It was a battle that felt utterly lopsided.
Every time I tried to advance, her shields would envelop her completely, blocking my every move. When I attempted to strike, those same shields would repel me, leaving me powerless. My hard-earned confidence as a magic knight seemed to evaporate in an instant.
"You can switch with Bernadette if you want," the golden-haired woman said, her voice matter-of-fact. "But be careful—she's the deadliest of them all. If you try to get behind her like you've been doing, your head will be off before you know it. Just a shoosh and blood will be gushing from the stump of your neck."
I didn't want that at all. I couldn't even manage to defeat the one holding the shield, so there was no chance I could stand against those skilled with swords and firearms. Winning seemed utterly impossible.
