...even in the novel, Cecily is only a person who's prepared to
frontstab her friends when the situation demands - she still lets them retrieve their swords before the fight, and uses the same excuse ("Because I'm stupid!").
The tone of the fight is quite different in the novel, though. Cecily is actually taking on all three girls at once, so she hasn't got any time to waste on pleasantries or sympathy and doesn't do so. She comes across as very practical; the first thing she does is knock down Doris and Penelope with a shockwave from Aria, then blasts Margot. Penelope charges forward, but Cecily knows she can't win in close combat and so immediately uses the "arrow" move, pinning Penelope to a wall by her shoulder. She doesn't apologise after yanking Aria out of Penelope (and hearing Penelope scream), either - in fact, Cecily practically taunts Doris, who's only just painfully getting up:
"What's wrong? Are we done already?"
"Aah... ow..."
"What are you standing there for? Weren't you going to protect Charlotte?!"
In short - if you like nice (but less competent) Cecily, the anime is better. If you like badass (and more competent) Cecily, the novel is better.
