Headed by a Snake

⟬ Several weeks prior, on the roads to the Tree God's Forest. ⟭

Elle lied on the grass, gazing up at the cloudless blue sky.

It was the same sky she and Rena and Justus used to stare at... back when they were children in a small town called Leopardon.

The heavens seemed... unending.

--which was exactly how her training felt.

"Are you going to lie there all sun, my love?"

Tychon's voice was deep and comfortable. Elle had a feeling that if she closed her eyes, she'd be able to sleep the rest of the sun away...

She felt a coolness on her face... of her boyfriend blocking the sun for her. His golden eyes were calm and gentle. His dark green hair swayed softly in the breeze.

For a moment... Elle wondered if she was dreaming. If so, waking up would be a shame.

"Just.... five more minutes," She mumbled underneath her breath.

"How cute," Tychon's mouth twisted into a light smirk as he extended his hand.

That meant 'not gonna happen.'

Elle sat herself up, the dull ache in her rear reminding her of recent events.

"You tripped me..." She pouted, "*again.*"

"Your center of balance is higher than mine," Tychon shrugged. "It is a vulnerability that you must learn to account for."

He gripped Elle's wrist tightly... and with perfect balance, pulled her to her feet.

Steady and strong, they were traits she always admired in her lover.

Sometimes, though... those same traits made her feel... inferior to him.

"I fell for the same trick again for what-- the third time in a row?" Elle sighed.

"Correct," Tychon winked. "And what have we learned?"

"That I can't hope to beat you in a fight?"

Her boyfriend placed a hand on his chin as he relaxed against his quarterstaff.

"Such a lesson... I hope you learned more recently than just this sun."

"I... I don't get it," Elle winced as she bent over to pick up her own staff.

The aching was sharper than usual.

She'd put too much weight in her last attack, so when she fell, she *really* fell.

Even though she couldn't win, getting a good, solid hit in was... not impossible?

Elle chose the wrong timing... so she could only blame herself for being impatient.

"Bleiiiiighhhhh..." She groaned.

It was a sound Coraline liked to make.

It was cute.

"Is something wrong, dear?"

"What's the point of... staff training?" Elle pouted, "I fight with *Gaheris*-- and against monsters, not people!"

Tychon opened his mouth to talk, but Elle swiped her hand to cut him off-- "and-- and I know what you're gonna say! People can be monsters too!"

"Elle, my love... I am literally a snake."

"I know!" Elle shouted... then grimaced before continuing with a more apologetic tone... "I mean... I know. I'm sorry. It's different. But... but all you've been doing is bullying me!"

"I always bully you," Tychon grinned.

Elle stuck out her tongue in defiance, "But this doesn't feel good... and it feels like-- like I'm not learning anything."

Tychon's golden eyes drifted skyward in thought... "Thus far, in quarterstaff duels, you can consistently best Wonderboy, a physically fit gentleman basically-trained in close-quarter combat."

"Lover~" Elle grimaced, "Anyone in the crew can beat Wonderboy."

Tychon continued to think in silence. A light drop of sweat dripped down his neck, trailing down onto his hard chest.

That... wasn't good for Elle. She was trying to stay mad and a different feeling that was not anger was trying to take over her pitifully tiny brain.

"More than that, Elle. I believe... your combat prowess is comparable to Leading Hand Stickyfingers."

"Stickyfingers uses a dagger..." Elle frowned, "And he's got the Rogue Class, doesn't he? He dodges half my strikes and makes me feel stupid."

"Hard tactics against soft, soft against hard," Tychon laughed.

Hard. Elle's gaze drifted downward--

--then she shook her head violently. She wasn't in the right mind-- if she was ever.

"Wh-what's that supposed to mean?"

"It's an archaic goblin adage appropriate for the situation," Tychon explained. "If you're advantaged in strength, press onward. Otherwise... perhaps you should seek a different approach."

Elle pondered the words for a moment before breaking into a grin.

"Like me taking advantage of how you're the worst Pettaia player in the Realm?"

...Tychon took a deep breath as he turned away, "I suppose that would be accurate, yes."

He was being embarrassed! As cool as collected as her boyfriend tried to be, Elle seemed to be able to dig into him with ease.

--which opened up an opportunity.

She swung her quarterstaff low at Tychon's ankles... just as dirty as he did her!

**CRACK**

Elle's eyes widened. Her attack had been intercepted with a suspicious level of speed and accuracy. The base of Tychon's staff had hammered down the end of hers, enough to dig into the dirt.

"Y-you used mana!" She shouted, "I would've got you!"

"Indeed," Tychon grinned as he averted his gaze, "Take this as your victory."

He looked up.

He smiled.

Just that was enough to make Elle's heart thump in her chest.

"I'm proud of you," He said... "my love."

Those words... healed her soul. It might have even healed the pain in her rear.

Elle returned a shy smile... "And what's my prize?"

"The satisfaction of a lesson well learned?"

"I was thinking... something else..."

...

⟬ Moon Crescent Isle, present time. ⟭

Elle grit her teeth, "Gaheris, did we win?"

⟬ Gaheris still senses the enemy's mana signature. Be advised, the opponent is too powerful to face alone. ⟭

"Like I have a choice..." She sighed, "How about Coraline? Is she okay?"

⟬ ...Coraline's breathing is stable despite Beatrice's flames. ⟭

That was a relief-- a small one, but still.

Elle had to think fast...

It was still dark... but the stars were out. That meant, out of the crew... Gaheris and Coraline had the best night-fighting capabilities.

But... Coraline had been defeated.

Even worse, the enemy was an angel-- a literal heavenly being.

Elle and Gaheris didn't have a hope of winning against that...