I spent the afternoon working with Iser on little tricks I could do to help with basic control and conversion efficiency. We then spent the evening just enjoying each other's company in private as we felt we were not directly being hunted for once. The two of us had started to build a nightly routine.

The next morning Lluvia and I were squaring off against each other again. Not only was I armed with a different kind of mana but I also constructed a practice dagger that was currently tucked away.

As we began instead of both of us disappearing for a rapid attack we both began to circle each other.

I currently held my practice sword diagonally across my body in a sort of defensive stance. Lluvia currently relaxed, spinning a practice dagger on one finger while toying with the short sword in the other.

I sprang at her first with just a basic head on charge to close the distance. I started with two basic swings both diagonal cuts in reversing directions after each stop. She sidestepped the attack then slashed at my exposed ribs, I altered space to take a tiny step back just to be out of range.

She then disappeared after that attack. And appeared 20 feet away a second later.

"Not bad girl! Give you a few months and I suspect you could handle most average sword fighters in a straight duel." She said, I just smiled and fired a needle thin thread of shadow mana at her.

One thing I had discovered the previous night was like mana types could interfere with each other in interesting ways. My thread struck and started to dismantle the illusion, I did have for a brief second a mental image of the threads Lluvia had scattered about including the spot right behind me.

Initially when I sparred with her she used this trick and I could not initially understand how she was moving so fast. I knew she could cover that distance in the time necessary to strike me in the back but it was energy intensive. Instead she had always distracted me then attacked.

I folded space around me and turned 180 degrees in an instant. My strike was intercepted by both her weapons in a scissor like catch. She was stronger than me due to level and practice but I had more leverage with my swords two handed grip.

As we clenched I pulled out the hidden dagger and sliced across her abdomen. A deadly blow in a fight if not outright immediately lethal.

"Fucking hell girl, nice strike. I figured it might come but you kept me from diverting your original strike." She said laughing.

"I mean you still let me win, how many other tricks did you have?" I asked.

"Don't worry about those, I was mostly focusing on skills that would put us roughly on par, level wise at least. So what changed?" She asked genuinely curious.

"It's embarrassing… but one of the things the new class specializes in is dance based combat… I want to figure out how to use that as my style." I said, cheeks going red.

"That I get, there is an elegance and grace to a dancer that is rarely seen elsewhere…" she said with her own blush.

We continued to spar and work on styles that focused heavily on flow until finally I unlocked a new class skill. It took me over two hours but eventually it finally occurred.

For doing a Special Action in line with your Class, you have unlocked the skill: Dancing Blade

Dancing Blade

Rank F - 00%

Mixing the grace of a dancer with the blade work of a warrior.

I accepted the new skill which became my first skill in my second class. Unfortunately my Dagger Sword really didn't fit with the fighting style I was starting to go down.

Luckily the thin scimitar that was stabbed through my chest was a better match and leaving my dagger sword as just a dagger worked fine for an off hand weapon.

We started our hike a bit later than normal but ended at around the same time. Even if the backwoods Root and Orlo both agreed we were making better time.

I worked on a new training sword to replace the long sword style I had been using that evening before cuddling up with Iser.

"You seem more enthusiastic about this combat style compared to the last. Do you think you could explain?" He asked me.

"I like the idea of dance and have always been interested but far too self conscious about trying it… this gives me an outlet for that I feel… as to why… that is complicated." I said.

"Would you like to discuss it?" He asked.

"Not yet I think but soon." I said, then I pulled him into a hug.

"I am here if you ever need to talk." He said.

"I know and thank you." I told him while nuzzling the top of his head.

The next morning Lluvia and I were at it. Switching to the Scimitar was different for sure. It was a more delicate blade and would work better for parrying attacks.

One tactic that I learned to employ was to leave shadow streaks across the battlefield at about eye level. These helped break line of sight and would interfere with Lluvia's attacks, unfortunately they were almost as detrimental to me.

"Yeah, your movement has already changed quite a bit as we continue to practice. You're definitely starting to take on hints of a dancer's grace." Lluvia said.

"Too bad I don't have any leotards and tights. I think both you and Iser would really appreciate that skin tight outfit." I teased.

"This is how you get jumped Nicole. You keep teasing me and… fuck I don't know what I'm going to do…" she said flustered.

"Sorry that honestly wasn't my intention." I told her.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"Sure it wasn't." She said with a hungry smile.

"Purely physical, right?" I asked.

"Yes… but seriously if you're still uncomfortable then wait and do some soul searching." She said.

"One more round?" I asked.

"Sure." She said and disappeared.

Another day of travel heading south and no sign of Airship or other Seekers. Cuddling up with Iser that evening we had been chatting about mundane stuff to this point.

"So I have a question or maybe I'm just asking for permission… I don't know." I said.

"Would this be about you and Lluvia?" He asked.

"Umm yes…" I said hesitantly.

"You are your own person and I will not stop you." He said.

"Then let's make a pack or deal or something. If the other is seeing someone just let them know." I said.

"I will if you insist but who else you are with is your own matter I prefer not to interfere." He said.

I thought about it for a moment then asked.

"Do Kobolt's have any sort of Marriage?"

"Mating pairs that had hatchlings will share a deeper bond with one another. That would be the closest parallel." He said.

This left me in an interesting headspace. I was in an emotional relationship with someone I still did not understand very well.

"Are you ok?" He asked with some concern in his voice.

"Yes, I think so. I sort of forgot you are not human and I have been applying humanistic traits. I think I still have a lot to learn. I said thoughtfully.

"That is understandable, I do still care deeply for you, please do not misunderstand that." He said.

My only response was to cuddle deeper into his embrace. Then I placed a kiss under his jaw.

The next morning Lluvia and I were practicing yet again. I had shown significant improvement over my initial flailing attempts after several days of practice. I suspect my new skill played greatly into that.

I received yet another smack to my butt as Lluvia spun through a complex set of faints and dodges.

"Oww that one stings." I said hopping about rubbing my ass.

"If I didn't know any better I feel like I was being punished." I said still hopping up and now.

"More of a reminder to protect your backside." Lluvia said with a small smile.

In response I changed up tactics. To this point I had been using minimal mana to force myself to fight without it. I folded space blending a bit of shadow mana in with the force mana I had discovered that mixing mana types in this fashion could really change what others would see.

To Lluvia she would just see a blur of shadows charge at her instead of a stretched Nicole. Then doing the same mix I infused my limbs for an added speed boost that would leave momentary shadow trails. Visually I looked like some sort of wannabe anime character.

I still managed to score two glancing strikes from the surprise movement and attack but nothing that would be definitive in a fight. Unfortunately it was still very mana intensive to do this style of fighting.

"See you're getting the hang of it, mix up your patterns and let your mana regenerate between major attacks." Lluvia said.

I was then immediately tripped onto my back and Lluvia was straddling my hips. From my current position I placed a long drawn out kiss where her neck and jaw met.

"Feels like someone had yet another conversation." She almost whispered.

"Yup, and I have since figured out that at least in Iser's case I am applying too many human notions to our relationship." I said.

"Right… that makes sense, Kobolts do things differently. I'm surprised you didn't think of that sooner" She said.

"Lluvia… I've been on Dirt for a little over a month. I didn't have any experience with other sapient species, hell my world's understanding comes from behavior studies and observations. This is all far more new and more alien to me than you can possibly imagine." I said with my own amusement.

"Okay… I get the point… I think…" she said with maybe a hint of confusion.

"So I take it you would be up for more fun activities?" She asked with just a hint of hope.

"Yes" I said with a big smile.

That was how we spent the next week. I would do a morning practice with someone. We would travel in the day then make camp for the evening. I more often than not spent my nights with Iser but twice I spent some time with Lluvia. During all this time we saw no indications of the Seekers. I did see a bit of movement on both my Dancing Blade skill and Homemaking skills due to the content practice and camping.

By this point we were close enough to head into the next town. This would also be the first time we would be going in disguise and as two separate groups. The first group could be myself, Orlo and Lluvia. I would be completely changing my appearance to a slightly younger male bun… mostly. Lluvia could hide herself quite well and Orlo let me change a few feathers around their face to a dark gray color.

Overall our disguise should allow us to pass unnoticed at least from casual inspections. If someone was pinging everyone that walked into town however they might catch my class name, which was my biggest concern.

The second group would be waiting for a message from me to come in. We would act as two separate groups the entire time but with the bands we had a significant advantage for communication.

"How the hell do Root and Turnip deal with rabbit ears… the puffball tail I can handle." I said as we were approving the town from the main road coming South.

"The black ears look good on you and the way they keep twitching is adorable." Lluvia said.

"Oh shit really odd question, in the common tongue do Nicole and Nickel sound similar? I know I'm going by Nick but I figure it could be short for a play of words with Nickel if anyone asks." I asked.

"She/he/it never turns off… and you like to sleep with her?" Orlo asked in an exacerbated tone.

"Yes the name would work, and not a bad idea actually. Yes because she is super fun and responsive in bed." Lluvia said first to me then to Orlo.

As we approached the town gates we finally figured out why the Seekers stopped trying to find up. A small squad of them was currently monitoring from the side of the gate who came and left.

As we got closer to the gate one of the Seekers a Bun by the looks of her appearance approached our party.

"Fucking hell… this is already going to get complicated…" I said through the communication Band..

"Greetings travelers, unfortunately we will need to inspect each one of you entering the town." The Seeker woman said. She appeared maybe a few years older than my current form.

She paused for a few seconds at each of us without any indication of surprise or alarm.

"Alright, you're free to head into town, and MacTinkerer? I'll be seeing you at the Inn later this evening." She said pointing to me, and referring to me by my class name.

"Ummm" I said in confusion and shock, I felt Lluvia grab my wrist and pull me along.

"Oh hell I like the country Bun's, they are so easy." I heard her whisper to herself.

"Did I just get hit on by that guard?" I stammered quietly to Lluvia.

"Yes you did… and she has no chance with you… no tact at all, no subtlety… nothing" Lluvia muttered hotly.

"Wow! Jealousy?" I asked in an amused tone.

"Ha as if… actually I would be almost interested in seeing her reaction when she got your pants off." She said quietly.

"Holy fucking shit…." I muttered in incredulity.