Tess took a breath, letting the heated air of Dealanaich fill her lungs as she tried to still her trembling fingers. She held two wooden daggers, their hilts weathered and thin, in a deathly grip. The blades were longer than what she was accustomed to, but the difference would be negligible with a slight adjustment. She twirled one of them experimentally, getting a feel for the weight, for the shape. Finally, once she was comfortable, she lifted her eyes to gaze at her sisters. All three of them faced inwards, each eyeing their opposition with cold stares and positioned equidistantly from one another.

The mercenary was surprised by the amount of nervousness she felt when faced with the prospect of crossing swords with Lily and Cassie. They'd always loomed large in her mind, as all older siblings do to the young. She almost felt like a little girl again, staring up at titans who were beyond her reach in every conceivable way. Yet her anxious heart was tempered by the near indescribable eagerness that permeated her being. She wanted this more than anything, to test herself, to push herself. Who better to sharpen her skills against than those she'd once looked upon with awe and wonder?

Tessa's body fell into a rhythm, swaying from side to side as sharp, inescapable eyes analysed her sisters for any hint of weakness, and ways in which to exploit it. She was sure Lily and Cassie were doing the same. They weren't treating her as the little sister who needed to be protected, and nor should they. In terms of experience, Tess most likely held an edge. Cassie was the possible exception, but the sea border with Wellind was not as active as it had been even a hundred years ago, the Wellinders learning that there were easier targets available. In contrast, Tess had been taking lives since she was seven years old, and continued to do so as a member of one of the most successful mercenary bands on the central continent. She didn't know how many battles she'd been in, having stopped keeping count a long time ago, but the blood she'd waded through to keep Orin safe was deep indeed. Her Knight's penchant for getting into trouble had kept her skills sharp. Lily and Cassie didn't know that, but they could sense it.

Tess drew herself short before that thought could develop any further. Despite her experience belying her age, Tess couldn't afford to take either of her sisters lightly. Each was a warrior in their own right, both trained by one of the most powerful Knights on Ouros.

“Would you three just get on with it already!”

The shout came from Tilia, who was pouting at them and shaking an angry fist in the air. The display was more than a little adorable, but Tess wouldn't allow herself to become distracted. She focused on Lily first, taking in the easy smile on her oldest sister's face, the way she swung her hammer lazily through the air. The bold whistle of the wood was intended to intimidate. An old tactic and one Tess had seen a thousand times before, but nonetheless impressive considering the sheer weight of the weapon that she negligently wielded with one hand. What surprised Tess most about Lily, though, was the addition of the plank shield in her left hand. The slab of wood was nearly of a size with Tess herself. She'd never seen Lily utilise a shield before, but it made sense for her to do so in this context. She was facing two opponents who very clearly capitalised on their greater speed. Strong Lily may be, but using such a cumbersome weapon as a war-hammer came at a cost. Using a shield mitigated her weakness and considering the way she was holding it, this wasn't a recent revelation for her. No doubt she'd used it against Cassie in the past, hence her confidence of winning the match

Tess could've cursed herself in that moment. Of course Lily would have improved over the years. When she was young, Tessa couldn't remember ever seeing her sister beat Cassie, not once. That seems to have changed. Perhaps Lilian would have been a greater challenge to her Knight than Tessa had first thought upon arrival. Orin would've still won, though. Knowing him as she did, he would batter her shield down, overcoming Lily with sheer aggression and bloodlust.

She banished thoughts of Orin from her mind. She still felt faintly guilty that he wasn't there to witness her victory, but she knew that he would want her to fight if he had been present. Besides, he knew her as well as she knew herself. Her Knight was well aware of the fact that she could never back down from a fight.

It was then that Tess looked to Cassie and saw... nothing. Not a hint of weakness, of emotion. She merely stood there, silent and still, like a living statue. She held her wooden cutlass by her side, grip loose and in no way secure. Again, Tess felt a shiver run down her spine at the sight of the person she'd long since considered the strongest fighter in their family. Even more so than father in many ways. The fact that Tess couldn't take her measure was indicative of Cassie's personality. Despite recent strides she'd taken in opening up, she was still the same woman. That only gave her an advantage in combat. There were no cues, no facial twitches to betray intent. She was still, absolutely unshaken by the foes facing her.

Lethal. It was the only word that accurately described Cassandra D'viritazi.

Tess' hand trembled and she grinned, her excitement finally overtaking the nervousness that had trapped her heart like a vice. She could barely wait, her breathing becoming uneven as she subtly dug her feet into the dirt, readying herself for an explosive attack. It wasn't in her nature to just wait. Her choice of weapon didn't allow for much in the way of defence. She needed to be offensive, to continue pushing, to strive for better.

In her eyes, Lily and Cassie were colossal. She needed to lay them low.

Tessa could feel the eyes of her sisters, Willow and Elora from the seating that ringed the arena. The latter looked like she wanted to cheer, but was barely holding herself back. Euphoric in her anticipation, Tess winked at the Princess. Elora grinned in response, a hint of her own bloodlust on display. Tessa very nearly laughed at that, her Sister-Smith's confidence in Tessa's victory was touching in a way that the mercenary wasn't expecting.

Freida was looking anywhere but at her three sisters below, staring at the pew before her as Dawn continued to rub her sibling's back in compassionate silence. Tess felt for her sister, she truly did, but she wasn't the same person she once was. This fight was inevitable. Tess had known that since she'd stepped off the ship, since she'd first spoken with Lily. They may be dressing this up as a simple practice match, but it was more than that. The three wanted to know who the strongest of them was. A simple goal, but one which was universally sought by all warriors across the continent. All wanted to be the most powerful, the most skilled. Freida would never understand that, but, Tess reasoned, she wouldn't be her if she did. Freida was a mother to Tess, more than Theadora had ever been. Of course she wanted her to be safe, but her concern had the opposite effect on the mercenary. She wanted to show Freida, and her entire family, that she wasn't the frail girl she had once been.

Tessa was an Heir's Smith, but she was so much more. She was his sword, his protector, and had trained her whole life for such a purpose. This was her chance to show her sisters who she truly was.

“Watch closely, Lily,” Tessa said with a ferocious grin as she looked to her sister. “You might learn something.”

Lily's only response was laughter at having her own words thrown back at her. Tess could see it in her eyes, in Cassie's as well, that reflection of her own feeling, of the bubbling eagerness that suffused her very bones.

The start was sudden, vicious and incredibly violent.

The voices of friends and family fell away, disappearing into the background. All that existed was them three. The sound of a sharp breath, the sliding of a foot through soft dirt, the heft of a weapon as it was being prepare to swing. All of it added to the tension of the moment until it could be contained no longer.

They moved as one.

The world slowed to a crawl.

The earth of Dealanaich was churned beneath Tessa's feet as she burst forwards, accelerating in time with her warrior sisters, who matched her stride step for step. Tess concentrated on the steadiness of her heartbeat, on the near otherworldly calm which cocooned her, as she raised both daggers high. She spotted Cassie, who had suddenly transformed in the instant combat had begun. Her stare shone with an intensity that rivalled Tessa's own, the shining steel sharper than any blade, more piercing than any spear. It was aimed directly at Tess.

Lily's approach was just as intimidating. Her heavy hammer and huge shield only added to the air of terror than surrounded her. Sky-blue eyes seemed to glow, the colour within them without end.

Then, in the span of a single breath, they met at the centre of the arena.

Lily's shield came for Tessa's side, no doubt aiming to knock her out of the battle before it had truly begun. Tess reacted, jumping into the air and kicking off the wooden ramp that had been provided. Just in time too, as Cassie's cutlass cut through the place she'd been standing a moment before. Tess lashed out with a leg, her position in the air making it impossible to attack with her daggers. She felt her heel collide with Cassie's cheek, surprise temporarily replacing the viciousness within her sister's glare as the raider was knocked to the side.

Tessa's well timed attack also happened to save Cassie from being struck with Lily's hammer, the huge implement striking nothing but air. The Knight went with the momentum, spinning in place and aiming to hit Tess in the chest before she could recover. Tessa's awkward landing meant she was in a precarious position, but she showed no sign of yielding. She stabbed at the hammer's head with her twin blades. The wood was weak, but it was enough to shift the weapon off course enough for her to avoid the strike. Lily's eyes widened as Tess exploded forwards. Shifting past the shield and taking to the air once more. Her knee struck Lily's chin with crippling force.

Then it was Tessa's turn to be surprised.

She was too late to catch Lily's grin as she suddenly dropped her hammer, whipping her right hand up and wrapping it around Tessa's ankle. Tess made to strike down with her daggers but it was too late, as Lily unceremoniously yanked her out of the air. The mercenary was slammed into the ground, all of Lilian's considerable strength ensuring the landing was anything but soft.

The air left Tessa's lungs at speed. She gasped for breath as black spots danced across her vision. Her instincts screamed and she rolled just in time to avoid Cassie's cutlass, which struck her recently vacated position. Tess lunged to her feet, spinning in place before settling into a stance, a snarl on her lips and anger at her own foolishness plain for all to see.

She'd underestimated them. Despite curbing her own arrogance, it hadn't been enough. She'd put herself in a vulnerable position and very nearly paid the price for it. Considering the pain that was emanating from her ribs, perhaps she already had. It had only been a single exchange, she told herself. The fight was only just beginning, yet she'd acted rashly and it had almost cost her the entire match.

Cassie and Lily brawled without her, the raider's attempt to follow Tess impeded by the suddenly swinging hammer, forcing Cassandra to avoid Lilian's cascade of carnage. Tessa immediately burst forward once more, far more cautious than she was, a dagger twirling absently as she came up behind Cassie.

The strongest of the D'viritazi lived up to her name, her blade slipping through Lily's defences and touching her chest, causing the elder to wince and retreat. Without missing a step, Cassie spun in place faster than even Tess could follow. She knocked aside Tessa's attempted strikes with ease, her cutlass dancing from side to side with swift purpose. Tess danced right alongside her as she slipped blow after blow. Cassie was fast, incredibly so, but Tessa's reflexes were finely honed and she had never been a slouch when it came to speed. She shouldn't have been surprised that Cassie, or even Lilian, was able to keep up with her. They were all D'viritazi after all, daughters of Thunder born atop Dealanaich.

Their bout came to a head when Lily shook off the pain of Cassie's attack, grumbling as she literally threw herself back into the fight. Her plank shield ploughed into Cassie's side, throwing the raider away as she whipped her hammer in Tessa's direction.

Tess managed to avoid the full force of the immense attack, but the head of the hammer slid past her ribs, exacerbating the bruises already found there from her short journey into the dirt. Tessa didn't flinch, however, instead pushing forward. Lilian hid behind her shield as Tess began a furious assault, her daggers a blur as they struck against the wood again and again. She found herself stuck there. Her attempts to get around Lily's defences proved impossible, the sheer size of the shield impeding all of her attempts to do so. She tried to move around multiple times, but Lily would just shift and cut her off before she could complete the action. Instead, Tess decided to focus on raw aggression as she roared, aimlessly stabbing into the wood again and again. Great chips were torn from the heavy shield, even as her own weapons showed signs of cracking, but it seemed that her attack had the intended effect.

Lily was weakening behind the fortress she'd constructed for herself. Great strength and stamina she may have, but the sheer blitz that Tess had unloaded upon her was difficult to ignore. Added to that was the fact that if she attacked it would leave her open to Tessa's smaller and far more manoeuvrable weapons. Tess had her trapped.

But this wasn't only a battle of two warriors, but three.

Cassie reappeared, her cutlass slashing down on Tess, who was forced to raise both blades to block the surprising attack. A boot sprouted from Tessa's gut as she felt the air leave her lungs once more, Cassie's follow-up devastating. Lily took advantage of the mercenary's distraction, stepping forward with her shield and bashing Tess aside even as she struck at Cassie, who effortlessly avoided the massive hammer and aimed to stab at Lily once more.

Tess didn't fight the fall, rolling and up on her feet in an instant. She rejoined the melee with glee, one dagger aimed for Cassie's throat while the other went for Lilian's ribs.

She was enjoying herself. Genuinely enjoying the challenge. She'd feared that this would be a repeat of her brief spar against Lencel's guard back in Yelmora. A fight so short she was hesitant to call it even that. Tess couldn't describe the thrill that ran through her body, that made her soul sing. Her instincts were right. Her sisters were strong. Strong enough to keep up with her, to push her to her limits and beyond.

Lily brought her hammer to bear, knocking aside the dagger before it struck home. Cassie moved her head an inch and the blade brushed by her exposed neck. There wasn't a hint of joy on Cassie's face. Instead, she was absolutely focused, examining Tess with narrowed eyes. The mercenary didn't have time to decipher the expression before Lilian took up her attention, the tall woman baring down on her, using her shield as a weapon as much as her war-hammer.

Again Tess was surprised by Lilian's prowess. She'd known during their initial meeting that she'd grossly underestimated her eldest sister, but not to this extent. Tess was the only one of the three who had yet to land a true blow with her weapon. A fact which both excited and disappointed her. She redoubled her efforts, side-stepping and allowing Lily's hammer to sweep past her head uninterrupted. She danced around her sibling, who ripped the head free of the churned earth with barely any effort at all, but it gave Tess the opening she needed to flank her sister. She threw a dozen strikes into Lily's side. Had it been a true fight, the pinpricks would have killed her.

Lily fell to her knees. The attack made on her person by Tessa's daggers may not have been fatal, but the sheer number of them and the speed at which they were delivered no doubt caused a tremendous amount of pain for the young Knight. She winced, abandoning her hammer in favour of holding her side. Tess would have capitalised on the weakness had it not been for the sudden sound of whistling wood.

She ducked, allowing Cassie's sabre to brush the top of her head before she spun to engage. Tessa's spinning daggers met the cutlass of her sister, who repelled her attacks with seemingly little effort. The mercenary fought against the mounting frustration inside of her. Cassie truly was of a different breed. Tess knew little about the cutlass as a weapon, only that it was favoured heavily by the Ragoran Navy for its adaptability when used on the unsteady deck of a ship. Clearly learning to fight in such an environment had made her sister all the deadlier on land. The placement of her feet was steady, sure. It was as though each successful step secured her position, making the idea of removing her a futile endeavour. Lily could, but only because of her greater strength and the advantage that her shield gave her.

The very same shield also proved to be something of detriment when facing Tess, who preferred to dance around the battlefield, a whirling dervish of unmitigated destruction. Lilian had done better than most, but only because of Cassie's intervention. If it hadn't been for that, then the battle would have been over long ago.

Her swordplay itself was beyond reproach. Each slash, feint and exploitative lunge was meant to draw Tessa in, to play the game in her way. It was Mastan's style without the grandeur, whips traded for a cutlass. Tess had seen enough of it over the past three days to know that was the basis of Cassie's superb technique, but it was in no way a copy. Clearly Cassie had adapted their father's way of fighting, making it her own. Despite their shared looks, Tess realised they couldn't be more different in terms of combat.

Tess was reactive. She loved the thrill of fighting on the fly, of allowing her instincts to take over her rational mind. To think without thinking. That was where she thrived. Cassie was more analytical. She was thoughtful, almost cruel in her approach. She was not an aggressive warrior, like Orin was, nor did she favour staunch defence. Instead she waited for the opportune moment, the perfect strike. All of her attacks, every single exertion of energy, was devoted to that one task.

These thoughts flashed through Tessa's mind in the split second that separated one exploratory slash from the next. She needed to end this as quickly as she could, that became abundantly clear. The longer the fight dragged on, the longer Cassie would have to dissect Tessa's style of combat. Once that happened, she wouldn't be able to win.

That single thought was more than a little sobering for the warrior, but it didn't cause her excitement to ebb in the least. If anything it only added to the swirling eagerness in her gut. A true test. A true opponent, unlike any she'd faced before. Greater than Orin. Perhaps Cassie would even be a real match for Boldrin.

But how did one beat perfection? Tessa was keen to discover the answer to such a question.

She avoided yet another of Cassie's blows, dodging once more as the blindingly quick wooden cutlass came around again. The mercenary held her ground, drawing upon the lessons of all who'd taught her over the years in Venos, and after that as a member of the band. She needed them just to keep up. Cassandra didn't even seem faintly winded by the intensity of their duel and yet Tess was beginning to feel the first beads of sweat form upon her brow. Her breathing was becoming heavier, desperate, as the fight continued.

She caught sight of an opening and all but jumped on the opportunity, realising a moment too late that it was yet another trap set up by her savvy sister. Tess caught the blade of the cutlass, managing to turn it away before it struck the spot on her ribs that had already received a tremendous amount of punishment from Lily. Another example of Cassie's sharp mind. Much like Mastan had done to Orin during their brief brawl in the Great Hall, Cassie was taking advantage of Tessa's injury, forcing her to cover her side and, in so doing, open up other parts of her body to attack. Her hands suffered significantly. The daggers weren't holding up well against the cutlass, unable to block every blow. The length of the blade gave Cassie a tremendous edge, which she used to rap the hard wood against Tessa's knuckles, drawing blood and making maintaining her grip a pain. Another assault caused Tess to wince as she retreated, the sharp discomfort forcing her to do so even as she cursed herself.

Throughout all of this, she had yet to land a single blow.

Cassie remained impassive and untouched by the ferocity of their exchanges. It was almost like fighting an unfeeling reflection, Tess thought to herself jokingly. She unleashed another blistering blitz on her sister, one which made the sequence she'd unleashed upon Lily seem tame in comparison. She watched in awe as Cassie seamlessly slipped from one blow to the next. Tessa knew without a doubt that the raider was faster than her, which was a bitter pill to swallow. The difference was minute, all but unnoticeable to the untrained eye, but to Tess it might as well have been a gulf that she could not cross no matter how hard she tried.

As they clashed again and again, their intricate game of attack and defence continuing ad infinitum, Tess felt herself beginning to weaken. Her strikes lost a hint of their viciousness, her reflexes slowed and clouded by a fatigued mind. She grit her teeth intensely, ignoring the pain of her wounded and weeping fingers as that cutlass crashed once more into her ribs. This time she was sure she heard something crack, but the adrenaline surging through her blood would not allow her to stop, not yet. She wanted to win, but she wondered if the sheer power of her will would be enough against Cassie's incredible skill.

The longer the skirmish continued, the less she believed that was truly possible.

Doubt took root in Tessa's mind for the first time since their 'practice bout' had begun. She started to hesitate, to second guess herself. This only led to Cassie punishing her more, the lack of emotion on her face only causing Tessa's frustration to rise, giving her cause to make even more foolish mistakes. She found herself locked in a cycle, trapped in Cassie's game and forced to fight on her terms.

Doubt quickly turned to desperation soon after. Sweat poured into Tessa's eyes, arms shaking and knees trembling as she fought, her daggers moving at blinding speeds and yet she continued to touch nothing but air.

Then she made her first mistake. Tess let herself be drawn into the hypnotic motions of Cassie's sword, the patterns beautiful in their brutal intent. In the blink of an eye she felt her left hand go numb, the dagger once held there dropping onto the soft ground beneath her feet. In the next moment, Cassie's cutlass rested under her jaw.

It was over. She'd lost.

“Yield, Tessaraina,” Cassie huffed out between breaths, her face reddened and hand shaking even as her cutlass did the same. “It's over.”

Tess didn't know what to say. Now that Cassie wasn't in motion, she could see that the battle had left marks on her sister as much as it had her. Absent bruises and bleeding, perhaps, but Tess could see the exhaustion in Cassie's eyes, feel it in the subtle shaking of the wooden tip at her throat. She would've laughed if she had the energy to do so. Tessa had finally spotted the weakness in her sister, only to find it was too late to do anything about it. She could do a lot with only one dagger, but not against someone as skilled as Cassie. Her lips parted to say the words, to speak her shame for the whole world to hear while trying to still the disappointment that rose like bile within her chest.

She couldn't lose. Not like this.

Cassie's eyes widened in surprise as she felt a hand grip her collar, her temporary distraction allowing Tess the chance she'd been desperately waiting for. She threw herself away from the raider's blade, rolling across the dirt and clutching her remaining dagger as though it were a raft in the middle of a turbulent White Sea.

“Forgetting something, little sister?” Lily said casually, her grip unbreakable. “This isn't about you and Rainie showing off.”

Cassie blurred, her cutlass coming up to strike her elder sibling in the face, but it was for nought. Lilian's positioning meant that such a blow struck nothing at all. The Knight wrapped her spare arm around Cassie's waist, picking her up like a sack of flour and throwing her into one of the nearby racks of practice weapons. So quick and sure was the action that Tess could only watch, shocked, as Cassie smashed into the rack with terrific force, causing the lacquered wooden implements to crash down around her.

Lily fell to her knees, mirroring Tess who was only a few feet away from her. Both looked away from Cassie's prone form, their eyes meeting across the dusty bowl of the arena. Lilian D'viritazi was without arms, her hammer and shield abandoned near the battleground's edge. If Tess had to guess for the reason she'd done so, it would be the ribs she was clutching with her now free hands. Lily smiled at her little sister, chuckling as she took in the churned up earth that was a result of their melee.

“We might've gone a little far this time.” Lily said jokingly as she pushed herself back to her feet with a wince, wiping at some of the dust that still clung to her knees. “Still, Cassie and I have done worse.”

“It isn't over yet.” Tess replied, copying Lily as she rose. Her own injuries were not insignificant, but Tessa refused to show Lily any weakness, banishing her near defeat from her mind. Whatever the reason, she was still in the fight, and that was more than enough for her.

“True, but I'm without a weapon.” Lily said with a shrug, looking to Tess with nothing but shining pride in that sky-blue stare. “You're so strong, Tessa. Watching you fly kick a shield and near knock out Cassie on the first pass was amazing. You were right, I did learn something.”

“You're talking like you're out of the fight, Lilian.” Tess said as she extended the hand that clutched the dagger to the side and released her hold, letting the wooden blade fall into the dirt beneath her feet. “You may be absent weapon, but now so am I. Care to keep the lesson going?”

Lily grinned in answer to the one on Tessa's own face, watching her sister settle into a stance, preparing to meet her in battle once more. “Brawling, Rainie? How very unladylike.”

“What can I say?” Tess shrugged as she felt her hunger for battle return tenfold. “I was raised in savage Venos.”

“That you were,” Lilian nodded, settling into a stance of her own. “And what a warrior you have become.”

The sisters charged.

Tessa had more than a little experience when it came to fisticuffs. Spirit, her daggers were little more than extensions in that regard, yet she knew she was going into this brawl at a disadvantage. Weapons could mitigate Lilian's natural strength to some degree, but by choosing to cast her dagger away Tess was committing herself to fighting Lily on her terms.

A decision that she second-guessed the moment that they clashed.

Lilian's fist came in at surprising speed, aiming to put Tess down with a swift blow to the temple. Tessa's eyes narrowed, a sudden bout of clarity and focus causing the pain of her wounds to fall away as she ducked beneath the strike, the haymaker sailing uselessly overhead. The mercenary retaliated with a dozen Lightning quick blows to the ribs she'd abused with her daggers only a few short minutes ago. Lily gasped and caught Tess with a sharp elbow on her collarbone, causing the young woman to add her own cry of pain to the mix as she retreated from Lily's grasping hands.

She couldn't allow her sister to get a hold of her. Tess had just seen how proficient in grappling Lily was, having completely nullified Cassie's superior skill with a well placed grip. If the same happened to her then the fight was over. Despite her great strength, Lilian still had a rather willowy body, much in the same way that Freida did, though it was packed with muscle instead of soft tissue. Tessa couldn't let herself forget the sheer power her oldest sister could bring to bear if she wanted to.

As Lily gave chase, Tess jabbed her sister on the nose. The punch was lacking, her stance unready as she retreated, but it did cause Lily to blink and curse as she suddenly dove for her sister's feet.

Tess moved aside, aiming to aid Lily's fall to the earth with a well timed strike only for the Knight to lash out with her own legs. Tessa was momentarily reminded of Orin's fight with her father before she felt her footing be swept out from under her. She and Lilian landed side by side, throwing and blocking punches and kicks like their lives depended on it. Lily caught Tessa's cheek with a lucky hook, the punch sending Tessa's head sailing to the right and making stars burst behind her eyes. She answered with a kick to Lily's already damaged ribs, her sister's roar of pain giving her no small amount of satisfaction as they both climbed tiredly to their feet. Tess nursed her cheek as Lily held her side once more.

Their injuries were beginning to become too difficult to ignore. Not a problem in the long term, especially for them. As a Knight and Smith they both healed faster than normal, but Tessa knew a Knight had an edge in that regard. If this fight was dragged out, Lily would simply outlast her.

Tess approached her sister cautiously, hands raised as she silently readied herself for yet more suffering. Lily sighed and made to join her, fists held limply at her side as she did so. Her ribs really were troubling her, Lilian subconsciously lowering her guard to protect them. Tess cultivated her speed, digging her feet into the soil before she sprang forward like a coil. She raised a hand, using her momentum and descent to prepare to knock her sister unconscious with a single, well-timed blow.

Lily grinned. A trick.

She'd been playing up her injury, hoping that Tess would overstep, would get too confident. The mercenary had played right into the Knight's trap.

Lily lunged, pulling back a fist and hammering it into Tessa's nose with all the force she could muster. It was a rather significant amount, especially when one considered that Tess had done half her job for her by jumping into the air. She really needed to stop doing that.

Tess felt blood pour into her mouth as she hit the ground hard, and not for the first time since the battle had began. She turned weakly to the side, spitting crimson ichor onto the dusty earth, the red standing out in sharp contrast to the darkness that surrounded it. She only truly came back to herself when she felt an arm wrap around her neck, air cut off as she gasped for a breath that would not come. Lily lifted her into the air as Tess futilely pounded on the unbreakable limb. The worst had come to pass. She was completely in Lily's control now.

“Good fight, Rainie,” Lily said as she tightened her hold. Black spots appeared on Tessa's vision, her consciousness beginning to flee, “But I reckon I'm the winner this time.”

Tess refused to believe that. She strained her neck and began to move her own hands up to where Lily's were securely fastened. All she needed was a finger, something to grab, something to bend and break. She'd almost lost to Cassie, almost been ready to give up. That wasn't who she was, and she refused to change that now.

The struggle seemed to last an eternity, but in reality was only a few seconds. Both sisters straining to beat the other, Lily's edge in strength all the more obvious to Tess as time dragged on. But then, with an almost titanic amount of effort, Tessa managed to free a single digit. Her heart jumped into her throat as she very nearly lost her grip, but she maintained it at the last possible moment. With practiced ease, Tess broke it. The sharp click was followed by the loosening of the arm at her throat a shout of agony from her oldest sister.

Tess couldn't wait, couldn't hesitate. She slipped beneath Lily's limb and took one nurturing breath. Her vision was still clouded, her body still weak, but she had enough left to see the battle through. Tessa jumped on her sister, clambering up her body as though she were a great oak. Lily tried to grab a hold of her, but Tess wouldn't allow it, unloading brutal elbows on her sister's head as she climbed. When she reached the zenith, Tess twirled, wrapping both of her legs around her sister's neck and locking them as best she could. She would have preferred to use her hands, but they were so damaged that her grip would be almost pathetically easy for Lily to break.

The sudden sound of choking was music to Tessa's ears as Lily began to throw more punches up into her legs and waist. The blows lacked power because of the angle, but they still caused shivers of pain to run the length of Tess' body. In response, she redoubled her efforts, squeezing with everything in her as Lily threw herself backward in an attempt to remove her new passenger.

The wind left Tess as they hit the ground, but she refused to let go, all but screaming as she looked to the sky overhead. It wasn't long before Lily's efforts became weaker, her strength fleeing her along with the ability to breathe. A moment later, all became silent.

Tess released her sister and rolled away, coughing into the dirt as she looked to Lily's still form. She could see the rise and fall of her sister's chest, but her mind had gone dark. The mercenary pressed her forehead against the earth, taking deep breaths as the incredible feeling of victory washed over her. It did little for her body, but it invigorated her spirit to no end.

That was until she held the sound of wood scraping against the ground of the arena.

Tess laughed gently, quietly. Of course it would take more than a throw to put down Cassandra D'viritazi. She looked up from her place on all fours, seeing her sister standing tall and proud, cutlass in hand as she looked first to Lily and then to her.

“The fight isn't over yet, Tessaraina.”

“Aye, I can see that.” Tess replied, more than a little annoyed. For the first time in her life she found herself wishing that wasn't the case. Tessa grasped around in the dirt near her, hoping that she wasn't completely without luck and was thankful to discover that wasn't the case. It wasn't a dagger, but a sword that her fingers found, one which had fallen from the rack that Cassie had plunged into only moments ago.

Tessaraina D'viritazi pushed herself upright, hefting the heavy practice blade in her hand as she gave it an experimental swing. This was followed by a wince, her entire body aching from her earlier exertions. She met Cassie's eyes with her own, two sets of storm clouds filled with razors of every kind. Tessa couldn't help but feel disappointment well up within her again, despite what she'd said to herself earlier. The only reason she'd made it through the duel with Cassie was because of Lilian, who now lay unconscious at her feet. She felt a severe sense of doom settle over her consciousness as she lifted the sword, holding it in an approximation of Orin' stance. She knew all weapons well, but the sword more than any other save the dagger. She just wasn't sure it would be enough.

“KICK HER ASS, TESS!”

The roar came with a surge of energy, a promise that passed from one soul to another. Tess felt tears bite at her eyes in that moment before she hurriedly blinked them away. She felt him, his strength, his indomitable will. His presence alone enough to make the pain in her body ebb. Then she caught sight of him.

Orin stood next to Elora, his hands extended into the air as he grinned joyously in her direction. Both eyes shone brightly, one of emerald and another Forged from the power of Aurum itself. She felt the Storm swirl in his soul, the Gift she'd carefully crafted sending waves over the Bond as though it had a life of its own. Orin showed not a hint of fear, not one iota of doubt in her victory. He believed she would win.

Her own doubts evaporated, banished by the light of his black soul. He was watching now. She'd never be able to live it down if she fell here. His courage became hers.

Tess answered his grin with one of her own, canines flashing as she hopped from foot to foot. She felt lighter, more powerful. She fixed her sister with a deadly stare as inspiration struck her. Tessaraina D'viritazi lifted her sword high into the air, filling her lungs and readying herself.

She couldn't lose. Not now.

They moved as one, their bodies in perfect sync, meeting at the centre of the arena. Cassie seemed slower now, less sure. Tess had seen a hint of her sister's weakness, a break in her almost perfect technique. Her heart hammered as their blades met, the crack of wood causing Tessa's hands to tremble but her soul to soar.

They raged against one another, their swords meeting again and again. Tess knew that if she didn't do something, she would lose. Nothing had changed, Cassie was still the more skilled fighter. If she continued on as she had been before, her defeat was all but assured. She needed to do something different, needed to change the way she fought.

The solution came to her in the form of a lightning bolt. Tess focused inwards, looking to her memories, for an answer to the question she'd posed near the beginning of their match.

How do you defeat perfection?

Orin's soul guided her, even if he himself did not. To the Yelesi Republic, to the day of her defeat at the edge of his sword.

She saw Orin in Yelmora. She saw him move with an unearthly speed, using a movement technique she'd never seen before. Tess hadn't caught it at the time, but it suddenly appeared in her mind with absolute clarity. She lived that moment over and over again, mastering each step, each shift of his weight. All of it, in an instant.

Orin didn't know where the technique had come from. Tess had questioned him many times since that day, always seeking to learn of how he moved so fast. He said it came to him in a dream. He believed it was First Sword, a part of his and Elora's first Technique. Tess knew in that moment, in her heart, that wasn't the case. Pushed to her limits and on the edge of collapse, she saw the answer to what it was perfectly in her mind's eye. First Sword was a simple slash, a calling to Space to cross a great distance to strike a blow. This was more complex, faster, rooted in the physical. It was born of Lightning.

It was a way she could win.

“Second Sword.” Tess whispered the words. None heard her, but her soul began to glow as the Bond pulsed. Orin froze in place. The Smith knew he felt it too, the calling, the whisper that had begun during their duel in Yelmora.

Tessa moved.

It was like a map was drawn out before her as she slipped past Cassie's elegant perfection. Her defence crumbled, her eyes aghast and mouth dropping as Tess ripped the raider's sword free of her grip with a well timed swing. Dust was blown up by the speed of her advance. A strange weight settled on Tessa's forehead and, in the distant corner at the edge of her vision, the mercenary caught sight of something shining. She didn't dare to look, didn't dare to even acknowledge its presence, but she knew what it was.

Raiken.

The dust settled, the arena silent as the cloud fell away and revealed the result of the battle to all who was watching.

The tip of Tessa's wooden sword was placed against Cassie's throat, her hands steady and eyes without mercy. Cassandra D'viritazi's own stare was unseeing, numb fingers searching for a sword that was no longer there.

“It's over, Cassie.” Speaking was difficult, but she soldiered on regardless. “Yield.”

The two sisters stared at one another. As Tess watched, Cassie's eyes filled with tears, a smile crawling across her lips. “You've become so strong, Rainie.”

“I became strong because of you.” Tess whispered softly, hoping that her smile was just as kind and warm as her sister's. She didn't know why she felt the urge to speak, but she knew it was needed even if she herself couldn't understand the why. “When I was a girl, when I killed for the first time, I never felt more alone. So I did what I used to do when I was sad as a child. I played pretend. I pretended I was as strong as my big sister, Cassandra. I borrowed your strength, Cassie, until I could find my own. You didn't fail me. You were right there. You, Dawn, Freida, Tilia, Lily. None of you ever let me down. You were standing right beside me.”

Tessa saw the self-hatred in her sister die then. Perhaps it would return another day, a phantom, a nightmare, to haunt her. But for now Tess had managed to put Cassie's monster to rest.

“I yield, Tessa.” Cassie intoned, blinking the tears away as she chuckled.

“You win.”