Placed gently into a waiting chair, Lexi made for a sorry sight. Blood continued to drip from the wound above her eye and more pooled in her mouth. She couldn’t be sure where exactly it was coming from and she was finding it harder and hard to stay upright. She didn’t mean to close her eyes, but suddenly it was very dark, and she was so tired.

“Easy there.” Someone placed a hand gently on her shoulder and kept her from falling to the side.

“Cross?” Lexi’s eyes fluttered open.

“Yeah, it’s me.” Cross said as he kneeled down in front of her. With a gentle hand he wiped the blood from her face with a damp cloth. Lexi winced as he reached her temple. “Got you pretty good, huh?”

“I got him better.”

“That you did.” Cross placed an adhesive patch on her head wound. “That should keep the blood out of your eyes. Your lip though…” he brushed against her split lip with the towel. “Well, it’s getting better, I guess. It should be okay once the intermission is over.”

“How long do I have?”

“At least twenty minutes. Octavious is still talking and the sword dancers haven’t even started.”

“I see.”

Lexi closed her eyes again and Cross began to work on her hand. She sucked in a sharp hiss as he poured the disinfectant over her broken skin, washing away the dried blood and dirt, before carefully applying the bandages.

“There, can you move your fingers?”

Lexi opened and closed her fingers, making a tight fist. Almost immediately fresh blood began to soak through the wrappings.

“You’re putting your hand through a lot today.” Cross said as he took her hand in his and started to gently move her fingers back and forth. “Anything feel broken?”

Lexi gritted her teeth, but shook her head. “No, I think I just broke the skin.”

“Probably some bruising too.”

“Probably.”

“Break a rib?”

Lexi finally opened her eyes. Cross was staring at her with, to what most people, would seem like a blank expression. He had asked the question casually, almost disinterested, but from the way his hooded eyes never left her face, she knew he was worried.

“How did you know?”

“You’re not taking in any deep breaths.”

“Yeah… Help me get this off.” Lexi held her arms out to the side. Cross obliged, pushing back to his feet and unstrapping the damaged armour from her body until he reached the dented chest piece.

“You sure?”

“If I don’t loosen it, I won’t be able to breathe, and once it’s loose, it’s going to be an annoyance.”

“You’re the boss,” Cross said as he carefully undid the strappings and pulled the armour free. As it plopped to the ground, Lexi sucked in a sharp breath, baring her teeth as she did so.

“How does it look?”

Cross moved to her side and lifted up her shirt. It clung to her skin from a mix of blood and sweat. Careful not to jostle her too much, Cross peeled away the clothing until he could see her ribs.

“That bad?” Lexi said quietly after a moment of silence from Cross.

“Hard to say.” Cross said, but that was a lie. The skin was puffy and had already turned a nasty shade of purple, with dried blood crusting over the skin.

He reached out and gently placed his hand against her ribs. The mere action sent a spear of pain through her entire body. She grasped his wrist, holding it place for a moment, before nodding and allowing him to continue. Moving very slowly, Cross dragged his fingers along her ribcage before sitting back on his heels, wiping away some of the blood on his pants.

“Cracked. At least one, maybe two. Doesn’t look like any clean breaks though.”

Lexi considered the news of no clean breaks to be extremely lucky. Even so, every breath came with a biting pain that she was finding very hard to ignore.

“Galen will have a lot to work with,” Lexi said with a small gasp.

“Still got enough for one more?”

“Of course. I could still beat you with ease and have more than enough left.” Lexi stood up and Cross followed her lead, a smile to mirror her own on his face.

“I’m not so sure that’s something to brag about.”

Lexi laughed lightly, even though it brought her a fresh dose of pain. “Really, though. I’m ready.”

It was not a lie.

A renewed sense of energy burned through her veins. The match against Ian had been difficult for sure, but it had also been invigorating. The blood was still boiling in her veins.

“Almost time.” Cross reached out and wiped a small trail of blood away from her lip with his thumb. “Right, then. You got this, Lex.”

Lexi nodded, her heart beginning to race as she heard Octavious begin his final speech.

Cross backed away from her. She did not watch him go as she began to bounce from one foot to the other. She shook out her arms and rolled her head from side to side with a series of satisfying pops

“Ladies and gentleman! You have seen Warriors from all over the globe. You have watched them expend every skill, trick, and technique that they can muster. And yet, only two remain! My friends, I present your final battle in this Dance! Of! Blades! Come forth, our reigning champion. The raging sword of devastation, the unyielding dragoness of Voy, Alexis Shadowhart!"

As the crowd roared, Lexi slowly entered into the arena. Lexi stepped into the arena with her head held high, feeling the cold winter breeze wash along her face. The day was growing colder as the sun hung lower in the sky. The arena was washed in the orange light of the setting sun. Lexi breathed out and a cloud of vapor hung in front of her.

“And her opponent. A challenger who has traveled far and wide. As unknown as her homeland, Varz of Verla!”

Lexi stared across at the Verlan. Like her, the girl held only a single sword. That was where the similarities between the two ended.

While Nightmare was a finely crafted weapon that could hang proudly in any collection, Varz's blade was nothing more than a piece of hammered steel that was set in a rough piece of bleached bone. Her clothing was minimal. Thin bands of fur and leather covered her breasts, hips, and not much else, leaving her almost completely exposed to the elements, but she showed no aversion to the cold air that Pantaleo effectblew through the arena. No shoes adorned her feet. She viewed Lexi with sharp blue eyes and reached up to push back her short, blonde hair that had been spiked in every direction with sweat and blood.

The two were night and day.

"BEGIN!"

Varz shot forward, her bare feet slapping against the ground. Lexi met her in the middle of the arena and opened with a swiping blow aimed at the girl's legs. Varz deftly cartwheeled over the attack and thrust out her sword. Twisting, Lexi avoided the attack and stabbed forward as Varz landed. Varz parried the attack and returned with a slash that forced Lexi back a step. Varz took the space and moved in close to unleash a furious series of jabs. Lexi weathered them, meeting each attack with skillful precision until an opening appeared and she knocked Varz's sword to the side. Stepping forward she swung her fist and connected solidly with Varz's cheek.

Varz's grunted and accepted the momentum of the punch as she flipped back onto one hand. Her body twisted, spinning like a top, and she brought her sword around, aiming towards Lexi's legs. Surprised and off balance, Lexi just barely managed to block Varz's blade, but not the leg she had swung around to follow up the attack. The heel of Varz's bare foot caught Lexi in the cheek and staggered her to the ground.

Varz popped neatly to her feet and immediately attacked. Lexi rolled back, swinging Nightmare to intercept Varz's sword, but the follow up kick connected with her side. Her ribs screamed in protest, but Lexi bit back her cry of pain, furiously swiping the air to keep Varz from coming any closer.

She could afford to let Varz know her ribs were broken.

Still, the kick had hurt and it was completely impossible for her to breath without significant pain. There was nothing she could do about that. She just had to keep moving forward.

Teeth clenched, Lexi returned to her feet.

A grim smile lit up the Verlan's face as she stared at Lexi. Lexi returned the smile with one of her own and the two began to circle. Warily they closed the distance between them until once again their blades met in a furious dance of steel.

Varz moved like a leaf caught in a driving wind, her feet off the ground almost as often as they were on it. Her body twisted and contorted in ways that made her almost impossible to follow

Almost.

Lexi kept her composure and refused to allow Varz unorthodox style to intimidate her. Keeping in close, she kept her sword ever moving, throwing out every feint and combination that she could think of as the haze of battle settled over her mind. She managed to land a glancing blow on Varz's bare arm, but the Verlan returned it almost instantly, landing a swift slash against Lexi's side.

For uninterrupted minutes the battle continued. For every blow one landed, the other returned in kind. But despite the growing list of injuries, neither was able to create a sufficient opening to land a killing blow or press their advantage in the slightest.

As the battle began to wear on, the two girls slid ever closer to each other until their blades locked together, trapped between their bodies. Lexi brought up both hands to grip Nightmare's hilt and Varz did the same. Together they stayed like that, neither willing to break the stalemate as they pressed their entire weight behind their weapons.

xXx

In the stands Jiana let out a soft hum.

"This is quite an even battle," she said softly, her eyes fixed intently on the match. "That girl is very skilled."

"Lexi's stronger," Cross said, just as focused as his mother. "She'll win."

Alice clicked her tongue. "Strength will not always win. You know that."

"Lexi will win," Cross said without looking at her.

Alice glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and smiled, but said nothing more.

xXx

As the two continued to press each other it was clear that Cross was correct and Lexi's strength was greater as she finally managed to push Varz back a step. In response, the Verlan girl released one hand from her sword and jabbed out at Lexi. Lexi responded without hesitation and her own fist crashed into Varz with a sharp crack. Both girls drew back their bruised hands before laying into each other with reckless abandon.

Defense was completely disregarded as the two landed punch after punch against each other's face and head. Still, neither girl relented nor made any attempt to break away, even as lips split and blood began to freely flow, they pressed on.

xXx

"This is brutal!" Romeo jumped to his feet as Lexi landed a devastating punch to Varz’s face, sending a shower of fresh blood through the air, only to receive one right back. "Come on Lexi! Rip her head off!

"Keep going!" Banksy yelled, rising to his feet as well. “Let’s go Lexi!”

“Do not relent!” Makina screamed, jumping to her feet, tiny fists shaking. “I… I believe in you!”

The rest of the guild followed their lead, their cheers rising up ever louder.

xXx

Lexi could not hear her guildmates. She was long past that point. In her world there was only one option.

Victory.

The girls were both struggling now, the effects of their own battle, along with the others they had fought earlier in the day beginning to rapidly wear them down. The punches slowed and eventually stopped, both arms needed to just support their weapons. Lexi's muscles screamed in protest as she put her weight behind her sword and pushed out as hard as she could. Varz stumbled back a step, but quickly recovered and held the stalemate.

Lexi blinked away a bead of sweat from her eye and readjusted her grip ever so slightly as Nightmare threatened to slip from her bloody grasp. Just as she began to slide her fingers into place Varz struck.

The Verlan dropped to one knee and angled her sword off to the side. With the sudden lack of opposing force, Lexi stumbled forward, her blade traveling along Varz's. As Nightmare lodged into the ground Varz pulled back her sword and thrust up and towards Lexi's exposed chest. The blade was only inches away when Lexi twisted to the side and spun into a jump, using the embedded Nightmare as a push off point. However, it was not enough to completely avoid the attack, and Lexi cried out as Varz's blade pierced through her arm.

Though the ethereal blade hurt, burning as it passed through her flesh, it was not enough to stop Lexi's momentum as she continued her spin. Screaming in pain and bloodlust, Lexi brought her fist down against Varz cheek, her entire weight coming down behind the punch.

The blow dropped Varz to the ground. Lexi landed beside her with a cry as she connected with the ground.

The cheering crowd went silent.

The two girls remained motionless until finally Lexi pushed herself up with one hand. Rolling onto her side, she sucked in a deep breath before, with slow, painful movements, she dragged herself to where Nightmare was still embedded in the ground. With considerable effort, she used the weapon to drag herself to her feet. Behind her, Varz groaned out a curse in Verlan and gingerly worked her way to her knees.

Hushed whispers broke out through the crowd as the combatants made it to their feet and faced each other. The battle was at a breaking point. Even to a novice swordsman it was clear that the girls barely had enough strength to stand, let alone battle.

One way or another, the fight was about to end.

Lexi's right arm hung uselessly by her side and she was forced to hold Nightmare in her offhand. Blood dripped freely down her left hand, trickling through the soaked bandages, her broken skin tearing even further, as she squeezed the hilt tight. It was almost funny. Something she had done so many times now threatened to send her crashing back to the ground as her limbs trembled with every painful breath she took.

She took a single step forward. Varz mirrored the movement, staggering towards Lexi with unsteady steps.

Close and closer they drew until Varz let out a harsh roar and lurched forward.

Their blades met once and rebounded away. Adjusting her grip, Lexi swung again, putting everything she had behind the swing. Painful tremors ran through her arm as Varz blocked before returning with a slow thrust.

Twisting to the side, Lexi barely avoided the thrust and stumbled forward. Her shoulder crashed into Varz’s chest and the two stumbled back, locked together for a moment before Varz was able to push her away.

Their swords met again and again and again before they broke apart.

With a gasp, Lexi doubled over, stabbing Nightmare into the ground and resting her full weight against the pommel. Varz took a single step towards her, but was unable to go any further, her chest heaving with exertion and her shoulders slumped down to her side.

She met Varz’s eye. The Verlan stared at her for a moment before nodding.

Pushing herself back to her full height, Lexi ripped Nightmare from the ground and held the weapon up. Her arm shook, but she did not lower her weapon.

Varz lifted up her sword as well, sucking in a deep breath before she charged forward, drawing the last of her strength for this final moment.

Lexi lowered her stance ever so slightly before pressing off hard, taking one step, two, and finally meeting Varz.

The Verlan accepted the challenge and thrust out her sword towards Lexi's chest. It was an attack Lexi had defended against a hundred times over. An attack that she could block with her eyes closed.

Lexi did not block.

Throwing herself forwards, Lexi tilted her body and met the blade full on, allowing the thin metal to puncture through her chest, just beneath her collarbone, with no resistance. The pain sent her mind reeling, but still she cocked back her arm and thrust forward. Varz could only stare wide-eyed as Nightmare was plunged into her chest and impaled her clean through the heart.

Grabbing Varz by the shoulder, Lexi pulled her closer, slamming Nightmare down to the hilt.

Locked in an embrace of steel they stayed like that. Lexi felt more than she heard Varz whisper something against her ear, but she was unable to understand the words. In another moment, Varz let out a gurgling cough and slowly fell backwards, sliding free from Nightmare's blade and pulling her own sword from Lexi's chest. Tears of pain streamed down Lexi's cheeks as she stumbled to the side, but she did not fall.

Not until Octavious's voice boomed through the Arena and a deafening cheer erupted.

Lexi barely heard any of it as she teetered back and forth for a moment before finally falling back. She felt the sudden rush and closed her eyes, bracing herself for a fall that never came. Slowly she opened her eyes and found Cross staring down at her, a worried smile, but still a smile, on his face. His mouth moved, forming words that Lexi could not hear. She was sure she made out the word 'Princess' though.

Carefully Cross lowered her to the ground as more faces appeared around him. Romeo first, followed quickly by Banksy and Makina.

Lexi noted the worry in all their eyes. All save Romeo who looked rather pleased with the entire situation. A soft laugh escaped her lips as she smiled up at her friends before closing her eyes to settle in for a very needed, and well deserved, rest.