Brynhild Vs Sophia II

Orion observed Sophia as she fought Brynhild.

He did not teach Sophia to be a coward while she fought. She was better than what she was portraying now.

Yes, she had tried battling Brynhild, but she wasn’t doing enough. She needed to do more. She could do more. Fuck, he knew she could do more.

She should not be concentrating on others but instead should be focused on Brynhild alone. She wanted a fight between just the two of them.

Yes, he knew Sophia would need to adapt during the war, but for now, she had to face Brynhild… which, if he was being honest, was quite impossible for her. Still, she could bridge the gap, even if only a little.

He just needed her to show that she was stronger than this—that she could pull through.

He watched as Sophia noticed the sword Brynhild had thrown. One misstep, and it would have been her leg.

He watched as Sophia finally shut out every distraction and focused entirely on Brynhild.

Then the two women rushed toward each other.

This time…

It was different.

He was certain of it.

—

Sophia used her shortswords, bringing them down in rapid succession.

She knew that when it came to brute strength, Brynhild likely had more than she did.

But she wasn’t giving up.

Brynhild answered every strike with one of her own.

She lunged with her sword, aiming directly for Sophia’s shoulder.

Sophia stumbled while trying to dodge, her footing slipping for the briefest instant.

But that didn’t stop her.

Immediately, she used the Anchor Step Orion had taught her.

Her balance returned almost instantly.

Instead of retreating, she dropped low, crouching beneath Brynhild’s next swing as she slashed toward the woman’s midsection.

Brynhild caught her wrist, and Sophia felt her grip tighten painfully.

Brynhild twisted, and pain shot through Sophia’s arm.

Without thinking, Sophia scooped up a handful of snow with her free hand and flung it directly toward Brynhild’s face.

It wouldn’t blind the woman.

Brynhild couldn’t see in the conventional sense anyway.

But the sudden burst of snow disrupted her senses just enough.

She released her hold on Sophia, who reacted immediately.

Her swords became a blur.

One slash.

Then another.

Then another.

She drove Brynhild backward with a relentless chain of attacks, refusing to let the captain regain complete control of the pace.

Brynhild slid several steps across the snow before planting both feet firmly.

Then…

She laughed.

The sound echoed across the training grounds.

“Give me more, sis,” she said.

Sophia smiled despite the burning in her muscles.

“You asked for it.”

Instead of charging again…

She turned and sprinted in the opposite direction.

Brynhild frowned, though only for a heartbeat.

Her senses followed Sophia’s retreat.

She wondered if Sophia was running away, but that wasn’t like the sister she had come to know. This was something else. She was certain of it.

Without wasting another second, Brynhild darted toward her discarded weapon.

She had intentionally marked both swords with unique scents and tiny identifying grooves so she could locate them even after throwing them.

Her speed exploded.

Snow burst beneath her boots.

She reached the sword just as Sophia arrived where one of her own daggers had landed.

Sophia snatched it up.

She didn’t stop running.

She spun and sent the dagger flying toward Brynhild, who deflected it instantly.

Sophia reached another dagger, sending it toward Brynhild, then another in succession.

Brynhild’s swords flashed.

Every dagger was knocked away before it reached her.

But Sophia had never expected them to hit.

They were distractions.

She used those precious seconds to close the distance between them.

She used the hilt of her first shortsword to hit Brynhild’s ribs, but it didn’t make contact. Brynhild immediately used the flat of her sword to block the attack.

Sophia had expected that too.

Her second shortsword was already coming.

Brynhild bent backward just enough for the blade to whistle harmlessly past her chest.

Then…

She dropped.

Instead of continuing to parry, she lowered herself almost to the ground, planting both swords in the snow for balance.

Before Sophia could understand what she was doing, her fists struck.

Each punch slammed into Sophia’s midsection with frightening precision.

The air exploded from Sophia’s lungs.

Before she could recover—

Brynhild’s foot drove into her stomach.

The kick launched Sophia several feet through the air.

She crashed into the snow, rolling twice before digging both swords into the ground to stop herself.

Pain exploded through her ribs.

For several seconds, she couldn’t breathe.

She forced herself up anyway and she chuckled as she did.

Brynhild tilted her head, and it was only then that she realized something.

Warm blood trickled down her ankle.

It was a shallow cut, but Sophia had managed to nick her during the exchange.

“Not bad,” Brynhild said with a smile.

Sophia exhaled heavily, pressing one hand against her aching stomach.

“I know I can’t defeat you,” she admitted between breaths. “But I can try to do something, at least.”

“And you did.” Brynhild’s voice carried genuine approval. “Your lessons with Orion were actually worth it.”

Sophia smiled.

“Did you doubt it?”

“Not even a little.”

Brynhild adjusted her grip on both swords.

“But compared to me…” She tilted her head slightly. “You sound a bit worse for wear. Are you sure you can keep up?”

Sophia straightened despite every protest from her body.

Her shoulders ached.

Her wrists throbbed.

Every breath reminded her of the punches Brynhild had landed.

Still…

“I’m not giving up,” she told her.

—

Orion beamed as he watched Sophia face Brynhild.

Sophia had managed to make Brynhild bleed.

That alone was enough.

It wasn’t about defeating Brynhild.

He did not expect that.

“You seem satisfied,” Caspian noted from beside him.

“That’s because I am,” Orion said. “She’s finally done what I know she’s capable of, and I know she would do more too.”

Kevin folded his arms as he continued watching the duel.

“She looks tired,” he added.

“She does, and she is,” Orion noted. “But she isn’t going to give up.”