Chapter 9: The Raven!

The next morning, every time Elhaym and Minx locked eyes they giggled. Fenix looked on with a really happy bemused look. Every time he passed by the two he'd give Elhaym a really goofy smirk and Elhaym would look down blushing.

“Sleep good last night Brother Elhaym?” Fenix teased while they cleared up camp.

“Nfufu~ Quite well actually Brother Fenix~” Elhaym squeezed Minx's hand gently, blushing a little.

Tomoko couldn't help but smile at the two. Ever since last night she had been cheering Elhaym and Minx. Now though, she began to feel the awkwardness of sharing a body with Elhaym. Everything Elhaym did, Tomoko felt as if it was her doing it. So now every kiss, hug, cuddle, Tomoko was feeling as well and it felt well...awkward.

Tomoko wondered if this counted as her first kiss now, because she felt all the kissing but it wasn't technically her doing it, but she was feeling it. She didn't exactly mind how it felt, but she would have preferred the sensation with Fenix instead.

“Maybe Fenix will give you kisses when you have your own body nfufu~” Elhaym giggled as they finished up packing up camp.

Tomoko sputtered incomprehensible words, “Wh-when h-how?! Oh right...” Tomoko sighed, she knew Elhaym was just teasing but still, her thoughts being able to be 'heard' was mortifying at times.

The group finished packing up and set off. They decided to set off for the Toreen estate to deliver Dynty safely. It would only be a couple days' journey to the estate and with the bandits gone the trip should be uneventful.

The first day of travel went by uneventfully. Elhaym explained some of the local wildlife, which was surprisingly similar to the wildlife from Earth. Elhaym also explained other creatures that only existed in fantasy stories back home, like Dragons and Griffons and others like them.

Minx told Tomoko stories about Goblin cities, Tomoko realized that Goblin cities would be very similar to cities in Japan. Tall buildings (though no skyscrapers) and lots of hustle and bustle. Minx was actually from a small town near a Goblin City, and talked often about how she felt like a “Country Gal” instead of a “City Gobbo” as she put it.

The evening wasn't as uneventful as Tomoko hoped. Tomoko had realized that Elhaym and Minx were looking forward to camping together as a couple for the first time, the realization made her nervous. She hadn't even had a boyfriend in her previous life other than your typical schoolyard romances that came and went like the wind growing up. After the fire was lit and food ate, Elhaym took first watch while Minx batted her eyelashes at Elhaym before going into their tent. (Fenix decided he would sleep in a hammock this evening to give Dynty her own tent. Fenix also suggested the tents be placed some distance apart with a wink).

“Sooooo, uh, Elhaym, you and Minx are getting pretty close huh?” Tomoko broke the silence of watch.

“Oho! Quite close nfufu~” Elhaym chuckled, “She's so cute and soft~” Her cheeks glowed red as she lost herself in thought for a moment.

“Ah so, first night together as a couple aha~” Tomoko wished she wasn't so awkward, “Anything special planned?”

“Special? What do you mean?” Elhaym scratched her chin, “Is there something special I need to be doing? Like do I need to go get something?”

“Wait, what do you think couples do when they sleep together?” Surely Elhaym knew about the birds and the bees right? Tomoko thought as she asked the puzzled Elhaym.

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“Uh, we kiss right? Minx seems to like tongue kisses, so I guess we'd do that?” Elhaym kicked a dirt clod.

Well I guess she doesn't have the hardware to do the other thing...but the yuri romance novels I read had -those- scenes, does she not know how -that- works? Maybe her father never gave her “the talk” but then again everything Tomoko knew about this stuff came from trashy romance manga and novels...

“Well you can do other stuff too, I mean if you two want to, like special couple stuff. I'm sure Minx would like that!” Tomoko couldn't believe she was about to talk about this stuff to Elhaym, but then again she felt bad if Elhaym didn't know.

“Oh! You must mean canoodling!” Elhaym snapped her fingers, “But I don't have a noodle to do the canoodle...what should I do?”

Tomoko had to hold back laughter, she had never heard of it talked about so innocently before.

“Uhh, well from some romance books I read, you can do...” Tomoko's voice trailed off before she started explaining some of the steamier things from the Yuri romance mangas she had read before.

Elhaym's face burned a fierce tomato-red as Tomoko tried to be as gentle with the details as possible.

“Oh! So, uh, yeah, maybe with Minx! I can...a hah!” Elhaym wrung her hands, her forehead began to sweat a little.

“You'll be fine Elly ahah~” Tomoko was nervous too now since she'd basically be experiencing it all too.

After her watch was up Elhaym went to her and Minx's tent. She gulped hard as she undid her armor she was wearing and crawled in with her underclothes. Elhaym snuggled up behind Minx, to realize she was snoring soundly and loudly.

“Aw, best not to disturb her rest~” Elhaym breathed a sigh of relief, as she wrapped her arms around the small Goblin, squeezing around her chest on accident.

Elhaym closed her eyes when she felt a little squirm. She looked down to see Minx's red eyes glowing in the dark tent.

“Ara?” Was all Elhaym could say before Minx straddled Elhaym and pinned her shoulders down (as best as she could anyway).

Tomoko then learned, yes she could indeed feel everything Elhaym felt as the couple fully enjoyed their first full night as a couple.

The next morning was just as awkward as Fenix kept nudging Elhaym with his elbow as they got camp back together. Tomoko couldn't explain her feelings on the situation, only that not only was it mortifying it was also oddly informative? But she knew she wanted her own body asap, she felt like a peeping tom as well after what transpired.

The rest of the morning was uneventful as the group continued on their way. That afternoon though would prove to be a different story. Fenix decided to scout ahead at one point, but when he didn't return after almost an hour, Elhaym left Minx to guard Dynty as she ran ahead to follow after him.

Elhaym rode ahead for a few minutes before coming to a horrifying scene in the road. Fenix was leaned against a tree, holding his sword to keep an assailant at bay. He was bleeding from multiple cuts, breathing ragged. His opponent was a tall-slender woman. She had long-black hair, pale-snow skin, and dark black leather armor. Her cloak was fashioned in the shape of black-feathered wings. In her hand she held a long, slender, sword. The basket-guard fashioned in the shape of a skull. Her steel-grey eyes shown with malice as she attacked Fenix, who was just trying to stay on the defensive.

“Hold! Lady Vyntessa we are not your enemy!” Elhaym cried out as she rushed towards the fighters.

“So another brigand comes to face my steel!” Vyntessa spat, her voice mirrored the coldness of her steel.

“We are not brigands we have your sister!” Elhaym held her hands up as a gesture of peace.

“So you admit you have her captured! Have at thee!” Vyntessa charged Elhaym like a lightning bolt, sword tip flashing in the sunlight.

It took all of Elhaym's skill to dodge the thrust. Tomoko screamed as even she felt the air rush by her face from the blade of Vyntessa's sword.

“Curse you! Listen to reason!” Elhaym roared as she continued to expertly dodge Vyntessa's attacks.

Vyntessa only answered with her sword, her slashes and stabs coming in dangerously close to find their marks. Elhaym refused to draw her own sword, instead using her armor and her quick speed to dodge or block the attacks.

“Listen you dolt, if you stop attacking I'll bring your sister here!” Elhaym grunted as she continued to go on the defensive.

“I'll only stop when either one of us is dead! Like I'd give you a chance to set up an ambush!” Vyntessa hissed as she slashed and stabbed, each attack getting dangerously closer to striking Elhaym.

“Fine then! Have it your way!” Elhaym finally drew her sword and struck back. Tomoko noticed a flash of surprise in Vyntessa's eyes as she was now the one giving up ground.

Elhaym attacked with the fury of a lion, pouncing on Vyntessa any time she gave up space. The cold-eyed warrior did everything she could do to defend against Elhaym's barrage. To Elhaym's (and Tomoko's) surprise, Vyntessa drew a second sword from beneath her winged cloak. She mounted a new offensive that saw Elhaym now on the back foot.

The two swordmaidens fought to a deadlock. Neither one gaining the advantage over the other. Tomoko noticed Fenix retreat into the distance, hopefully to get Dyntessa to defuse the situation. Then to Tomoko's horror, Vyntessa managed to disarm Elhaym. Catching Elhaym's sword with hers, she was able to spin and wrest the blade from Elhaym.

“Now die cur!” Vyntessa growled as she charged once again, poised for a killing blow.

Elhaym ducked and hooked an arm into Vyntessa's stomach. She spun around to hold Vyntessa from behind and in one, fluid motion, lifted the swordmaiden up and slammed her into the ground behind her in a full nelson. Vyntessa's head smacked the earth with a crumpling 'thump' and slumped onto the ground.

“Is she...dead?” Tomoko couldn't hide the fear in her voice.

“No, she's tougher than that, just stunned until Fenix gets here with her sister,” Elhaym was out of breath. She went to retrieve her sword and sheathed it. “I'll hold onto these in case she comes to...”

Elhaym picked up Vyntessa's twin swords and stabbed them into the ground beside her.

“I wish she wasn't so thick...” Elhaym sighed as she sat down, wiping her head with her gloved hand.

Tomoko chuckled, Elhaym calling someone else thick was irony at its finest.