The Fan and the Flame XI

He was watching. Supposedly the whole training yard, but I knew he was watching me. He probably wanted to know if I was as good as I thought I was.
Not that the training yard was a very good place to judge that. I'd been sparring with one of the instructors for about ten seconds when I knocked them down for the fifth time. I didn't even have to try, really. It was hardly a good display of my abilities.
As the instructor scrambled to his feet again, I heard footsteps approaching us and looked up to see a tall, muscular woman walk up to the instructor.
"I'll take it from here," she said sternly. The instructor nodded quickly and stepped away and she looked at me. "Dragon Knight Steliana. His Grace has asked that I assess the true extent of your capabilities."
I bowed. "I'm honored to spar with you." I readied myself, studying her as she prepared as well. She held herself with the confidence of someone who had survived battle, unlike the instructors whose confidence seemed based entirely in superiority--confidence in her own abilities, but not in the idea that she was better than me. She'd likely been watching too, which gave her the upper hand. She'd seen me fight, however little effort I was exerting.
Finally, both of us were ready, though neither of us attacked immediately. Though it was probably only a few seconds, it seemed like several minutes before I finally began.
She was certainly a more difficult opponent than any of the others--more difficult than any instructor I'd had before. She was strong, and incredibly quick besides. I found myself being pushed back. But I wouldn't lose that easily.
I focused more and held my ground, even pushing her back a bit, and for the first time against an Order of Brim opponent, I found myself breaking a sweat. I stayed focused, though, and then I saw it. An opening. My blade flicked out to strike.
It was a mistake.
Steliana knew it was coming--had set it up that way, most likely, to draw me in. A split second later, my back slammed into the ground with a heavy thud.
"Not bad," Steliana said, holding out a hand to help me up. "Not bad at all."
I took her hand and pulled myself to my feet. "Clearly not good enough, though."
"That depends on what you think is good enough. To beat me? No, certainly not. To be impressive? Definitely."
I looked up at her. "... Will you teach me how to be better?"
She laughed. "My place is by the emperor's side," she said. "Perhaps one day, yours will be as well." She turned to head back up to the balcony where Eisna was watching the yard.
I looked up at him to find him smiling at me, before he turned to go inside.