!The black sword slammed into the invisible wall with a loud clang that echoed through the clearing. The force of the impact sent a tremor up Nox's arm, but Fena didn't even budge. She hadn't moved a muscle, just held her hand up like she was stopping a beach ball.
The elves in the crowd let out a collective gasp. They had never seen anyone, let alone a human, force the Elder to actually defend herself.
"Better," Fena said, her voice still calm, but there was a new glint in her eyes. "You have a decent weapon and a little bit of focus now. But your form is still a mess."
She flicked her wrist, and the invisible wall of force didn't just disappear; it exploded outward. Nox was thrown backward, tumbling through the air before he landed hard on his back, the wind knocked out of him.
"Your footwork is clumsy," she stated, taking a slow step toward him as he pushed himself up, coughing. "You rely on raw power, but your foundation is sand. You have no balance."
