In response to the cries all around, Selva prepared herself for the next fight. However, it was clear she wasn’t in her best state and didn’t seem that willing. It was more a matter of stubbornness.
It seemed like it was my time to shine. I slipped through the crowd to get to the open area and stood in front of Selva, my arms extended on both sides and my back to her.
“Wait, everybody!”
All the spectators looked at me while I heard a stunned voice from behind.
“…Tila? Why are you here?”
I ignored her for the time being and focused on the folks surrounding us.
“She fought enough for today. It’s time for her to rest.”
“What are you saying, Tila?”
“Leave it to me, darling.”
“D-Darling?”
Selva protested, and the gallery wasn’t about to take it either. Most of them looked angry as they shouted at me.
“Who are you? Why are you interfering?”
“What’s wrong with you!”
I responded as best as I could through the noise.
“I’m her fellow disciple. Make a path, people, we’re leaving.”
“As if!”
“Fellow disciple? Never seen you before! Aren’t you lying?”
“Who do you think you are, rank 0 loser? Get lost and let her fight!”
“Get lost! Get lost! Get lost!”
These foolish canines were now uniting against me while singing for my departure. I obviously wasn’t about to allow this to happen. I took a deep breath and yelled at maximum power.
“Shut up!”
The cry was so loud that it managed to pierce through the clamor and silence everyone for a second. I didn’t waste any time and continued quickly.
“Where’s your pride? Are you asking the great Venar to fight against an injured and exhausted combatant? Even if he were to win, where’s the glory in that? Just wait for her to recover and fight again, that’s the correct way!”
There was a moment of quietness before the booing resumed, even stronger than before.
“Begone, coward!”
“We don’t need you here!”
“She still wants to fight! Get lost, rank 0!”
“Leave before you get hurt, poltroon!”
“Wait, everybody, a patrol is coming this way!”
The last shout almost got lost in the cacophony, but enough people managed to hear it. Instantly, they escaped at full speed in all directions as if they were used to it.
“We need to leave, Tila!”
Now that were was space to escape, Selva grabbed me unceremoniously and started to run, too. In less than ten seconds, the area was cleared of people. Canines were certainly good contenders with bunnies in terms of escape prowess.
I let the rhinoceros carry me while I inspected the situation behind us. The patrol of soldiers had also divided itself into groups of two, each pursuing in a different direction. I checked where everyone was going and pointed toward the safest escape route.
“Here, turn left, Selva. Now, turn right. Straight forward!”
We ran for a few minutes before we deemed the situation safe enough. Selva deposited me in a quiet, empty dark alley and sat on the floor, panting hard. I took out a lantern and illuminated the dirty area. Selva was covered in scratches and bruises all over her body and was clearly in no state to fight again. I took my usual cream medicine plus others from the outer world and started to patch her up.
As usual, she let me do it without protesting, only watching with some curiosity.
“Why are you here, Tila?”
“For trading, of course. What about you? Where’s master?”
“I’m here for my training. As for master, she ditched me the day after we reached Geola.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah.”
She didn’t seem to mind it too much. It might be that she enjoyed the freedom.
“So, what did you do after that?”
“I trained alone for some time and then traveled here and there. I came here when I heard the war was over.”
“I see. What about the fight from before?”
“It’s a spar. And it also helps me earn some money.”
“So you get some money if you win and lose some if you lose? Do you manage to get by?”
She nodded proudly.
“I’ve been winning more often than losing.”
“You’re amazing, Selva. I guess the city patrols don’t let people do these sorts of street fighting?”
“Yeah, they’re annoying. It’s not like we’re doing anything wrong. This country is way too strict.”
“It seems every country has some issue.”
“Yeah, but I still like it better here than Makji.”
I smiled mischievously.
“You like how they respect you as a warrior, right?”
She scowled a little and didn’t respond, but it was obvious that I hit the mark. In Makji, they liked powerful people, but in Taifau, they respected martial prowess in any form. Even a rank 2 like Selva could shine here.
As I continued to treat her, I noticed she was growing restless, her thighs often rubbing one against the other, and my touch sometimes making her shiver.
“Where do you stay in the city?”
“I’m in a cheap inn close to the docks.”
“Let’s go. I’ll help you.”
She looked surprised.
“Are you coming too?”
“Of course. I told you last time, right? We’re sex friends now. It’s my duty to take care of your after-battle lust.”
She suddenly realized what I meant and slapped my hand away.
“No need. You’re still as lecherous as always.”
I approached closer, and her eyes trembled a little. I put a finger under her chin and lifted it slightly.
“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything. It’s completely normal between extremely good friends like us. Just relax and I’ll make you feel incredible.”
Her breathing accelerated, but she still shook her head.
“N-Not interested.”
“If you don’t like that, you can be the one to do anything you want. It’s fine to use me to relieve yourself. What you’re feeling now is something natural. No need to be shy.”
Her shivering propagated to her whole body while her eyes sometimes went to my body or my crotch. After a few seconds, she uttered.
“Any…”
But stopped in the middle of her words, biting her lips.