11 Golden Green - 3

I let out a groan of pain, my arm splayed over my stomach, feeling the massive bruise forming. There was a moment of silence before another fell the same way I did. Fading to the ground in a similar groan of pain.

Her own weapon thrown to the side. Ais had tried to rush Atalanta and in doing so, had failed so recklessly. The moment she even approached her sword was kicked out of her hand with pitiful ease, and the next moment she was on the ground with me.

"Again." Atalanta spoke, her voice oh so even.

But I obeyed, letting her command my body like her own. Rising to the challenge, my own eyes glanced at Ais.

"Follow my lead." I whispered to her. I doubted that Atalanta couldn't hear us, but it was better to have an actual plan rather than rushing in without one.

I nodded my head, yeah, that was much better.

So I waited, knocking an arrow on my bow. Waiting for Ais to pick her sword back up. And in moments she did. Gazing at me and nodding with confident eyes.

"Ready?" Atalanta asked.

And I nodded, rushing at her with more speed than even I thought I could bring. I turned and stopped in my tracks, letting loose the arrow directly in Atalanta's sight. Though moments later it was shattered into golden sparks.

Atalanta's own bow was taken to bear and within the moment knocked. Arrows collided within the air, and that was what had happened.

But as I rushed in, not letting even a single moment pass me by, closing rapidly. I knew that this would not work, that I would be thrown on my back soon after.

Yet a quick glance at my back showed me that Ais had deciphered my plan, circling around my back.

Using the shower of golden sparks - created by the clash of our arrows - in order to veil herself and get closer to Atalanta. Only in the next moment, when I was knocked back to the ground, flat on my butt.

Only then did I find more sparks, a sword thrown into the air and another body next to mine. Grunting in pain. Glaring at what she thought was an impossible wall.

"Again"

And so it continued, plan after plan, attack after attack. Strategy after strategy. Each and every one of them failed.

And neither did we get any closer. But in the end, when Ais sat next to me, sweating on my shoulder, panting for breath. I found myself content.

Knowing that even though there was no visual progress, there still was progress. I could feel the bond between us growing closer. Our strategies and coordination growing ever stronger.

…

"Lay down on ya back." I followed her directions, letting her legs wrap around my back. My own tail swishing this way and that in nervousness.

It was the first time that my status would be updated and I wasn't sure if I was even going to make any progress.

I had made some improvements in not only my own speed and agility but my proficiency in using the bow. But that was tangible… something that I wasn't sure translated well to this falna thing.

Either way the moment of truth would come sooner or later. And as I relaxed, letting her finger trail over my back. I shivered at her touch, my own tail and ears perking straight up.

She only laughed, chuckling in this perverted way. I wanted to scowl and throw her off my back but I didn't know what that would do to me. So I merely endured. Letting her use me as she wished for the moment.

But as soon as she let go of me, stepping off of my back, I threw her off and took the paper in my own hand. Reading it.

…

[Inari Ōkami]

[Lv: 1]

[Strength: I1 -> I89]

[Endurance : I1 -> I91]

[Dexterity: I1 -> F111]

[Agility: I1 -> F183]

[Magic: I1 -> I42]

[Skills:]

[Agrius Metamorphosis: Grants Shapeshift(A)]

…

I felt a surge of power flow through my back. Clenching and unclenching my hand, it felt much more… more free. As if I could run and sprint faster and with more control than ever.

And that little itch between my ribs, that source of energy that glowed so faintly. It felt stronger than when I had last felt it. The energy almost seemed to coalesce into some sort of river.

One that seemed to want to rage through these set pathways. Yet when I tried to manipulate it all I got was a seemingly no, my body telling me that I couldn't use them.

For what reason, I didn't know.

"Done?" A quiet voice asked. I turned my head and looked to Ais. Her head peeking through the door ever so slightly.

Had she snuck out in order to see me?

I raised the edges of my lips into a smile and turned. Walking over to her, ignoring the god who seemed to be drooling at the edge of the couch.

"Yeah" 

She tore the paper from my hands, nodding to herself. An almost silent determination within her eyes.

And when she gave it back, when I placed it in my pocket to be further cataloged back in my room. When I had left my eyes off of Ais. She grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the room.

I took a look at her face and what I saw shocked me.

She was pouting. And it was absolutely adorable. I wanted to just hug those cheeks of hers to mine. 

I…

'What…?'

I tilted my head, my ears falling flat against my face. Was that truly my own thought? Really, cause I had never thought of something like that.

Mmm~ Yeah it was just an errant thought. There was no way.

And so I followed, only briefly stopping by my own room in order to place the paper away. And then to allow Ais to drag me to the training ground.

"What's wrong~?" I teased, poking fun at her pouting face.

She turned her head and threw herself at me.

I dodged out of the way, my body moving just a tad bit faster than it had the minute before. And if I hadn't..

Well the sword piercing the place I was in was a definite sign of what would happen.

I chuckled nervously before I knocked an arrow. Letting it fly true almost the exact moment that I had.

She dodged and closed the distance. 

And so began our little game of keep away. Ais would constantly fly towards me with a purpose, every other move of hers becoming that bit smoother and I would fly back myself.

Using the enhanced agility of my own to dodge her ever increasing attacks. A sort of rhythm that was only broken when I was forced to the ground. A sword at my throat and a panting Ais hovering over me.

She smiled, tilting her head as she reached out her hand. Only to fall face first on top of me. Her own eyes closed and her breathing even.

I couldn't help my own exhaustion. And with the beating sun over my eyes, the heat of the girl on top of me.

No one could blame me for falling asleep myself.