be able to control the actions of others.
It was her job to ensure Elena had the tools she needed to not only stay alive but to thrive. Kira took that job very seriously. Sometimes you had to be cruel to be merciful. A little pain now would save Elena a lot of heartache in the long run.
Elena stood and dusted herself off.
Kira waited for her niece to take her stance, her blade held loosely at her side.
To her surprise, Elena didn't attack immediately, instead watching Kira closely as she shook one hand out and then the other.
Kira kept her small smile to herself. She was taking the time to assess the situation, just like Kira and Jin had taught her.
Now, niece, what are you going to do?
Elena inched toward Kira, the blade held cautiously in front of her.
She was trying to draw Kira out.
Kira was willing to play. To see how far she'd come.
Kira shifted her weight to her right foot as if she planned to dart right.
Caution filled Elena's posture, but she didn't move.
Very good. She wasn't falling for Kira's bluff.
It was an improvement. A few months ago, she would have.
Kira lifted a hand and made a come-on motion. Caution was all well and good, but sometimes it held you back.
Elena darted forward, bringing her sword down in a standard strike. Kira evaded with a small shift of her weight. This time Elena hadn't committed fully to the strike, so Kira didn't pull her off-balance.
Elena followed up with a feint, advancing as she tried to force Kira to react.
The entire time Kira didn't exchange a single blow with her, instead shifting and dodging, each time with only a fraction of clearance between herself and Elena's blade.
Predictably, Elena's frustration grew, making her more and more intent on reaching Kira.
She lunged forward, an opening appearing in her guard. Kira took advantage, dumping her on the ground.
"Dead again."
Elena spun, sweeping a leg out. Kira hopped away.
"You'll never accomplish your goals with this level of skill."
Elena attacked from a low crouch. Kira swayed to the left, grabbing Elena's sword arm and hauling her closer. She set the blunt edge of her blade against Elena's neck.
"Not fast enough."
Kira pushed her away gently, careful not to hurt her.
"You always attack in the same way. You can already see it's not working. Do something else."
Rather than listen, Elena sprung forward, causing Kira to sigh and shake her head.
She stepped to the side, reaching for Elena's lead arm.
Elena's hand opened, the blade falling. The arm Kira was holding twisted, bringing her closer as Elena caught the blade, and stabbed up under her arm toward Kira's stomach.
It was an unexpected move, designed to force Kira to finally use the practice sword.
Kira's lips twitched. Well done, but not smart enough.
She sidestepped, pushing Elena's arm down to interfere with the path of the sword.
They ended with Elena stumbling a step forward and Kira standing in the same position as before.
"Well done. You finally figured out the handicap," Kira said.
Elena flushed at the compliment.
"For that, you can now use your ki," Kira said. "Show me what you got."
Elena's eyes lit up. Her stance shifted as Kira waited.
Since her time in Roake, Kira had learned about ki and how it differed from person to person.
Some, like Auralyn, manipulated ki as if it were an external force, manifesting it outside their bodies. Then there were those like Joule who specialized in shields. Kira suspected since his designation was as an earth affinity, he could also manipulate the attributes of materials, a handy talent for anyone seeking the role of protector.
His talent was still raw and unpolished, but Kira had a feeling he would become a force to be reckoned with if guided properly.
And then there were those like Elena who used ki internally. Speed, agility, power. All amplified.
This time when Elena attacked, she did so with a speed and force double what she'd used previously.
Kira knocked Elena's sword thrust away. Elena whirled, coming at Kira again and again, her momentum increasing until the thwack, thwack, thwack of their swords filled the room.
Elena jumped and leapt, even her most vicious attacks repelled until sweat dotted her head and her eyes glittered.
Kira waited for her moment, knowing it was coming.
Finally, Elena barreled forward. Kira slid to her right, stepping forward and turning until she was behind her. She poked her niece in the spine in the next second.
"Dead."
Elena gritted her teeth, undeterred.
Her movements came faster and faster. Kira parried easily.
Finally, she swept her niece’s legs