She is placing some final touches on her makeup and eventually finishes. I can't help but admire her beauty. He smooth face and green skin don't bother me. Luckily this is a dream otherwise I might get aroused in this reality.
As she stops touching her face, she checks out her cheek and smiles at what I assume is her reflection. Since I am facing her through the mirror I can't tell but I am willing to bet. But suddenly there is yelling and screaming with everything going black again. I look around confused of where the screaming is coming from. But I recognize it. It's Lara's! I start running around trying to find something about it
"Please! Please leave me alone! Ahh!" a piercing scream can be heard somewhere.
I keep running but then slam my head against some sort of wall I can't see. I rub my snort as it was the one to make first contact with this wall. The wall starts to form as concrete in front of me. I walk around the wall to see a large glass barrier blocking me now. The concrete wall however starts to form around me, forming a box around me. As I am trapped inside this box with only a glass window giving me a view into the void I see Lara running. She is running from what looks to be a group of men chasing her.
She trips over nothing and gets grabbed by one of them, grabbing her legs and dragging her back towards the group of three. Oh god now what am I about to see...I see her limbs get grabbed and pulled into the group.
I turn my head away from the group and cover my head trying to tune out the noise. It all however fades away. I open my eyes to see a white light in the darkness appear in front of me. It hovers above my head and moves around me like an insect. I start to get emotional from the event from what it felt like it was real. The light goes right into my face and I am blinded.
I open my eyes and awake to the sun directly in my eye. I blink a few times and realize I am crying or something in my sleep. That was a horrible dream. I hope the apple wasn't the cause for the nightmare that time. I hated it.
I try to get myself up only to notice on my left Arla sitting reading some book watching me. With no blinks she only looks at me. She stares at me and then glances down at my body. I look down and notice my bandages are off so that means she stripped them off. I think my wounds have healed since then so I am fine. But how did she undo the bandages without me waking up?
"uhm, hi Arla, "*groans* "I uh, just had a bad dream that's all."
"Hmm, what kind of dream....Was it involving one of the family members?"
I nod my head not looking at her in the process. but I look back at her to see her eyes with something different. Almost a twinkle. Sort even though she doesn't appear to be expressing much emotion her calm demeanor is actually calming for me.
"Yeah, it *ahem* was Lara...She was being chased by this group of thugs or whatever and I assume I know what they wanted from her. Something barbaric and savage..."
"Hmm, I see...And, I assume you didn't look in your dream" she moves her chair over to me.
"I didn't dare look or want to listen to it. It was too real for me and I covered myself up. Trying to tune the noise out. "
"I see. You are a caring person. In your dream did you try to do anything or were you unable?"
"I was unable to do anything I was trapped in a box of some sort. I don't want anything like that to happen to her. For her to be a victim or helpless. I have protected her before in our childhood but things are different now. I need to keep her safe. If not for her at least for me. Even if she herself decides to take it into her own hands. I will be there for her." I place my hand on my face rubbing the dried-up tears off and looking at my lap.
Arla moves her chair closer to me and place her hand on my shoulder. I look over to her to see her blank face in my face. I feel a bit on edge because of this. But I allow her to because I could use some comfort.
"I must confess something Coda, I wasn't always a maid."
I turn my head towards her slowly. to make light of the moment I decide to make a joke that would make sense.
"Well of course, I doubt you were a maid at birth, right hahaha!
But my voice cracks and she notices my struggle to maintain a firm posture and grip on my voice. She leans closer with her chair tilting a bit and she is about less than 1 foot from me now.
"I know, but let me explain a part of me now. I am Arla Serene a maid. But I was a former adventurer of the adventurer's guild back in Arcadia. I went on various adventures for about 4 years but retired when it became boring, boring if you will...But I had some fun during those times."
"Well, that's amazing. I never knew that about you. Did my-I mean...Yua or Mr. Uchida know about this as well?"
"Yes, but I asked them to keep it a secret as I do care to keep that part of my life secrets after retirement. But anyway, I had fought in some battles against creatures and people in various times. I can teach you to survive and fight. Properly. I have spoken to Mr. and Mrs. Uchida and how you have bravely thought dumbly defended Lara in the past and I believe if you are up for it. I could teach you how to fight or defend yourself more properly."
"I-I- I accept! I want you to teach me how to survive and fight."
She smiles at me and places her hand on my hand. She looks into my eyes and nods as well. Without any other words we both get up and I get some more proper clothes. Black pants and a brown tight fit shirt. I walk outside and Arla seems to move into a closet. I hear clanging and she pulled out dulled blades. A long sword, short one-handed bladed, and likely more from the noises.
I offer to help which she allows me to. I take a few of the blades carefully and walk outside with Arla and we start practicing. Or more like explaining.
-a few minutes later-
"So since you are not used to fighting with blades or whatever, I shall teach you hand to hand combat first. Come at me..." she says
I do what she says and charge at her like a football payer would in my previous world. I attempted to tackle her head on not holding much back. Knowing from what I know she likely would beat me up if I didn't try hard enough.
She goes under me laying on her back and kicks her leg up into my stomach causing me to nearly spit out. She rolls backward a good 6 feet from me afterwords and stands up straight brushing herself off.
"Hmm, you are aggressive. Typical for most for the first time. however, with the caiman abilities you have, you could become a greater warrior.
"Yeah, *huff* I can tell you know what you're doing ugh" I start groaning.
"Perhaps, lets go again..." she says standing up in a boxing stance.
I just realized she just whooped my ass wearing a maid outfit. If she can flexibly beat me up that way, I doubt she will have a hard time beating me in boxing. I get myself up and get in a boxing stance myself. I slowly make my way to her and then throw a few jabs with both my left and right.
She easily dodges them with ease only moving her hips not even taking steps out of the way. She then runs around me climbs on my back with such agility like a squirrel. She then takes her elbow and bashes it into my head driving it into my skull. I want to die now.
I fall backward onto my ass and start rubbing my head. I look up to her and she just stands there. Sweating a bit. I get myself up however still determined to try my best at somewhat get a hit on her. I might need to take my shirt off for this. I roll up my shirt exposing myself and put my hands back into a boxing stance.
Arla's eyes widen a bit and are in a shock opening her mouth. I look down and notice nothing wrong with my body so I don't know what she is shocked about. She has seen my body before when bandaging it up.
"I-uh, *ahem* again" she says
-9 hours later-
I fall forward on myself sweating and panting on the grass while the sun is going down. I turn myself over onto my back and my tail starts twitching for some reason. I breathe heavily with my now bare chest rising and falling.
"That was interesting I shall say. *huff* I believe we made progress today," she says while bending over forward.
"I *huff* Think *huff* I got my ass whooped *huff*"
I look forwards to where she is bending forward and I notice a smile on those lips of hers. It is kind of cute seeing her smile gently. It's warming.
"I think I am too tired to move Arla, I think I will rest outside for a while," I say closing my eyes
Ah, some nice relaxation on the cold grass as the sun goes down after a long workout of getting my ass best is...not as rewarding as it would seem. Arla seems to be tired as well and lays next to me on the grass in her maid outfit. sweating as well.
"Your gonna get your maid outfit dirty."
"I have others...do not worry," she replies.
Welp, she has others. Guess it doesn't matter what I think since it is her clothing. At least I think it is her clothing. Would make sense. What am I even thinking?