Isla bends her head down and head-butts the assassin's closed fist.
She succeeds in breaking his middle finger before stabbing with a flurry.
The assassin doesn't back away, he sways side to side barely avoiding the blades.
He knocks away the blades one after the other making Isla feel as if she is moving in slow motion.
Isla is cuffed in the ear and then headbutted in the face.
She jumps back to gain distance but the black-clad assassin sticks close, raining blows down.
It isn't his sword skill, but his hesitation and feints that she falls for.
Every time she raises her arm his blade will slice through her forearm or shoulder forcing her to retreat.
His movements are so fluid he looks like he is dancing, yet the swordsmanship is one of a foot soldier from the Terran empire.
'An aura master'? she asks herself only to be met with a leg sweep.
A knee lands on her stomach the moment her back hits the ground.
