One of the downsides of running at a full sprint was the difficulty in stopping or making abrupt changes of direction without careening into whatever you wanted to avoid in the first place. Rarely was this more apparent to Tyaethe than with unexpected magic: almost everything else could just be ploughed through or rebounded off. Instead of jumping, which would have been the simple solution, she hurriedly jammed her sword forwards.

The blade found purchase between two of the stones in the floor and worked as a functional pivot to successfully cross the trap, barely not skimming the circle as Tyaethe pulled it free again for the last part of the leap. The tip was now thoroughly ruined for cleanly piercing anything, but the flex needed for such a massive blade to avoid breaking meant that it was still otherwise functional.

And the paladin was still rushing headlong down, leaving the trap for someone else to deal with.