Frostfire Legacy

Aster's mind raced, desperately trying to piece together the situation. His heartbeat pounded loudly in his ears as his breathing grew shallow and uneven. Sticky sweat clung to his back, sliding uncomfortably down to his arms.

The warmth of Lizandrea's body seeped into his fingers, causing his own body temperature to rise in response.

"L-Liz…"

He wanted to ask what was happening, but the fog clouding his memory made him hesitate. How had this even started? Was it his idea, or had Liz suggested it first?

"Hm... Mmm? What's wrong, Aster? Your hand stopped, you know...?"

Her voice, layered with faint gasps and a sensual tone that made his pulse quicken, broke the silence. She sounded like she was anticipating something, though there was a hint of disappointment as well.

Spurred by her words, Aster resumed pressing his hand down her back.

"Hnnngh~! That, that feels good...! You can go a bit stronger."

He focused on the center of her wings, marveling at their connection to her back. They seemed to grow out from her shoulder blades, but he wasn't entirely sure. Maybe there was an extra joint controlling their movements?

"Ha! Aaahhh...!"

Despite trying to distract himself, the sound of her moans forced him to confront the reality of the situation. 'What am I doing? Where am I?'

"Aster...?" Her voice came again, laced with curiosity. "Your movements seem... different all of a sudden. It felt so good before. Did you suddenly forget how to do it?"

'Do it? Do what?!'

Aster gulped as his mind spiraled, trying to anticipate her next words.

"Come on, this gentle caress—this flimsy touch won't work as a massage at all."

"…Massage?"

His memory returned in fragments. During dinner, a tipsy Liz had complained about her stiff shoulders, blaming Aster and her wings for it. Half-jokingly, he had offered to give her a back rub. And that, apparently, was how he had ended up in this precarious position.

"A-Ah! Right, massage! Sorry, I was spacing out!"

Massage was a skill Aster had been forced to learn during the time when his body was frail and weak. Long hours of sitting hadn't been good for his circulation, and he had become proficient enough to get licensed as a chiropractor or masseur—not that he had ever intended to use it on others. Until now.

His heart still raced, and he was keenly aware of the heat pooling in his lower body, but he forced himself to focus. His eyes sharpened as he carefully observed the tense muscles along Liz's back.

"Your muscles are so stiff. You must've had a hard time holding everything in place."

His hands moved with precision, sliding from between her wings, along but not directly over her spine, and up to her shoulders. This time, the sensation Liz experienced was different.

If Aster's earlier attempts—both when tipsy and after regaining his senses—were clumsy and unrefined, his current technique was worlds apart.

"Hmmmph~!"

Aster applied just the right amount of strength to untangle her knotted muscles, making Lizandrea's body tremble from a mix of pain and pleasure. Each time he pressed down on her back, her muscles tensed involuntarily, anticipating the next wave of discomfort.

"Relax, don't tense up your muscles. It only hurts because they're all knotted and stiff," Aster instructed gently.

His words, however, felt more like teasing than actual advice to Liz. How could she not tense up? It was an automatic reaction, not something she could control!

As he continued, Aster's focus shifted from her reactions to the fascinating structure of her wings. Unlike bird or bat wings, which had similar bone and muscle structures to a hand, Liz's wings were unique. It was Aster's first time studying an actual fantasy wing, and he found himself in awe.

The muscles in her wings were firm yet delicate, and the membrane resembled cartilage more than skin—thick and sinewy, yet soft to the touch. The bones were light, like those of a bird, with a surprisingly flexible ball joint, providing a much greater range of motion than he expected.

"A-Ashteer...!"

"...!"

Her voice, unusually breathy and unguarded, snapped Aster back to reality. His "massage" had been so effective that Liz had completely melted into a relaxed mess. Her flushed face was as red as a boiled octopus, and her heavy breathing created a warm, foggy air around her. Her body trembled, clearly craving more.

"T-That should be enough! I need to go!"

Aster stammered, suddenly aware of the dangerous line he was toeing. He tried to stand and leave, but Liz quickly grabbed his leg, refusing to let him go.

"Eh~? Do it more. It felt sooo good~!" she pleaded, her eyes filled with a longing he hadn't seen in her before.

But then Aster noticed something alarming. "Y-Your front! Cover up, Liz!" he exclaimed, embarrassed for her, but unable to tear his gaze away.

He tried to avert his eyes, but for some reason, his body wouldn't obey. His neck stayed rigid, his eyes fixed on the two soft, bouncing masses before him.

"Hm? Ah... Could you massage these too? They've been bothering me... they're heavy, you know," Liz teased, lifting one in her hand as if to emphasize its weight and softness.

"...!"

Aster felt an overwhelming urge to touch them, to feel the softness himself. But then, two faces flashed through his mind—Tina and Cassy. Instantly, his thoughts cleared, and his eyes squeezed shut.

"Liz, stop teasing me, or I really will do it," Aster warned, pulling her hand off his leg. "Anyway, that's enough for today. If your back stiffens up again, I'll give you another massage tomorrow."

Without giving her the chance to protest, Aster left the tent. Liz, left alone, pouted adorably, her face flushed bright red. She curled up, pressing her chest against her thighs, and muttered under her breath.

"I was serious, though…"

It didn't take long for her to realize what she'd just said, and the unfamiliar emotions swirling in her chest. Emotions beyond respect and camaraderie… something she hadn't experienced before.

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Liz stared at the tent's entrance, as if watching Aster's figure retreat toward the campfire outside. For a moment, her eyes flickered with unspoken desire, but she shook her head softly.

"Now's not the time, huh?"

A faint air of disappointment settled around her as she lay down, curling up once more, and drifted off to sleep.