Chapter 30: Duel
Compared to the others, Athar remained calm and composed.
At first, he was unsure whether he should volunteer for the spar or not. But after observing how Angelica had handled the previous students, dispatching each with just a few controlled moves, he made up his mind.
Whether he would be chosen or not was left to fate. And fate answered. The moment he raised his hand, Angelica called him out.
Angelica had been defeating every opponent in one or two exchanges and she had been doing it not through her overwhelming strength, but through her razor sharp presence of mind and rich battle experience.
She had not said anything outright, but it was clear, at least to Athar, that she had been deliberately targeting the weakest link in each student's technique. Perhaps it was a subtle lesson, one she expected each student to uncover on their own.
Athar had noticed this pattern. And so, in search of a worthy challenge and a chance to test himself against someone far stronger, he decided to step forward.
He had been sparring regularly with Ryler in recent days, but Ryler simply didn't have the skill or power to push him to his limits anymore.
Now standing in the centre of the hall, Athar calmly drew his sword from the scabbard tied to his waist.
"A sword user," Angelica observed with mild interest. "Then I shall use a sword as well."