Sentinel

Chapter 31 - Countdown

Dedicated to NerdyNinja1

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Chapter 31 - Countdown

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Skye flicked her gaze between the two Silverborn, watching their carefully raised blades.

Alicia's right hand tightened its grip slightly; a mere twitch of the fingers.

It was all the warning Skye needed. She changed her weight to centre over her right foot and stepped backward. Alicia's blade lunged through the air, aimed at where Skye's chest had been.

Skye used the momentum to pivot around and circle to the right. She brought her sword up to parry. The resounding clang from Verdrana's blade travelled down her arm and through her bones. It felt solid, almost natural the way it made her blood run faster.

Skye twisted, giving way to instinct. She lashed out with her dagger, forcing Verdrana to retreat a few steps. The Silverborn's gaze never faltered despite her laboured breathing.

The gaze of a true hunter.

A small sound, a scuff of a boot in dirt alerted her to Alicia's presence. Skye stopped the covert attack with a quick side step. She waited for the moment Alicia, expecting force, would become unbalanced. Then, with a simple sweep of Skye's foot, Alicia fell face-first in the dirt.

Having bought herself a few seconds, Skye kicked Alicia's blade away and turned to face Verdrana once more. She had to disarm the second opponent before the first came back into the equation.

Skye stepped forward, closing the space between her and Verdrana. With a shorter blade, she'd have the advantage. Verdrana attempted to remedy the situation with a hasty retreat. Skye kept forward, forcing Verdrana to awkwardly block the dagger in a small amount of space. With a twist to the side, Skye caught Verdrana off guard and disarmed her, pressing the dagger to her neck.

With one foot remaining on Verdrana's fallen blade, Skye twisted her body around and flicked the point of her blade under Alicia's chin.

"Dead."

Verdrana accepted defeat with slumped shoulders and a sigh to the heavens. Alicia folded her arms and stomped her foot on the ground.

"You did that on purpose," she said,rubbing her thigh.

"That's the point of training. To do things on purpose."

"You know what I mean! You didn't have to make it so... so humiliating!"

Skye shrugged. "I've told you before -- don't expect someone to do something because you think they haven't heard you. If you'd remembered what I told you about expecting attacks, I'd have significantly more trouble relocating my foot under your knees."

Alicia's lip twitched. "Fine. Let's go again. I won't make the same mistake twice, even if you'd never pull it on anyone but me. Single blade, single combat."

Skye suppressed her laughter. Of all the Silverborn, Alicia confused her the most. When a new technique was introduced, the girl was confident to the point of arrogance in her ability to win until she was taken down in an embarrassing manner, upon which she'd drop the cocky attitude and her skill, attentiveness and determination would drastically rise.

She'd never understand. Whatever it was, the pride was useful for helping Alicia to learn. Skye just hoped it wouldn't translate over to demons and battle. Skye held out her dagger to Verdrana and felt the weight lift from her hand.

Skye spread her feet and gripped her sword with both hands, waiting for Alicia's attack.

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