Protect her!

Your muscles tense around the grip of Lauo. There is no hesitation in your actions. Instantly, you speak aloud the magic word, "Shuffle," before not only vanishing from sight, but being replaced by a started Amara. Instead of where she originally stood, your foe now must have you, and you're far less vulnerable to attack.

You let it grab you. The metallic hands clench your torso, though between your armour and sturdy body, it barely hurts beyond discomfort which you easily ignore through your focused rush of adrenaline. Unfortunately for the automaton, your arms are entirely free, and as it reels you in rapidly closer to its body, you run a hand across Lauo's blade as you speak the words, "Frost Blade". The metal bursts into a flare of frozen flames. The chamber turns cold as the weapon emits an aura of deadly ice.

Using its own momentum against it, you drive the point of your sword straight into its spherical form. The moment it pierces through the metal, the creature freezes over, and the crack spreads rapidly over its now-brittle body. In panic, it releases you, which is its final mistake. With your sword still imbued with magic, you unleash several slashes in a manner of seconds, severing all four limbs, and shattering the entire body into frosted chunks which clatter to the floor, and just like that, the mechanical guard is bested.

Amara hurries over and squeezes you from behind. "Oh Kyle. Thank you... Are you all right? Do you need healing?"

"Mmm. Actually, I think I do. I'm so hurt, I might need a lot of healing," you answer.

Niki stares confused. "Wait, what? I swear I saw you take that thing out flawlessly."

But Amara looks to you with a wobbly smile. She shivers as she places her hands upon your arm, and she speaks the words, "Major Heal," as a rush of warm, comforting magic envelops your body. It feels pleasant, though you didn't actually need even a tiny bit of healing. You could see it in her eyes, though. She was hoping you did--not in a sadistic way per se, though twisted in its own right, in a way you've come to expect and enjoy.

Amara lets out a quivering exhale as she touches her fingers to the choker around her neck. She looks to you--blushing. "Are you... feeling better?" she whispers.

"I'm great, but I think you're feeling better than I am," you reply.

"S-Stop," she mutters out before looking away timidly--big smile on her face.