“The Echoes have breached the southern quadrant and have begun spreading in the Ironbeak Mines. Requesting additional assistance.”
- Missive of Reinforcement, Kar Narhaz, “Letter Delivered to Kaz Druzara”
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I have to be ready. Sophie scowled as she side-stepped where an attack would have been. She moved her arm to parry where the blow would have been and launched her counterattack.
Thwack.
She hit the training target, but it wasn’t good enough. There had been the briefest of hesitation, a slight flicker in her mind that caused her to slow just enough. She was still too rational, too normal. She growled at herself.
When she wasn’t caught up in the heat of battle, she still couldn’t kill. At least not without that small sense of doubt. She wanted to be the one who could act first, to put down any threat that might come to Ary or the others. But she just didn’t know how to break past that limit. Gah. I can’t always be battle-ready… or can I?
Sophie sighed and walked away from the target. Her arms had grown sore to the point of stiffness. She needed to rest.
The past two weeks had created more anxiety than she could’ve ever imagined. Mila had helped her gather her siblings and Ary to inform of them of their suspicions. To warn them about someone likely having targetted Sophie and will potentially do so to Elaria.
Though she had expected some level of casualness, Sophie was still surprised at how well Elaria seemed to just shrug off the issue. At the very least, she could take comfort in her sister’s confidence, but moreso in Raylani’s presence.
In fact, it was the former gladiatrix and assassin who had crafted Sophie’s current regimen to practice her skills. In a similar yet different way to Taurox’s plans in the past, she told Sophie in no uncertain terms that she was still a bit of an oaf. That she needed to lean onto her more lithe frame and rely on speed rather than strength.
Sophie wiped the sweat from her brow, her attempt doing little as her arm was also covered in moisture. She could taste the saltiness when a few beads slid past her mouth and touched her tongue as she panted. She was exhausted, but she needed to make sure she could function like this even outside of combat. Push myself even without adrenaline. That’s what Raylani said. To be swift in response to any threat, even those I don’t think to be dangerous.
“That’s enough, even I can see you’re tired, stinky.’ An ever sweet voice teased, snapping her out of her thoughts.
“H-hey! I’m not that stinky, or at least not that stinky… right?” Sophie grimaced at the accusation.
Ary giggled and jokingly moved to sniff her, the redhead feiging a look of disgust as her entire face curled up in displeasure. Before Sophie could respond however, a small hand darted toward her stomach and began drumming against it. Without giving her a chance to comprehend what was happening, Ary simply rested her head on Sophie’s shoulder and glanced at her.
“Wha-mngh!” Sophie bit down on her lips to hold back a moan as she instinctively arched her back, her chest puffed out as she shuddered.
The redhead’s hand slipped into her pants and circled her sensitive zones.
“A-A-Ary, p-pubic…” Sophie half heartedly stammered. She was overheating. Her body was sore and tired from practice. Yet right now, it was also burning with excitement and desire. Every part of her wanted to strip and spin around, to lock lips with Ary. But rationality remained. They were in a training room with no guarantees that someone wouldn’t just walk in. Argh, but I’m on fire right, it feels…
“Ngh.” Sophie squirmed.
Ary had begun the attack in earnest. Sophie could feel a finger drawing closer to her slit even as Ary’s thumb continued softly caressing her bulb. Sophie writhed, making a performative attempt to escape as her eyes closed. Each touch and stroke only made her cravings grow. She suspected she knew why. It was because she had been busy the past weeks. Sorry Ary, I…
Her thoughts had no time to form. An electrifying feeling coursed through her body as she jolted from pleasure. Ary’s aggresive finger pushed its way in and the warrior had crumpled. Every semblance of resistance faltered as Sophie allowed her tongue to loll outside her mouth as she panted like a dog. Delight, love, overwhelming emotions flowed out and into her as Ary seemed unlikely to relent. The girl’s attack was growing more relentless. Almost like she was channeling the pent up frustration at their extended distance from recent events.
Sophie could only meekly whimper in mock protest as Ary pushed in a second finger. The girl taking advantage of all the excess moisture from both sweat and desire to enact her plans. It was humiliating yet arousing at the same time. Her practice sword was still gripped in her hand, but she just stood there as Ary attacked, her body locked under the redhead’s complete control. Thousands of thoughts crossed Sophie’s mind, each one filled with want for more.
Whatever little dignity she had left crumpled when Ary pulled her head sideways and kissed her, their tongue intertwing. When her free hand teased Sophie’s erect nipples, it was over.
“Mngh!” Sophie stifled the cry.
Sophie spasmed from the release, the raw animalistic desire from her girlfriend conveyed in full. As her soreness returned into full force, she let out a soft whimper as tears formed in her eyes. Her body gave out from the combination of training and passion, she limply leaned into Ary as every part of her seemed to yearn for more. For a moment, she knew exactly where and who she belonged to, the aggressive ritual getting the point across. The aftershocks only weakened her further as she continued shuddering, Ary neither pushing nor removing her fingers. S-s-she….
Ary took a big sniff and sighed, leaving a few more kisses on Sophie’s now sweat covered cheeks.
“I’ve missed you, you know.” Ary cooed.
“Mhfm.” Sophie managed a reply of sorts.
“No more training today. No meetings. Just us.” Ary demanded.
Sophie’s heart raced to the point of collapse as she just nodded. When did she get so forceful, uhhn, please move your hands, please, please, or else I’ll...
“Let’s go back to the dorm, shall we?” Ary winked.
“AH!” Sophie let out an involuntary gasp as the fingers slipped out. Her legs slammed together as her muscles tensed, a second flood just barely averted. Her fingers curling tightly as her she had to muster whatever willpower was left.
Ary just wiggled the soaked appendages in front of her in triumph.
Sophie couldn’t even reply, she was completely spent. All she could muster were a few loving grunts before letting herself slump against Ary. Haah, hooh, what the hells has gotten into her? Ary offered a soothing nuzzle despite the indignity of simply leaving Sophie’s undergarments as is. Not that I mind… Sophie grumbled to herself as the other girl led her back to the dorm.
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“What do you mean she’s bedridden? What the… what happened?” Mila shouted indignantly.
Hanabi almost sniggered at how the inquisitor refused to say ‘hells’ that most of the locals did. The object of her ire, the redhead that had first introduced Hanabi to the strange cast, scratched at her nose awkwardly before shuffling her feet. Perhaps the only surprise that Hanabi found was how almost deliberately obtuse Mila was in understanding what happened. Hahah.
“Haha.” Hanabi accidentally laughed.
“What?!” Mila looked at her with exasperation.
Hanabi shook her head and stared at Aryana, the girl squirming a little more under the focused stare.
“Nothing.” Hanabi chuckled.
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“Aryana?” Mila rolled her eyes and focused back on the redhead, whose face had now blossomed into a deep shade of scarlet.
“I was lonely. She was busy all the time.” Aryana tried to avoid Mila’s gaze.
“So? She still has an obligation to-”
“I wanted to punish Sophie and accidentally made her cum too much. She can barely walk right now.” Aryana mumbled into her collar, the girl staring directly at the ground, refusing to shift her attention anywhere else.
“Bwhahaha.” Hanabi cackled, her composure breaking at the girl’s boldness and the inquisitor’s agape expression as Mila failed to comprehend the words being said.
Sensing that Mila was close to shutting down, Hanabi decided to demonstrate. Despite half doubling over from laughter, she managed to hold up some of her fingers, miming the motions of penetration, an act that made her laugh even more as pain roared up her sides.
“I… you…” The inquisitor inexperience in such matters was beginning to show. Hanabi found it exceptionally amusing that the gruff battlescarred warrior seemed completely at a loss for words. Whereas the diminutive looking redhead was the perpetrator of such debauchery.
“You asked!” Aryana squeaked, the redhead’s turn to be indignant.
“But… I didn’t need to…”
“You kept asking!”
“I didn’t need this image in my head!” Mila’s face had also turned crimson, the inquisitor’s eyes wide with bewilderment underneath her brimmed hat.
“Ahahah, hahah, hoooh, hahaha.” Hanabi giggled some more before pinching herself to calm down a little, “Don’t heheh, don’t worry Aryana. We can handle everything today.” Feeling like she’d gotten closer to her new friends, she remembered some of the cruder gestures from her past. Holding one hand open like a hole, she mimed putting a fist through it.
“Nooo!” Aryana shrieked, “Not that much!”
“Aahahah.” Hanabi burst into another laughing fit, “Go care for her heheh, today should be easy enough for just the two of us.”
Aryana didn’t even wait for Mila’s opinion on the matters. Hiding her face behind her hands, she nodded furiously before scattering back towards her dorm. Hahah, to think our crazy warrior who might be a monster got taken out by fingers, hahah. Hanabi snorted.
Only after this fit had subsided did she notice Mila’s ashen expression, the girl clearly in pain trying to forget something. Noticing Hanabi’s on her seemed to make her stand a little straighter. Perhaps she felt more vulnerable than usual or was caught off guard, but the usual scowl turned into one more akin to that of a pleading comrade than a disparaging one.
“I feel like I know the exact expression she would make and…” Mila confessed, “I… I now cannot get the image of that out of my head. I keep imagining the two of them together and… I mean it’s not like I didn’t know they were a thing. It’s just… ugh.” She scowled, though mostly at herself.
Hanabi felt oddly pleased that the inquisitor had confided in her, however asinine the worry. Delighted at the new level of friendship she had received from the others, she did her part by steering the stricken inquisitor away from Aryana’s dorm.
She understood that after Mila and Sophie shared their suspicions that someone might be targetting Sophie and her sister. The two in particular were eager to double their efforts in regards to training and formulating a plan. Sophie trained more whilst Mila turned to her church allies. And though Hanabi had left the saintess program, she was at least glad that they seemed to be doing well.
That effort bore some fruit today. For a joint commission likely orchestrated by Mila to help strengthen their ties with the church, a simple excursion to the vilalge of Oakbeach to help the villagers handle an amphibious wildlife problem. It sounded easy enough, though Hanabi herself felt just a tad apprehensive at having to interact so closely inconjunction with the church. She only hoped there would be no hard feelings.
Perhaps most awkward of all was that everyone was aware that Sensei Eva had a history with Sophie as her maid. This would’ve been a chance to see the two in action together. Well, that sorted itself I guess, heheh. Hope she won’t be too mad that Sophie is a no-show.
The duo quietly walked until they reached the Academy gates, both having been absorbed in their own thoughts. Finally, they caught sight of the small church squadron. She recongnized Sensei Eva and squad leader Aoi. With her however, instead of the usual troublemakers, she instead saw Izumi, Natsuki, Tsugumi and Tatsuki. The first two were ostensibly odd but smart and relatively well disciplined. To be placed in squad four surprised Hanabi. Tsugumi was a wild child similar to Hanabi herself, though a little bit more reserved. Tatsuki was an abrasive ass, but handy in a fight. An odd mix to be sure.
She spied Eva looking curiously at the approaching duo, her eyes trying to search for the hidden third member. Sorry, sensei. Hanabi muttered internally.
As they drew closer to the group, Mila stiffened up. Her usual scowl returned to life as she adopted a more neutral expression. She performed a small salute of sorts, acknowledging first the orc and human inquisitors accompanying the saints, and then the two templars that were tagging along. How professional.
“Kimura-san!” Tsugumi hollered, making the church group flinch.
Hanabi smiled on the inside, still a wild one. “It’s Hanabi now. Easier for the locals. How are you guys?” She replied with fingerguns.
“Ohh, joining with the locals are we?” Tsugumi chuckled before shrugging, “You know how it is. Practice, learn, study, practice.”
“Busy, busy then.” She tutted.
“Not as busy as you from what I’ve been hearing.” Tsugumi’s eyes twinkled a little.
“Guilty as charged. Few adventures of my own with these guys. It'll take a while to catch up to Ryo and Jun though. Nice to see you again.” Hanabi smirked as she embraced her friend.
“Hah. You’ve got to tell me about everything.”
“Well from what I’ve heard we have a little ways to go.” She winked.
Besides them, Mila was huddling up with the inquisitors and sensei to discuss the mission. A few words of which nearly made Hanabi guffaw.
“I was told to expect three.” The man, Inquisitor Janos, questioned.
“She is currently indisposed.” Mila answered truthfully.
“What? Why?” Eva chimed in, a hint of fear and worry in her voice.
“Calm down. She had a case of too much night-based physical activities with Aryana.” Mila said without a hint of the shock or shame she had shown earlier.
Almost impressively stoic if I hadn’t already seen her earlier, Hanabi wanted to snigger.
That did leave the others a little bit confused though. Mostly in what the appropriate reaction was to this information beyond just accepting it was for what it was.
“Well, well, well.” Tsugumi whispered, changing her voice to their native tongue “Sensei’s maid had some nighttime excitement?”
“Based on what was told to us by the girlfriend.” Hanabi suppressed a laugh, joining her.
“It’ll be really sad for sensei though.”
“I am not.” Eva quipped from the side, startling the two.
Compared to the other saints and saintesses, she looked very much different. For Hanabi, she often forgot that sensei was actually someone from their homeland and not a local. She acts and talks like them too.
“Sorry.”
“Sorry.”
The two apologized.
"Gossiping is fine. But refrain from too much of it." Eva chuckled before focusing back on official matters. Taking that as her cue to change topics, Hanabi motioned to the other outlanders and followed Tsugumi to them as she caught up with their affairs.
It felt nice for her to be reunited with even some of her classmates. Though most weren’t what she would call friends and only borderline aquaintences at most. There was something oddly nostalgic seeing them again.
Aoi improved her archery skills and had become a tiny bit more assertive. Izumi had learned how to synthesize potions under church leadership. Natsuki induldged a little in his love for shields. Tatsuki was still a little creepy and Hanabi was glad he mostly ignored her. Tsugumi was Tsugumi and hadn’t changed much from what she last remembered.
Almost a pleasant reunion. Hanabi thought to herself.
It took a few minutes before carriages arrived to take them to Oakbeach. As the gathered groups got ready for the journey ahead. A familiar but very tired sounding voice drew a gasp of excitement from Eva.
“Wait up!” Sophie called out, the half elf practically forcing herself to keep running forward.
“Sophie!” Eva let out a delighted cry.
Mila and Hanabi looked at each other, the same sentiment passing through their minds. Well this is a little awkward.
Sophie waved to Eva before catching a sight of the two partners that left her behind. Stomping over with what little energy she could muster, she squared up the two and tried to adopt the most disappointed face she could create.
“You assholes! You left me behind!” Sophie pouted half heartedly.
Mila scowled and looked to Hanabi, signally for her to handle this. Amused at how far she could push things, she decided to test her limit a little.
“Aryana told us you had too much sex.” Hanabi tried to nonchalantly state, her body twitching a little as she wanted to giggle.
Sophie tried to retort and just froze, her expression stuck between a mixture of embarrassment and utter bafflement.
Everyone else just waited with bated breath.
“Whatever.” Sophie threw up her hands in defeat. Hearing that most of the students snickered whilst even Eva managed a soft chuckle.
She rolled her eyes but nodded at Mila and Hanabi, acknowledging them.
"Sophie! Over here!" Eva's voice echoed from the lead carriage.
Summoned for a reunion of her own, Sophie waved goodbye to the duo, making sure to cast a singule withering glare at Hanabi before turning away. Hanabi was both relieved and pleased. A new level of friendship, has been achieved I think. Or at least she doesn't outright disapprove.
With the party restored and nothing else halting the way, the group finally set off on their cooperative training mission. Still despite the good mood and being reunited with some of her odd but still former classmates, Hanabi felt a little tingle in her chest. Feels like trouble.