Clang! Clang!
Their blades met again, sparks spitting like angry fireflies as steel rang through the chamber. Julies's breath came ragged, his shoulder burning, but his eyes stayed locked on Doran.
The older man's grin widened. "Better—you didn't flinch that time."
Whshhh!
A blur of black leather and steel. Doran's dagger whistled past Julies's ear, close enough to shear a lock of hair. Julies ducked and countered, Silent Fang slicing upward.
Skkrrt!
The tip of his blade nicked Doran's sleeve, leaving a thin white line through the fabric.
Julies smirked despite his sweat. "Your coat's looking worse than my shoulder."
"Cocky pup." Doran's chuckle echoed in the smoke, low and dangerous. "But you'll need more than scratches to put me down."
Thump!
His boot lashed out, slamming into Julies's chest. The boy staggered back three steps, the air punched clean out of him.
