Silver Jungle

Chapter 21

Dani sat through the night while Amber recharged. There was an unspoken agreement not to talk about the 'incident' and Dani had stopped trying to push her to speak. There were no words to say.

"You know, if you keep getting into fights," Amber said, the only thing that had even reference last night. "Then you should let me help you fight. I'm a really good instructor."

"Amber, you just flipped out on me because I was fighting you." Dani reminded her.

"That was different." Dani didn't see how it was different, and she'd just almost broken his ribs.

"I'll teach you how to use battle magic." That made Dani change his mind. Dra had referenced battle magic once, while they watching anime, and it had intrigued Dani.

"Okay. Then sure. I would be really happy for a sparring partner. I've needed on for a while."

"Lucky for you, I am an expert sparring partner. I always win."

"How is that helpful in the least?" Dani deadpanned, raising an eyebrow.

"Because you learn what not to do. Easy." Amber said, which was the most unhelpful thing she'd said to date.

"Why am I not surprised? You are more unhelpful that Dra in a mood."

"I am being very helpful, I don't know what you're talking about." Amber sniffed. "Everyone says so."

"Like who?"

"I don't need to tell you. I am justified in my own way."

"Who told you that? You mommy?" Dani snickered, finding that something Marble would have told him as a child.

"My most recent girlfriend, actually. And before her, my lovely boy." Amber smirked at him. Dani almost choked.

"Selkies are-"

"Lawless? To quote your mother. She means biromantic. Yeah. Not all of us, but most." Amber finished, and saw the look on Dani's face. "Oh, honestly Dani, it's not an uncommon thing. And it's longer than four letters, so there's really nothing wrong with it."

"If you're into that kinda stuff..."

"Really? 'That kinda stuff'? You make it sound like a bad thing." Amber snapped, sounding annoyed. "You forget your mother had a husband before you were born."

"Yeah, but she wasn't with my father before that!" Dani defended. "I'm just not used to that being an... acceptable thing. Currently."

"In the Silver Worlds, you can love whoever you want. For once, I think we're ahead of the humans in terms of accepting orientation." Amber muttered, her orange eyes darker.

There was an uncomfortable grumbling sound as Dani blushed and looked away. "Sorry."

"No need to apologize. After all, you know literally nothing about the Silver World." Amber said breezily, but it was dismissive as well.

"That was a back handed compliment if I've ever heard one." Dani muttered.

"And there's that lovely attitude that I hate." Amber fired back. "Tomorrow, you and I will start training."

***

"You'll have good strategy from your father, and even better battle strategy from Zammi, but you aren't going to be the physically strongest Mage out there." Amber informed him as they circled each other, her body low and balanced. Dani tried copying her stance, but stumbled almost immediately.