I AM A MAGE BUT WITH MILF SYSTEM

Chapter 544: Heavenʼs energy

Meanwhile, Julian stayed still for a moment longer, his eyes quietly tracing Annieʼs curled form under the blanket. He could feel the tension in the air, the unspoken questions, the emotions she didnʼt dare voice. But he said nothing. Instead, he turned back to the window, his expression calm but his mind far from it.

The sky of this realm stretched endlessly before him, painted in shades of gold and violet as the realmʼs night settled in. As he stared into it, familiar memories began to surface—his mother Reginaʼs embrace, Eleanorʼs soft smile, Evaʼs conflicted eyes, and the countless other important figures who had shaped him.

They flickered one after another in his mind like a vivid dream.

And then, breaking through the silence, a voice echoed in his head. Host, you are in the Heavenʼs Realm now. You can cultivate here.

Julian blinked, the edges of his lips curling upward into a faint smile. ”System…” he murmured, the sound barely audible even to himself. ”Where were you? Itʼs been ages since I last heard from you.”

”Well, host,” the voice resumed, ”I was dormant. That disciple of the Supreme Deity of Death would have discovered my interference if I had aided you directly.”

Julian raised a brow. ”So… youʼre saying that wasnʼt Death himself I faced, but merely a disciple?”

”Yes,” the system replied. ”You think you could have outrun Death himself? That any mortal—or even divine being—could have escaped his notice? No. You are clever, yes, but naive.”

Julian chuckled softly to himself. The memories of his encounter with Death, of the chills he had faced during that confrontation, now seemed almost absurd. After all he had learned about the Heavens, the Supreme Deity, and the structure of divine authority, it was almost laughable that he had believed he could outrun such a force.

”Alright then,” he murmured, his expression shifting to one of curiosity. ”So how do I cultivate here? I canʼt even sense mana in this realm…”

The systemʼs voice grew slightly more serious, resonating in Julianʼs mind. ”Host, the Heavens do not operate on mana as mortals understand it. Here, there exists only Heavens Energy—a higher, purer form of essence that flows through every being and every floating island. Mana is a smaller form of it, bound to mortal worlds.”

Julianʼs eyes narrowed, his eyes gleaming with interest. ”Heavens Energy, huh… and the only way to—?”

”Yes,” the system interrupted smoothly. ”The only way to progress, to ascend through the zones of purification, is to cultivate this energy. But it is unlike anything you have known. Heavens Energy does not respond to brute force or simple willpower alone. You must attune yourself to it, harmonize with the realmʼs flow, and allow it to reshape you from within. Only then will you gain the strength to reach the higher layers.”

Julian exhaled slowly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. ”Sounds… entertaining. Finally, something worthy of my attention.”

”Remember, host,” the system added, ”this is no longer a mortal plane. Every action, every choice, every thought contributes to your karmic duty. Fail to harmonize with the energy, and the realm itself may reject you, leaving you stranded in the lower zones—or worse.”

Julianʼs grin widened as he turned back to the glowing expanse beyond the window. ”Good. I like a challenge.”

With that he yawned and turned away from the window, his gaze falling on the bed. Slowly, deliberately, he began walking toward it.

Annie heard the soft sound of his footsteps and her heart began fluttering in her chest. She did not turn to look, though every nerve in her body screamed at her to do so.

Julian reached the edge of the bed and lowered himself comfortably on the sheets. The mattress creaked faintly under his weight, and Annieʼs stomach knotted at the sound.

For a long moment, silence stretched between them, broken only by the soft, rhythmic sound of their breathing. Annie could feel the warmth radiating from him and that was all she could think about.

Her mind raced, torn between wanting to steal a glance and wanting to hide, to pretend she wasnʼt aware of the tension coiling like fire in her veins. Yet, even as she tried to steady herself, she could feel him studying her, and the realization made her cheeks heat further.

Meanwhile, Julian smiled faintly, sensing the war waging within her. He said nothing, needing no words to communicate his intentions. Slowly, he slipped under the blanket and slept beside her, keeping a respectful distance. The faint warmth of his presence brushed against her side, sending an involuntary shiver through her.

”Can I close the light?” he asked quietly.

Annie swallowed and finally found the courage to glance at him. ”Y-yes… yes, you can,” she whispered, her voice trembling ever so slightly.

Her eyes met his for a fleeting instant, before she quickly turned back toward the bed.

The room dimmed as Julianʼs hand reached for the switch, and the light flickered off. Darkness enveloped them, heavy and intimate, cloaking the room in silence.

Annieʼs breaths grew shallow, each one feeling amplified in the stillness. She could sense the space between them, the careful distance he maintained, yet every subtle movement he made under the blanket sent a wave of heat through her. Her hands gripped the sheet tighter, half to steady herself, half because the closeness of him stirred feelings she had not expected to feel.

Then, she heard it—a soft, rhythmic rustling that seemed almost impossible to ignore. It was subtle at first, like something soft moving slowly over the blanket.

Her pulse spiked.

It sounded like... stroking.

Was it his hand? Was he touching himself? The thought alone made her clench her thighs together, a sharp ache blooming low in her belly. She strained her ears, every nerve alight, listening to that intimate sound as it grew slightly louder, more insistent.

The friction intensified. She could almost feel the heat radiating from his body as he shifted closer. Her breath hitched, trapped in her throat.