Clang!
Steel met steel in a sharp, ringing sound that cut through the noise of the arena.
Lilian's eyes widened in shock. Her strike had been stopped cleanly as sparks formed between their blades.
Elion now stood there with his sword in hand. He had dropped his centre of gravity as their weapons locked together. Their faces were only inches apart, and Lilian's eyes met his calm, steady blue gaze. A gaze that held no panic, no rush, and no fear.
Time seemed to slow for a brief moment.
Lilian's thoughts flickered.
She had been angry because she was matched against a first-year, angry because she believed this would be an easy and meaningless fight, something beneath her, something not even worth her effort.
Her mother would not consider this a worthy fight, and so she had intended to end it immediately and move on as quickly as possible.
But now—
That anger shifted. Because in that single clash, she understood one thing clearly. She had underestimated him.
