30 Bond of Fate (IV)
"Are you fucking kidding me?" I explode. "Administrator! This isn't fair!"
Gryphon's laughter rumbles beneath me. "Thank you, Administrator."
I smack at his chest in frustration. "Stop playing along! Don't you think this quest is ridiculous?"
He shakes his head. "No. It's great. It's my first time running into such a dynamic quest line in this game, and I get more time with you. I don't see a problem here."
"More time with me—you haven't come to your senses yet?" I demand, wriggling against him. "Let me down. There's something wrong with your brain. You barely know me, you threatened me, and now you're acting like I'm the love of your life."
Gryphon's shrug has me almost falling, and I grab onto his shoulders by instinct. His resulting smile infuriates me, and I scowl.
"I have no shame for falling first." Gryphon's voice is husky against my ear. "I pursue whatever I want obsessively. It's a character flaw."
[The System Administrator loves a good confession.]
[The System Administrator rates Gryphon Vale 10/10.]
Ignoring those blasted messages, I scoff. "You have a hell of a lot more flaws than just that one."
He chuckles, the sound reverberating through his chest. "I can't argue with that."
Gryphon shifts, pressing buttons I can't see. A system notification appears, startling me.
[Congratulations! You have received 100% of the experience accrued during the quest.]
[The System Administrator thinks you should give him a chance.]
[The System Administrator asks if anyone else can take care of you like Gryphon Vale does.]
"I don't need his help," I announce to them both, going through the spam of notifications I just received. "I'm an independent woman. I can do things on my own. Why did you give me the experience when you did all the work?"
Gryphon smiles. "Well, like the Administrator said—who can take care of you like I do?"
I roll my eyes and focus on my messages. I leveled again, but more importantly:
[You have reached your level cap. To remove this limit, you must complete your Base Class Quests in the capital. Good luck, Player! You have reached the end of the tutorial.]
Shit, shit, shit. Panic rises in my throat. I leveled too fast. Now, I'm going to lose Darius. I can't imagine navigating this world without him.
Gryphon's breath tickles my neck as he sniffs me, derailing my thoughts. Heat rushes to my face. "Put me down," I demand, struggling against his hold.
He ignores me, sitting on the ground and pulling me into his lap. I squirm, but his arms are like steel bands around me. Trapped, I watch as he goes through various game messages.
My cheeks burn. I should be fighting to get away, but his warmth seeps into me, his heartbeat steady against my back.
[The System Administrator wishes Gryphon Vale would just kiss you already.]
I can't see his face, but I just know he's smiling.
"Don't you dare!" I turn my head to snap at Gryphon, shooting daggers his way.
He chuckles, meeting my eyes with an indulgent smile. "I don't take orders from the Admin. Only from you, sweet angel."
His deep voice caresses the words, causing an involuntary shiver to race down my spine. I hate how my body betrays me under his intense stare. Leaning in closer, Gryphon brushes a strand of hair from my face. "Though I'd be more than happy to oblige if you asked nicely…?"
My breath catches in my throat as his hands trail down from my ear to my lips. Damn him and his stupid handsome face! I can't think straight when he's this near. Gathering my wits, I turn my head away.
"Don't flatter yourself," I mutter.
Gryphon laughs again, the sound rich and intoxicating. "You're only making this more fun for me, Aria."
"You're insufferable."
[The System Administrator can't get enough.]
[The System Administrator wants more.]
Mercifully, a new notification must pop up, because Gryphon is distracted. I take the opportunity to attempt wiggling free again, but his arm tightens around my waist like an iron bar.
"I'm not letting you run off. Not until I've had my fun."
I hold still at the heated promise in his tone. A shiver races through me, my stupid body reacting shamelessly to his words. Closing my eyes, I grit my teeth. I'm convinced now that the Administrator has somehow done something with my reincarnation to make it so he can affect me this way.
The Administrator breaks the tension with another message.
[The System Administrator loves your banter.]
[The System Administrator takes pity on you.]
[The System Administrator suggests that Gryphon Vale should be more gentle in his approach.]
[The System Administrator suspects Aria is new to love.]
"Shut up!" I snarl, face flaming.
To my mortification, Gryphon nuzzles against the side of my neck. "I think she likes it a bit rough," he murmurs against my skin. "But you're right, I should take it slow. After all, we have plenty of time together now, thanks to you."
I swallow hard, trying and failing to ignore the warmth of his breath fanning over me. This is torture. "You need to stop doing things like that. I don't like it."
Gryphon laughs, dropping a kiss on the top of my head. "Okay, angel."
Curse this stupid quest and curse Gryphon Vale for being so infuriatingly, unfairly attractive. As much as I want to keep fighting, to rail against this injustice, my body is losing the battle against his seductive wiles. "Are you done? Can you let me go? Better yet, can we leave?"
[The System Administrator clears their throat.]
[The System Administrator introduces a subquest.]
[Subquest: Escape the Cavern of Fate.
Description: Those who enter may not leave of their own accord. Perhaps an offering to the god of fate will help you out?
Objective:
- The god of fate would like to see a romantic moment between the two of you.
Rewards:
Free teleportation scroll, to be used by 2.]
At the very end of the quest are two heart symbols.
[The System Administrator winks at Gryphon Vale.]
[The System Administrator puffs their chest.]
[The System Administrator blushes.]
* * *
˻˻˻ARIA LUCARIS˼˼˼
HP: 370/370
MP: 125/125
Level 9 (LOCKED)
Race: Human
Sex: Female
Class: Mage
Title: Prodigy of Magic
˻˻˻STATS˼˼˼
STR: 13
STA: 13
AGI: 13
INT: 46 (+5)
PER: 13
CHA: 15
Bonus Points: 3
Total Points: 113
˻˻˻COMBAT AFFINITY˼˼˼
ATK: 13 (+10)
DEF: 13
˻˻˻BOOSTS˼˼˼
Critical: 0.00%
Accuracy: 0.00%
Efficiency: 25.00%
˻˻˻UNIQUE STATS˼˼˼
Fame: 350
˻˻˻SKILLS˼˼˼
Active: Firebolt Lv. 2, Frost Nova Lv. 2
Passive: Free Cast Lv. 2, Mental Fortitude Lv. 2
