Trevor raised his wooden sword high, bracing for impact as the Goblin’s hamr whistled through the air.
The collision was bone-jarring; the sheer force vibrated through the hilt and into his forearms.
But his grip held firm, his muscles straining against the pressure.
Beside him, Caroline didn’t waste any more ti.
She lunged with the precision of a predator, her wooden blade aid at the Frost Bear.
The beast had been so fixated on crushing Trevor that it failed to register her movent until the wooden sword connected gracefully with its head.
The impact sent the bear stumbling back with a pained roar, and the magical frost that had begun to encrust Trevor’s lower limbs shattered instantly, releasing its grip.
The Bear’s concentration broke, and with it, the command over the remaining Goblins fell loveless on the floor.
Seizing the opening, Trevor and Caroline moved as one. They lunged forward from opposite angles, their blades arcing through the air. In a synchronized, wet thud, they struck the creature’s skull simultaneously, bursting the creatures head open with precision.
The air shimred as notifications flooded Trevor’s vision:
> [CONGRATULATIONS! 7 GOBLINS AND 1 FROST BEAR SLAIN]
> [SYSTEM UPDATE: WHISPERING SHADOW HAS REACHED LEVEL 2]
> [REWARD: 30 SYSTEM POINTS GRANTED]
Trevor smiled at the ssages, before he could even begin to comprehend what was Infront of him world around him began to hum with a different frequency.
A high-pitched chi, separate from his own system, echoed through the vast cavern.
> [OBJECTIVE COMPLETE: MANA DENSITY REDUCED BY 1.0%]
> [PORTAL OPENED: YOU MAY EXIT OR PROCEED TO REMAINING QUESTS]
Caroline, her chest heaving with exhaustion caught Trevor’s eye and gave him a knowing nod. Together, they leaped into the exit portal.
Instantly a blinding white light seared Trevor’s vision, forcing his eyes shut.
When he finally blinked them open, the jagged rocks and icy air were gone, replaced by the sterile, expansive white of the simulation hall.
Almost imdiately, a sharp, throbbing pain flared in his legs—a physical reminder of the hours spent standing in the hall.
"That was... incredible. Thank you," Trevor said, turning to Caroline as he tried to walk off the stiffness.
He looked down at the practice weapon in his hand. "But please, tell —what is the secret behind these swords? They felt far too heavy to be just wood."
Caroline smiled, reaching out to take the sword from him. "Aren’t you a curious one? Let’s head back inside the main house. I’ll tell you everything once we’ve cooled down."
They stepped out into the midday heat. The sun was now beating down with a certain intensity that made the morning air seem cool by comparison.
By the ti they reached Caroline’s private suite, both were glistening with sweat from both the stress of the dungeon a d that of the sun.
Trevor noticed a faint sar of blood on Caroline’s lip—a phantom injury from the simulation that had manifested in the real world.
The realism was indeed terrifying.
"Wow, that simulation... it was more intense than I thought," Trevor murmured.
He moved closer, his fingers gently grazing her chin as he checked the injury.
Caroline’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson at the touch. "It... it isn’t really that intense once you get used to it," she whispered, her voice wavering as she tried to maintain her composure.
She looked at Trevor, who was standing barely inches away, his own scent mixing with the heat of the training.
"You’re sweating all over. Wouldn’t you like to take a shower?"
Trevor instinctively stepped back, mistaking her words for another thing.
"I’d love to, but I can’t exactly put these sweaty clothes back on after a bath. It’s probably better if I head ho and wash up there."
"You don’t need to worry about that,"
Caroline interrupted, her voice lifting with a sudden spark of energy. She rushed to a sleek mahogany drawer and pulled out a t-shirt and a pair of trousers, still encased in their high-end boutique packaging.
Trevor looked at the clothes. Even through the plastic, he could tell they were designer—likely worth more than his present outfit.
"Well? What do you think?" Caroline asked, her head bowed as she toyed with the edge of the bag, her shyness returning in full force.
Trevor let a wide, mischievous smirk spread across his face.
"In that case, I think I’d love to take a bath."
Relief washed over Caroline’s face, and she gave a small, excited jump. "I’ll get the tub ready!" she chirped, disappearing into the sprawling bathroom.
Trevor checked his phone: 2:00 PM A slow, confident smile touched his lips. He had plenty of ti left today.
Minutes later, Caroline reappeared, her face glowing.
"The tub is ready," she said softly as She walked toward him, her movents hesitant but determined, finally when she was face to face with him she instinctively began undressing him.
Trevor didn’t hesitate, reciprocating the gesture as they began to undress one another in the quiet luxury of the room.
"You were amazing today, Trevor," Caroline whispered as she knelt to help him step out of his joggers.
"Your intuition, the way you planned that final strike... you’ve been learning everything I taught you so quickly."
"It’s all thanks to you," Trevor replied, his voice a low and deliberate. He watched the way her ears turned pink as he helped her with her own clothes.
"Now it’s ti for to repay the favor by finishing my teaching from yesterday."
Caroline’s cheeks turned red at his words
"Don’t say that," she blurted out sheepishly, though she didn’t pull away as he moved her clothes toward the laundry bin.
"Why not? You taught well, didn’t you?"
Trevor teased with a smirk. He took her hand, and together, they stepped into the steam-filled bathroom.
Caroline imdiately moved into the steamy bathtub, the water rippling gently as she settled in.
Trevor followed suit, stepping into the massive, tub. It was really beautiful having a collection of artisanal soaps and bathing accessories lined up along the side.
As he sat, the warm water imdiately grazed his skin, lting away the soreness from the simulation.
He leaned forward and instinctively grabbed Caroline by her waist, his grip firm yet tender, and sat her down right on his lap.
Caroline let out a soft, sharp intake of breath as her skin t his, the warmth of the water amplifying the contact.
"Trevor..." she whispered, her voice barely audible.
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