The familiar High Guard Stance-it was the very one she had recommended to Renato.
Lailas knew this young man. She knew his character, his habits with a sword...
She knew his every movement, even his slightest reactions.
That was precisely what made crossing blades with him now so cruel.
Renato assumed the classic stance, resting his sword against his shoulder, shifting his weight back, and stepping his left foot half a pace forward.
The breeze of Zephyr Strike flowed through her body. She abruptly accelerated, thrusting her twin swords in crossing arcs.
The Silent Lady rose to meet her, just as expected, but Lailas was faster.
She turned sideways and slid past, the blade grazing her shoulder. Her twin swords held their course, driving toward her target's throat.
He was still so young...
The sudden thought did not disrupt her thrust. Yet the instant her sword tips touched his neck, an invisible force field deflected the killing blow.
Her strike thwarted, Lailas immediately leaped back to open the distance. Her movements were clean and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.
This was not the first time she had separated emotion from reason.
Over the years, she had faced far too many similar choices. Companions corrupted by evil, friends who seemed normal but had fallen into depravity...
Every time, she had made the same decision.
Perhaps Renato was innocent; perhaps there was more to his dark magic; perhaps he had merely awakened a sorcerous bloodline...
But "perhaps" could save no one.
Sacrifice the few to save the many.
That was her creed. Even when she slaughtered innocents or stained her hands with the blood of those dearest to her, it had never wavered.
Because the moment she wavered, tragedy would repeat itself.
Elna's face surfaced in her memory. The Druid's smile had