Two weeks later Hefri came for a meeting with Thelrim. She was waiting for him in an empty, vast chamber. The lower part of the sand-brown walls was covered in a brown rubber and soft panelling lied on the floor. The glow lamps cast pale light on Hefri, making her black braid shine and glisten. She wore a blue training tunic and loose pants, but she didn't wash off her daytime makeup. Navy blue shadow made her sapphire eyes appear larger and more fierce and purple lipstick sparkled on her narrow lips.

Should I even dig up the past? thought Hefri, tightening her fingers on her arm. Our skills were the same, I was just lucky. She glanced behind, hearing dull steps in behind the door.

Luck is tricky. She paused as the door opened. Does luck even exist?

Thelrim entered the chamber. Hefri turned her head, smiling confidently.

"At least you kept your word."

Thelrim ignored her comment. He marched on and stopped when he was face to face with her, avoiding looking into her eyes. Sending her an inattentive glance, he took two grey gloves out of the pocket of his training tunic.

"Just be fair this time," he muttered.

"Or just be more skilled," responded Hefri, swinging her hand scornfully.

Thelrim didn't react. He put on the first glove at leisure.

"You didn't change much," she continued, standing with her arms crossed. "You're still the same jealous kid."

"I had good reasons," Thelrim grunted under his breath. He tightened and straightened his fingers, checking if the glove fits him well. Fighting the surging annoyance, he exhaled through his nose. The slight irritation turned into a long-buried wrath within an instant.

"You and Erilaz were already the chosen ones," he spat out, clenching the second glove. "Brymir wanted you to be the Vardir Commanders from the very beginning. Andvari had to prove his skills but you all accepted him quickly." He narrowed his eyes. "And I? I was born in a noble house," he said with an emphasis on his origin, "but I had to struggle my whole life. I went far enough to be a candidate for a Vardir Commander."

"Exactly," interrupted Hefri with a spark of triumph in her eyes. "Just a candidate."

Pulling a glove on, Thelrim added, "Do I need to mention that the only individuals with a basic respect for me were King Ivendir and Imolvi? Andvari's father?"

Hearing his words, Hefri rested her hands on her hips and stood astride. A sudden disgust showed up on her face. "I don't like when someone talks about this traitor who tried to kill the king."

Thelrim turned his head and smirked. He pinched the soft spot of almost every Helvetto citizen, especially Vardir. That little victory was enough for a good start. Thelrim saved his strength for later.

He spread his arms in a powerless gesture. "Death found him anyways."

"We didn't come here to talk," muttered Hefri through clenched teeth.

She began to trot towards him. A sting of spite nudged her stomach. She sped up, getting closer and closer to Thelrim with every second.

Thelrim charged towards her. He lifted his fist, getting ready to throw a punch. Their hands met with a loud clap. She blocked his strike, growling under her breath. Thelrim pushed against her with all his might, knocking his opponent off her feet. Hefri collapsed on her back.

"Huh," she muttered and rolled over when Thelrim jumped to press her with his shoe.

Despite the dull hum in her head, Hefri swung her leg. Thelrim avoided her kick and sprung forward, reaching his hand towards her. Hefri stood up shakily. The soft floor absorbed her momentum but her shoulders still pulsed with pain. After hitting the ground, her mind worked with a second of delay. That was enough for Thelrim. He gripped her neck and punched again. She blocked the punch, snarling with a guttural, choking voice. Thelrim tightened his grasp and wrenched his other hand, trying to break loose.

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The lack of air slowed down Hefri's reflex even more. Her heart pounded as if it wanted to shatter her ribs. The lamps on the ceiling began to multiply, fade or darken. It took her five seconds to devise a plan.

She slid a part of his sleeve from Thelrim's forearm and dug her blue, shiny nails into his hand. He hissed furiously, tensing his fingers. Hefri ran her fingers through his hand, clawing four long wounds.

Thelrim pushed her away as the twinge and burning sensation overwhelmed his forearm. Red stains on his sleeve grew larger with every second. A little spark of fear pinched his heart. Hefri managed to hurt him, only slightly for now, but she was capable of doing more harm. He halted and pushed off from the floor. Ignoring the itching, sore wounds, he darted ahead.

Hefri staggered, trying to keep her balance. She sprinted towards Thelrim in a bent position. A few steps away from him, she twisted her body to gather momentum and hammered her elbow into his stomach.

Thelrim gasped. He punched Hefri's head but his move was too weak to hurt her severely. The pain paralysed his body for a moment. He couldn't take a breath, feeling a burning cramp in his chest. Clutching his fingers on his stomach, he blindly rushed at Hefri.

The punch dazed Hefri for a second. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth. Her lower lip pulsated with stinging pain. She coughed, and the red saliva dripped down her lips. She tensed all her muscles and struck a blow. Thelrim blocked her fist. He bent down and grabbed her leg, leaving bloody fingerprints on her pants. With tremendous pain in his whole torso, he moved like he was on autopilot. The lack of air made the dark dots and smudges flicker in front of his bloodshot eyes. Mobilising every aching muscle in his body, he yanked Hefri's leg.

At one moment the ground disappeared underneath Hefri's shoes. Thelrim sent her in the air as if she was a rag doll. Her braid bounced similarly to a startled snake. Hefri only bent her hands backwards before she hit the floor. The feeling of breaking bones ran from her palms to her neck like an electric shock. Hefri hissed through clenched teeth. She relaxed slightly as the pain ceased, leaving only a pulsating, squishing feeling.

The shadow of jumping Thelrim sobered her up. She pressed the ground with her hands. Her bones weren't shattered. The impact only created this illusion, so Hefri gathered the impetus and tossed her knees towards her head, doing a backflip on the floor. Thelrim's fist pounded into the ground. Hefri rolled a few meters away before Thelrim stood up.

Hefri stopped and rose to her knees. She glanced at her opponent. "Fuck your tricks..." she hissed.

She darted forward. Thelrim bent to knock her down like a battering ram. When they approached at a distance of a few steps, Hefri bowed down even lower and clenched her fingers on Thelrim's arms. Taking quick, long steps, he pushed her but she kept her balance.

Hefri took a rapid, deep breath and closed her eyes. The time seemed to slow down for her. That was her last chance. Thelrim's strength improved since the last time they met in combat. Hefri pushed her feet into the ground, trying to resist, but her muscles reached their limit.

She pounded Thelrim with her head. Covering his forehead, he staggered and hissed. Hefri landed on the ground in a crouching position and swung her leg. She swept him off his feet with a spinning kick.

The view of the walls and lights flashed before Thelrim's eyes. At one moment he found himself in the air and a split second later, he crashed on the floor. Even the soft panels didn't help him much. Dull pain convulsed the whole right side of his body. He felt as if hundreds of hydrogen bombs exploded inside his skull. Blue, green and purple shapes could be glimpsed in the darkness even when he slightly raised his eyelids.

Panting quietly, Hefri stood over him with her arms drooped. Runny, reddish slime streamed down her mouth.

"Just to... be sure I won," she mumbled.

She raised her leg and nudged Thelrim. He limply rolled on his back. Hefri coughed, spitting drops of bloody saliva. She wiped her lips, leaving shiny mucus on her sleeve.

"Three... two..." she counted, taking deep breaths. Only when the adrenaline subsided and her muscles relaxed, she realised how strongly she hit her head. Pulsating buzzing in her mind sounded like a swarm of robotic wasps. Colourful dots flickered in her visual field with every movement of her eyeballs.

"One..."

She coughed once again. "My first victory... that may be just luck." She inhaled slowly, trying to calm down her still frantic heart. "But I can't be lucky all the time... sometimes... it's just skills."

She turned around and added, "So don't act like a rich kid who deserves everything."

Taking slow steps, she walked away. The phantom shapes she saw became less and less clear. Before she reached the door, they had disappeared almost completely. Only her neck ached with every move, but her improved organs will deal with it soon too. The satisfaction that burst in her was soothing the last remains of pain. Strength and cleverness led her to victory. She proved herself that luck is just a mere trifle.

Andvari taught me well, she thought with a tiny smile on her bloodstained lips.