≠Aeryn≠
Aeryn had ignored the boy's remarks completely. She was so in tune with her surroundings--from the trickle of sweat that clung to boy's brow to the frantic scuttling of an arena mouse--that the boy's comments and the roar of the crowd melded into little more then tones muffled by distance. A strange air of tranquility drifted through her like a summer breeze. Aeryn was entirely immersed now, the arena being all that she knew; the battlefield her cradle. No distraction could penetrate this feeling. Besides, her enemy's words had most likely been merely useless jumbles of jibber-jabber. There was no room for such vocalizations amidst the grounds of war. Their attacks were more than capable to do the talking.
The calming aura permeating both her mind and body, Aeryn blocked each of the boy's frenzied attacks effortlessly, as if she were being puppeted by skillful hands. As controlled as she felt, however, Aeryn was beginning to think that an opening would never present itself.
Frustrated, her concentration waned, an action that cost her dearly. A well-founded high-kick met Aeryn's jaw with zero mercy. Instantly, stars sprung up before Aeryn's field of vision, and a river of blood pooled into her mouth.
Don't...let it...get...to you, Aeryn's conscience ordered. Move on!
After spatting out her own blood, Aeryn recollected herself, her eyes narrowed in concentration.
There! In the excitement of scoring a hit, the boy had left his entire back wide open. Shikaku was open. There was only one way there, and though it would be risky...
Tucking into a forward roll, Aeryn swept around the boy's feet and reappeared upright behind him. It was all over before he could react. Aeryn punctured his exposed back with her staff.
Sound flooded into Aeryn's ears without warning, the deafening crowd screaming seamlessly. She then crumbled to the floor.


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