Tulius moaned loudly in pain after her blow, leaning forwards to the ground - he managed to keep his body from ground, because he used his hands. He swallowed after recovering from that pain. Melina was pushing his honour to the limits of what was acceptable, even for the condition of a slave, although the Roman would see him more like a prisoner or hostage than a mere slave. He closed his eyes, trying to avoid his hands from grabbing the staff - he knew that would be worse, since he was in no conditions of fighting what seemed to be a even stronger female.<br/><br/>"Maybe this is why you have not yet been fully convinced you are better than I am", he muttered.