Is it weird to feel relieved at someone trying to cut your head off? Because with all this magic nonsense exploding around her, all Avery can think when she sees that sword coming is... phew, just another asshole with a big knife.

Those she's been dealing with for years.

And that thought apparently gives her the focus she needs to ignore the magic for now and get her head back in the game, because in one shockingly smooth motion, Avery shoves Merrill out of the way of the attack and ducks back and under it herself, spinning around to slide her knife right into the backside of this poor bastard's completely unarmored knee.

Good luck chasing anybody after that, pal.