"It was entertaining to fight you, Lady Elara." He straightened, studying her with something closer to respect than mockery now. "Your summon caught me by surprise, more than I would like to admit. It pushed me to my absolute limit."
Before either of them could say anything further, the Countess reached them at last. She was breathless and wild eyed, having sprinted the moment Olivia's grip finally slipped. She pulled her daughter into a fierce embrace, not caring of the ash and grime still clinging to Elara's skin.
"You foolish, foolish girl," the Countess choked out, her voice thick with relief and lingering terror. "Do you have any idea what could have happened to you in there?"
"Mother, I'm fine," Elara murmured against her shoulder, though the exhaustion in her voice betrayed just how close that had truly come to being untrue. "Truly. I am only tired."
