96: Blood in the Water, Part Eleven

Blood in the Water, Part Eleven

{Neve}

Following behind Erin, once Neve got her clothes back on and pushed the blood that rushed up to her cheeks away from her face, the healer got ready to learn how to use a sword. 

Suddenly feeling quite tired, Neve could tell that her internal clock was signaling to her that it was time to get some rest even though this world's two suns, both about half the size of Earth's sun, were still burning brightly in the sky. 

"Come on, one little kiss didn't exhaust you that much, did it?" 

"N-No, I'm just sleepy." 

"Hm. Well then, we'll only go over some fundamentals right now. Training while half-asleep tends to produce accidents after all." 

As Erin told her that, Neve looked around and saw that Ahlakan had, most likely, gone into the same tent Neve had just exited the instant that both she and Erin made their way out. If she'd had any particular reaction to what she probably assumed was a very brief tryst, Neve had not caught it. 

"So, uh... What are you going to show me?" 

"Enough for you to get a taste." 

Neve blinked. 

[... Did she- was that- whatever. Whatever, whatever. Just focus.] 

Erin brought out her swords. Neve pulled Sayran's Holy Blade out of her inventory. The sword felt heavy in her hands. Heavier than the RPG she'd used to kill the worm back on the Second Floor. 

[I'm guessing it feels like this because I don't know how to use this thing? I mean, my Blade skill is literally at 5. I've never even touched that skill.] 

Holding the weapon in her hands, Neve watched as a bar appeared over her head. As Erin began speaking again, the bar ticked, gaining a sliver of blue on its left side. 

"There are a great many different stances and styles available for you to learn. You, however, have those two things that I do not," Erin stated, pointing down at Neve's legs. "You're going to have to figure out that part of your fighting style on your own. Your upper half, however, I can work with." 

[Makes sense... Actually, come to think of it, Erin's Blade skill is 40. Is that the maximum amount she can take me to? I'm guessing it is.] 

"I was taught what is called the Royal Boiling Blood Style," Erin told her. "A form of swordsmanship that revolves around using your anger, excitement, passion, and other such burning sensations to fuel your attacks. With that in mind, this is your stance," she said, holding one of her swords out, aiming its tip at Neve's head. "A form that communicates to your opponent the danger they're in." 

Skill Gained!

Blade: 6

Neve lifted her eyes off the lamia to see that message. 

[Hm? That was quick. Well, I literally had the minimum amount of Blade, so- AGH!] 

Suddenly, Erin was right in front of her, one blade touching Neve's throat. 

Their eyes met. Sapphire irises locked on to deep crimson.

"You have someone holding up a sword at you and you look away? I hope you do not treat your enemies so disrespectfully," Erin stated quietly. 

As close as they were, it was hard for Neve not to notice the way her red eyes briefly lowered to Neve's lips. 

"... My bad." 

"Hmph." 

Backing off, Erin took up that position once more. Holding her arm out straight, aiming its tip at Neve.

"From this position, these are your basic slashes." She showed off two quick swings, one vertical and one horizontal. Both movements looked practiced and, just like everything else Erin did, elegant. "Try it." 

Nodding, Neve did just that. 

Her own movements, however, felt clumsy. It was odd, as these were simple swings she was trying to recreate, but holding a sword in her hands and trying to do this almost made her feel like she'd never used her arms before. Like they'd been attached to her body minutes before this training session. 

[Wow. Considering how simple these moves are, I'm guessing this is the System *making* me feel this way, due to how low my Blade is,] she thought as she continued to try. 

"Is this your first time holding a sword?" Erin asked. 

"That obvious?" 

She smiled back at Neve. An expression that lacked any of the animosity she'd shown toward Neve previously. 

Neve wasn't all too used to this side of her. 

It was enough to make her heart skip a beat. 

"Indeed. Do we have time?" Erin asked. "Because, if you are trying to get into fighting form, against our enemies, this will take a while." 

"Yeah," Neve replied, swinging her sword a few more times. "We do." 

They trained for just a couple of hours before Neve decided she was too tired to continue. In this world, it seemed to be noon, but Neve was as tired as she would be at midnight on Earth. 

Her Blade skill went up to 10. 

[Five levels in 2 hours. Not that bad. Obviously, it's going to get harder the more that I train, but I'm not planning on getting my Blade to 100 or anything. All I need is for it to match Erin's 40 and I'll be alright. After all, the main thing this sword scales off is Healing Magic.] 

Setting aside her thoughts of training and her thoughts of vengeance, Neve decided to call it a day. 

With this new development, however, came a choice she figured she could make now. 

[... Maybe I should just train as much as I can,] she thought. [Is it even worth it to step foot in the lower parts of the city without getting my Blade to 40 first?] 

Naturally, the first thing that came to her mind upon asking herself that was: 

[What if Thomas and his team just end up finishing the Final Challenge while I'm here, trying to get a little bit of value out of this sword? What if I miss my chance to fight them?] 

In some pajamas, with Ahlakan by her side on the same massive bed that Erin had just teased her on earlier, Neve put her hands behind her head and stared up high at the tent's ceiling, sighing. 

[No,] she told herself. [If that happens then... It is what it is. I should just make sure I'm ready to progress before I get myself into any other serious fights. I could look around the top floor, though,] she added. [Who knows? I might find some materials for Erin to forge something out of. Or, some plants Ahlakan could use to make a potion or two. Yeah. That sounds right.] 

As she came to that conclusion, Erin slithered into the tent. 

Neve opened her mouth, sitting up, but Erin put a finger in front of her lips like Neve had done before, nodding at Ahlakan. 

"Wouldn't want to wake our friend up, would you?" 

As Erin told her that, Neve's eyes went down to her chest, finding that the lamia had taken her corset off. 

"What are you doing?" Neve whispered. 

"I was bored," Erin replied with a shrug. "Come on, give me some space." 

Shifting to the right, Neve allowed Erin to get on the bed as well. 

"It feels like days have passed since I was able to get a proper rest. It's a curious thing, you know, being a summon but still being able to fall asleep," she told Neve as she laid down next to her. 

"... You want me to get you a shirt or something? Hold on, I'll-" 

"No." Erin smirked, narrowing her eyes slightly. Those crimson reds felt like they were burning a hole through Neve's face. "I like the way the air caresses my skin." 

Neve swallowed. 

"A-Alright, you do you, then."  0

They remained in silence for a time. With Erin next to her, acting so smug, Neve gave up on any hopes of getting some sleep right now. 

Sensing that, Erin leaned in a little, her words dancing atop Neve's ears. 

"You know, you really should show the two of us more attention. I'm sure Ahlakan would agree that if we were a little more  entertained  we might be more motivated to help you on this journey you're on." 

[... I know.] 

And yet, Neve hadn't done much to keep them happy, had she? 

She looked away as she thought about it. Murderous, desperate thoughts had kept her pushing forward, trying to blaze through as much of the Final Challenge as she could to catch up to the traitors currently going unpunished. 

[What am I supposed to do, though? The only reason I haven't jumped off the nearest, tallest building is for the sake of this revenge. If I just push it aside-] 

"If I came across like I was judging you, I apologize."  Those words brought Neve's eyes back to Erin's.  "I simply meant to say that some rest and relaxation, shared between us, would be nice is all. Heh, you better hold onto that apology and cherish it," Erin said, turning away from her. "It's not every day that royalty asks for forgiveness." 

[... Ok.] Neve closed her eyes. [I'll try.] 

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