Graydon raised an eyebrow. "Feeling shy?"
She made a dismissive sound in her throat as she settled into a defensive stance. "Let's get this over with."
The background noise faded away as her attention locked on her opponent. She exhaled, finding that sweet space in her head where nothing else mattered but figuring out what an enemy was about to do and countering it. The focus settled over her like a well-loved blanket. Familiar and nostalgic.
Graydon waited, his stance easy, no obvious holes in it.
Amila stepped forward. "As the younger opponent, you get first blow."
Kira arched an eyebrow. "How kind."
Graydon bared his teeth in challenge. "It's because you're considered weaker."
Kira's eyes narrowed, reading the jab for what it was, meant to prick her temper and make her come at him full strength.
It was working.
"In that case." Kira's stance altered. Normally she wouldn't attempt this move, especially right out of the gate. Her feet shifted until they were shoulder length apart, her knees slightly bent as she held her blade with both hands along her left hip as if sheathed. Slow this form might be, but it generated a hell of a lot of power. If he was giving her the opportunity, she was more than happy to take advantage.
Her breathing slowed. She exploded forward, the blade gripped in both hands as she swung it in a powerful diagonal line, aiming for his torso.
The sharp crack of blade hitting blade brought the conversation in the room to a halt.
Kira's shoulders and wrists ached as her sword vibrated from the power of his parry. He'd stopped her an inch from his torso.
Graydon regarded her from over his sword. "Good. You're already taking this seriously."
His stance shifted the barest bit, as his defense broke, letting her sword swish into the spot he'd just been. Kira whirled, taking his strike on the side of her blade. The next instant, she attacked, thrusting, then stepping to the side and pivoting for a swing.
Graydon's laugh was exultant as he blocked. His speed picked up; his blows suddenly more powerful. Kira forgot about losing; all she cared about was surviving.
His blade whistled past her ear. Kira saw an opening and took it. Her foot landed on his bent knee. She used it to launch herself up, scaling him like a tree. She punched the side of his face, gravity, and the unexpectedness of the blow lending it power.
Graydon stumbled, as those around them exclaimed.
"Nice one," Jin crowed.
Raider let out a guttural yell of encouragement.
Graydon's smile was dark as he wiped the trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth.
"First blow to Kira," Amila intoned. Approval gleamed in her eyes.
Graydon inclined his head. "Well done, coli."
Kira's chest heaved from exertion, sweat dampening her shirt as she remained on guard. Graydon wasn't the type to let something like that go unanswered. His next attack would be brutal.
Graydon roared, charging in the next instant. Kira met his intensity with her own. They came together with a crash that filled the room.
Graydon planted a foot and pivoted at the last minute, her blade missing and swinging through the empty air next to him. Kira fought to recover her balance, knowing she was already too late.
She braced as an invisible pressure gathered. He pushed out, a blast leaving his fist. Kira dropped, barely avoiding taking the full brunt of it. Her stomach quivered as she rolled to her feet in a smooth movement, putting distance between them.
Graydon straightened from his crouch, his smile dark and inviting. "That's not all you've got, is it? I'm barely warmed up."
She bared her teeth at him in challenge. He was welcome to end this at any time.
"Come, come. Amuse me for a little while," he told her.
They'd see who was amusing by the end.
Kira crossed the distance between them in three powerful steps; her attack glancing off his guard. They moved quickly across the space, their blades a blur, neither giving the other quarter.
Kira's breath came faster and faster, the weight of the blade dragging at her shoulders and arms. Graydon didn't pause, pressing harder as he backed Kira up.
She ducked, getting distance again.
He shifted with her, firing several ki blasts in succession. She dodged the first and the second, her body contorting to avoid them, even as her blade whipped up to protect her from Graydon's strike.
The last blast ripped through her guard, glancing off the tip of her sword to punch her in the chest. Kira staggered back, barely catching her balance.
Smug arrogance settled on Graydon's face as he waited, making a statement in how he didn't need to take advantage of the sudden break in her defense.
She glared as she rubbed her chest, even as she considered all that she'd learned so far. Most important of which was the blade had deflected some of the power of his ki.
Hm.
"If you're done, we can call it a day," he invited.
Not likely. She hadn't dealt him near enough damage to satisfy herself.
However, he did have a point. Her endurance was shit. She needed to end this before she gassed out.
Kira didn't respond with words, her attack answering for her. This time Graydon didn't bother defending, stretching out one hand, the ki blast already prepared.
She ducked under it, her blade scraping along his side in a solid strike.
He grunted. "Not good enough."
Too late, she saw his stance had shifted, his palm moving to point at her from under his sword. She had no time to dodge the point-blank strike.
Her feet left the ground as she flew back. She hit hard and lay there, trying to catch her breath. What the hell was that?
"Done yet?" he asked, arching an eyebrow.
Jin whistled. "Ooh, them's fighting words. If he had just kept his mouth shut..."
Kira leveraged herself up, ignoring the way her ribs protested. She was past playing nice, the inner demon inside lifting its head. Blood was in the air and she wanted to play. Consequences be damned.
Graydon grinned, telling her without words to bring it.
Kira found herself willing to comply. She was on her feet in the next second, attacking without thought or any sense of self-preservation. All that mattered was shoving those words down Graydon's throat.
"That's enough." The words cracked through the air. The weight of authority behind them brought all movement within the hall to a standstill.
Kira and Graydon broke off their attacks, snapping to attention as they faced the newcomer.
Wren watched them with an implacable expression, reminding Kira of a commander confronted with the indiscretions of his subordinates. Disapproval mixing with displeasure.
The slightest tinge of red stained Graydon's cheeks as Wren's gaze shifted to him. Kira blinked. Was that a blush?
Naw, it couldn't be.
"Commander, I believe you have duties elsewhere." Wren's reserve didn't mask his censure. His eyebrow lifted the slightest bit. "Unless you would like to do my job for me."
Graydon radiated discomfort, making Kira stare at him in surprise. She'd never seen anyone put Graydon in his place as easily as if he was a naughty child.
Who was this man? And could he teach Kira to do the same?
Jin's voice was hushed as he whispered. "That man is my new hero."
Kira couldn't help but agree. Anyone who could do that to Graydon with a few simple sentences was someone she'd do well to imitate.