บท 209: Tournament: Valeria (2)

Valeria sized up her opponent, her gaze narrowing as she took in the spear he held with a practiced grip. The polished weapon glinted under the sunlight, each movement revealing the sharp, deliberate stance of a trained spearman.

'It's been a while since I last faced a spear…' she thought, feeling a flicker of anticipation.

She remembered her sparring with one of her family's knights, though those sessions felt like memories from another time. Her opponent today was no ally—this man carried the weapon not for practice, but with the intent to win, to dominate.

Indeed. Even from the start, his face was focused and he did not speak. She thought, most fighters were arrogant, but it seemed this one was not to be the one to speak.

'Careful, Valeria.'

"START!"

The moment the shout of the referee came, the man wasted no time, thrusting forward with the spear in a quick jab, testing her defenses.