[Part of her fears that this is the 'demonstration' he was talking about. Her instinct to survive overrides strategy -- he's too fast for her to plan tactics. The gold shield flares before her as six petals fall away from her hairpins.]

[She doesn't scream, nor does she protest. The only sound she makes is a faint grunt as she sustains the blow against the shield, her palms extended as she focuses her strength into maintaining the shield's integrity.]