glancing around with vacant eyes.
-Click!
At that moment, the door was opened.
A figure emerged from the dim shadows.
It was Siwoo.
“You? What are you doing here?”
Usually, he’d show up around lunchtime.
But it was currently the dead of the night, the sun had yet to rise.
Adjusting her rumpled pajama collar, Eloa looked at him with a puzzled expression,
“I came to see you, Master.”
“M-Master…?”
This was the first time he had ever called her ‘Master’.
Usually, he’d only refer to her as ‘Duchess’.
Maybe it was because Eloa never asked him to, but it was most likely because he understood her grief over losing Ravi.
That was why, his sudden use of ‘Master’ and his unexpected late-night visit left her wondering.
“Good timing, I’ve slept and there’s no reason for you to hold back, no? Want to get some drinks with me?”
“Sounds good to me.”
As he said that, his gaze was fixed on her face.
His voice carried a deep resonance and he appeared to be at ease.
Eloa sensed a shift in the atmosphere as she saw him approaching the bed where she sat down.
“It feels different to see you like this. You always wear your workout clothes usually.”
“Isn’t this something you bought for me? I found it very comfortable to wear, so I’ve been wearing it often. Anyway, can you wait outside for a moment? I need to change my clothes.”
No matter how comfortable it felt, she still couldn’t entertain her guest while wearing pajamas.
So, she stood up, trying to change into something more presentable, but his next words stopped her in her tracks.
“You’re pretty.”
“W-What?”
“You’re really pretty, prettier than any witch I’ve ever met in my life.”
Hearing his words, her pupils began shaking uncontrollably.
