Venus Standard Time: 22:22, Day 5, Month of Bodhi, Year 115

  04:22, February 24, 2295 (Earth Day Equivalent)

  Rishi's Chamber 49, Six Senses Pagoda (六感パゴダ), Siddhartha District, Fríervatn, Sand Lotus capital, Venus

  The golden glow of Venus's eternal sunset bathed Fríervatn in an auspicious light, casting long shadows across the city sprawled beneath the towering pagoda. Bridges of delicate wood and reinforced alloy arched gracefully over artificial waterways, their surfaces gleaming.

  Fuuka Natsukawa traced a slender finger along the bottle of over-extracted Indra-Sprite, her dark eyes contemplative as she gazed through the window. The short, sleek bob of her hair framed her face perfectly, accentuating her porcelain skin and the soft curve of her lips, painted a crimson that stood out against her complexion.

  The brown wooden door hissed open behind her, breaking her reverie.

  Amir's reflection appeared in the window glass before she turned. His imposing height filled the doorframe, the emerald and ivory of his traditional attire catching the ambient light. Despite the golden armlets and ornate necklaces adorning his broad chest, it was the bindi marking his forehead that drew Fuuka's attention.

  "Have you had supper?" he asked, his deep voice carrying a hint of uncharacteristic timidity.

  "Just some hand-rolled sushi and a bowl of miso soup," Fuuka replied, her gaze lingering on the contrast of his dark skin against the crisp white of his lower garment. She adjusted the silk of her floral kimono, suddenly aware of its lightness. "I didn't want to be too full for the—" she paused, letting the unspoken word hover between them like incense, "—activity."

  "A wise decision," Amir murmured, stepping fully into the room. The golden edge of his garment whispered against the tatami as he moved, a sound almost as soft as his measured breathing.

  Fuuka lifted the sapphire bottle in her hand, its contents swirling with an luminescence. "Before we begin the Ritual, we should prepare our minds and bodies."

  Amir's gaze fixed on the brilliant blue vessel. "Is that what I think it is?" he asked, recognition dawning in his eyes.

  "Over-extracted Indra-Sprite," she confirmed with a slight nod. "Different from those we'd carry on missions."

  Amir approached, movements deliberate. "I brought my own," he said, producing a similar vessel from a concealed pocket in his garment. Where Fuuka's bottle was slender and elegant, his was broader with the character 'MAN' pulsing within the cerulean liquid. "The Prophet's apothecary prepared it for me."

  "I'm surprised you could convince Thorin to approve it." she remarked.

  "The old man has bigger concerns these days." he grinned.

  Fuuka smiled, pleased. "You understand its purpose, then?"

  "The Moaning Lotus Ritual requires both our minds and bodies to be fully present, fully...receptive." he replied, his deep voice contemplative.

  "It no longer replenishes Aether," Fuuka completed for him, a knowing smile playing at the corners of her crimson lips. "It awakens other energies within us."

  She removed the ornate stopper from her bottle, releasing a faint aroma that reminded her of star anise and mountain peaches.

  She raised the vessel in a silent toast. "To sharing our Aether tonight."

  Amir mirrored her gesture, his golden armlets catching the light. "To wisdom shared between traditions," he offered.

  Fuuka tipped the bottle to her lips, allowing a measured sip of the liquid to pass between them. The familiar electric bite of Indra-Sprite scorched its way down her throat, but this time the sensation didn't stop at replenishment. Instead, it bloomed outward in waves of warmth that heightened every nerve ending, making her acutely aware of the silk brushing against her skin, the subtle scent of sandalwood emanating from Amir, the rhythm of her own heartbeat accelerating.

  Across from her, Amir's eyes widened almost imperceptibly as he took his own draft. His composed demeanor remained, but Fuuka noticed the sudden tension in his shoulders, the deeper rise and fall of his chest as the potion's effects coursed through him.

  "This brings back memories," she said, her voice slightly huskier than before. "But the ancient texts speak of its dual nature—to heal and to awaken." She set her bottle down on the low table between them.

  Amir placed his own vessel beside hers, the two bottles glowing in harmony. "A melding of minds," he said, a new warmth infusing his typically formal tone, "a pathway to knowledge inaccessible through ordinary meditation."

  Fuuka rose from her seat with fluid grace, moving toward the meditation cushions she had arranged earlier. The potion heightened her awareness of her own movements, making each step feel significant. "Shall we begin?" she asked, extending her hand toward him.

  Amir took her outstretched hand, his touch sending a cascade of warmth through her fingertips as he settled onto the cushion across from her.

  Turning around, she faced the seven-wicked candle between them and pointed at it with a finger, uttering her usual spell with unique gentleness, a wisp of aureate energy shooting out. "Sólbrenna Eldr."

  Lit, the candle's sandalwood-infused flame casting a warm glow across their faces as she moved toward Amir, her silk kimono whispering against the tatami mats.

  Amir's eyes tracked her every movement, unblinking. He reached for her, his large hands gently grasping her wrists. Their eyes locked. Fuuka's breath hitched as she felt her pulse quicken, her skin tingling with anticipation.

  She untied the obi that secured her kimono. The silk slid from her shoulders, baring the smooth canvas of her neck and the soft swell of her breasts. Amir's emerald-ivory attire provided a striking contrast to her floral kimono.

  With careful movements, Amir loosened the sash at his waist, his fingers nimble.

  The upper section of his garb fell open, revealing the smooth contours of his broad, muscular chest. Fuuka's breath caught as she drank in the sight: the proud slope of his shoulders, the subtle movement of well-defined pecs and abs as he breathed, the trail of sparse hair that led downward from his navel, the potent aphrodisiac of anticipation awakening her body.

  Amir pulled the garment off his shoulders and let it fall, exposing his powerful thighs and the taut muscles of his upper legs. Her eyes were drawn to his growing arousal, encased in black cotton briefs that left little to the imagination.

  Fuuka met his dark eyes, nodding toward his briefs. "Bhukkam," she whispered, voice a little hoarse.

  He shook his head. "Samanta? kurvīta," he quoted. "We undress together."

  Fuuka bit her lip, suppressing a smile. "Samanta? kurvīta, yes." She placed her palms on his knees, the warmth of his skin seeping into her. Slowly, with intention, she guided his hands to the strings of her silk chemise. "Together."

  Amir's fingers found the straps and tugged gently, bared the smooth rise of her hips and the subtle contour of her waist. His fingers trembled slightly as he brushed them along the waistband of her sheer, lace underwear. "This one always sticks a little."

  "Have a little faith." Teasing, she lifted her hips to allow him to slide the fabric down and off.

  Flush creeping up his neck, he then held her underwear to his face, inhaling deeply.

  She couldn't suppress a chuckle. "You always do that," she teased, gesturing at the fabric in his hands.

  He placed the fabric aside with exaggerated care, still inhaling her scent. "Jeevayushya?," he murmured, his deep voice strained. "Long life. Long health."

  She nodded, recognizing the appropriate blessing, his voice rough andedged with desire. "Dhana?jaya." 'Victorious warrior'. Her hands reached for his briefs.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Both of them now naked, Fuuka sat back, cross-legged, and guided Amir's hands to rest on her thighs. His palms brushed against the sensitive skin, sending shivers down her spine. She inhaled sharply as his thumbs grazed the junction between her legs.

  Leaning forward, Amir pressed a soft kiss to the inside of one thigh, his breath hot against her skin. Fuuka closed her eyes, her hands tangling in his hair. His kisses trailed along her thighs, each touch sending sparks of pleasure through her.

  Amir's hands gently parted her folds, his thumbs circling her wetness. He murmured his approval, his fingers gently probing, stimulating her further. Fuuka bit her lip to muffle her moans, her hips bucking gently as waves of pleasure washed over her.

  "Beautiful," Amir whispered, his breath hot against her skin.

  "Closer," she urged him, and he complied, his tongue teasing her sensitive bud. She moaned, her body arching gently as his tongue flickered and danced on her womanhood.

  As her breathing slowed, Amir withdrew before he slid his hands around her waist, pulling her gently toward him as he laid on his back. Their lips met in a passionate kiss, their tongues tangling together as they tasted each other.

  Fuuka broke the kiss. With a playful smile, she rose then straddled him, feeling his erected schlong against her core.

  Slowly, she took him inside her. They both groaned, their eyes locking as they began to move in perfect unison.

  Leaning back, Fuuka set a slow, deliberate pace, her body rising and falling in a sensual rhythm as she grinded.

  Amir's hands slid up her body, cupping her breasts as their movements quickened. His thumbs brushed her nipples, her head falling back as the pleasure built.

  Their pace quickened further, their movements becoming more urgent. Amir's hands slid down her body, caressing her hips as they moved together. Minutes passed as Fuuka's breasts bounced with each thrust, her hair falling forward to frame her face.

  As their pace intensified, Fuuka sensed a change in Amir's breathing, a telltale hitch that signaled his impending release. She slowed her movements, leaning forward to press her forehead against his, their breaths mingling.

  "Manas ?ama?," she whispered, her voice a soothing balm. "Calm your mind."

  Amir's eyes fluttered closed as he fought to regain control, his hands gripping her hips almost desperately. "I need to endure…but the temptation…"

  Fuuka's thumbs brushed his cheekbones.

  "Breathe with me," she instructed, her own chest rising and falling in a slow, deliberate rhythm.

  But Amir struggled to match Fuuka's breathing, his body still tense with the effort of holding back his climax. Fuuka, too, felt the rising tide of her own pleasure threatening to overwhelm her, his length filling her depths. The sensations were exquisite, but she knew they needed to focus on the emotional and spiritual connection, not surrendering to the release. Not before the enlightment came.

  She cupped Amir's face, her eyes locking with his. "Stay with me," she whispered, her voice breathy, her body wet with sweat. "Think of wisdom yet unshared. Remember our bond…"

  "Goes deeper than flesh," Amir finished before his jaw clenched with concentration.

  Fuuka nodded before closing her eyes, reaching out with her mind, seeking the edges of Amir's consciousness. But all she could feel were remnants of his thoughts, scattered and chaotic as subtle aches built up in her temple.

  "Hmph…" she bit back a moan, pain or pleasure, she did not know.

  "You feel it, too…" his voice came.

  "I do," she managed between breaths as the migraines intensified. "Resistance between us. We must…"

  "Open up." he finished for her before continuing between pants. "I'm here with you, priye."

  Fuuka felt her own climax building again, the pleasure coiling tighter and tighter within her. She gasped, her hips faltering in their rhythm.

  "Stay with me…priye," The sacred Devavā?ī word. 'Beloved'. she repeated it like a mantra.

  Amir's hands tightened on her waist, steadying her. "I feel it too," he rasped, his voice strained. "We endure, priye. Just a little longer."

  Fuuka nodded, biting her lip as she fought to regain control. Straightening her back and lifting her head, she focused on the flow of Aether between them, on the images and emotions yet to be shared. Gradually, the urgency of her impending climax receded, replaced by a sense of deeper connection.

  Gradually, as their joined bodies continued to move together, their moans and breaths in sync, she felt him begin to open up. Their hands found each other, holding firmly, all fingers intertwined.

  Tendrils of luminous blue energy, their shared Aether, began to flow between them, pulsing in time with their heartbeats. The sight was mesmerizing as Fuuka opened her eyes to marvel at the blue wisps of energies binding them both, shimmering and dancing.

  A minute later, the Mind Melding came as she felt a sensation taking over. Breathing in the scent of Amir's sweat, Fuuka's eyes rolled back into her head.

  Tendrils of his memories and emotions brushed against her own, hesitant at first, then growing bolder. She saw flashes of his past—a sun-drenched courtyard where he trained with his warstaff, the cool touch of a river stone he held during meditation, the fierce joy of mastering a new combat stance.

  In return, Fuuka shared her own experiences—the whisper of wind through bamboo as she practiced her calligraphy, the precise stroke of a brush laden with ink, the warmth of golden healing energy coursing through her palms as she mended a wounded panda found in a forest near her childhood home.

  And though the temptation to surrender to their climax still lingered, Fuuka knew they need only endure just a bit longer.

  Their bodies found a new rhythm, slow, undulating pleasure built without urgency. She felt the stirrings of a new understanding, a psionic secret unlocking within her.

  Amir's eyes rolled back as well, the whites visible as the Mind Melding intensified. "I saw it," he breathed, his voice filled with awe. "The other spell you use to mend...heals not just the flesh, but the spirit. That panda cub you found near the stream..."

  "She survived," Fuuka affirmed, her own consciousness still partially entangled with his. "I nursed her for weeks, using that spell each day until her strength returned. When I finally took her back to the bamboo forest, her mother was waiting, as if she'd known all along her cub would return."

  Gradually, Amir's eyes regained their focus, the dark irises returning as he gazed at her with wonder.. "The connection between all living things...I never understood it fully."

  Fuuka's own vision cleared as the Mind Melding subsided, her awareness slowly returning to the physical world. She leaned forward, eys back in position, her breaths steadying with each passing moment.

  "And I..." she whispered, brushing a lock of hair from his forehead with tender fingers, her gaze fixing on his bindi. "I felt the strength of your Vajra stance. That unshakable foundation. The way you channeled that stability during the Java Sea Campaign."

  "I was lucky to have survived." he remarked with a bittersweet smile.

  The Mind Melding receded as they continued to move together, their pleasure building once more, this time without urgency, her breasts rubbing gently against his chest. As they neared the peak, Fuuka pressed her lips to Amir's ear.

  "Now," she whispered, giving him permission, "Sāmarasya."

  She felt a burst in her canal, a tide on her tender inner wall as Amir's release filled her, a pulsing warmth that triggered her own climax. They clung to each other, bodies trembling, as the waves of ecstasy washed over them.

  With a final, deep thrust, they cried out simultaneously, their bodies shuddering with the force of their release. Amir held her close, his arms wrapped around her waist as they rode out the waves of pleasure.

  In the afterglow, Fuuka rested her head on Amir's chest, listening to the steady thrum of his heartbeat as his manhood withdrew from her depths. "The Moaning Lotus never fails to amaze me," she murmured, her fingers tracing idle patterns on his skin.

  Amir pressed a kiss to her hair, his arms tightening around her. "A blessing," he agreed, his voice soft with reverence, "to share so much with a kindred spirit."

  They lay entwined, the sandalwood-scented candle flickering beside them.

  As their breathing slowed, Fuuka raised her head. Her fingers trailed gently along his strong features, her touch feather-light. "Communion," she whispered, "of body, mind, and spirit."

  Their peaceful moment was interrupted by three sharp knocks on the chamber door. "Rishi Fuuka! If I may interrupt?" A female voice came, addressing her by title.

  Fuuka lifted her head, exchanging a questioning glance with Amir. No one would dare disturb a Rishi's Chamber during such a sacred ritual unless the matter was urgent.

  "One moment," she called, her voice composed despite their state of undress. Ignoring the dampness between her legs, she slipped from Amir's embrace and reached for her underwear and kimono, the ballistic silk cool against her flushed skin as she put them on.

  Amir rose as well, gathering his emerald and ivory garments. "Quite bold, isn't she?" he murmured, fastening his attire with swift, practiced movements.

  Once they were both presentable, Fuuka moved to the door and opened it a fraction. Outside stood a Krypt—one of the Sand Lotus's skilled infiltrators—her lower face obscured by a white hood.

  "Forgive the intrusion, Rishi Fuuka," the Krypt said, bowing deeply. "But I bring urgent news from Osram."

  Fuuka opened the door wider, allowing the messenger to step inside. The Krypt's gaze briefly took in the meditation cushions, the glowing bottles of Indra-Sprite, the lingering scent of sandalwood and intimacy in the air. If she drew any conclusions, her expression revealed nothing.

  "Speak your mind," Amir said, his earlier warmth replaced by the authoritative tone of a Master.

  "Major conflict has erupted on the Near Side of Osram," the woman's voice was low and urgent. "Alliance and Imperium forces have engaged in open battle near the Celestial Reach border. Our intelligence suggests they're fighting over —"

  Fuuka felt a chill despite the room's warmth. "The Moondust Crystal," she whispered, exchanging a meaningful look with Amir.

  "There's also news of the Directorate. The Kimaris Warband has claimed the shard on the Far Side." the Krypt continued, "Rishi Thorin requests your immediate presence at the War Council chamber."

  "Not bad." Amir commented from the side.

  The glow of their ritual communion faded as reality settled. Fuuka nodded, her mind already shifting.

  "Tell him we'll be there shortly," she said, her voice firm with resolve.

  Without another word, the Krypt bowed and departed, Fuuka turned to Amir.

  "Seems our shared knowledge will be tested sooner than expected," Amir said quietly, adjusting his armlets.

  Fuuka nodded, her fingers checking that her Spirit Lantern was securely stashed in her long sleeve. "Then we'd better not keep Thorin waiting."

  Together, they extinguished the seven-wicked candle before gathering the now-dimmed bottles of over-extracted Indra-Sprite, prepared to face whatever awaited beyond the chamber.

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