[Zia’s POV]

"Do you want my body?" I asked nonchalantly hiding my worries deep inside me.

"Something like that."

I felt chills in my spine. So it's like that. I am not fooled by his display of weakness in class. Honestly, his acting felt too deliberate. I am wondering why the others haven't noticed it. No, Professor Zren noticed it, but he left it be. Just like how the professor is ignoring me and that shady student named Samael.

We finally arrived at a hotel downtown, this is where our stroll led us. It's already 8:00 of the evening and returning to the dorms before curfew will be difficult. The hotel is quite luxurious with gold inlays on the furniture. The downtown is a small part of the Academy proper. We call it downtown, but it's actually a circular blockade of towns surrounding the academy.

A hotel is a place where sexual illicit activities usually occur. I am not that naive to think that the academy is free from this kind of dirt considering that the downtown is outside the high profile security’s range.

Is this it? Do I have a choice?

"How many rooms?" The receptionist asked, which Alfir answered briefly.

"One." He says.

I forced myself not to show disgust.

We finally reached the hotel. It's luxurious given that it's a town near the academy. In fact, the towns here are more like a semi city.

I steadily walked to his side. My breathing is a little harsh since it's my first time. According to the teachings I received in my youth, it is the most effective when it's the woman that takes the initiative. Getting on the offensive allows a woman to control the tempo, thus bewitching the target even more.

It was as sudden as it was effective. My lips met his as our skin-to-skin make contact. Then he invaded with his tongue penetrating my lips. Our tongues intertwined as our saliva mixed with the other. I am out of breath, I felt the tempo I built up is vanishing.

I will not fall in love, I tell myself aware of the deal I made with a certain monster. With my bloodline ability, I will forcefully control my hormone secretion so that I don’t fall in love. In the best-case scenario, I bewitch this character called Alfir.

My eyes met his in this close distance. His eyes are as solemn as it is dark. It felt as profound though it appears crestfallen.

Then there is a sadness so immense I instinctively cried. It is not mine. It is his. A world beyond mine. Skyscrapers and towers that reach the clouds, megacities filled with activity, and a young man so similar to the person that accompanied me on this surprisingly peaceful date. The scenery, family of four— a mother, father, brother, then him...

What is this? I am caught in this chaotic cycle of emotions. My ability to read thoughts depends on the amount of negativity a person is exhibiting, and Alfir's? This is too much, even for me who watched sadness play like the ripples in the lake.

Then there's a story akin to this world. There was me in it, and several other notable characters of this world. What is this?! A prophecy?! But that's impossible!

Then he pushed me, separated by an arm's length. He held my shoulders firmly.

"I don't know where the kiss came from, but if you want to level up after the kiss... I am reluctant to say we are still minors."

Huh?

"Wh-what was that? The memories, yes... Those are memories right?" I ask him fearfully.

He beamed a manic smile at me.

"Hmmm... I increased the level of my secretion of Seratonin, they are the hormone responsible for amplifying sadness. That allowed you to read my thoughts so much more fluidly. The things that you saw are certainly my memories."

I realize it’s not only me who can achieve cellular control of hormones.

"I don't understand," I said to him, mindful that he was up to something I might greatly regret.

"Then let me remind you."

*Tlicked!

Ouch! He flicked my forehead with a snapping sound. It hurts, but not so much. This flicking looked rather petty compared to Alfir's original brutality. A flush of information went into my head, it's a set of imageries compiled in the in-betweens of the memories I read.

Why? What was that? I wanted to ask him, to enlighten me, and beg for the answers to the meaning of those images.

"You shall never speak about this to anyone. What you saw was the end of the world."

It certainly was...

"Is it not an illusion?"

"It's up to you to believe. My memories are certainly not fake to me."

"What do you want from me?"

"I told you, I want you."

His eyes felt imploring, seeking aid. It is wanting and entreating.

So, that is what he meant. He wanted me for my strength, and not for my flesh. Somehow, I felt disappointed, my excitement vanishing in the wind. Was I looking forward to it?

"Zia."

He called to me softly, stepping forwards as he gaze into my eyes. I can see my reflection in his dark pupils.

"Become the Synopsis, my Synopsis. I am just a lowly author of a story I never knew existed on another plane. You, as another, who knows this story through mine— I beseech you, become my Synopsis~"

His words felt alluring. I have the choice of rejecting him which will definitely escalate into a fight. I am confident that I can escape, but... my curiosity is killing me.

"Yes."

It came out involuntarily from my mouth, but I didn't reject it. In fact, I felt happy about it. He smiled, it made my heart flutter. What is this dangerous charm? He is far from handsome, he looked average. No, if you look at him twice, you can kind of feel that he is charming, right?

"Sleep." He said in an imperative tone.

"Where are you going?"

"Someplace... Good night."

From the window, I watched his receding figure fade in the darkness of the night.

I fell into a trap called curiosity and sympathy. This person called Alfir is not a villain. He is a hero. But what's up with all of his facades? He is an enigma of his own curiosity. Is what I am seeing even his true self?

For the first time, Zia harbored the feeling of becoming a hero. From a duke's tool, she has become something more. This event changed the trajectory of her life.

…

Alfir knows Zia, not to the point of allowing him perfect manipulation, but Alfir knows where to poke. You don't have to offer something to entice someone, you can simply motivate them with your words alone— this is not a con— this is propaganda, an idea, and Zia is where all of this started.

From curiosity, it will grow into something big enough that even a cat with nine lives won't be able to escape from it.

Zia is that cat.

That very day, Zia broke the deal she made with the monster. The day will come when she’ll greatly regret this.

But today is not that day, as currently, Zia is pinkly in love.