The Heartstone Saga by Archibald Bradford (pdf to ebook reader txt) 📗

“Some people would say I’m naive.” Milly mumbled as she finally turned her head away, embarrassed.

“Some people are buttheads.” Volka declared bluntly, her winged helmet turning side to side slowly as she shook her head; “Hope is our greatest asset in the face of adversity. The most precious thing needed for life to thrive instead of merely continue.”

As she spoke the Dominar unwittingly released some of her aura, filling the breast of her bond-sister with the very thing she described, to the point that Milly had to take long and deep breaths to keep herself from crying at the joy of it.

While it was true that Milly the Minotaur was a creature as kind and gentle as Volka described, even her devotion and love towards Nameless and her bond-sisters paled in comparison to what the Valkyrie felt towards the entire world.

And through the bond they shared with him, Milly knew it.

But instead of being intimidated or even envious of the angel’s love, it inspired her, inspired her to do more, just as it did Nameless.

With one last deep breath Milly leaned in and pressed their lips together again, both hands cupping Volka’s face.

“Thank you, sister.” She whispered with a sniffle once they parted.

Then she stood and moved towards the Amazons with a fire in her belly.

Her break was over.

Tiana was out of breath after she and her sisters managed to corral Nina again, this time it had taken them much longer than the previous attempts, the Gigas learning from her mistakes and exploiting their weaknesses.

But before Nina could call for another bout, Milly tapped the Amazon on the shoulder.

“Um, Tiana? Would you spar with me?” She asked with a shy blush.

The Amazon blinked several times as the heard the request.

Initially Milly’s training with the spear had come from Myrina and the other Saenga girls, but while they were attending the academy she learned much from the Brael girls, when Nina wasn’t trying to kill her anyways.

“But of course Milly! I intended to originally, but your pet giant distracted me.”

The tiny red girl in question was deep in conversation with Riya and the others, Volka soon joining them.

Shortly thereafter their conversation ended though when Milly and Tiana’s spears clattered together in a blur of motion as they ran through one of the many forms that the Minotaur sought to master.

Drawn by the sound, the others gathering in a rough circle around them and watching intently.

Even Erica had sat up, her green eyes narrowed as she followed the movements.

After a particularly furious exchange, Tiana leapt back with a flourish of her weapon, smiling wide.

“Good, Milly! Very good! But I can practically hear you counting!”

“What do you mean?” The Minotaur asked quizzically, her guard still up.

The Amazon chuckled and gave a nod indicating they should begin again.

“I will show you.”

She ran through the routine, this time counting aloud the series of motions.

“One two three, one two three, one two FIVE!”

She abruptly changed up the cadence, throwing her student off and immediately putting her on the defensive.

“You adapt quickly, I give you that!” Tiana grunted as she continued her lesson even amidst her assault; “But you let me set the pace! When you do, you cede me control! Instead you must be the one to change things up! Disrupt your opponent’s rhythm and guide them with your spear to where you need them to be to finish them!”

Milly nodded curtly even as she rapidly shifted into a counterattack, taking the Amazon off guard for the briefest of moments before she could react.

In the end it was Tiana’s win, but like Volka she was quick to praise Milly’s progress.

“For someone who has only been learning for a year and some, you have made great improvement!”

The pair of them plopped down in the dirt near the fountain and caught their breath while the others resumed their assault on Nina, gluttons for punishment and inspired by the Minotaur’s diligence.

By the time they caught the Gigas, this time without Tiana’s aid, Riya’s nose was bleeding rather splendidly.

Tiana took a drink of water before handing the cup to Milly to do the same.

“Thank you.” Milly said with warm gratitude before likewise quenching her thirst.

Her throat moved with each long draw as she gulped down the water, the Amazon watching her with a slight smirk until she was finished.

“Ah, how I have missed this!” She declared suddenly.

The Minotaur blinked in surprise as she set the cup down between their thighs.

“What do you mean?”

“This! Training with you! Our journey east on the first leg of your quest to find the Lightbringer was one of the most joyous times of my life!”

Milly giggled at her enthusiasm, once again blushing at the praise.

And from not far away, Volka smiled, lifting her head up from doodling on Erica’s face.

“Those with hope cannot help but inspire it in others.” She said to no one in particular.

After putting the finishing touches on her masterpiece, she snuck away, quietly leaping into the air to fly off.

Erica, now sporting an obscene and very large drawing on her forehead and cheek, dozed on.

Chapter 13: Invitations

Kriss hissed between her teeth when she felt the ground shake again, the Chameleon’s scales mottling red as she stopped in her tracks.

She waited, but everything remained still, so with another annoyed hiss she resumed walking.

Sure enough, a few seconds later she felt the same rumbling beneath her clawed feet, and this time when she stopped she turned right around to glare down the road behind her.

The ten foot tall mass of blue flesh that was Tora the Ogre was hiding behind a much too narrow tree, her shapely breasts and ass sticking out on either side of it even