The semifinals began with Lyra.
Her opponent was a 7-Star sword user from the northern barracks, a tall girl with a reputation for aggressive footwork. She started the match with high energy, putting pressure on Lyra with a series of downward slashes intended to keep her on the defensive.
Lyra didn't retreat.
She caught every strike on the shaft of her spear, angling it perfectly to send the sword sliding away and leaving the girl off-balance. The girl lunged too far and left herself open; instantly, Lyra's spear flashed forward with the speed and precision of a striking snake.
The flat of the spearhead hit the girl's chest.
Whack.
The sword user slid across the stage and out of the ring before she could recover.
"Winner: Lyra Ashford. Advancing to the Championship Final."
The crowd went wild. Lyra walked off the stage with her chin high and her spear resting on her shoulder like she'd just finished a morning warmup.
