The duel had transformed from a mere test into a breathtaking display of skill. Vidhi's smile remained unbroken as she drew her dagger; with a metallic click, the blade extended, becoming a full-length sword. In a silent pact of honor, Krishnapriya set aside her secondary weapon and tucked one arm behind her back, mirroring Vidhi’s stance. They lunged at each other. The garden was no longer a place of peace but a forge of white-hot sparks. Every time their steel collided, the sound wasn't just a simple clink; it was a roar of thunder that echoed off the palace walls.