“Use everything you’ve learned and never assume you’ve won.” I nodded, and we circled each other, blades out. A streak of silver darted through the smoke to our left, and we spun, our weapons singing. A swathe of hair whipped by us to the right. She was circling us like a predator playing with its prey. The world was so silent, as if this day had been written at the beginning of time, and the universe was watching, waiting, anticipating the climax of this story.
