Neris decided to forgo choosing a weapon. She wasn't that good with them anyways, and the weight would just slow her down. The noise swelled, then calmed down.<br/><br/>Time to start.<br/><br/>She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths, taking in the smell of the prep room. Just focus. Focus and think. Clear the mind. Don't concentrate on anything else.<br/><br/>Stay alive.<br/><br/>She walked out amid the confusion of the crowd, giving a huge wave and a smile to Cerci, still sitting in the stands. If anything, he'd lose his reputation and a lot of bets if she did this right. Forcing a minor to fight in the arena? It's been done before, but a female? Neris' smile faded as she looked away from Cerci. Talk about unfair. She lightly bounced on her feet as her opponent walked in. Landes. Heavier class, even Ocieros had issues with him. Usually used longer weapons, but this time they weren't in his hands. Guess Cerci told him this would be an exhibition too. Neris stole another look around. The spectators were just looking at each other now. From the looks of it, they were starting to piece together what was going on.<br/><br/>"Landes, long time no see," Neris greeted lightly.<br/><br/>"How the hell did you get yourself down here, missy?"<br/><br/>Neris forced a smile and shrugged. "Forever in a way."<br/><br/>Platitudes done, they started staring each other down and circled each other.<br/><br/>Think. Look. Breathe. Concentrate. Range. Range. Range. And do not hesitate.<br/><br/>Neris focused more of her attention on Landes' hands and torso. If there was going to be an attack, it'd most likely be from there. She didn't have the instincts to dodge attacks, or the skill to move them aside, but she did have her mind. And she wasn't going to give up without a fight. In fact, it wasn't even an option for her.<br/><br/>Landes started, moving towards her, swinging a fist at her. Range. She leaned back, her shoulder catching most of the blow. Didn't move fast enough. Leaned forward too to actually hit her. Overextending because she's small and can't take the opportunity. Still trying to gauge her from the looks of it. She continued to skitter around as he aimed blows at her. Her eyes darted around, trying to figure out where the next attack would come from. Leg aimed at leg? No, most of the muscle was torso and above. Once the leg turns into a deadweight though... Think. Need to hit the chin. A good blow there would temporarily paralyze him, giving her the edge. How to get there though?<br/><br/>A rhythm. Wait for an opening. Break it. THINK.<br/><br/>"Come on, I didn't just want dodging," Cerci complained, breaking her concentration. The bastard.<br/><br/>Landes caught her in the gut during her momentary lapse, knocking the breath out of her, then... Can't blank. Can't blank. Go out and it's over. Neris didn't quite know how to describe it, but her mind reached out into… something, and that something answered back. She was suddenly watching herself from afar, still directing herself, but with a better view of what was going on. There was definitely a pattern looking at it from where she was, though. She got her body to weave around his punches, and, with the pain and exhaustion gone, she willed her body to run into the rain of blows, dodging them, knowing full well that if she got close enough, he wouldn't be able to put enough power behind his blows to even hurt someone like her. She eventually slid into Landes' blind spot, trying to catch his chin. He somehow managed to turn his head so she hit his cheek instead. At least her hand didn't hurt.<br/><br/>Fine. New strategy. Still close, so get on his back and choke him out. Fights are no holds barred anyways (well, short of death, but that rarely happened). She was already in range, but he was trying to regain his space. Pressure him. Her body pushed forward, still not attacking, but sealing off his movement ability.<br/><br/>Opening. She  darted around him, to his back, and jumped up, trying to get to his neck. He gashed her arm as she reached around. Concealed knife. How dumb to not even think that he'd have that. He was a weapon user after all...<br/><br/>Suddenly the pain was back with Neris, her field of view only as wide as however much of the arena she could see. She let go, her legs giving out from under her, Her hand and arm hurt, and, more importantly, her head hurt. And she was unbelievably exhausted. From what, she didn't quite know.<br/><br/>She was done. Once her arm was out, there was no chance. Not like there was one to begin with... But she didn't want to give Cerci the satisfaction of an "I give." Instead, Neris pushed herself up, blood running down her arm and dripping onto the arena floor. She was at least standing now, but doubled over, hyperventilating until her head was light and her lips tingled. Ocieros didn't like when she did this, but at this point, there was nothing better to do. At least Landes wasn't going in for the kill, giving her the time to set up. Chivalry or was he fed up with what he was doing too or Cerci's orders? "What, already done?" Cerci taunted from the stands.<br/><br/>She took one last deep breath and immediately straightened up, trying to force the air out without breathing it out.<br/><br/>Then, everything went black.