[And Mal's gloating look is met with a deadpan one from Nico.]

You realize the point of practicing sword fighting is practicing sword fighting, right?

[Nico rolls away from the blade and out from under her knee and rises to his feet, dusting off his pants with one hand. If Mal could put him on the ground in a sword fight, he'd be the first one cheering her on but this is not what they're here for. This is literally the opposite of what they're here for.]

No magic during training. [With one eyebrow raised] Deal?