Training with a boy

Ace and Mira just went to their room.
Ace is already sitting on the bed, while Mira is standing around.

Do you really want to go to bed already?

I just want to relax for a while.

Oh, that's what I'm usually doing.

And now?

Now I don't want to relax. There are more reasons why I go to bed, and none of them apply currently.

Why? What's different?

Normally I read. But now I don't have my books here.

You know, you can just ask Resa. She has a lot of books.

I guess I could. But I'd rather spend time with you.

Oh, really? Do you already have something in mind?

Hmm..., maybe you should make a person grow inside me?

You changed your mind quickly. We don't even know how that works yet.

As long as you don't have a better plan...

They look at each other for a while, Mira moves around.

You told me about your training before.

I think I should really do some training again.
I let my training slide in the recent years.
So would you like to join?

Sure, what do I have to do?

Let's go outside first!

Sure, I'm ready!

Mira leaves and Ace gets up and follows her.

Soon they are standing outside on the meadow.

So how would you like to train?

What about a fight?

Are you sure? You probably have no chance against me.

Don't underestimate me. I've been a strong fighter for centuries.

Okay, let's see...
Are you ready?

Yeah! Let's get into position first!

Mira moves a few steps away and faces Ace.

So, we can start now!

Then let's start. I won't hold back!

Mira runs toward Ace and tries to push her away and punches her.
But Ace pushes her back making her fall.

This counts as a win.

Why are you so strong? Do you also train so much?

It's just because I'm a boy.
That's why I'm stronger.

I want another fight!

Are you sure?

Mira just nods.

So Ace helps Mira get up.

Thanks.

Then both of them move back a few steps to get ready for their next fight.

The next fight ends the same way, and the whole sequence repeats.
After several fights, Mira still hasn't won a single time.

Hey, if you want a fair fight, maybe you could use a weapon.

If you consider that to be fair, I'll try.

Mira looks around and as she finds a stick, she takes it.
She will use it as a weapon.

So, are you ready?

Mira nods and runs toward Ace.
As long as she keeps a distance, Ace can't damage her.
So Mira even causes her a few scratches.

But soon Ace just parries the stick and gets close to Mira, only to knock her down again.
Mira almost has to cry, but she tries to calm down and gets up herself.

As Mira is looking at Ace, she is surprised at how much blood is coming out of her minor wounds.
It's still not much, it's just more than Mira expected.
And it still didn't stop.
Is this because she's a boy?

I want one last fight! But this time, I want to fight for body parts. This will motivate me a lot.

I get it, and I know I'll probably win anyway.
But just in case you actually win, I won't agree to this.
You know, my recovery abilities aren't as powerful as yours.
Just look at my wounds, they still didn't heal yet.
Yours would already be gone, right?

Right.
So also your body parts would probably require much longer to regrow. I get that, it already is annoying to live without an arm or without legs.
So how long does it take for you? Probably even twice as long considering your wounds didn't properly recover yet. Or even longer?

Uhm..., they won't regrow at all.

Not even your fingers?

No, nothing!

So even your scratches won't heal?

No, you didn't get it.
Normal wounds still heal pretty well. They just take slighly longer to recover. And sometimes they leave a scar.
Only when something is completely missing, it doesn't regrow.

Then I guess I have to watch out.

That's not necessary. As long as you don't try to hurt me in a serious way, everything should be fine.

Okay, let's just keep fighting for fun. Just don't try to win.

Okay, sure.

They keep fighting for a while, Mira still using her stick.

After a while, Mira stabs Ace and the stick pierces a little through her skin.
Mira pulls it out and keeps hitting her as normal, but Ace just moves back and sits down.

Stop! That's too much. I give up!

Ace slowly sits down on the ground and puts her hand on the wound to prevent blood from coming out.

Mira is very confused about the amount of blood coming out.

What's wrong? I didn't even remove a body part of yours.

But even normal wounds take a while to heal.
I thought you'd understand by now.

Sorry, I'll immediately take care of you.
What will happen to you now?

Don't worry, the wound is still not dangerous at all.
But it will definitely become a scar.

Mira just sits down next to her and caresses her back.
She is clearly worried.
She didn't know boys are so fragile.

So you will be fine soon, right?

Yeah, of course!
But I think it's best not to move for at least some minutes.
So let's just keep sitting there for now.

Okay. I hope it doesn't hurt too much.
I never had to endure this for multiple minutes.
This must hurt almost as much as removed limbs feel for us.

I doubt it. But it's okay. I can bear it.

Mira just keeps sitting there and tries to make her feel better.

Have you ever heard about the old world?

I'm not sure. I might have read about it in my books.
But it might also just have been fantasy.

A world where boys were common.
A world where more creatures exist. Not just girls and the gods.
A world where people just wouldn't stay alive forever.
And a world where people don't just appear, but we make them appear ourselves.
And I want to get a world more like this back. That's my goal!

Mira is surprised by her sudden change in attitude.
So boys also have goals?
Oh, that makes her much more interesting.

More creatures? That sounds interesting, too. She also had ideas like that.
And she also is excited to know where people are coming from. She was wondering about that for a long time already.

If that's what her goals are, she wants Ace for herself.
It's a weird feeling, but she just wants to be the person to support her and help her reach this goal.

So the most important difference is not her strength, nor that she has a different body with some tube.
Not even her reduced regenerative abilities.
It's her goal!

Mira just hugs Ace. She really wants to be close to her now.