The Thorn that Pierces Me

Seeing her blank expression, he was certain. Her name was not Ariana. She didn’t even know where Black Castle was. Come to think of it, it was quite unlikely for an outsider to possess a magic stone necklace in the first place.

Magic stone necklaces were the only way to prove one’s identity in this world; they were enchanted to prevent forgery. Likely, the thieves forced her to do something in order to make money. For example....

His gaze faltered, unwilling to continue the thought aloud.

Her beauty was undeniable—fair skin, smooth black hair, and deep, dark eyes that seemed to hold secrets of their own. Though thin, her figure was graced with gentle curves, her skin soft and unmarred, unlike most women in this brutal land.

A woman like that couldn’t have survived without skills—skills that might be more dangerous than a blade or a bow.

‘Did I... allow myself to fall under her spell?’

The memory of her touch struck him like a thunderclap. Her hands had moved with such precision, her body responding to his as though it had been designed to bring him pleasure. He clenched his fists at the thought.

It wasn’t just because she was pretty. Calix actually had absolutely no idea what a woman could do to ‘please’ a man, at least until he met this ‘mystery’ of a woman.

To him, the caresses she had given were blissfully delightful. Her delicate touches and movements that caressed him induced supreme pleasure. He thought it would be impossible to experience a more intense and blissful sensation than what he had experienced through her body.

A sensation so divine, it bordered on sin. How could she know so precisely how to unravel him? Her confidence, her ease—it spoke of someone who had faced these moments before.

It was good.

Really, really good.

Not just for him; any man would find it irresistible. If she were to perform that ‘act’ again, he would do anything....

“What am I thinking... I must be out of my mind.”

Calix snapped back to reality, a chill running down his spine. He had broken his vow of chastity, yet here he was, reliving the blissful sensations the woman had given him. Worse still, a part of him dared to yearn for her touch once more.

No better than a beast. Revulsion churned in him—how could he let base desires consume him?

The temple’s teachings were clear: Women were temptresses, embodiments of sin, constantly testing a man’s resolve.

Glancing at the woman, Calix quickly composed himself.

It seemed he needed to make the woman disappear from his sight to stop having such filthy and evil thoughts.

A woman who didn’t shy away from physical contact... She carried herself with a familiarity that only experience could grant.

Calix was convinced she was undoubtedly a worldly and experienced woman.

“Sigh....”

It seemed best to quickly send the woman away somewhere.

It was obvious that as long as he kept her within his sight, something ‘bad’ would definitely happen.

In fact, he had already acted out of control. Putting his finger in the woman’s mouth, failing to resist against his primitive sexual desires and succumbing to the evil inside him.

It already happened once, and there was no guarantee that it wouldn’t happen again.

Unfortunately, Calix was not a magician, so he didn’t have the power to make a magic stone necklace on his own. So, he had to resort to forgery.

The Calix from the past would never have considered breaking the law, but considering the circumstances, such concerns seemed irrelevant.

The woman’s fake magic stone necklace had been in the hut, so it must have burned in the blue flames. He had no intention of taking her in, so he hadn’t bothered to save it.

“I’ll deal with the maenok here and send you into the city.”

Her eyes widened as if she understood ‘maenok.’ Looking at her surprised, but still beautiful face, Calix recalled the image of pure, cute animals such as a deer or an antelope.

Maybe that’s why?

Even though his precious chastity had been stolen by her wickedly skilled touch, Calix couldn’t bring himself to hate her. In fact, instead of trying to keep his distance from her, Calix found himself engaging in unnecessary physical contact with her.

She was right beside him even now. She even smelled slightly bad, but surprisingly, the stench didn’t bother him. Either his nose was malfunctioning, or his mind was.

Calix muttered to the woman who was quietly looking at him.

“I wasn’t... your first, was I?”

His voice carried a weight of certainty. It wasn’t a question directed at her. After all, the woman didn’t understand what he was saying.

He felt low. A complex and unpleasant emotion surged from deep within.