Page 26 of Living Legend

“Now you’re speaking my language,” Elise said, placing a hand on her hip.

I took a few steps back and slowly sliced the sword in the air. “Can I ask one question?”

Nicholas looked at me expectedly.

“Is there a reason the ceiling is so high?”

Reese and Nicholas side glanced over to each other and let out similar soft laughs. “So we can get a feel for aerial fights as well.”

“I’ve always wondered what demon wings looked like,” Reese said to no one in particular.

“The tips are sharp enough to slice through that sweet little neck of yours,” Elise answered, sliding her middle finger across her neck. Reese flicked both his middle fingers at her in response as he backed up towards one of the walls to watch.

Nicholas looked over to me, lifting his sword. “What do you say? You spar with me and win, you can get your dagger back. Deal?”

“Deal,” I answered, the challenge thrumming in my veins.

Elise pulled on one of my curls. “Make him bleed just a little, for me.”

Nicholas twirled his sword in one swift motion, twisting his wrist with the kind of confidence that didn’t come from good looks and charm. That kind of confidence came from the sheer knowledge that you’re justthatgood.

I knew that feeling all too well.

I held the sword so tight, I could feel my palm starting to sweat, so I raised the blade and raced towards him, bringing it down in front of me. I was met with the clashing of our swords connecting as he blocked me, using his weight to shove me away. I preceded to rush him again, aiming my sword lower, thinking our height difference may provide an advantage. Nicholas pivoted to the right, his footwork flawless as he escaped my attack. I felt the tip of a blade at my back, just a light press, and I knew he was taunting me with it.

“Soul Seether, don’t tell me there is something youcan’tdo?” he teased with a smirk.

I turned to face him, using my sword to move his to the side. “Are you mocking me?”

He turned his lips down in an innocent frown. “I would never.”

I moved my sword up, then slashed down towards his shoulder. Nicholas met it with his own sword and tried to push me back again, but I gathered my own weight and met his resistance. He put one foot behind the other and pressed his weapon up to mine, the metal screeching. He moved us, walking a circle, and I felt my wrist twist, beginning to lose my grip on the hilt. I released our stance and backed up, my breath no longer at a normal pace.

I was prepared to take a moment to relax when Nicholas barreled towards me, cutting his sword upward, light bouncing off the sharp edge. I raised my sword and blocked him, causing him to move his blade to the right, creating a horizontal slash as he swiped his sword towards the ground. He came back up, hoping to attack my exposed right side with a clean cut, when I brought my sword down and forced him to a halt.

He looked up at me, an impressed look on his face. The sun beat down on us, the humidity and heat beaming in from the windows. Beads of sweat formed across his hairline, and I could practically count each one, his hair beginning to stick to his forehead. I started to release my hold, thinking we would start from the beginning, but Nicholas took my relaxation as a window of opportunity. He forced his sword up against mine, breaking free of my block. He flipped the hilt in his palm with a bit of flourish and sliced my left calf. It wasn’t deep enough to do any real damage, but enough to make me look down in pure astonishment.

“I told you to makehimbleed, you fucking idiot!” Elise yelled from the wall.

Nicholas stayed stone still. I watched the blood seep down towards my ankle. I didn’t think he’d attempt to draw blood, but apparently, I was mistaken. His confidence never wavered as a drop of blood dripped from his sword.

“Never release until you know you’ve won.” He looked up at me, those eyes so desperately determined.

I didn’t want words.

I grasped my sword and quickly brought it down, catching his shoulder with the sharp tip almost as fast as a paper cut. He looked stunned, but glanced over at his shoulder as one, two, three blood droplets ran down his arm. Nicholas slowly turned to me, eyes narrowed and keen. He ran a finger over the cut, wiping away the blood.

I thought he was going to tell us to start again, critique me more, dismiss this whole sparring altogether,something.

Instead, he held the hilt of his sword with vigor as he sliced at me, causing me to jump back. He propelled his sword downward, the silver blade almost connecting with my collarbone. Pieces of my hair floated to the ground, causing me to realize that my braid had flung to the front of my chest -- he had cut a piece of the end with one swing.

He wasn’t holding back. I don’t know why I thought he would.

I collided my sword with his as he moved up. Holding my sword with two hands, I pushed him back, my blood starting to boil. I wanted to win just as much as he did. A jolt of energy caused my simple push to transform into launching him at the window. Right before what should have been his back smacking into the glass, he shot out his wings and flew upwards. He flapped them hard, sending a gust of air towards me, and I shielded my face with my arm.

Nicholas circled me, sailing toward me, swinging his blade as he went. I curved my sword left and right, swinging up to block a move, then dragging my sword across to slice his other shoulder. He fluttered his wings back, effectively moving away from my potential blows.

He had too much of an advantage.I settled that quickly by freeing my own wings.

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