Chapter 32

"Wakey-wakey! The sun's up and shining on your butt girls!" A voice exclaim as the door open with a bang.

I jump in fright, my weapons already summoned as I stand on the bed. Anna and Eliza just groan in annoyance. A quick glance around and I see Altina, smiling widely at the door. A relieved sigh escape my lips. I dismiss my weapons and flop back on the bed. My ears flat on my head.

"Please don't do that Altina... I thought we were suddenly attacked... It's not good for my heart." I say, my voice tinged with tiredness.

"Sorry! I can't stop it. I think mom almost had a few heart attacks over the years." She answer, a finger on her chin as she tries to remember.

Uh. I feel like the mornings to come will be hard...

I look at the girls on my sides. They haven't moved, only a little to bury their head back into the pillows.

"At least two people here didn't get bothered much..."

After getting up and washing up, we all spend the rest of the day talking. Apparently Altina wasn't joking when she said Virina trained her to heal and fly at the same time. I was a little doubtful at that time. But she showed us and it's quite beautiful. When she uses her abilities while flying she looks like an angel in the sky with that golden glow around her. Not really discreet though. We'll have to be careful of any ranged attackers or monsters.

We'll have to train about that. I think Claire should be able to help us with that. Given I manage to bring her to accept to help. As for how she got training with Virina? It's because Altina is actually a little older than Eliza. Not by much, two months that's all. So they trained while waiting for the new Academy recruiting.

I'm a little bit jealous she can fly though. I can jump pretty high. And if Eliza helps me with shields I can even 'run' in the air. But it requires a very good teamwork. We did try but it's not really feasible for now. Mostly because Eliza isn't strong enough. She is barely capable of maintaining two at the same time. But it should change after a few dives. There's so much ideas I have, most dangerous. For the enemies of course!...

Okay maybe those ideas are also dangerous for me.

The next week's classes started again. The history ones are still as boring and sleep inducing as before. I actually did sleep in those. But I was a little more discreet this time, Eliza and Anna were also behaving. They just took turns petting my tail. That didn't help fighting the sleepiness though. This time the teachers shouldn't complain at least.

Dungeon types and preparation's classes were fine, we learned a bit more about Dungeons and it will always be useful.

I'm surprised we didn't learn about the Divine element at all. For such a powerful one, they should tell us. When I asked Altina she told me it's very rare so they don't feel like talking about it. I'm not sure I agree on that point. I think since it's rare, they should tell us about it even more. So we're not surprised if we stumble on it. Well, I'm not a teacher so I can't really decide what should be taught... I'll make my own research if they really never tell us.

Mana manipulation... Is still not good. I keep getting distracted by all the elements smell around me. So the instant my mana leave my body a different element form and I have to snuff it out. Hiding it could be considered weird. Especially when I'm surrounded by people that do want to show off.

There's just something that tells me to be careful here...

I won't say I don't trust Virina's ability to make the Academy safe. But I have a weird feeling of danger. I just... Can't pinpoint it at all. Meaning: hiding some abilities. It's out of necessity. Otherwise I wouldn't care if I show it or not. I've never been one to show-off, it's boring.

Just doing whatever I want is enough.

Sword training was still fun. Very fun. Being able to blow off some steam is always appreciated, especially since the Dungeon we did wasn't really fun. Mostly because of spiders.

Fucking big nuisance.

Still, Instructor Gemma fought me again and I loved it. It's not like with Luna, I don't need to hold back because I don't know if she can take it. Even if I think the blonde can, I'm not sure.

Speaking of the blonde girl...

"Luna."

"Yes?"

"What are you trying to do?"

"Catch your tail."

"Stop that."

"Nope!"

I move my tail out of the way of her pounce, again, with a heavy sigh. She's been trying to catch it for the better part of class. Why? I have absolutely no idea. Well, I do have a little idea. She must want to know how it feels. No way I'm letting that happen. Even before that class on race characteristics where I learned about the meaning of others touching my ears or tail, I wouldn't have let anyone else than Anna and Eliza touch it. Maybe Eliza's parents, but even that wasn't set in stone.

"I won't let you touch it."

"Why?!" Her voice is full of grievance.

"Because it's sensible and private. Didn't you listen in class?!"

"I did."

"So?"

"So I have even more reason to try. Plus it looks so fluffy!"

"It is."

"See?! I must touch it!"

This is going nowhere.

Twirling my dagger in my hand, I throw it in front of me before blinking to it. A dull thud sound behind me, where I've just been a second ago. When I turn around I see Luna on the ground with an amused smile on her face.

"You are cheating."

"I'm using whatever is at my disposal to avoid a pervert."

"Right, cheating!"

She gets up, patting her uniform of the dirt that clung to it when she fell. Then she took her stance with a mischievous smile.

"Aren't we supposed to train with our daggers?"

"Aren't we?"

I point at her stance, she doesn't even have her dagger summoned.

"Apparently not."

Her grin widened and she pounced again. Steel flashed in sight. I blocked her dagger with mine at the last second. One of my eyebrow rose.

"Oh? Real training now?"

"If I beat you, I'll get to touch your tail!"

"No way."

"Yes! You won't be able to resist anyway."

"That would require exhausting me totally"

"It's the goal."

I shake my head with exasperation.

This girl...

"Well, try it. I'm pretty sure we'll both get exhausted and won't be able to move. I just have to collapse further so you won't touch it."

Her eyes widened in shock like she didn't think of that at all. What did I think would pass through that pervert's head...

"That's cheating!"

"Do you only know how to complain about cheating?"

"Yes! You are cheating to prevent me from enjoying fluff!"

"Right..."

We were still locked in a contest of strength, blade against blade. I pushed a little before springing backward.

"I have something to ask you."

"Hm? What is it?"

"Interested in join-"

"YES"

"What the... I haven't finished!"

I look at her, eyes wide with surprise.

"Why would I hesitate? You are fun, Anna is fun, Eliza is fun. That's fine by me." She simply shrugged, her tone matter-of-factly.

I'm stunned. I didn't expect that at all. Well, maybe a little. I wouldn't say she's attached. But at least she seemed interested in us all. Of course I didn't propose that only because I suddenly decided it. I did ask the girls before, Altina too after explaining who was Luna. I still thought the blonde would think about it a while before answering. She didn't. Not even letting me finish and just accepted.

"Okayy... Well. Come to our dorm after classes, you know them but I'll still introduce you. And there's some things to explain too."

"Alright! But that doesn't mean your tail is safe!"

Of course...

Rest of class was spent with me defending my tail against an idiot trying to pet it by all means she could think of. It was tiring, but pretty fun. It helped us both in our training actually.

My aim got better in Bow training. Not by much, no, still better. I deliberately trained next to Claire. Not only because I wanted to invite her. Mostly to observe how she shoot. I always thought that if I want to be better at something, it's best to observe someone good at it.

Observing isn't the solution though.

"Claire?"

This make her jump slightly. I wince at her reaction. I did it again. I really need to stop surprising her all the time.

"Ah sorry. I didn't mean to startle you..."

"Y-yes? It's f-fine... Did you need something?"

"Yeah. I was wondering... Would you like to be part of our team for Dungeons dives?"

I turn totally toward her, smiling softly as though I'm trying to reassure her.

"I... Me? Why?"

She looks very surprised at my proposition. I kind of understand since she's quite shy and... Well, doesn't seem to have many friends. I did see her sometimes in the corridors. Some guys tried to talk to her. She didn't like that, still polite of course. But you could see the distaste in her eyes. Something her conversation partner didn't seem to see at those times. Or he ignored it. And her tail swishing with annoyance too.

I won't tell her this way though. Saying 'because you don't have friend' is sure to anger her. I don't think like that anyway.

"Well. You are talented. Even I, someone without an awakened bow, can see it. And I do like your fighting style."

A shrug accompanied my answer. Her tail flick proudly for a brief second before her face warm slightly.

Heh. Adorable.

"There's... There's others too... I'm not the best..."

"Did I say I'm looking for the best? Nope. I think putting the best of each role or weapon in the same team is the biggest mistake someone can make. They are arrogant. And won't listen to each other. Look, I'm not the best either. Anna isn't, Eliza isn't. None of us are. We never pretended to be anyway."

She nod a little.

"How many... Are you? Besides Anna, Eliza and you?..."

Right, it's an important information for her. Of course.

"There's us three. Then Altina, a wingkin. And now Luna, human. They are nice."

Luna's face flashed in my mind and I wince a little.

"Well. Luna is a pervert though."

This make her giggle softly, eyes wide.

"It's not nice to talk about someone in their back."

"Only if I never say it to their face. I already did, multiple times. And she never denied it. But she's nice enough I suppose. Oh. Also. Altina is... A little easy to excite. I think someone forgot to instal a 'stop' button on her."

The giggle transformed into a soft laugh. That's progress at least. My tail flick smugly for a second.

Like with Luna, I asked the team if it was fine. We were agreeing that Claire was a safer choice anyway. Because Virina knows her background. She didn't tell us, we didn't ask. First because it would have been a little rude. And second...

I don't care at all. She could be a queen in a remote country that I wouldn't care at all.

"You don't have to say yes now. If you need some time that's perfectly fine. I did ask you out of the blue."

I can see her eyes swimming around and almost hear her brain working. Then she exhaled, her shoulder relaxing. She looked at me with a smile.

"Why not. Thanks for inviting me."

I smiled back with a nod.

"Great! Then come after class tonight? We'll all be there. I'll introduce you. After all you never officially met any of them."

She nodded again.

The last class passed quite fast. I thought it would be slow since I was looking forward to tonight.

First full team meeting. Wait, meeting? Or something else? Well, whatever.

When I open the door to our dorm I see them all already here except Claire. Anna, Eliza, Altina and Luna. Anna immediately launched herself at me, wrapping her arms around my shoulders like an over affectionate hugging missile. I hug her back with a laugh.

"I missed you!"

"We ate together, Anna."

"Yeah, too long ago!"

Eliza laughed from the sofa while Altina made a delighted sound as she watches us. Luna is still looking at my tail swishing behind me. I point at her instantly.

"Still no."

"C'mon!"

"What 'no'?" Eliza ask, an eyebrow lifted.

"She tried to grab my tail all class today."

"It looks fluffy!"

Both of my girlfriends looked at her with narrowed eyes. Honestly I don't think she would have really touched it. Not with how she controlled the distance between us even when sitting at the same table to eat at lunch. But apparently those two took that as a challenge to their position as girlfriends.

"Alright, Anna let me go. Claire should arrive soon and we need to introduce ourselves to everyone."

She reluctantly let go, but still drag me to the couch where Eliza and she are. The door is knocked on the instant we're seated, then open after we gave the authorisation.

Claire is right behind it. She look around the room and I see her restraining herself from recoiling. She still step inside after I give her a smile.

"Welcome Claire. Sit, we won't eat you."

Her tail is lashing behind her, showing her anxiousness. She still take a seat in a sofa.

"So. I guess it's time to do some introductions." I gesture to the two girls besides me. "This is Anna, quad element mage. My twin sister and girlfriend."

It's still a little bit hard to say it straight-up. But at least Anna looks very pleased.

"And Eliza, barrier master. Best friend and also girlfriend."

"Nice to meet you, Claire." Eliza says with a smile.

"L-likewise..." Her voice is quite small, but enough for us to hear.

I then gesture toward Altina.

"Neither of you know her. She's Altina, healer."

"Hello! Nice to meet you both! We'll have fun!" Of course her voice is cheerful as she greet them.

I smile slightly. She's going to bring joy everywhere she goes, isn't she. I point at Luna next with a mischievous smile.

"The pervert. Scout."

She makes a mock offended sound and expression, one hand on her chest. I stare at her, deadpan. Her expression last two second before she smile widely, wiggling her fingers toward my tail. I bring it to my chest and hug it tightly as I narrow my eyes at her. She just laugh harder.

I sigh and bring my attention to Claire again. My smile return, softer. She smile back timidly.

"The last member. Claire. She's an archer and damn good at it."

She blushes again, her cheeks becoming pink.

"Of course you are all very good at your respective roles. But like I said to Claire earlier, nobody here is the best. Don't be offended, I like that better. At least we can go forward and not stagnate."

They all nod.

Good. I didn't intend to offend anyone.

"So, we're making a team to dive. Pretty obvious." Eliza start with a smile. "But there's a little... 'twist'. Thanks to our dear Jane here."

The three 'new' girls all look at me as I shrug lightly.

"Don't look at me like that. It's not my fault, I didn't ask for anything."

Anna chuckled slightly before taking over the explanation about the 'Ender' part. Without real surprise Luna and Claire are stunned. Altina is fine since she knows. But those two didn't know. I look at them, my smile a little apologetic.

"If after hearing all that you don't want to be a part of that team... I can understand."

They don't answer immediately. For once even Luna seems to think for a while. Then after a few minutes of waiting, where Anna and Eliza took my hands to squeeze them, they finally look back at me.

"I'm fine with it. Sounds fun and pretty useful." Luna says with a shrug. "If I get to eat you at some point it's a huge bonus!"

I groan audibly as Anna and Eliza seems very amused. Altina and Claire look at her with surprise written all over their faces.

"Don't listen to that pervert please... That will make her say even more stupid things."

"I... I don't mind either. Especially if this makes us really stronger" There's a determination behind Claire's timidity. I'm wondering why, but it would be rude to press right now.

I nod, a relieved smile on my lips, as my two girlfriend makes a delighted noise besides me.

"Then... Welcome on board, officially."