Chapter 209: a Major ally
Shizuka spluttered, as she swam back to the surface and glared at the bunny smirking across from her. Kat's perspective had shifted, and now stood to the side of the two speakers. "What did you do that for Alie!" shouted Shizuka
Alie, the bun in question, was laughing loudly to herself and struggling with her words "I didn't… ha…. Ha. And you just… hehehehe…. It was…. Hahaha, give a mont"
"Just you wait till I co over there!" growled Shizuka, summoning a single ring sigil to freeze the water around her before climbing up and marching towards Alie
"Ok, Minor… what is with those pauldrons. I don't know how they stay up, and why they are so large. Especially considering she's hardly wearing anything else. Like, there must be enough tal in one of those things to make a full chest piece"
"Ah" said Minor "Well… there are a few reasons actually. You're right, there is enough tal for a chest piece… well almost. It has to do with enchantnt. I don't really understand it but for the ones on her pauldrons, you need a certain amount of material to store the mana for them
"As to why she's lacking in armour in other areas… well, her combat style is like nothing I've ever seen. She makes full use of her flexibility and armour would only restrict that. The reason she can be a frontline fighter though is she has a rare mana type
"Very very rare. It's known as regeneration, but it's more accurately a defect in healing affinity. If a person is unable to project their mana outside of their body, but awaken to healing affinity it becos more potent but can only work on the person in question, even if they later gain the ability to use mana outside of themselves"
"Right…" said Kat unsure "What about the boots then"
"She likes stomping people" said Minor
Kat nodded. *I guess rabbits enjoy hopping.*
Kat returned her attention to the pair in question just as Shizuka was about to reach her, Alie easily hopped out of the way. Her long toned legs flexing with power, but moved just a few centitres to the side just enough to get away from Shizuka's admittedly half-hearted lunge.
"You disappoint my little fox, I'd thought you better than that" said Alie
"That's because I am stupid hare" said Shizuka as three two ringed sigils appeared around Alie. Shizuka clicked her fingers and a cube of ice grew to encapsulate Alie in full.
"Oooh I-cey you've been working on so tricks. Though still I'd expected bwetter from you" said Alie as she tensed her muscles shattering the prison completely.
Alie, then took a sprinter's pose, before pushing off and shooting towards Shizuka catching her in a big hug, scooping the fox up and rubbing her face into her tails "Mwhaha I win" said Alie.
"Get off I'm not a little kid anymore" said Shizuka
"Little Kid" laughed Alie "I'm like a year and a half older than you, you're just short"
Shizuka of course, wasn't short when compared to most won. She was of a very average height. It was only when people like Kat and Alie ca into play that she looked small at all.
Shizuka struggled to get out of Alie's iron like grip but failed. "What is this? The fox trying to run from the hare? What would your ancestors say?"
"I'm a kitsune not a fox you inbred rabbit" responded Shizuka
"Oh… I can't let such an insult stand" said Alie who proceeded to tickle Shizuka.
"Is this… really how they act?" asked Kat looking over at Minor
"Alie is perhaps the only thing close to a friend Major has. I'm very grateful she is around at all" said Minor "There are a few questionable things about her, but I know she cares a lot about Major. I'm a little surprised this is the first we've seen of her actually"
"What do you an?" asked Kat
"Well, we've known Alie for… at least five years? Seven maybe? It's been a few. I'm not sure why she just showed up now" said Minor
"Maybe this is the most important mory with her in it. You said yourself this was a mory you wanted to protect" said Kat aware that her energy was still draining. Down almost a third.
Minor got a thoughtful look on her face "You might be right. I think it might have more to do with not having a stand out event other than this, but perhaps you are closer to the truth"
Eventually, Shizuka was finally free from Alie's torture and managed to ask "What… what are you here for" between catching her breath
"Why, I'm here to duel for your hand in marriage of course" said Alie
Shizuka froze. Her icey appearance to Kat and Minor only further reinforcing this appearance. When she started to move again Kat could almost hearing the cracking of ice. "Why" was all Shizuka managed to say.
"Well, I can't let anyone else take away my sweet little Shizuka. I shall protect your honour with my own" declared Alie.
Kat frowned as she watched this. *Does Alie know? Just… the way she said that like it was a forgone conclusion that Shizuka would lose in the near future.* "Does she know?" whispered Kat to Minor.
Minor jumped and looked between Kat and Alie a few tis "I… I don't know… I hadn't even considered… Does she?" mumbled Minor.
"You'd know better than right?" asked Kat
"Yes but I don't see how she'd get that information" said Minor
"I can protect myself" said Shizuka, she looked slightly angry but, her voice held no heat.
"Right, of course you can. You totally didn't get captured by " said Alie and mid tickling Shizuka again.
"You know that doesn't count. You're stronger than by a long way" said Shizuka
Alie frowned "Then why can't you see that the next challenger might be the sa" asked Alie.
"I an… I can pick my battles carefully?" said Shizuka unsure of herself
"Look, why not just have a friendly duel of honour with . I'll bet my weapons if you want" said Alie
"No!" shouted Shizuka "You can't do that. They've been with you for so long"
Alie shrugged "They aren't worth nearly as much as your hand and I can get new ones. I'd bet my own hand in marriage but that would defeat the point wouldn't it"
Shizuka grit her teeth, pained expression on her face "I don't want to fight you Alie"
Alie shrugged "We spar all the ti when I co to visit. How is this any different?"
"You know why" said Shizuka
"Nope not at all" said Alie with a grin "You win, and you get so cool weapons. I win and I get your hand. That sounds like a win-win to "
Shizuka grit her teeth "Be serious about this please"
"I'm dead serious" said Alie, who first put Shizuka down, then turned around, bent over and answered through her legs.
Shizuka clenched her fists together, trying to contain her rage. Thinking Alie was making a mockery of her "Fine then. But it will be a kitsune duel, you won't have your amour"
Alie stood up straight and grinned wide "Perfect my little fox. Fight hard"
And with that Alie bowed to Shizuka before skipping off out of the scene.
"What the heck was that" asked Kat
"Sothing that has never been done before" said Minor
Kat raised an eyebrow "What do you an"
"Well, nobody without a noble house backing them would ever challenge the princess just in case they cheat. I an, we would never, but so in other kingdoms have. This is the first major challenge from an unknown party"
"Wait isn't Shizuka super important? How did so random rabbit sneak into the castle" asked Kat.
"She literally just walked in. We didn't find out till much later but she just marched straight through the front gate and nobody stopped her" said Minor "She was just a child but she didn't seem scared at all so the guards let her pass
"So, she visited for a while until Mother find out and she was furious. See Alie had been showing up fairly regularly, making small talk with the guards, and for so reason nobody thought to question it till Mum realised there was a problem
"Anyway, when confronted Alie said she'd rather die than cause problems for Shizuka. Grandma was around at the ti, and decided to put her to the test, not thinking she'd accept.?She was asked to sign a binding lifeti contract, that she'd die before allowing serious harm to co to Shizuka.
"Jokes on them I suppose. She sliced her hand open and signed it in blood. Now, granted, the contract didn't actually do anything. We don't possess that ability, but all the flashes and appropriate sigils looked to be in place
"Mum and Grandma were so shocked, they stood their mouths agape and Alie just walked out and went back to playing with Shizuka. Oh, and she's a hare, but she doesn't really care if you make that mistake"
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