Her body crashed into the ground, writhing in pain, as she'd try to heal the massive gash across her chest. Blood was spilling profusely, barely able to wield her weapon properly. Her mind raced as she'd wonder if this was it. If this was her timely end. As she contemplated such a demise and resented such a fact, the wound slowly began to heal itself. Furthermore, such thoughts of fear and contempt to death vanished as fast as it came. Her eyes blinked a bit as she gets back on her feet, looking around to try and see where the attacker went, but no signs. She'd look down and tried to find any tracks to see what it was that approached her, assuming such a beast would've been on foot to get away with a slash like that. All she was able to recall from that moment was a figure of white, before the blood and anguish spilt out of her like a waterfall.
Eventually, she was able to find it. Heavy prints in the clay and soil, the sole and shape indicating it was boots by how deep it went. Her mind was wracked with confusion as to why it was able to heal her, much less relieve her of such stress and fears. Once she tried to follow the tracks, however, she'd be met face-to-face with something else.
Herself.
Metallic in appearance, but still carrying her clothes and hair. Her eyes were non-existent, save for the red glare resting on her neck, a jewel embedded in the steel. Koina immediately tried to pull out her dagger for self defense, watching as her doppelganger would do the same, shaping her hand to be like the blade, positioned in the same stance, patiently waiting for the next move. Koina sweats before her match, amazed at the detail it was able to catch in keeping pace. Slowly, they approached each other, their movements close. She pondered if this was a Mirror, a reflection to let her bide her time and plan ahead in the case the duplicate is capable of attacking in the same stance. That thought faded as soon as she got close enough, the doppelganger rushing ahead and attempting a slash through her throat, a potential kill off the rip. She'd parry her mirror's attack, matching it in a riposte, diving down a mass of water to flood down and damage the metal, yet it was able to flow freely and score a hit across her arm, the blood dribbling down as a result.
She'd back away for distance, but the doppelganger pursues, slashing and stabbing in wild successions, trying to ensure a hit was secured on the Assassin. Each parry and catch of her blade could only achieve so much, slowly losing herself in such balance as she tries to keep track. "CAN THIS THING LET UP AT LEAST ONCE!?" She'd thought to herself, her fears running rampant as she was being matched. Eventually, she was cornered into a wall, watching as the mirror aimed for a stab through her head. The Assassin moved out of the way, letting it sink its metal arm deep in the structure, leaving a wide opening to strike back, a heavy swipe to carve through the area into its town square, a mountain of ice freezing over and locking the living steel in place, leaving only her head up to get some answers. "Thank you... Now, what even ARE you?" She'd ask, expecting it to be reasonable after being incapacitated and unable to respond.
KRACC!
KRACC!!
KRACC!!!
The creature would bash its head over and over into the ice, breaking its own neck to ensure it can do the most damage on the wind-up, disturbing Koina as she watched her Doppelganger not care about such a predicament. Over and over, until the ice begins to break down and expose her upper body, giving her proper free reign as she used the fractured ice to launch a massive wave of spikes, barraging her body in her own style, small penetrations through her hide as she'd be pushed back. As she did, she'd try to get up and prepare another freeze over, this time choosing to cover the whole body, considering the construct wishes not to answer. That was when a voice came down towards Koina, strong and valiant, a soldier to its bitter end. "Good! Good! You're facing your fears and anguish in stride. Your self-hurting ways are breaking apart, but such will not be enough to overcome your own id."
"Wha?" Koina turned back to find the voice, yet she was met with nothing.
SHIKK!!!
In that moment, her guard was let down. "As stated before... it will not be enough. You matched it, but you didn't exceed it. You survived it, but you never conquered it. To let your fears invade your mind as it did your body is weakness. Of course... in a place you were raised in, you abhor that word. 'Weakness'... is a sin, isn't it? It is a sin according to you, isn't it? Mayhaps you can find a way to make this 'weakness' become your greatest feat yet. Until then... your are not fit to keep fighting." His voice echoed across the empty streets, as he'd watch the doppelganger copy Koina's magic, attacking back with its own iceberg, taking its own advantage to freeze over the entire upper body and head, knocking her out in the process. She lost again, and this time to herself. Her mind wandered as to what she was doing wrong, why she was losing so much, why she is struggling now against the world. Her eyes drift towards her doppelganger, watching it turn back into the blade that once cut her down.
Confident, dagger in hand, strong-willed. Its glaring crystal for an eye gleamed amongst the midday sun, a sign for her to have that same confidence. Left in the dark for so long has made the light harder and harder to reach. She drifts off, the ice slowly melting, ensuring she won't die to the frostbite, as a figure in white approached her, sword now stowed away. His large hands were the last thing she saw before going out.