Completed [The Anthonius Fighters Pits] No Best; Only Better (Kaie)

[Razkar]

52nd Day of Summer
The Anthonius Fighter's Pit
14th Bell

It never ended; it only progressed or changed into something else when a dead end was reached. His instructor's had likened it much to the cycle of a day. Beginning with the embers of light, the bird of ability... then growing brighter, stronger, more skilled and accomplished... and then fading with age or lack of practice... but reborn again. Perhaps the same, perhaps different, but reborn nonetheless.

Some would say that Razkar had "mastered" his most familiar weapons, the gladius and ax he had carried longest... but he was far from accomplished in all. Until he was, the denizens of the Fighter's Pit would find a familiar sight in the Myrian warrior, battering at training dummies or anyone who would spar with him.

Only there was no "until then"; not to Razkar. The sun rose and set... and his dance would continue.

"Shyke!"

... and often painfully.

"Gods, Myrian, one would think you would have grown accustomed to that move by now."

Panting, bruised, doubled over and with one elbow supporting himself on the wall of the Pit, Razkar glared up at his fresh-as-a-daisy Akalak opponent. Like him, Eranis wielded a lakan in each hand, only his were ancestral weapons, crafted for him when he came of age and wielded with preternatural skill.

Razkar had taken his from a hulking sellsword he'd dueled, decapitated and partially eaten. That probably had nothing to do with his lack of skill with the pair of curved blades, but nonetheless...

The Myrian straightened up and settled back into a ready stance, almost like a boxer, curved and jagged dagger held in his right. His stomach ached and stung, foot the size of his head having slammed into it only a chime ago. Like the Akalak said, he should have seen it coming. He struck left, then right, opening the Akalak up and-

-done the same to himself, practically inviting the big blue bastard to plant a foot in his stomach and knocking him across the Pit.

"One day..." he managed to rasp as the two circled "... it is going to be other way."

"Other than what-"

The Akalak dove forwards, jabbing out with his right, Razkar swaying and twisting away to his left and lashing out-

-a straight left jab to the Akalak's right side, aiming for the kidney-

-only for Eranis to almost mirror his evasion, sliding to his left and away from Razkar's blow, his right arm straight and finishing it's jab but then slashing sideways towards Razkar's chest-

-but an uppercut from the Myrian's lakan knocked the arm up and away, slash aimed at his chest slicing nothing but air-

-kicking low at the same time, aiming for the Akalak's shins-

-but the big man slid away, disengaging, circling, watching, re-evaluating in that coldly clinical way Eranis seemed to do everything. Well over a season had the Myrian known him, and even now, those yellow eyes gave nothing away save for a rapacious curiosity about the world around them... and, when called for, a chillingly efficient combat style.

"Other than me getting petched in fight with you." Razkar finished, picking up exactly where they'd left off, but perhaps a little more winded. "Will be you. Just for change."

"'Fight'? Is that what we're doing?" Eranis' mouth moved and it could have been called a smile, but his eyes were as icy as before. "I thought this was training."

"Yes, you would think. But when you get beat every time-"

That time, Razkar went on the defensive, lunging forwards and snapping out two quick feints, left and right hooks, keeping the Akalak guessing-

-before jerking his pelvis forwards again, swinging and kicking out between the Akalak's legs, forcing the big man to slide to his side, lakan slashing down-

-Razkar pulling his leg back just in time to avoid it, left arm jabbing out at the Akalak's exposed right upper arm-

-but Eranis was already moving, swift and smooth despite his bulk, not even a hint of sweat on his body as he spun forward and to his right, spinning around to Razkar's right-

-right arm jabbing out at Razkar's side-

-the slim, metal hand-guard of the lakan held in it acting like a sharpened knuckleduster when it slammed into the Myrian's side, bruising bones, batter muscle-

"Fuck this!"

Razkar slammed his elbow down tight to his side, trapping the brawny blue forearm under it before Eranis could draw it back, a flicker of surprise registering on the Akalak's face-

-just enough time for the Myrian twist his body around to the right, hard, pulling the Akalak towards him, off-balance-

-his lakan slashing almost diagonally-

-and ripping a vicious gash across Eranis' upper right arm, trapped and motionless in Razkar's "grip".

The Myrian's face split into a feral, relieved grin and he backed away... well, more like staggered, really, and Eranis did not deign to pursue, still staring at his arm like a curious beetle had just alighted on it. The panting Myrian watched, one hand at his side, breathing stinging and stabbing his ribs... and the Akalak nodded.

"Well, well, well... your first cut on me. Although... some would say, not an honorable way to..." Razkar just cocked an eyebrow that said an awful lot, and Eranis smiled. This time, it touched his eyes. "... but when did that matter, hmm?"

"Agreed."

Slow, almost sarcastic clapping above pattered on their ears, and both fighters looked up at the railings ringing the pit. The harsh sun baked down and Razkar had to squint, one hand raised to ward of Syna's glare... and then he snorted, crooked and welcome smile on his face.

"Enjoy show, female?"

[Kaie]

The City of Peace was suffocating. It was like the extremist Order constantly had its armored fingers around her throat, choking and restraining her Myrian nature. Often times the savage woman felt like the barbarian world was slowly trying to domesticate her. To rid her of tradition and culture and replace her beliefs with the morals of a long slain deity. Her escape was the forest. Retreating to the Cobalt Mountains where the land was still untamed and wild, Kaie thrived. It was there that she truly felt liberated at least for a while where she could hone her skills. Sure, it wasn't anything like the Jungle but it was the closest thing she had to home. The dangers it posed kept her on her toes and her senses were always performing well. Awareness, she learned, was an important key to survival. Though even in her solitude the fires in her heart burned bright. When the flames of a bloodthirsty warrior blazed within, Kaie would finally return to Syliras. The Myrian woman knew of one other place where her belligerence could be expelled. The Anthonius Fighters Pit.

Syna was just beginning to start her journey down the horizon when the Myrian reached the Pit. As she usually did when travelling within the walls, she wore her cloak over her traditional clothing. Hair fell in those classic brown loose curls and waves down her back as always. Rather than wandering nervously without purpose through the crowd as a kid, Kaie had come to know the streets as well as the thin paths in the jungle. She knew which alleys were dead ends and which were shortcuts. Hell, odds were she could probably name the order each vendor set up in the Bazaar if she really focused. She practically ran on autopilot as she walked. It was only when she reached those dusty Pit walls that Kaie actually paid attention.

Down below was a pair of sparring partners in a competitive battle. Both wielded a weapon she'd never seen before. An ornamental, foreign looking dagger with a curved blade. It caught her eye as Syna's rays glinted off the metal, but it wasn't the fancy weapon that made the woman stop dead in her tracks.

The piercings and tattoos. The mannerisms. She'd know him anywhere. Razkar. Her Myrian brother was in a fierce battle with an Akalak. By the way he tiredly returned to his feet after a well placed kick to the stomach, she could tell he had been at it a while. Kaie leaned onto the railing curiously to watch. Studying his behavior she could tell he was a bit behind. Yet as biased as she was, she could only believe he'd make his return as Myri demanded. As expected, she was right.

Raz turned the tables quickly. By the time his attack was through she could just make out his blade running across the Akalak's skin. From her angle she couldn't quite see blood, but by the way the Akalak and Razkar reacted, she knew his efforts were not futile. They separated, exchanging remarks about his success, the Akalak questioning the honor of his move. Of course both knew that honor was worthless in battle. You spill blood however you can. It was survival, not a question of some unwritten rules of engagement.

Kaie smirked at the animalistic grin on her brethren's face. So pleased with himself. With the battle finally reaching an official end, the Myrian woman brought her hands together in a slow clap. Sarcastic as always, brow raised in mock astonishment. Yet not once did she pay attention to the oddly colored male. She had eyes only for Myri's son. The man who exposed her to new opportunities within the barbarian world she hadn't found before. Ever since she'd had a new way to stoke that inferno in her soul. Kaie was grateful for that.

He raised his hand to block the bright son, grinning at her like they hadn't seen each other in years. Then came the familiar tongue of her lands. The rich language that made her dulled chocolate eyes glow bright again. It was crazy how even an ounce of Falyndar could breathe life right back into her.

"As always. The Goddess Queen would be satisfied, brother," She returned in their native tongue, flashing him a bright smile of her own. Without further invitation she leaped down over the wall. Her cloak billowed behind her for the short fall until she hit the ground. Knees caved in enough to absorb the blow before she shot right back up. Bronzed fingers moved to her throat to untie the cloak. When the knot was undone the cloth fell from her body like a slow moving waterfall. Her hand clasped one end of it before it dropped to toss it off to the side. Without the cover, all could see the few weapons she decided to bring today. Her father's gladius and Kukri daggers sheathed on her lower back, the latter which were loots from her last encounter with Razkar.

"We haven't crossed paths since the bloodletting in the woods. What've you been up to?" Kaie asked casually, demeanor friendly toward her only fellow Myrian known in the city.

[Razkar]

"As always. The Goddess Queen would be satisfied, brother."

Some part of Razkar's mind snorted at that, told him that She would have been satisfied with Victory, as befitted her godly title... but it was quashed by the sheer joy of seeing one of Her children with him again. Kaie of the Cutthroat Shadows, jumping back into his life like the smell of Taloba Grey and the sound of their native tongue, shouted and growled in a land far from the jungle.

"Still not the best with these, I have to admit," he said with a smile, raising the lakan, a sheen of bright, fresh blood on it, "But it is all a journey, no? And this one-" he jerked one of the blades to Eranis, bowing a greeting to the new face in the Pit "-is certainly an apt guide."

The Akalak smiled softly as he recognized the word for "guide". Myrian was an... intense language, Eranis was learning. He'd absorbed fragments of it back in Riverfall but being around Razkar for so long had given him a new appreciation. So guttural and harsh to his ears, like wolves about to brawl... but it managed to say in half-a-dozen syllables that which Common would require sentences.

And he also knew that when two Children of Myri met, any others were most definitely just scenery.

"I will leave the two of you to... catch up." He said politely, tipping his head once more to the female. "Good bye."

With that he was gone, heaving his towering form from the Pit with little effort, injured arm nothing more than a scratch for such powerful limbs. Razkar watched him go and smiled, shaking his head.

Shooed out from giving me a beating by another interrupting female. Goddess, it's almost becoming a habit.

When he turned his gaze back to Kaie, it was to the sound of her cloak softly rustling onto the stones, revealing her taut, lithe form, handles of blades poking out from either side of her back. A look passed between them, strange to others but intimate and understood to their people... and they began to circle each other.

"We haven't crossed paths since the bloodletting in the woods. What've you been up to?"

Razkar chuckled and shrugged, wondering how to encompass so many days and events into a mere sentence or two. But his eyes did not leave the female, hardening above his warm smile... keen for the roll of her muscles in her shoulders, the tightening of her thighs and the swing of her arms.

One did not come to the Pits just to talk, and one certainly did not jump into one for anything less than to swing steel.

"I have added some interesting memories to my mind, that much is true," he said airily, stretching his arms and flexing his grip on the blades held at the end of both, "Sparred in this very pit with a human from Nyka, the domain of Uphis." He spat the word with every ounce of venom that Bastard's Bastard had earned among their kin. "Sparred with knights and brawlers and Akalaks like Eranis up there... even brawled in the Spinning Coin-"

He held up a shining, jagged lakan like one would a finger, grinning behind it.

"And, I have to say, was victorious. I quested with the Knights at the behest of the same employer that drew us together, tracking down and eliminating a band of bandits in the mountains..." He chuckled as memories clashed together. "... and then barely escaped their 'justice' when I defended myself and another from men even worse. These are strange barbarians, these... Knights. But both brave comrades and, if the Fates decree, worthy adversaries..."

Both of them stopped circling. Some unknown energy crackled between them, perhaps the twin and dueling crackles of two gnosis marks to the same Goddess, both warring with each other even as the bodies they marked stood tight and ready... expectant.

Razkar smiled... and raised his blade, knees bent and body raised lightly on the balls of his feet. So long since he had sparred with one of his kin... since Taloba, if he recalled correctly. The red sand of the Training Yards... Goddess, he could almost smell the sweat thick in the air like the humidity.

"When ready, mistress," he said lowly, flashing her that same sharp grin and a lightning wink right after, "We can catch up while we... heh... 'catch up'."

[Kaie]

Kaie wasn't too surprised when Razkar ignored her little jibe. He seemed to invisibly wave it off and instead show off his unorthodox weapon choice. Just as before, the blade caught the natural light from Syna above like a beacon. The sight of crimson blood along the edge caused her grin to widen. It wasn't until Razkar gestured to the hulking Akalak behind him (who she had forgotten was there in the first place), that Kaie realized the strange dagger hailed from Riverfall. That's when she disappeared.

For but a moment she was gone from the barbarian arena. Lost from the Knights and the bustling city she had come to know so painfully well. Instead she remembered a massive waterfall. One whose mist floated leisurely through the ocean breeze to tease at her face, cooling her from Syna's rays. And then there was color. Blues and purples all bustling about a gorgeous city in the cliffs. Finally there came the glimmers of silver. The edges of carefully forged weapons held by the colored men who passed her by. Daggers not so different from the one Myri's son held just then.

Upon her sudden return, recollection brought her to connect previous experience with the present. Though she did not recall the significance between the Akalaks and their weapon, Kaie could see why Razkar would choose such a man to train with them. The woman nodded her head slowly toward the blue man to return his silent greeting. In a moment he was gone, though, leaving only the jungle born to themselves. And then their dance began.

As he began to update her, the Myrian woman allowed her hands to slip casually to her back. Just as he was toying with his own grip on the dagger, Kaie withdrew her own. A single Kukri slipped from the sheath on her lower back while she listened. Upon hearing the tale of the man of Nyka, brows raised in a bit of surprise. Of course she shouldn't have been so shocked. The man that immediately came to her mind would've camped out in the arena for days, if only to wait for a fight with a man like Razkar.

"Ximal," She confirmed with a hint of bitterness if only for her defeat. The fighter had proved knowledgeable for a man from such a hated domain. He had shared information that was valuable. Had he been of a place other than Uphis's domain, she might've considered visiting his fighting school. Well, assuming he didn't have a soft spot for the demigod either that is.

She enjoyed listening to the adventures Razkar always seemed to tell about. The glory of battles and conflicts were her favorite subjects. In a way, she lived through them. Eyes almost sparkled with enthusiasm at the idea of hunting down bandits. She could only imagine the bloodshed. Was it like the time he took her out with the Kelvic and the ghost? Did he twist and turn cleverly through his enemies leaving a trail of blood behind him, just like before?

"Ah, the noble Knights of Syliras. Such honorable and skilled combatants but...Their way is not Her's," She quirked with a mischievous grin. Slowly, she spun the handles of her fresh weapon in her hand to rearrange her hold. The trick was only barely executed properly, but luckily she didn't drop the damn thing. With all the eyes upon the two Falyndar beasts, that would've been embarrassing. Then again no opinion should matter other than that of her own people's.

Her gnosis seemed to become activated by his very presence. Ferocious spirits harmonizing with one another in a vicious dance like rival flames. Any bystander would immediately feel the intensity of the two savages, hairs standing on end upon hearing their words. It was as if the very sound of their language was capable of sending an outsider into a panic. An immediate fight or flight response that usually ended with the latter choice.

"Besides... All that emphasis on peace? It's just not my style, " The Myrian woman added while falling into a proper battle stance. Knees bent and her feet became comfortably staggered with her left foot as the lead. Her crouch was predatory. Circling into direct sunlight, her once chocolate brown eyes were replaced with vibrant amber hues. With wildfire in her eyes, Kaie needed no further invitation than what was granted by Razkar to begin.

She closed in with quick feet. Kukri at the ready, she feigned left, then right before bringing a raised Kukri down at his shoulder from above. It was wild and choppy but it would do. Her open hand remained in a guard position. A precaution. She anticipated he would probably counter better than she could imagine. With such a shaky, aggressive slash like she just doled out, how could she expect less? Teeth gritted together in expectation, hoping she'd at least prove somewhat competitive against her formative adversary.

[Razkar]

Razkar nodded his agreement at her summation of the Knightly Order of Syliras. He'd met several of them, even sparred with one, fought with others, but for all their martial courage and skill... they were not Blessed by Myri. They fought for a long-dead god, like the fanatics that slaved under Uphis, in far and darkened Nyka. They kept a stranglehold on their city and called it "order" or "justice", and while Razkar respected the will to do such a thing... what power did they have beyond the walls of this one city?

They are one candle against the darkness... and the tallow will not last forever.

But there was no time for reflection or even reply (for the moment). Razkar blinked and Kaie was upon him, sliding to her left, his right, drawing his attention-

-but he saw the tensing in her right shoulder, the way it bunched up ready to strike, and was already moving his own arm-

-as her kukri flashed towards his shoulder, spurred by her Gnosis and Razkar felt a delicious thrill of mingled excitement and fear. So long since he had dueled one Marked by Myri! Such a challenge...

He swayed to his side, away from her blow, not trying to stop it with one hand empty-

-but that didn't mean he didn't stop moving, jabbing out with his right lakan, a short shot but not aimed at her-

-aimed at her left, metal slamming on metal again and knocking it away-

-as Razkar's right foot lashed out twice, quick, sharp blows aimed at the middle of her left shin and just under her left kneecap. Not crippling blows (he didn't want their fun ended that quickly), but enough to let her know he wouldn't go easy on her.

A feral smile split his face. Of course, she knew that already. They were Myrian, and she was female. She would be the one going easy on him.

[Kaie]

As always, her kin surprised her in ways she didn't see coming. Expecting to be directly assaulted with a clever blade trick, he went for something less obvious. When Razkar swayed so gracefully away from her blow, Kaie realized what she might really be in for. Her animalistic swing caught nothing but empty air. Kaie grit her teeth and her pupils dilated at the sight of his incoming counter. He had denied her try as readily as a barbarian child might when unsatisfied with a toy. Unfortunately for her, there would be no time out for her simple mistake. She was no longer a child and certainly not one of the outside world. Her punishment would be brutality only her own could put forth. And put forth he did.

Kaie stepped in just in time as his swing came. Using her forearm, she halted the blade arm before it could do damage on her. Halting it at the wrist like it had become frozen by her buffer. A small vibration of pain was registered, reminding her she'd probably bruise there. Yet their fight wasn't nearly over. Pain needed to be completely out of the picture if she had a chance at being competitive. Knowing Razkar, he couldn't be done with her yet. When it came to fighting, he always had something else up his non-existent sleeve.

She realized his body was shifting rapidly. Almost too rapidly for her to read. His upper body seemed almost stagnant in comparison to the sudden change. She could only guess that the blade wasn't the only thing involved in this coming strike. So that left his lower body. Would it be a knee? A kick? Or was she wrong about both and he was actually going to do her in with a dagger? Her ability to foresee was severely lacking, leaving her largely vulnerable. The unknown loomed over her in that heartbeat length of a moment. It threatened to crush her under its severity. What was she to do?

Panic response caused her to decide on a kick of her own. She lifted her foot high, aiming to drive it straight into his gut before he could reach her. Of course considering the distance between their individual targets, she was too behind. Just as she was about to drive her heel into him she felt it. One sharp kick and then another in her shin, quick but imperfect. Naturally, all her years in fighting had helped dull the nerves of that area through training. It hadn't proved to be as painful as a less experienced opponent might describe it, but it sure as hell still hurt.

The Myrian woman fell back from her brethren. The weapon hand flailed the Kukri at him hopelessly. As soon as she hit the ground, she rolled back over her should into a crouch. With a feral growl she bared her teeth, flashing pearly whites in a show of both rage and admiration for Razkar. Then without further ado, she lunged forth to continue battle.

This time she swung her right hand horizontally to his body, hoping to catch him below his guard at his middle. His reflexes were good. She had to give him that much. With that in mind she added another move for good measure. Just as her fist approached his skin, her body turned with the momentum to lash a low roundhouse kick at him. Her shin was aimed to land just below his hips and above his knee on his right side. Even if his dagger had failed, maybe she'd cramp up one of his limbs at least.

[Razkar]

Whatever advantage Razkar gained would be fleeting; he knew his people, and he knew their females. Beating them down only redoubled their determination, and they rarely made the same mistake twice. But already h was finding them both on equal footing, each equipped with weapons they were unused to, fresh challenges...

He bared his teeth when Kaie snarled her challenge to him, a pair of jungle creatures that fed off the outrage and power of the other. Razkar had seen tigers fight before, territorial disputes that sometimes ended bloody. Mostly a full-throated roar that emptied the jungle for miles around was enough, but every now and then some headstrong young or near-suicidal old male decided to bring claw and fang to fur.

Razkar liked the image, and his smile stayed in place even as she lunged at him again, kukri flashing for his side, lower-

-but not low enough as his knees bent and arm snapped down, left hand intercepting her strike at her wrist before it could get close to his soft belly-

-but she was already striking again, spinning with the momentum of her lunge and bringing up her leg to kick at his side-

"Not bad, female!"

Razkar twisted to his side, facing the onrushing shin, pushing away, his other hand slamming forwards-

-landing a vicious punch on the shin stilling singing towards him. The lakan's slim, almost-sharpened hand guard would surely pierce flesh and grind bones. Kaie's follow up had not only been blocked but turned into a disaster-

-but since when did the Goddess-Queen ever let a male have it all his own way?

Razkar yelled out in pain as a stringing stripe of agony ripped into his mind, birthed on his right side. He staggered to the side and slashed wildly with his lakan, keeping the female back as he staggered, feeling hot blood ooze out from the gash under his arm, a red line cut from below his armpit to his hip.

He flashed a black look that peeled the flesh from his teeth and his gnosis burned for vengeance... an odd sensation, considering it was the same gift that had caused that injury in the first place. Just given to a different Child of Myri. Staggering now, limping heavily from her bloodied leg, Kaie kept her distance but not for long, standing ready and settling into a defensive stance.

Blood oozed and tickled its way down his leg and he felt a dull, endless ache throbbing there. The male gritted his teeth and nodded slowly. Ah. Real weapons, real injuries... real risk. That was what he'd been missing for so long.

"A taste of the Training Yards?" He said, managing a smile and shaking away the sweat from his face like a dog. When he stopped, his hair was wild and plastered around him, grin like a tiger gaping at her. "Well, I won't be one to argue-"

He came on fast as his gnosis would allow, powering forward and slashing out diagonally. Left, right, once, twice, up and down and keeping her guessing, backing her up, forcing some kind of response from her.

If she kicked out at him he would slash down with his right and try for another crippling wound, but he doubted it. With one leg already petched, she knew her best chance was in keeping both feet on the ground.

Razkar braced himself for the flashing kukri, ready to parry it away with his short, curved blade and repay her for her "kindness" (as one of their kin would know it) with his other lakan.

[Kaie]

Kaie grunted under her breath, struggling against him even as he knocked her hit away. Naturally that wasn't nearly the end of it. He still had a sneaky attempt at a kick to take care of. One that he handled all too well. He almost had her distracted for a moment with his praise and flashy smile, giving her the illusion she might actually land it. Kaie must've been delusional to believe she'd land such a foreseeable attack, and on a man who wore a bloody cloak of scalps for Myri sake!

The edge of his weapon came down with surprisingly force and speed, crippling her try at damage. Whatever discomfort she had aimed to force onto him, he delivered in ten fold. The clever weapon handle had proven hard and sharp enough to indeed pierce her skin. Immediately flesh tore from shin and the hard surface grinded brutally on her Tibia. The result? Excruciating pain.

"Bastard!" She roared at him through a sharp inhale aggressively, fury building within her frame. Immediately she let her shin rebound off the guard to fall back into position. Her lower leg flared up as nerves sent her panic messages to her brain. All the while blood oozed down her bronzed skin from torn and battered flesh. It was a struggle to keep herself from removing it from the earth, to favor the other leg in hopes of saving the injured from further punishment. Discipline in her upbringing alone kept her diced leg rooted to the ground in her battle stance. It sure hurt like hell, but a shout from her adversary brought a special kind of joy to her heart. The satisfaction of a wounded opponent.

Bringing her gaze to the fresh trail of blood along Razkar's side, she couldn't help but smile. Lips curled up in a sadistic content instantly. She hadn't a clue how she managed to get him, perhaps flailing when he had struck her shin, but she was rather proud of the bloody sight. The dark look he shot her only encouraged her to bring him new challenges. With new confidence, Kaie willed her body into its proper rhythm to adapt to her misfortune. Luckily she wasn't too hasty, though, for his dagger tore apart the air wildly. Surely an effort to keep her from such an advancement. Yet the gnosis began its ritualistic burning, adding a new element to her fire. The flames began to rise to new heights. The wildfire was brewing deep within her body and quickly showing on her visage. Like a whisper, she could almost hear the voice willing her to go forth to do battle. The Myrian tongue in her hear spurring her into action. Empowering her to seek victory.

"Good! I prefer to do all the talking with my blades!" She growled hurriedly in unmistakable excitement just as he lunged. He powered through her, really, running her over like a mounted Drykas. Silver was all over the place and she could hardly keep up. If not for the gnosis blazing through every piece of her, Razkar might've already run her through. Kaie was determined not to go down so easily.

Feet moved, dancing in a furious backpedal of aimlessly swung blades. His dagger and body were everywhere and no where all at once. As soon as one appeared and she just managed to get an edge on it, it was gone and going for a strike elsewhere. Sweat beaded her forehead as she was hugely unprepared for his cunning. Surely he was trying to open her up, trick her into executing a defense that would ultimately improve his own offense. A crippling blow to cause total calamity on her end no doubt. Kaie was working off sight, noticing how just pupils seemed to dilate just before he went to swing at her the first time. Searching for that tiny twitch in muscle before the dagger lashed out at her. Of course she was far too distracted with blocking to catch every tell, but it was a start. One that could prove important enough to save her in their duel.

Once or twice when she shoved her Kukri into his weapon did her fingers return almost skinned. Tattered bits of skin peeled back by the knuckles where he might've nicked her once or twice coming off her block. That of course was a minor inconvenience in comparison to the shooting agony she felt with each back step. Blood was still steadily dripping from flesh to dirt. She was leaving a blood trail behind her in the dust, but the warrior didn't mind. Not one bit. For she couldn't think about previous mistakes and injuries right then. New ones were threatening her just then. She needed to only focus on that.

Ditching what she once thought was a clever move, the Myrian avoided kicking him all together. To avoid disaster, she figured she might as well try something a bit unorthodox. Much like what Yitmah had done with his gladius against hers, Kaie considered the theory the same move would work then. Naturally she'd have to improvise to adjust to the new weapons. Add her own little twist if it was even possible. Executing the action? A totally different story.

Myri, let this foolish trick work...

Just as Razkar moved to rip down her center diagonally again, Kaie jutted a Kukri out to halt him at the wrist, using more of her body than the actual weapon. Of course she knew something would follow, but with her gnosis burning she was moving. This one time she had seen two steps ahead of him. With his first attack stopped, Kaie's crouch lowered in anticipation for his next reaction.

Considering her close proximity, she believed he might easily go for a leg defense. That or he'd try to hack her down with his weapon. In either scenario, she hoped to the gods it worked.

The Myrian woman prepared the edge of her Kukri to meet an unwelcomed attack by flesh or by blade. She angled its edge toward him and propelled on. She continued her momentum to twist, low in almost a total crouch to the ground as she turned. Pivoting on her heel, she rotated outside his body bringing the previously blocking hand with her. Spinning outside his frame and away from the farther weapon, Kaie moved close to his body in hopes of slashing his obliques while she passed through toward his back, all with her newly freed hand. Her one open hand held in guard, remained in hopes of protection against a repercussion as she kept forward to exit at his back. If she succeeded in her action, she might've tried to cut across left of his spine. All in all she looked like some sort of wild spinning top. Let lose and not really sure where her momentum to take her. Would this novice try work? Or would he just dice her like a jungle fruit?

The Myrian woman bit her lip, almost narrowing her eyes expecting to be slaughtered in her attempt. Though she felt the movement was sound, smooth, and well executed it probably seemed quite awkward, off balance, and shoddy at best. It was done on a whim and held no semblance of skill rather than a try at a visual memory. The situation with her leg didn't help efforts either and actually slowed her more than she hoped. The outcome of her decision teetered on Myri's scale. The Goddess Queen would decide which gnosis blessed child would come out with the least amount of scratches this play. Doubt was cast in her mind with the clear knowledge of Razkar's prowess. Faith and confidence alone clouded that to uncertainty. She felt like she could already feel his wrath upon her...

[Razkar]

He lost his focus, and it was slowly dooming him. Arrogance, over-confidence, whatever you wanted to call it, he'd let it seize his mind and when that facade was shattered by her wounding him, he could not replace it fast enough.

The pain didn't help, either. Even as he whirled towards her, arms swinging and sliding through the air clumsily, he felt more blood pump out of him, forcing him to move, stop playing, strike down at her chest when he saw an opening-

-the clang of blade on blade felt more like a warhammer crashing down on his arm as he made the mistake of using his lakan, ugly cut there stretched the barest inch but feeling like someone shoved their hand inside it-

Move! While she is open!

Razkar snarled and slashed sideways and to her torso, aiming to repay that stripe down his ribs with one across her stomach, uncaring in that mad moment if he disemboweled her into the bargain-

-and she was already gone.

Over-confidence. Taking your skills for granted, and confusing her lack of skill with an easy victory, and that your own paltry blows would disable her. Did you forget whom she was?

Where she came from?

Whom you both call your Mother?

It must have agonized her, shifting that much weight so quickly, crouching low and under his raised right arm, sliding to his right side and avoiding his lakan entirely. Razkar didn't even think she had that kind of speed left-

-until he felt the aura of her gnosis rush past him like fiery wind, all but charring his skin, or so it felt-

"Shyke!"

-and he twisted around to face her as her crouching form spun around his side, not wanting to let her get behind him as her kukri flashed back towards his body-

The male grunted out his agony as a fresh slice was made: such a slight thing, when seen from a distance, glistening on his right oblique like it had been slashed there in paint-

-but he felt his balance begin to fail as his lakan desperately slashed down again, gnosis roaring and sending much-needed speed down his arms-

-blocking the kukri slashing once towards his back and now, as he'd turned at his stomach-

Ah, you have to love the irony of that.

-left fist uppercutting a half-tick later, aiming to slash up the inside of her right arm as her kukri swung diagonally towards him, perhaps even disarming her before her blow could land. Goddess, was that fatigue already seeping up his arms, into his limbs, robbing him of his-

"Not yet, mistress!"

He snarled out the words, using the honorific term for the females of their race as steel met steel and, he hoped, more steel met flesh. Regardless of if his ploy worked, his right foot would lash out towards her open stomach, but at that low crouch, it could easily slam into her chest or even her face, knocking her back-

-and he'd use the reverse momentum to back up at she was kicked away, buying him time, space, anything he could get so he could breath some of the agony from his lungs and wince and hobble and try not to think about the veritable stream of blood dribbling onto the sandy stone...

Razkar actually found the mirth past his pain to chuckle darkly. What happens when two people fight with blades they know next to nothing about? The gods only know, but regardless of the particulars, you're looking at a lot of blood...

[Kaie]

Goddess! It worked!

The satisfying feeling of her edge meeting targeted flesh was intoxicating. The whole success of the act was miraculous really. Nothing short of a gift from the Goddess Queen herself. Perhaps their Mother had given Kaie the upper hand in that moment to challenge her accomplished son. It was common knowledge Razkar was the better fighter. More skilled in every way. There was not an attack she could hurl his way that he had not dealt with before. He was a killer, a soldier, and a savage of the jungle. Above all he was marked by the Goddess of War. He possessed her gift of Prowess on top of the mastery in combat he already achieved. Kaie was inexperienced in comparison. He should have been crushing her from the start. That was the way it was supposed to be. The way it should be. But that was not Her way. On the battlefield, Myri made the rules. Apparently she saw it fit to challenge her beloved child this day. Kaie couldn't complain.

Unfortunately her luck had run dry. Razkar knocked away her attempt at his back and pursued her furiously. She held the handles of her Kukri with an iron grasp. Knuckles were almost white, adrenaline rushing through her. Where would he strike her next?

Before she had a chance to dodge or deflect it, her kin's dagger was hurtling upward across her arm. The best she could do was try to change course and pull back. The result was a stinging slice along the inside of her arm. A long, angry red line marking her flesh. Had she not been holding her weapons so tightly due to her nerves, she might've lost the thing entirely. And then he screamed in her redirection. There was no way she could prepare for what was coming next.

Clashing of blades returned and Kaie was the one backing up wildly. Arms were practically flailing in attempts to keep steel from her body. The shock her arms were absorbing, struggling against the force, made her feel like her bones rattled. Then a glimmer of hope lit her up inside as she saw a fighter's greatest ally: space. Kaie rushed in at him hoping to cross him out before his guard was back. She could not have made a worse mistake.

Razkar's foot dug brutally into her gut and she was sent backward immediately. The Myrian woman's feet couldn't catch her this time. Kaie hit the dirt on her back with a moan. She let out a short choking noise as she tried to catch her breath. Anger rose in her and quickly she regained control of her breathing. She planted her feet into the ground and pushed off her elbows, returning to her feet. Pain shot through her shin on cue. Kaie yelped and lifted the injured limb. Hobbled once, leg tapping the ground a few times before she painfully settled. A growl slipped through bared teeth upon hearing his laughter.

"Now that we've finished warming up..." Kaie raced forward as quickly as her wounded limb would allow. And so began their furious dance again. Gnosis burning as steel clashed upon steel and the balance constantly shifted. In the midst of their lethal flurry, Kaie hoped to keep him distracted with their weapons. She tried to work his angles. Sometimes she swung low and sometimes high. Strikes came from all different directions, challenging him though there was clear uncertainty in ever attempt. Still she continued her poor quest at searching for weakness. Considering neither were too skilled, she found they were just about even there. Almost. So she did the next best thing. She changed paced.

Kaie lashed her steel in quick strokes toward him. Jabbing at him like one might with a spear. It looked ridiculous considering it was the wrong style. She threw some unruly punches in there too. Straight with the first, the second with her Kukri coming across to deter a counter attempt. She repeated the process a few times in different areas, mixing it up to keep from being too predictable. Then right in the middle of her ploy, Kaie lashed her heel directly at his knee. A low, short forward kick at a very close proximity. Blindly she followed that with a low, shaky, slow slash above her leg as if she had been baiting him. She hoped this time would be a bit like the last. A step closer to victory. Would Razkar follow her close enough?