Spar With Me

Upon opening her eyes, Yazmin found her companion to be no longer beside her, and yet the scent of Althea's rosy fragrance upon the sheets lingered.

Yazmin touched the pillow beside her, where could the spell blade be?

Donning a plain shirt and a skirt, the Gorgon got up in search for Althea, not even bothering to wear her mask.

Pleasant sunlight peeked through the windows as Yazmin made her way through the mansion's corridor. It's size was on par with the one they raided in the insect kingdom, Melsa's abode.

Portraits of the Guild Master were hung through the walls, all in ridiculous poses, making the bearded man appear childish for his age. How the hell did a whack job like him amassed such great power?

Enough about the douche, Yazmin's eyes would often dart to the portraits of Althea in elegant dresses. Yazmin grinned. Althea's smile in them was as stunning as the lustful stare she was giving her last night.

From one of the halls, Yazmin heard someone making noises.

The half opened doors allowed Yazmin to peek, there was Althea, glistening with sweat as she swung her sword with arcing swings fitting for her curved blade.

Suddenly, as if the world became still, Althea gripped the sword with both hands. With razor sharp focus, Althea hung her blade up high while keeping her gaze on the mannequin.

Yazmin was in awe. The same could be said about Althea's swordsmanship regarding her beauty, they were both a sight to behold.

Electricity engulfed Yazmin's blade. Faster than the blink of an eye, Althea's sword descended and cleaved the training dummy in half.

A marvelous display, Yazmin found herself falling yet again.

"Commission a portrait, it's going to last longer." Wiping the sweat of her brow, Althea teased.

Seemingly aware of the Gorgon's presence, Althea turned her head at the spectators direction and flashed Yazmin a smile.

Already caught staring, Yazmin entered what appeared to be a personal training room. There were swords and wooden dummies abound. Even with the one in front of Althea split in half, she could simply replace them with the ones stacked together near the end of the spacious training room.

"I'll pass..." Retrieving a short sword from one of the blade racks, Yazmin made her intention known. "... portraits can't fight. So, spar with me?"

As the Gorgon's blade pointed towards her direction, Althea giggled, "You know how to swing that?"

"Never underestimate an assassin. Come, let us break a sweat." With a grin, Yazmin said.

Purposely avoiding the question, Yazmin was aware that her skill with the sword was mediocre. But she wasn't going to waste time and go back upstairs to retrieve her daggers. With how early Althea trained, Yazmin figured it was to so Althea could focus solely on the guild for the rest of the day.

"I could spare a few rounds. As a handicap, I'll stick to simply deflecting your blows. How about that?"

Somehow, the disrespect of Althea's statement was drowned out by the excitement from both of them.

"Enough with your arrogance. Let's begin!"

With a gleeful shout, Yazmin slithered towards her sparring opponent.

The sound of swordfighting echoed in the training room. Each swing of Yazmin's blade was met with a flawless deflection from Althea's katana.

It hammered home to Yazmin how sluggish her movements were and how basic her skills are with it, wishing that she held her daggers so she could wipe the smug smile off of Althea's face right now.

Left slash, right slash. Each slash, Althea would parry, giving her an opening to end the fight then and there. To put it bluntly, Yazmin was more open than Althea's legs last night. Althea couldn't believe how much of a beast Yazmin was with her daggers, but with the sword in her hand... she's average at best. Then again, she was fighting against a master of the blade.

With a ferocious parry, Yazmin was staggered. Not one to be a quitter, her reflexes and speed allowed Yazmin to lock swords and hold Althea at bay.

Their face mere inches away, the blades in their hands struggled for supremacy, the one lacking in strength would be pushed back.

The an idea popped into Yazmin's mind, making her grin.

"You've parried all my blows, but can you parry this?"

Unable to react, Althea was surprised by the kiss. Allowing Yazmin to push Althea backwards,

Who does that, kisses their opponent just to have an edge!?

Yazmin apparently.

It wasn't all about winning, clashing against Althea this time felt good since they weren't trying to kill each other.

"That's what you get for underestimating me." Yazmin said.

The Gorgon extended her hand to Althea, whose ass fell to the ground. Taking the said hand, Althea grumbled as she stood up...

"I parried it." Althea mumbled.

"What?"

"I parried your lips with mine."

"My attack went straight through, don't deny it. But, we could always try again so we can better rule it out." Per Yazmin's suggestion, she inches closer, poised for another kiss.

Closing her eyes, Yazmin was sure her lips was about to strike gold yet again, only to for it to press upon cold steel. The flatside of Althea's katana stopping them.

"5 more days. Wait until my verdict." Althea said.

There was no disappointment in Yazmin's eyes as she watched Althea sheathed her blade. Judging by last night, she could sense it that Althea was merely testing the limit of her patience, how devoted Yazmin was in her drive to court Althea.

Yazmin smiles, "Gladly."

+++

Hours later...

As the pair arrived in the Guild, a halfling worker rushed towards Althea.

"Althea, Althea!" The halfling was obviously in a panic.

"Easy now, what happened?"

"A stabbing! A stabbing just occurred!"

Great, Althea was late for one day and this was the news she would stumble into.

"Voz! He stabbed an adventurer taking the rank up exam!"

Althea clicked her tongue in annoyance. That troublesome little goblin!

"Where is Voz right now?"

"He's in your father's office."

Upon hearing the information, Althea made haste, Yazmin following every hurried steps.

"Is something the matter, Althea?" Yazmin questioned.

"Aside from the stabbing, yes. You know how half of this Guild has a distaste for my father? Voz hates my father so much that he lunges at him with every opportunity he could get."

Althea sighed, it's going to be a busy day yet again.