Fox Of Greed (Greedy Fox Book 1)

~~ THIRTY TWO ~~

WARNING: Gory

We circled each other. Just like we'd done in the training yard. This time though, I'd have to make the first move. The closer I was, the less space she'd have to swing her blade and use that attack again.

Our swords connected with a squeal then we traded a flurry of blows. Even with all the stress of the situation, I forced my body to relax, to allow my blade to become an extension of my body. Her defence was stronger now and I found it hard to find weak spots. Our blades sang for blood.

Mine fell first again.

She lunged forward unexpectedly and I jerked my head to the side. The tip sliced into my cheek. I jabbed my elbow into her chest, winding up my left fist for a punch –

I felt rather than saw Guila's attack. A fireball crackling towards me. I disengaged from Jericho, piercing her fireball with my blade.

Jericho's opened my back up like she'd done to Ban. I cried out, spun on my heel and slashed her across the stomach. The blade bit deep just above her hip and ripped out the side with a shower of blood. She screamed, curling towards the injury. I twirled my blade in hand, pommel now facing her temple.

Guila's lance slid under my arm. She thrust upwards, knocking me off balance. Jericho lashed for my unprotected stomach. I caught the blade on my broken vambrace, the edge slipping up and gouging into my elbow.

I was trying not to kill them but now, now they'd asked for it. I channelled my Mana. The air around us was filled with heat waves.

"Enflame!" I punched Guila in the centre of her armour, throwing her away. Jericho delivered a downward blow, double-handed. I blocked, using my flaming left hand as added leverage to hold my blade steady as I was forced to a knee from the blow.

The air grew hotter and hotter until I was sweating and panting. Beads of sweat formed on Jericho's brow.

With a snarl, I disarmed Jericho, kicked her in the chest then spun. "FIREW-URK!" I looked down. The tip of Guila's blade was in my stomach. My sword arm went limp.

"Stand down, Estra," she commanded. She didn't shift her blade away nor did she prod any deeper. She'd only intended to wound me. Good.

The air around us shimmered, the lingering spell. It was like a furnace in the space around the three of us yet they didn't noticed. I grasped tight to the Mana required for the spell. I let my head drop, a lure to draw her in.

To let her guard down.

The blade in my stomach shifted, drawing out of me with a sickening plop. I stayed upright by sheer force and pressed my left hand to stop the flow.

"Firework," I spat out. The shimmering air exploding into rainbow colours.

Knocked around, tossed like a rag-doll in a temper tantrum. Where was up, what was down? When I came to, I was on the ground, staring at the blue sky.

Too cheery a colour for the situation at hand. With a grimace, I got to my hand and knees. My hand was constricting the hilt of my sword. Guila was in a lunge position, head bowed. Blood dripped from her hairline and ear. Jericho was face down, backside in the air. The back of her legs were burned.

Even in the situation, I snickered. Wish I had a painter to capture this.

"Estra! You'll pay for that!" Guila grabbed her blade from where it had fallen and stalked towards me. She had her bitch face on and I just knew, I'd never, ever live this down.

That was if I survived the next minute.

Maybe I could make it two minutes.

"Thief!" I reached out towards Guila but the flow of Mana didn't come. Shocked, I looked at my hand and tried again, shoving as much of my own Mana into my fingertips to cast the spell. "Thief!"