Mirror Soul

Chapter Thirty Eight: Back to the Action

“Either way, you’ve failed, Layva.” Marquis brought the blade down. Layva’s hand shot out and grabbed the rapier right before it punctured her neck. The Court member paused. The girl’s hand dripped blood from where she gripped the sharp metal.

“Let it go.” The Court member told the Horizon calmly. Layva didn’t respond, her head still downcast. “Fine!” Marquis declared in frustration. “Then you lose the hand!” She attempted to yank the sword up, severing the flesh, but it didn’t budge. Surprised, the woman poured more sole into her arm and pulled harder. She tugged and tugged, yet the blade would not be moved. “I said let g-”

Layva released the sword and Marquis went stumbling back. With a grumble of annoyance the blond took a stance and aimed her sword at the girl. That was when she noticed it. 

She shouldn’t have enough sole left to do this.

She thought while staring at her dented rapier. The lindium was now slightly curved. As quickly as she could, Marquis stopped filling the blade with sole and bent it back into place. As she returned her gaze back to the girl she found Layva on her feet.

Not even a second passed since I looked away from her! Marquis cautiously slid into the girl’s blind spot. How did she stand up without me noticing?

A curtain of her black hair masked Layva’s face as her fingers twitched ever so slightly. “I take it you can still go another round?” The small woman called from a distance. Layva didn’t respond. Drops of sweat began to form on the court member’s brow. “If it makes you feel better you didn’t go down nearly as easily as your parents did.”

No response. 

She can’t fight anymore. Marquis told herself. She probably drained her reserves in denting my sword, however… A deep primal force seemed to warn the small woman to stay away. And each time she commanded her legs to move forward her instincts told her to defend. Time passed. Marquis didn’t know how much. A few seconds? A minute? It didn’t matter anymore. Layva refused to move. 

It’s been too long. Every second I stand here out of caution is another second she has to rally power! She turned her body, elbow held at a downwards angle, and she extended her long blade. 

I’ll diverge half of my power to my legs and pierce her heart as fast as possible. It’s a bit much, but I can’t be careless! Marquis charged the girl at a high speed, sword aimed for her chest. Layva finally moved. She took a step to the left and avoided the attack. Marquis went barreling into a marble statue of an archer. Shattered chunks of stone rained down on the Lively’s yard.

She ignored the debris and returned her attention back to Layva. “How do you have so much power left?” She tried to ask calmly, she still could not see her opponent’s face. “Explain! Now!” She demanded. Flickers of red light were her only answer. In each of Layva’s hands was a small blade, more of a needle really.The Horizon flung the needle at her opponent’s head. 

Marquis relaxed instantly. If she can only make blades that small she must be on the edge of power failure. Deciding not to waste sole needlessly, the court member didn’t bother activating her mystic and simply tilted her head to avoid the tiny projectile.

I  suppose I was worried for noth-

The needle changed shape, mid-flight, as it was flying past Marquis’ head. In a flash of red the thin metal formed into a wide saber. The blond didn’t have time to react as the blade deeply gashed her cheek. She stood wide eyed and stunned as blood dripped from her face.

“You were holding out on me?” She accused. The only sound from Layva was the clanging of metal coming from her palms. The flickering red light from earlier had become stronger.