Chapter 80: Alia’s Bond Ford
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The academy’s main library was quiet, its tall shelves stacked with rows upon rows of books. The sll of paper and old ink hung in the air, and only the occasional sound of footsteps disturbed the silence.
Alia stood in one of the back aisles, her eyes scanning the spines of the books. She had been here for nearly half an hour already, looking specifically for advanced alchemy texts that weren’t usually assigned to first-year students. Her hands moved over the shelves as she checked one title after another. She sighed lightly, frustrated that the section was disorganized.
"Basic Elental Transmutations," she muttered to herself as she pulled out one thick to, flipping through the first pages. It wasn’t what she wanted. She slid it back in and kept moving. Her focus was sharp, her posture strict, as if she was determined not to waste ti.
At the far end of the library, Arios had just entered. He carried no books in his hands. He had co for another reason entirely. His Harem System had given him a notification that morning, a reminder Alia was a perfect bond candidate.
[System Notification: Target – Alia Loraine – Current Affection Level: 0%.]
[Bond Trigger Available: MILF Pri Seduction – Physical Contact Scenario.]
Arios didn’t ignore these notifications anymore. He knew that if he wanted to strengthen himself and expand his cultivation, he needed more bonds.
He initially had his reservation because of her status as an academy staff, which would obviously create complications in sex activities between them, and also Alia wasn’t just another woman in the academy; she was a skilled alchemist and soone with valuable knowledge that could serve him in the long run. If he could draw her closer to him, it would be a win on every side.
He noticed her from a distance, her long hair tied neatly, her body frad by the rows of bookshelves. She looked as focused as ever, flipping through pages, shifting her weight slightly as she read.
[Tip: Approach and initiate dialogue. A physical contact scenario will occur. Affection growth guaranteed.]
Arios walked toward her slowly, his footsteps quiet on the library floor. When he reached the sa aisle, he deliberately paused near the shelf, pretending to scan the titles.
Alia didn’t look at him at first. She was too focused on the book in her hand. But after a few seconds, she noticed his presence from the corner of her eye.
"Looking for alchemy texts?" Arios asked, picking a random book from the shelf and flipping it open.
At first she hesitated to respond to his question, but then why not? She had no imdiate reasons to just ignore him.
"Yes. Most of what’s here is either too basic or incomplete." She slid one book back into place with a sharp motion. "The academy boasts about having a full collection, but it’s a ss."
Arios gave a small nod. "I noticed that last ti. So books aren’t even catalogued properly."
That caught her attention. She turned slightly to face him, crossing her arms. "You’ve used this section?"
"Once or twice," Arios said. He set the book he was holding back on the shelf, then looked directly at her. "If you want, I can help you look."
She hesitated, narrowing her eyes. "And why would you help ?"
"Because you’ll waste more ti searching alone," Arios replied simply. "Two sets of eyes are faster."
Alia didn’t argue further. She sighed and turned back to the shelves. "Fine. I’m looking for ’Advanced Binding Reagents’ or ’Catalysts of High-Grade Elixirs.’ Either would be acceptable."
Arios pretended to start searching, though he wasn’t really focused on the books. His attention was on the system.
[System Prompt: Bond Trigger Available. Initiate Physical Contact.]
Arios moved deliberately closer, stepping into the narrow space beside Alia. The aisle wasn’t wide, and with both of them standing shoulder to shoulder, there was almost no room. She noticed and quickly frowned.
"You’re crowding ," she said.
"I need to reach that one," Arios replied calmly, pointing toward a book a little above her head.
Before she could step aside, he leaned in, his arm brushing against hers as he reached upward. The system notification flashed instantly.
[Ding! System Bond Triggered: MILF Pri Seduction – Physical Contact Achieved.]
[Ding! Target Affection rapidly increasing.]
[Ding! Alia Loraine has been added to your Harem.]
Alia stiffened at the touch, her eyes widening slightly. She turned her head, finding herself much closer to Arios than she expected. For a mont, their faces were less than a hand’s breadth apart. Her heartbeat quickened against her will.
Arios pulled the book from the shelf, holding it casually in his hand as though nothing unusual had happened. He stepped back half a pace, giving her space again. "This one?" he asked.
Alia blinked, then looked at the title. It wasn’t what she wanted, but the mont of contact had already unsettled her. "No. That’s not it." She forced her voice to sound steady, though there was a faint sharpness in it.
Her mind, however, was no longer calm. She hated the fact that her body reacted the way it did. She felt warmth in her cheeks and an unfamiliar pull toward him. She clenched her fists briefly, trying to dismiss the feeling, but it didn’t fade.
[System Notification: Alia Loraine – Affection Level increased to 100%.]
Arios watched her quietly. He didn’t push further. He knew the system had already done its work.
"I’ll keep looking," Alia said quickly, turning her attention back to the shelves. But she wasn’t as composed as before. Her hand lingered on the spine of a book without pulling it out, and her eyes darted toward Arios more often than she realized.
They spent another ten minutes searching together. Arios occasionally asked her questions about alchemy, deliberately showing interest in her field. She answered, at first curtly, but gradually with more detail as the conversation continued.
Arios leaned against the shelf casually, pretending to skim through another title before speaking again. His tone was calm, almost conversational, but his eyes were fixed on Alia.
"Can I ask you sothing personal?" he said.
Alia glanced at him, suspicious at first. "Depends on the question."
"Have you ever loved soone before?" Arios asked directly.
Her hand froze on the spine of the book she was reaching for. For a mont, she said nothing. Her eyes lowered, and her lips pressed together.
"That’s... not sothing I usually talk about," she said quietly. There was hesitation in her voice, but the faint warmth she now felt toward Arios seed to push her into speaking further.
Alia let out a soft breath. "Before I beca a dic mage knight... I was married. My husband was also a mage knight, and we had a daughter together." She paused, her fingers tightening on the edge of the book. "He died during a dungeon raid. I... raised our child until she was old enough to live with her grandmother. After that, I devoted myself fully to dicine and the path of a mage knight."
Arios didn’t interrupt. He simply nodded once. "I see. That must have been difficult."
Alia gave a faint smile, though her eyes carried old pain. "It was. But I survived, and I kept moving forward. That’s all anyone can do."
For a few seconds, the silence between them was heavy. Then Arios shifted slightly closer. "It sounds like you gave everything for your family. That’s sothing I respect."
Alia’s chest tightened at his words. She hadn’t expected him to say that so directly. Her heartbeat picked up again, the earlier warmth she felt growing stronger. She quickly turned her eyes back to the shelves, trying to hide the faint blush forming in her cheeks.
When they finally found ’Advanced Binding Reagents’ tucked between two unrelated texts, Alia exhaled in relief. "Finally. This is what I was looking for."
Arios nodded. "Looks like it was misfiled."
She glanced at him, her expression unreadable for a mont. "Thank you. I suppose your presence wasn’t a complete waste."
Arios gave a small smile. "Glad I could help."
As they left the aisle, Alia kept her book close to her chest. She didn’t say anything else, but her eyes lingered on Arios longer than before. The skill influence was clear.
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[A/N:] Finally reached 80 Chapters, thanks for the support everyone and let keep the montum going.
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