A Breath of Balance

The air felt unusually still. My right arm was raised, gripping the miniature sword overhead in mid-strike, frozen opposite another figure posed against me. Carefully, I eased the tension in my wrist. The small blade tilted slightly, answering my will rather than gravity. I tested my balance, shifting weight across my spread legs without toppling over on the uneven blue texture beneath my feet. Across from me, the other figure remained completely motion-locked. Realizing I could actually breathe and steady my own stance, I slowly lowered the blade an inch, holding quiet guard in the dark.