Just as Eros was about to get up and assist her, Undine lunged forward. In the next heartbeat, a soft, slightly chilled body pressed against his as she collapsed onto the bed beside him.

  Eros gently patted her back, his voice a soothing whisper. "It’s okay now. I’m here. Don’t be afraid. Let’s see which brainless entity is stupid enough to try its luck today."

  This wasn't the first time this had happened. Undine had been dabbling in the occult for a while now, and though the timing of the erosion was unpredictable, it hit her at least once or twice a month. In the past, she would retreat to the Shadow Realm to endure the night. But ever since she discovered that staying near Eros provided the same sanctuary, she had abandoned the Shadow Realm entirely.

  Nestled against his side, Undine let out a soft, muddled "Mm." Her voice was tender and vulnerable—a far cry from the spirited "wildcat" persona she maintained during the day.

  Looking at her current state, which was more akin to a frightened kitten, Eros reached out and stroked her hair. "Go to sleep," he said softly. "The danger is gone."

  Undine’s large, beautiful eyes fluttered. She reached out, playfully mussing up Eros’s hair with her hand, and muttered with a hint of stubbornness, "I'm... the older sister."

  Eros didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Feeling the tremors leave her body as she finally calmed down, he replied with doting irony, "Yes, yes. You're the big sister."

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  Internally, however, he was cheering: Tentacle Bro, you are the GOAT! The effect is instantaneous!

  Undine gave a tiny huff, nuzzled into his side for a better position, and closed her eyes, falling silent.

  Early the next morning, a groggy Undine slowly blinked open her eyes, which were as clear and radiant as crystals. She rubbed her eyes and gave a shove to Eros, whose leg had somehow found its way over her body during the night.

  "Get up... time to wake up," she said, her voice still thick with sleep.

  Eros didn't even crack an eye open. He let out a mindless groan before mumbling into his pillow, "Five more minutes... I'm dead tired..."

  Last night in the soul world, Barbara had suddenly pivoted from her usual defensive stance. She had gone on a relentless offensive, pummeling Eros until he was screaming for mercy. It wasn't until his soul was utterly drained that she offered a dry explanation:

  "In a real fight, your enemies won't just stand there and take hits. This is to get you acclimated to a genuine combat environment."

  That was the official story, anyway. Eros had a nagging suspicion that she just genuinely enjoyed beating the crap out of him. Soul fatigue was far harder to recover from than physical exhaustion, leaving him feeling like a lead weight.

  Undine, oblivious to his spectral training sessions, felt the weight of his leg on her. A rosy blush crept across her youthful face. "If you don't get up right now, I swear I’m kicking you off this bed!" she threatened, her voice rising in annoyance.

  Eros merely mumbled something incoherent, showing zero intention of moving.

  Undine took a deep breath, her patience snapping. She didn't hesitate; her long, slender legs delivered a powerful thrust, sending Eros tumbling onto the floor.

  The sharp jolt of pain as he hit the ground finally cleared the fog in his brain. He sat up, dazed and confused, looking toward the bed in shock.

  The morning sun streamed through the window, illuminating Undine as she sat there. Her nightgown was slightly disheveled, and the golden light dancing on her exposed, porcelain skin was almost blindingly white.