Aysha groaned but got up nonetheless ready to face Craytia in another round.

"Again," she said with a nod.

Craytia put a hand up. "Wait. Do you know why you lost?"

"I wasn't expecting-"

Craytia shook her head in disappointment. "I honestly thought you'd be smarter than this." She sighed, her arms crossed over her chest. "There will be a lot of things you aren't expecting in a fight. All you need to know is how to turn things to your advantage. Whether it's finding a needle on the ground, it can become your greatest weapon if you utilize it correctly. You could drive it into someone's neck and possibly kill them."

Aysha nodded. "I understand. May we go again?"

Craytia chuckled. "So polite. Of course, but I hope you remember what I just said."

Aysha took a different route and charged straight toward Craytia. This time around, she used the opportunity to sneak a punch in, but Craytia caught her fist. Aysha kicked her as hard as she could in the shin. Craytia didn't even wince as Aysha decided to try a risky move.

There will be a lot of things you aren't expecting in a fight. All you need to know is how to turn things to your advantage.

Aysha jumped up and wrapped both legs around Craytia's waist as Craytia held her up, her eyes wide in surprise. Craytia gave her a small smile. "Good for you. You did something unexpected, but what do you want to do now that you're here? Surely you thought this through."

Aysha didn't reply and slowly shook her head. Of course she hadn't thought it through. She didn't consider herself to be the brightest person in the room.

"Do you mind letting go now?"

Ah. I'll bet you weren't expecting this.

Aysha used one of her legs and slammed it into Craytia's back as she pulled Craytia forward forcing her to fall on top of her. It wasn't the best move, but it was most definitely a start.

Craytia was now on top of Aysha, their faces once again inches apart as they had been at the dance. Aysha's breath now slowed as she stared up at Aysha.

"Again," Aysha managed to say, looking away. She didn't want to look into Craytia's eyes.

She couldn't.

Craytia smiled knowingly enjoying Aysha's discomfort. "I'd be happy to comply, but I'd rather not at the moment. I already know what I need to know. In fact, I'd prefer to get to know you." After all, for someone who had seemed so rigid, awkward positions such as the one they were in were not her forte.

Aysha continued looking away and asked, "Why would you need to ask me that? You could easily pay someone to find all the information you need."

Craytia let out a small laugh. "I may be a noble, but I'm not such a back-handed person that I would violate your privacy like that. So, tell me, what was your childhood like?"

Aysha's entire mood darkened. Her lips were pursed as her gaze continued to avoid Craytia's.

Craytia picked up on it and got up, pulling Aysha up as well.

"You don't have to tell me what happened. Just tell me about you in general."

Aysha turned to her while they walked out of the basement, curious, she asked, "Will you tell me about yourself?"

Craytia nodded. "Of course, it's only fair."

Aysha was hesitant to speak, so she started slowly looking to Craytia for cues. "I'm nineteen. My favorite color is green and I want to win the Blood Trials."

Craytia's brow raised. "That's it?"

Aysha shoved her hands in her pockets. What was she supposed to say? She simply nodded in response. She'd never really thought about who she was and she no longer thought about who she had been. All that mattered was who she could be.

"Well, as you know, I got the Jewel of Orenda title passed down to me from my mother. It's a true wonder that I've survived this long. This is the only title that's existed for this long without the holder being killed."

Of course. While nobles usually had their titles passed down to their family members, it was quite common for a noble to not have a family member it's passed down to. This was especially common for nobles that had been killed by enemies.

"Who would you pass it down to if you were killed?" Aysha asked full well knowing the question wasn't innocent.

Craytia's mood changed from calm and easygoing to annoyed and suspicious. She tilted her head to the side, her signature predatory expression on her face. "I know you want to kill me. After all, who wouldn't?"