To the Limit

[halfemptyglasses]

Mirai adjusts the ring on her little finger and carefully unwinds her bandages. She takes a deep breath and draws out her blood. She closes her fingers around the hilt of the long, featherlike sword it forms.

"I'm ready," she tells Tahno.

Comments

[halfemptyglasses]

At this point, fighting her way out is the best strategy. She finds the weakest point she can manage and jumps to it without hesitation, peeling out of the ice like a can opener somehow cutting through from the inside.

She reaches her spot just as her legs give out.

"Okay..." she gasps. "That.... that's enough..."

[hot_water]

Tahno barely hears her, but he sees her drop. He lowers his hands, feeling the burn in his arms, and the ice clatters to the ground behind her while the water splashes down.

He jogs over to her as quick as he can. When he reaches her, he waves his hands near her shoulders--an almost gentle motion after all of the whips--and bends any water that soaked into her cardigan out of it.

The boy narrows his eyes in concern, looking her pale face over for any cuts or bruising--any sign that the ice got through. "You awright, little miss?"

[halfemptyglasses]

"Yeah," she answers with a little nod. "I'm all right. H-how long was that?"

[hot_water]

Tahno checks the watch in his pocket. "Forty-three minutes," he says, almost apologetically. "You did good, little miss. Now, let's get you to the bar so you can rest up. Can you stand?"

[halfemptyglasses]

Mirai pulls herself to her feet and gets out, "I think so," before her knees give out again.

[hot_water]

"Tch, stubborn," Tahno drawls, shaking his head. "You wanna piggy back ride?"

[halfemptyglasses]

"H-hey, I'd have to walk home myself," she protests about being stubborn. "Ah, I guess I could."

[hot_water]

Tahno's smile is soft, but clearly amused. "That's why today's a test, and y'got me. C'mon, I'll get ya some tea."

He crouches in front of her and wraps his arms underneath her, to carry her back to the bar.

[halfemptyglasses]

"Ah, be careful," she goes as she flops her arms over his shoulders. He could probably watch her wrapping fresh bandages over her pinprick wound.