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“I did everything right!” The words tumbled out, a torrent of everything she’d kept buried—every grievance, every resentment, every wound left to fester. “I smiled, I obeyed, I simpered. And still he only ever sawyou. You with your filthy mouth and your Shards-damn trousers!”

Talya’s mouth opened… and closed. Her expression flickered, but no answer came.

Aimee reached for the platform and hauled herself up—knees first, palms flat, dragging herself from the wreckage.

She rose—no grace, just fire—and leveled her foil.

“One more round,” she said, her voice steady. “First blood. No rules. No points. Just you and me.”

Talya tilted her head. “Shards, you really do just want to get your ass beat.” Then her grin returned. “Fine. Let’s stop pretending this was ever about points.”

She dropped her foil, tip-first, and ground the blunted edge beneath her boot.

Aimee smirked. It was too easy.

She formed the glamour with half a thought. Her form shimmered, then blinked out entirely.

She hadn’t wanted to cheat. She’d wanted a real win against the bitch. But this wasn’t about fairness anymore.

She circled silently, weight in her toes.

Talya didn’t even tense, just stood there, calm as sunrise. “You can slip out of sight, Aimee,” she said. “But not out of time.”

Then she pivoted sharply, blade slashing through empty air—until it met something solid. Steel kissed steel, and Aimee stumbled back.

“Time mage. Remember?”

Aimee’s second strike came from behind. Talya spun with it, deflecting again.

“I’m sorry, by the way.” Talya ducked. Aimee’s blade met air. “About your father. I really do wish I could remember him. For you, and for me.”

Aimee growled. Her next strike was pure fury—messy, wild, desperate to land. Talya blocked it without blinking.

“I’ve taken a lot without meaning to. I know that. And maybe you’re right about some of it. But just so we’re clear.”

Aimee launched forward again—this time not to strike, but to shove.

Talya sidestepped it with ease. “You don’t get to take that debt out of Skye.”

Aimee grit her teeth. Every move she made, Talya was already there. Already waiting.

“I know you think I stole him from you.”

Aimee lunged for her knees. Talya jumped and spun midair, her blade slashing down hard.

“But I didn’t.”

Steel clanged against Aimee’s guard.

“He just loves me. Believe me, I don’t get it either.”

Talya’s next swipe landed across Aimee’s backside. She squeaked.

“You had your chance to take the hint. But since you missed it, I’ll spell it out.”

Then Talya moved—no more dodging, no more deflecting. Just a clean, brutal slash.

Steel sliced through the air. Aimee yelped as it connected.