Looking back into the Training Grounds, I saw that everyone was gathering. Moving towards my mother, I stayed quiet, listening.
"So, since it seems we all have a lot of... energy today, why not do so light exercises? It has been awhile since I sparred with you, Chordeva. It would be quite a learning experience for the children to."
Hearing the Empress' proposition, the Marquess sighed, looking at the Countess. Seeing her nod, she turned back to the Empress, a wry grin on her lips.
"Go easy on , yeah?"
Chuckling, the Empress stood in the center of the grounds, everyone else moving towards the sides.
Getting into a stance, the Marquess waited for a signal.
"Co now, Chordeva. You know better. Start when you are ready."
Hearing that, the Marquess sighed again before her body flickered.
Widening my eyes, I watched as she disappeared from where she stood and reappeared behind the Empress.
Throwing a punch, the Empress swayed out of the way. Pivoting, she threw her palm forward, catching the Marquess in the chest, sending her skidding away.
Getting up, the Marquess growled slightly, before flickering again.
This ti appearing in front of the Empress, she sent dozens of blows towards her in a single mont.
Blocking each one, the Empress chuckled. This continued for a few monts, as the Empress simply blocked each one, though she gradually had to start using more of her body then use her arms.
Grabbing the Marquess' wrist when it skimd past her face, she pulled her forwards, placing a finger on the Marquess' brow.
Panting, the Marquess bit her lip, before being released.
"Good as always, Chordeva. If you had been born during warti, you might have truly rivaled ... Still, you are one of the best fighters I have had the privilege of seeing in my long life."
Nodding stiffly, the Marquess moved back to the side.
Looking towards the Sultana, the Empress said "Do you wish to spar, Anubi?"
Shaking her head, the Empress chuckled lightly, before turning towards Kio.
"Would you like to have a friendly spar with Julie?"
My mother and Kio looked at one another, before stiffly shaking their heads.
Sighing, the Empress looked at the Countess, asking "What about you, Ria? Would you like to spar Lorelei?"
Lorelei simply tilted her head, while the Countess bit her lip. For a few monts, there was nothing but silence. "Fine. Are you fine with blades, Lorelei?"
Hearing that, Lorelei smiled, before nodding.
Stepping into the center, I pursed my lips in confusion. Looking up at my mother, I asked "Are they going to fight in dresses?"
Chuckling, my mother stroked my ears, saying "Yup. The Countess used to do that a lot in the Academy..."
Watching them both quickly draw a complex rune, I widened my eyes in surprise as they both created a blade made from fire. Dropping into identical stances, they stared at each other, small smiles on their lips.
Monts passed, and when the Marquess said "Begin!" they flashed forwards, their blades eting and sending sparks flying.
Retreating, the Countess readied her blade again, before lunging forwards, attempting to stab Lorelei.
Lorelei parried the blade, pushing it towards the ground, before attempting to slash at the Countess.
I watched in amazent as the Countess swayed back, narrowly dodging the slash before flicking her own blade up towards Lorelei's chest.
They continued to trade blows, their blades gradually growing in size and darkening in color, raising the heat in the Training Grounds.
Grinning widely at each other, they continued to slash, cut, stab, parry, and block each others blades.
This continued for a few minutes, as neither woman managed to get the upper hand. Looking around, I could see the Marquess and Empress smiling as they watched the fight. My mother was watching intently, while Kio had her eyes narrowed, whispering to the Sultana. Anput was watching the fight with awe in her eyes, her tail swishing slightly. Leone looked worried, but when the Empress stroked her head she cald down.
Looking at Jahi, I could see her eyes gleaming as she watched her mother. Seeing her fist clench, I realized that maybe Jahi would be a battle junky, since she seed to imnsely enjoy sparring. Whenever she and the Marquess talked after a spar, she would always be completely absorbed in the discussion, not paying attention to anything else.
I turned back to the fight, watching as the fight slowly ca to a close.
Both jumped back, panting slightly. Looking at each other, they nodded, before allowing their blades to fizzle out.
"Hah... why couldn't you have gotten worse, Lorelei?"
Snorting, she looked back at the Countess. "Really Ria? I had to keep improving, otherwise you might just slip up during our next eting... You really hold a grudge, y'know?"
Giving her a chilling smile, the Countess said nothing, before moving to the Marquess' side.
Shaking her head, Lorelei walked towards the Empress, before scooping up Leone, nuzzling her cheek.
Chuckling, the Empress said "So, did you kids learn anything?"
"Don't piss off the Countess?"
As soon as Anput said that, Kio pinched her cheek.
Chuckling, Jahi said "To improve my foundations as much as possible. After all, both Mother and Lady Lorelei used one of their three elents, and were quite skilled with them as well."
Nodding, the Empress spoke again.
"We should probably go clean up again, hmm? Then have dinner and finally retire for the night..."
The Marquess nodded, clapping her hands. Two identical maids walked through the door, bowing.
"Lexa, take the Empress and her family to their chambers. Lexi, take the Sultana and her family to their chambers."
""Yes, Lady Asmodia!""
Bowing again, they moved towards their assigned family, and led them out of the training grounds.
Sighing, the Marquess cracked her neck before turning to look at us. "Well, you heard the Empress. Let's go clean up, then et back at the lounge. Gods am I tired..."
Wrapping her arm around the Countess, she slowly made her way out, my mother following behind them.
Watching them leave, a palpable silence descended on the training grounds.
Looking towards Jahi, I saw her staring straight at , her eyes speckled with gold.
Appearing before , she placed her forehead against mine, her eyes slowly turning full gold.
"So you and Leone, hmm?"
Hearing that, as well as slling Anput all over her, I snarled back "Just like you and Anput, huh?"
Narrowing her eyes, she kept looking into my eyes. Glaring at her, I watched as she pulled away, laughing.
"So you feel the sa as ~! Haha~"
Tilting my head slightly, I was confused by her sudden shift in mood. Her eyes reverted back to her normal athyst, and she wiped a tear from her eye.
"Well, looks like we have a problem, hmm? If this is what we are both like after being separated and around others for just a few hours, what will the Academy be like?"
I kept glaring at her, and she smirked at . "What? Was it not just yesterday that I said you would be my main love? So little trust~"
Sighing, I took a deep breath.
"I guess we need to stay as a group then. That way we can keep an eye on the other."
Jahi chuckled, nodding. "Yup, knowing you were alone with Leone irked ..."
"And you slling like Anput is infuriating."
Hearing that, Jahi looked down at herself, sniffing, before saying "Yeah... let's take a bath?"
Without waiting to hear my answer, she grabbed my hand, pulling through the hall.
Feeling the familiar warmth of her hand, I relaxed slightly, allowing her to take the lead.
She brought up a fair point, though. If this is how we react from being separated for only a few hours, and with other people who aren't family, what is the Academy going to be like? Sighing, I decide to leave future problems to future . That always worked in the past...
Entering our room, I helped Jahi out of her clothes before quickly undressing as well, before entering the bathroom.
Like always, we quickly washed each other before lounging in the bath.
Feeling Jahi's arm around , I nuzzled closer to her. Sniffing gently, I smiled widely when I couldn't sll the citrusy scent of Anput.
However, thinking of Anput, I started wondering; how would I react when Jahi has to take one of them as a lover? How will I react when she reeks of soone else? Will I redouble my efforts, in an attempt to cover their scent with my own? Or will I not care because all of us will be sharing a bed, like how the Marquess, Countess, and my mother did?
Sighing, I again decided to let future figure that one out.
We lazed about, enjoying each others warmth, before eventually exiting the bath and making our way towards the lounge. This ti, even though I tried to prevent her from doing so, Jahi led in while holding my hand, grinning widely the whole ti.
When we entered, the Marquess and Countess sighed, while the Empress and Sultana simply gave a quick gaze before turning back towards the center. They had been talking about when the Marquess and Countess were in the Academy.
Leone looked slightly upset when she saw Jahi holding my hands, but I couldn't be sure as she had quickly turned her attention back to her puppy.
Anput simply smiled at us, her eyes warm.
Before Jahi could pull onto her lap, I broke away from her and stood beside my mother.
Dinner quickly arrived, and this ti the Marquess pointed to two chairs that had been placed besides the table. Taking seats, we waited for everyone else to start eating before we started.
The al was similar to what we had before; a large steak, a small salad, so bread, and a drink.
We finished quickly, and everyone started going back to their rooms. Jahi tried to wait for , but I told her to go ahead, so that I could help my mother, both because it was what I was supposed to do and also because of the quest that appeared.
When I had finished, I made my way back to our room, however halfway there I saw Anput leaning against the wall, her eyes closed.
Stiffening, I tried to quietly move past her, but her eyes opened and she grabbed my wrist.
"Listen, we should talk."
Glaring at her, I said "About?"
Giving a wry smile, she said "Look, I know you don't exactly like ; I am trying to take sothing that is yours. However, I think I should go ahead and just say it now. I'm not going to try and use underhanded ans like setting you against each other. You obviously recovered quickly from it..."
"So you were doing it on purpose?"
"Yup. Not only because I wanted to have fun, but also..."
Looking to the side, she muttered "I really like her..."
Narrowing my eyes, I just stared at her.
"Really, I do! You might not know, but in the Sultanate it is quite common for won to marry solely based on strength. Seeing soone stronger than you... well, maybe it's due to being a beastkin as well as the culture, but Jahi is just so... perfect..."
She was shuffling about, and I could see her face darkening slightly as she blushed.
"Just because you fell for her doesn't an she'll take you."
Looking at , Anput smiled. "I know that. Trust , I know. That's why I just wanted to tell you this: I'm not going to give up. I WILL beco her wife. I will do everything I can to try and stand by her side. Not only for the political reasons, but also because I want to marry soone strong. So, it looks like we are rivals, huh? You may be bound together, but I plan on eventually carving a place into her heart..."
Hearing that, I pursed my lips, before sighing. "So you're serious? Hah... Fine. You can watch from afar as I occupy all of her heart."
At that she started laughing, doubling over. Wiping a tear from her eye, she chuckled. "Y'know, I quite like you as well. It seems like I can go after either of you; after all, if I make one fall, the other will as well~!"
I shook my head, thought there was a small smile on my lips.
Grinning, she said "Well, see you tomorrow, rival~"
Walking away, I watched as her tail swished side to side, and she was bouncing around.
Seeing her disappear around a corner, I shook my head again, sighing.
"Well, at least that'll be interesting..."
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I know so people don't quite like Anput, but... well, you've just seen the first of her! She has a lot of growth to go through after all!
Another thing: We almost have 100k views and 300 collections! That's really cool, and thank you all so much!
Anyways, I just wanted to leave this list here of Ani I recomnd (so far!) from this season.
Lycoris Recoil: If you like Yuri (If you haven't noticed, I really like Yuri) then this is a decent enough ani. Cool premise, excellent characters.
Engage Kiss: It's a good mix of action and romance. It has two Female Leads, one Tsun and one Yan, which is why I started watching it...
Black Summoner: Just your typical isekai system ani, but for so reason I am heavily addicted to them.
Harem Labyrinth: It's another isekai ani, but the MC actually gets with his won, doesnt just collect them like all the others. Hell, in episode four(?) he sleeps with his first harem mber. That's practically unheard of for an Ani. Usually h*ndh*lding is the most they do, maybe kiss...
Parallel World Pharmacy: Again, isekai that's got a decentish idea, good art, so on...
Finally, my favorite ani, Overlord, has a new season! I have literally been waiting for like a year since its been pushed back so much!
Anyways, yeah, just wanted to put that there, if you have anything you are watching, let know. Like always, I crave entertainnt...
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