4-08: Tournament Training II

A new dawn, Veronica had met with Seraph for more sparring. Veronica's muscles were already sore, but she wanted to be as prepared as possible.

"You should rest until the tournament after today, y'know." Seraph advised Veronica, who was massaging her sore calf muscles.

"Yeah, I know. I just... I really want to do my best. I want to get as strong as possible. Heh... I barely have a chance against most of the others competing, let alone my team. And I want to be a good leader. So, rest comes last." Veronica responded, stretching for her upcoming exercise.

"Hah! I know how you feel. I was like that when we first formed up." Seraph turned around, looking towards the courtyard, perhaps reminiscing the past.

While she was turned, Veronica was able to see what the other object was that was on her back. Seraph apparently knows how to use a crossbow. The crossbow itself seemed simple at a glance, but on closer inspection, it was actually intricately detailed with floral filigree.

"Your crossbow, was it a gift?" Veronica asked, intrigued as to why she used such a decorated crossbow instead of a simple one.

"More like a family heirloom. Or, at least, it is to me. And I plan to continue passing it down as tradition. It was my mother's." Seraph answered, her voice becoming shaky.

"I'm sorry. I didn't-"

"It's fine. It's not like it's a secret or traumatic. I just... I miss her, is all. Anyway, I'll tell you more about her later. Got a tournament to train for, don't you?"

Veronica nodded and got herself ready for more training.

And just like the day before, she kept getting knocked on her ass. Veronica has been getting better, being able to stand longer before being taken down, but to her, not nearly long enough.

And it didn't help that she had this voice in the back of her head, different from Lilith's, saying something to her. It was unclear. Gibberish. She ignored it, it was nothing after all.

"So, your footwork needs more practice on. It's not very good-- but I can get you there. But probably not in time for the tournament." Seraph critiqued as she helped Veronica up.

"Right. How do you keep all those positions and movements memorized? Especially in combat..." Veronica asked, drinking some water as she sat down for a small break.

"It has become muscle memory at this point. Enough training will do that for you. But I don't think you need to worry about that right now. Ready for the next round?"

"Yes ma'am!" Veronica enthusiastically responded.

And thus, she went down like a sack of rocks a few more times. But she was slowly getting better and better. She was at the point where she's close to actually being able to land a faux strike on Seraph.

Though, it was at this moment where she had starting looking a Seraph differently than before. Seraph was certainly a pretty woman, her muscles were defined but not bulging. She regularly trains. But Veronica couldn't keep her mind off Seraph. The sweat rolling down her face, her eyes glistening in the sun.

'Do it... You want to~ The strength, the power, you have it. Use it~ We need to be strong, no?'

This voice certainly wasn't Lilith. But, it pulled on Veronica, as if leading her by the hand.

"Darling, you seem conflicted. What's wrong?"

Lilith couldn't hear it? Even with it still echoing in Veronica's head?

'No, no, everything's fine.'

"Are you sure?"

'Yeah. Yeah.'

Veronica readied herself for the next spar. She quickly advanced upon Seraph, and slashed left to right, but feinted it to a jab. Seraph blocked the feint with ease, and was obviously able to keep up with Veronica.

'Just a little bit. It wouldn't harm her. You can control it now~ Yiu can use it to win. Not just this, but the tournament too. Just a little, and they'll just let you win~'

But Veronica doesn't want to win the tournament. Or, did she? It was all a mess in her brain. But the voice was right. She could control Charm. Just a small little amount wouldn't hurt, right?

'YES! USE YOUR POWER, CHILD OF LUST!'

Loud. Really loud. Deafening.

Veronica focused on Seraph. Yes, just a little would be fine.

She used Charm. Just enough to get Seraph to drop her guard. Veronica charged in, and Seraph did nothing.

Veronica lowered herself and proceeded to use her axe to hook one of Seraph's legs and pull her, dropping her to the ground.

She then pinned her down, their face were close, and Seraph's face was red as a tomato. Her breathing hitched. What was her underclassman going to do to her?

Veronica realized what she had done, and quickly got off of her. She took a few steps back and dropped her axe.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." She repeated over and over again before bolting back home.

She locked herself in her room and apologized to herself over and over again. Or rather, she was apologizing to Lilith. She made a promise to be more responsible with Charm not that long ago, and she broke it.

"Veronica, what did you do?"

Lilith's voice was calm, relaxed and quiet. She was trying to soothe Veronica, like a mother would to her child.

'I used it... on her... I... I didn't mean to...'

"What do you mean, Dear?"

'There was... another voice. It wanted me to use it. It felt like... it was guiding me. Physically. The urge to resist... wasn't there.'

"I see. And how far did you go?"

'Not much, I think. I-I just wanted to... to get her to drop her guard.'

"Well, she'll be fine then. It should be like a... fleeting thing. Like when you see a girl who you really want to do things to, but just then continue on."

'Hopefully.'

"And I'll try to figure out this voice. I'm surprised I wasn't aware of it. Considering you-"

'Tend to repeat what I hear in my head.'

"Yep. But for now, try and get some rest. I'm sure that girl will forgive you. Or, she might not even know why you ran."

Veronica only gave a "hmph" in return, laying down and curled up.

Hopefully she can get her mind off of what happened soon.