On Friday evening, Valentina stood in front of her small mirror and stared at her reflection. The dark circles under her eyes seemed to have deepened even more and her skin looked pale in the flickering light of her little lamp. With a touch of Distilled Essence, she began to refresh her face, to give herself a little more color.

  "So," Vyxara spoke up, "are you finally ready for some well-deserved distraction?"

  Valentina sighed deeply. "I can't believe I'm really doing this."

  "Oh, come on," Vyxara teased. "You need it. And who knows? You might even learn something useful from our charming street performer. He was dropping hints a while back."

  Sighing, Valentina tied her hair into a loose plait. When she left her room, her heart was pounding with excitement. She crept through the dark corridors of the university, always careful not to bump into anyone.

  The cool night air hit her like a blow as she stepped outside. The moon was high in the sky, bathing the streets of Bridgewater in silver light. In the distance, she could already hear the muffled sounds of music and laughter wafting from the Burning Quill.

  Her nervousness grew with every step. What if Hobkin rejected her? What if someone saw her?

  "Relax," whispered Vyxara. "You're not doing anything wrong. You're a young woman who wants to have some fun. That's all there is to it. And he's not going to turn you down. He's been keen to look under your underdress ever since he first laid eyes on you. You should really start learning to get an eye for that sort of thing."

  As Valentina turned the last corner, she saw him. Hobkin stood in front of the Burning Quill, surrounded by a small crowd. His hands moved gracefully through the air as he juggled, forming simple Essence patterns along the way that shimmered and sparkled in the night air for those who could see them.

  Valentina stopped at the edge of the crowd, mesmerized by his performance. Hobkin's red hair shone in the light of the lanterns and his smile was warm and inviting. For a moment, she forgot all her worries and simply let herself be carried away by the moment.

  As the performance ended and the crowd dispersed, Hobkin caught her gaze. His eyes widened slightly in surprise, then a mischievous smile flitted across his face.

  "If it isn't the talented Valentina of Palewood," he exclaimed, approaching her. "What gives me the honor of your visit?"

  Valentina felt the blush rise to her face. "I... I was thinking about your offer the other day," she stammered. "That you wanted to show me some of your tricks."

  Hobkin's eyebrows shot up and his smile widened. "Ah, I remember. And you're here to accept this offer?"

  Valentina nodded, unable to say the words.

  Hobkin stepped closer, his voice softer, more confidential. "Well, let's not waste any time then. I have a room up here. Come along."

  He led her through the bustling tavern, past laughing guests and busy waitresses. Valentina kept her head down for fear of being recognized. She felt equally excited and nervous.

  When they reached Hobkin's room, he gallantly opened the door for her. "After you, beautiful."

  Valentina entered, her heart pounding in her throat. The room was small but cozy. A large bed dominated the room, next to it was a table littered with books and battered Essence tools.

  Hobkin closed the door behind them and leaned against it. His gaze wandered slowly over Valentina, full of admiration and barely concealed lust.

  "So," he said with a wry smile, "what would you like to start with? I know some very... interesting techniques that they certainly don't teach you at university."

  Valentina swallowed hard. Here she was, on the edge of a cliff, ready to jump. Part of her was screaming to turn back, back to the safety of her familiar world. But another part, a wilder, more desperate part, urged her forward.

  "Do it," Vyxara whispered in her head. "Let go. Enjoy it."

  With trembling hands, Valentina began to undo the strings of her dress. "Show me everything," she whispered.

  Hobkin's eyes went wide. He stepped towards her, his hands finding her waist. "With pleasure," he murmured before pulling her in, kissing her passionately.

  His lips were warm and demanding, his kiss greedy and experienced. Valentina felt a wave of arousal run through her body as Hobkin began to push her dress off her shoulders. She raised her arms, allowing him to uncover her piece by piece.

  Hobkin's touch was gentle yet demanding, his lips exploring every inch of her skin. She lost herself in the heat rising between them. Unlike with Professor Horne, this didn't feel like a transaction. It was pure lust, pure pleasure.

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  "You're beautiful," he whispered hoarsely as her dress fell to the floor and Valentina stood naked before him. His eyes burned into her skin, making her blush under his gaze.

  He gently pulled her to the bed and pressed her softly onto the mattress. Then he knelt between her thighs and placed his hands on her stomach.

  "Relax," he murmured, his breath warm on her skin. "Let me show you something wonderful..."

  Valentina closed her eyes, her heart racing in her chest. She had never... done this. She had never felt so vulnerable, so exposed.

  Hobkin kissed her thighs, gently and tenderly. Then he let his tongue glide over her most sensitive spot and Valentina gasped. His lips and tongue danced caressingly around her bud until she squirmed and moaned beneath him.

  "Oh Martyr..." she whispered, her fingers digging into his hair. "Hobkin..."

  He responded with a soft laugh that vibrated through her lower body. Then he increased the pressure, sucked on her, licked and tasted until Valentina thought she was going to die of desire.

  And then she came, violently and suddenly, moaning out loud.

  Hobkin gave her one last kiss on her throbbing flower before straightening up. His eyes glittered triumphantly as he reached for his pants.

  "Still not finished," he muttered, his manhood jutting out. It was long and slender, with a slight upward crook.

  Valentina looked at him, her eyes wide with wonder and desire. Hobkin grinned and crawled onto the bed, lying down behind her.

  "On your hands and knees, my darling," he whispered in her ear. She did as he asked, hesitantly at first, but as Hobkin stroked her hips and bottom with his hands, she lost all doubt. She was ready to give him whatever he wanted.

  He pushed himself behind her, his length grazing her entrance. Valentina gasped as she felt the heat, the hard flesh against her sensitive skin.

  And then he penetrated her, slowly, until he was completely inside her.

  "Oh Martyr..." Valentina moaned, burying her face in the pillow.

  Hobkin laughed softly and began to move, pulling back and thrusting forward again. Each thrust hit a spot deep inside her that made her see stars.

  She had never experienced something like it before, not like this. With Crispin it had been nice, tender, but also… well, different.

  But with Hobkin, she felt alive, like she was on fire. Every touch of his hands, every thrust inside her made her want more, ever more.

  She came a second time, even faster this time, the wave of ecstasy swept her away and she screamed with pleasure into his pillow.

  Hobkin was moving faster now, harder. His fingers dug into her hips, his breathing was intermittent. Valentina could feel him pulsing inside her, his movements becoming more uncontrolled.

  And then he suddenly withdrew, grabbed his penis and came on her bottom, twitching and moaning.

  Valentina sank exhausted onto the bed and Hobkin dropped down next to her. Then they lay next to each other, breathing heavily and covered in sweat. Valentina felt light, almost weightless. A smile played around her lips, the first real one in weeks.

  "By all the flames of the Martyr," Hobkin murmured beside her, "that was... intense."

  Valentina laughed. "Yes, it was."

  She turned on her side to look at him. In the weak light of the Essence lamp, his red hair looked like liquid fire. "Thank you," she said softly. "I think I needed that."

  Hobkin grinned mischievously. "Anytime, sweetheart."

  Valentina playfully punched him in the shoulder. "Hey! This is a one-time thing."

  "Too bad," Hobkin replied with a theatrical sigh. Then his gaze became more serious. "But seriously, Valentina. You look like you're carrying the world on your shoulders. What's wrong?"

  Valentina hesitated. She couldn't tell him everything, but perhaps part of the truth. "It's the Greystone Competition," she began. "The tie-break against Faustus. My whole future depends on it."

  Hobkin nodded in understanding. "Ah yes, the infamous Faustus Boarfend. A real asshole, if you ask me."

  "How well do you know him?" asked Valentina. "You were talking about him a while ago."

  "Not personally," Hobkin replied. "But you hear a few things if you know the right people. He's banned from two brothels in the city." He hesitated briefly, then added: "You know, the thing I wanted to tell you the other day, I heard something very interesting about him."

  Valentina sat up, suddenly wide awake. "What?"

  Hobkin straightened up as well, his voice softer, conspiratorial. "So, let's keep this between us, shall we? I have contacts in the... well, let's say, darker areas of Bridgewater."

  Valentina nodded eagerly. "Of course. I won't say a word."

  "Good," Hobkin said. "So, a few weeks ago, Faustus supposedly bought a large quantity of Distilled Essence. But not the normal kind. It was corrupted stuff, demonically influenced."

  Valentina's eyes widened. "What? But that's..."

  "Highly illegal, yes," Hobkin finished the sentence. "And dangerous, too. This stuff can blow up in your face if you don't know what you're doing, or worse."

  Valentina leaned back, her head buzzing. He was probably using this corrupt Essence to use the Eye of Deceit.

  "Where did he get the stuff?" she asked.

  Hobkin shrugged his shoulders. "There's a black market here in Bridgewater. For all sorts of things related to Essence Weaving, including forbidden stuff. Most students don't know about it, but Essence Weavers tend to be rich and well-connected and... well, let's just say there's nothing you can't buy here if you pay the right price."

  Valentina nodded slowly, her mind working at full speed. This could be it – the weak spot she had been looking for.

  "Hey," Hobkin's soft voice snapped her out of her thoughts. "I see the cogs working in that pretty head of yours. Whatever you're up to, be careful, yeah? These people are dangerous."

  Valentina forced herself to smile. "Of course. I'll be careful."

  She leaned forward and kissed him gently. "Thank you, Hobkin. For everything."

  He returned the kiss, then pulled her back onto the mattress. "Enough talk," he murmured against her lips. "How about a repeat performance?"

  Valentina laughed and surrendered to his touch again. But part of her mind was already making plans. She had finally found a way to beat Faustus. And she would not let this chance go to waste.

  When she returned to her own bed much later that night, she felt as if she had been reborn. The exhaustion of the last few weeks had given way to a new energy, a burning determination.

  "Well, little Weaver," Vyxara spoke up, for the first time in hours. "That was an interesting night, wasn't it?"

  Valentina smiled into the darkness. "Oh yes," she murmured, "and it's going to get even more interesting. We have work to do, Vyxara."

  She could feel the demon purring contentedly in her head. "I can't wait."