264 The Notemaker

Elero let out a long sigh and picked up her sword. 'I just need to focus.'

...

"So what's the drawback of Flow?" Frey asked, suppressing the urge at look at Elero. "You said there was always a cost to strength."

Alexander frowned: "You two just asked about it, hopelessness. I even said it. Are you dense?" Frey nodded while Thomas tried not to laugh. Alexander sighed and continued: "A humble one, aren't you? The Flow is a strong tide. Yesterday, your body failed to act in line with its will, putting your mind and body at odds. You incurred the cost of going against the Flow. Even though you had energy left, everything slowed as if you were thrown into the tide's murky depths. The more momentum you have, the greater the cost."

…

'Strike,' Elero grunted and lurched forward but her arms refused to move. The sword fell out of her grasp, clattering to the ground. Her legs returned to mush. Pain rocked through her face, which smacked into the tree.