Training day

The next day you and the girls decide to do a little training. You head down to the training field, and split into groups to practice. You work with Uzume, Clarissa, and Maya, hoping to improve your fighting skills. Anna, Sadie, and Ruka find a quiet corner to practice their spells. Meanwhile, Rachel, Lynn, and Yura relax in the shade, watching with interest. Kali brings Samara, and they decide to train together.

Everyone gets ready, and you’re slightly distracted by the workout clothes of your sparring partners. You can’t say much, however, having stripped to shorts as well, but there’s something about athletic women in sports bras and shorts that’s extremely appealing. Naturally, they notice your looks, and much teasing ensues.

Maya in particular is enjoying your eyes on her. It’s too early for her pregnancy to mark her body, but there’s definitely a glow about her that makes it obvious. You square up with her for a wrestling match, and as soon as you lock arms, you realize that you’re outmatched without your magic. It takes less than a minute before she pins you, laughing as she holds you down.

She gives you a kiss and lets you up. “You’ve got to remember you’re not as strong as you think, my Josh. Without magic, you can easily get overpowered.”

You nod, dusting yourself off and glancing at Uzume and Clarissa. They are fighting with training staves, and Clarissa is obviously not used to being the weaker combatant. Despite being faster than Uzume, she has a tendency to plant her feet, and Uzume gleefully rains down strikes on the much shorter woman.

Maya watches beside you. “I don’t see a way Clarissa beats her without a magic or armor advantage. Uzume is just too strong to fight straight up.”

You nod, as Uzume pounds through Clarissa’s guard, knocking the dwarf to her back. The huge Oni grins, turning to Maya. “You want next, dragon lady? I promise I’ll be careful with your stomach.”

Maya laughs. “You’re on, you big goof! Let’s do this!”

Meanwhile, Clarissa smiles at you as she dusts herself off. “I guess it’s the losers bracket for me, huh.”

You grab a training sword, shrugging. “We both chose poorly on our first opponent, I think. I can’t out speed Maya, and you can’t out power Uzume.”

Clarissa laughs. “Good point. This will be better, I think. Let’s see how far you’ve progressed!”

With that, the two of you begin fighting. You faintly hear cheers from the girls in the shade, and this time the fight lasts a while. Your speed lets you avoid Clarissa’s heavy strikes, but your answering attacks are turned aside by skillful parrying and blocking. Also distracting are glimpses of flashing Magic’s from the other side of the field, followed by laughter and cheers. The casters are having fun, then.

Your distraction allows Clarissa to sneak a strike in on your wrist, making you drop your sword. Before she can follow up, you dive at her, catching the metallic dwarf by surprise and knocking her to her back. You manage to disarm her, but her powerful legs kick you off before you can pin her, and you both scramble to your feet.

Both smiling, you circle each other, looking for openings. You catch a glimpse of Kali and Samara, dueling with practice swords. They seem to be spending more time talking than fighting, however. Seeing you distracted again, Clarissa springs forward, but you expected this and dodge aside, deftly tripping her as she lunges. She tumbles into the dirt, and this time you quickly pin her, both of you laughing.

You smile down at Clarissa. “Got you that time!”

She laughs as you let her up. “You’re definitely improving. Next time hold onto your sword though!”

You nod, and glance at the Lilim sisters. They seem to have stopped fighting, and are talking to each other quietly. Suddenly, Samara leans in and kisses Kali! They kiss for a while, then suddenly seem to realize they’re being watched. They lock eyes with you, and Kali blushes almost as red as Samara is naturally. You chuckle and turn away to catch the end of the match between Maya and Uzume. The Oni sends Maya sprawling with a kick to the chest, and the half-dragon laughs as she picks herself up.

“It’s like fighting a landslide! You’re just too strong, Uzume!”

Uzume grins, and flexes. You chuckle. “Yeah, I’m not even going to try.”

You glance over at Kali and Samara, and see them leaving the practice field, arms around each other’s waists.