IF IT'S YOU, I CAN DO THIS

Lucianna and Rivra both pulled Milo from Riosae, setting him on his feet.

"Of course we won't accept!" Lucianna shook her head. "I won't let Milo become someone else's slave."

"Oh? But I thought he'd do anything to become stronger? Is it not worth the risk?"

She lifted Milo's chin with one of her claws.

"Being my slave wouldn't be so bad. Three square meals a day. Living in the lap of luxury. Of course, I have quite a high sex drive, so you'd better be able to last at least half an hour, seven to eight times a day…"

Collectively, the entire crew's jaws dropped. Like a buzzing of bees, their complaints and protests arose in unison. Milo alone sat in silence, remembering Des and her rotten breath and slick tongue. She had never gotten to her 'main course,' as she had called it, but her talon had been only an inch or two from accomplishing her task. And this woman…she would make Milo endure that same thing seven to eight times a day, for at least a half an hour each time.

(Sure, that might sound like a dream to some, but…I don't really want that. Not with this raging pervert. But…she seems like an extremely capable and observant fighter. At the very least, I can learn how to defend myself…)

A gust of wind blew through the little clearing, bringing with it the metallic tang of rain. Riosae folded her arms behind her head and stared at Milo with half-hooded eyes. A predator's grin played at her lips.

"So, what'll it be, little guy? Be brave and defend what little honor you have? Or crawl away with your tail between your legs? Either way, it's going to rain soon, and I don't want to get my armor wet."

Lucianna stepped in front of Riosae.

"We already told you—"

"Yes. I'll do it."

Lucianna whipped around, her eyes narrowing.

"Milo, what?"

Riosae clapped her hands together. "That's absolutely splendid. I don't have high hopes for you two, but at least try to entertain me during the test."

She turned and pointed to a castle off in the distance.

"There, you see it? My Temple of Agony? Head there, and I will prepare a proper test for you two. You win, and I'll train the both of you. Lose…and little Milo will be my new toy~"

"As if we'll lose!"

"Heh. We'll see. See you soon."

She winked at Milo, and with a beat of her wings, took off soaring through the sky. Only moments later, the sunlight dimmed as clouds rolled in. Thunder boomed overhead and rain sprinkled down on the crew.

Rivra crossed her arms.

"I thought Faith told you to stop running headlong into danger?"

"What other choice do we have?" Milo turned and ran off toward the castle.

Lucianna tried to catch him, but he blasted past her, not once stopping to acknowledge her. As Milo's form disappeared into the distance, Lucianna stood there, slouching, her chin trembling.

Rivra gripped her shoulder.

"I hope you can pass. Mistress Riosae's tests are as absurd as they are trying."

Lucianna batted her hand away. "I don't need to hear that. I just…I don't want Milo to get hurt, and all he does is throw himself at danger."

Rivra tossed her head back, her ponytail whipping in the wind and rain.

"Sounds exactly like someone else I know. Maybe you've finally met your match, Captain Strongest in the Universe."

Lucianna scrunched up her nose. "Get on the ship and meet us at Riosae's castle. I'm going to follow Milo."

"Oh? You? Doing physical activity? Willingly?"

"Just shut up!"

Lucianna took off after Milo, and Rivra shook her head. If she had eyes, she would roll them.

Krol chuckled. "Those two are going to be fine."

"How do you figure? Riosae's tests are grueling and cruel. Or don't you remember the time she had us hunt down eggs for her breakfast?"

"Oh yeah! She wanted eggs from a jabberwock. The jabberwock didn't really like us stealing her eggs…"

Rivra turned and headed toward the ship.

"Yeah, and that was one of the easier tests. With Luci running her mouth and getting all hot-headed with Mistress…"

"Heh. Reminds me how you back-talked her. She made you clean her castle three times a day for a month straight."

"Don't remind me. Now, let's follow them. I just hope they can pass whatever demented puzzle Riosae cooks up."

***

Milo stopped between two stones, hunching over to catch his breath. His lower back and sides ached and tightened with each step he took. He hadn't even made it halfway to the castle. He could just hear Riosae's mocking voice: "Oh, giving up already? Don't worry, I'll whip you into shape as my new toy~"

He shuddered.

(I won't be anyone's toy anymore. I won't be anyone's tool or ATM or doormat.)

He stood tall, taking a deep breath before bracing himself for the rest of the trek. As he was about to continue, a hand grabbed his shoulder, and he jumped, wheeling around to find Lucianna behind him, covered in sweat and wheezing.

"I…finally…caught…you…"

Her legs folded, and she collapsed in a heap. Milo ran over to her.

"Lucianna, what're you doing?"

"I was looking for you, dummy. Oh god. I don't get enough exercise…"

(And yet you're able to stay so thin and hot…totally not fair.)

He reached into his pocket and pulled out one of the water pills Albany had given him.

"Here."

He fed it to her, and her lips closed around his fingertips. His mouth felt so dry, his chest and groin tightening.

She gasped as she swallowed the hydration pill, closing her eyes as she regained her composure. Milo leaned down and helped her up, setting her against one rock. He stood next to her, his heart rate returning to normal.

"I figured you'd take the ship with the others."

"I wanted to make sure you didn't get hurt."

"Well, I'm fine. I just…"

"You don't want to be useless?"

He pursed his lips, crossing his legs and looking up to the sky.

"I'm the weakest member of the crew right now. Even Tereine and Albany have things they're great at. All I can do is power you up. And not for very long. I'm next to useless."

"How do you think I feel, Milo? I went from being the most powerful in the universe to having no reliable way of helping my crew. All I do is cause problems for them. Get into trouble. But…I just want things to go back to the way they were before."

"Before my father destroyed everything?"

She clasped her hands together and stared at the ground.

"I wish I could've stopped him. But I trusted him. And he'd lost his lover, my sister. I didn't know what he'd done to everyone until after everything had happened. I felt so helpless. Everyone I cared for, either lost to us or irreversibly damaged by a man we'd once called family."

"I…I can understand why you attacked me. Not that I'm holding a grudge or anything, but…at first, I hated you. I thought you were…just like everyone else."

"Everyone else?"

He shook his head. "The point is…I misjudged you, just like you misjudged me. And now…I want nothing more than to be someone you can rely on."

The rain cleared, the clouds parting, rays of sunshine warming Milo's skin. He sighed and smiled down at Lucianna.

"After all, I'm your right hand. I need to act like it."

She blinked and returned his smile. They held their gaze for a few moments before Milo offered Lucianna a hand. She allowed him to help her up.

"I'll hold you to that, darling~ Now, let's ace this test!"

***

The rest of the crew had already arrived, and Riosae sat at the gates of her temple, her tail twitching and swishing behind her as she meditated.

Rivra kept turning her ear to the horizon, waiting for any signs of Lucianna and Milo. Krol had to stop her from running off after them several times already. Krol reassured her they would be fine. Riosae scoffed.

"We'll see about that. If Rivra's so worried about them, I question their ability to act as a cohesive unit."

Tereine tapped her foot. "I mean, you're not wrong. They're definitely an odd couple. But…I think they'll surprise you. Especially Milo."

"Hmph. We'll wait and see."

Albany jumped, waving her arms.

"Hey, look! I think that's them!"

Riosae opened her eyes, squinting at the pair striding toward the gate.

Milo and Lucianna walked side-by-side, with him on her right side. They held each other's hands as they walked, their fingers laced together.

Rivra sighed. "Thank Cizaroth. I thought they'd get attacked by a wild animal."

"You fret over them too much," Krol said.

As they drew closer, Riosae rose and stretched, releasing a loud yawn.

"Took you long enough. Well, I suppose I owe you a test, then."

"Bring it on. We'll pass with flying colors!"

"Oh, really? In that case, this test should be easy."

She stroked her chin, her eyes gleaming with a mischievous light that sent shivers up Milo's back. Sweat slicked the back of his palms, and he swallowed the lump in his throat.

Lucianna squeezed his hand, grinning at him. She mouthed the words, "We got this." Milo pushed his shoulders back and leveled his gaze at Riosae. He gave her a curt nod.

"We're ready."

Her lips curled back in a wicked smile.

"Okay, then…I want you…to strip each other naked. Right here, in front of everyone."

Milo let go of Lucianna's hand and turned, heading for the distance.

"I'd rather take my chances out in the wild."

Lucianna whipped around and snagged Milo's collar. She shot a glare over her shoulder at Riosae.

"What kind of test is that?! Who would ask someone to do something so indecent?"

Krol crossed his arms, closing his eyes as he looked up into the sky.

"Ah, yes, I remember when Riosae gave me this exact test."

Tereine cocked a brow, her lips curling downward.

"Isn't that sexual assault…?"

Rivra stepped toward her old mistress and gestured toward Lucianna and Milo.

"Are you serious? To do such a thing…"

Riosae's eyes glowed dangerously as she glared up at her former pupil. Even though Rivra couldn't see, she backed away, as if she could feel the intensity radiating off her old teacher. She drew her shoulders back and glared at Milo and Lucianna.

"Dragons are creatures of their word. If you leave now, Milo, you give up, and therefore, the only wilderness you'll be exploring is the valley between my thighs. Now, the test is simple: undress each other. That is all I ask. If you can complete this task, then I will begin your training tomorrow morning. So, what shall it be?"

"There has to be another way," Lucianna said. "This is such a ridiculous request!"

Milo took a deep breath. He had never kissed a girl before, let alone stripped one naked. Images of Des's leather straps intruded upon his thoughts, and he shook his head.

(Lucianna's not like that. I've technically seen her naked already. This shouldn't be that difficult, right? Plus…we need this training. We need to become a tighter unit. Otherwise, I won't be able to help them find my father, to help them reclaim what they lost…)

He slowly turned around, clenching his fists.

"I'll do it."

Lucianna stared at him, mouth agape.

Riosae cocked a brow.

"Oh? You will? Better get to work, then."

Lucianna leaned into Milo, her face twenty shades of red.

"M-Milo, you don't have to do this. We can find a different way she can't actually make you her slave I won't let her let's just fuse and and and—"

He shook his head. "I…I want to do this. I already told you, I'm willing to do anything for this training. Besides, if it's you…I think I can survive."

She clasped both hands over her mouth, her eyes blinking slowly as she stared at him. His head spun and his pulse throbbed in all his extremities.

Lucianna was the first to tear away, turning her back to him.

"W-well, if that's what you want, then I'll go along with it. But we're doing this strictly for training, got it?!"

Riosae chuckled.

"How cute. Start with her cloak. That should be simple enough, no?"

He nodded and asked for Lucianna to turn around. She did so, but her eyes seemed to dart everywhere except for his face. With trembling hands, Milo reached up and undid the knot holding her cloak around her neck. The cloak fell in a pile around her feet.

Riosae leaned forward, her eyes trained on Milo.

"All right. Now, how about her boots?"

Milo did as instructed, and with slow, agonizing motions, he undid the straps on Lucianna's boots and slide them off her feet.

Lucianna shifted, covering her nose.

"I'm sorry if they stink…"

"D-don't worry about it. This is just to pass the test, remember?"

Riosae nodded.

"All right. Now her suit."

Lucianna showed her back to him, the zipper for the suit aligning with her spine. Milo's hands trembled, and he took several deep breaths before reaching up to the base of her neck, grabbing the zipper. She leaned back, her breathing ragged.

"Are you okay?"

"I-I'm fine. Don't stop."

Milo nodded, taking another deep breath to brace himself. Slowly, he unzipped the top of her suit, bringing it to the middle of her shoulders. His face flushed as he discovered Lucianna was braless.

"N-no b-b-bra?!"

Riosae tapped her foot, jutting her chin out

"Hey, did the zipper get stuck or something? Hurry it up!"

Milo swallowed the lump in his throat.

(I'm so sorry, Lucianna!)

(No, it's fine.)

His eyes widened, and he looked up at her.

(We're speaking with our minds again?)

She nodded.

(It seems so.)

(Then…you know how much I don't want to do this.)

(That makes two of us…but it's like you said…as long as it's you, I'll be okay.)

Milo nodded and let his shoulders drop, the tension in his neck and back dissipating. Lucianna rolled her shoulders, allowing him to finish unzipping the top of her suit all the way to her waist. He reached for her wrists, looking to pull her arms out of their sleeves and liberate her massive chest.

Riosae cleared her throat.

"That's enough."

They both looked over at her.

She scratched her chin, her lips curling into an annoyed frown.

"I didn't even think you'd get that far. Honestly, you two are…interesting, to put it nicely." She sighed. "Well, I guess I won't be getting a new toy today."

Milo and Lucianna looked at each other, and then at Riosae with bright eyes.

"Does that mean…?"

Riosae nodded. "As of right now, you two are my pupils. And starting tomorrow, I will begin training you."

Lucianna seized Milo and crushed him into her, twirling in place as she squee'd in victory.

(We did it, darling! We did it! Darling?)

She looked down, and her face flushed red.

In her excitement, her top had slid down, revealing her chest. She accidentally buried Milo between the two bountiful mounds, passed out from overstimulation.

"Huh," Riosae said. "Her boobs are actually quite perky…"

She shook Milo awake, and when his eyes fluttered open, she smiled at him, hugging him. He wrapped his arms around her, nuzzling his chin into the crook of her neck.

(We'll do this together.)

(Together.)