Reborn as a Succubus: Time To Live My Best Life!-Chapter 397: Proving Ground

Armia woke to the sensation of soft curves pressed against her back and a hand sliding down her stomach.

[Not again.]

"Mmm, good morning," Isabella purred, her breath hot against Armia’s neck. "Sleep well?"

The room reeked of sex. Armia’s scales itched where dried sweat clung to her forearms. Her cock stirred despite her best efforts to ignore the kitsune’s wandering fingers.

"Isabella. I need to get up."

"You are up." Isabella’s hand dipped lower, wrapping around Armia’s length. "Very up." 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

[Focus. Today is important. Do not let her distract you.]

Armia grabbed Isabella’s wrist, firmly but gently removing it from her cock.

"I have somewhere to be."

"Actually? Where?" Isabella propped herself up on one elbow, her pink hair a tangled mess. "It’s barely dawn. Come back to bed. I can think of at least three ways to celebrate our graduation that we haven’t tried yet."

"The Royal Guard recruitment office opens in an hour."

That got Isabella’s attention. Her blue eyes widened.

"Wait a minute~ You’re serious? You’re actually doing it?"

"Yes."

Isabella was quiet for a moment, then sighed.

"You’re really not going to let me tempt you into staying?"

"No."

"Not even if I do that thing with my tongue?"

"Isabella."

"Fine, fine." The kitsune flopped back dramatically. "Go be noble and dutiful. I’ll just lie here, naked and unsatisfied, thinking about how my darian fuck-buddy abandoned me for military service."

"How tragic."

Armia stood, her muscular frame casting shadows in the early morning light. She was tall, six feet four inches of coiled strength and discipline. Her scales caught the light as she moved, white against pale skin.

"You’re beautiful when you’re being stubborn," Isabella said softly.

Armia paused at the door, glancing back. Isabella lay sprawled across the bed, her body on full display, her cock soft against her thigh. She looked thoroughly fucked and utterly shameless.

Armia swallowed.

[... This... shameless... temptress...]

"Thank you for last night," Armia said.

"Anytime." Isabella grinned. "Good luck today. Show those human pricks what a darian can do."

---

The Royal Guard recruitment office sat in the military district, a squat stone building that looked more like a fortress than an administrative center. Guards in crimson and gold uniforms stood at attention outside, their eyes tracking Armia as she approached.

[They’re already judging me. Good. Let them.]

She wore her Academy uniform, pressed and clean, her credentials folder tucked under one arm. Her long white hair was pulled into a tight braid. Professional. Disciplined. Exactly what a guard should look like.

One of the door guards, a human man with a scar across his jaw, blocked her path.

"State your business."

"Armia Duskscale. Here for Royal Guard recruitment."

The guard’s eyes traveled up her considerable height, taking in her scales, her yellow eyes, her obvious darian heritage. His expression didn’t change, but Armia saw the slight tensing of his jaw.

"Right. Head inside. Captain Narim will process you."

The interior was spartan. Wooden benches lined the walls, a desk sat at the far end, and weapons racks displayed various training equipment. The smell of oil and steel hung in the air.

A woman sat behind the desk, her grey hair cropped short and her face weathered by years of service. She wore the Captain’s insignia on her uniform, three gold bars on crimson.

Captain Narim.

She looked up as Armia approached, her dark eyes sharp and assessing.

"Name."

"Armia Duskscale."

"Darian."

"Yes, ma’am."

"Graduated yesterday from Syux Academy, top marks in combat sorcery, commendations from three professors including Javir Folden." Narim’s voice was flat, reciting facts. "Also received a marriage proposal from General Neal after the Royal Gala two years ago. Declined."

[She’s done her research. Good. That means she’s taking this seriously.]

"That’s correct, ma’am."

"Why?"

"Why did I decline the proposal?"

"Why do you want to join the Royal Guard?" Narim leaned back in her chair. "You could have married into nobility. Could have opened a combat school with your Academy reputation. Could have gone back to Rhaya and lived among your own people. Instead you’re here."

Armia met the Captain’s gaze directly.

"Because Syux is my home. Because I want to serve something greater than myself. And because I lost someone to Shadow Mages, and I refuse to let that happen to others if I can prevent it."

Narim’s expression didn’t soften, but something flickered in her eyes.

"Pretty speech. Let’s see if you mean it." She pulled out a scroll. "Trial process is one month. Physical evaluations, combat assessments, tactical exercises, and field trials. You’ll be assigned to a recruit squad. If you make it through, you’ll be eligible for active duty assignment."

"Understood."

"Fair warning, Duskscale. The Guard has never had a darian member. You’ll face resistance. Some of it official, most of it not. If you can’t handle that, leave now."

"I can handle it."

"We’ll see." Narim stood, walking around the desk. She was shorter than Armia by half a foot but carried herself with absolute authority. "Follow me. Your squad’s already assembled."

They walked through a side door into a training yard. Five other recruits stood in a loose formation, all human, all watching as Armia entered.

[Here we go.]

"Squad, attention!" Narim barked.

The recruits snapped to formation, backs straight, eyes forward. All except one, a broad-shouldered man with dark hair and a sneer that made Armia’s scales itch.

"This is your sixth member. Armia Duskscale, Academy graduate. You’ll train together, fight together, and succeed or fail together." Narim’s voice cut through the morning air. "Anyone have a problem with that?"

Silence.

The sneering man, Garrett according to the name stitched on his training uniform, didn’t raise his hand. But his eyes traveled over Armia with open contempt.

"Didn’t know they let enemy barbarians apply," he muttered, just loud enough to hear.

[Darien’s face flashed in her mind. Her little brother, always laughing, always sarcastic. Dead because of hatred like this.]

Armia’s jaw clenched but she kept her voice level.

"Not an enemy. A citizen."

"Sure. Until your tribe decides to raid our borders again." Garrett spat on the ground. "Then what? You gonna defend Syux or join your barbarian friends?"

"That’s enough, Garrett." A woman with short brown hair stepped forward. "I’m Elena. Squad leader. Welcome, Armia."

She extended her hand. Armia shook it, noting the firm grip and direct eye contact. At least one person here wasn’t hostile.

"Thank you."

The other three recruits introduced themselves with varying degrees of enthusiasm. Marcus, a thin man with nervous energy. Dara, a stocky woman who looked like she could break Armia in half. And Finn, a younger recruit who couldn’t have been more than eighteen and kept staring at Armia’s scales with fascination.

Narim clapped her hands once.

"Physical assessment starts now. Ten laps around the yard, full gear. Move."