Lower, her hips bucked against his thigh. He could feel the heat radiating from between her legs. She was still wet from the bath.

"Astrid."

His voice was urgent.

"I will explain everything. Just stay quiet. Stay STILL."

She couldn't respond. Couldn't move. All she could do was glare at him with murder in her eyes.

Five minutes passed.

Five agonizing, uncomfortable minutes.

Finally, Jax heard footsteps outside the door.

Then receding.

Then silence.

He released his grip and scrambled off her.

"Listen, Astrid. This is NOT what you think."

She grabbed her robe with trembling hands. Wrapped it around herself.

Then slapped him.

SMACK.

It was the softest slap in recorded history. Like being hit by a gentle breeze.

Jax didn't even blink.

"Easy there. You'll hurt yourself with that technique."

"How—how DARE you—"

Her face was crimson. Her words wouldn't form properly.

"How dare you see....I can't... you SAW—"

"Its all a coincidence," Jax said firmly. "Remember the old lady I mentioned? The one who keeps chasing me? She was right outside. I panicked. Ran in here. And... well... you know the rest."

He held up his hands.

"But don't think too much about it. I'm not into younger women anyway."

Her blush intensified but now with anger mixed in.

"Don't MOCK me! We're the same age!"

"But you—"

Jax stopped mid-sentence.

She was right.

His entire life or at least his life since transmigrating he had chased milfs. Gilfs. Mature women with experience and curves.

It was his fantasy. His obsession. His specialty.

Girls like Astrid? Aeliana? Seris? Seraphina?

He had completely ignored their beauty.

His eyes drifted downward involuntarily.

Even when that beauty was objectively... perfectly ripped.

'What have I become?'

He searched his soul.

'A milf hunter. A certified, registered, card-carrying milf hunter.'

He sighed.

'Is that... bad? Or is that based?'

'...Probably based.'

He shook his head and turned toward the door.

"Think what you want. Curse me all you like. Hell, report this to the academy if it makes you feel better."

He paused.

"But know this; I see you all as my students. Nothing more. Whatever perverted reputation you have for me... But even accepting them I have my own morals."

His hand reached for the doorknob.

"That crazy woman should be gone by now. If you have anything else to say, bring it up at breakfast. Think about it more until then"

He left.

Astrid stood frozen.

'I'm... not a woman in his eyes?'

The thought stung more than it should have.

'He didn't do anything bad. Even when I was completely naked. Completely vulnerable. He didn't even touch—'

She caught herself.

'What the HELL, Astrid?! Wasn't it GOOD that he didn't touch you?! Why are you feeling DISAPPOINTED?!'

She grabbed her head with both hands.

'This professor is going to drive me insane.'

Four hours later.

The courtyard of the royal palace was transformed into a staging ground.

Jax stood at the front, his three students arranged beside him. Victor had recovered enough to join. Aeliana was notably absent she would not be participating in the mission.

Before them stood an army.

Over five hundred soldiers. Elite elven warriors. Armed and ready for battle.

The King had ordered them to assist in completing the mission. Partly for his daughter's grades. Mostly to get Jax out of the palace as quickly as possible.

Jax surveyed his forces.

'This is it. This is the moment I've been waiting for.'

He climbed onto a supply carriage. Rose above the crowd.

'Time to feel like a KING.'

He spread his arms wide.

"MY SOLDIERS!"

His voice echoed across the courtyard.

"TODAY, WE MARCH! TODAY, WE FIGHT! TODAY—"

He paused dramatically.

"—WE AVENGE THE FALLEN!"

Confused murmurs rippled through the ranks.

"They killed OUR people! Spilled OUR blood! And we will NOT let that stand! We will hunt them down! We will find their leaders! And we will make them PAY!"

He thrust his fist into the air.

"FOR GLORY! FOR HONOR! FOR—"

He tried to remember the kingdom's name.

"—FOR FAELORIA!"

Silence.

Complete, absolute silence.

Five hundred elven soldiers stared at him.

Then at each other.

Then back at him.

Their expressions said everything.

'Who is this human?'

'Why is he giving US a speech?'

'Did he just say OUR people? OUR blood? He's not even an elf.'

Behind Jax, his students wanted to disappear.

Astrid covered her face with both hands.

Victor pretended to study the clouds.

Seraphina developed a sudden interest in her shoes.

The silence stretched.

And stretched.

And—

"SOLDIERS OF FAELORIA!"

A powerful voice cut through the awkwardness.

All heads turned.

A woman strode forward from the ranks. Tall. Muscular. Carrying a spear that looked like it had tasted blood many times.

She was beautiful in the way a sword was beautiful. Sharp. Deadly. Commanding.

She climbed onto the carriage beside Jax then subtly pushed him aside.

"For the PEOPLE of Faeloria! For the INNOCENTS who have disappeared! For every family still waiting for loved ones who will NEVER return!"

Her voice rang with genuine emotion.

"We march not for glory! We march for JUSTICE! We march to ensure that NO village suffers this terror again!"

The soldiers straightened.

"The enemy hides in shadows! They think themselves safe! They think us WEAK!"

She raised her spear.

"TODAY... WE PROVE THEM WRONG! TODAY... WE SHOW THEM THE FURY OF FAELORIA! FORWARD, SOLDIERS! FOR FAELORIA!"

"FOR FAELORIA!"

Five hundred voices roared as one.

The ground shook. The air trembled. The army began its march.

The commander turned to Jax. Her expression cold. Professional.

"Get inside the carriage."

Jax climbed down, properly humbled.

"I suppose you're the commander?"

"Yes."

One word. No elaboration. Pure ice.

Jax looked at her properly for the first time.

The muscular frame. The warrior's stance. The no-nonsense attitude.

A new fantasy began forming in his mind.

'A viking-type woman. Powerful. Dominant. The kind who could break a man in half during—'

His imagination ran wild.

Then his mouth opened.

"Have you taken a bath today?"

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