Veronica was inside the ring. She heard cheers and looked up. At least three hundred people in the premises were looking at her. Some were encouraging her, and some were laughing at her for being stupid.
'They must be looking for me to be beaten up,' she thought. 'How demotivating!'
Just then, Roxana entered the ring. The crowd shouted her name. "Roxana! Roxana! Roxana!"
Roxana smirked at them and then eyed her opponent. "Are you scared?"
"How can that be?" Veronica pretended to be tough. She drew her sword. "I'm game."
Roxana began to like her opponent. "Great! I'm in high spirits. I'll go all out."
Veronica's confidence flew out of the ring. "Wait! How about going easy on me? I'm still a novice."
"Prepare yourself, Veronica." In the blink of an eye, Roxana drew her sword and rushed forward.
