Aeris’s pov
As I closed my eyes for a fleeting moment, I steadied myself and pushed forward, my blade aimed just inches from Nathaniel’s heart. I had never taken a life before, and even now, I hesitated. But this battle had grown beyond what I could have anticipated, beyond any mercy I could afford him. I couldn’t let my fury simmer; it needed to burn through him.
I swung my blade, its sharp edge ringing as it clashed with Nathaniel’s. The impact sent a vibration up my arm, but I held steady, refusing to yield. With a quick wheel kick, I managed to shove him backward, forcing him to stagger, but his reflexes were sharp. He retaliated, his defense solid and frustratingly unyielding. Each time I struck, he countered, his gaze hard and calculating as he read every move.
My focus narrowed,
