But the woman moved swiftly, matching her every move, circling with predatory patience, not a hint of hesitation in her stride.Esme's hand slipped to the hidden blade at her side. She waited, gauging her opponent's distance, her mind racing through possible moves. She could feel the woman's gaze, sharp and unyielding, tracking her every shift.
Esme took a breath, calculated, and then sprang forward, throwing herself low and fast, closing the distance between them before the woman could raise her weapon again.
The two collided in a flurry of strikes and counters. The woman's strength caught Esme off-guard—she was skilled, her movements practiced and deliberate, each strike aimed to disable, not just distract.
Esme narrowly avoided a sweeping kick, countering with an elbow strike aimed at her opponent's jaw. But the woman twisted, deflecting the blow with a fluid, almost effortless motion, and countered with a brutal punch that Esme barely blocked in time.
