They reset again. Sonder didn't comment. She just raised her sword and waited.
Cadre smirked smugly, like she'd won something more than a round.
But as the next bout began, it was clear nothing had changed. Sonder was still better. Faster and stronger.
Again, Cadre couldn't land a solid hit.
She gritted her teeth, trying to hide how flustered she was getting. Every attack Sonder blocked looked effortless, which only made it worse.
So Cadre tried again.
She faked a step, veered wide, scooped a fistful of dirt from the courtyard's flowerbed, and flung it at Sonder's face.
Sonder flinched, hand up.
Cadre lunged and slammed her wooden blade against Sonder's shoulder.
Sonder winced, stumbling back, hand on the bruise.
Cadre straightened quickly, gripping the sword with both hands again as if nothing had happened.
"Clean point," she said, a little too proud.
Sonder didn't answer. She just rubbed her shoulder, her jaw clenched. Something changed in her eyes—darker now.
"That wasn't clean."
Cadre stiffened. "Still counts."
Sonder stepped closer. "All you're showing is you can't win fair."
Cadre rolled her eyes. "You're just mad I got one in."
And then she moved to reset again, spinning her sword once in her grip like it was all still a game.
They took their positions.
Cadre lunged again—left this time, but her step was off. Intentional. Another fake stumble. She drew back to swing hard from the right, hoping for another cheap shot.
But she froze mid-motion. Literally.
A blue shimmer locked her in place—like invisible strings pulled her taut. Not painful. Not violent. Just... immovable.
The wooden sword trembled in her grip.
Sonder hadn't even raised her sword. She'd just lifted her free hand slightly.
The pressure lifted. Cadre stumbled forward, catching herself, confused.
"I can cheat too," Sonder said.
Cadre didn't answer.
"I wouldn't need a weapon. No tricks. I wouldn't even need to touch you."
Sonder set her sword by a nearby pillar.
"I'm not sure how to say this any better," she said, her voice steady. "But I care about fairness. I hate cheating." Her hand shimmered faintly with blue light. "Even with this, I don't use it—even when I could win."
She wasn't gloating. She just turned and walked away.
Cadre stayed where she was. She didn't know what to say.
The sword hung limp in her grip. Then she let it fall with a dull clatter.