The moment the battle started, I went straight for the offensive. No fir, no grand opening flourish—just a series of quick probing attacks meant to test his defense.

  My rapier darted forward, light and precise, but within a few seds, I knew something was off.

  Kai didn’t block like a rookie or even a seasoned fighter. He deflected with fluidity, his dao sweeping my bde aside with practiced ease. One particurly forceful strike sent a tremor up my arm as my rapier was shoved wide.

  Instantly, it was obvious—he was stronger.

  Great. Another powerhouse. But unlike Amogeng’s brute-force approach, Kai was old and experienced. His movements weren’t rushed; they were deliberate, eae calcuted. He didn’t waste energy—everything he did served a purpose.

  And the ?

  Oh, he used it creatively, alright. Like aension of his arm, it coiled and whipped around, f me to adjust stantly.

  The dull whip- sound of wood against air filled my ears as the shed out. I sidestepped orike and parried another with my dagger; the impact making my hand sting. My rapier danced defensively, but I could feel the pressure mounting.

  He didn’t push recklessly—he was drawing me in, waiting for an opening.

  A sudden flick of his wrist sent the arg toward my legs. I barely had time to leap back, the wooden links brushing my ah a muted ctter against the ground. Thankfully, it wasn’t a proper on, so losing points if it ected wasn’t a .

  Still, the fact that he was using it to trol the flow of the fight was as annoying as Riker’s coat.

  My breathing quied, the faiallig of adrenaline filling my mouth and I tightened my grip on the rapier’s hilt, the leather ing slightly damp from the sweat on my palms.

  The artificial lights overhead gleamed off the polished surface of his dao, and every time it moved, I caught brief fshes of his calm, focused expression. He wasn’t just good—he was disciplined, posed. His style was like master Dalileh.

  I never won.

  I was on the defensive, forced to block, dodge, and dance around his endless assault. The crowd noise faded into the background, leaving only the rhythmic k-thud of his and the occasional grunt of effort from both of us.

  I could feel my frustration flowih the surface, but I shoved it down. Losing my cool wouldn’t help. I needed an alternative approaething he wouldn’t expect.

  With a steady breath, I shifted into the twelfth form of the Imperial style.

  My movements became fluid, like water gliding over the imperial garden. Each step, each strike, flowed effortlessly into the . For a moment, I felt the tide turn in my favor.

  Kai was on the defensive, his dao defleg my rapier in trolled arcs, but I could see it—his footing shifting ever so slightly as I pressed the attack.

  The boulders scattered across the battlefield weren’t just sery anymore—they became tools.

  I leapt onto one, using the elevated position to strike downward, my fake metal of rapier glinting in the holo-lights above. He sidestepped, smooth as ever, but I was already moving, using the momentum to sweep around and force him back toward another boulder.

  For a moment, it worked. For a moment, I had him.

  But then, as if he’d grown bored with being polite, Kai kicked up his pace. His dao swung with more preore force, and I retreated, despite giving it everything I had. Every strike I sent his way was met with a fwless ter. Every attempt to outmaneuver him was ralized before it could take root.

  My breath came faster, the air in the hall dry aric with the hum of holo-projectors.

  The crowd’s murmur buzzed distantly in my ears, blending with the rhythmic csh of wood ons and the dull thud of his wooden hitting the boulders.

  I was at my peak—my peak strength, my peak creativity—and still, I couldn’t get past him.

  It was like sparring with Master Dalileh all ain. No matter how hard I pushed, no matter how clever my footwork or uable my strikes, she had always been a step ahead, untouchable.

  You ’t win, Charlie, whispered a voi the bay mind. Might as well wave a white fg and call it a day. Imperial gardens all ain.

  But then, something happened.

  Kai smiled.

  He shook his head ever so slightly and slowed his pace. The calm, almost amused expression on his face sent a ripple of irritation through me.

  Oh, so you’re not even using all your strength? You think I’m some begio humor?

  The thought lit a fire in my chest.

  I didn’t care if he was holding back—I wasn’t do.

  I shifted into the thirteenth form, the most chaotid uable sequen the Imperial style. My strikes came faster, more erratie blending into the without a disible pattern.

  It wasn’t about strength anymore; it was about keeping him guessing, never allowing him to settle into a rhythm.

  For the first time, I saw a flicker of uainty in his eyes. He was on the defensive now, forced to focus entirely on tering my uable barrage.

  But just as quickly, he adapted.

  His fluid movements became sharper, more deliberate, and once agaiched me strike for strike.

  Fantastic. He’s like a mirror. A smug, infuriating mirror with a dao and a wooden .

  I bit my lip, frustratiohih the surface, but I didn’t let it show. Instead, I grihe kind of grin that hid exhaustioh bravado.

  If I was going to lose, I’d at least go out with a bang.

  With a sudden burst of energy, I vaulted off a nearby boulder, my rapier poised for an all-or-nothing strike. The air rushed past me, cool and sharp against my skin. Time seemed to slow as I desded toward him, every muscle in my body coiled and ready to unleash everything I had left.

  Kai’s eyes met mine. He smiled again, that knowing, maddening smile. And then he made what looked like a mistake—his footing shifted ever so slightly, his bance just off enough to create an opening.

  No way. That wasn’t a mistake.

  I k wasn’t, but I didn’t care. I itted to the strike, my rapier nding precisely over his heart. The holo-projectistered the hit with a brief shimmer, signaling my victory.

  Kai’s eyes widened, just for a heartbeat, before he gave a low, graceful bow. “Well done,” he said, stepping back with a nod of genuine respect. “Relentless, like the tide against the stubborn shore. Sword Queen, you have shown true spirit. That was… most impressive.”

  I stood there, still catg my breath, but instead of triumph, I felt… hollow. It wasn’t the victory I had wanted.

  I should have lost, a I didn’t.

  The battle wasn’t meant to end like this. “Kai—” I began, the unease slipping into my voice, but he lifted a hand, halting me mid-sentence.

  “Now is not the moment,” he breathed, his eyes flig toward Riker’s glowing form approag us. “Look.” He turned, and before I could process what he meant, something small flew toward me. I caught it instinctively—a sleek bck card, its surface embossed with a number. “Join me when we’re finished. I would be grateful.”

  What? This is so… cool?

  Before I could respond, the moment was stolen by Riker. I raised a hand to shield my eyes as his beaming coat drew closer. “The Sword Queen emerges victorious! That was, without question, the most breathtaking dispy of skill I have ever witnessed! Bravo—truly, bravo to both of you!” His voice dropped, mic-muted, as he leaoward Kai. “As the Chosen One, I need you to stay here and bask in the crowd’s adoration after she leaves, alright?”

  Kai offered only a sioiod, his expression unreadable, the same as ever. I was tired and could hardly form thoughts.

  “Now!” Riker’s voice bsted at full volume once again, amplified by the sound system that rattled the very air around us. “Let loose the gra, thunderous appuse you muster for our triumphant, unparalleled Sword Queehe very heavens hear your roar!”

  I turoward the very big hall, taking in the sea of faces before me. They erupted in a standing ovation, the thunderous g and cheering eg off the walls, reverberating through my chest. The energy was electric, crag in the air like a brewing storm.

  I couldn’t help but give them a tired grin, adrenaliill c through my veins.

  With a st fume of my energy, I spun my rapier in a quick flourish, the fake bde catg the lights in a dazzling arc. The crowd’s cheers swelled even louder, and with one final dramatic twirl, my cape fred behind me as I turned on my heel ahe stage, leaving them hungry for more.

  Time to depress. Maybe evehe.

  Just a little.

  Backstage was a series of cheers, high-fives, aions of me being the best. Yeah, right. People cpped me on the back, shouted that I was, but holy?

  I didn’t feel like it.

  I was exhausted. My legs felt like jelly, my arms like lead, and deep down, I knew I should’ve lost that fight. But… here I was, basking in praise I wasn’t sure I deserved.

  Holy, the hour was a blur. I vaguely remembered shuffling into a room where Lo guided me to a shower. The water was a blessing, washing away the sweat, grime, and whatever weird energy Riker radiated that seemed to g to everything.

  By the time I stepped out, Lo was already waiting with—of course—another set of cospy, courtesy of Riker’s uing fir. Identical to the one I’d sweated through, but this version was even more annoyingly silky. Does he just have these things preloaded for every sario?

  I slipped into it, flopping onto the bed with a groan of utter exhaustion.

  “Finally.”

  Breathing hard, but already feeling like a human again. Half an hour of lying there, staring at the ceiling, and my scrambled thoughts were lining up.

  “You really give it your all,” came a voice from beside me, startling me enough to jolt upright. I whipped my head around and saw Lo awkwardly sitting on the edge of the bed.

  “You asked me to sit down,” she added quickly, looking somewhere between flustered and mildly amused. “But, Lady, I—”

  “I did what?!” My voice came out more like a squawk, pure disbelief written ay face. “Oh, god, I’m sorry!”

  Lo smiled nervously, tug a strand of hair behind her ear. “I figured you were tired… You told me my ponytail was as sexy as when I cut down some J… something boss. I didn’t do that, though?”

  Oh. Oh no. The memory hit me like a brick. I actually said that out loud? I talk out loud after w out watg Katheriream…

  “I… I think…” I bit my lip, my brain scrambling for somethiely digo say. “Your ponytail… will catch a lot of attention,” I muttered mely.

  Great save, Charlie. Really. Award-winning performanaturally, Lo turned redder than a fire mage mid-fme burst.

  “Sorry, I—I was just really tired. You know how it is. Exhaustion, rambling… occasionally flirting with your assistant apparently?” I added with a sheepish grin, wishing I could sink through the bed and vanish. Cssic me—quer the arena, then promptly embarrass myself in private.

  To my relief, Lo managed a shy ugh, her blush fading. “It’s okay, Lady Charlie. You were exhausted. It happens.”

  Exhausted or not, I was filing this entire moment uhe do not repeat category. Right o actally calling Jerry a seoaster and thinking I could fight in heels without practice.

  “Okay, so, Lo, you know I actually lost, right?” I said, trying to suppress the frustration bubbling uhe surface. Spoiler alert: I couldn’t.

  She bli me, clearly baffled. “You didn’t! That fight was amazing! I know nothing about teique, but you won.”

  I let out a long breath and hung my head. “I…” My voice trailed off. The words felt heavy. “Kai let me win.”

  Her eyes widened in genuine surprise. “He did? Why would he do that?”

  “Jer…” I caught myself just before blurting out Jerry’s hat would’ve been fun to expin. “Uhm, I mean, I o ask my AI to call his number.”

  Her surprise turned into mild curiosity, but she didn’t press. “Why? That’s… why he let you win?”

  “Exactly,” I muttered, rubbing my temple.