EQUINOX || The Catalysts Series, #3

XXIII

One chance.

Two words echo in Lena's thoughts, testing its presence and hanging as a bait in the mind reader's face.

He doesn't take it. In fact, it seems as if his current state isn't able to process about anything. Fai is relentless in his attacks, spinning and throwing heavy punches with his metal arm braces against Lena, pushing her back with every strike of force.

Lena barely dodges the next one, his brace aiming for her shoulder. She has to twist out of the way only to realise she is against a dead end wall now with the repetition of attacks, and Fai is panting as he has her cornered. Lena closes her eyes, taking a deep breath, concentrating.

Fai clicks his arms together, the metal clanging. He pulls in for a punch—

Opening her eyes, Lena wills herself to disappear in the glass shard she laid beneath them. The last thing she sees is Fai's confused face for a split second before everything is drowned out before her.

She deliberately teleports to the spot where they engaged closely before—where she'd left her glass piece while cartwheeling—and because time doesn't stop for her, Lena throws three daggers at once at Fai near the corner even before he turns, knowing he can't react on time. She had pieces together that he can't read her as she warps, because she phases through another existential reality. Before the dagger lands, Lena uses the same glass shard she appeared from as an entry this time, jumping again.

Reappearing right where Fai almost pinned her down, Lena has to slide out of the way of a dazed Fai who is split between reacting at her thrown daggers and Lena herself appearing before him.

He merely deflects the first dagger carelessly; because of Lena's sudden appearance he cannot fathom, the other two he isn't able to avoid. They strike true where Lena had intended—one at the side of his right leg where she noticed he is weakest; the other his left shoulder. They strike just past his skin and over the fabric of his clothing, marking him against the metal wall. While this pins him, Lena knows it can't hold him forever. Fai is strong; and Lena isn't even confident that her strength is enough to penetrate the daggers through the wall cleanly.

Nevertheless, the assault worked as she expected, and now Lena moves in on Fai. Twisting out of the corner and in a perfect position, she corners him by landing one last blow to his legs. While Fai has evident upper body strength, he seems to be clumsy and slow on his feet. Fai's legs buckle; Lena palms a dagger as she now pins him, their roles reversed as the sharp point of the blade is now pressed into his skin.

There are only the laboured breaths and beating hearts between them.

Finally, Fai exhales. "I yield. The win is yours."

Lena relents, letting go. She takes a step back just as the system does something to transfer the 'star's—in a blink, she now has two, and Fai has one.

The system is surprisingly fair. In the corner of Lena's vision, some program types out:

One against one student duel:
Lena Llewelyn of Second Year Aquila vs. Fai Li of Second Year Aquila.
Victor: Lena Llewelyn.

Lena attempts to help Fai, but he pushes her hand away. Even if he scowls, Fai doesn't hurt her as he swipes her arm gently, deactivating his metal arm braces. He wrestles free from the dagger and comes to stand before Lena. "I don't need your pity. You've won, fair and square."

He's undoubtedly underestimated her, but Lena is sure she'd best him not by chance alone. She has come a long way, and the outcome of this duel was a proof of that.

She lifts her chin proudly, echoing, "I did. And do not ever call me 'new girl' again, for I have been and always will be one of you. I was born for this world. And as you very well realised... I am becoming stronger, and will be one of the best." Lena readies to move on, choosing the path to her right while Fai still lingers. She feels the need to add: "One more thing... I didn't mean it like that when I said you have no control over your mind reading. For what it's worth... having a passive talent is amazing."