sword fight

Lucatiel stands across from Bernhart, inside the circle etched into the dirt. They square off on opposite sides of the make shift ring, gripping their weapons tightly. Lucatiel takes a stp to her right, beginning to circle to Bernharts offhand side, trying to give herself a flank advantage. Bernhart mimicks her movement, strafing to the right at the same speed so the two combatants are circling one another.

Bernhart makes the first move, he plants his right foot hard in the dirt during his circling and with a burst of strength from his thight lunges forward, beginning to swing his massive greatsword as he takes off, planning on the blade to swing though the space Lucatiel occupies by the time he gets close enough to strike. However, Bernhart is much to slow for a suprise attack and the much more dexterous Lucatiel  sees the attack coming, she side steps laterally to her left, and brings her sword between her shoulders and thrusts if forward, aiming at the side of Bernhart's blade. Her rapier smashes into the blue steel of the greatsword, and with a flick of her wrist, Lucatiel deflects the strike into the dirt, harmlessly cutting the air beside her shoulder.

With the greatsword lodged in the earth, Lucatiel takes the opportunity to strike before Bernhart can defend himself. She tightens her left hand into a rock solid fist and punches Bernhart in his ribs as hard as she can. The warrior gasps from the kidney shot before swinging a backhand at the masked woman. Lucatiel is not fast enough to dodge and his knuckles connect, smacking the hard porcelain with a crack!

The hit stuns the woman for a second, which is long enough for bernhart to quickly grip his sword and rip if free from the ground, and in one motion swing the broad edge of the sword at Lucatiel's chest, thumping her to the ground. She lands with a thud, her rapier falling from her hands as she hits the hard dirt. Bernhart comes in for the kill, gripping the blade with both hands, holding the hilt in front of his face, the blade pointed towards Lucatiel. As he thrusts his blade down,  Lucatiel trys to roll to the side, but only manages to save herself from death by forfeiting a large gash on her shoulder. She then takes the slight opportunity to kick Bernhart in the knee, causing him to stumble long enough for her to roll out of his range.

She tries to pick herself up off the ground but quickly finds her wounded arm refuses to obey her. She pushes herself up with her good arm, and stands, quickly glancing at the gash on her shoulder. Even through the dirt and dark red blood, she can see her bode exposed to the air.

“Fuck.” She says, gripping her arm, before returning her attention to her opponent who had just recovered and had his sword on his shoulder.

“Looks like that hurts.” Bernhart taunts walking towards the Lucatiel's rapier on the ground. He takes an armored foot and stomps on the relatively fragile blade, breaking it in two. He takes a step forward, lifting the blade a few inches off his shoulder and twists at his waist, winding up a horizontal swing.

Lucatiel smirks under her mask and and just stands there waiting for the swing to connect. It does, and decapitates the woman. Her body immediately starts to decay into dust as soon as her head flies off. As her head hits the ground it fades into nothingness.

At the nearby bonfire a familiar form takes its shape as it stands up, readjusting to the healed, but newly hollowed state.

“Rematch.” Lucatiel calls from the bonfire.