NEMO: Into The Depths

Chapter 10: A spirited day

Elyza's halberd sliced through the air, aiming for Alex's chest in a swift, determined motion. Alex had abandoned his longsword in favour of a dagger and a short sword, seeking to match Elyza's formidable skills that had rapidly progressed in a surprisingly short span. He could no longer afford to fight at a disadvantage, a fact he had chosen to keep to himself.

The halberd's blade sliced through the air where Alex had stood mere moments before, narrowly evading its intended target. Alex immediately surged forward to take advantage of the opportunity. Elyza countered by swinging her halberd backward, intending to strike with the beak. Any ground she let him gain could tip the balance between victory and defeat. But since Alex was agile enough to avoid any of the 'normal' attacks, it was also a risk she was ready to deal with. The idea was good; even if Alex managed to evade the attack, the halberd's shaft formed a natural barrier against any retaliatory strikes.

But that plan quickly fell apart. Alex used his parrying dagger's curved hilt to redirect the shaft upwards, creating an opening. Ducking underneath, he moved quickly, catching Elyza off guard. Before Elyza could slide the halberd back to put the spear point in-between them, Alex struck with his xiphos. The blade barely missed her left hand, the latter quickly withdrawn to avoid any injury. The force of the blow drove the halberd's end into the ground, leaving a stride's distance between them. Elyza moved to retrieve her knife, but the gap had already been covered.

He was about to pierce her chainmail with his dagger, but Elyza grabbed his left wrist with her right hand, bending his elbow to point it back at him. Alex quickly let go of his dagger, which she tried to grab as it fell. And she would've, if there were not a sword's edge resting on her neck.

"Dead." Alex smugly stated. "And I believe this also ends your coveted run."

Elyza sighed, "I did not want another match to end with a draw. The idea had its risks but had merit."

"That it did. Any lesser man would be dead, just like our previous twenty-two consecutive draws," Alex reassured her, though the words were dampened due to his expression. He bent to retrieve his dagger and her halberd, "It might have worked if you were more aggressive. But you ultimately lost, because you withdrew your hand from your weapon while wearing gauntlets." his tone became more critical as he spoke.

"It was reflex," Elyza protested, grabbing her halberd back, the gauntlets feeling heavier now that she was not fighting, "I have only had them for a few days. And you know why I asked for them."

"A real opponent would..." Alex began.

"...have done the same. I was lucky you missed," Elyza interjected, cutting off his excuse.

"Yes, it was luck that saved your little fingers," Alex teased.

Elyza sighed, not acknowledging the joke. She walked away and sat in the shade provided by the wall of vines she had conjured, propping the halberd against it. They had started to flower, and she was glad that she was grateful for having kept it alive. She reached out towards Alex, and got her bottle thrown to her. Downing the water, she relished its citrus flavour, giving her mind a temporary distraction from the frustration she felt at herself. Before her mind could turn back to it, Alex appeared to her right, his head popping up from her shadow.

"You wanna gamble?" Alex asked, in a voice that belonged in a back alleyway.

Without missing a beat, Elyza set down her bottle on top of his head, showing little reaction. "As soon as you reveal what it does, I will be willing to roll the die."

"It chooses something for me," Alex replied vaguely, keeping the nature of the die's effects shrouded in mystery.

Frustration tinged Elyza's response, "Then why not roll it yourself?"