Absolute Evasion

"You failed," Lucius mercilessly declared. 

Hearing his admonishment, Olivia lowered her head further while biting hard on her lips. 

"…yes," Olivia quietly replied.

Her face was completely pale and droplets of blood started to fall from her lips. Olivia had apparently bitten her lips with enough force to break the skin and draw blood.

"What is your excuse?" Lucius continued with his questions.

Clenching her fists to the point where her hands trembled and white knuckles could be seen through her pale skin, Olivia replied in defeat.

"There is none."

There was no excuse for her failure. Her defeat had been evident and clear. Her opponents were too strong, and she was weak. It was her own lack of power that resulted in her defeat.

"I grew conceited of my own power and underestimated the difficulty of—" Olivia was in the process of explaining when she was suddenly interrupted.

SLAP!