Chapter 99: Two Kims
Kim made a few experimental swings of her sword at what was before her. Each swing was countered with precision and the same speed that Kim herself was capable of, their blades ringing with each impact. Elin didn't like the looks of this. If something went wrong, she wasn't sure that she'd be able to get to Kim in time to heal her. Then there was the doubts in her own mind of if she'd be able to help at all.
From everything she could see about the doppelganger, it appeared that both were equally matched. Elin felt herself break out into cold sweat as she watched helplessly as Kim began trading serious blows with the other Kim. Elin wasn't sure what there was that she could do and suddenly found herself short of breath, her ears starting to hurt with how loud the ringing of the blades were getting.
Elmo quickly moved over to her and spoke softly to her. "Take deep breaths. You're hyperventilating. Slow your breathing," he said, sounding like he was struggling to keep it together himself.
Somehow, she found comfort in that knowledge. Relief that she wasn't the only one finding it difficult to be left as purely an observer, unable to do anything to help. That realization also made it easier for her to slow her breathing down, which also eased her heartrate. Which then let her realize something else that she found unpleasant.
"Ugh," Elin remarked as she realized the dress she was wearing had suddenly turned a bright yellow. "I hate yellow."
"It's not so bad," Elmo said. "At least it'll change to a different color once your feelings change."
While she knew that Elmo was trying to be helpful, she couldn't help but find herself annoyed at him. Maybe it was because of the color of her dress or something else, but she wasn't interested in that. What she most wanted was to find some way that she could help out Kim.
When it was clear to both Kims that neither were going to get an actual hit on the other at the rate they were going, the both suddenly started to enter into a combat dance. Or whatever Kim's dancing skill was called, Elin thought to herself.
It didn't take long before she lost track of which Kim was which. Both seemed to move at blinding speeds that made Elin feel dizzy herself. She suddenly wondered if Jonas would be able to help out, even with the Kims moving as they werel. She would also expect that he'd be able to keep track of which Kim was which, regardless of how much of a blur they were moving in.