Ralli takes Liam seriously, but...

Ralli took a breath, then readied her sword in a stance none of the class had seen before. Her training sword was as massive as Harvey's, but she held it over her head in a horizontal stance, looking like she would crush any opponent that got too close. Of course none of them had seen this... it was one of Ralli's actual battle stances as a deathspeaker, the last sight a knight would see before perishing on the battlefield. "Baldwin... you've fucked around too much. I will show you my resolve. I will show you what happens when I get serious."

"Oh! Oho, you do look serious," Liam said with a nod, continuing to hold his flashy-but-empty swordsman's stance. "I wonder if you're as serious as you think. I recognize a bluff when I see one, Teach," he told her, winking as if sharing in a conspiracy. "You'll teach us a different lesson today, won't you?"

"I will teach you to fear ****, mortal trainee!" Ralli shouted with unusual fervor, shooting forward like a glinting, dark arrow and thrusting her sword forward. "Now- Eek!!"

The sergeant let out a girly shriek no one had ever heard, even her, as Liam effortlessly struck her sword. Ralli's strike had the **** of a weapon of war; Liam's had all the **** of a poke on the shoulder to get one's attention. Nonetheless, Ralli's sword flew from her hand as she recoiled. In a panic, she meekly joined her hands together... then fell to her knees. It was clear to anyone watching she was begging for mercy...

Liam laughed, patting his own sword on his shoulder. "Wow! Looks like your heart just wasn't in it today, Teach!" He continued smiling at her... then moved his sword to slap it in his other palm, enjoying the jump Ralli made in response. "What's the problem? We're not done until I strike you, right? Go ahead and pick up your sword... Let's see that lesson, Teach!"

He grinned as he watched Ralli scramble for her weapon on all fours in the dirt. "I wonder if I should enjoy this more, or go ahead and bring an end to it...?"