The Unsung Otome Villainess 4 - or 'It takes someone listening to change things for good while being the 'bad' one' (Standard Otome Derailed by SI!Soul advising the villainess)
The day of the duel was today, and Aurelia was particularly calm.
It wasn't just an act to keep Eury's morale up, but rather a genuine moment of awareness that a defeat was not in sight for her side. Not when her critical 'mental companion' had confirmed that this was their win.
When asked why, the answer proved to be within their main opponent's own strut and eagerness as the two contenders took to their fixed positions within the small dueling right by the Physical Education court.
Lucretia had the advantage of experience in this duel. Some may say that experience alone would have been enough to secure her that victory.
What many tend to ignore about experience is that public displays can produce an expectation at times. Not just a manner of 'how strong this fighter will be', but how 'they will behave around their opponent'.
And as much as Lucretia was confident with her steps as the much-anticipated duel started, she was stunned when Eurydice countered it with the advice Aurelia provided her.
It wasn't just a matter of personal improvement for the 'rookie', but an understanding of what to do within some situations. When put in a serious situation, Eury seemed to favor more flighty behavior when she is unaware of how to tackle a mess. When given suggestions on how to do it? She managed to successfully counter any issue she faced.
The early spell blast that Lucretia had hurled at her foe turned into the first clue that this battle's fate was already sealed. To make it simple, Dark Light was corrupted Light.
Thus, in the hands of someone that had the capacity to understand Light in a deep fashion that could become a severe advantage. And Aurelia could only admire Eury's impressive awareness of her magical affinity and provided her an idea that John gave her.
"What if you use her attacks as yours?"
That question manifested within some of the exercises she went through and the end result was for the large dark-gray sphere of magical energy thrown at her being rearranged in a bright sphere of light.
Surprise flashed on Lucretia's face at the sight of her attack being calmly stopped, but it exploded in a panic when she saw the sphere suddenly coming back for her. It was a bit slower than her attack had been, lulling her in the false security of being able to dodge such an insult.
What she didn't expect was for the sphere to detonate and hurl fragmented shards in her general direction. The concept of fragmented spells was not a novelty. It was a risky move and not always advised for new duelists.
The concept was simple- 'cracking' the core of a spell allowed for the attack to lose stability and explode in a smaller version of itself. Where many magical attacks with standard elemental affinity would reveal to anyone its cracks, a Light attack was not as easy to decipher due to the bright nature of these spells.
So, when the attack exploded and shards rained upon Lucretia, the lack of a shield produced a rather effective comeback. While the legs were spared from any damage, Lucretia's arms were struck and her hands were twitching in clear discomfort and pain due to the surprise attack.
"Why you?!"
Humiliated and hurt, the best way to vex an enemy. Once more, Eury produced a solution to an immediate problem. As Lucretia manifested a powerful gray beam to reach her opponent, Eury created a shield that was shaped in a peculiar manner: the spot where the beam struck was closer to her, allowing her to convert the energy rushing at her in fuel for her own barrier.
In a rather curious technicality, Lucretia was both the source of energy for the attack and defense at once. Something she didn't seem to realize until she noticed how draining the attack was and how unfazed Eury looked to be.
Which further pissed the loli off and yet made her extremely nervous.
She is faltering.
I can tell that but… this is where she will throw her best shot.
Obviously.
Obviously my butt!
Aurelia's deduction was proved right when Lucretia stood up, growling and yet mustering a large sphere of darkness above her head.
"This time you will not block it!"
But that wasn't the plan that Eury had been prepared for. Aurelia had been quite irked when John had made her admit to a rather blatant weakness for traditional mages: they all had a powerful attack that required time to fully produce. This extended to her too and… not Eury.
Since Eury was non-traditional in the way she handled magical educations, all her attacks were modestly-powerful at best and cheap in the worst case scenario. But before such a development, there was a single thing to do.
'A mage always shifts the battlefield to their advantage, either by magic or… physical means.'
Which is why Eury didn't stand still and actually bolted forward to catch Lucretia off-guard. The move was shocking to many, but the fear wrapping around Lucretia's entire frame confirmed what John had highlighted as the best course of action.
"W-Wait, don't come any closer or I-I will kick you and-!"
It didn't matter. Despite her size, Eury was surprisingly strong and thus was able to easily grasp her foe by her upper hips and lift her up in a… hug. A tight hug.
"T-This is not fair! Unhand me or I will… oh."
Lucretia's bravado ceased when she noticed various large flower-like Light constructs hovering around their heads and aiming right at her.
"S-Surrender or I will pellet you to submission!"
Such a bold statement and one that actually stole a panicking 'eep' from the lil' lady.
The battle was definitely over as a very distraught Lucretia gave up as she knew there was no comeback from this situation. A rather anticlimactic solution, but one that saw Eurydice's reputation soaring through this majestic win. And the girl was quite 'polite' about it through the employment of a quick headpat to remind her who was boss.
But while that was Eury's own glorious victory, that didn't mean Aurelia was without plans of her own to exploit the circumstance. Potions were created with the intention of being used to heal Eury in case she was injured, but in truth the batch also was meant to be used on Lucretia as a 'indebtment process'. It wasn't unheard off for this sort of trickery, to the point that some may expect it, which is why Aurelia struck true with this plan by behaving kindly.
So she approached the kneeling Lucretia, offering a bottle with healing potion and… the two shared a look. The younger girl was hurting, there was no surprise in Aurelia's mind that this was an expected behavior but it didn't make it any less awkward.
Still, the silent exchange concluded with defeat once more as Lucretia reached for the bottle and, unconsciously so, rubbed her fingers near Aurelia's. One moment there was irritation, the next one… surprise. The kind of surprise that many would see at a big revelation of sort and-
She saw me!
She what!?
She fucking saw me! Time to beat a retreat with Eury!
Aurelia didn't need to be told twice of that as she just let the loli handle the potion-drinking, got back to Eury and then walked off. No word was uttered through that retreat, but her thoughts were ablaze with a spicy debate.
She saw you?! HOW?!
I don't know and I don't wish to know. Get us out of there or-
"L-Lady Aurelia, I know that you don't like me to thank you but- but I have something I would like to show you in your room."
Aurelia merely nodded, still distracted by this topic. "Sure."
What she didn't expect, once they were back in the safety of her room, was that Eury suddenly pushed her onto the bed and had her lips planted against hers. One moment it was just a kiss, but a few hours later and many dilemmas ensuing, a very sweaty and scaroused Aurelia nudely studied the happy-looking and equally-nude Eury as she rested atop her chest while they cuddled in her bed, under the sheets.
W-What did it just happen?
I think- and understand that I am just guessing here… Eury may be in love with you.
I am a girl! Th-That's not a thing.
It is- but it is frowned upon.
I have a fiance!
Who will never find out because there was no penetration so your purity is spared.
B-But that- I mean, I liked it but- but!
Also, congratulations for coming out as Bisexual, Auri~!
Bi-what?!
AN
It's back! And I bet this one surprised you all. Eury may be a shy nut, but she is a tough one. Tough enough to use the fight's adrenaline to go forth and show her will to worship her 'sun'.
Much to Aurelia's insanity, this is but only the beginning of shenanigans. Next time… the prince and his buddy enter the picture!
