Orsethii visibly relaxed her guard by a millimeter after Eva’s question. But only just. The two of them might have held some respect for fellow pilots, but it didn’t mean they weren’t enemies.
After all, they were still in the middle of a deadly match.
Eva leapt forward, ducked into a roll, then sprang up blade-first at Orsethii. But her swing purposefully lacked power, and Orsethii was able to evade it with ease.
“So what, ape?” she said. “What’s it to you?”
“Why’re you even wasting your time here?” Eva countered. “In a dusty arena under the surface of your own planet? Aren’t you a pilot? Don’t have any pride in your wings? You oughta be flying! Up there, far out there!”
With each question she posed, she attacked Orsethii with her blade. But it was plainly obvious to the Drogar duelist that none were lethal in any sense of the word.
Basically, Eva stopped attacking to kill. Not that anyone else noticed.
Orsethii harrumphed in response.