CHAPTER 12 - THE FIRST DAY 4

Now, it was time for the class Aegis was dreading the most.

[Combat Fundamentals. While I'm standing here with a total Power of 1.]

Walking into this next classroom with the other students, most of them absolute tanks whose muscles had muscles, who actually came to Rosevale Academy for the explicit purpose of wanting to be knights and warriors, Aegis realized she may have bullshitted herself too close to the sun.

She'd performed so well in the Combat test that she convinced the academy she was some top-tier warrior. Of course, in truth, her arms were toothpicks that could snap in a heartbeat to a mildly aggressive gust of wind.

[I'm so fucked.]

At the same time, though, Aegis had been looking forward to this class also. As funny as she imagined it would be to make it to the top off of just her words, there were very real threats coming later into the school year that Aegis knew she'd need to prepare for. That she knew she'd have to deal with alone.

So, she had to get stronger.

But, man, this first part was going to suck.

Commander Korvo descended the stairs into the training area, where dummies stood like sentinels in front of a wooden stage. The man looked like he ate bricks for breakfast and used swords as toothpicks. Scars covered every visible inch of his skin, and his left eye was milky white.

"Welcome to pain," he growled. "I don't care about your titles, your magic, or your daddy's money. Here, you fight or you fail."

Several nobles shifted nervously. One girl actually whimpered.

"Partner up. Basic sparring to start." Korvo's good eye swept the room. "And yes, you can get hurt. No, I don't care. That's what the infirmary's for."

Students scrambled to find partners. Aegis desperately scanned for someone weak, someone she could maybe bluff against—

"AEGIS!" Scarlett bounded over, already bouncing on her heels. "Partners?"

[Oh no. She's going to literally break me in half.]

"... Sure," Aegis said, trying not to sound the way she felt.

They claimed a sparring circle. Scarlett grabbed practice swords from the rack, tossing one to Aegis who barely caught it.

"Don't look so scared," Scarlett grinned. "I promise I'll be gentle."

[Why does that sound like a threat?]

"Begin!" Korvo barked.

Scarlett moved.

... But, not at the speed Aegis expected. Her first swing was wide, telegraphed.

"ACK!"

Aegis stumbled back, barely getting her sword up in time. But, she did manage to block it.

[Huh?]

"Nice block!" Scarlett called out, loud enough for others to hear. "Come on, do it again."

She attacked again, slower than someone of her skill level should. Each strike came with just enough warning for Aegis to react. Dodge left, block high, stumble back. All delivered with just enough force to leave Aegis's muscles stinging, but intact.

[Wait. She's... actually holding back?]

Aegis tried a clumsy counterattack. Scarlett "barely" deflected it, making a show of the effort.

"Getting better already!" Scarlett's encouragement carried across the training hall. "Keep your feet wider, Mouse!"

They continued the dance. Scarlett pushed hard enough to make Aegis sweat, but never hard enough to actually hurt. It was like sparring with an older sibling, almost.

[So... She knows I'm terrible, huh.]

"Starcaller! Lionheart!" Korvo's voice cut through the clash of weapons. "Let's see what our top assessment students can do."

The commander approached their circle. Other students paused to watch.

[Shit shit shit.]

Scarlett's eyes sparkled. Suddenly, she launched into a flashier routine, one with spinning strikes, dramatic footwork, lots of unnecessary flourishes. To anyone watching, it looked intense, even though all Aegis was doing was putting her wooden sword vaguely in the direction of Scarlett's.

Then she "overextended." Just slightly.

[Oh-OH! D-Do I hit her?]

Aegis went for it. Aegis's sword tapped her ribs. A clear scoring blow.

"Point to Starcaller!" Korvo nodded. "Good instincts. Lionheart, but watch that footwork."

Scarlett rubbed her side dramatically.

"Lucky shot!"

They reset. This time, Scarlett made her blocks a fraction too slow. To Korvo, it looked like Aegis was reading her moves. To Aegis, it was obvious theater.

Another exchange. Scarlett left her shoulder open. Aegis scored again.

"Better," Korvo grunted, moving on to terrorize other pairs.

[Holy moly... I-I'm getting through the class!]

Once he was gone, Scarlett closed distance. They locked swords, bodies pressed together in what looked like a struggle for dominance. Aegis could feel the controlled strength in Scarlett's arms, holding back enough to let this continue.

Scarlett leaned in, her breath hot against Aegis's ear.

"You owe me one~"

Aegis's eyes widened.

The words sent heat straight through Aegis's body. Her new equipment stirred to life, blood rushing south.

[Nonononono no no! Not now. Not in these tight training pants!]

"I—what—you—" Aegis stammered.

Scarlett pulled back with a wicked grin.

"What? Just helping a friend."

She resumed the sparring, still obviously holding back but making Aegis work for every dodge. Sweat dripped down Aegis's spine. Her arms burned. But she was learning, a little... how to move, how to block, how to not die immediately.

Around them, other pairs had varying success. One boy got launched across the room by a magically enhanced strike. Two girls devolved into hair-pulling.

"Focus!" Scarlett barked. "Don't watch them, watch me!"

Aegis looked away, blushing faintly.

[Easy for you to say. You're not the one engaged in a life-or-death battle with biology itself right now.]

Twenty more minutes of controlled beatdown. By the end, Aegis could barely lift her sword, but she'd landed several more "hits", all graciously allowed, but still good practice.

"Time!" Korvo called. "Acceptable for day one. Tomorrow we add magic. Don't die before then."

Students groaned and limped toward the changing areas. Aegis collapsed against a wall, gasping.

"Not bad." Scarlett sat beside her, barely winded. "You lasted longer than I expected."

"Yeah... I'm terrible."

"Yeah, but you're trying." Scarlett's voice softened. "That's more than most do."

"Thanks for... you know." Aegis gestured vaguely. "Not turning me into paste."

"What are friends for?" Scarlett stood, stretching. Her shirt rode up, revealing a glistening eight-pack. "Besides, I meant what I said. You owe me."

The way she said it, with that particular smile, sent another wave of heat through Aegis.

"I-I should go," Aegis said quickly. "Next class."

"See you at dinner?" Scarlett winked. "Maybe we can discuss that favor."

"Y-Yeah, whatever."

Aegis fled before her body could betray her further. Behind her, Scarlett's laughter echoed through the training hall.

Her HUD chimed:

[SKILL PROGRESS: Basic Combat - 3%]

[POWER STAT: 3 (+2)]

Then another notification appeared:

[BLESSING UPDATE DETECTED]

[Blessing of the Fertility Goddess]

[NEW EFFECT UNLOCKED: Experience Multiplier]

[- Gain increased XP based on Bondmarks acquired]

[- Reminder: Bondmarks are acquired through sexual activity]

[- Current Multiplier: N/A (No Active Bondmarks)]

[- Each Bondmark increases training efficiency by 25%]

[Wait, what?]

Aegis stared at the notification.

Not only could she gain stats from sleeping with people, but having active Bondmarks would make all her training more effective?

[So I could literally fuck my way to power. That's... actually pretty on-brand for a fertility goddess's blessing.]

Another notification:

[RELATIONSHIP UPDATE: Scarlett Lionheart]

[❤️❤️🤍🤍🤍]

[Status: Training Partner]

[Note: Subject shows protective instincts. Physical contact recommended.]

[Note: The more favorability you gain with a subject, the harder it becomes to gain favorability.] 

[Physical contact. Right. For the XP boost. No other reason.] Aegis swallowed. [And, although she's warming up to me pretty fast, that doesn't mean I'll get, uhm, all the way just as quickly. Okay.]

Aegis headed for the showers, desperately needing cold water and a chance to think.

The blessing's new effect changed everything. She'd been planning to take relationships slow, build them naturally.

But if sleeping with her love interests literally made her stronger faster...

[No. Bad Aegis. You can't just seduce everyone for power. That would be wrong.]

"..."

[...But it would be really efficient.]

She turned the shower to its coldest setting, trying to banish thoughts of Scarlett's whisper, those abs, and the mathematical efficiency of using her blessing to its fullest potential.

[This is going to be a very long year.]