Alexa has never had a fair fight before.

There have been curbstomps, yes. Knock-down, drag-out brawls where one side is desperately overmatched, yes. Battles where the chaos of Ares destroys any semblance of order, battles where she desperately wishes the other side could see how thoroughly they're beaten so they'll run so she doesn't have to hurt them.

But never an even, one-on-one duel where both combatants were the same. It's just something that she's never experienced.

Isn't that exciting, Alexa? Shouldn't this make your pulse pound, your heart race? Finally, a chance to prove your skills! A chance to show the might of Molech is superior, even in an even duel!

But it's not. And she's not. Maybe in other circumstances, where nothing is at stake, she could sink into that enjoyment.

Should she be terrified? Finally, a chance to be expunged by someone who knows her, knows her history, knows what she deserves and why? Someone who will stop at nothing to see justice done for her crimes? Shouldn't that send a thrill down her spine?

But it doesn't.

And it'd be lovely to think that it's because of friendship. Because of tea ceremonies, or shared drinks, or a wonderful afternoon with an adorable wolf-girl.

But the truth is, she's wondering. Struck dumb, almost. Staring at the robot in front of her, hearing the ring of divine ceramics against impossible, nonsensical, mass-produced, [i]unyielding[/i] steel. Marveling at the perfect movement, the impeccable defense, the divine confidence, the sheer overwhelming [i]threat.[/i]

What was the point? The point in the training, the long nights, the early morning, the pain, the deaths? If the touch of Athena could turn a weak skirmisher into [i]this[/i]...

"You are amazing," she breathes.