Aura dampens but doesn't completely absorb the pain of a blow. Nora knows this and goes in expecting the sharp bite of a sword wielded by someone at least as strong as she is. Still, it hurts. She hisses as Loken's blade bounces off her ribs, a blow that would have ended the battle and quite possibly her life without the protection of her Aura.

The ruse did its job, and even if he can get back into a guard position quickly enough, he won't have the leverage he needs to block a hammer strike, especially one wielded by an enthusiastic Nora.

Fortunately, she doesn't hit quite as hard as his peers.