Forged Destiny [Book 3: Ch. 14]

The Paladin caught my sword as it came around, his own moving with unnatural grace to parry mine and lock it before his face. One of his hands moved a little higher, pushing on the flat as he worked his incredible Strength against mine, pushing me back.

So close, I could finally see a little bit of his face, not that it helped me any. He had green eyes and black hair with a streak of grey. The lower half was masked, and he looked much older than the rest of us. My eyes were soon locked on his sword, however, as he pushed it ever closer to my face.

Sweat ran down my brow, and I knew the others weren't sitting by and watching me. I could hear their weapons crashing off his armour, and even see flashes of fire and ice from the corner of my eye. He ignored it all. It didn't bother him in the slightest.

His sword tickled my nose. It hummed with power, and several sections of it glowed ominously. If that cut me… no, it couldn't be allowed to. My muscles bulged as I tried to push it to the side, but it was just too much!

"I found it!"

The Paladin grunted as Ren's blade was dug into the back of his leg. Only a grunt, even from what had to be severed tendons or ligaments. He kicked back and knocked Ren down, but that gave me the moment I needed. With him on one foot, and distracted, I pushed with everything I had, and was rewarded by the monstrous sword crashing down to my left.

—Forged Destiny [Book 3: Ch. 14]