Defend

You draw your weapon and prepare to defend yourself. Being defeated by a small, weak girl like this would be embarrassing. So you don't want to take a chance. You take a careful step to the side and move into the corner of the room. Someone of her size can easily outspeed you and flank you. Limiting the range of avenues of attack is your best chance of not being surprised.

Rosie for her efforts, keeps the maximum amount of space between you and her and she pivots around to the corner opposite of yours. Her eyes shift to the entrance to the room, then back to you and she continues to shuffle around the side of the room. She carefully takes a step one by one as you carefully watch her movements and wait for her to make the first aggressive motion. However, instead of attacking you, she makes a full sprint out of the doorway before you can even react. It does seem like the small mouse girl is quite fast and could have taken you by surprise, but was only interested in escaping. It doesn't take long for her swift footsteps to disappear down the walkway.

You feel a bit silly now as it was clear that she wasn't going to charge at you as soon as she saw a chance to escape, but you weren't going to chance it. With a sigh, you put your blade away and walk into the corridor. Considering how long it took for you to find her before, you doubt that you'll find her again anytime soon. You did encounter her though, so maybe that's enough for Circe? It doesn't take long for you to make your way back to the stairs up to the next floor where you find a slightly disappointed Circe waiting for you.

"Hmm, I thought for a moment that you and her were just going to stare at each other for all eternity." Circe sighs.

With a shrug, you respond "Well, I didn't really have any interest in being taken by surprise and accidentally die to a girl with a butter knife..."

"I suppose that makes sense, but if you think that all of the floors are going to be this easy, then you'll be surely surprised. I was curious how you would react to a barely armed girl and chose a simple serving girl to be your challenge. On future floors, the denizens will be much more aggressive. Hopefully, your caution won't be your undoing." The fiend frowns and fades out of view.

You certainly aren't sad that your actions disappointed Circe and you ascend to the next floor ready for your next challenge.