The Paladin's Shadow; Sparing Partner

Credits; Petra,

Petra kept up a rather solid routine.  One class a week, office hours for five, then nothing but writing lesson plans in her spare time.  The demons were quiet now, they had been for several years.  She practiced her spells and her sword as best she could, but there were limits to what she could do without an adequate adversary. 
And she was only reminded it all the more as the first years grew strong enough to spar themselves.  Her own days in school came to mind, when she sparred with the teacher because there was no one else who could keep up with her.  And here she was again, peerless and alone. 
"Miss Zinksfeld?"
She was certain her heart stopped at that.  It was bad enough having to meet with him every every Friday so they could discuss lesson plans.  But in public?  She could barely talk when it was just the two of them. 
"Well, since you're still not talking to me, I'll just keep on going on my own."
"Oh no!  Please, just can it wait until after class?"
"Ah, so you can talk!"  Petra blushed and looked away from the class so they couldn't see.  She could already hear some of them giggling behind her back.  "Anyways, I was actually hoping I might be able to help you out with the class."  He reached over his shoulder and drew a fine, white-steel long sword, bladed on both sides and the channel was straight and true.  It was fine craftsmanship, and she'd forged enough to know the difference.  She could also tell that it was as strong as her own, and not just in steel but in spell as well.  She couldn't place it, but it felt..familiar.  There were runes she'd never seen enscribed on the guard.  As an enchanter it was both vexing and fascinating to see something beyond her own knowledge like this. 
"You want to...You want to Spar with me?"
He nodded. 
"Me?"
"What?  Are you afraid?"
"No!  Its just, I've fought demons, I faced a thousand shades on my own and won.  Surely you've heard the stories?  What if you get hurt?"
"Don't worry about me Miss, I'm a quick heal."  He winked and brandished his sword.  She reached to her her side and felt the familiar polished wood hilt of her own sword.  She lifted it from its scabbard and twirled the onyx-hued blade.  She hoped, no, she prayed that her own healing skills were enough to keep him alive if he made a mistake. 
"Class, Professor Alnutsrevn and I are going to demonstrate the way a proper sword fight works.  Try and learn something from this."
"Ah, but there shall be nothing proper about it."  He started with a basic thrust, which she easily parried.  As she cut across the block he side stepped and brought his sword across.  She flipped her sword over his blade and deflected the blow before wheeling about to face him, blocking yet another blow as she did.  He was fast, and he had talent.  There could be no doubt of that.  She spun and slashed, then quickly recovered as he ducked.  For every move she made he had a counter, and his attacks managed to stretch her counters further than any mortal had ever managed, indeed few demons had ever managed to push her this far.  Just as she began to wonder if she had met her match though he stepped back panting. 
"You..You're really good."
"Thanks," she gasped.  "You're not half-bad yourself."
"Am I all bad then?"
She started to laugh and saw something in his look.  There was something...deeper to that question.  It was a joke of course; he was obviously one of the best swordsman in the universe, known or otherwise.  But something about the way he looked at her made her wonder if maybe he wanted to be reassured that he wasn't bad, on a personal level.  What could a healer, who fought as well as a demon, have possibly done that could convince him that he was truely bad?
"No sir, I think you're pretty good."
He smiled and sheathed his sword.  She took the cue and returned her own to its place at her side.  She watched him walk away as the bell rang for the classes to change.  Then she realized that this was the first time she'd managed to talk to him directly.  She felt good, better than she had in years.  Her mom would be thrilled!