Getting spoiled in a woman dominating world

Yverine, who had been looking around the field for any remaining threats, froze mid-step when her eyes fell on a sight she hadn't expected in a million years.

Brandon kissing Astrid.

'What the hell am I looking at?'

She did see Astrid pulling Brandon into the rupture earlier.

It happened so fast that Yverine hadn't even had time to question it, and since Clarisse had gone in with him, she figured he'd be fine. But now… this?

Her stomach tightened but she shook herself out of it and rushed over.

"Brandon?" she called sharply, her boots crunching against the ruined pavement.

Up close, she could see his entire body was trembling.

Astrid pulled away from the kiss, a faint etheric glow still clinging to her lips "Brandon? How do you feel now?"

He blinked slowly and his vision was still filled with haze.

Yverine's gut clenched and without thinking, she wrapped an arm around his shoulder and pulled him into her side, steadying his weight "Brandon, what happened…"

Her hand pressed against his side, and her eyes narrowed 'He's burning up. His body is so hot...'.

Her eyes snapped to Astrid and glared at her "What happened inside?"

Feeling her glare, Astrid's gaze squinted "I don't know either... His body is suddenly feeling a huge amount of ether."

Before Yverine could say another word, a voice cut through the chaos.

"Kael."

"Aunt Ravene," Yverine breathed, relief mixing with tension as she looked at Ravene rushing towards them.

Ravene closed the remaining distance in an instant, kneeling slightly as she pressed two fingers to Brandon's wrist.

"His body..."

Brandon stirred at the sound and shook his head slightly "…Aunt Rave…"

"Yes," Ravene said immediately, her tone softening in a way few ever heard from her "I'm here, dear. Don't worry."

Astrid, who had been watching silently until now, suddenly stiffened as her gaze finally focused on Ravene.

Her lips parted slightly, "R-R-Ravene Morcelli…" she stammered, almost choking on the words "…in the flesh?"

Ravene looked at Astrid and her gaze narrowed further.

Astrid flinched and replied hurriedly "T-The unusual ether in his body is slowly dissipating; he will be fine, Madam Ravene."

Ravene didn't reply and glanced back at Yverine "Let's take him back home, Yve."

Yverine gave a single nod, stepping in closer to Brandon.

Around them, the courtyard was still echoing with shouts and the occasional crack of ether.

A few students nearby exchanged confused glances, whispering under their breath at the sudden shift from battle to… whatever this was.

Up on the rooftop, Sehra calmly lined up another shot and muttered, "Don't lose focus yet, there are still some aberrants running around."

Hearing her, Clarisse clicked her tongue and tightened her grip on her weapon. "Yeah. Let's finish clearing this before we relax."

---

Brandon stirred and his mind was still sluggish, like it was wading through a swamp of half-formed thoughts.

A faint, cooling sensation pressed against his forehead, and when his eyes slowly blinked open, the world came into focus, and he noticed Dhayun sitting beside on the bed him through his hazy eyes.

She was leaning forward as she wrung out a damp towel in a basin.

She dabbed it gently across his forehead, then down the side of his face.

He realized he was lying in nothing but a pair of loose shorts and the sheets beneath him were slightly damp from the sheen of sweat coating his skin.

Without a word, Dhayun set the towel aside for a moment and picked up another, running it along his bare shoulder and across his arm.

Her lips were pressed in a thin line with worry etched into her expression.

His eyes shifted toward her, and he muttered in a hoarse voice "...Dhayun?"

She froze for half a second, then her head snapped toward him and her eyes widened in surprise.

"Woonie!" She dropped the towel back into the basin and, without hesitation, leaned in and wrapped her arms around him.

"You're awake… thank god…" she murmured against him.

Before he could say anything else, she pulled back slightly, brushing a few damp strands of hair away from his forehead "Stay here. I'll bring the others."

With that, she rose quickly, taking the basin with her as she hurried toward the door.

---

Brandon was lying with his head on Elize lap as Ravene, Yverine, Eira and Dhayun were sitting beside him on the bed.

Elize gently patted his head "Kael..."

Looking up at her, he asked "What time is it..."

Eira, sitting cross-legged on the bed beside him, smiled faintly, though the concern in her eyes betrayed her calm tone. "It's already night."

Dhayun, still holding the damp towel she had been using earlier, let out a soft sigh. "You had everyone worried."

She dipped the towel into the basin again, wrung it out, and dabbed it gently along his collarbone where the sweat still lingered.

Brandon exhaled slowly, letting the moment wash over him "I don't know what happened... we cleared the core and in the next instant, my body was feeling feverish and my mind went blank."

Ravene's eyes narrowed and she replied "Hmm, I will investigate those two girls tomorrow to know what happened."

"Your body suddenly experienced a rush of ether and your core overloaded and... you reached A rank."

Huh? Brandon blinked his eyes in confusion "A rank?"

With a nod, Ravene replied "Yeah... now you are an A rank awakener. That sudden surge in ether has pushed your core to evolve."

Brandon closed his eyes for a moment and let out a deep sigh 'What the hell even happened there...'

He rubbed his temples slowly, the heat still lingering under his skin.

"A rank…" he muttered again, still trying to process the words.

His voice was hoarse, heavy with fatigue. "I wasn't even close before…"

Looking at him, Yverine's gaze quivered slightly and she tenderly grasped his hand.

He turned his gaze to her and smiled gently "Sister Yve..."

She let out a soft chuckle and grasped his hand tightly "Idiot."