Her breath hitched slightly.
Mine did too.
I stepped back quickly.
“Again.”
She paused, flexing her hands around the staff.
“What are you waiting for? If you hesitate in a real fight, you are dead.”
She swung at me, but I dodged it easily. I swept the staff low, knocking her legs out from under her.
She tumbled to the ground.
She hissed in pain, clutching her leg.
I paused. “Are you alright?”
Her staff snapped upward and nearly knocked me over.
“Who’s hesitating now?” she smiled, leaping back to her feet.
I stared at her in disbelief.
Then I grinned.
“Alright then, let’s do this.”
No more holding back.
I lunged.
Seph moved faster this time, twisting sideways and bringing her staff up hard against mine. Wood cracked against wood.
She shoved forward, forcing me back a step.
Interesting.
I spun the staff low and caught her ankle again.
But this time she saw it coming.
She jumped and landed hard against my chest, and suddenly we were tangled together, staffs locked between us.
Her breath was warm against my neck.
“Still think I’m dead?” she murmured.
I tightened my grip on the staff between us.
“You’re improving.”
Then I twisted sharply.
The staff flew from her hands again and clattered across the ground.
“But not enough. Dead.”
