Clang!
Sparks flew as Lydia's blade met mine. The clash sent a shiver down my arm. She skidded backward, boots grinding over the stone floor before she stopped.
"Woah…" she breathed out, her eyes narrowing at me. "You seem a bit angry today."
I exhaled through my nose, gripping my sword tighter. "Am I?" I asked.
Maybe I was. My chest felt heavy, my thoughts clouded. Probably the irritation from last night.
[Dude's sexually frustrated.]
'Not just that,' I muttered internally. 'My mana flow feels off too. The turgidity is all over the place, my slashes are getting unstable.'
Each swing came out sharper, heavier, and far more destructive than I intended.
[Symptoms of a breakthrough. You're close to needing to form the circle.]
"I see…" I murmured. That made sense. Though I'd imagined I'd hit an aura breakthrough before mana.
