I jump back, narrowly avoiding her first strike, and counter with an immediate series of blows, pressing in on her defenses.
One. Two. Three. Four.
She catches them all, until the fifth strikes her knuckles and sends the sword spinning through the air.
There's a heartbeat of hesitation, where her eyes widen in realization, and then I strike. My wooden blade crashes against her ribs.
The air escapes her lungs, and she hits the ground on her side.
She's not down for long, though.
The training sword is close enough for her to roll and snatch it up again. I would have been happy ending the fight as soon as she fell...but...well.
This is Beatrix.
She's too stubborn and prideful for her own good, and there's never been anything I can do to stop this woman from seeing my very existence as antagonistic to her.
