"En garde."
Sylvie didn't move, her eyes only staring at Adam and his resolution.
But Adam wasn't as elegant; he charged at Sylvie. His knuckles turning white from how tight he was gripping it. Each of his steps felt heavier than the last, but he had no choice but to move forward.
He knew this was futile—like trying to swim with weights attached to his feet—but this is a choice he had already made.
"Please!" He gritted his teeth, swinging his blade in a wide arc. "Let… let us pass!"
But Sylvie moved like a feather on water, her body flowing away from the strike with effortless grace.
Her golden hair caught the soft light surrounding them, and her hazel eyes seemed to glow. She hadn't even swung her weapon once, only avoiding Adam's strikes.
"You truly don't have to do this," she said softly.
But once again, Adam responded with a swing—more desperate than the last. This time, Sylvie moved her hands, casually parrying his attack with a single move.
