Edit-04/04/2021- some spelling and punctuation fixes and wording changes.
"Ah! Wait! I, I don't think this-"
"What, getting cold feet?" Ainz interrupted Bella as he stepped closer, causing her to step back against the wall behind her. "You're the one who came to me," Ainz said as he wrapped an arm around the small of Bella's back, pulling her closer to him as his other hand went behind her head.
"Well, I, I just-"
"We both want this, so why resist?" Ainz asked as he pulled Bella's body right up against his own, their hips touching, and Bella's breasts pressing against Ainz's chest as he smiled. "Lets begin, my little rabbit," he said before pulling Bella in for a deep kiss.
A kiss that caused Bella to suddenly bolt upright in her bed, heart beating a mile a minute as she glanced around, and upon finding no one in her room, came to a horridly embarrassing realization.
It had been a dream.
Dreaming was not a horrid thing, and Bella would be lying if she told someone she had not had fantasies in the past. But those fantasies were when she was a boy, and when Ainz was a girl. Plus they were usually, she figured, reasonably tame in that most were day dreams of Aiz giving him a peck on the cheek, a hug, or letting him use her lap as a pillow.
Something that had come to pass a couple of times during training.
But that, that was not so simple a daydream or fantasy! That had been no mere peck on the cheek. He, Ainz, he had pulled her right up to him and kissed her deep before the shock of it awoke her.
"Why, did I have such a perverted dream though?" Bella asked herself as she gently touched a finger to her lips, then shook her head in a sudden blur of embarrassment. Sure she had seen Ainz the night before, but the shock of him and Bete being so different, along with the confusion of Syr calling her Bell, the rest of the night was a bit of a blur, and she was sure she hadn't served the Loki Familia's table even once! So why did she-
Suddenly a knock at the door made Bella twitch her gaze to it. "Y-Yes?"
"Cranel, it is morning and Mia says you have the day off to shop. Breakfast is about to be served," came the stoic tone of Ryuu from the other side of the door.
"Oh, okay. Uh, since I'm not working am I allowed to join everyone for breakfast? " Bella asked as she pushed the covers off of her and got up out of her bed, brushing her casual clothes a bit with her hands.
"Of course," was all Ryuu said in reply.
"Okay," Bella muttered to herself as she walked to the door and opened it to find Ryuu against the opposite wall patiently.
Ryuu looked at her for a second before bowing her head a bit. "Did I catch you while dressing? I apologize."
"No, I just got up is all," Bella answered as she rubbed her eyes with one hand.
"You do not have sleepwear?" Ryuu asked as the two of them began walking down the hall to the stairs.
"N-no. I just have, these," Bella admitted quietly.
Ryuu nodded. "I see why Mia wished for you to have the day off to shop now," she said as the two of them came down the stairs and went into the main pub floor. Lunoire and Chloe were already seated while Anya was behind the counter filling some pitchers. Mia appeared to be looking over some bags of some kind. Neither Syr or May could be seen.
"Good morning Ryuu, Good morning Bella!" Chloe said with a smile as she saw them first.
"Good morning everyone," both Ryuu and Bella replied, though the latter was much quieter.
"Good you're wake. Are you bad with mornings? " Mia suddenly asked, looking at Bella with a curious yet neutral expression.
"Uh, I'm not normally, but since this happened . . . its like my body is hesitant to get up," Bella admitted hesitantly.
"Like there's a weight on your chest?" Chloe asked with a giggle as Bella and Ryuu sat down.
"Um, I guess so, kind of?" Bella answered, not getting what Chloe was alluding to.
"Well your breast are pretty big so that's fair!" Chloe said with another giggle that made Bella lean forward uncomfortably, as if trying to hide her chest. Chloe did not notice however, and continued to speak. "I found it easier to sleep, and get up, when I was stuck as a guy, but you'll get used to it!"
"Oh yes, I'm sure she'll get used to not waking up with the problem you had no idea how to handle," Lunoire said with a dirty grin. "If I remember, the first morning you ran down screaming with-"
"Aaaaahhhh, Lunoire stop! That was embarrassing don't bring it up!" Chloe very nearly shrieked as she leaned over and tried to pout a hand over Lunoire's mouth. To little success.
"Then stop embarrassing Bella, Nyaa!" Anya spoke up with a nod, like she had done something worthwhile.
"I'll agree with that sentiment. She's having enough trouble as it is, and until she gets used to her new form, and comfortable with it, keep the teasing and touching to a minimum girls," Mia stated seriously, earning acknowledgment from all of them, even May as she came out from the kitchen with a large tray or breakfast and placed it in the table. "Good now eat up, there's work to be done," Mia said with a nod, getting a look from Bella that made her raise a hand. "No, not you Bella, you need to get clothes so you'll have the day off to find what you need. And yes I know it will be embarrassing and hard, so I would like one of the girls to take the day off and help you."
"I'll do it!" Chloe said instantly.
Mia smiled smugly for a second before speaking. "You are the last person I would send to help her."
"What, why?"
"Do you really need to ask, nyaa?"Anya said with a shake of her head as she poured a glass of juice for herself and Bella, who gave a silent nod of thanks.
"Um, would it be bad to do it myself?" Bella asked nervously.
"I have no problem with you buying clothes for yourself, as you will eventually have to decide what styles you prefer. However, until that point, you will need some help understanding the nuances of women's clothing, especially undergarments. I know it is embarrassing, but it is important, and whoever goes with you will need to be understanding and calm, being able to explain things to you as needed. Hmm actually, Ryuu, would you be willing to help Bella?"
"I have no issue with doing so," Ryuu replied simply before glancing at everyone, then back at Mia. "Would not another animal person be more appropriate for her needs however?"
"Normally I'd agree with you, but," Mia stopped and gestured to Chloe, then Lunoire and then Anya. "You understand."
"I do," Ryuu said, earning momentary annoyed looks from the three.
"Honestly I'd ask Syr, but since she's visiting her mother, well I'm not getting in the way of that," Mia muttered as she pulled out a good sized bag and placed it on the counter, the tell tale jingling of coin coming out of it. "This your pay for the last few days, as well as some forward pay so you have enough to get what you need, Bella. Take it when you and Ryuu leave once you are done eating."
"Thank you, but I still have some money from the guild so-" Bella began to say, until Mia spoke up and interrupted her.
"That's fine, but your not going out and buying one or two things. You have no other clothes so you will need the start of a simple wardrobe at least. Take it. If you don't use it all that's fine, but if you do, it will be good you had it."
"I see, then thank you!"
"Don't thank me yet," Mia said as she turned to do something on the counter, and to let the girls finish their breakfast. "You haven't realized what you'll be dealing with as a woman after all."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Um, can I ask a question?" Bella asked as she and Ryuu walked down the streets of Orario. The sun was up just barely over the walls and most businesses were only just opening, while throngs of adventurers were heading in force toward Babel.
"You may, yes," Ryuu replied calmly.
"What was on that paper that Mama Mia passed you as we left?"
"The names of stores that would be best to go to. I knew of most of them, but a couple I was not aware of."
"Oh, that makes sense. Where are we going first?" Bella asked as Ryuu slowed down and looked around.
"This store would be good to start with," Ryuu stated as she stopped and turned to a storefront.
They were currently in the Tailors district of Orario, a large area mostly filled with clothiers, tailers, and other businesses that dealt with cloth, whether it be for clothing, bags, flags or anything like it. It was not a place that Bella had usually went to in the past, being fine with adventurer clothing. Even without having come to this district before though, the store Ryuu was standing in front of was clear in what it sold due to the garments in the window. All forms of what appeared to be undergarments for women.
"Uh, isn't this too early? I mean, there are other clothes I need too right? We could come back later?" Bella stumbled to say as she tried to take a step back, only for Ryuu to grab hold of her wrist.
"Remember what Mia said? It may be embarrassing to you, but you cannot keep wearing the same clothing. Undergarments are important. Would you rather get them now while the store is mostly empty and you can learn, or later when there are others within?"
Bella opened her mouth to argue, but no words came out as there was no sensible argument to Ryuu's words. "Um, not to be a, uh . . pervert, but you're coming in with me, right?"
"That was the plan yes. How would I help you find what you need and teach you otherwise?"
"Oh, right. Um, thank you. For helping me I mean."
"It's no problem," Ryuu said simply as she let go of Bella's wrist, now sure that she would not run away.
Bella looked at Ryuu, and past her at the store for a seconds before taking in a fee deep breaths, slowly letting them out to calm herself down. "Okay. I, I think I'm ready. I have to be. Let's do this," Bella stated as she walked right toward the door to the store with Ryuu right behind her.
Then she opened the door and stepped in. From outside only the window displays could be seen, but now inside the full spectrum of the stores inventory was visible. Underwear both covering and revealing, simple and sultry, and of every color and material. Not just limited to lower garments, there was also a substantial variety, in both shape and function, of upper undergarments as well.
Bella found herself take a step back, only for Ryuu to push against her back, pushing her into the store and closing the door behind her as if to remove the option of escape.
"Good morning, how can I help you today?" asked the shops clerk as she came out from behind the counter with a smile on her face. She was a rather tall and thin Chienthrope with long brown hair tied into a braid and was wearing a simple sundress the color of clouds. What was truly scary though was the low cut of the dress, the plunging neckline, and the ever so slightly visible lines of her undergarments through it.
"Yes, we are here for my friend here, who needs undergarments for herself," Ryuu spoke up in a simple and casual tone as she pushed Bella forward ever so slightly.
"Oh of course. Are you looking for anything in particular? And what are your sizes?" the clerk asked Bella with a friendly smile, as if it was perfectly normal.
"um, my sizes?" Bella asked, having an inkling of what the clerk was referring to, but not being sure.
"Yes, do you not know them? You should know your bust size of course, yes?" the clerk asked as she glanced at Bella's chest.
Luckily Ryuu chose that moment to step forward and speak. "She does not know them, because she only recently came into her body."
The clerk looked at Ryuu for a second before realization made itself clear on her face. "Ah I see. Then you'll need only a few then yes?" she said, sounding a bit more distanced as she spoke.
"No. She is fallen, and this is permanent. Can you please direct us to where the simple garments for Animal people would be?" Ryuu asked.
"Oh, why did you not say so? Our simpler stock is near the back, and animal person lingerie is on the left side of the changing stalls. Do you need any other help? Such as measurements?" the clerk asked, suddenly just as friendly and forward as before.
"I will call if we do, thank you," Ryuu said tersely.
The clerk seemed to get the message as she took a step back. "Of course, call if you need any help, " she stated before turning and heading back to the counter.
"Come," Ryuu said to Bella as she led her down the aisle toward the back of the store.
"Um, did I miss something there?" Bella asked as she tried not to stare at some of the more outlandish undergarment designs they passed. Some were little more than string, making Bella silently wonder at the back of her mind if some women actual wore such garments.
"Some look down on those that are cursed temporarily to another gender because there have been cases of people abusing their situation. That is all," Ryuu said as she stopped at the back wall and shallowly nodded. "We are here. These are the undergarments for animal people."
"Oh, I see," Bella said as she, begrudgingly looked around, and quickly noted something she was a bit leery about. "Um, the, uh, they seem, smaller than others."
"The upper garments, or the panties? " Ryuu asked, making Bella blush a bit.
"The, uh . . . panties," Bella clarified in embarrassment.
Ryuu looked around for a second before nodding, realizing what Bella was getting at. "All lower clothing for animal people, whether they be panties, drawers, bloomers, pants, shorts, skirts or dresses are either lower cut so that their tails are not constricted, or have holes in them for their tails."
"Oh. So, all of them are that low then?" Bella asked nervously as she looked at the simplest designs on the wall.
"Yes. Or lower cut in some cases," Ryuu said as she stepped up beside Bella and pointed at an area of panties. "These are the simplest. They cover what needs to be, and are comfortable and do not inhibit movement. I believe they would be your best choice. It would be best for you to choose at least a dozen of whatever color, or colors you wish. Unless you would prefer a different style?"
"No! I mean, they're fine. Right?" Bella asked, receiving nothing but a light nod from Ryuu, and only after she quickly grabbed a few. "Uh, is that all we need here?"
"No, while here we should get you some form of upper undergarments as well."
"Uh, is that, I mean, are those really necessary? " Bella asked quietly, her timid tone filled with anxious embarrassment.
"Jump," Ryuu said simply.
"what?"
"Jump in place where you are standing."
"Uh, why would I-" Bella began to say, right until she saw how Ryuu was staring at her. "Um, okay. Just, right here?"
"Just here is fine. You only need to jump a few times to understand," Ryuu said, her expression continually neutral.
"Um, alright," Bella said as she jumped straight up, forgetting that her body now had more speed and jumping ability it seemed. She went almost a good meters and a half into the air before she came back down.
And promptly realized why she needed something for her upper body.
With her breasts the size they were they had a hefty amount of weight to them, and that weight affected her balance, making her almost fall forward from the sudden shift and bounce they caused as she landed.
"Do you see why now?" Ryuu asked, her tone having a slight hint of something in it as she ever so slightly smirked. "Mia mentioned you had been an adventurer and intended to be again. However you will have to get used to your new balance, as well as the weight of your breast if you intend to be an adventurer again. An undergarment for your upper body will help support your breasts, and will help limit their movement as well."
"I think I get it," Bella said in almost a whimper as her arms wrapped around her breasts. "Ugh, why did they have to be so big."
"Many girls want them larger actually, it's sort or like bragging rights, or how men will compare the size of their muscles, or second head," the store clerk said crudely as she walked over with a smile.
"We have not requested assistance," Ryuu stated simply to the clerk.
"True, but your friend will need to know her size, no?" the clerk said with an odd smile as she took what appeared to be a measuring tape off of her belt.
"Yes, however she is still shy about her body. Another person taking-"
"That's fine, I can take her measurement with her clothing on if you would like?" the clerk interrupted with a smile on her face as she took a step forward, holding the tape hopefully.
"Very well," Ryuu said after a few seconds of uncomfortable silence, prompting the clerk to smile wider, which in turn prompted Ryuu to suddenly draw a small kitchen knife from somewhere and hold it out level to her shoulders. "However if you upset her in any way by groping, molesting, or touching her inappropriately, you will not have the time to regret it."
The clerk froze for a moment from the very casual threat Ryuu had given without her expression changing in the least. And after another moment nodded and let a very quiet, "Understood" slip from her lips.
"Bella, she will measure you, so stay calm,"
"Um, okay," Bella replied, not sure what else she could really say.
"Then miss, please stand as straight as possible with your shoulders square and raise your arms to the sides," the clerk said in a clearly upset forced professionalism. Bella did so, and within seconds felt the measuring tape wrapping around her chest beneath her breasts, then after a few seconds it loosened and was tightened again over her breasts themselves. The clerk then removed the tape and walked over to the counter, looking at a clipboard of some kind and doing something before smirking a bit and then turning back to her and Ryuu, looking perfectly professional again. "Congratulation miss, your cup size is D, any top you decide upon should be marked in that size or they will not fit correctly."
"Um, D?" Bella quietly asked Ryuu as the clerk walked briskly off.
"Undergarments for women's breasts are measured by a pair of measurements. To make it simple it is then categorized as a letter to designate their cup size. It used to be more difficult until they made strap lengths interchangeable." Ryuu explained as she led Bella over to a wall covered in undergarments.
"Um, is D bad though?" Bella asked nervously, recalling the way the clerk had looked at her chest. It had been odd with how similar it had been to some of the adventurers in the evenings.
"There is no such thing as a bad body shape unless it is unhealthy, " Ryuu stated. "A cups are the smallest, and the further down you go the larger a womans breast are. B to C is the average size for most people, you are just larger than average, especially for your size, is all."
"Oh. I was trying to ignore it but, they are larger than others huh?" Bella said as she looked down at her chest in embarrassment.
"They are, but it is not something to think so heavily on if you do not wish to. Some women flaunt their chest, others simply do not care what others think. For now what is important is deciding upon what undergarment you wish to decide upon."
"Okay, and thanks," Bella said as she looked up at the wall, and quickly felt overwhelmed. There were so many kinds that it was hard to even recognize where one kind ended and the next began. Even worse was that there appeared to be alternate styles between them as well as a great divide in the material they were made from. "Um, how do I decide?"
"I . . .did not think of that," Ryuu admitted after a second of silence. "I believed people just tried them on until they found one that worked. It could do, but that would take time we may not have."
"Perhaps I could be of assistance?"
Ryuu and Bella turned to find an old Pallum Woman standing nearby, her clothing simple yet elegant without being overblown, and her expression soft and helpful.
"You are?" Ryuu asked calmly, noting that the clerk from before was standing behind the counter with a very sullen expression on their face.
"I am the owner of this store, and I apologize if my worker was too forward with your friend's situation," the woman said with a smile and a slight bow, while her worker winced a bit, apparently able to hear them. "Would you like me to give you a quick explanation to help you make a decision?"
"That may be best for her," Ryuu said calmly.
"Then I shall make it as simple for you as I can. To begin, there are three general kinds of undergarments for a womans breast, tops, Bustiers and corsets, and brassieres, or bras. Tops are made or thicker material as they are for wearing on their own without other clothing, such as tube tops and bikini tops or similar such garments. Amazon's buy them almost exclusively. Corsets and bustiers cover most of the torso wrapped tight, and there are many who wear Bustiers made of leather as a form of armor overtop a regular one. Lastly there are basic bras with dozens of different kinds of straps and designs for different purposes. A basic bra would likely be your best bet, but may I ask what you do for work?"
"I, uh, work at the hostess of fertility," Bella said in a slightly nervous tone. "I'm hoping to become an adventurer again though," she then added, feeling like maybe it was important.
"I see, then if I may speak plainly, you may be interested in what are known as sports bra's," the manager said as she walked further down the wall and plucked a case off the shelf, opening it up to show the contents of a strange dark material. "These bras were first made by a girl who fell to us, and are made of a stretchy and breathable material that both covers the area from the neck all the way down to the ribs, but also Limits the movement of one breasts as well. They can however be tight in a different way than most women are used to, and only those who expect a high variation of movement would get their worth out of them."
"So, adventurers?" Bella asked, realizing what the manager was meaning.
"Yes, precisely."
"Um, I guess those then," Bella said as she looked down at the ground, unwilling to look the Pallum or Ryuu in the eyes.
"Very good, however I would suggest having regular bras as well for every day use when not adventuring, and you will need to try them on to be sure of the fit. I would suggest your friend show you how."
"I will do so, thank you for your help," Ryuu said with a nod.
Bella only groaned as she realized the embarrassment was not yet over.
Xxxxxxxxxx
While the embarrassment of underwear shopping only lasted so long, the embarrassment itself did not stop. Bella was dragged to a number of clothing shops afterword's to find casual clothing she would be comfortable with. The result was a number of simple shirts, and loose pants in one of two bags, while the other bag had the more embarrassing items within it, and was tied shut.
"Now that your clothing is mostly taken care of, is there anything else you believe you need when we are finished eating?" Ryuu asked as she and Bella sat on a bench at the edge of Babels square eating some oriental food they had gotten from a stall for lunch.
"Well, I want to get back into the dungeon so equipment would be nice, but I know I don't have the money, and I don't think I am allowed to yet until I get the guilds okay," Bella said, recalling that the guild, and Eina, really did not want her in the dungeon until she was acclimated to life and her body.
"I see. May I ask what you used to specialize in before?" Ryuu asked calmly.
"I uh, I used a knife," Bella replied, unsure what Ryuu was getting at.
"As your main weapon?" Ryuu asked, and when Bella nodded she spoke again. "Did you use anything else?"
"I had a second knife I sometimes used, and I had a simple magic spell I could use as well."
"You were a mobility fighter then, yes?"
"I did move around a lot, so I guess? I never really thought of it before."
"Then perhaps we should find you garb meant for more strenuous movement. You may not be able to buy gear yet, but what you wear underneath is important, and training may help you learn the limits of your body," Ryuu suggested.
"You mean more clothes?" Bella asked, sounding tired of clothing.
"You would not wear your casual or day to day clothing into the dungeon, would you?"
"Well, until I got a full set of gear I did, so-,"
"No," Ryuu interrupted Bella. "It is different if you are taken by surprise, but you should have clothing that is used for the dungeon and training. I know of a place if you are willing to trust me."
"Is it going to be like the, first store?" Bella asked, clearly embarrassed to remember the store in question.
"No, it will not. I personally know the owner of this store, and I have gotten equipment from them in the past. They are not so, invasive, as that clerk was," Ryuu explained, sounding a bit irked by the stores clerk as well.
"Well, if you say so then-"
"Hey mister, mister adventurer! Are you in need of a supporter?" came a questioning, and very familiar voice to Bella, from just a bit ahead of where they were sitting. There, running up to a lone adventurer with a huge backpack over her shoulders, was Liliruca Arde. She looked as happy as when Bella had first met her in her old life, which was concerning because she now knew that Lili had been anything but happy when they had first met. Something seemed odd about her though. Her clothing and backpack looked the same, as did her hair, but hanging from her one hip from a metal ring was a small curved blade that almost looked like a sickle, but with a reversed hook on the backside and serrations on the inside.
"Uh, I'm not really looking for help," the adventurer Lili was speaking to said in a bit of surprise.
"Oh? Have you never had a supporter before? We can be very helpful sir, and I can make things very simple for you!" Lili aggressively pressed, making the man stumble back a bit away from her.
"Uh, look, I, don't, I mean, I need the money myself and I can't afford to split it, so, I just-"
"That's fine, with a supporter you can make even more money than you normally would, and I only would take ten percent!" Lili exclaimed and she bounded forward and grabbed the man's hand, only to pull it close to her chest and quietly say something to him, much to his shock.
"Well uh, I guess it wouldn't hurt to try working with someone else," the man said with an awkward smile, his cheeks turning a bit red as Lili led the man by the hand toward Babel.
"Something isn't right about that girl," Ryuu said after a few moments of silence. "You knew her, yes?"
"I did, but how did you know?" Bella asked curiously.
"The way you looked at her in worry," Ryuu said honestly. "Was she a friend?"
"She was, a very good friend, who suffered a lot at the hands of her guild. I had promised to help her leave them when we got out of the dungeon, but…."
"I understand," Ryuu said as Bella began to slow her words. "What Familia was, sorry, is she part of?"
"She was in the Soma Familia, but I don't know if she is here,"
"Then it can be something you can look into in the future," Ryuu said as she finished her food. "Shall we head on then?"
"To that store you mentioned?"
"Yes. Once you have clothing more appropriate for it, we can begin training you," Ryuu said, her tone a little odd.
"You mean you training me?" Bella asked in surprise at the prospect of Ryuu training her.
"If you are fine with that."
"Yes! I mean, I am, but why?"
"Lunoire, Chloe, and myself wish to help you of course. You are our friend and fellow Hostess after all," Ryuu said very matter of factly before her expression shifted slightly.
"Is something wrong?"
"No. Let us continue on. Once we have the last of what you need we can return to the Hostess. And if you would like we can use the rest of the day getting you started on training."
"Please!" Bella exclaimed as the two went off to continue shopping.
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
"Cranel, again!" demanded Ryuu as she watched Bella get up off the grassy ground of the vacant lot that sat behind the Hostess of Fertility.
Bella, who was now wearing the training clothes she had bought which consisted of a tank top and loose pants, jumped off her back and onto her feet in an instant. "Y-Yes!" she called as she lunged forward and swiped an open palm at Ryuu.
Their training was simply for Ryuu to get a feeling for how good Bella was, and as such it was a simple game of tag with Bella having to catch Ryuu in any way, and with her being able to do anything to stop it.
It was not going well for Bella. She had the knowledge and instinct, and her body was clearly athletic and strong enough considering her jumping ability and speed, but her bodies newer shape, and different balance was throwing her off severely, and each time she came close to catching Ryuu she got handily turned upon.
Whether it was by shifting her footing, grappling, or by simply dodging at the last moment, Ryuu managed to evade Bella each and every time.
"I, don't think I will be able to catch you," Bella admitted as she pulled herself off the ground, having just been turned around by one of Ryuu's grapples so quickly that she had fallen over.
"Cranel, what is the point of this test?" Ryuu asked after a few seconds of silence.
"For, for you to see how good or bad I am?" Bella replied as she brushed some dirt off her stomach, clearly avoiding doing the same to her chest.
"My knowing your skills is important, but this is to help you as well. Until you learn to be comfortable with your body and understand it's new balance, it will be hard for you to do any form of strenuous activity like going into the dungeon," Ryuu said as she kicked a stick up off the ground and into her hand, then tossed it to Bella to use. "Now, please come at me again Cranel,"
"Right, here I come!" Bella declared as she moved toward Ryuu and began swinging. Unlike with her bare hands it was clear that Bella had more of a proclivity towards a blade, however with the way her swings dipped and overshot it was also clear that she was more comfortable with smaller blades, and that the weight of her chest was throwing her balance more than Ryuu initially figured it could.
Ryuu sighed as she batted the stick away from her for the seventh time in thirty seconds, only to snap it in half when doing so. Perhaps some help would be needed.
"Cranel, would you be alright if the others assisted you in this as well?"
"I guess?" Bella replied as she, much to some slight surprise, continued to press her attack with only the half the stick in her hand.
"I see," Ryuu replied as she mentally noted that Bella was much faster now with the stick shorter. Her chest and differing balance were still limiting her, but it seemed her words of having specialized in a small blade had not been wrong. "Tonight we can speak to Lunoire and Chloe then, and ask if they would be willing to help you as well."
"Wait, they could help? They have Falna then?" Bella asked in surprise, giving Ryuu an opening to smack the stick out of her hand.
"They do, though like myself they are officially retired. They both specialize in smaller weaponry, so their training would be more of a fit than my own likely would be for you," Ryuu explained as she dodged two of Bella's strike and sent out one of her own, only for Bella to dodge it.
"Oh, what Familia were they-"
"Their past is not mine to tell. You should ask them, though like my own past, I doubt they will be willing to speak of it so simply," Ryuu interrupted suddenly, her eyes seeming a bit hard as she spoke, speaking volumes about what her, and the others pasts could contain.
Knowing some of Ryuu's past, such as the grave of her comrades on the 18th floor, Bella decided not to push the matter and simply nodded.
"Thank you. Just remember that most of us at the Hostess have stories pasts, that may not wish to be told," Ryuu said as she dodged a blow from Bella and felt herself smile a bit. She was getting closer to hitting her, so it was clear that Bella's experience and skill were real. It would just need tuning for her body. "I believe I have seen enough to have a basis for your skills. We can stop here for now, or continue if you would like to."
"If, I mean, the more I move around, the quicker I would get used to this, right?" Bella asked, breathing a bit heavily, yet also refusing to hang her head down even a bit for a very obvious reason.
"I believe that would be correct yes."
"Then please, let's continue!" Bella stated seriously. "I-I need to get used to this if I'm going to be an adventurer again!"
"Very well, we were both given the day off, and since your choices of clothing were simple we have much time still. Let's see how far you can go."
"Thank you!"
Xxx
Kibble note: so yeah, this chapter feels odd. On one hand it feels like there too much for the one shop despite it being a bit for character growth, and to embarrass Bella, on the other hand, it feels excessive to tack on more to this chapter than there already is.
Oh well, it's more of a prepping chapter because now that Bella has training gear, and isn't wearing the same underwear, she can have more progress!
And yes I pulled a bad and gave her a case of being well endowed.
Hope everyone liked the chapter! My hope is for the next one to get her her Falna back.