Did the System do that when it confirmed their marriage? Isaac could only think of it as the reason.
His thoughts were interrupted when he heard a knock on the door.
"I'll check it," he said before Emily disappeared, and went towards the apartment's entrance.
A tall woman dressed in a silk nightgown stood on the other side.
Her long, dark brown hair was slightly messy.
Her mature appearance, sharp cheekbones, full lips, and piercing golden eyes gave her a commanding presence.
The nightgown clung to her curves, accentuating her well-endowed figure and a waist so slim it could make any man drool.
In her hand, she held a cigar, the tip glowing faintly as she took a slow drag.
The scent of tobacco mixed with the faint floral fragrance of her perfume.
Catherine Lorrain, his teacher, and the owner of the building. Her room was on the floor above.
She was the one who had helped him get this apartment for a ridiculously low price.
Isaac glanced at the cigar, then back at her.
"Professor Lorrain," he greeted, keeping his voice relaxed. "It's pretty late. Shouldn't you be asleep?"
Catherine smirked, exhaling a thin trail of smoke.
"I could ask you the same."
She stepped inside without waiting for permission. The way she carried herself made it clear she was used to doing it.
Isaac closed the door behind her, watching as she glanced around the room.
She took another drag from her cigar, tapping the ash into a small metal case she carried.
"I was making preparations for tomorrow," she said casually.
"Preparations?" Isaac asked, following her with his eyes.
"For the Awakening Ceremony. Big day, after all."
Isaac stiffened slightly. Right. Tomorrow was the day when he and the other students would awaken their Talents.
That was the whole reason he had been trying to sleep desperately—to keep his mind fresh and increase the chances of Awakening.
Catherine walked around slowly.
Her gaze swept over the room as if searching for something.
Isaac stayed still, trying not to look nervous. Her timing was strange. Brash as she was, coming to meet him in the night was not like her.
"Something wrong?" he asked.
"Yes."
Catherine turned to him, her golden eyes narrowing.
"The spiritual bond tying the Ghost to this room... it's broken."
Isaac was shocked.
He forcefully calmed the storm of thoughts that was about to erupt and acted naturally.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Isaac," she said, stepping closer to him. "Did you forget about my skill?"
"...Lie Detection."
"That skill tells me you just lied."
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry for lying."
Isaac quickly decided to change his approach.
"I know about the ghost. Found about it today. But I don't know how the bond broke. I don't even know what a bond is," he said.
"You have no idea how the bond broke?"
"I do have an idea, but honestly, chances are high I'm wrong."
"That's understandable. You haven't been taught about beast bonds, so you wouldn't know how they work."
Catherine nodded.
She took another look at the room before turning around to leave.
"I came here to see if the ghost had escaped. Good night," she said, wondering if the bond had malfunctioned.
"Professor, how did you know about the ghost, and why did you give this room to me?" he asked quickly before she could leave.
"You asked for a cheap room."
"But you should give a safe—"
"You got a room, and she got food. It was a win-win for both sides. It's not like she kills anyone."
'Then give your own life energy to her, you stinky fox,' he grumbled mentally.
Catherine stopped at the door and turned around to face him.
"Don't do anything weird to her. I'm going to make her my tamed beast."
Isaac suddenly had an ominous premonition.
"May I ask how are you planning to do that?"
"I will transfer her bond to me."
"That's it?"
"That's it."
Isaac started to sweat.
Catherine would kill him if she knew he had received Emily's bond.
"Why do you suddenly look nervous?"
"..."
"Answer me, brat."
'Dammit, not that question! How am I supposed to lie to a direct question like that!?'
Isaac gritted his teeth.
"I kissed her."
"...what?"
"I kissed Emily."
His words diverted Catherine's attention from the bond to the kiss.
"You kissed a ghost? Are you sexually frustrated?"
Isaac's eyebrow twitched.
"Whatever," she said, exhaling another puff of smoke. "You can do whatever you want with her as long as she consents. Just don't help her escape."
"Escape?"
"If she escapes, I can't make a bond with her. Make sure that doesn't happen."
She flicked the last bit of ash from her cigar into her case and turned toward the door.
"I'll be back tomorrow with something to do about the bond. Goodnight."
She shut the door behind her, and left.
Isaac let out a slow breath. His body relaxed now that she was gone.
'I barely managed to dodge a disaster.'
Emily reappeared, and floated in front of him.
Her translucent form shimmered faintly in the dim light, and her silver hair flowed like mist.
She had a thoughtful look on her face.
Isaac's eyes were involuntarily drawn to her fingers placed on her pink lips.
He gulped recalling the kiss they had shared.
"Isaac," she hesitated, fidgeting with her fingers. "That kiss... I liked it."
"Uh, okay?"
Emily's eyes became serious, as if she had made a choice.
She looked at him straight in the eye.
"We're husband and wife now, right?"
"Technically, yeah."
"Then... should we do what husbands and wives do?"
Isaac almost choked on his own breath.
"What?"
"I mean... I liked kissing you, and I want to do it again. More than just kissing. You also said you loved me."
The tip of Emily's ears was red as a tomato.
She was embarrassed.
But maybe because she had not lived in human society and was not well-versed with it, she was able to speak about her needs without the thought of hiding it due to embarrassment.
Isaac stared at Emily.
She had a generous bosom that strained against the thin, translucent fabric of her dress.
Her waist was slim, perfectly accentuating the curve of her hips.
The dress she wore clung to her just enough to highlight her shapely thighs.
The sight was enough to make any man loose control.
"Isaac?" she flew closer to him. "Is that a no?"
Isaac's mind churned.
Doing the deed with a ghost, even as beautiful and alluring as Emily, would cement his identity as a sexual deviant.
But...
'Won't I get rewards for it?'
His mind drifted back to how he had received a reward for their first kiss.