"Someone! Drag this arrogant one away from my manor!" Lady Meiyer commanded, glaring at Princess Khillian.
"Don't you dare touch me!" Princess Khillian snapped, her eyes blazing as the guards approached to restrain her.
Lady Meiyer noticed the guards' hesitation and her fury intensified. "Who do you work for?! Drag her out, now!" she demanded, her voice sharp.
Ningtin stood by, torn between intervening in the quarrel and escaping the escalating tension.
"I'm not leaving until I see Nameless," Princess Khillian declared confidently as the guards closed in.
Lady Meiyer scoffed, a smirk playing on her lips, her eyes glinting with inner rage. "Guards, you can stop," she commanded, and the guards halted their approach.
"Calm in appearance but not in heart. Alright! If you choose to wait for him, then defeat me!" she challenged, descending the stairs with a swift, graceful motion.
As she descended, she glanced at one of her guards. "Lend me your sword," she ordered. The guard threw his sword to her, and she caught it effortlessly.
"I only speak to people in the manner they speak to me. You should know better than to call someone a whore at first meeting," Princess Khillian retorted. She spun towards a guard, locked eyes with him, and unsheathed his sword before turning back.
As she spun back, she blocked Lady Meiyer's attack, and a burst of white energy erupted as their swords clashed.
Their swords remained locked as they glared at each other. Lady Meiyer's lips curled into a sneer. She tilted her head slightly and said, "Alright, you can block an attack. Let's see how long you can last, painted doll."
"Enlighten me with your ways,
LADY
MEIYER," Princess Khillian said, withdrawing her stance as she looked at lady meiyer over her eyelids.
Lady Meiyer elevated herself, her left leg straight in the air while her right leg supported her, her foot near her waist. She struck her sword to the left and yelled, "I'm supposed to use this skill against an enemy, painted doll. I hope you can survive it," she said with a smirk.
"More action, I have no time for chit-chat," Princess Khillian, still on the ground, said as she raised her hands beside her and gathered essence.
Wind began to blow around her, causing the guards to step back. The wind whipped Princess Khillian's gown and white hair.
"Hmph," Lady Meiyer scoffed as she pointed her sword to the sky and danced in the air with her weapon. As she pointed her sword in different directions, water droplets formed and swung with her movements. This dance, known as the Dance of the Lotus, was created by the founder of the Lotus Sect over 200 years ago and passed down to its members.
"Ladies, let's use our words," Ningtin pleaded, seeing the fight escalate to another level.
"Let me warn you, if you don't want your head severed from your body, keep your mouth shut and don't come between us," Lady Meiyer said as she continued her aerial dance.
Princess Khillian stamped her left foot on the ground, then elevated and flew towards Lady Meiyer, her sword aimed at her opponent.
Lady Meiyer swiftly swung her sword in a circular motion, forming water around her. She switched the sword to her right hand, swung it again, then held it firm and pinned it sideways. An illusion of a lotus flower began to form, its petals made of shimmering water droplets.
The flower appeared to bloom in mid-air, each petal unfurling gracefully, reflecting light in a mesmerizing dance of colors. The illusion was so vivid that it seemed almost tangible, with delicate water droplets glistening like morning dew on the petals.
As the lotus flower reached full bloom, it radiated a serene yet powerful aura, embodying both beauty and danger. The petals then started to dissolve into a fine mist, disappearing into the air, leaving behind a sense of ethereal tranquility.
Lady Meiyer spun and struck towards Princess Khillian, her attack like a large, sweeping blade. Princess Khillian held her sword firmly and blocked the attack with a slash. The counter made a resounding bang, and the force of their clash sent ripples through the air.
Princess Khillian's eyes narrowed, her gaze locked onto Lady Meiyer's every movement. She could see the determination in Lady Meiyer's eyes, a fierce glint that matched her own resolve.
Princess Khillian's grip tightened on her sword. She could feel the energy coursing through her veins, the essence she had gathered swirling around her like a protective barrier. She took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling steadily, and then she launched herself forward with a burst of speed.
Lady Meiyer met her charge head-on, their swords clashing again and again in a flurry of strikes and parries. Each movement was precise, calculated, and filled with intent. The sound of metal against metal echoed through the air, mingling with the rustle of leaves and the distant chirping of birds.
Princess Khillian's eyes flicked to the side, noticing a slight shift in Lady Meiyer's stance. She seized the opportunity, feinting to the left before spinning to the right, her sword slicing through the air with deadly accuracy. Lady Meiyer barely managed to deflect the blow, her eyes widening in surprise.
Lady Pherna and others in the manor heard the commotion and rushed to the scene.
Princess Khillian and Lady Meiyer continued their fierce battle.
"You were able to block the Lotus Slash of a Lotus Sect disciple at the eighth phase. Who are you?" Lady Meiyer asked, panting as she fought with Princess Khillian.
At one point during the fight, Lady Meiyer struck Princess Khillian's sword with such force that Khillian lost her grip, and the sword fell, striking the ground.
"I hope you can fight without a sword, or you can consider yourself defeated," Lady Meiyer said with a smirk.
Princess Khillian spread her hands sideways and landed gracefully on the ground, standing firmly. "I never lose easily. I am KHILLIAN!" she declared, setting her hands as if they were her sword.
The onlookers thought Princess Khillian wouldn't last, but she did. For hours, she used her dodging skills to evade Lady Meiyer's slashes, avoiding any injury.
At one point, when Lady Meiyer attempted to slash her, Princess Khillian jumped, grabbed Lady Meiyer's arms, and glared into her eyes. She then backflipped while holding onto Lady Meiyer's arms.
As she landed, she attempted to kick Lady Meiyer's sword out of her hand with the back of her feet, but she didn't succeed. Lady Meiyer backflipped away, and Princess Khillian's eyes widened as she saw her opponent moving in the opposite direction before she landed on the ground.
Princess Khillian winced in pain as she landed and tried to stand up, but Lady Meiyer pointed her sword at her, the tip just inches from her throat.
"If only I had my lute, you would not have succeeded. However, it's not an excuse for my loss," Princess Khillian said as she stood up.
"I hope you know your place now," Lady Meiyer said with a smug look.
"What place? I'd like to have a spar again in the future," Princess Khillian replied.
"You are not my competition," Lady Meiyer said, looking at her with disgust, as if she were a maggot, before turning her back on her.
"But you are one of my competitions. We will have this spar again in the future, whether you like it or not," Princess Khillian said confidently.
"Walk away or be dragged out," Lady Meiyer commanded. She then turned to Ningtin, "Ningtin, you had a job to do. Why are you still here?" she asked, noticing him.
Ningtin's heart raced, and he felt a bead of sweat trickle down his temple. "My lady—" he began, his voice trembling slightly, but she shot him a glare that made his stomach churn.
"Khillian!" Lady Pherna yelled happily as she arrived, breaking the tension momentarily.