TRAILING SHADOWS

T"Say that one more time and watch me disember you." Tayo warned even though there was no change to his already emotionless face.

"It has begun!" Niniola yelped for joy, fisting her hands into the air, excitedly

"I still think you are pretty ugly! Abefele Iruju." Ibiyemi chanted, swirling her hands in the air to depict claws

Immediately, she did, solidity filled her palms, solidity that she grabbed immediately

Now was the time to not only train but also to give this Tayo a little of what he deserved for calling her a Hag

She dashed forward to the right, where Tayo stood, eyeing her warily, her blade arms angled behind her

Just as she got into range, her right arm slashed forward, followed by her left in swiping wide arcs.

However, her strikes hit nothing because Tayo merely sidestepped, out of range. Fuelled forward by the dash, she raced past him. Stomping her left leg on the ground a bit forcefully, she stopped her advancement, gritting her teeth at the failed attack

It was supposed to be a surprise attack but Tayo had simply just sidestepped away, like it was nothing

"Damn it!" She mouthed, fl.i.c.k.i.n.g her fingers to dissolve the technique

Perhaps, he had detected her because of her. chanting of the technique.  She was not going to make the same mistake again.

Now, she would go on him in full body melee, rather than relying on Agbara, at least, until she drew close enough to him, in a spot where he could not readily dodge

With that etched in her mind, she pulls off the eye patch, revealing the purplish glow from Eye of Chance

No, it was time to get serious..And she was going to need all the assistance that she could get

She turned back and sped up in her movement, dashing for Tayo who turned back to face her. Just as she got close to him, she stroke into the air with a straight left arm jab

And again, like before, Tayo sidestepped her,. watching her run past him, her follow up punch of the right arm also hitting nothing

'I know he is way stronger than me but.. Just one hit, at least.' She prayed

With a snort, she turned around and dashed again just in time to see Tayo turn again to the front

"I didn't think you were quite effective in brushing past me." Tayo shrugged, earning an irritated snort from Ibiyemi and a squeal of excitement from Niniola

As she got into range, Tayo sidestepped her. But this time, she was ready or rather, her Eye was ready. And thankfully, Tayo's class was not so high to effect a rebound on her

In the split second that she dashed past Tayo's sidestepping, her body lunged forward as she had attempted to grab him in place.

Her right eye flashed, spreading an instantaneous rush of chilling calm into her body. It was soothing, almost like she was receiving words of encouragement from someone in the time of her greatest despair

This, this was exactly how the users of Eyes felt whenever they had it flashing.  A comforting sensation that somewhat reassured that everything was going to be fine. And the bigger the power of the Eye, the larger the reassurance was. And most times, this resulted in the c.o.c.kiness of those who had eyes. Sometimes, being the exact reason why they were killed, in battle

Usually, having a eye was as a result of excess acc.u.mulation in one eye of the body. This was hereditary and sometimes, one had to go the tough way to earn it, usually in instances of near death as a fight or flight response. Like in the time of Ibiyemi and the rogue mercenaries

Still in the split second of her dash, Tayo's body and Ibiyemi were close up, except that Tayo had already sidestepped, taking a horizontal step away. Ibiyemi oh the other hand was past him, or about to but her right leg was already past him

The moment her eye flashed, the right leg that was past gone suddenly vanished, and reappeared right before Tayo's left leg, the information of this act filtering into Ibiyemi's mind. Being the eye of chance, she could effect little changes in Fate to give her an advantage and it didn't matter whether or not she knew the techniques necessary for that, like the teleporting of her foot.

Just as far as her eye flashed and it was not on a big target whose soul class was high, then it was going to work

The second waltzed past and time returned to its normal flow. Immediately, Ibiyemi's eyes widened in realization of what just happened. She acted on it upon realising the shift in her foot's position, quickly channeling energy into her right foot to clear Tayo off the ground

Successfully, Tayo was swept clean, his body falling forward, flat on his face. However, just as he neared the ground, he shot it his left hand out to halt himself. The very act of it, transforming a potential fall into front flip while Ibiyemi still dashed forward, acting on the initial momentum of before

Tayo had no emotion on his face as he rose into the air, supported by a single arm. Heels over head now, he could see Ibiyemi's be ack as she still dashed forward. As he did, a though flashed into his mind, telling him to take advantage of it

After all, who turned their backs to the opponent when in a battle

It was the basics 101 Law of War Strategem. You only turned your back unless you were ultimately sure the opponent was way below you. Although, most times, the opponent may have just the trump card at the last moment, even the more reason why one ought not to underestimate mate the opponent, no matter what

Unfortunately, Ibiyemi had flaunted it entirely. And having an eye did not cover up for blunders like this

Still, Tayo could not hide his contempt for the trick she played on him via her eye because he was sure he stepped out of range

"Hah! I hate Eyes!"