Willow kept the smile on his face, the memory of their Kendo days clearing his mind for a moment. He didn't let himself get carried away by nostalgia, but the slight tremor of excitement in his arms clarified he was enjoying the moment.
He and Turki kept exchanging glances of careful analysis, each trying to guess the other's next move.
Turki straightened his posture, making a point of closing his guard as much as possible, and Willow noticed he was adopting a more defensive posture. His controlled breathing and the slight change of his feet showed he didn't want to expose himself to any more mistakes.
The noise of the surrounding competitors and their swords — all that faded away as Willow focused completely on Turki. It was a game of patience now, as if they were both waiting to see who would give in to the urge to attack first.
