Amara followed Ezme while watching the angel’s tense shoulders and wings.

Dammit, I completely forgot about that book. I should’ve paid more attention, I had even forgotten to hide it. Now Fluffles is mad.

But why is she mad?

“Alright, let’s see how much you’ve improved from the last training session. Show me your status!” Ezme commanded angrily as they entered the empty training room.

Yes Ma’am. Status.

Amara complied and started reading through her status page while Ezme stood next to her with crossed arms doing the same.

“Invisibility, huh? Well it certainly seemed pretty good, I couldn’t notice you at all. I’ve never even considered making myself invisible before. What did you use as a mental image?” Ezme asked curiously.

Amara shrugged. “Make sure that light gets bent around me so I don’t get seen. Stop heat from radiating from me. Mute all noise I make and the impact my movements have on my surroundings. Trap particles that reveal my scent from leaving me.”

“Interesting. I wonder if I can use it…” Ezme’s voice faded as she fell into contemplation.

At least she’s forgotten about being angry.

Ezme snapped out of her thoughts and exclaimed. “Anyway! You’re not allowed to use it during your training!”

Amara furrowed her brows as she asked hesitantly. “You promise it won’t be like the last training session?” 

“Of course! Your training will be much better than before; and I’m certain it will give you the fighting instincts you need!” Ezme retorted happily. 

Looks like Ezme is excited about her new form of training for me. Might as well indulge her for now, she might even forget about the book.

Amara sighed. “Alright then. What’s your new idea then?”

“It’s simple! First of all, no weapons or magic when you fight!” Ezme said with a bright smile.

Amara widened her eyes as she stared at Ezme. “Are you insane?”

“Nope! I have a good reason for this!” Ezme replied before she asked. “First of all, I’m not an expert on weapons and such, but I think the halberd is a bad choice for you. Can you tell me why you chose it?” 

Amara considered before she shrugged. “It was pretty popular in Earthen history I suppose. It has range and multi functionality. You can also get good strength into your blows with one.”

“Yes, it has. However, let's think about this. For what purpose do you think you’ll actually be fighting in melee, if you succeed in making enchanted Earthen weapons?” Ezme asked.

Amara thought before she answered. “...Against the demon lord? Possibly against other strong demons as well, in situations where the enchanted weapons won’t be strong enough to bring down my opponent?”

“Exactly. Halberds are good in large-scale battles but not as good for single combat, which is when you are most likely to fight in melee. Furthermore, your fighting style is mostly based around being agile, and even if you can move a halberd fast enough, it won’t be as fast as other weapons.” (Ezme)

Ezme paused and took a breath. “Also, in our last training you chose to only use the halberd. Which I think is something you did to avoid getting close to your opponent, more than anything else. Otherwise you would have used the sword too.”

Amara frowned. “Why would I want to get close to my opponent?”

“Well, you shouldn’t want to, I suppose. But your fear of getting close to them limits your options, and that-” Ezme poked Amara in the center of her chest before she continued. “-makes you predictable.”

Ezme smiled sadistically. “So, therefore, from now on you won’t be using any weapons when you fight. This way, you’ll be forced to get closer to your opponent.”

Makes sense I suppose.

Amara shuddered as she remembered some of the more severe injuries she received during her last training session.

Guess I’ll be getting hurt a lot more from now on.

Amara took a deep breath as she resolved herself and looked at Ezme. “Alright then, let's do it.”

Ezme grinned evilly as she cocked her head. “That wasn’t all the changes.”

“Oh.” Amara chuckled. “What else then? It can’t be worse than not getting to fight with weapons.”

“You’re right! The next thing will make it better!” Ezme chirped cheerfully. “Because you won’t be allowed to hurt your opponents!”

Amara stared at the angel that was smiling at her. As Ezme maintained her smile, Amara got a bad feeling. “You can’t be serious.”

“Of course I’m serious!” Ezme exclaimed before she pouted. “Tsk. Mortals.”

“How am I supposed to fight if I can’t hurt them?!” Amara exclaimed.

“Simple! You use this!” Ezme replied before summoning a small, colourful toy squeaky hammer and threw it to Amara. 

Amara caught the toy hammer and stared down at it. Made out of plastic, Amara suspected it came from Earth.

What the hell?

“Smash your opponents with that! I want to hear squeaks as often as possible!” Ezme smiled and cocked her head. “You’re only allowed to avoid and defend, other than striking your opponents with the hammer. Are you ready?”

“Hold on. What about-” Amara began but was interrupted as she saw something she recognized from Earth, except it was bigger.

Some kind of giant wild boar, huh?

“Too late! Better get started!” Ezme laughed as she spread and flapped her wings to rise towards the ceiling.

Some things don’t change. No rest for the wicked once Fluffles gets fired up.

Amara bent her knees, taking a stance as the boar that was as tall as her appeared to be getting ready to charge at her.

As long as I don’t get trampled or struck by the tusks I should be fine. Looks like Ezme is making it quite easy for me. 

If it's anything like the wild boars on Earth, it shouldn’t be that quick to change directions mid-charge.

Amara focus increased as adrenaline rushed through her veins as the boar began approaching. She waited until the boar lowered its head in its charge before she leapt to the side. 

Rolling on the floor and pushing herself back up to stand, Amara could hear how the boar skidded on its hoofs over the floor to come to a stop.

Amara watched as the boar turned around and glared at her with its small eyes before it charged at her once more. Again she dodged the boar before it hit her and got up.

This is pretty easy.

“I’m not hearing any squeaks! Get to squeaking, or I’ll give you an additional dance partner!” Ezme howled cheerfully from above.

Amara grinned as she kept her eyes on the boar that was turning around again and shouted back. “I’m surprised you’re willing to give your partner away to dance with others!”

“Y-you!” Ezme exclaimed angrily. “That’s it, you’re getting a really nice opponent next!”

“Don’t be upset, Fluffles! I'm just saying I want to dance with you!” Amara grinned and leaped a third time to avoid the boar’s charge.

“Y-you! Shameless!” Ezme howled angrily. “Get to squeaking already!!” 

Amara let out a laugh before she focused on her opponent. 

I just have to try to make quicker and shorter side steps.

With each time Amara jumped to get out of the way of the black boar’s charge, she managed to remain closer as the boar passed her. 

That was until she ended up too close.

Jumping to the side, Amara remained close enough for the boar to flail its head her way and for its tusk to rip through her side.

“Argh!” Amara exclaimed in pain and surprise as she felt the sharp tusk rip a deep cut through her abdomen and send her flying. 

Divine Regeneration!

As soon as Amara landed and rolled to get her hands and feet on the ground, she pushed off while strengthening her body to get away from the boar that was about to trample her.

Divine Body Strengthening!

In her panic, Amara forgot to judge how much force she needed while her body was strengthened. 

Crap!

When flying through the air, Amara realized that she had pushed too hard. She barely managed to regret her action the moment before she felt a sudden pain in her head before everything went black.

 

 

_______________

 

 

Amara was faintly aware of the comfortable cushion underneath before she opened her eyes. Seeing a familiar inverted face with wet, red eyes in her vision behind a transparent blue screen, Amara’s memories came back to her.

Dismissing the screen, Amara realized what the comfortable cushion underneath her was.

Ah. The famous lap pillow.

Amara smiled as she looked up at Ezme. “Morning.”

“Dummy!” Ezme exclaimed with an upset voice. “Why weren’t you more careful!”

Amara sighed and realized Ezme was trembling. “I panicked. Sorry.”

“You better be! Your new training was supposed to help you improve, not become worse!” Ezme drew a shuddered breath. “Now you not only get hurt by your opponents, now you get hurt on your own!”

“I’m sorry Fluffles, I just made a mistake.” Amara sat up and turned to face Ezme as she raised her hand to wipe the tears from the corners of the angel’s eyes. “It won’t happen again.”

“It better not!” Ezme exclaimed. “If it does, I’ll….I…”

Is she trying to come up with another way to punish me? I don’t need any more punishments! 

Amara smiled as she stroked Ezme’s cheek. “You know, when humans want to make others do what we want, we encourage them by giving reward and punishment appropriately.”

Ezme furrowed her brows in confusion. “Reward?” 

Hook.

Amara nodded. “Good behaviour gets rewarded, bad behaviour gets punished.” Amara smiled as she leaned in closer. “You only offer punishment for the bad, but no rewards for the good.”

Ezme eyes widened in understanding and her wings twitched. “What kind of rewards would motivate you?”

Line. Too easy.

Amara grinned as she winked. “You know what I want, Fluffles.”

Amara watched as Ezme blushed and averted her eyes as she hid her face. “Shameless.”

“I know.” Amara grinned and lifted Ezme’s chin as she leaned in to kiss Ezme when the angel blocked Amara’s mouth with her hand.

“Y-you haven’t earned a reward yet.” Ezme stammered while her cheeks and neck grew redder.

Amara smiled and leaned back. “I suppose not. But can I expect one?”

Ezme’s wings twitched while she hid her face and muttered. “If you show improvement.”

And sinker!

Amara grinned widely and stood up. “Then let's get back to it.”

“Eh?” Ezme let in surprise as she looked up.

Surprised how easily I relented, Fluffles?

Amara raised the corner of her lips as she looked at Ezme. “How am I supposed to get a reward if I don’t improve?”

Ezme blushed as she stood up and muttered. “Shameless.”

Anara smiled widely.

You will learn the power of rewards, Fluffles. 

She wants me to improve, and I know she also likes to be intimate, even if she’s too shy to admit it.

By using it as rewards, Ezme will have an excuse, and I get to have a taste of her.

With time she will also get used to it and want more. 

This victory is mine, Fluffles.

 

_______________

 

It’s head is simply too big.

Amara sighed as she jumped out of the way of the charging boar once again. 

I won’t be able to get around its head when it charges at me. 

Maybe I can go above it then? It shouldn’t be able to lift its head that high.

Amara gripped the toy hammer and took a stance as the boar faced her again. As the boar began its charge, Amara started running towards it as well. Once they were close, Amara jumped over the boar's head that tried to follow her, and pushed on the boar’s back to continue her flip until she landed on her feet on the floor.

[Ding!]

“Nice! You’re getting there!” Ezme cheerfully called out from the ceiling. “But you forgot the squeaks!”

Don’t worry about it Fluffles, you’ll get your squeaks.

Amara prepared her hammer and charged at the boar as it made its next approach. As she leaped over the boar she struck it with the hammer.

[Qih!]

[Ding!]

However, as Amara was so focused on striking the boar with the hammer, she forgot how to push off the boar’s back as she did previously. Amara knew she was about to fall face first towards the floor, and perhaps get another level in headbutting.

Divine Body Strengthening!

Reaching out with her hand as she was getting closer to the floor, she managed to land on her outstretched hand followed by her feet instead of her face.

As Amara raised her gaze back at the boar that was skidding to a halt, she heard clapping hands from above.

“Well done! One point for the squeak! One point deducted for lack of grace!” Ezme cheerfully shouted.

Oh so we’re still all about appearances, huh.

Amara stood up with a smile, ready to make another attempt.

 

As the training continued, Amara successively got better at making acrobatic leaps. Before she realized it, her attitude towards training had changed.

Even though she was in a dangerous situation and still felt a bit afraid whenever she faced a new opponent, by trying to evade her opponents rather than outright kill them, Amara felt excited.

Amara continuously tried to make her movements faster and smoother, and it started to feel like she was doing sports rather than fighting. All the while hearing Ezme’s cheerful insults that made her smile and the delighted remarks when she improved, spurring her motivation further.

For the first time, Amara realized that fighting could be fun.