The impact echoed more in Neria's pride than in her skull, but she still staggered back with a startled gasp, one hand flying up to clutch her forehead as though she could physically press the pain away.
"What the hell—?!" she blurted, her voice sharp with surprise.
Opposite her, Kara stood frozen, her own eyes wide and her body rigid as if she had just collided with something far more terrifying than a person.
"My lady!" Kara exclaimed quickly, dropping into a slight bow despite the awkwardness of the moment. "I am terribly sorry....i...I did not see you there."
Neria blinked at her, still rubbing her head as she tried to process both the collision and the fact that Kara looked more shaken than she did.
"Well, clearly," Neria muttered, lowering her hand slowly. "Because if you had seen me, I feel like we both would have avoided that very unnecessary moment."
Kara straightened carefully, though her gaze remained lowered in a way that suggested more than simple politeness.
