Jill jumped back immediately after the first clash and brought her dual-sided glaive around in a swinging arc, which Lilah nimbly ducked bringing her blade up to block the follow-up downward slash that had been coming for her head.
Lilah pushed back and Jill almost stumbled but managed to stay balanced and block off the two blows that came from Lilah. One from below followed by a blow from above which hit with Lilah's full force, sending the rider staggering slightly. I already knew Lilah was strong since I'd held her blade once just for a few seconds and it was not a light blade. It was heavy and needed someone with a large amount of strength to use it the way Lilah did, with grace and completely precise movements.
That was something I'd noticed in all her fights. Her blows were always so hard to defend against because they came at a highly deceptive speed and she tended to switch from flurries of blows to heavy strikes backed by her full strength, not to mention she didn't get tired like a normal person.
The rider wasn't any pushover though and managed to block and dodge Lilah's bows, though mostly dodged. The few times she blocked lead her to bad positions as she was unable to take the full force of Lilah's striker, which was not surprising. The riders apart from Asara were all still novice kords, though they were still superhuman. Just not superhuman enough.
It didn't help that the rider was unable to use her signature technique of creating a killing space around her since Lilah was able to brute force her way through it and her movements were far too on point and accurate for there to be any openings for Jill to take advantage off. Lilah was a silent killing machine of precision and cold grace.
For a time they both fought and nothing much happened, the rider dodged most of the time trying to find an opening while Lilah pushed her back and I frowned as I knew she was holding back but I couldn't tell for what reason. To someone, who hadn't ever seen her fight they may think she was being too aggressive but I knew she was being too passive. She was actually blocking without counterattacking and wasn't taking any of the openings Jill was leaving. it took me a few seconds to realize what she was doing.
She was figuring out Jill\s fighting style. Taking note of what Jill was doing. Jill seemed unaware of this and was content to continue till an opening appeared.
"She's lost," Asara said sadly and the riders behind her nodded.
"How can you tell?" I asked.
"I saw her fight at the battle of the fort," Asara said. "She could've beaten Jill by now and I'm skilled enough to recognize that she's playing with Kill, trying to figure out our style. I'm just waiting for the shoe to drop."
Almost as if her words had been a call, Lilah jumped back from Jill and froze.
"What had enough?" Jill asked in a cocky tone.
Asara and I shook our heads at the same time as Lilah slowly and calmly began walking to Jill.
"What just gonna-"
Jill's words were interrupted as Lilah shot forward in a blur. A moment the ringing sound of steel on steel could be heard as Jill's blade barely managed to block Lilah's attack, though she was pushed back by doing so. Lilah didn't let up, an upwards strike pushed Jill's weapon aside, and another sent the weapon flying from Jill's hand as she tried to bring it around for a strike. The rider's eyes were wide as Lilah picked her up by the neck and brought her up high before slamming her down into the ground.
There was utter silence for a long moment before the rider started clapping. I stepped forward to meet Lilah as Asara headed for Jill. I gave Lilah a pleased smile and patted her on the back.
"That was quite the performance," I said. "Good work, Lilah."
She nodded and I could practically feel the happiness radiating from her.
I turned to see Asara helping Jill up to her feet and handing her off to a pair for riders who carried her off.
"Will she be ok?" I asked, wondering if Lilah had maybe gone too far.
"She'll be fine in an hour or so," Asara said. "Though her pride will be wounded. She needed to learn though as did the others. If she hadn't challenged your guard first then another would have and eventually one would have challenged her for her place at your side."
"Well I'm not worried about that," I said. "I think your the only one who could stand against her."
"Perhaps," She said, glancing at Lilah. "Though I don't think I'd win as much as it pains me to say so. May I ask what was your original reason for coming here?"
I nodded and told her about Lillian and what I needed from her. She agreed and with a quick gesture to two nearby riders and few words, it was done, which made me more comfortable about Lillian. She would definitely not be able to do anything now.
"You did tell them it's only temporary, right?" I asked. "Until I can get someone to deal with her."
"I did," Asara said. "You don't have to worry. My riders follow orders and will act as though she isn't there though I did pass on your orders to kill her should she even make the subtlest move of manipulation. As you're already here, may I introduce you to my lieutenants?"
She pointed to the four riders who had been following her and I nodded at her request.
"The first is Dasha," Asara introduced and a caramel-skinned beauty who looked to be in her early twenties stepped forward. Her eyes were a soft chocolate and her hair was a midnight black that seemed to simmer slightly. It framed an extremely beautiful face which would, back on earth, undoubtedly have been on the first page of a model magazine.
They really are all extremely beautiful, I thought. Her armor was shaped to her body like all rider armor, and I could see that she had an athletic build and long, shapely legs. She caught my eyes and shot me a wink and smile which I returned. I couldn't stay acting like a blushing fool forever and it was best if I started acting more charismatic now rather than later.
"Next is Era."
A red-haired woman who looked to be the same age as Asara stepped forwards. She had a firey air about her and her eyes were a burning orange, that were filled with life, and she bounced in place, seeming to radiate energy. She wasn't as tall as Asara or Dasha, but she was average. She had an athletic build like Dasha, but with a large chest and was less built.
"Next is Seren."
A platinum-haired blonde stepped forward and I held back the urge to let out a whistle at the sight of her. She was like an eighteen-year-olds fantasy, with striking blue eyes, shining hair, plump lips, and a body that was made up of curves in all the right places, not to mention her ass and chest were extremely large. She was also taller than me and seemed to be the oldest of the bunch, though not by much. She seemed to be in her late twenties. Her face was impassive but a small smile spread when she met my eyes, a smile which I returned.
"And finally, Thali."
The last of the four was also the youngest of them, looking to be around eighteen. She had pitch-black hair and reminded me of Lilah with the way she remained completely still and those dark eyes of hers. She gave off a feeling of cold, but to my surprise, she also gave me a smile when our eyes met, her coldness thawing slightly. Her figure was similar to Dasha's, but she had more in the... backside area.
I can't believe I almost turned them down, I thought, reminding myself to thank Migi when we next spoke.
"These are my lieutenants and I hope in the coming days you get to know them more," Asara said. "I can safely say they all wish to prove themselves to you as I did."
All four of the women nodded and Dasha went to open her mouth to speak but stopped as a sudden loud high pitched whirling sound could be heard.