The arena was buzzing with energy, but as I stood there, panting, drenched in sweat, I realized something. The battle with Zhenya had been a close one. Too close.
I was used to winning — used to maintaining control — but the way she had pushed me, testing every limit of my composure, had been something else. I had nearly lost it. In the end, I came out on top, but not without feeling a little too close to the edge.
I looked at her, her chest rising and falling with deep breaths, eyes locked onto mine with an intensity I hadn't expected.
"That was a fight," Zhenya said with a grin, wiping the sweat from her brow. "You really almost had me there. I can't remember the last time I've had a duel this exciting."
I wiped my own face with a cloth, still catching my breath. "You almost had me too."
She stepped forward, her eyes narrowing with a mix of curiosity and something else — something I hadn't expected. "You've got something, you know that? Not many can handle my charm, let alone come close to beating it. I don't even think you realized just how much you almost lost."
I smirked. "I don't lose."
"You're cocky," she said, teasing me as she moved closer, so close that I could feel the heat of her presence. "But I like that. You've got guts."
I chuckled. "Is that all you're into, guts?"
Her lips curled into a sly smile. "Among other things."
There was something in her eyes, an unspoken challenge. Something that told me this wasn't just about the duel anymore. She was intrigued — and not just by my skills in battle.
"I don't normally give this kind of compliment," she said, "but you've earned it. You didn't break. Most people lose themselves in a fight with me. You, though? You stayed strong."
I tilted my head, surprised. "You're not just saying that to distract me, are you?"
She laughed, a genuine sound. "No. I don't compliment lightly. You're... special."
The crowd around us started to stir, some whispering among themselves, others eyeing me with newfound respect. Zhenya didn't seem to care, though. Her attention was completely on me.
"You're not like the others," she continued, her voice softer now. "You could easily become one of the top duelists if you played your cards right. You just need the right motivation."
"Motivation?" I raised an eyebrow. "I've got plenty of that already."
She smiled, stepping back and folding her arms. "I mean real motivation. There's something about you, something that makes people want to either fight you or follow you. You're not just a fighter — you've got the potential to lead. But only if you want it."
I didn't know how to respond to that. The idea of leading a group again? That was the last thing I'd ever considered. The idea of people following me... it was tempting, sure, but was I ready for that kind of responsibility?
"Maybe I'll think about it," I said, trying to keep my cool.
She raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "You don't seem like someone who thinks about anything for too long."
"I don't," I admitted, "but maybe you're right about me needing something more. I've been chasing power and recognition, but maybe there's more to this life than just battling for the thrill."
She seemed to soften a bit at that, her expression unreadable for a moment before she broke into a grin. "Good. Then I think you'll find your way. I'll be watching, though. Don't disappoint me."
I looked at her, trying to gauge whether she was serious or just messing with me. She met my gaze with a confidence that was almost too real to ignore.
---
Later that Night
As I walked away from the arena, I couldn't help but replay the duel in my mind. Zhenya had challenged me in ways I hadn't expected. She'd pushed me to the edge, and I'd almost lost it. But what struck me the most wasn't the battle itself — it was the way she had looked at me afterward. Not like a defeated opponent, but as someone who could understand the challenge in me. The potential in me.
Maybe it was time to stop thinking about just winning battles for the sake of it. Maybe, just maybe, I had more to offer than just being a fighter.
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