Of course the maneuvering can't last forever. It's in the nature of things. Eventually one of us has to make a real move. In this case the one to make the first move is me. Not because I see an especially good opportunity or because I actually have any hopes to end this with a single hit.

I try to get in a good hit anyway. No, I try to get in one of the best hits I can possibly hope for. My opponent would probably see anything else as an insult. And I really don't want to insult her right now. Taking this serious right now is probably my best chance to get out of this with nothing worse than a few bruises.

I feint low, moving as if I'm going for another kick, to make good on my previous threat. I'm not quite sure if she buys it, but she certainly isn't willing to take any chances and moves to evade.

A very welcome divine whisper brushes my mind then and there.

[*Ding!* You have unlocked the Bluff general skill at Level 1!]

Finally! I just wish I could have unlocked it under different circumstances. Maybe while playing a high stakes card game or something. I can't really waste any time to dwell on it right now though.

Tough gal dodges my feint and, as a result, is too off balance to do anything about the punch I throw instead. She has no other choice but to block it with her nose. I almost feel bad for it. Several divine whispers follow in quick succession as my fist makes contact.

[*Ding!* Hit! Sylwia's Health reduced by 0!]

[*Ding!* Your skill Brawling has leveled up to level 4!]

She doesn't even budge as my fist makes contact with her face. Not in the slightest bit. She doesn't even move to counter.

My eyes go wide as I stumble past her, as realization dawns upon me. I whirl around and get my guard back up. When facing a monster like her I can't afford not to.

“What the quack! What is your face made of?”

I have some suspicions, but I have to ask anyway. And besides, it's starting to look like every moment spent bantering will be one I don't get smacked around like a wet rag.

At first she looks smug. After all, why wouldn't she? Then her brows furrow in confusion.

“Quack? What are you … oh! Ha! Alright! I like that one. But why do you even ask? Haven't you … you really haven't used any skills to gauge me and my abilities? By all the divines, why not?”

She starts to sound a little exasperated towards the end, a little disbelief tinging her voice.

I just shrug, never dropping my guard. Unlike her I can't afford to.

“It's not polite. Especially if I don't have a chance to ask for permission first.”

The other guy, who has moved from his position in my back to stand a little to our side guffaws at my exclamation. Sylwia on the other hand stares at me slack jawed.

“Not … polite … you … you realize … we aren't exactly in polite company here, right?”

I shrug again.

“Sure, while that numbskull Barandon was still around. I for my part think you aren't all that bad. Besides, manners are what sets us aside from animals. Not dropping them just like that is worth a little effort.”

She tilts her head slightly, still staring at me incredulously.

“What the quack? Is that something you want to read on our headstone?”

I flash her a beaming smile. That is the only way I can avoid breaking into outright laughter, as she adapts my silly little figure of speech.

Our spectator doesn't bother to hold back. Sylwia doesn't seem to mind his guffaws though. No, maybe she even expects them? Oh, all these questions and I can't afford to figure the answers out right now! Oh, woe is me! Ah, never mind. I still have to finish a fight here, one way or another.

“See, you are even offering to spring for a headstone! I just knew you aren't all bad!”

She just snorts and shakes her head.

“You're incorrigible. But to answer your earlier question. It's a liberal helping of vitality combined with plenty of levels in the right defensive skills and decent gear. Having two classes that come with plenty of health doesn't hurt either.”

She pauses briefly.

“So, want to try again? Or would you like to take a moment to use an identification skill first. I really don't mind. Go ahead.”

“Eh, no. Thanks, but no thanks. I'm a little low on Mana right now. I'll take you up on the other offer though.”

I'm moving again even before I'm done talking. This time I go for the throat with a punch, or at least that is what I want her to belief. It certainly is a potential critical hit even she probably doesn't want to ignore.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

[*Ding!* Your skill Bluff has leveled up to level 2!]

Oh yes, this time she does bring her arms up to block.

I can't fault her. I wouldn't want to be punched in the throat either. Her throat isn't my actual target though. Instead, even as she commits to the block, I shift slightly and bring up a knee again.

Her eyes widen in realization and she does the almost impossible. She twists to the side to avoid taking a hit like the numbskull did.

[*Ding!* Your skill Bluff has leveled up to level 3!]

That too is anticipated though and she realizes it just a little too late, as my knee slams into her unprotected side, with all the momentum I can possibly muster behind it.

[*Ding!* Critical hit! Sylwia's Health reduced by 21!]

Oh yes, she definitely felt that one. Not as much as I wish she would though. I still flash her a toothy smile.

“My, oh my! You really are a tough cookie, aren't you?”

She sucks in a sharp breath, but recovers surprisingly fast anyway, only to return my grin in kind.

“For sure. If you want to keep nibbling at me like that, you risk loosing some teeth.”

Not even the not so veiled threat manages to darken my mood. I like her banter!

Before I can reply though she is moving already.

She slams into me like a runaway bull, except her attack lacks finesse. On top she isn't terribly fast. Not nearly as fast as I am anyway. The attack really isn't targeted all that well either. Thus in the end it is more of a powerful shove than an actual punch.

Since she is too slow I can even start moving backwards to reduce the impact further.

[*Ding!* You have been hit! Health reduced by 0!]

I stumble back a few steps but regain my balance easily. As I straighten back up, I'm already grinning again, while she is eyeing my warily. By now I'm quite confident that I'll win if we keep going.

“Not bad, but my defense isn't either. And you lack momentum. Seriously, Sylwia, you need to work on your agility a little. Your attacks lack the momentum that mine pack. Especially if you don't aim for any vital spots.”

Her brows furrow. I can see that she is thinking hard, even if I'm not quite sure what she is thinking about.

I almost miss the subtle movement, as she slips one of her hands into a pocket under her cloak. When it emerges again she is wearing brass knuckles on it.

My left eyebrow twitches a little.

“Really? Brass knuckles? I thought that we might get along pretty well, but that's a little hurtful, you know.”

Her frown deepens into a proper scowl. At the same time I can't help but think that she is a little torn on the subject. She certainly sounds a little uncertain as she replies, thus what probably is intended as a barb really isn't.

“That's kind of the point.”

In the end her compatriot, who so far has made sure to stay out of the way, steps in before things can get really ugly. He puts a hand on her shoulder before she can get moving again.

“That's enough for today Sylwia. Lets stop while we all can still walk away from this. Let's save ourselves a headache.”

She falters and turns halfway to face him, ignoring me almost entirely in the process.

“Are you sure, boss?”

He nods.

“Quite sure, dear.”

She doesn't question him any further. Instead she makes the brass knuckles disappear into some pocket under her cloak again.

The man in turn lets go of her shoulder to address me directly instead.

“It seems my brother picked up quite the interesting apprentice. I can't wait to see what kind of trouble you'll cause him.”

He laughs out loud.

“I'd say we might have some interesting times ahead of us. So, please, do try to stay alive. I'm looking forward to hearing about your exploits.”

Without waiting for a reply he turns and slinks away into the shadows. He merges with the deeper darkness of the alleys surprisingly well, most certainly using some skill or maybe even several.

This leaves me and Sylwia. She nods, doesn't leave right away though.

“I'll keep it in mind. Your advice.”

I rock back and forth on my feet briefly.

“Please do. Maybe we'll get a chance to test our abilities against each other again.”

She looks at me aghast for a moment. Then she shakes her head and turns to leave. Her last words are muttered under her breath, almost inaudible. It feel's like [Spot] improves a little as I pick them up anyway.

“You shouldn't look forward to that. We don't fight for fun.”

Then she too is gone, swallowed back up by the night.

I retreat into the nearby shadows myself and wait a little longer, my senses sharpened, just in case. Curiously enough it feels like my [Stealth] is improving a little. I barely pay it any heed though. Only when no other trouble rears it's head do I dare to sigh in relief.

I'm moderately confident that I could have made not just Slywia but all of them, except maybe for the man that probably is Jerzy's brother, eat some humble pie, but I'm still glad that I didn't have to.

If they all had shifted to using brass knuckles, cudgels or the likes early on, things certainly could have taken a turn for the worse for me. Much, much worse. Worse than I care for for sure.

Before I can leave the scene something glinting in the dirt catches my attention. It is just a single beam of moonlight reflected by something metallic, but I take notice anyway.

I still and look around once more, to make sure it isn't the bait of a trap, but I can't see or hear anything. No more ambushes. No tripwires or other traps either. Just as well.

I slink over and bend down in passing to pick up the little piece of metal. I polish it on my pants briefly until it is all shiny again.

“Well, well, are you my new lucky penny? Yes. Yes, you are!”

It's just silly superstition. Or maybe it isn't it? This is a world of magic after all. Either way, I don't slip the coin into my purse. I deposit it in one of my pant pockets instead. I don't want to spend my new lucky charm by accident after all.

Maybe I should get a piece of string to fashion it into a proper talisman? Yes, that's what I'll do. Tomorrow. First I need some sleep. The night has been rather exciting after all.

The landlady dozing on her stool besides the door, doesn't even look up as I pass her. She mutters dire warnings while still half asleep though.

“Remember. Either you're out by noon or I'll throw your sorry ass out onto the street myself. Doesn't matter how late you came in. Got it?”

I stop for the briefest of moments to nod. Then I disappear inside, counting the doors to make sure I stop at the right one. I double check to make sure the door is locked once I'm inside. Then I stretch out on the floor of the room that barely deserves to be called that, using my pack for a pillow and my cloak as a blanket. Sleep claims me not much later.