Chapter 164: Ingrid’s House

The door slid open before Zaeryn even reached it, spilling warm light and a wave of overlapping conversations onto the pathway.Ingrid stood there, a welcoming smile replacing the sharp challenge from earlier.

She’d changed out of her uniform into something softer, a low-cut top that hugged her curves and left little to the imagination, and comfortable pants that accentuated her full hips. Her yellow hair tumbled loosely around her shoulders, framing her captivating blue-gray eyes that seemed to pierce the night.

It made her look less like a storm cloud and more enticing.

"Hey, you made it," Ingrid greeted, stepping forward to wrap him in a hug. Zaeryn froze for a second as he didn’t expect the hug, however what made him freeze a little really was that she was wearing no bra and when she hugged him, he could feel her big, soft breasts squishing against his chest.

Her nipples, hard points through the thin fabric of her top, pressed into him.

The unexpected touch and the feeling of her ample bosom against his chest made Zaeryn’s body react instantaneously. His arms instinctively tightened around her, and he could feel his cock starting to stir and harden in his pants.

’Not now,’ he yelled at his dick internally. But it was like it had a mind of its own, so he was helpless. The top Ingrid was wearing was very thin.

Ingrid seemed to sense the shift in him as she pulled back slightly, looking up at him with a playful smile. "What’s wrong, Zaeryn? Cat got your tongue?" She teased, not fully aware of the effect she was having on him.

He swallowed hard, trying to regain his composure. "N-no, it’s just...you surprised me, that’s all," he stammered, his eyes darting down to her chest for a brief moment before meeting her gaze again.

Ingrid noticed the look at her cleavage and she smiled proudly. She stepped aside to let him in. "Come on in, everyone’s just chilling in the main lounge."

Zaeryn stepped inside. The place was spacious and modern, with comfortable-looking furniture arranged in conversational clusters. It definitely wasn’t a wild party; more like a relaxed gathering, maybe ten or so girls scattered around, chatting, laughing, some looking at data-slates. Music played softly, a mellow beat that blended with the chatter.

His arrival, however, did cause a ripple.

Conversations paused, heads turned. He caught a few curious glances, a couple of surprised ones, and then his eyes landed on Leia. He was surprised to see her here honestly.

She was lounging on a large floor cushion near a group that included Genevieve and Morticia, somehow managing to look both relaxed and coiled, like a predator momentarily at rest. Honestly, seeing her here felt like spotting a hawk nesting in a canary cage. Leia radiated intensity, a sharp-edged focus that seemed entirely geared towards combat and competition. Zaeryn had pegged her as the type who lived in the training chambers, scoffing at anything resembling casual socializing. Yet, here she was.

The moment she saw Zaeryn walk in with Ingrid, she let out an audible scoff, her gaze flicking pointedly towards Genevieve and Morticia with a glare. It was the kind of look that could curdle synth-milk. She had seen those two hanging out with him, so she could only guess one of them had invited him.

Genevieve noticed Leia’s reaction immediately and rolled her eyes, clearly not in the mood for drama. "Don’t glare at me, Leia," she called out, her voice carrying easily across the room. "I didn’t invite him." She then shot Zaeryn a quick, appreciative grin. "Though I totally would have if I thought he’d actually show up."

Morticia, ever the calm observer, added smoothly from her spot beside Genevieve, "Ingrid invited him." Her tone was matter-of-fact, subtly shifting the focus, and any potential blame, back to their host.

"Hey, Zaeryn." Morticia greeted with a smile.

"Hey, Morticia." Zaeryn responded. Then his gaze turned to Leia. "And Leia, I’m surprised you and Morticia are in the same friend group. Don’t get me wrong, you come off as.... The rude type.

Genevieve let out a low, throaty chuckle. "Spot on."

Leia rolled her eyes. However, she didn’t respond to him directly; her gaze turned to her friend, the host. "Ingrid, did you really invite him?"

Ingrid just laughed, seemingly unfazed by Leia’s reaction or the sudden spotlight. She casually looped her arm through Zaeryn’s, pulling him further into the room. "Yeah, I invited him. Got a problem?" She directed the question lightly towards Leia, though it felt more like a statement. She guided Zaeryn toward the group where Genevieve and Morticia sat. "Come on, grab a drink. Ignore the resident ice queen for now."

Zaeryn felt the subtle pressure of Ingrid’s arm linked with his, a casual claim in front of everyone. He glanced back at Leia. She hadn’t responded, just turned away, pointedly rejoining her previous conversation, though the rigid line of her shoulders spoke volumes. ’Still making progress,’ he thought wryly, letting Ingrid lead him deeper into the gathering.

Ingrid guided Zaeryn toward the cluster of low couches and floor cushions where Genevieve, Morticia, and Leia were settled. Music pulsed gently from hidden speakers, and the air smelled faintly of sweet ale and spiced snacks laid out on a nearby table.

"Make yourself comfortable," Ingrid said, finally releasing his arm as she gestured toward an empty cushioned bench directly across from the trio. She then headed towards the snack table. "Drink?"

"Sure, whatever’s good," Zaeryn replied.

He was about to sink down across from them when both Morticia and Genevieve grabbed his arm and pulled him to sit down in between them. "No, sit with us."


"I can’t refuse that." Zaeryn didn’t mind being sandwiched between these two beauties, so he sat down. The cushion was plush, molding slightly to his form. Genevieve immediately leaned over his arm, her side boob brushing over his arm, but it was intentional.

He leaned back, deliberately casual, meeting the eyes of the woman opposite him. It wasn’t just Genevieve, Morticia, and Leia whose attention he had attracted; he had attracted the whole room’s attention.

Heads subtly turned, conversations lowered. He was still the main event.

Genevieve offered a wry smile as he looped his arms around her and pulled her closer. "Hey," he said.

Genevieve didn’t expect him to respond to her contact with his own form of contact, but she loves it, so she leaned into him even more. "Hey, Zaeryn." Her gaze flicked briefly towards Leia, who was looking indifferent. "I heard you beat Leia up today."

"Absolutely," Morticia chuckled, looking pointedly at Leia. "I was there." She knew that wasn’t true, but annoying Leia was too much fun.

Leia, who had been projecting an aura of supreme indifference, paused mid-motion. Her head snapped up, eyes narrowed into dangerous slits, disbelief warring with fury. "Beat me up?" she repeated, shocked that these three would even claim such a thing. "Is that the pathetic narrative you’re spinning now? He got lucky and managed a draw because the instructor stopped the fight." She glared at Genevieve and Morticia, clearly incensed by their playful betrayal.

Leia’s glare zeroed in on Zaeryn, bypassing her friends entirely. "And you," she spat, pushing herself up from the cushion to stand, radiating barely contained fury. "Don’t think I forgot what you pulled in that spar. Kissing an opponent’s neck to break a hold? That wasn’t skill; that was a cheap, pathetic trick. You cheated."

Zaeryn met her heated gaze, his own expression shifting from amusement to a cool, challenging smirk. "Cheated?" he echoed. "Instructor Zelda called it a ’valid tactic.’ Exploiting an opening. Sounds like a skill issue on your part, Leia."

"Skill issue?" Leia was getting even more annoyed already. Her, having a skill issue? Please, she was the definition of skill.

"Yeah, that’s what it looked like to me," he shrugged, leaning back. "Besides, it ended in a draw. If you ask me, preventing a Warlady I’m training on her level from getting the win counts as a win in my book. A win is a win." He was enjoying getting on her nerves.

Leia’s hands clenched into fists at her sides, her crimson aura practically vibrating. "You...."

"Actually," Genevieve cut in smoothly, seizing the opportunity with a predatory grin. She pushed herself up from her cushion beside Zaeryn, moving to stand beside Leia, placing a placating hand on her arm. "Leia, darling, don’t let him get under your skin. He’s practically admitting you’re the superior fighter." Her eyes gleamed. "But if you really want to settle this, I might have a solution. A proper rematch. Hand-to-hand only, no Vitae tricks this time. Pure skill versus... well, whatever Zaeryn has." She glanced at Zaeryn. "I’ve already put some credits on it, and Zaeryn here already agreed he wants another shot."

Leia’s fury instantly channeled into focused determination. The prospect of putting Zaeryn firmly in his place, physically, without any room for his ’unconventional tactics,’ was too tempting to resist. A slow, dangerous smile spread across her face. "Fine," she agreed without hesitation. "I’ll gladly humble him properly this time. No cheap shots, no draws." Her gaze locked onto Zaeryn, burning with challenge. "You accept?"

"Sure," Zaeryn replied easily, matching her stare. He ignored the warning flicker in Morticia’s eyes. This was exactly the kind of direct challenge he thrived on. "When and where?"

"Tomorrow," Leia snapped. "After the last CQC session. Aegis Chamber."

"Deal," Zaeryn confirmed, the single word sealing the pact. "This is going to be an easy win for me. And Leia, I hope this time you won’t make up pathetic excuses." His voice dripped with the most arrogance.

Leia smirked. "Excuses? You’re the one who knows excuses, not me."

Just at that moment, Ingrid returned, handing him a tall glass filled with a sparkling, amber-colored liquid. "Here you go." She then plopped down onto the floor cushion beside Leia, pointedly leaning back against Leia’s side with a familiarity that suggested their earlier tension was just part of their dynamic. Leia didn’t push her away, though she didn’t exactly welcome the contact either; her posture remained stiff.

"So, Zaeryn," Genevieve began, leaning forward slightly, her interest genuine, "Morticia said you put on an impressive show in the Aegis Chamber today. You put down three sims? On your second day? Are you trying to make the rest of us look bad?"

Before Zaeryn could answer, two other girls who had been sitting nearby drifted over, drawn by the conversation and the novelty of the academy’s sole male student.

"Hi," the first one said, offering a friendly smile. She had short, red curly hair and warm brown eyes. "I’m Ryla. It’s... interesting to finally meet you."

"And I’m Meira," the second girl added, bolder, with sharp features and striking dark hair cut in an asymmetrical style. Her gaze was direct, curious, maybe a little challenging. "Heard you gave Leia a run for her money yesterday. Didn’t think anyone could."

Leia scoffed softly but didn’t look up.

Zaeryn nodded to both Ryla and Meira. "Zaeryn. Nice to meet you both. And ’run for her money’ is generous. It was more like... controlled chaos resulting in a draw." He glanced deliberately at Leia, a challenging glint in his eyes.

"But don’t worry, next time will be different. I plan on dominating her completely. No excuses for her then."

Ryla gasped softly, half-shocked, half-amused by his blatant confidence. Meira just laughed, a short, sharp sound.

"You, dominating Leia?" Ryla repeated, her eyes wide. "Wow. I mean... I’d pay credits to see that attempt."

"Oh, you will alright," Zaeryn responded smoothly, leaning back slightly.

Meira turned her sharp gaze towards the still-silent Leia. "Hey, Leia," she called out, her tone deliberately provocative. "You really gonna let him talk like that? Usually, you’d have already put someone in their place for less. Cat got your tongue?"

Genevieve leaned forward, adding fuel to the fire with a grin. "We think Leia has finally met her match."

Leia finally looked up. She didn’t stand or raise her voice, but her gaze held Zaeryn’s with absolute certainty. "Oh please," she said, her voice dripping with disdain. "I’m just letting him enjoy the temporary sense of victory he has now. Because tomorrow," her smirk widened, promising pain, "he won’t feel the same."

"Keep telling yourself that, Leia," Zaeryn replied.