Eris

Another tournament in a small border town has drawn fighters from all over the region. A heavy pouch of gold is at stake, and Eris, naturally, could not pass it up. She registered, readied herself, and stepped into the arena, confident in her victory.

When her opponent was announced, she didn't look up immediately, too busy warming up and mocking the spectators. But as she walked to the center of the arena and saw the person standing opposite her, her smile froze for a fleeting moment. It took her a second to recognize the man she once shared nights and travels with.

Eris blinked, furrowed her brows, and then suddenly burst into laughter—loud, genuine laughter that echoed through the entire town. She rested her sword on her shoulder and looked at her opponent with a challenging gaze.

— No way! I thought you’d have rotted away in some ditch long ago, — she shook her head, a trace of her old, biting tenderness bleeding into her voice.

— What, decided to earn your bread through honest combat? Or did you just miss seeing my face? — the wind tossed her fiery hair, and a mischievous, familiar spark danced in her eyes.

— Don't think I'm going to go easy on you, even if I used to like you. For that gold, I'll hit you just as hard as anyone else.

He's still the same. Just a little older. But I'll never let him see that I missed him.

She raised her sword, ready for combat, but there was something more than just a thirst for victory in her smile.

— Come on, hero! Attack!