The Spider Queen

(Hydra Star System- Planet Eleron)

(Elite Student Housing Complex- Mansion 456Y)

There were numerous paths of cultivation. 

Some focused on physical enhancements, others wished to wield the power of the elements, and a few sought the aid of the arcane.

However, there was one path that was far more difficult than the rest.

Mech controllers.

To command the suits of armour capable of destroying entire fleets required a tremendous amount of mental force.

Perhaps not even one in one billion individuals with potential for cultivation would meet this threshold.

And of course, that was just the beginning of their long journey. 

Increasing one's mental force took an incredible amount of effort and patience.

It involved long periods of silent meditation where a cultivator would be forced to dive inside their own mind.

To regularly confront one's darkest fears, desires and secrets on a regular basis was no easy feat.

Many gave up after only a few months of training and those who persisted may eventually hit a wall that they could not overcome.

Cleo slowly rubbed her temples as she opened her eyes. 

The princess was currently in one of the spare bedrooms and sitting down on a fur mat.

Tomorrow was the first day of the final exam season and Cleo was trying her best to stabilise her fluctuating mental state.

Her first exam was a practice flight that would take place in an asteroid field that was a few days away from planet Eleron.

Instructor Barrett wanted his students to navigate through difficult terrain using their mechs and complete the tasks that he assigned them.

It was a bit unusual for first years to be given such an assignment, but Instructor Barrett had high expectations for his students.

Cleo closed her eyes and attempted to slip back into her meditative trance. 

Time passed slowly and the princess' brows eventually furrowed in frustration.

It was no use. No matter how hard she tried.

Maybe it was time for a break…

Cleo yawned sleepily and grabbed a spare jacket from her storage bag. The princess pulled a mirror out of her pocket and checked her appearance before humming in satisfaction.

She walked out of the spare bedroom and headed downstairs to the central living room. 

The television was turned on, and Cleo could hear loud noises from the top of the stairs.

"Alejandro my beloved… why did you leave me?!"

"Rose my love… for it was thine beauty and grace… it was mainly your unpleasant face…"

"You selfish pig! Don't think I don't know that you were sleeping with my brother!"

Sophie was sitting down on the couch and staring intensely at the bloody scene taking place on the screen.

"Tell him Rose! You don't need a cheater in your life!" Sophie cheered loudly as she reached for another sweet cake.

The hybrid girl paid no attention to her appearance as she shook her fist at the television and cursed the two-faced male lead.

"Rose! Are you seriously getting back…" Sophie's voice trailed off when she saw her girlfriend staring at her with an expression of bemusement.

Cleo giggled and ran over to the couch where she plopped down on Sophie's lap and seductively wiggled her hips.

A faint pink mist began to spread from the corners of Sophie's golden eyes, but the hybrid girl desperately fought down her urges.

Tomorrow was the first day of exams so she couldn't leave in Cleo in a bedridden state!

"What nonsense are you watching?" Cleo teased as she gently stroked Sophie's cheek. 

Her movements got bolder, and Sophie had to resist the temptation to tear off her jacket and expose those two plump mountains.

"Just the latest drama…." Sophie gritted her teeth and explained. Cleo saw the struggle in her girlfriend's eyes and decided to stop teasing her.

The princess settled down comfortably in Sophie's lap and held her girlfriend's hand. 

The sun was slowly going down towards the horizon and the light shining through the window was a warm orange colour.

"Are you nervous about the exams?" Cleo suddenly asked as she played Sophie's fingers.

Nervous?

Sophie hummed softly and gave the matter some thought.

It may sound a bit arrogant, but Sophie was confident in her ability to do well. 

She had spent the last few months desperately studying and catching up to her classmates.

Professor Macabre and Lecturer Ward were both very helpful and always tried their best to explain the concepts that she did not understand.

"I… I don't think so… I mean it's probably going to be a couple of hard exams, but I'm prepared for basically anything," Sophie replied calmly.

"I expect my girlfriend to get first place!" Cleo solemnly ordered with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Yes, my lady," Sophie teased softly as she pressed her lips against Cleo's cheek and pinched her soft ass.

"Your wish is my command…"

The princess squirmed happily, and the pair fell into a comfortable silence. 

The show continued to play in the background, but Sophie reached for the remote and lowered the volume.

Alejandro was trying to win his lover back with a gift of flowers, but he accidently sent them to Rose's brother.

The man who he had an affair with!

Sophie's eyes widened in shock, and she leaned forward to get a better look at the drama that was about to unfold.

Cleo sighed helplessly as she watched her girlfriend gradually lose herself in a world of backstabbing, deceit and falsehood.

She had no idea why Sophie was so obsessed with these kinds of shows. 

For god's sake… the acting and the story wasn't even that good.

Cleo had seen better examples of real-life drama during her childhood and teenage years spent growing up in the Imperial Palace Complex.

Her father's lust was a double-edged sword for his many wives because he was easily reached by anyone in the harem.

But he was not interested in matters outside of the pleasures of the flesh so naturally he did not bother to punish the actions of his concubines.

Sophie reached for another sweet cake but this time instead of swallowing it directly, she broke it in half.

"Open your mouth babe," Sophie whispered shyly.

Cleo obediently followed her command, and a small piece of cake was pushed into her mouth. 

Sophie followed her action up with a fierce kiss that took Cleo's breath away.

"Very sweet!" Sophie laughed as she grabbed another piece and repeated the same action until Cleo's lips were swollen.

The princess' face was now completely red as a fierce blush spread across her cheeks. Sophie always knew how to break down her walls.

The tender moment between the pair was interrupted by the loud cries coming from the television as the drama reached the finale.

"Rose my love… why do you hate me?!" the handsome Alejandro roared in despair. 

He stood in the pouring rain outside the house of his lover who stood silently by the window.

"Because… because… I love…" Rose stuttered as she spoke.

"Love?" Alejandro raised his head as his eyes gleamed with hope.

"Because I love my brother… AND YOU SLEPT WITH HIM FIRST!" Rose screamed loudly as she slammed the window shut.

The screen slowly turned black, and the credits started to roll. Sophie dropped the piece of sweet cake in her hand as she stared in disbelief.

"Holy shit! What a plot twist!" Sophie excitedly spoke. 

She hurriedly powered on her wrist communicator and began to check the Virtual Net for any reviews.

"What am I going to do with you?" Cleo affectionately whispered as she leaned in and kissed Sophie's cheek.