Gemotions

Serena’s fingers tightened on the hilt of her épée. She’d always been a foil fencer, a master of precision and quick footwork. Now, she was being asked to learn the more forceful, more dangerous art of the épée. The coach had said it was about "strategy."

The weight of the weapon seemed foreign in her hand. The guard, a thick circle of metal, felt cumbersome compared to the delicate foil she was accustomed to. She took a step back, her brow furrowed. The nuances of the new weapon, the different rules… it was a universe away from her comfort zone.

She looked across the fencing hall, at the familiar dance of light footwork. A cold knot twisted in her gut.