The remainder of Mentor Hour passed awkwardly. Linhart and the girls of the squad made their way to Fighter’s Green for food, leaving Drussus behind to rest. Though he was uninjured, because apparently he had taken to Heavy Armor like it was his second skin, actively fighting against the other squads had been a huge mental strain on him.
He was passed out in the Squad Infirmary, and likely would be a few hours.
At Midday Meal, jealous and warning looks were cast whenever Linhart paid too much attention to the twins or Nyx. Chloe made things worse by insisting on serving him his food, as though she were his personal maid at the Meal table. She leaned over him, feeding first Zoey and then Linhart, purposefully rubbing her tits all over him whenever possible.
“I’m going to sit out from every challenge, if it means being with Linhart instead,” she gloated to the girls he had bonded, as they stared daggers. It didn’t help that Saya and Ayame could sense how turned on he was by the peeks Chloe kept flashing him down her top.
After the squad had interrupted their party, Linhart never had gotten to screw Nyx, which left him somewhat frustrated. The ex-Striker sat at his side and silently acted like the whole incident had never happened, though Linhart did catch her looking over at him once or twice.
His afternoon passed quickly with Linhart mostly lost in thought, planning his best course of action and avoid the worst of his peers’ actions.
He had to learn more magic. Love and Cleaning spells were great to use in a night of passion, but they wouldn’t help him win any Fighting tournaments.
Secondly, he needed to unify his squad once again. All this jealousy and cattiness was destroying their team spirit, and the Squad Battle was just four days away now. How could he get the girls to stop in-fighting? Could he possibly screw them all at once? That seemed to be too much, even for him. And what would Drussus say?
During Grappling / Wrestling, he saw Maeve for the first time since that morning. She had changed back into her Senior Fighting outfit, and other than her hair looking like it’d been hacked off by a butcher’s knife, she looked surprisingly normal. It was hard to believe that this was the girl that Celes had nearly broken with her insane rules and orders.
Maeve did not disguise her interest in Linhart’s performance during the course. At times, she would guide his moves with her hands on his body, but most times she just floated nearby, watching him as he faced off against multiple opponents one by one.
After the course had concluded, Linhart hung around, waiting for five bells, when his private lesson with Xenia was starting. Maeve joined him there, near the Healing entrance just off the Circled Square, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Are you my shadow now?” he asked, passing a hand over her arm. Her muscles flexed, self-consciously as his fingers ran over her musculature. .
“I’m here to make sure you get safely back to Spire. I’ll escort you directly, once you complete your lesson with the Stratega.”
“Will you join me inside, then?” He prodded playfully.
She cleared her throat and replied, “No, I’ll be waiting for you right here.”
They both knew that she was not in Xenia’s good graces. Maeve would not be welcome to watch, especially considering Drystan, her favorite, would be there as well. Linhart ran his hand once more over her arm, but this time he lingered for a moment. A feeling of gratitude suddenly overcoming him.
“Thank you for helping me handle Stratega Celes,” he murmured, “And I’m sorry for that thing around your neck. You really are a great protector.”
Maeve blushed, at a loss for words, then finally she said, “It’s got its benefits…”
Somewhere in the distance, the bell at Healer’s Hall began to ring. It was five bells. As Linhart turned away from her, he promised himself that he’d talk to Celes about removing some of the rules which threatened his life., and maybe getting some of her swagger back.
With all his strength, Linhart pulled at the huge door, then nearly ran right into a familiar figure in blue robes who was coming out right at that moment.
It was Skyla, the Junior Healer.
She was decent this time, covering all exposed skin from her shoulder blades to her knees, though the thin material wrapped around her so tight that her curves could easily be seen. She was what he imagined an exotic dancer would look like if they were dressed to go to temple.
“Oh my!” she said in a musical voice, as she pulled the deep blue cowl from over her head, her blond hair bounced with vitality. “It must be my lucky day. Fighter boys are falling into my lap. Hello again, cutie.”
Linhart blinked. That sing-song voice, the long blond hair flowing out of her robes, and the enormous breasts that her Healer robes barely contain. He knew right away…
“Hello, Skyla. Are you leaving for the day?” he asked politely. She may be called a Skank by her peers but, as a Fighter, it was a good idea to stay on the Healer’s good side.
“Yes, there’s only one boy left there,” she sighed, pointing back into the infirmary, “And Stratega Xenia has insisted that she Heal his wounds. I swear that woman wishes she’d become a Healer and not a Fighter.”
She looked at him and a predatory gleam entered her eye.
“I don’t think she’ll have time for you today, you can already hear the workout she’s giving to your friend. Why don't you accompany me to Healer Hall instead, and I’ll show you the wing where Fighters stay when they need to recover. I have a room that’s exclusively reserved for boys… I can even perform that thorough examination I promised you.”
It was a tempting offer, after all Linhart wasn’t in the mood to play fifth wheel with Xenia and Drystan again. Before Linhart could agree, Maeve put an arm protectively around him and gave Skyla a warning look.
“He’s not interested in Healer Hall. So why don’t you go pray, or fast, or whatever you do when you’re not sniffing our boys.”
Her words were spoken with an edge that Linhart recognized. Fighter girls often spoke like that right before they started throwing punches. Skyla didn’t seem intimidated at all.
“Is that so,” Skyla responded, placing a finger thoughtfully to her lips. “And who are you to speak for him? His guardian? His girlfriend?”
“I’ve been charged with protecting him… particularly against threats like you.”
“Careful, Senior Fighter,” Skyla laughed. She kissed her fingertip and held it in front of Maeve’s face. It glowed now, like a candle. “Fighters need Healers much more than we need you. You more than anyone else should know that.”
Maeve’s body tensed, and Linhart just barely got between them before she could pounce. He found himself gripping two soft handfuls of Maeve’s chest, as he held her back. He gave Skyla an admonishing look.
“I’ll have to decline your offer for now, Junior Healer, as my Senior and I have someplace we have to go.”
Skyla pursed her lips once more, saying, “Very well, but you don’t want to keep me waiting forever. After all, what is more important than your health?”
She then pressed her finger to his lips, transferring, in the process, a warmth that felt very much like a kiss to him, before walking away with that sexy swinging gait of hers.
Linhart’s eyes followed her ass as it shook its way across the Circle. Maeve was seething with anger.
