It was late afternoon and I was already gasping for breath.
Sweat streaming down my temples, soaking my already damp shirt as I staggered back into position.
The sun beat down relentlessly, and it seemed to be baking the cracked ground of the Ravenwood training yard until it shimmered like molten gold.
Dust clung to my skin like a second coat. My bare feet were caked in grime, my knees scraped raw and myu ribs screaming in protest with every breath.
I was feeling so toired,, but still, I moved.
Still I fought.
And stikll I refused to stop.
My fists came up.
Shaky.
I could already feel my own knuckles trembling. But my eyes, gods, I knew what they must've looked like. Feral. Fierce. Full of something that felt a lot like desperation, disguised as defiance.
With a ragged cry, I lunged at Ayane again.
She ducked, rolled, and swept her leg toward my ankle, but I jumped, barely making it in time.
