Reborn as a Succubus: Time To Live My Best Life!

{Raven}

The early morning sun had barely begun to peek over the horizon as Raven set out on her daily run.

Her feet pounded against the cobblestone paths of the academy. Her mind was blank. All she could hear was her own heartbeat, thudding softly in her ears.

Running had always been a form of meditation for Raven, a way to clear her mind and focus on the task at hand.

And today, that task made her a little antsy.

[Melisa Blackflame,] she thought, her brow furrowing as she rounded a corner. [When will I finally be able to rid myself of this pest?]

As she neared the end of her route, Raven spotted a familiar figure standing outside her dormitory.

Professor Miria Linner, her posture rigid and her expression unreadable.

Raven slowed to a stop, schooling her features into a mask of polite curiosity.

"Professor Linner," she greeted, keeping her voice carefully neutral. "Is there something I can help you with?"

Miria's gaze flicked to Raven, her lips pressing into a thin line.

"Miss Nightsong. Please come with me to my office. There's a matter we need to discuss."

Raven nodded, falling into step beside the professor as they made their way to the administrative building.

Once inside Miria's office, the older woman's demeanor shifted, the mask of the teacher falling away to reveal the cold, calculating master Raven knew so well.

"The organization has made a decision," Miria said, her voice clipped and businesslike. "Melisa Blackflame is to be eliminated the day before the tournament begins."

Raven blinked.

"I understand, Master," she said, bowing her head. "But may I ask why the organization decided on this timing?"

Miria leaned back in her chair, interlocking her fingers.

"The higher-ups believe that with everyone's attention focused on the upcoming tournament, Melisa's disappearance will be less likely to raise suspicion. People will be too caught up in the excitement and preparation to notice one missing student, especially one as... unremarkable as a nim. They'll assume she just caught a cold at a bad time or something.

Granted, they will eventually realize something must have gone wrong. But, by then, we will have extracted you from the academy."

Raven nodded slowly, absorbing the information.

[I... guess it makes sense. Though, I would have rather just killed her by now, but... Alright.]

"Do I have any other instructions to follow throughout this time leading up to the due date?"

Miria nodded.

"Try not to let your disgust for Miss Blackflame show. Three months is quite a bit of time to blow your cover. Keep your instincts under control."

[... I haven't really felt much disgust for Melisa, in truth.]

"It will be done, Master," she said, her tone firm and resolute. "I will not fail you."

Miria nodded, a flicker of approval in her cold eyes.

"See that you don't, Nightsong. The organization is counting on you."

With that, she dismissed Raven with a wave of her hand.

Later, when Raven reached her room, she paused outside the door, taking a deep breath to steady herself.

Plastering a neutral expression on her face, Raven pushed open the door... only to find Melisa already awake and getting ready for class.

"Oh, hey Raven!" the girl greeted, her smile as bright as the morning sun. "You're back early. How was your run?"

Raven swallowed hard, forcing a small smile in return.

"It was fine," she said, proud of how steady her voice sounded. "Just needed to clear my head a bit."

Melisa nodded sympathetically, tucking a strand of hair behind her pointed ear.

"I know what you mean. Sometimes a little exercise is the best way to sort through your thoughts, you know?"

[You have no idea,] Raven thought wryly, watching as Melisa gathered up her books and headed for the door.

"Well, I'm off to class. See you there!"

And with a final wave, she was gone, leaving Raven alone with her swirling thoughts.

[The day before the tournament, which is in three months. Alright.]

---

{Melisa}

Melisa's back hit the bathroom wall.

Isabella's lips tugged, pushed, and pulled on Melisa's own.

It had been a while since they'd been this intimate, ever since Melisa's shocking discovery about Isabella's... extra equipment.

But as a nim, Melisa's needs couldn't be ignored forever. And when Isabella had offered to help her out again, well... Melisa found it hard to refuse today.

"Mmm, Izzy," she gasped, tangling her fingers in the kitsune's silky hair. "Holy shit."

Isabella grinned against her mouth, her hands roaming over Melisa's curves.

"I couldn't agree more~ You have no idea how much I've been wanting to get my hands on you again."

They kissed deeply, tongues tangling and breath mingling as they lost themselves in the heat of the moment.

But eventually, the need for air forced them to part, both girls panting and flushed.

Isabella leaned her forehead against Melisa's, her green eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Hey," she purred, trailing a finger down Melisa's chest. "Why don't you come over to my place later?"

Melisa bit her lip, tempted by the offer.

To be honest, her discovery of Isabella having a dick only disturbed Melisa temporarily. Perhaps finding out that Armia was the same way was what did it, but now, in the face of Isabella's fiery aura, Melisa couldn't bring herself to care.

Even as she felt a subtle poke against her stomach and pelvis, she just tried to ignore it and keep going.

But she knew she couldn't afford to get too distracted. She had a lot to do these days.

"I wish I could," she sighed, gently pushing the kitsune back. "But I really need to focus on my training right now. And Armia and I still have a lot of work to do on our class project."

Isabella pouted, her fluffy ears drooping in disappointment.

"Aww, come on! Can't you spare a few hours for your favorite cousin?"

Melisa laughed, rolling her eyes playfully.

"You're my only cousin, you goof. But I'm serious. I need to prioritize right now. We can always pick this up another time, okay?"

Isabella heaved a dramatic sigh but nodded reluctantly.

"Fiiiine. But you'd better make it up to me later."

With a final peck on the lips, they disentangled themselves and headed out of the bathroom (once Isabella's boner was gone) doing their best to look casual and not at all like they'd just been making out like their lives depended on it.

As they walked down the hallway, Melisa noticed Isabella veering off in a different direction than usual.

"Hey, where are you heading?"

"Hm?"

"Not to be nosy or something," Melisa added. "Just curious."

Isabella paused, glancing back at Melisa with an uncharacteristically hesitant expression.

"Oh, um... I was just heading to the Alchemist's Tower. There's something I wanted to check on."

Melisa's eyebrows shot up, intrigued.

"The Alchemist's Tower? I haven't been there. What's it like?"

Isabella shifted from foot to foot, looking torn.

But after a moment, she seemed to come to a decision.

"Actually... do you want to come with me? I could show you."

Melisa's brows shot up.

"Uh, sure. Lead the way."

Together, they made their way to the tower, climbing the winding stairs until they reached a small, cluttered laboratory.

Isabella darted over to one of the workbenches, rummaging through a pile of papers and vials until she found what she was looking for.

"Here it is," she said, holding up a small, intricately carved rune. "This is what I've been pouring all my time and energy into."

Melisa leaned in, examining the rune with a critical eye.

It was beautiful, the lines and symbols etched with a level of skill and precision that spoke of countless hours of practice.

[Holy moly,] Melisa thought, genuinely impressed. [Isabella's almost on my level. And, I have literal otherworldly knowledge backing me up. Damn.]

But there was something else about it, a faint aura of power that made the hairs on the back of Melisa's neck stand up.

"What is it?" she breathed, unable to tear her gaze away.

Isabella grinned, a fierce pride shining in her eyes.

"Once I finish it, it will be a rune that can't be spent," she explained, her voice thrumming with excitement. "No matter how many times you use it, it will never run out of power. Imagine the possibilities, Melisa! Spells that can be cast endlessly, without ever needing to recharge. It could revolutionize the way we use magic!"

Melisa's jaw dropped, her mind reeling with the implications.

"That's... that's incredible, Izzy. You really think you can do it?"

Isabella's smile turned wistful, a faraway look in her eyes.

"Perhaps. To be honest, it's not so much the idea of a rune like this that's pushing me, as much as it is..."

She sighed.

"I told you, I want to be the best sorceress in the world."

"Right."

"Well, being proficient at various things is just one way to make that happen. But, you also need to innovate, right?" She crossed her arms. "I can't think of anyone in history who's been known as the best at something and didn't create something new."

Melisa nodded, following her logic, though she figured she might be able to think of a few people back on Earth who didn't make anything new and were still considered great.

"Ever since I made this goal for myself," Isabella continued, "I've been obsessed with the idea of creating something new. And, along the way, I got the idea of making magic more accessible, more sustainable. I want to create tools that anyone can use, regardless of their natural ability or access to expensive components. And this rune... this rune could be the key to making that dream a reality."

Melisa stared at her cousin, a newfound respect and admiration blooming in her chest.

"Wow," she murmured, shaking her head in wonder. "I had no idea you were working on something so... so groundbreaking. Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

Isabella ducked her head, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.

"I wanted it to be a surprise once I got it," she admitted. "I didn't want to get your hopes up until I was sure it would work. But now..."

She trailed off, looking away.

"I... Well, I figured I should let you know that making out with you isn't all I like to do, hehe."

Isabella leaned back, stretching nonchalantly. Melisa could tell she was trying to put on a relaxed act, though, by the way the fox's tail was swinging back and forth.

"So, there it is. What do you think?" Isabella asked casually.

"I think it's a great idea. But... How about we work together?" Melisa asked. "I might be able to help make it happen."

"Uh..." Isabella raised a brow. "Maybe we could. Are you familiar with this sort of thing?"

Melisa nodded.

"Trust me," she stated. "If we can't make this work, no one can."