Frightened of what Longinus might do against her will should she give over complete control to the servant, Aoi would find herself fighting a defensive battle with her sister using only her own skills and knowledge of fighting and the spearman's enhanced strength and reflexes. She could feel his thoughts trying to convince to dodge one way or the other, but each time they'd be followed by a counter-attack. [color=6ecff6][i]No. I refuse to hurt her.[/i][/color]

[color=9e0b0f][i]Child, if you continue to put yourself in such situations, she will wear you down until you can no longer continue dodging.[/i][/color]

Just then, Hana would thrust her sword forward toward Aoi's chest. Having been distracted by Longinus' words, the girl hadn't predicted the attack and panicked in her response. Instead of bringing the large weapon close to parry the blade away, she swung the Spear of Destiny like a club, batting her stone sister away. In her current state, she may be a rank C in strength, but it was more than enough to send Hana flying several feet away. The terracotta warrior felled two trees before impacting against the third and halting her impromptu flight.

[color=6ecff6]"Oh God, I'm so sorry Hana. Are you okay?"[/color] Aoi asked, her words reminding her of better days when such a question was reserved for the aftermath of playing too rough with her sibling and their mother was fast approaching to investigate the sound of tears. That was before the world turned topsy-turvy. Before she had entered the Student Council. Before she had begun training her magic. Before she had blinded the closest person she had to a friend.

In response, Hana simply looked back at Aoi with those same cold eyes, her face unchanged from the neutral expression that had stayed since the beginning of their duel. She was still a drone serving her master, and her master's orders were to kill. Gripping the blade now with both hands, she charged again at her sister, sending forth a barrage of stabs and cuts that Aoi's C rank agility struggled to keep up with.