The laugh was what gave her pause more than anything. She was aware Lingormr was brainwashed, but she hadn't thought the quiet scholar capable of finding such joy in a fight. It was something she would have expected of Allelujah--or even herself, if she were perfectly honest. She wondered what they'd told him, what he thought he was doing.

And then there were more of him, and Soma had just enough time to grit out, "He doesn't normally do this!" before she threw herself to the ground, rolling in an attempt to avoid the daggers. It must have worked, she thought muzzily as she tried to scramble to her feet. She didn't feel anything except the rushing of blood in her head and the sensation of every muscle aching.

That was before something very real and very solid sliced across her side, and she cried out in anger and pain. Even now, it was pointless to stop and inspect the injury--deep, she could tell, but not immediately life-threatening, and that was good enough for her. She kept moving forward, trying to keep her flashlight on the Lingormrs around her and failing miserably.