"H-hey! Hngh!" (Amara)

[Ding!]

[Qih!]

"Oh! Good job!" (Ezme)

"Ezme!" (Amara)

"What's up?" (Ezme)

[Qih!]

"I need a break!" (Amara)

"But we only just started training like this!" (Ezme)

"But - hngh! - this is more intense!" (Amara)

"Stop complaining!" (Ezme)

[Qih!]

Ezme had chosen to change up Amara's training, by applying a new rule to the previous training. Now Amara had to either block or deflect attacks, not outright avoid them.

The greatest side effect of the rule being that Amara had to keep her divine power up continuously. Without breaks inbetween the attacks, the extended fight made it increasingly harder to keep up both physically and mentally.

"Hngh!" (Amara)

[Ding!]

Amara groaned as she moved her body to the side while pushing the lunging lizard’s head away from her with her left hand, making it fly past her. Amara struck the body that followed after the head with the toy mallet, the familiar squeak confirming the hit.

[Qih!]

The flood of sweat on her forehead flowed down into her eyes as she struck the lizard, momentarily blurring her vision.

Shit!

Amara turned and raised her forearm to block the incoming tail she knew would be coming. Immediately after, she felt a wave of air across her forearm at the same time as the tail cracked against her chest.

The tail sent Amara flying backwards, until her back struck the wall with a loud thump. She didn’t feel much pain from the tail that struck her, nor from the impact with the wall; the divine power she held active during the fight kept her body intact, limiting the damage the whip caused to merely bruising her.

Instead, the following groan Amara let out was in order to vent her frustration. She wiped the sweat from her face as she felt a hand on her shoulder. "You okay?"

Amara looked up and saw Ezme looking down at her with concern. Looking behind the angel, she could see that the lizard was gone.

After letting out a sigh, Amara started relaxing and smiled at Ezme. "I'm fine. It's just hard to keep my body strengthened up all the time."

Ezme looked at Amara to ensure she wasn't hiding any injuries before she smiled. "Why is it difficult?"

"It makes my body too hot. It gets increasingly uncomfortable and makes it difficult to stay focused over time." Amara explained and sighed before she continued. "I got sweat in my eyes, so I couldn't see where the tail was just now."

"Then what do you think should be done about it?" Ezme asked as she cocked her head.

"Can we take breaks from time to time? Let me cool down for a while and-" Amara requested before getting interrupted.

"No. That won't do. Tsk. Foolish mortal." Ezme flicked Amara's forehead before she asked. "Why did we change your training?"

Amara frowned as she rubbed her forehead and contemplated. "So I could learn how to block and deflect attacks I guess?"

"No. That's just the bonus." Ezme sighed and sat down next to her as she looked at Amara. "Get it in your head already, we're training you to be in battle for long periods of time. Your battle with the demon lord could last for days, maybe even weeks."

Ezme drew a dramatic breath before she continued. "Although you still struggle with perceiving your enemies and their movements, that can come later. For now, we're at the basics - surviving against constant attacks. Which means being able to avoid, block and retaliate on demand."

Amara frowned. "So we’re training so I get used to keeping my divine power up for long periods of time?"

"No. Not even angels do that." Ezme replied. "What you need to do, is be able to bring up your divine power the moment you need it. Think about it. While you're using your divine power, you can't receive divine power from prayers. If you use your divine power constantly, you’ll eventually drain it completely. If that happens when you face the demon lord, you’re dead. Whenever you're not using your divine power in battle, you need to be refilling it.”

“So…” Amara began as she thought she understood. “You only want me to learn how to use my divine power in bursts?”

Ezme smiled brightly in satisfaction. “Exactly.”

“Why didn’t you just tell me?” Amara asked.

“I thought you understood. Guess I overestimated your intelligence.” Ezme sighed dramatically. “Mortals.”

Amara let out an amused snort in reply. Right. I’d be more inclined to believe it slipped your mind. Or that you neglected saying it simply for your own amusement.

“But doesn’t that leave me vulnerable when I don’t have my divine power active? What if I make a mistake?” Amara asked as she grew anxious at the implications of staying close to an enemy without divine power active.

“Then don’t make a mistake. Idiot.” Ezme sneered at her before her expression turned serious. “Amara.”

“Yes?” (Amara)

“War isn’t safe. The moment you set foot on Teyrin, your life will depend on how well you can survive. You know that, right? Don't you want to experience the fear of death and get used to it before you have to face the demon lord?” Ezme asked seriously before she added. “Besides, don’t you think I’m going easy on you right now?”

Amara considered for a moment. Although she thought she had experienced the fear of death during the traumatic training Ezme had devised. But even with the monsters making sneak attacks on her continuously, she knew deep down that Ezme was overseeing it all to make sure she didn’t die. 

After all, the opponents Ezme currently made her face were predictable. Amara had very quickly been able to discern what her enemies were capable of, as it didn’t take long for their attack patterns to be repeated.

“You’re right.” Amara eventually replied with a sigh.

“Of course I am! Tsk.” Ezme clicked her tongue. “Insolent mortal. It’s stupid to doubt me.”

Amara grinned. “I didn’t doubt you.”

“Then what were you thinking about for so long?” Ezme pouted and crossed her arms.

“Well…I just needed to understand it.” Amara replied.

“What’s the difference between that and doubting?” Ezme snorted. “Impudent.”
“...I guess not much.” Amara smiled wryly. “Even if we say otherwise, I suppose mortals don’t take things on faith unless it's convenient for us.”

Ezme clicked her tongue. “The mortals in my domain don’t doubt me.”

Amara raised an eyebrow. “Really? Not even a little?”

Ezme glared at her. “What do you mean ‘really’? Why would they?”

Amara shrugged. “I just didn’t expect it. I thought mortals elsewhere might be similar to the humans on Earth.”

“Well, they are. Mostly.” Ezme said in a contemplative tone.

When neither of them spoke for a while, Amara suddenly shuddered as her drenched clothes had cooled her to the point she felt chilly. “Can you dry me up?” 

Ezme waved her fingers towards Amara, making the sensation of clinging wet clothes disappear. 

“Thanks, Fluffles.” Amara smiled as she reached out and patted the angel’s wing.

Ezme cheeks reddened slightly before she stood up. “Shall we continue?”

Amara sighed as she stood up. Although she felt that her limbs were growing tired, it was nothing compared to some of her earlier training sessions. “Lets.”

“Okidoki! This time, just focus on blocking its attacks first. I’ll tell you when you should get closer.” Ezme chirped cheerfully before waving her hand. A large green lizard like the one Amara had faced earlier suddenly appeared towards the other end of the room.  

Amara adjusted her grip on the toy hammer as she approached the lizard. The monster turned to face her while the long tail moved behind its body, hiding it from her view before the lizard lowered its body to the floor.

Tail incoming. As expected.

From her previous fight with the lizard, she realized that it primarily fought with its tail due to its long length and high force impacts it could inflict. It would lunge and attempt to bite her if she was close enough as well, but it had clearly prefered to fight at range.

Amara approached cautiously with her knees bent, waiting for the moment the lizard moved to bring up her divine power. As she crossed the point where she would normally enhance her body with divine power, adrenaline started coursing through her body in expectation. Knowing that she was currently vulnerable without body strengthening, made her feel afraid - and excited.

[Ding!]

In the blink of an eye, the lizard had raised the back of its body high to her left. 

Divine Body Strengthening!

Amara stared at the lizard as she turned her body to the right and raised her left arm as she hunched behind it to receive the attack head on. The tail swiped through the air above the lizard the moment before the hard end of the tip cracked against her forearm, shaking her to the bones through her arm to her shoulder.  

As the light pain faded when the tail withdrew, Amara let out the breath she had been holding in as her heart beat rapidly with excitement. 

Alright! That wasn’t that har- right!

Remembering that she should deactivate her divine power immediately after blocking the attack, Amara lowered her sore arm as the heat started fading. But seeing that the tail was already about to come at her again, she had to immediately enhance her body again.

Divine Body Strengthening!

Raising her right arm above her head, she received a harder impact from the tail that shook her upper body and immediately deactivated her body enhancement after. Amara already knew that tail strikes that came straight would be harder, and also gave a slightly longer pause before the next attack.

“Good job! You’re not completely hopeless after all!” Ezme shouted cheerfully.

Amara grinned as she exerted her divine power once more to block the third tailstrike. “Does that mean I can look forward to a reward?”

“Shameless!” (Ezme)

 

_______________

 

“A-HAHA-HAHA!” Ezme’s laughter echoed loudly in the chamber.

“Very funny.” Amara snorted.

“Come on, it's - tehehe! - per- ahaha! - perfect for you!” Ezme giggled. 

Amara’s lips twitched as she turned her eyes to the blue screen and sighed.

NO.

YES.

“Aawh. Such a shame.” Ezme said while wiping the tears from her eyes.

Amara’s lips twitched. “Indeed. I wonder what your followers would think if they knew. What would they say about you?”

Ezme’s grin froze.

The corner of Amara’s mouth rose higher as she looked at the angel. “Should I make it so we can find out?”

“On second thought, maybe it isn’t such a good title after all.” Ezme said dismissively.

“Actually, I think I just found its appeal.” Amara said teasingly.

“No you didn’t.” Ezme replied instantly. “Now, back to business. Show me.” 

“Why are you so quick to dismiss it now, Fluffles?” Amara smiled as she tilted her head.

“Shut up, you aren’t going to get it anyway.” Ezme said dismissively. “Now show me.” 

“What about my reward?” Amara replied with crossed arms. 

“We can discuss that after, now show me!” Ezme exclaimed.

Amara sighed and shook her head with a wry smile. Status.

“Hmm.” Ezme hummed as she read through Amara’s status page. Amara’s lips curved as she looked at the distracted angel.

Now.

Amara grabbed Ezme’s chin and saw the confusion in the angel’s eyes the moment before their lips met. 

Ezme flinched in surprise, and Amara’s smile grew as she sensed how the angel was tense and attempted to retreat as she kissed her. 

When Amara finally pulled away, her satisfaction grew as she saw Ezme’s bright red face before she inclined her head. Amara stroked Ezme’s cheek with her fingertips. “I need a bath. Want to join me?”

“N-no! Pervert!” Ezme exclaimed as she kept her face hidden from view.

Amara grinned. “Alright. See you later.”

Before she turned around the corner when she passed the alcove, she glanced back at Ezme. The angel was touching her lips with her fingers in deep thought, before she realized Amara was looking at her. Ezme’s face grew beet red as she howled in anger. “Insolent mortal! Why are you still here?”

Amara winked at her before she left for the bathroom with a wide grin. 

Victory.