Transferring his energy had become like second nature to the Master Mage.  As easy and natural as breathing.  Eilis must also have found it normal because there was no kick back, no resistance.  Normally, two mages would have to train together for quite some time to achieve the level of fusion that the two magic users enjoyed.  His own essence flowed in the Aether easily.  In a sense, flooding the lovely lady.
 
He meant to protect her.  To comfort her, but some part of his dormant mind was selfish enough to enjoy the closeness of their bodies and the warmth of hers against him.  Her almost musical voice, even in the form of a chortle, made him twitch his lips into a smirk.  Their connection allowed him to feel and see the flare.  His strategic mind screamed a warning.  In this darkness, such flashes would be seen for miles.  A veritable dinner bell.  At the least, it might attract unwanted attention from patrolling Viemesse. 

When his protégé turned to him, the eyes behind his cowl immediately traced her pretty face.  Perhaps it was the Aether flowing between them but she seemed to glow.  Her blonde hair and bright eyes even more luminous than normal.  So lost was he in the simple pleasures of having her so close that his mind failed to recognize the diminished distance between them until she was bare inches from his face.  For a fraction of a second he stiffened.  His mind raced and he might have even pulled back but fate would not have it. 

As if driven by gravity, he suddenly rushed forward too.  Drawn to her lips as two magnets.  Despite this strong forces that threatened to make them crash with world shattering force, their union was not violent.  This did not mean it was any less potent.  The softness of her lips was staggering.  There was an explosion of light in his mind.  It could have been Aether infused, or it could have been the magnitude of  his first true kiss.  At least a kiss that he also wanted desperately to share. 

Light was accompanied by sound.  Something in his ears thumped a loud and proud sound and he only vaguely registered that it was his heart.  Even as he closed his eyes, the pin points of the starts could still be seen.  As if the night sky was painted inside his own soul and Eilis was the sun.  The moment seemed to last into eternity.  At the same time, it was over all too soon. 

Arn’s eyes flew open as he felt the pressure release.  Their lips parted.  The soft wetness of Eilis’s lips leaving a void that tore at his heart.  The radiant smile she offered him assuaged any concern that he may have harbored that their first kiss had been a mere mistake.  She could hear him gasp shudderingly as his emotions surged.  He was literally speechless.  Not that speech would have helped him.  His mind was rushing about so fast that he would have sounded like a total buffoon. 

Instead, he offered her a smile in return.  It started on his left side and then painted itself across his face to the right.  His eyes communicated all that his words could not.  Their Threads trembled with the amount of Aether that now flowed between them.  Any magic user nearby would be able to feel the flow. 

A young mage was able to no doubt.  He had been dozing off, leaning his head on the back of Alexa.  Tobi might say that an experienced campaigner rested when necessary.  But in reality, he was a lazy lout who always took every opportunity to nap.  He was almost like a cat.  Some of his squad mates had even dubbed him Kitten.  The young mage had felt the flashes that had stirred the Venray Captain.  Opening a sleepy eye, he had caught the glimpse of their rear guard move forward.  Feeling a strange hum in Arn’s direction his eyes opened and he straightened up.  Like Tyrhallan, there was no mistaking the scene that was happening before him.  [color=00aeef]“Alright Arn” [/color] The younger mage said in a improperly pleased tone. 

As the Knight Captain made his way back to the rear, his eyes met Tobi’s.  The younger man immediately capitalized on the scene in front.  He had indeed bet against his Master Mage but had been something of a all in scenario.  In truth, he had not really expected the Hellspawn from succumbing so easily but he had an inkling.  The stoic man had changed much since meeting the young Eilis. 

Sensing the movement and following catching a glimpse of Tyrhallan, Alexa looked between the retreating form of the Knight Captain and that of Tobi. [color=f6989d] “What is the issue?”[/color]  The young mage patted the blonde Knight on the head contemptuously.  [color=00aeef]“Don’t worry your pretty little head about it.  Matters that a prude and goody two shoes like you may not understand.”[/color]  He could feel the girl fume but Tobi just sat back and enjoyed knowing that his eyes had witnessed a sight even more rare than end of their universe.