The festival was still in full swing. Music thumped from hollowed logs, fire torches flickered, and the air was thick with some kind of sweet, smoky scent that made Allen feel floaty. Maybe it was the drink, or maybe it was the fact that every few steps someone was moaning under a tree.
"HAAAH~! NGGH~! I-I'M CUMMING~! AHN~!"
Allen paused mid-step, blinking. "Okay, that one was definitely not part of the band."
Fina skipped up beside him, her tail swaying with a contented flick. "You get used to it."
"I don't think I want to get used to it," he muttered. But he couldn't help glancing toward the source of the intense sound.
That's when he saw them.
A man and a woman. The guy had a lean, tall frame, his toned chest on display and a laid-back grin that screamed "I've never had a bad day in my life." He had a small scar on his chin and a tribal sash around his waist, loosely hanging like he was born to break hearts.
But Allen didn't care about him.
He saw her.
Long dark hair. That same sharp jawline. Same sultry smile. Eyes like the ones that used to look at him—before they looked at Derek instead.
He froze.
Fina glanced at him. "You okay?"
"That girl…" he said, voice low. "She looks exactly like Crystal."
Fina tilted her head. "What's a Crystal?"
"An ex," Allen said. "And that guy?"
"Oh, that's Kael," she answered casually. "He's kinda popular. He won the harvest fight last year, so now all the girls think he's a walking godstick."
Allen's jaw tensed. "Godstick, huh...?"
Then he heard it again:
"AAHH~! YES~! K-KAEL~! M-MORE~! AAAHH~!"
His hands clenched.
She even moaned like Crystal.
Allen took a slow breath. His chest felt tight, and the smoke in the air wasn't helping.
___
[Skill Activated: Sweet Tongue]
[Effect: Charm enhanced. Target persuasion up. Weak to emotional and intimate engagement.]
___
He walked toward them.
Kael glanced up, noticing the stranger approaching with a calm swagger. "Can we help you, friend?"
Allen didn't even look at him. He locked eyes with the Crystal lookalike, and for a second, she looked just as surprised as he was.
"Sorry," Allen said, voice smooth. "I couldn't help but notice... the way you smiled. It reminded me of something beautiful I lost."
Her ears twitched.
Fina leaned in and whispered to her, "His name's Allen."
The girl gave a curious smile. "I'm Mirka."
"Mirka," Allen repeated like it was a sacred word. "Fitting. It sounds like something soft... that still leaves a mark."
Kael frowned. "She's with me."
Allen turned to him with a smirk. "With you? Sure. But for how long?"
Kael stepped forward, but Mirka gently held his arm. "It's fine."
"AAHHH~! N-NGH~! DON'T STOP~!"
"I-I CAN'T HOLD IT~! CUMMING~!"
Allen didn't flinch. Mirka was biting her lip now, clearly trying not to laugh at the constant background chorus of pleasure.
He leaned in just slightly. "Do you always moan that loud, or are you just popular around here?"
Mirka's face flushed, tail twitching.
___
Sweet Tongue Critical Hit!
[Mirka's interest in Kael: -12%]
[Mirka's interest in Allen: +35%]
___
Kael's jaw tightened. "You think this is funny?"
Allen gave him a winning smile. "No, I think it's poetic."
Then, just as casually as he came, he turned and walked away.
Mirka's eyes followed him the whole way.
Fina leaned toward her and whispered, "His cock gets bigger when he uses a skill. Just saying."
Mirka's face went red.
Allen turned back to Fina with a raised eyebrow, giving her a small shrug. "So... what's up with the whole 'cat kneading' thing? Why are you letting me...?"
Fina grinned mischievously, her tail flicking behind her. "Oh, that? It's just a special celebration in my tribe. We're kind of... cat-people. We have this tradition where the males knead the chest of the females during festivals. It's really good for bonding and—"
Allen cut her off with a smirk. "You just made that up, didn't you?"
Fina blinked, a little too quick to hide her grin. "Noooo, totally real. You've been 'kneading' my chest all night, haven't you? You're very good at it."
"Maybe, but it feels more like I'm accidentally massaging a pillow," he joked.
Fina pouted, sticking her chest out just a little. "Are you saying my chest isn't satisfying?"
Allen rolled his eyes with a chuckle. "It's fine. But if I had to rate it, I'd give it an 8 out of 10. Needs a little more... bounce."
Fina's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Well, you know, it's my tribal custom to provide maximum bounce during celebrations."
The firelight flickered around them as Allen and Fina made their way through the festival, their laughter mingling with the sounds of drunken cheers and distant moans. The air was thick with the smell of roasted meats and spices, and the smoky haze made everything feel a bit dreamlike. Fina's tail swayed contentedly behind her, and she seemed in no rush to go anywhere.
Allen, however, was preoccupied. While Fina was quite the distraction, his mind was busy calculating his next move. The girl who looked like Crystal, Mirka, was still fresh in his thoughts, but now, he also had a bit more in mind than just getting to know her.
"So, about that 'cat kneading' thing…" Allen grinned as he adjusted his grip on Fina's chest, his fingers gently kneading away. It had become a weird, almost unconscious thing now, but it didn't hurt that her soft mounds were right there, practically begging for attention.
Fina looked up at him, clearly enjoying his touch. "You know," she started, her voice playful, "you're getting really good at this."
Allen raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You think so?" He adjusted his position, giving her chest a little more attention. "Guess I'm just following tradition."
Her eyes glinted with amusement. "Right... totally traditional." But she didn't push his hands away. Instead, she leaned in a little closer, her tail flicking back and forth.
Allen let out a soft chuckle. "You're right about one thing, Fina... this does feel like a good bonding experience. But I've got other things on my mind."
Fina tilted her head, a curious expression crossing her face. "Like what?"
"Revenge," he said matter-of-factly, letting his hands roam just a little longer, massaging her chest in slow circles. He had to admit, this was a little bit fun. But it was also a means to an end. "You see, I've got a plan... I'm going to take that girl, Mirka, from that Kael guy. He's just another obstacle in my way."
Fina's eyes lit up with interest. "Ooh, sounds juicy. What's your plan?"
Allen smirked, giving her chest one final squeeze before letting go. "It's all about timing. I'll charm her, use a little Sweet Tongue, and before she knows it, she'll be in my corner. Kael won't know what hit him." He leaned back against a tree, pretending to think about it. "Plus, I've got a feeling this festival will help me set the stage. A little distraction goes a long way."
Fina's eyes glimmered with mischief as she took a step closer to him. "I like the way you think. You're not just about the... fun, are you?"
Allen chuckled, adjusting his posture as he looked her over. "Of course not. But it doesn't hurt that this is fun." He squeezed her chest once more as if to emphasize his point.
She swatted his hands away with a playful growl. "Okay, okay, but what if Mirka isn't into you? She seemed pretty cozy with Kael, you know."
Allen's expression darkened for a split second before he regained his confident smirk. "It doesn't matter. I've got my ways. And if I have to break a few hearts along the way, well... that's just part of the fun."
Fina laughed, throwing her arms around him in a hug, her tail wrapping around his waist. "You're a dangerous man, Allen."
"I know," he said with a wink. "But you like it."
Her laughter faded into a low hum of contentment as she leaned her head against his chest. "You know, I never thought a human like you would be so... devious. I like it. It's kind of... sexy."
Allen raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?" He took another moment to glance around, making sure no one was paying them too much attention. The night was still young, and he had a lot of plans left to make.
Meanwhile, Fina seemed perfectly at ease, her tail curled around him tighter than before. "Mm-hmm. But..." She pulled away slightly to look him in the eye. "What if I wanted you to stay around for a while? You know... for me?"
Allen smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Fina, my dear, I'll be around. But I've got a score to settle."