The instant Nyssara's voice faded, the courtyard fell silent — then, the sound of rushing water erupted from nowhere.
The Tidewarden moved first. His trident spun once, the air around it twisting into a spiral that shimmered like liquid glass. The pressure changed — Trafalgar felt it in his ears before the first strike even came.
The weapon blurred.
Trafalgar raised Maledicta just in time — metal met water with a sharp crack, the impact sending ripples through the marble floor. He was pushed back half a step, boots scraping against the soaked surface.
The guard's expression didn't change. He stepped forward again, his weapon moving in wide arcs that carried the weight of a tide. Each swing hummed with barely-contained power, and every parry felt heavier than the last.
Trafalgar exhaled through his nose, shoulders tightening. 'He's faster than I expected. Every hit carries a second wave beneath it.'
