Prey

"Are you sure there are no weapons in here?"

Yulia's eyes were filled with suspicion as she examined Gloria's rather normal wheelchair.

The mermaid beamed Yulia a wide smile as she sat comfortably, her fish tail would occasionally bob up and down, she seemed cheerful than usual. She's probably elated that she can now go wherever she pleases without assistance.

"Ya told me no weapons, ya think I'm deaf or something?"

The tiefling would have believed it if it wasn't for the fact that Augustia was smiling with mischief. With her height, it was easy to liken Augustia to a child who had just pulled a prank and was hiding it behind a playful smile.

"If ya don't believe then ask wally here." Augustia referred to her assistant standing right next to her. 

"Doubting my boss is hella wrong, yo. It totes doesn't have any weapons, my tiefling boo." Wally pointed two of his index fingers and flashed Yulia what he would consider his most charming smile. Charming enough that his white teeth glinted.

Seduction failed.

"Why do you talk that way? And please don't hit on me, we're playing on the same team."

"Aww man." With a grumble, his chill vanished. Wally didn't even answer and just went to the back of the workshop. 

"Since when did you hire that oddball? I thought you said you don't need any help in smithing?"

"Still don't. He's a good lad, just didn't know ya swing the other way. Hired him two months ago."

"Two months since my shit got wrecked, huh? Your armor is really quality stuff."

"Wrecked!? That armor looked like it got swallowed by a dragon and shited it right after, it was barely recognizable. What the hell did ya fight!?"

A bitter smile crept up on Yulia's face, it was a memory that she would like to add to the list of those she wanted to forget. Not only was she utterly defeated, her life was almost snuffed out.

Still, she knows it is inevitable that she would brush up against them in the future. It might take days, months, or even years, their paths will cross again regardless.

"It was a cult of wackos trying to poach Zariel's followers, their leader almost ended me."

Augustia decided to not ask any further, once she sensed that it's a sensitive topic for her. She never considered her tiefling friend to be boastful but she knows how powerful Yulia is. Back then, Half of her helmet was missing along, her body plate had a huge chunk missing while right arm was completely gone. It wasn't easy to guess that whoever Yulia fought shattered the tiefling's pride along with her armor in that fight.

Meanwhile, Stefano also examined the wheelchair and found nothing out of the ordinary. "There's no way she could've fit weapons into something this thin.

"Are ya challenging me?"

"I wasn't. Wait, you can outfit this ordinary wheelchair with weapons?"

" 'Course I can!"

"Don't encourage her, stefano." Yulia was searching for every nook and cranny, she might find a rune somewhere in the wheelchair that can cast fireballs or magic missiles. 

The tiefling felt a tug on her armor, it was Gloria. 

"H-hunger me!"

They were the mermaid's first words. Yulia didn't make a big deal out if, Gloria might be a total babe, but she wasn't one in the literal sense

Finally giving up her search, Yulia was about to pay for the wheelchair so the three of them could eat.

"How much is it?"

"Normally I would charge ya 10 gold for it but ya can go ahead and just pay me 5."

"You're definitely planning something. But whatever, here's your fee." Yulia had already searched everything there is to search in the wheelchair and found nothing.

Yulia had known the dwarf for years now and charitable isn't something that she would define her as, naturally her products are well worth the price so her customers don't give her any flak and if she priced her goods cheap then she would no doubt receive more work than the one she has stacked right now. Where was the sudden magnanimity coming from?

"I've taken a shine to the mermaid lass, ya don't have to be suspicious, it wounds me heart!"

Before Yulia wheeled the mermaid away, Gloria and Augustia shared a wink. 

Augustia could have modified Gloria's current wheelchair with weapons, but it would be barebones compared to the one she is currently building, one that is armed to the teeth.

For now, she had given Gloria the sturdiest wheelchair she could make in such a short span. 

Augustia's true masterpiece would be unveiled at a later date. 

+++

The next day.

The warmth of the early sun filled the couple's bedroom, Antani was once again up and about while Ellamir was still lazing in bed. 

"Come close, I want to tell you something before you leave." Ellamir grinned. 

"Oh? How close?" Antani's tone was leading, indicating that she was wise to whatever Ellamir was planning, especially after her last stunt was just the morning before.

The Amazon, ready to head out for her morning training, decided to play Ellamir's game as she inched closer to the bed. 

They stare coquettishly at each other as their hearts beat in an excited rhythm.

"Not close enough."

Antani moved closer. 

Just one more step and Ellamir would be able to grab Antani. A salacious predator 

waiting for her hunt to deliver itself 

"Almost, closer." 

In Ellamir's impatience to drag Antani into the sheets with her, her body launched forward before Antani finished taking her last step, her arm trying to grab the Amazon as quickly as she could. 

Ellamir's prey had evaded her clutches.

"Hah,too slow!" The said prey laughed, playfully mocking. 

Defeated Ellamir might be, her grin towards the amazon didn't fade as she sunked back into their soft bed.

"Don't you have any other hobby aside from swinging your sword?"

"Look who's talking, you stay all cooped up in this room doing nothing but read your books." The Amazon faced the mirror as she tied her hair.

Antani was a bit miffed that Ellamir stopped accompanying her during her morning training once they became adventurers, but she doesn't want to force Ellamir since they're already ranked platinum. 

Ellamir better savor it though, because once Antani's strength rises enough to advance to emerald she's going to drag Antani's ass back to training whether she likes it or not. 

"I do have a hobby aside from reading books, as a matter of fact I want to engage in that hobby right now." Ellamir tried to make her tone sound as sultry as she could. 

"No. Wait until I get back." Only for Antani to swiftly shut her down, not completely though. 

"Hmph." 

The dark elf pouted and turned her back towards Antani. She heard their bedroom door creaking open, Antani was about to leave. 

"Your breakfast is ready, get up there before your coffee gets cold." 

Their bedroom door closed.

+++

There wasn't anything wrong with the guild's training ground, it's just that peace and quiet are her personal preference.

Away from all the noises, Antani's favorite spot to train was the luscious forest right outside the city gate. 

Assuming her sword stance, she closes her eyes as she takes a deep breath, becoming one with the tranquil forest. 

The wind breezed and with it came the falling leaves.

*Swish*

Antani opened her eyes and slashed each and everyone of them with impeccable precision. All except for one leaf. Her uneasiness impeded her.

She had felt it since yesterday. It was as if something, or someone was watching her every move. The amazon surveyed her surroundings but she could hear nothing aside from the rustling of branches and the occasional chirping of birds.

(I'm probably overthinking things.)

Chalking it up her mind playing tricks on her, she had resumed her sword training.

+++