511 Familial 'Love' (2)

Kalia PoV

"I know that Mama is... Do we really have to do this though Dama?! I don't want her to get hurt..."

Looking up at Dama Rhefia's face, I tried to plead for Inik to not be made into a mess - though I had no idea if that would happen, I just felt like I needed to make sure I did everything I could to ensure my lover wouldn't be injured - only to have Dama Rhefia chuckle as she pat my head, instantly causing my shoulders to slump.

"Sorry not sorry, Kalia. She can't be acting this way without any repercussions. I might not know Prixisia that well, or really care for her the same way everyone else does, but she is still a part of this family, and I don't want anyone outside of the family disrespecting us. Inik hasn't proven herself yet, nor has she really... earned a spot just yet either."

Mama was the one to speak next, her hand stroking my upper back as she added "We might have been... not neglecting, but... we haven't really been paying Prixisia her due affection. That doesn't mean I'm going to allow someone to cause her emotional distress. So... I am sorry, my adorably affectionate daughter, but your lover will need to be... brought back down to 'reality'?"

I nodded before reluctantly following them outside, where we got to see Inik and Aethisia waiting for us in the middle of the sand pit, the wooden practice weapons that Mama had made for everyone resting idly in their hands.

Glancing at me when I stood on the side of the 'arena', Inik smirked and winked before returning her focus to Aethisia, who just frowned as she asked "You really had to pick this one out of everyone, Kalia?"

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean? I'll have you know I bring quite a bit to the table! Your sister can verify that~!"

Biting my cheek, I looked away from the two and instead glanced at Dama, who was standing beside Prixisia with a frown that looked ready to give her face permanent wrinkles, while the Lamia was staring straight at Inik, watching the Hawkkin twirl her sword around a few times to get ready.

Those orange eyes were filled with... almost nothing at all, which was what made me shiver a bit as I looked towards Mama and asked "Can... we perhaps place a lock on the alchemy room for the next couple of days? And maybe have someone remain with Prixisia?"

Sari was the one to snicker in response as she said "I would advise that, absolutely. She looks ready to poison your Hawkkin with seven different concoctions~! And I don't think we need to doubt her abilities to do so, since she is only here because of doing just~ that~!"

"Alright, let's just get this over with, yeah? Fight clean, don't be an idiot. Ready?"

Dama Rhefia stepped forwards and looked between the two, watching as they both readied themselves and raised their weapons, preparing for the 'spar' to come; I wanted to avert my eyes from this, but I was obligated to watch since it was my lover who had caused all of this, and it was my sister out there fighting 'on my behalf'...

"Begin!"

Like arrows out of a bow, the two shot forwards and met in the middle of the sand pit, Inik's sword crashing down on the spear haft that Aethisia raised in her defense; the way the Hawkkin's wings flapped and struck Aethisia's arms was surprising, just like Inik was surprised to see two thick antlers heading towards her head.

Kicking off of Aethisia, Inik backed away from the headbutt and opened herself up to the spear thrust that lanced towards her stomach, though I watched in amazement as she twisted herself just a tad and launched forwards again, running alongside the spear and slamming her shoulder into Aethisia's chest.

She stumbled back a step and gave Inik the opportunity to swing her blade freely, the sword slicing down towards Aethisia's chest and hoping to score another hit, albeit a heavier one that would almost surely secure a win with how it would be 'lethal' with actual weapons.

Aethisia's spear flashed forwards to meet her sword, pushing it to the side before she slammed it down to the ground, trapping Inik's weapon beneath her own and allowing her to have the priority on the next attack... with her weapon.

Inik decided to just drop her blade and lunge forwards, wrapping her arms around Aethisia's waist and tackling the Deerkin to the ground, swiftly seating herself on her abdomen and trying to secure a position that would allow her to rain punches down on the Deerkin's head.

Her wings unfurled and blocked our vision, but we didn't need to see the details to notice that she stiffened for a moment before being unceremoniously tossed to the side, her face twisted into a grimace of pain as she clutched at her abdomen and glared at Aethisia, who scrambled to her feet.

"What happened... to fighting clean?!"

Inik's snarl made us all glance at Aethisia, who just smirked and shrugged as she replied "What happened to being a decent person and not talking about my sister like that~? Sounds even to me."

Lifting her spear again, Aethisia kicked the wooden sword over to the Hawkkin and said "C'mon, pick it up. We aren't done just~ yet, now are we?", which Inik responded to with a growl as she wrapped her fingers around the wooden hilt.

"Fine... we're even on that then, yeah? But since you wanna fight that way..."

Pushing herself off of the ground, Inik shook her head before lunging forwards again, stabbing her sword towards Aethisia's head and making the Deerkin frown as she stepped to the side, only to grunt when Inik's other hand swung towards her head as well, but instead of a fist, she opened her hand and allowed a wave of sand to crash against Aethisia's face, blinding her.