Once back outside, after quickly showing Katrina the pit she’d started for Elias, Alicia returned to her practice. At this point, while she still put everything she had into improving, the novelty of learning to fight had started to wear thin. During one of their short breaks, she thought about the timeframe they were working with, about how they only had a few weeks to beat the Dungeon. They were going to need all the time they could get, which meant delving and fight training were going to be a part of her daily life for the foreseeable future.


    Thankfully, even as practice became more routine, it was obvious that Tabitha was a great person. Had Alicia not known about her cam work, she still would have guessed that the Foxgirl was great with people. It seemed effortless for her to read Alicia’s movement, switch up methods when Alicia was growing tired of a specific move, and offer breaks when needed.


    Alicia, for her part, had begun wondering if her Dryad physiology might offer any unique benefits in combat. She began experimenting with her ability to control plants, trying to shift the terrain to her advantage and trip Tabitha up. While her control only extended so far, and she couldn’t exactly summon vines to instantly trip Tabitha, she felt confident it was something worth exploring. She also remembered that she was able to grow roots from her own body, and had started rooting her feet to the ground whenever she wanted a stronger stance.


    In the background, Katrina continued providing music for the training combatants as she iterated on her spells. The music wasn’t quite as performative, she frequently stopped and restarted sections as she wrestled with her newly discovered magic, but it was beautiful to listen to nonetheless.


    By the end of the night, Kat had cemented two new spells in her repertoire; a Scan and a quick, magical push that would hopefully keep enemies away from her. She practiced her scan on Tabitha, with the Foxgirl’s consent of course, and spent a solid minute marveling at her incredible Ten; she had 25 Agility and 21 Dexterity even before applying her own Attribute Boosting spells.


    As excited as Alicia was to see Kat so excited about delving and exploring her magic, the Dryad began feeling a twinge of jealousy; this was the second time tonight that Kat had gushed about another girl.


    She had a feeling Tabitha noticed something, as they ended training earlier than they had yesterday. The Foxgirl gave her a big hug, squeezing her tight and congratulating her on her hard work, then returned home to give them some space.


    “Whew,” Kat said as they walked inside, “what a night! You get a lot done with Tabitha? It seemed like you were making great progress, though admittedly I was spending a lot of time with my own practice. She seemed impressed, if nothing else.”


    “Um, yeah it went well,” Alicia said quietly.


    “Alicia? Hey, is everything alright?”


    Alicia paused, not entirely sure how to voice her thoughts. She wanted to be open about what she was thinking, but it had been so long since she’d engaged with these kinds of social dynamics. “I-I’m not entirely sure how to phrase this, but… I guess I’m feeling a little self-conscious right now. It’s really cute seeing you get excited about all this delving stuff, but seeing you rant and rave about that streamer, and then about Tabitha’s Ten…”


    There was a small moment of hesitation before Kat responded. Her eyes were unfocused, darting back and forth across nothing in particular, and Alicia suspected she was combing through her memories from the last few hours. “Shoot, Alicia, I… I didn’t mean it like that, I promise. I’m thrilled to be with you, Alicia, I really am, and I’m sorry I made you feel that way.” The two hugged tightly as Alicia buried her face in Kat’s shirt.


    “I’m sorry to bring it up, this is just all so new to me, and I guess I got a little used to having you all to myself. It’s my first time dating post-Change, and everything is so different now,” Alicia said. “I don’t want to ruin our first week as a couple by getting all moody like this.”


    “Hey, don’t say that.” Kat moved closer, cupping the side of Alicia’s face and tilting her head higher. Their eyes met before Kat spoke up again. “You’re amazing, and I want to hear these things. Tell you what, how about we go sit in our floor bed, and you can share everything you’re worried about. Honestly, isn’t the start of a relationship the best time to do this?”Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    Alicia nodded quickly. “O-okay.”


    Once the girls were back in Alicia’s bedroom, they sat on their massive pile of blankets and looked at each other. Katrina spoke first, gently grabbing Alicia’s hands. “Tell me everything, Alicia. I want this to be the best relationship we’ve ever had.”


    “I don’t know, I guess I’m just a little jealous. I was talking with Tabitha before you woke up, and she told me how camming actually got really difficult after sex work was legalized. About how hard it is to stand out against Succubi and all the other Races that get huge Charisma bonuses. When you got all excited about Tab and that Slayer person, I think maybe I was a little nervous that you’d rather be with someone like that. Someone with a crazy Ten that’s super popular and stuff.”


    Katrina squeezed Alicia’s hand tight, only speaking up when she knew Alicia had finished. “Y’know, I don’t think it’s come up much, but I’m a pretty introverted person. Yes, in recent years I shut myself off because of my Race, but even before the Change I wasn’t very sociable. You want to know my favorite thing about us? I can be myself around you.”


    “Well, yeah, but maybe you could do that with Tabitha too,” Alicia said, sniffling.


    “Please, Tabitha flat out admitted she likes to push people’s buttons. I don’t want a relationship to be a challenge, I want it to be comfortable and supporting. Plus, dating someone famous sounds like it would be so much work. When you and I went to the Dungeon Camp, no one knew who we were, and I loved that.”


    Alicia didn’t say anything at first, instead, turning away from Kat before leaning back into her lap. “I have heard that dating celebrities can be a challenge.”


    “Another thing? Once people get a high enough Charisma, it becomes supernaturally powerful. Like, you physically can’t stop yourself from staring at them, and that honestly sounds really stressful.”


    “I sometimes have trouble not staring at you, Kat,” Alicia admitted with a smirk.


    “And I only have nineteen Charisma! Imagine someone with forty; how are you supposed to get anything done when you’re living with someone whose very presence is practically a mind-altering drug? With how much the Change rewired my brain, I’ve had more than my fill of unnatural urges and desires, thank you.” Katrina’s hands settled on Alica’s shoulders before she continued. “I’m happy with you, Alicia. I’m not trying to change the topic away from your feelings, I’m sorry if it seemed like that. I think I’m just trying to say that a person’s Ten isn’t who they are. Someone with thirty Wisdom might not be kind, someone with thirty Charisma might not be empathetic. It’s not a fluke that we’re together, and I would choose you again in a heartbeat. Even if TheSexiestSlayer were here.”


    Alicia found herself giggling, and she pulled Kat’s hands closer in a makeshift hug. “I never really thought of that, I guess.”


    Katrina leaned down, gently kissing Alicia before speaking up again. “Was there anything else?”


    “Um, actually, this isn’t something I was worried about, but since we’re talking about the relationship… Tabitha asked me earlier if we’re planning on being monogamous.”


    “Seriously?” Kat asked, and Alicia nodded in return. There was another pause before she continued. “That certainly sounds like her. I’ve always been monogamous in the past, but that was more from circumstance rather than personal choice. In theory, I’m not against it, but… I really don’t think this is the right time to make that decision. We only just got together, Alicia, and I want to focus on you. This is my first real, honest relationship since the Change, and I still don’t know who I am when I’m not alone. Because of you, I think I’m starting to figure that out, but it’s a process that needs time.”


    The girls squeezed each other, and Alicia could hear the weight in everything Kat was saying. Before she responded, she took just as long to collect her thoughts. “I think you’re right. Like you said, I’m used to being alone too. It wouldn’t feel right to add someone else to the mix when we still don’t understand who we are as a couple.”


    Kat squeezed Alicia tight. “How about, if Tab asks again, we just say we’re focused on us right now.”


    “I like that.” Alicia sat up again, grabbing Kat’s face and eagerly kissing her. “Look at us, being a real couple and talking about feelings and relationship dynamics and stuff. Thanks for listening, Kat. I was kinda nervous to bring this all up, and I appreciate you taking it seriously.”


    “Anything for you, Alicia. And, moving forward, I’ll try to be more mindful when I’m talking about delving stuff. Do you want to cuddle up and get some sleep?”


    Alicia nodded quickly, then got off the bed to free up the blankets. After rearranging everything back to normal, the girls crawled under them and got back to cuddling. This time, rather than burying herself in Kat’s shoulder, Alicia was the little spoon for the night. Just like yesterday, the stress from all her sparring practice caught up with her pretty quickly, and she knew she would be in for another sore morning. With Katrina holding her, everything felt right, and she fell asleep within minutes.