Chapter 75: Dragons and Swords
{Armia}
Armia stood before her father's study, her heart pounding in her chest.
[Come on... Don't turn around now.]
She took a deep breath, steeling herself, then knocked firmly on the ornate wooden door.
"Enter," came her father's gruff voice from within.
Armia stepped inside, her golden scales glinting in the warm lamplight.
Her father sat behind his massive desk, his own scales a deeper, burnished gold. He looked up, surprise flickering across his face at the sight of his daughter.
"Armia? What brings you here at this hour?"
She straightened her spine, meeting his gaze unflinchingly.
"Father, I've come to a decision. I..." She swallowed. "I want to resume my weapons training."
Her father's eyebrows shot up, his tail twitching with interest.
"Oh? And what brought about this change of heart? I thought you were determined to prove yourself through magic alone."
Armia hesitated, Melisa's words echoing in her mind.
"I... I realize now that I was foolish to ignore my natural abilities. I... shouldn't let these gifts go to waste."
[Maybe Melisa was right,] she thought. [I've been so focused on what I thought a lady should be, I've been neglecting my own strengths.]
Her father nodded slowly, a glimmer of pride in his eyes.
"Very well. I'll contact your old instructor immediately. It's good to see you're finally embracing your heritage, Armia."
As she left the study, Armia felt a weight lift from her shoulders.
[I hope this goes well.]
---
The next day at school, Armia slid into her seat beside Melisa, hyperaware of the nim girl's presence.
As usual, Isabella was perched in Melisa's lap, her fluffy tail curled possessively around Melisa's waist.
Armia's eyes met Melisa's, and immediately both girls flushed.
Naturally, that day... night... morning they'd spent together came back to Armia.
[... Gods, she felt so good.]
The heat of Melisa's skin, the soft sighs, and moans, the way their bodies had fit together so perfectly, the way Melisa's pussy walls clung to Armia's quivering cock...
If it wasn't for the fact that she couldn't get the images out of her mind, she'd think she imagined it all. Dreamed it after passing out in Melisa's house.
[But, no. That all happened. Crazy.]
Isabella's eyes narrowed, her grip on Melisa tightening slightly.
"Everything alright?" Isabella asked suspciously.
"Fine," Armia and Melisa said in unison, then looked away, blushing even harder.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of lectures and stolen glances.
As the final bell rang, Armia found herself swept up in the crowd, somehow ending up walking alongside Melisa, Isabella, and Raven.
An awkward silence hung over the group as they made their way across the campus.
Melisa, ever the glue holding this clique together, cleared her throat.
"So, Armia, do you want to get together later for some spell crafting practice?"
Armia shook her head.
"I can't today. I'm... I'm actually starting weapons training again this afternoon."
Melisa's eyes widened, a grin spreading across her face.
"Really? That's fantastic! Hey, do you think I could come watch?"
Armia blinked, taken aback.
"You want to watch me train? Why?"
She couldn't imagine that. Someone asking to see Armia at, undeniably, her least lady-like.
Melisa's cheeks flushed slightly, but her eyes shone with excitement.
"Well, I've always been interested in swordsmanship. I've been looking for a teacher, actually. Maybe I could learn something just from observing?"
Isabella looked at Melisa in surprise.
"Since when are you into swords, cousin?"
Melisa shrugged, a hint of sheepishness in her smile.
"It's something I've been wanting to pursue for a while now. I just haven't had the opportunity."
Armia felt a flutter in her chest at the thought of Melisa watching her train. She pushed the feeling aside, focusing on the practical aspects.
"I suppose there's no harm in you observing. My instructor might even have some insights for you."
Before she knew it, Armia found herself leading not just Melisa, but Isabella and Raven as well, back to her family's estate.
(They didn't have anything better to do.)
---
{Melisa}
Soon, the girls were at the Duskscale family's private courtyard.
Melisa, Isabella, and Raven sat on a stone bench at the edge of the training area, watching as Armia faced off against her instructor, a grizzled human man with scars crisscrossing his weathered face. Almost like the ones Raven had.
Melisa leaned forward, her crimson eyes wide with excitement.
This was it. A chance to observe real swordsmanship up close.
Her heart raced as she remembered her goals, 2 of the ones she'd come up with back in that tiny village 8 years ago.
[Become the world's most powerful mage, and the world's best fighter,] she thought. [I'm well on my way with magic, but this... this could be my chance to start on the second part.]
Armia stood tall. The instructor circled her slowly, his keen eyes assessing her stance.
He began talking to her. Melisa and the girls couldn't hear what he was telling Armia.
Armia nodded, shifting her weight and bringing her sword up in a fluid motion. Her tail swayed behind her, counterbalancing her movements as she began to swing.
Isabella yawned loudly, stretching her arms above her head.
"Wake me up when something interesting happens," she muttered, her fluffy ears drooping with boredom as she then put her head on Melisa's right shoulder.
Melisa barely heard her, too engrossed in watching Armia's every move.
She felt a presence at her left side and glanced over to see Raven leaning in, her grey eyes fixed intently on the training session.
"The Dragon's Tail is a defensive stance," Raven murmured, her voice so low Melisa had to strain to hear it. "That's what he's teaching her right now."
"What?"
"It's a common darian stance. Emphasizes using one's tail for balance and misdirection, allowing for quick counterattacks. Common among female darians."
Melisa blinked in surprise.
"You know about darian sword techniques?"
Raven nodded, a faint blush coloring her pale cheeks.
"I... studied many fighting styles during my training."
As Armia moved through more complex forms, Raven continued her quiet commentary.
She explained the philosophy behind each stance, the way a darian's unique physiology allowed for moves that would be impossible for other races.
Melisa found herself hanging on every word, drinking in the knowledge. She hadn't realized how close they'd gotten until she felt Raven's breath on her cheek, sending a shiver down her spine.
[Oh,] Melisa thought, her heart rate picking up.
They both froze.
Raven's expression didn't change, but the red on her cheeks betrayed her feelings.
[My pheromones must be affecting her.] She started to lean away, remembering her mother's warnings about maintaining distance, but Raven's next words stopped her.
"The Sleeping Dragon," Raven whispered, her lips nearly brushing Melisa's ear. "It's a trap stance, luring the opponent in with a false opening."
Sure enough, Armia's seemingly relaxed posture suddenly exploded into motion, her practice blade whirling in a deadly arc that caught her instructor off guard.
"Well done!" the man laughed, blocking the strike at the last second. The girls caught that statement, given how loudly he declared it.
Melisa felt a surge of pride for her friend, coupled with an odd warmth at Raven's closeness.
"The key is in the... positioning. You have to make yourself look... vulnerable. Open. But underneath, you're coiled and ready to strike," Raven said.
"It's all about... timing. Knowing exactly when to... thrust forward. Too soon, and you'll give yourself away. Too late, and you'll miss your chance to...
penetrate their defenses."
Melisa swallowed hard, her heart racing.
[Am I... Is she... Is it just me? It can't be, right?]
She turned her head slightly, intending to thank Raven for the explanations, only to find their faces mere inches apart.
Raven's eyes widened, a deeper blush spreading across her cheeks. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the sounds of clashing swords fading into the background.
"I..." Raven started to say, but was cut off by Isabella's annoyed huff.
"Hm? Looks like the show's over," Isabella said.
Melisa jerked back, looking up to see Armia approaching, sweat glistening on her scales and a satisfied smile on her face.
"That was incredible, Armia!" Melisa exclaimed, jumping to her feet. "You looked so graceful out there."
Armia ducked her head, looking pleased.
"Thank you. It... it felt good to hold a sword again."
"So... What are you gonna do?" Melisa asked as Isabella shifted beside her.
Armia paused.
"... I think I'll keep going," she said softly, shrugging. "I mean, why not?"
Melisa was happy to hear that.
"And... Maybe I could put in a good word for you? Would you like that?"
She was even happier to hear that.
"Y-Yes, please!"
"Alright," Armia smiled. "I'll try." Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire
With that, Armia walked away.
Isabella, who must only have been pretending to be asleep, suddenly perked up, her earlier boredom seemingly forgotten.
She leaned in close to Melisa, a mischievous glint in her eye.
"Hey Mel," she purred loudly, making sure Armia could still hear as she walked away. "Speaking of swords, want to see mine later?"
Melisa's face turned a deep shade of purple, her eyes widening in mortification.
"Isabella!" she hissed, trying to clamp a hand over the kitsune's mouth.
But Isabella was quicker, dodging Melisa's attempt with a giggle.
"What? I'm just offering to show you my own brand of swordsmanship. Maybe we could have a private lesson?"
Raven, still focused on Armia's retreating form, seemed oblivious to the exchange. Meanwhile, Melisa wished the ground would open up and swallow her whole.
"You're impossible," Melisa groaned, burying her face in her hands as Isabella's tail swished victoriously behind her.