Chapter 221: Chapter 198 : Devious Licks

Thursday…

Violet strolled through the diner-style restaurant with giddy steps. Among the surrounding eat-outs, it wasn’t a popular destination. Though, with her continued visits, that would surely change.

Still, as of now, it was empty save for the staff present, making it a perfect place to field Team Blessed Bloodlines training discussions. She zigzagged and made her way to the corner of the restaurant, where their usual booth lay.

Seating herself on the maroon-coloured cushions, she aimed her purple sights at the entranceway and eagerly awaited the moment her partner passed through it, excitement and anticipation burning in her eyes.

The last few days of training with Ralf had been incredibly fun for the princess. The itch to experience new and fun activities in her had been thoroughly scratched by the Transmigrator, who presented novel idea after novel idea. Some were more fun than others, for sure; still, all left her bubbling by the end.

Looking forward to what he'd come up with next, she waited and waited, the passing seconds agonising for her young heart. Before long, she was restless and vibrating in place. She tried to quell her thoughts but instead inadvertently recalled their previous interaction, which only furthered her agitation.

Today is the day, Ralf declared.

The day? Violet asked.

Yes, today is the day…the day of devious licks, he said with a smirk.

Licks, who’s licking who….or what? Violet’s cheeks reddened as the term flew over her head.

Ralf smiled but didn’t correct her. You’ll find out soon enough, princess. Everyone will. Anyway, head to the usual spot, I’ll go and grab the necessary items.

The pair parted at these words.

And now, five minutes later, as Violet was nearing her limit, Ralf reappeared before her. The princess beamed at his return, her curiosity exploding as she captured the addition to his person, a large brown bag slung over his shoulder.

Ralf made his approach silently, wearing a jolly smile and then took his seat opposite her. As he did, he erected a soundproof barrier around the booth.

“Finish this quote princess. With great power comes…”

“Great responsibility,” Violet said, to which Ralf could only shake his head.

He didn’t immediately correct her but chose to take a sip of his milkshake, as though cleansing himself from the foolishness heard.

“Wrong, Violet. With great power comes…great opportunity to do evil. And today, we will demonstrate this unfortunate truth," Ralf's hand reached into his coat and grabbed, "How...I hear you ask, my answer: this," he said, placing a fresh deck of cards on the table.

Violet's eyes flickered, first in confusion and then in understanding. “You…want to abuse our secret comms to hoodwink people?" she said, connecting the dots.

Ralf flashed a devilish smile. “You catch on quick, princess. Truly, the perfect partner. Yes, we’ll do just that until this bag of ours is filled with loot. So, what do you say, Violet, want to be my partner in crime?”

“Would love to.”

She responded at once, a great smile blooming on her face. Eager, her palms moved to push herself up, but Ralf’s next words halted and then reversed her trajectory.

“Hold your horses, princess. Stick to the basics. You can’t fight a battle - even a slaughter - with an empty stomach. Let’s order up first.”

The suggestion was taken to and the pair stuffed their faces with fast food. Five minutes later, the so-called devious lick began. Moving like predators, they came upon their first victims, another pair like them, Ethan and Renzo.

"Huh, a challenge? Explain," Renzo said with crossed arms, curious about the pair's sudden approach.

Ralf smiled and did just that. "The conditions are simple. A two-on-two card game with items on the line. The card game will be norin-based, so no Psi is allowed. Violet and I know seven types of card games. Partner."

Violet took her cue and had her lightning pen a seven-point list in the air, listing each card game.

"As the challenged party, you can choose whichever one you're best at. To reduce the effect of luck, we'll be doing a best-of-five. As for the items, they can be anything on your person."

"Indeed," the princess followed up naturally. "Valuables aren't what we're after. Articles of clothing or trinkets will suffice. I will be putting my silver link necklace on the line while Ralf here will wager his earrings and two chocolate balls."

Renzo and Ethan's eyes widened as they captured the candies Ralf brought out. The rumours about their apparent magical properties had made the rounds around the Academy. The pair gulped at the temptations before them. No one could resist a level-up.

"But...why? Why do this?" Ethan couldn't help but ask. "Just for fun?"

Ralf shook his head. "Fun is always part of the equation, for sure, but the main reason we propose this challenge..."

"...is to demonstrate our dominance as a pair."

"The won items will be mere cherries on our cake of victory."

"Now, what do you say?"

After quick back and forths, Ralf and Violet mirrored both their voices and their postures to deliver their final lines.

"Do you dare stand against Team Blessed Bloodlines?"

Ethan and Renzo were left speechless for a good few seconds, before answering in the only way they could. Three minutes later, both would be slightly lighter than before.

Getting a taste of her first lick, Violet experienced a rush-like high. She was eager for more, and a similarly stoked Ralf provided her with just that. They prowled with purpose, going from place to place, filling the bag with more and more worthless items.

The card games weren’t set up to be sure-fire victories but with their secret communications, sharp intellect and the best-of-five condition, they pretty much became that.

Not losing a single time, the pair racked up items speedily and filled the bag in no time. Still, Violet wasn’t satisfied. So, the pair bought several more bags and continued their hijinx.

It wasn’t just students from their class that were targeted. The Blessed Bloodline pair was indiscriminate in their aims. Second-year students, third-year students, and even staff and teachers found themselves in the pair's scope.

Cole Brown, who had been wanting to meet with Ralf had finally gotten to, at the cost of losing his favourite tea cup and left shoe. A similar fate befell Nazo and their other teachers.

Three hours and many villainous cackles later, the pair ceased terrorizing the Academy, fully satisfied. Wearing devious smiles, they moved to store their acquired loot, a whole ten bag’s worth.

***

10 pm...

It was her turn, finally.

Approaching the southern bench, Yuki couldn't help but vibrate, apprehension and excitement ravishing her maiden heart, the former emotion way more than the latter. She was naturally nervous. The ice Mimic had no experience in pursuing others at all.

She knew her strengths and weaknesses well, and her social skills were definitely not anything to write home about. Reminded of this fact, the dam of negative thoughts in her mind ruptured and came spilling into awareness. Her pace slowed. Yes, just slowed. Jittery as she was, Yuki was determined to see this experience through to the end. She powered through the nightly chill and negative thoughts alike.

'It'll work out, don't worry,' she repeated to herself with every step, inhaling moxie and exhaling apprehension.

Finally, she arrived at her destination.

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Ray was present, hair dyed with vanta Psi to keep his mental signal hidden from others. Eyes shut, the Transmigrator kept sipping his milkshake at her arrival. He had no intention of speaking first - no, that honour/responsibility lay with her as per the Law of Introverts, which stated that the less introverted of the two would be responsible for starting a conversation.

Adhering to this common-sense law, Ray waited silently, somewhat amused by Yuki's squirming. While not the loudest or most talkative of the bunch, she had a very forceful nature about her, so seeing this side was refreshing in a way.

“Um, Ray…” After a few seconds of psyching herself up, Yuki's trembling lip dared to part.

With hands clenched at her thighs, she slowly turned to the Transmigrator. After a pause at his name, her next words came rushing out.

“Ray…Ray of the bench, what is your wisdom?”

The words sent Ray into another spew. After coughing out the last of it, he slowly collected himself. Wiping off his mouth with his sleeve, one would think his milkshake was lemon-flavoured from the expression he wore currently.

Yuki watched on half confused, half amused. When asking Ralf for advice, she had been given these words to say. Looking at the results, she now understood Ralf's mischievous smile back then.

“My wisdom,” the Transmigrator started, “is that Ralf is a cheeky bastard,” he said with narrowed eyes and a scrunched-up face.

Thoughts of revenge were already swimming through his head. He would get Ralf back for this, definitely.

"Aha, I can’t disagree with that,” she nodded, showing a relieved smile. “I’ve definitely come to the right person then, you’re as wise as been advertised. I’m eager to hear more, Ray...if that's okay?"

"Fine...I've got the time," the Transmigrator replied in a soft voice, a tad bashful as he finished the words.

Yuki's eyes flickered as she put two and two together. Lips quirking up, she continued the pattern. "Swell. I'm glad I came. Now, if it's all the same, let's game."

"Sure...but no more rhyming, please. I'm dying over here."

"Hear you loud and clear, sir," Yuki said with a chuckle, causing Ray to groan and keel over.

"...Let's just game."

"Sure."

Breaking the ice with this exchange, only smooth sailing lay ahead for the pair. They clicked and conversation flowed naturally. This was to be expected though. Their upbringing and personality weren’t too different from each other. And their previous knowledge about each other and Ralf’s existence helped the process along.

After a few minutes of exchanging pearls of wisdom while rhyming, the pair moved on to other topics.

They discussed how Yuki and Skye had been called upon to help out at an Event for the third-year students earlier today, involving battling under extreme environmental conditions; they discussed their History test results, which Ray aced while Yuki failed due to not studying; they discussed childhood memories (which ended up greatly confusing Yuki); they discussed their favourite anime and games...

Time flew by as the pair moved from topic to topic. Thirty minutes had been the unofficial cut-off point for the meetings so far, but even at forty minutes, the pair kept going. Yuki hadn’t had enough, and neither had Ray. They continued for another thirty minutes before the ice Mimic reached the end of her rope.

“Aah, I’m beat,” Yuki admitted after a yawn. She put away the Psi Controller and stood up with a stretch. “Going to call it here, Ray. It was nice finally talking to you, really. Let's do this again sometime soon, yeah?"

“Sure,” Ray replied, truly eager for their next meeting. Yuki saw this and had her lips tug up as well. “Have a good sleep, Yuki.”

“Snowball.”

“Hm?”

“You can call me that nickname as well. I give you permission.”

“...I see, then I shall, on occasions.”

Yuki nodded in approval. Ray expected her to turn to leave, but the ice Mimic wasn’t quite done. Taking a few steps, she moved to Ray’s front before spreading her arms.

Ray’s brow raised at the pose.

“What? You just said you wanted me to have a good sleep, right? A hug will ensure just that. Or are you a liar like Ralf?”

The Transmigrator stared blankly at her for a good few seconds before taking a stand. He moved slowly but surely until he was totally upright, just half a metre before her.

Ray didn’t rush into her anything. His fingers wiggled as though escaping paralysis and then his arms followed suit as they began raising up. The process was slow - too slow for Yuki’s liking.

Not content to wait, she threw herself into his embrace before enveloping him in her softness.

'-Ah...'

Hugged, Ray traded one type of paralysis for another. But this was only momentary. Unfrozen by her warmth, Ray lost all inhibition and his arms quickly wrapped around her.

‘Argh!’

Yuki winced at the hug’s might; Ray had put too much strength into it. Still, she didn’t move to correct him or complain. She welcomed the pain gladly, knowing what it signified. She had been accepted by him; the fact flooded her being with bliss, overpowering all discomfort.

“Oh, sorry,” Ray apologised, catching onto his mishap a few seconds in. He moved to unhook himself but Yuki wasn’t having it. The ice Mimic clutched on tightly.

“Just a bit more, okay?”

Ray smiled a wry smile before replying with his body. He hugged her, this time, taking care not to hurt her.

The pair lingered in a warm silence for minutes on end before a tap from Yuki signalled the embrace's end.

“This should be enough to see me through the night, thanks Ray,” Yuki said, stepping back and revealing a rosy expression.

“Glad to help,” the Transmigrator returned, his face no less crimson.

“Good to hear. I’ll be counting on you for similar help in the future.”

“Do so."

Yuki smiled sweetly at the swift words before turning around. “See ya around Ray, hope you sleep well too.”

“Thanks, will try. Good night…Snowball.”

Yuki’s stride faltered before picking up a second later, her steps twice as giddy.

Ray watched her go with a smile on his face. Though, once she was out of sight, said smile couldn’t help but fade. Alone, he looked towards the full moon - or rather, the reflection of it in the rippling lake. His eyes dimmed at the sight. After a long staredown, he eventually shook his head.

'Pointless, pointless, and pointless. Just have fun. Overthinking things is pointless. Just have fun Ray...the future is uncertain, after all.'

Nodding at this reminder, Ray's feet soon carried him away in search of said fun.

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