Chapter 64: 41 – Swindled Reward

[Qih!]

“Come on Amara! Don't slow down!” (Ezme)

I’m not tired.

[Qih!]

“Faster!” (Ezme)

So demanding.

I’m not tired.

[Qih! Qih!]

[Ding!]

[Qih!]

[Qih! Qih!]

“Better!” (Ezme)

I’m not tired.

Okay, I’m beat.

Amara panted as she came to a stop, hanging with her arms as the squeaking suddenly stopped sounding in the room. “I’m done! I need a break!”

Her arm especially was aching from the repetitive movements she had to make when wielding the toy. Although Ezme’s occasional, delighted squeals did make Amara feel a sense of accomplishment, she felt that a break was already overdue. Amara had endured through the pain of her aching body to continue keeping the angel happy.

“Done already?” Ezme’s ridiculing remark came from above her.

“I’m sore all over!” Amara yelled. 

“Tsk. How disappointing. Even for a mortal, I expected more.” Ezme clicked her tongue before letting out a dramatic sigh.

Amara chuckled. “Hey, this is still pretty new to me. Besides, how long have I even been at it?”

Ezme cocked her head as she thought. “Hmm. Two days or so.” 

Two days?! No wonder I feel so exhausted!

Even though during the last training session Amara was given short breaks from time to time to physically rest, the constant fear of getting pounced on had caused severe mental exhaustion.  

This time, Amara didn’t need to think much other than how to avoid. Soon she had started to think even less, as her body began remembering the movements. When Amara performed at her best, she felt like she had fallen into a trance: reacting instinctively at times when her opponents charged or pounced at her. Eventually her body grew too tired to keep up however, and she began making mistakes that resulted in countless lacerations.

The only thing that she disliked about the training, was how tired it made her feel. Amara didn’t mind at first, but as her muscles started complaining painfully she had to focus harder, quickly turning the training from a fun exercise to monotone labour.

At least she had Ezme who could keep her motivation up.

“I suppose we should end it here.” Ezme sighed and waved her hand as the large grey wolf that had been Amara’s training partner yelped when it suddenly was yanked backwards and disappeared from sight.

Amara sat down on the floor before lying down to rest her aching limbs and back. Hearing the flapping of wings as Ezme descended to the floor next to her, Amara smiled. “So, do you think I improved?”

“Well, certainly. You learned to appraise your opponents’ physical capabilities somewhat merely by looking at them, and come up with a way to approach them. You no longer shake in fear when you end up in a fight.” Ezme said with a wide grin.

Amara laughed. “I ended up shaking due to exhaustion instead.”

“It’s to be expected. Although you grew sloppy, you still managed to keep on fighting. It’s something even we angels struggle to overcome.” Ezme chirped. 

Amara smiled wider as she looked at Ezme. “Since you say that I’ve improved, doesn’t that mean that I should be rewarded?”

Ezme blushed and averted her gaze as she crossed her arms. “Fine. What do you want?”

Amara grinned. “What can I get?”

“Y-you….shameless!” Ezme exclaimed and looked angrily at Amara. “Go get a bath! I won’t reward you while you stink, and look so indecent!” 

Indecent?

Ah...right.

Amara glanced down at herself. Her clothes had numerous slashes and holes in them from the long training that revealed the skin underneath. What was left of the clothes stuck to her skin in several places due to the dried blood. Amara didn’t have to sniff herself to realize how much she smelled.

“Alright then.” Amara groaned as she attempted to get up but had to roll over and get up from her lying on her front when her muscles protested. Amara sighed as she stood and looked at Ezme. “Maybe you want to join me? As my reward?”

Ezme’s face grew redder as she howled. “No! Pervert!”

 

_______________

Walking into the bedroom after a refreshing bath, Amara saw that Ezme sat on the sofa with her brow furrowed in contemplation. 

Amara sat down next to her with a smile. “What are you thinking about?”

Ezme blushed and looked away. “None of your business.”

After calming herself, Ezme turned to Amara. “Now that you have learned how to train, I’ll need to continue with my duties.”

Amara frowned. “You’re leaving?”

Ezme nodded. “I was given leave, but as I’m feeling better now I need to go back and do my part. I thought that maybe I’ll leave tomorrow.”

Amara sighed. “How long will you be gone?”

Ezme cocked her head as she contemplated. “Maybe a few days or weeks at a time at most. It depends on if I go to the battlefield or visit my domain.”

Ezme looked at Amara. "In the meantime, you should continue practising as best you can."

Amara frowned as she thought. "I'll probably practise my magic for the most part while you're gone. It's fallen behind quite a bit."

Amara had to wait for Ezme's reply. "I suppose you're not in a huge hurry to learn how to fight, but you shouldn't forget about it."

"I won't." Amara looked at Ezme before she stood up and fetched the small photo album she had made and gave it to Ezme as she sat back down.

“This…?” Ezme said in confusion, but as she opened it she blushed while a smile spread on her face. 

Amara smiled as she watched Ezme’s reactions. “I promised you a copy. Now you can bring it with you.”

Ezme closed the photo album and made it disappear into her inventory before she smiled at Amara. “Thank you.”

“No problem. Now then, did you have anything else you needed to discuss?” Amara asked as she cocked her head.

Ezme tilted her head in confusion. “...No?” 

Amara’s smile grew wider as she reached out and patted Ezme’s feathers. “Then, I’d like to discuss my reward. So...what are you offering?”

Jeez, did I really just say that?

That sounds so wrong. What's wrong with me?

Ezme’s neck grew redder as she quietly spoke. “You…”

Amara tilted her head. “Me?”

Ezme’s wings twitched as she drew a breath. “You can touch my feathers.”

Amara had to restrain herself in order not to burst out laughing.

Adorable!

After getting her twitching lips under control Amara smiled at Ezme. “Fluffles, I think I was already allowed to touch your feathers.”

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Ezme flinched and bit her lip as she clenched her fists. 

Sorry Fluffles, but I’m greedy.

Amara patted Ezme’s wing as she smiled. “A reward has to feel like a reward, you know. I’ll just tell you what I want.”

Ezme seemed to clench her fists tighter as she exclaimed. “I-I’m not going to give you permission to kiss me whenever you want if that’s what you think!”

Amara smiled. “I’m not going to ask for that.”

What I’m going to ask is far worse for you, Fluffles.

Ezme looked at Amara nervously. “T-then what?”

Amara smiled and ran her fingers over Ezme’s feathers. “I want you to kiss me.”

Ezme blinked repeatedly. “Eh?”

Amara cocked her head. “I want you to initiate the kiss. Just once.”

Ezme blushed and averted her eyes.

Amara grinned. “I won’t push you if you don’t want to, but that’s what I’d like as a reward.”

Watching the fidgety angel, Amara stood up from the sofa against the screaming of her aching muscles and walked to the bed. 

“H-hold on!” Ezme exclaimed from behind her.

“Yes?” Amara turned and looked back at the angel.

“Where are you going?” (Ezme)

Amara replied with a smile. “I’m tired and sore. So I think I’ll sleep for a while.”

Amara fell onto the bed and let out a sigh as her head sank into the pillow. Before long Amara saw that Ezme stood next to the bed and was looking down at her. 

“W-what about your reward?” Ezme asked anxiously.

Amara smiled as she looked up at the angel. “You can give it to me whenever you feel like it, be it now or later.”

Ezme drew a deep breath as she appeared to resolve herself before she moved up on the bed. “I’ll give it to you now.”

Amara’s smile grew wider as she followed the angel with her gaze. Looking at Ezme who hunched over her, she saw the angel had a stern expression on her face and eyes filled with determination.

Beautiful.

As they stared into each others’ eyes, Amara reached up and put a loose strand of hair behind Ezme’s ear. The angel instantly blushed and her eyes shook before she averted her gaze. 

“S-stop looking at me like that!” Ezme exclaimed.

Amara smiled. “I can't help it, you’re beautiful.”

“Amara!” Ezme tensed up and grit her teeth in frustration as she raised her fist. “Shameless! Stop teasing m-UAH!”

As Ezme struck the bed with her fist next to Amara’s head, her blow seemingly strengthened with divine power, the bed frame broke. Amara felt how the bed suddenly tilted inward, making them both fall into the cavity.

As the sudden tumble came to a stop, Amara and Ezme stared at each other in surprise. Amara felt her face warm up as she felt how close Ezme’s body was to hers, and a moment later Ezme began blushing as well.

Amara let out an akward laugh to release the tension. She had no idea what to say to salvage the situation.

Amara’s disarrayed thoughts were interrupted when she felt Ezme’s hand on her cheek and sensed the angel’s face approaching hers. Amara felt her face grow hotter and her heart beating faster.

Wait! I’m not ready- what am I thinking!? Isn’t this perfect?

Amara felt Ezme’s breath against her lips as the distance grew shorter. As she met Ezme’s gaze, Amara saw the confidence in the angel’s clear, grey eyes.

It is! Yes!

Amara saw how Ezme closed her eyes, and closed her own in response.

Yes!

Amara felt something warm and soft press against her lips.

YES!

“What are you doing?” (Alarice)

Amara felt how Ezme’s lips quickly withdrew from hers when they both flinched.

You’ve got to be...

In an instant, Ezme had disappeared from next to her, fallen flat on the floor and managed to stumble back up on her feet. 

...kidding me! 

DAMMIT!!

“S-si-si-sister! Nothing!” Ezme stammered nervously.

Bitch! You….clam jammer!

Amara grit her teeth in anger as she climbed out of the broken bed.

“I’m glad to see that you’re feeling better. Then it’s best you return to your duties, sister.” Alarice said coldly.

“Y-yes, I was going-” Ezme began anxiously.

“Now.” Alarice sternly cut her off with a trace of anger in her voice.

“Y-yes.” Ezme said quietly and walked past Alarice towards the alcove. Upon reaching it she noticed that Alarice hadn’t moved, and turned to look back. “S-sister?”

“Go ahead. I need to speak with the mortal.” Alarice said coldly. 

Ezme turned to look at Amara with eyes filled with anxious concern. 

Amara drew a breath and nodded to Ezme, which resulted in Alarice furrowing her brows with anger flashing in her eyes. Ezme who couldn’t see Alarice's expression, nodded back and left.

Left alone, Alarice and Amara stared at each other coldly.

“I believe I told you to keep your distance from Ezme.” Alarice said icily.

“You did. I simply don’t care.” Amara crossed her arms and replied with a snort.

Alarice’s eyes flared with anger. “Do not overestimate your own importance. While we need you alive for the armistice, that is also the only thing we require you to be. Anything beyond that is merely an added benefit: but we aren’t afraid to discard those benefits should you be too troublesome for us.”

Threats? Really?

Amara frowned as her anger flared up. “What’s the problem with me and Ezme spending time together anyway?”

“That is none of your concern. You merely need to abide.” Alarice stated. 

Amara scoffed. “You really think I’ll abide by something as ridiculous as that?”

Alarice’s eyes narrowed. “Face reality, mortal. Ezme has lived since long before you were born, and will continue to live long after you are dead. You are but a temporary whim for her, and you will always come second to her duties. No matter should you consort with her or not, your story will end in tragedy. The question is whether you drag her down into tragedy as well. Cease your selfish mortal desires, and let Ezme be.”

As Alarice turned and left, Amara remained standing with an angry frown. Amara shouted after her. “I don’t want you to come in here again, but if you do end up coming then remember to knock!”

Amara could hear Alarice respond with a dismissive snort.

Tsk. Bitch. Appraisal!

Amara watched the departing wings of the angel as she waited for the painful avalanche of information, that in the end never came.

[Ding!]