Aurora Earhart
I shifted back, absorbing the lingering inertia, and immediately lunged forward again, channeling mana into my legs. The strike landed squarely against Hephas's blade—metal clanged dully, and the stone beneath his feet fractured with a brittle snap.
— Show me the strength of your faith, — I said, allowing a slight smirk to touch my lips.
— Of course, — he replied, calm and almost cocky, a subtle smile forming.
We moved almost in unison. Mana bursts, sharp accelerations, dry impacts—everything blended into one seamless rhythm. Our blades collided again and again, each clash sending out a hollow echo, sparking with each meeting of steel. Flames burst from my sword with every strike, leaving trails across stone and metal.
