Overhead swings never DID work with a frontal attack, did they? Aya was actually rather aware of this and was more than prepared to suddenly lift her right knee and snap the ball of her foot out at his midsection. Only after she actually launched the kick did she realize this guy actually was able to block the blow with one hand on his weapon. That other one...

In less than a second she was staggering sideways, a one-handed grip on her weapon as the other held her side where the dark magic was slapped into her flank. A grimace creeped across her face, air hissed between her teeth. In spite of the pretty serious pain that magic had incurred, she forced herself to keep moving, circling around him until she had a good shot at jabbing his flank. "Weird thoughts?"