Handicapped

"Once again, that's why I'm here." The bat proclaims smugly. "While there are many ways to awaken Aura, that Cloaked Woman showed me one way..."

Saki notices how the bar's tone drops, "... What's the catch?"

"It'll hurt."

"How much we're talking about?" Saki inquires dubiously. She has a bit of an idea but she needs to make sure.

"... I don't have words." The bat adds almost in a whisper, which does not reassure Saki. "Let me take control to start the process."

Saki tilts her head, but she understands the next second. If she has to describe it... It'd be like having her consciousness being thrown at the back of her skull, while another takes the front.

"Meow..." Saki shakes her head, or at least she tries to. She blinks a few times before realizing what the bat meant, "That's... Weird! It's like being in a backseat... In my own body."

"... You just meowled, you know." The bat remarks while conjuring a water sphere in front of her,

"Did I?"

The bat rolls her eyes as she admires herself on the sphere's surface. The black hair has turned white and the purple highlights shifted to gold, "Hmmm... Not bad, I guess."

"White and gold, eh. Guess it fits an angel."

The bat doesn't listen to Saki's remarks, she is too focused on their body. Out of curiosity, she lifts the leather shirt and touches her belly. "You... Have a nice body."

"We. Since we're sharing," Saki corrects the bat. Saying it out loud is strange but she's sure she'll get used to it. Then, her attention is pulled back to the bat. "HEY, WHAT'S WITH THE BLUSH!? NO HOGGLING!"

The bat clears her throat, letting the shirt fall down. "Ahem. Let's start the process," She tries to pass it off, but Saki just shakes her head. Or at least, she tries.

The bat puts one hand on the Grimoire's cover, white flames instantly surge and run across her arm and then over the entire body. At first, there's nothing. But when it finishes covering their body... The flames digs into their skin, penetrating their flesh, bones, blood vessels and nerves like millions of needles.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!" The two screams. Saki now understands why the bat had no words to describe the pain, it is far worse than injury she had gotten over the years. Getting shot feels like a mosquito bite in comparison, getting stabbed by swords and spears is like a massage.

Not a second after their scream, they fall to the ground, writhing in pain as the flames leave their skin, digging deeper and deeper. White hair turns black as Saki tries to sit up against the tree behind her, but even such little action agitate the metaphorical needles, causing her unimaginable amounts of pain.

Breathing is a torture, each time her lungs inflates, the needles digs deeper. Each time her hearts beats, her vessels, alongside every organs, scream in agony. Every single one of her nerves feel like they are on fire.

Saki tries to speak, but that is not an option. She wants to cry her eyes out, but she has a feeling that even that will bring about pain, so she holds it in.

"Fuck!" Saki curses in her head. "How long is it gonna last!?"

"... Uuuggghhhh..." The bat doesn't seem like she can answer.

Saki rolls her eyes, and looks up at the sky. Its hue is shifting from the dark night to the early morning. "We gotta go... Can't miss today's training session." She says while pushing herself against the tree trunk to stand on her feet.

The bat finally muster the strength to speak, "But what about Nyra?" She inquires, as Saki grunts in pain with every single move. "Something did happen to her at that time, no?"

Saki breathes heavily, "... I know." She replies in a whisper to ease the pain coursing through her. "I don't know if we'll be able to do something about it though... Lifting a finger is about impossible..."

"... So you're going to abandon her?" The bat asks, disappointed.

"I don't want that either... But what can I do with a body that feels like it's gonna collapse? I can't just butt head with the big heads and walk it off!"

"Then, let's go about it in a different way. If we can't go head first... Then let's lay a trap."

Saki raises an eyebrow at the suggestion, "A trap? What do you have in mind?"

"Oh, nothing much, just a circles that'll incinerate the bastards!" The bat proclaims proudly,

"... Ain't that a bit... Overblown? I mean I know the boars here are the size of small houses, but there aren't that BIG of a menace."

"... I thought you liked her," The bat sighs, "The book showed me you cared a lot about Nyra. Heck, that day she almost got gored by an unexpected one."

"At least back then, I could move without every inch of my body scream in pain. Right now, I doubt I'd be much help at all."

"HENCE THE TRAPS, DUMMY!"