448. Wonders of alcohol, 7

(Myls)

Zes is looking unusually fierce. She holds her sword in an odd fashion, keeping her other hand on her flank.

We’re sparring. For maybe half an hour a day. My left hand is always trying to act and help my movements, but hers stays put. She’s steady on her foot.

But I don’t like to lose either. Our swords hit each other, we parry, we dodge, we push each other. We’re getting more and more serious this day. We don’t want to give up, nor to stop. We don’t like to lose.

It almost looks like we’re really fighting with blades in hands.

But I slip and lose my balance shortly.

Z - Watch your feet.

M - How can you be that steady on a single one?

I strike her sword with enough strength to push anyone down on the ground. But Zes only tilted her knees before the strike, and withstood the blow entirely. Then, using her prosthetic foot, she made me almost trip and fall.

Ah! She really knows how to get on my nerves!

I try again, but this time, I just tackle her unceremoniously, pushing her down. I stab the ground next to her with my sword then. Her blade is on my neck though.

M - You’re really annoying Zes.

Z - Hm...

I get up. She does next, a little slower. I really want to win.

M - Another one.

Z - That’s enough for today.

M - What, are you afraid I’ll be the one to spank you this time?

Z - Ah... I didn’t raise you to have such a filthy mouth Myls. So you require some education? Alright.

She’s reluctant to show it, but she’s laughing just like me.

We spar a little longer. The wooden floor of this old gymnasium creaks as we step on it.

After another minute, I ask about her hand. Why is it set that way?

M - Is that hand a useless prosthetic as well?

A few moments later, she uses it to slap me out of nowhere, with unexpected strength as well. It hurts. Did she punch me? Me?

Z - I’m not sure, what do you think?

M - Lousy teacher...

Z - Spoiled brat. Come on now, if you lose after all this bad demeanour, you’ll be on cooking duty for ten days.

M - Eh... And if I win?

Z - It doesn’t matter, does it?

I lost again. I grit my teeth. I have to cook and my jaw hurts.

~

I’m about half her age now.

She doesn’t seem to age though. Maybe because she has metises blood. Her skin doesn’t show it, but her eyes do. There’s more than one race in her genealogy. It made her stronger and ageing slower.

I’m daydreaming as I cook the octopus we fished out from a lake. They’re a new species that’s easier to cook than the sea ones. Their muscles are softer.

Zeslinry is looking into old crates for anything interesting to take. Especially bullets. I’m running low on ammunitions. I used almost everything at that time...

The sight of that woman, almost flying, with only her long sword in hand, is flashing back. How she struck the beast down as it was in flight toward us. Wah...

M - Another year, another Rose...

Z - What are you mumbling about?

M - It will be time to meet up with Rose soon.

Z - Hm...

M - What have you found?

Zeslinry holds a pretty bottle, gilded. Alcohol, probably strong.

M - Oh cool! Give me some!

Zeslinry steps back, keeping it away from me. She gets a good chug herself, and refuses to give it to me.

Z - It’s not for pouty children.

M - Ey! Come on!

She pulls out her tongue on me and chuckles.

I leave the cutting of the octopus and go to try and grab the bottle, while complaining very loudly about her behaviour.

Zes runs away. I don’t pursue her this time.

Come on Zes... Get a clue...

I’m feeling murky, but I return to finish cooking the dinner.

~

Later that night, she looked flushed, daydreaming and unfocused. But really happy.

She ended up remembering I was there, recognised me, and her face illuminated itself at my sight. So much it embarrassed me. She gave me the happiest drunken smile ever.

Z - Oh Myls... You’ve grown so much... But... You still shouldn’t drink...

M - Afraid I might end up like you?

Zeslinry doesn’t chuckle. Her head is tilted, with a mischievous smile she rarely shows, and that odd glint in her eyes.

She brushes my hair in a gentle manner, with her hand that doesn’t hold the bottle.

Z - You were so cute when we met... And so sad... You’ve grown so much Myls... And so nice.

While she rambles on, I steadily get my hands closer to the bottle of alcohol, pretending to listen.

At that moment, she noticed. Crap. She thought I wanted a motherly hug though, so she grabbed me to do so.

Z - I’m happy.

M - Ehr... Thanks... Could I drink some of it now?

She looks at me, then at the bottle, then at me again.

Z - When you win a duel, maybe.

It triggers my annoyance fully. I snap. I push her down abruptly and sit on her tummy.

M - Now stay there!

As I say it, I snatch the bottle and immediately pour the burning poison down my throat.

It hurts a lot. I swallow and make a disgusted face as that weird bitter feeling and shiver comes and goes. Then I sigh, feeling the warmth and the pain on my tongue and in my throat. It’s nasty.

Zeslinry is trying to tickle me away, but I hold on. I keep drinking as much and as fast as I can before the tickles get me.

I end up laughing and spitting the drink around.

M - Oh come on! You drank almost everything! Let me finish!

Z - Never! You can’t win this!

She’s winning the tickle fight alright. It’s even more infuriating that she’s treating me in a childish manner. She keeps doing that...

I pretend to give up, and bring the bottleneck toward her mouth, as if to let her drink what’s left.

At the last second, I bring it to my mouth instead, and finish the bottle in a bigger gulp.

Still sitting over her, I Throw the bottle aside where it explodes loudly, and I burp even louder.

Zeslinry is now covering her face in shame.

Z - Oh noo... What beast I raised!

I burst out in laughter. I love her.

M - Ah... That was nice.

Z - Beast...

I lean over her and kiss her on the cheeks like I’m thanking a mother. She’s very embarrassed. I grin proudly.

M - I won!

~