Chapter 11: The New Girl

“You’re doing it all wrong,” Diana called out, unable to hide her amusement as the tiny angel fell on her butt.

“EEP!”

The girl spun around so fast she actually did fall this time. The sword clattered beside her. Her golden eyes went wide as she took in Diana’s presence, and then…

Those eyes dropped lower.

And stayed there.

[Hm?] Diana thought, tilting her head as the girl’s face turned approximately the color of a sunset.

Diana looked down to where the girl was staring (her bare chest) and then looked back up at the girl herself.

[Oh she’s definitely new here. Getting this flustered over some tits? Really?]

If she was blushing so hard over just some breasts, Diana expected she’d just about melt into a puddle before the day was over.

“I… um… you’re…” The girl seemed to be malfunctioning, her mouth opening and closing without actually forming words. “Very… I mean… sword! Yes! I… practicing? With… sword?”

Diana couldn’t help it – she scoffed.

She strode forward, absolutely not missing how the girl’s eyes tracked the movement of her abs with each step.

“I can see that,” Diana said quietly, reaching down to help her up. The girl’s hand was tiny in hers and soft in a way that suggested she’d never held a weapon before today. “It’s a bit early for this, though. Lessons don’t start for probably like another hour or so.”

“I-I know, but, uh… Rather than wait for Seraph, I figured I’d get started on my own.”

“That right?” Diana raised a brow. “Well, maybe start with something more your size? That thing’s almost taller than you are.”

“R-Right!” The girl jumped up, then immediately stumbled as she tried to lift the sword again. “I’ll just… go get a smaller one!”

She scampered off toward the weapon racks. Diana’s eyes lingered on the way her dress clung to her petite frame as she ran.

When she returned (with a slightly more practical wooden sword for her size, though it was still big), Diana moved behind her.

“Here,” she said, adjusting the girl’s stance with her hands. She felt the girl’s legs in particular trembling beneath her fingers. “Feet apart, back straight, shoulders relaxed.”

“Like… like this?”

“Almost.” Diana’s hands found the girl’s hips, guiding them into proper position. She heard the sharp intake of breath at her touch. “There. Now try swinging.”

The movement was still clumsy but there was some clear, instant improvement. Diana guided her through a few more basic forms, noting how quickly she picked things up despite her obvious nervousness.

“You know,” Diana mused as she corrected the girl’s grip, “there may be a few other healers who are early risers. Shouldn’t you be getting ready with them instead of taking up space here?”

“Huh?”

Diana was confused at the sight of her confusion.

With her size, her frame, her non-existent muscles, her extremely inexperienced hands… well, obviously this girl was a healer, right?

“You’re waiting for the Compassion girls to get up, right? Mara’s usually up early. You can probably just go there.”

Those golden eyes narrowed in Diana’s direction.

“E-Excuse you,” the girl huffed, puffing up like an angry kitten, “but I actually have a Bravery affinity!”

Diana raised an eyebrow.

“Oh really?” She crossed her arms, knowing exactly what that did to her chest. Sure enough, the girl’s eyes dropped again before snapping back up. “You’re certain Celestia wasn’t just playing tricks on you?”

The blush that had just started to fade came rushing back.

“The Selector said so, actually,” she huffed, looking away. “So, yes. I am actually quite sure I am meant to be here.”

Diana’s other eyebrow joined the first.

[The Selector? Well, color me shocked.]

She looked at the girl with new interest, though her curiosity was still just mild. White hair, golden eyes, that innocent face…

This girl had what it took to be a warrior?

Again, she couldn’t help it. She scoffed.

“Demons are going to floss their teeth with you,” Diana muttered.

“WHAT!?” Indignant, the girl glared back at her. “You… I… No, they won’t!” The girl exclaimed. “Just you wait! I’ll show you.”

With that determined declaration, the girl started swinging her sword in the air for emphasis. She swung three times before she needed to stop and get a breather.

[The Selector… Maybe that damned thing is broken,] Diana thought as she walked away and sat on a nearby bench.

Diana shrugged, grabbing some wraps for her chest. Not her problem if some tiny angel wanted to play warrior. She had her own training to focus on.

[Besides,] she thought as she secured the wraps, [I’m sure some time in the fields will get her to reconsider her career choice.]

The memory of flames flickered at the edges of her mind, but Diana pushed it away.

She dropped to the ground, ready to start her usual routine of push-ups that made some of the wandering Love Sisters drool.

“Well, well!” A familiar voice called out. “I see you’ve met our dear Grace!”

Diana glanced up to see Seraph striding over, already in her training gear. The commander’s bright, crimson hair and beaming smile held far too much energy for Diana’s taste.

Just looking at this woman was exhausting.

“Grace? That her name?” Diana started her push-ups, muscles flexing with each controlled movement. “You sure the Selector doesn’t need a tune-up? She seems more like healer material to me.”

A weight settled on her back – Seraph making herself comfortable, as usual.

[This fucking c…]

“Oh, she’s exactly where she needs to be,” Seraph purred, crossing her legs as Diana continued her exercises. “After all, it’s not every day we get an angel with all three affinities.”

Diana’s arms almost gave out.

“All… what?” She twisted to look up at Seraph, who was wearing that insufferable smirk she got when she knew something good. “Is that even possible?”

“Apparently!” Seraph bounced slightly on Diana’s back, making the warrior grunt. “Our Grace is quite the miracle. Triple affinity, killed a Primal Demon with a kitchen knife. She’s full of surprises.”

[She…]

Diana froze.

In the distance, Grace attempted another sword swing and nearly took out a practice dummy by falling into it.

[She killed a Primal Demon? Her?]

“… You’re joking.”

“Not even slightly.” Seraph’s grin widened. “Nymera vouched for her. She’ll be training with us from now on. Well, when she’s not with the healers. Or the Love Sisters.”

Diana’s eyes narrowed as she watched Grace untangle herself from the dummy.

The tiny angel had managed to right herself and was now glaring at the practice sword like it had personally offended her entire family.

“…”

[Well, whatever,] Diana thought, returning to her push-ups. [Not my problem.]

Though she had to admit, there was something oddly compelling about watching Grace try so hard. Like a kitten attempting to roar.

“Oh?” Seraph’s voice dripped with amusement. “Interested in our new recruit?”

“Shut up and get off my back.”

“Make me~”

[This,] Diana decided as she heard Grace yelp followed by another crash, [is going to be a very long morning.]

—

{Mara}

Mara’s footsteps echoed through the clinic’s crystal halls, her robes swishing around her curves as she made her morning rounds. Everything was in perfect order, as usual – beds made, supplies stocked, healing fonts gleaming with divine energy.

So why did something feel… off?

She found her answer in one of the meditation gardens. Sister Elena sat alone among the glowing flowers, her usual warm smile nowhere to be seen.

“Something on your mind, dear?” Mara settled beside her, noting how Elena’s wings drooped – never a good sign for an angel.

“I just…” Elena’s voice wavered. “You recall my trip into the mortal realm yesterday?”

Mara nodded. Elena looked away.

“There was this village, completely overrun. We saved who we could, but…” She wrapped her arms around herself. “Why does Eternia allow such suffering? What’s the point of all our power if we can’t protect people?”

Mara’s heart clenched. The same questions had been haunting her lately, though she tried not to show it.

“The goddess works in mysterious ways,” she offered, but the words felt hollow even to her.

“But why must they be so mysterious?” Elena’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “Why can’t she just… do something about it???”

Suddenly, the clinic doors burst open with a bang that made both angels jump.

“Oh, oh, goddess those doors are heavy… Uh, hello? Is anyone… oh wow, this place is huge!”

Mara turned, and the somber mood evaporated in an instant.

Grace stood in the doorway, backlit by morning light that made her white hair glow like a halo. Her training clothes were rumpled and slightly humid (clearly Seraph did not let her take her first day lightly).

As she saw Mara, Grace began walking over.

“I’m here for healing class! Or… whatever… I- UWAH!” she announced, then promptly tripped over her own feet.

Mara caught her before she could fall, finding herself with an armful of warm, small, flustered angel.

“Careful there, little one,” Mara purred, deeply enjoying how Grace’s face flushed at their proximity. “Though I must say, this is quite the enthusiastic entrance.”

“S-Sorry!”

Grace squeaked, attempting to right herself but she slipped and fell again. This time, face down, squarely on Mara’s chest.

Mara’s brows shot up. Grace slowly turned more and more red before slowly pushing back a little.

“Uhm- I- that- not- uh- I-”

“Dear, breathe,” Mara said and it took everything she had not to laugh. Grace tried to snatch her composure back.

“… I just finished combat training and Seraph said to run here but I got lost three times and there was this really pretty fountain that distracted me and then I found this hall but it led to a garden and—”

Mara pressed a finger to Grace’s lips, hiding her smile as the girl’s golden eyes crossed trying to look at it.

“Breathe.”

Grace inhaled sharply, then immediately started coughing.

Behind them, Elena giggled – the first genuine sound of joy Mara had heard from her in days.

“Oh my~ This is our newest Sister? Is she always like this?” Elena asked, her earlier melancholy forgotten as she watched Grace try (and fail) to compose herself.

“You have no idea,” Mara winked, finally releasing Grace who immediately stumbled backward into a healing font. “She’s rather adorable, isn’t she?”

“I’m not…” Grace’s face was practically on fire by this point. “I’m a hardened farmer…”

Mara rolled her eyes playfully.

[Well… At least this will help take my mind off things. That’s nice.]

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