Touho continued to make symbols at the previous rate that she had before until she had a total of twenty three symbols, taking an additional 9 seconds. She had decided that her opponent was not in the immediate area, and that her initial thoughts had been wrong. Perhaps this was foolish, and she kept herself alert during the entire process in order to be ready to react in case she was wrong, but it did not seem like there was an opponent nearby. 

The easiest way to win against an unknown opponent was to grind them out - she was able to stay well out of range of most possible combatants for a long time, and her ability to blanket the entire arena in a frigid hailstorm was one that she would have to take advantage of. She had seen a glimpse of what looked like a cave entrance, but she did not know if there was an interconnected series of tunnels. When fighting commenced, she would be sure to check it out - but until her opponent revealed themselves it was too much of a risk to make the first move.

The first to act was the first to fall, she had always been taught, and it was a tenet that had saved her life multiple times in the past - now was no different.