**Lillith – Chapter 49 – The Meeting**

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The large wooden gate creaked as Lillith pushed it open with her shoulder, the sound echoing down the silent corridor before fading into the classroom. The late morning light streamed through the bluish stained glass, casting dancing reflections along the walls and across the polished stone floor. The air carried that familiar mix of magical ink, old parchment, and feminine perfume.

As soon as she stepped inside, a chorus of female voices filled her ears. At the center of the commotion, as always, was Professor Armand. Surrounded by a dozen students, he was calmly trying to answer questions coming from all directions, curious girls, worried girls, all eager to know more about what had happened over the last week.

Lillith stopped for a second, watching the scene, then rolled her eyes and let out a short sigh. The “normalcy” she’d missed during the days of chaos had turned into boredom within seconds. Without saying a word, she walked slowly to her desk. The dry sound of her boots echoed among the girls’ murmurs. She pulled her chair back, dropped into the seat, and rested her head on her folded arms over the worn wooden desk.

Laughter and questions filled the air. “Professor, are you really okay?” “Is it true you fought a high-level witch alone?”
Armand answered all of them with serenity, his voice calm and courteous, every word carefully chosen.

“Ah, Lillith, good morning!” he suddenly said, noticing the student slouched at her desk.

She slowly lifted her gaze, and the moment she did, she realized every girl in the room was now staring at her. Some had neutral expressions; others looked at her with envy or disdain. Lillith knew why. Ever since everything began, she’d grown much closer to Armand, so much so that the constant contact had sparked almost collective jealousy. To them, he was the ideal man: powerful, intelligent, respectful. And Lillith was just the lazy girl wasting that attention.

“Hey,” she replied dryly, her tone flat and emotionless.

“How’s your training with that spell? Are you managing to change the directions more easily now?” he asked with a smile.

“I don’t know. Why don’t we test it using your balls as the target?”

The room fell into silence. The sound of quills stopping mid-stroke was almost audible. A few students widened their eyes; others frowned.

“You should be more respectful to the professor,” said a firm voice.

Lillith turned her head and saw Beatrix standing tall, posture straight and confident. Her green hair, similar to Lillith’s, fell in soft waves over her shoulders, and the contrast with her dark skin gave her an almost hypnotic beauty. She didn’t need sensuality to impress men, though she clearly had that too, like all the girls in the room. To Lillith, Beatrix was the “class nerd”, an exemplary student, disciplined, proudly dedicated, and obviously another hopeless admirer of Armand, making her one of the biggest teacher’s pets there.

“Whatever,” Lillith muttered, rolling her eyes.

“I deserved that, don’t blame her…” Armand said, adjusting the papers on his desk.

Lillith raised an eyebrow, confused. Normally, he just ignored her provocations, especially those about hitting his balls. *“I deserved that”?* That was new. She felt something uncomfortable in her chest, a feeling she couldn’t quite name.

Armand took a deep breath, and a faint, tired smile crossed his face.

“Anyway! I’ve missed teaching so much, so let’s take our seats and get started!”

The rest of the class went on as usual…

When the bell rang, the students quickly dispersed, leaving behind only the faint sound of chatter from the hallway. Lillith stood up and left the room, walking slowly down the corridor.

After a while, she spotted a familiar figure.

“Morgana!!”

Lillith’s cheerful voice echoed. The witch with long black hair and her adorned gothic robes turned with a soft smile.

“Good morning, Lillith. How’s your training going?”

“Great! The practice dummies are infinitely better than those damned logs. Just having those pads simulating the nuts makes it so much easier to focus on the target!”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“And what are you doing here? Did something happen?” Lillith asked.

“Actually, this whole situation with Eliza is very complicated, Lillith. You’ll be seeing me around the school a lot more from now on, at least until we sort all this out. Seraphina called me for a small meeting.”

“Can I come with you??? The training room’s closed until four today, and I’m *so* bored…”

Morgana paused for a moment, crossing her arms.

“Hmm… I don’t think there’s a problem with you watching. Worst case, I can just snap my fingers and teleport you back to your dorm, haha.”

Lillith grinned widely. “Seriously? Perfect!”

The two began walking side by side through the corridors. The difference in their demeanor was striking: Morgana moved with grace and lightness, her steps silent, her gaze alert; Lillith walked carelessly, hands clasped behind her head, as if the world were nothing more than a stage for her amusement.

Along the way, they passed by windows overlooking the academy’s inner courtyard. The wind stirred the leaves of the magical trees, whose trunks glowed faintly with living runes. The distant sounds of a training group echoed through the courtyard, mixing spellbursts with laughter.

“You know, Morg…” Lillith said, breaking the silence. “Armand’s been kind of weird lately. Today I threatened his nuts, and he said he deserved it. How’s that even possible?”

Morgana raised an eyebrow. “Hm? …Deserved it?... That *is* strange. I’ve met plenty of idiotic men who enjoyed getting their balls kicked, but even they would get angry or scared when we threatened their precious jewels…”

“I don’t know, it’s like it’s not even fun to say those things if the guy’s not afraid…”

“Well…” Morgana replied in a lower tone, “Armand’s been through a lot lately. And… you might not notice, or even appreciate it, but Armand would give up everything to protect you girls. And us too. Armand is a real man, a true friend. So whatever happened is probably weighing heavily on his mind…”

Lillith smirked. “Is this really *Morgana* talking? The great ball-destroyer I know? Haha.”

“Just because I enjoy destroying testicles doesn’t mean I hate men! I can appreciate a real man when I see one!”

“Sure, sure… haha.”

Morgana rolled her eyes, and the two of them laughed together.

---

When they reached the door to the headmistress’s office, Morgana pushed open the two heavy wooden panels. The creak echoed, followed by a wave of warm air coming from inside the room.

Lillith stepped forward, still laughing at something she’d said seconds earlier. But the laughter died in her throat the moment she looked inside.

Seraphina’s office was as fancy as ever, with its comforting scent. The large, eye-catching wooden desk stood in the center, and around it, three people were already gathered.

Seraphina, majestic as always, sat on top of the desk, her long red hair falling in waves that seemed to reflect the torchlight. Beside her was Valerya, the secretary, serious-faced and perfectly poised.

But it was the figure standing before them that stole all of Lillith’s attention.

Time seemed to slow down.

She blinked once, twice, trying to believe what she was seeing.

The man was standing, leaning lightly against the desk. Dark dress shoes polished enough to reflect the candle flames. Black pants, tight enough to show the strong lines of his legs, and... Lillith swallowed hard. His balls, two huge spheres pressed beneath the fabric. Almost the same size as Armand’s. Big, healthy orbs of mana...

Her eyes continued to rise slowly, tracing the contours of the white shirt that fit his torso. The brown leather jacket, with faint scratches on the shoulders, gave him an adventurous, almost rebellious air. No beard, no mustache. Just a confident expression and golden, honey-colored eyes that seemed to cut through the air.

His hair was carefully styled, with a long strand falling over his left eye, nearly touching his eyebrow. He was... flawless. The most handsome man she had ever seen.

The silly smile that had been on Lillith’s face vanished, and her lips parted slightly. She stood completely still, eyes fixed on him. If anyone said anything at that moment, she probably wouldn’t have heard.

“Oh! Morgana, hey! Been a while, huh?”

His voice was deep and calm, with a timbre that seemed to vibrate faintly in the air... it was sexy.

The smile on Morgana’s face vanished instantly. The air around her shifted, the temperature dropped subtly, and the magical energy in the room seemed to react to her emotion. She began walking toward the man, her heels striking rhythmically against the floor.

“Oh, still mad at me?” he said with a half-smile, trying to lighten the mood.

Morgana kept approaching, and his smile started to falter.

“Oh, shit, wait, wait!”

The man quickly crossed his hands in front of his body, instinctively protecting his balls. He knew Morgana well, and knew exactly where she tended to aim.

She stopped right in front of him, tall and straight, her gaze firm and cold. Then, in one swift motion, she raised her open hand.

*SLAP!*

The sound of the slap echoed through the room like thunder. His head turned slightly to the side, his hair tousled by the impact.

“Oh... a slap... yeah... ouch... that was strong, huh... guess you’re still mad at me... well, at least it was just a slap, you didn’t—”

He relaxed for an instant. And that was the last thing he should have done.

His hands dropped, and in that same second, Morgana grabbed his shoulders firmly.

*BAM!*

Her knee shot upward with force and precision. The impact against his balls was direct, and even Seraphina, who rarely showed surprise, subtly widened her eyes. *She didn’t hold back?* she thought.

Lillith took a step back instinctively. The force of the blow made the floor tremble for a moment.

The man froze in place, his body locking up.

“Uh... ugh... ughhhhhhhhhh...”

His voice dissolved into a muffled groan as he collapsed to his knees, his face twisting in pain and confusion, both hands instinctively going to his crotch.

“Uhhhh... my balls... my damn balls...”

Morgana was breathing deeply, her eyes blazing with fury.

“How dare you show your face in this school again?! After what you did! After what you did to ME!”

“Morgana, calm down, please...” said Seraphina, her voice firm yet patient.

“Calm down?! You brought a man who was *banned* from ever stepping foot in this school again, and I’m supposed to calm down?! If I remember correctly, the punishment for him setting foot here again was *the destruction of his nuts!* If you want, I can take care of that right now!”

“Cal...m... down... Morgana... wait... ughhh, my balls, damn it...” he groaned, still trying to catch his breath.

“Morgana, I lifted his ban,” Seraphina replied.

“What?! You *what*?! After everything he did?! And you still call yourself my friend?! I knew I should’ve destroyed those damn balls that day!”

“Morgana.”

Seraphina’s tone shifted completely. Intense heat rippled through the room, making the air shimmer slightly. The torch flames flickered against the walls, and even Lillith felt a shiver run down her arms.

Morgana stopped. She went silent, though her eyes still burned with rage.

“We’re talking about a crisis in the magical world,” Seraphina continued calmly. “We’re talking about someone who could destroy the entire planet if we don’t stop her. We need all the help we can get, and he’s practically indispensable to a team capable of defeating Eliza.”

“We already have his brother. He’s not needed.”

“We need him, Morgana.”

“He doesn’t work at this school anymore!”

“You don’t either...” the man muttered between coughs, letting out an ironic chuckle.

Morgana turned her head slowly, her hair swaying, and in a sudden motion grabbed his collar and yanked him up from the chair. The sound of tearing fabric echoed through the room.

“No, no, I’m sor—AAGGHHHHH!”

Another precise hit. Her knee came up again, slamming into his balls with ruthless accuracy.

“Want another one?” she asked, eyes flashing.

The man, tears welling in his eyes and his face contorted in pain, shook his head rapidly in denial.

“Then stay quiet.”

She released him, and he collapsed to the floor, exhausted, gasping, and crying for his battered balls.

“What the hell is going on?!” Lillith demanded, still not understanding anything.

“This is Hakkon,” Seraphina said calmly, crossing her legs. “Former professor of our academy, and Armand’s brother.”

“Armand’s brother?!”

“Yeah, and he’s also my hateful ex-boyfriend,” Morgana added, crossing her arms and turning her face away.

Her behavior suddenly made sense to Lillith. Morgana, the most beautiful and powerful woman she knew, and that man, the most handsome she had ever seen. The couple made perfect sense, and clearly, their breakup had been explosive.

“I’ve already made my decision, Morgana. Whether you like it or not, I understand your issues with him, but he’s necessary against Eliza,” Seraphina declared firmly.

Morgana pouted, huffed, and turned away. She walked to a nearby chair and sat down, crossing her legs sharply.

“If he gets in my way, for *any* reason, I’ll crush his little balls with my own hands, like small, ripe grapes. Understood?”

No one answered. Silence hung heavy in the air, broken only by Hakkon’s ragged breathing.

“Where’s Armand?” Seraphina asked Lillith, changing the subject.

“Uh? Me? How should I know?” Lillith replied.

“You had class with him today, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, so what? It’s not like I follow him around all day...”

“Valerya, did you call for Armand?” Seraphina asked, turning to her assistant.

“No, ma’am. You didn’t ask me to.”

“I... didn’t? Oh, damn it! I’ve been forgetting so much lately. Please, call the professor here.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Valerya replied, giving a slight bow before leaving the room.

The door closed behind her, the sound echoing down the corridor. The atmosphere inside the office remained tense.

---

After a few minutes, Seraphina’s office door opened slowly, creaking lightly under Valerya’s gentle touch. Behind Valerya, Armand appeared, straightening the cuffs of his coat as he walked in with his usual calm, assured manner.

“Excuse me,” he said, offering a small smile before entering.

The steady sound of his boots echoed across the polished floor, and the gazes in the room immediately turned to him. Esmeralda, leaning against a bookshelf at the back, crossed her arms and muttered a bored “Hey.” Armand nodded back with a simple tilt of his head, keeping his confident posture.

But when he looked ahead, his expression changed as he saw someone unexpected on the office floor.

“Hakkon! Long time no see!”

The surprise in his voice came with a genuine smile, but his eyes quickly took in his brother’s condition. Hakkon was still on the floor, trying to compose himself, hands braced on the carpet, body hunched and eyes half-closed. Armand understood everything without needing to ask why.

He glanced to the side and found a pair of thin black heels, a dark dress, enormous breasts, long black hair falling over the shoulders, and Morgana’s cold eyes staring at him.

“Oh... Morgana got here before me... uh... sorry,” he said with a forced smile, rubbing the back of his neck.

Morgana simply snorted and looked away.

“Armand,” Seraphina said, seated behind her desk, her voice full of authority and calm. “Thank you for coming. We need to talk.”

“I can imagine,” he replied, folding his arms. “May I ask what is going on here?”

Seraphina rose with elegance. “I asked for Hakkon to be called,” she explained, glancing at Morgana for a moment before continuing. “He will be needed. The situation with Eliza is getting out of control, and we cannot ignore what is coming.”

Before Armand could answer, a metallic sound echoed as the door opened again.

The hinges slid, revealing Stellar’s figure.

She entered with firm steps, her blonde hair swaying softly with each movement. The silver streak crossing the left side of her face reflected the light like a line of steel. She stopped in front of Seraphina’s desk, inclining her head slightly in respect.

“I’m here, what do you want, witch?” she said.

Seraphina smiled, pleased. “Perfect. Now we are all here.”

The headmistress stood up, walking around the desk. The heels of her shoes rang firmly on the stone floor. When she stopped in the center of the room, all eyes turned to her.

“As you know,” Seraphina began, “the magical world is on the brink of collapse. Eliza is not merely gathering artifacts. She is testing the limits of the balance between mana and matter. We do not know what will happen if she collects all the artifacts...”

A heavy silence filled the room.

Seraphina lifted her chin and continued, “Therefore, I have made a decision. The school will be divided into two groups. One for offense and one for defense.”

“Wow,” Esmeralda said sarcastically, fiddling with her hair. “Very creative names, huh?”

Seraphina ignored the remark and kept her tone firm. “The defense group will be responsible for protecting the school and the students at any cost. It will be trained to face direct assaults, traps, disruption spells and dimensional invasions. The offense group will be made up of our best fighters. A small but specialized team meant to hunt Eliza down and destroy her plan before it is too late.”

She looked at each of them one by one, evaluating.

“Armand. Esmeralda. Me.”

The three teachers exchanged glances.

“Each of us will choose one student,” Seraphina continued. “Those students will receive the same training and take part in missions when necessary. I want to ensure the new generation is ready, in case something happens to us.”

Armand nodded seriously. Morgana crossed her arms and looked away, visibly annoyed at having to share space with Hakkon. Stellar watched everything in silence, but a spark of curiosity shone in her eyes.

Seraphina walked to the window. “Before we form the groups, we will run a series of simulations. I want to assess the real combat level of each professor. See your reactions, your reflexes, how you protect your allies. I want to see how weak our defense really was...”

She turned back to the group.

“But let me be very clear: this will not be a competition. Each battle will be unique. There will be no bracket. You will not know who you will face until the moment of the fight. Each participant will receive a password. The objective is simple.”

She raised a finger.

“A: obtain the opponent’s password. B: make the opponent pass out.”

Her look became more serious.

“Giving away your password is the same as telling a secret to an enemy. That will directly affect your points.”

She paced slowly like a general before her soldiers, raising a finger.

“Knocking out the opponent is worth one point. Obtaining a password is worth two. Revealing your password costs you three points.”

She took a deep breath, her tone grave and slow.

“Each battle will be observed by me. You must fight as if it were a real battle, with no restraint, no mercy. I want to see what each of you is capable of when mana is pushed to its limit.”

A murmur ran through the room. Esmeralda raised an eyebrow. Lillith, leaning near the door, seemed excited, eyes shining at the prospect of intense fights.

Then Seraphina looked directly at Armand and Hakkon.

“Armand. Hakkon.”

The two straightened automatically.

“Yes,” they answered in unison.

She crossed her arms, lifting her bust, making Hakkon look away again. “These battles will be extreme simulations. That means I cannot guarantee that permanent damage will not occur... to your balls.”

The silence was immediate.

Armand and Hakkon exchanged glances. Both swallowed.

Seraphina continued without hesitation. “Healers will be on hand to intervene, but whether we like it or not, strikes to that area are always unpredictable. I warn you so there are no surprises.”

Armand nodded, eyes serious. “Understood.”

Hakkon took a deep breath. “No problem. I’ve been through worse,” he said, trying to play the hero.

Morgana let out a snort-laugh through her nose, tilting her head to the side, her narrowed eyes shining with a cold gleam. “If you face me, I doubt there is anything worse than what I will do to your little balls.”

Hakkon’s confident smile vanished instantly, and he looked away, swallowing as Morgana held her gaze, not even blinking.

Seraphina stepped forward and touched Morgana’s shoulder. “Morgana, I need you to stay focused. This is bigger than any resentment.”

Morgana averted her eyes but did not answer.

Seraphina then addressed everyone. “Tomorrow at dawn, I want everyone on the combat field. The simulations will begin immediately. The field will be prepared with layers of magical barriers, impact-absorbing runes and safety seals. I do not want students nearby, so tomorrow will be a day off for them and the school will be closed.”

Esmeralda stretched her arms and yawned theatrically. “Ah, what a shame... it would have been fun for the students to see their perverted professors on the floor, holding their little broken balls.”

Seraphina turned to the group. “You are dismissed.”

The professors began to move. Chairs scraped. Hakkon rose with difficulty, still massaging his chest and breathing deeply. Morgana turned her face, her black hair swaying. Stellar half-turned...

Lillith, leaning against the wall, watched everything with attentive eyes, a mischievous smile spreading across her face.

“This is going to be fun...” she murmured quietly.