<h4>Chapter 114: Viin Simtor, Ch 113</h4>


    "I don''t see anything shameful about it," Lucas shook his head. "To break free from societal constraints and end a marriage she didn''t want—your mother sounds like a woman worthy of respect, Jean."


    Jean blinked in surprise before a small smile appeared on her face. "Thank you... No one''s ever said something like that to me."


    "Alright, this spot should be fine," Lucas gestured toward a nearby cluster of bushes. "Go ahead, I''ll wait here."


    Jean nodded, looking a bit bashful, before cautiously heading to the bushes and crouching down.


    "Are... are you still there?"


    "I''m here."


    "Still there?"


    "Don''t worry, I''ll stay right here until you''re done."


    After receiving his reassuring response, Jean finally rxed, and the gentle sound of trickling water filled the quiet night air, oddly calming in its rhythm.


    But suddenly, there was a loud, panicked "Ah!" as Jean bolted from the bushes, mid-process, her face pale with fright. Before Lucas could react, she threw herself into his arms, trembling.


    "S-something scary!"


    It was the first time Lucas had ever seen Jean so frightened. He could even feel a warm trickle running down her leg onto him.


    What on earth could have scared her so badly?


    "Ribbit!"


    Just then, a bumpy toad hopped out from the bushes.


    "T-take it away!" Jean shrieked, clinging to Lucas''s neck in terror. "Get rid of it!"


    Seeing the "culprit" that had terrified Jean so much, Lucas couldn''t help butugh a little. Summoning a small shard of ice, he flicked it gently, sending the toad soaring through the air in a graceful arc until it vanished.


    "No need to be afraid," Lucas said softly, patting Jean''s head. "It''s gone now."


    "Thank you."


    Jean finally rxed, releasing her grip on Lucas, but upon seeing the "mess" between them, her face flushed deep red. "I-I''m so sorry!"


    "It''s alright, we can dry it out by the fire," Lucas replied nonchntly. "Besides, it''s not like it smells or anything."


    "H-how could it not smell...?" Jean mumbled, nervously wringing her hands. "I mean... that''s..."


    "Come on!" Lucas grabbed her hand with a smile, leading her back. "I know what it is. And if it''s from you, Jean, I don''t mind at all."


    Jean felt a strange shiver run through her.


    He didn''t mind... something like that? And only if it was her?


    Could... could this be some kind of confession?


    Jean''s cheeks burned as an odd image popped into her mind.


    She imagined a luxurious room dimly lit with candles, Lucas dressed sharply in a suit, swirling a ss in his hand filled with a "special drink" she''d prepared for him.


    He reached out, lifting her chin with a charmingly wicked smile. "If it''s from you, Jean, I wouldn''t waste a single drop."


    Ahhh!


    The thought made Jean shake her head frantically, as if she could physically shake the bizarre vision from her mind.


    "How disgraceful! How impure!"


    As a member of the noble Gunnhildr family, Jean chided herself. <i>How could I harbor such impure thoughts?</i>


    "Jean?" Lucas, noticing her unusual silence, asked with concern, "Are you alright?"


    His voice snapped Jean out of her thoughts, and she blurted out instinctively, "You... can''t drink that!"


    "Huh? Drink what?" Lucas looked utterly confused.


    "N-nothing," Jean stammered, clearly flustered. "I was just... lost in thought, imagining myself... brewing tea."


    "Oh, so you know how to brew tea?" Lucas chuckled. "I''d love to try your tea sometime."


    "O-okay," Jean mumbled, nodding shyly. "My... tea?"


    Soon, they returned to the huts, where the fire Klee had set was still crackling away. They sat down by the mes, letting the fire''s warmth dry the mysterious dampness on their clothes.


    "Looks like it''s mostly dry," Lucas said softly. "We should get some rest."


    However, Jean didn''t respond. Lucas nced over and noticed her head resting on his shoulder, her soft breaths steady. She had drifted off.


    It looked like the day''s events had thoroughly worn her out.


    Asleep, Jean''s usual serious demeanor was reced with a peaceful, innocent expression, making her seem even more endearing. Unable to resist, Lucas leaned over and gently kissed her on the cheek.


    "Mm..." Jean made a soft sound, shifting slightly, but she didn''t wake up.


    What Lucas didn''t realize was that Jean hadn''t actually fallen into a deep sleep. She was very aware of his gentle kiss.


    Caught off guard, she chose to feign sleep, too nervous to open her eyes.


    Lucas, for his part, refrained from any further actions. Jean felt a mix of relief—and a strange twinge of disappointment.


    Of course, given their current child-sized bodies, nothing more could have happened anyway.


    Despite his smaller size, Lucas still possessed strength well beyond a typical child''s, and he easily lifted Jean up, carrying her back to the hut she shared with Barbara.


    He tiptoed inside, careful not to wake Barbara, and gentlyid the "sleeping" Jean on her bed before quietly slipping out.


    Jean, meanwhile, kept her eyes tightly shut to maintain her ruse, but her heart was racing from that single kiss.


    She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn''t even notice Barbara was missing from her side.


    Just as Lucas exited the hut, he sensed something unusual. He looked up just in time to see arge water bubble descending from above, enveloping him entirely.


    This water prison didn''t burst but instead trapped Lucas within a floating sphere of water.


    It was obvious who was responsible—Barbara.


    Sure enough, she stood in front of him, arms crossed, giving him a stern look. "Quite bold, aren''t you... Doing those things to me was one thing, but now you''re moving on to my sister?"


    Lucas blinked, finally realizing what was going on.


    Barbara must have seen him kiss Jean earlier and was furious because of it.


    Normally, Barbara wasn''t particrly skilled inbat, and though she had a Hydro Vision, she couldn''t control water with such precision. But with her adult physique, and after taking Lucas'' Essence which enhanced her more, her power had increased dramatically—producing a water bubble was no problem for her now.


    Conversely, Lucas''s power had diminished due to his smaller body, making it easy for Barbara to catch him off guard.


    Of course, Barbara had no intention of actually harming him. She just wanted to teach him a lesson.


    "Don''t worry, I won''t hurt you," Barbara said with a mischievous smile, watching him struggle. "I just want to... punish you a little."


    Gradually, Lucas began to lose consciousness as the water surrounded him.


    ...


    <i>Cough, cough!</i>


    Lucas sputtered, coughing up water as he finally regained consciousness.


    He quickly realized that his hands were bound with rope, and he was in one of the other huts.


    He saw Barbara standing in front of him, smiling calmly. "Don''t bother shouting," she said. "Even if you scream your lungs out, no one can hear you. I''ve sealed the doors and windows with water barriers."


    Lucas nced around and saw shimmering water walls covering every exit.


    "Barbara," he frowned. "What exactly are you nning to do?"


    "That''s my question to you," Barbara retorted, biting her lip. "Why were you and my sister alone together in the middle of the night?"


    "She just needed someone to go to the bathroom with her," Lucas exined. "After bing a child again, she''s a lot more timid."


    "Fine, I can ept that," Barbara pressed on, her eyes narrowing. "But I saw you... kiss her just now! What was that all about?"


    "Well..." Lucasughed awkwardly. "Little Jean is just so cute, you know? It''s natural to want to give a cute kid a kiss, isn''t it? Wouldn''t you feel the same?"


    "I... I''ve already done that," Barbara blushed, then pouted angrily. "But that doesn''t matter! My sister''s cheeks are mine to kiss!"


    "Fine, fine, I admit my mistake," Lucas sighed. "But isn''t your reaction a bit... intense?"


    "Do you really think I''m only upset about that?" Barbara stepped closer, her gaze piercing. "After what you did to me, you turn around and start cozying up to my sister. Don''t you think that''s a bit... scummy?"


    "Heavens, have mercy!" Lucas eximed, feeling helpless. "When did I ever ''cozy up'' to her?"


    "I don''t care—you''re a bad boy!" Barbara reached out, giving him a yful tap on the nose as a mischievous grin spread across her face. "And bad boys need to be punished!"


    Lucas suddenly remembered that, after his earlier "mischief" with Barbara, she''d repeatedly muttered about getting revenge on him.


    At the time, he''d brushed it off as harmless talk—much like E''s frequent "I''ll remember this" grudge. He''d assumed it was just idle words, nothing more.


    But to his surprise, Barbara—who seemed far less intimidating than E—was actually serious about taking action.


    He hadn''t thought much of it. After all, with Barbara''s usual strength, any attempt to "punish" him would beughable. Even if he stood still, it would be hard for her to do much more than il at him.


    "Well..." Seeing no hope for escape, Lucas resigned himself. "If you want revenge, go ahead and get it over with. I guess I just have bad luck."


    "What?" Barbara looked unimpressed with his calm eptance. "You''re giving up that easily? At least beg for mercy or something!"


    "You''d ignore my pleas anyway, wouldn''t you?" Lucas replied with a knowing smile. "Besides, I''d suggest you hurry up—once the others wake up, you won''t get another chance."


    How annoying!


    Barbara clenched her fists in frustration. Why was it that, even with the upper hand, Lucas still seemed soposed?


    "Fine, straight to the point, then!"


    With a determined expression, Barbara sat down on a nearby rock, pulling Lucas''s face close to her. She straddled him with her thighs, bringing her face close to his as she smirked. "So, you think you''re invincible, huh? How does it feel now?"


    Despite the supposed "punishment," Lucas felt more amused than anything.


    Did she really understand the difference between "punishment" and "reward"?


    If this was her idea of vengeance, he might just start doing bad deeds as a full-time hobby.


    To humor her, Lucas put on a pained expression, groaning dramatically, "No, please... this is too much! This humiliation... you might as well just kill me!"


    Seeing his reaction, Barbara beamed with satisfaction. "Oh, it''s not that easy to get off the hook. You''ll endure this for as long as I say!"


    Determined to press him further, Barbara leaned in close, her face just inches from his. She smirked, tightening her hold, adding just enough pressure to assert her dominance.


    As time went on, however, it was clear that Lucas was enjoying himself far more than suffering, while Barbara—unused to holding such a position—began to feel an ache in her thighs. Despite the strain, seeing Lucas''s "anguished" expression only fueled her motivation, making it all seem worthwhile.


    Looking down at his face, Barbara felt a surprising pang of guilt. Lucas''s shrunken form,bined with his delicate features, made him seem almost endearing in his "humiliated" state.


    "Didn''t expect this, did you?" Barbara taunted, though her mocking tone softened as she struggled to keep a straight face. "Looks like it''s finally your turn to suffer!"


    "Alright, I''ll admit defeat..." Lucas said, barely hiding a grin. "You''ve punished me enough. Now, can you let me go?"


    "Let you go? Not so fast!" Barbara pped her hands together with satisfaction. "That was only the appetizer. Now... it''s time for the main course."


    Barbara leaned close, her lips brushing his ear as she whispered, "You mentioned that only your age changed, right? That the rest of you... is still the same?"


    "Uh... yeah," Lucas replied, frowning slightly. "Why do you ask?"


    ---


    Author''s Note: I don''t see us in top 5.. guess you guys really don''t want those extra Chapters ????