The garden paths of the capital residence transformed from a pristine sanctuary into a localized war zone in a matter of seconds. Sparks flew as Marielle vaulted forward, her dual daggers executing a blindingly fast upward slash that deflected a razor-sharp crescent of compressed wind magic.
The force of the gale whipped her dark hair wildly around her face, but she didn't lose her footing for a single fraction of a second. Coating her weapons in a shimmering, volatile aura of pure, non-elemental mana, she spun through the air, closing the distance to the imperial princess with lethal efficiency.
Iryna didn't flinch. Her reflexes were flawless. With a sharp tilt of her chin, she stomped her heel against the stone path, instantly summoning a jagged wall of ice directly from the earth.
Marielle's daggers slammed into the frozen barrier with a deafening crack, sending a violent shower of glittering ice shards exploding between them.
