[Training] Hope as far as one can see

Maea

Waking from the dream
Witnessing the smoke that's rolling in

There was only her left to be addressed, yet it took a moment before the ancient responded. Finishing the set, she stopped the swaying sandbag with both hands and sucked in breath after breath until she could hear more than her own heartbeat drumming in the ears.

Glancing over her shoulder, she followed Hadama's path across the room and into the ring. The dangerous gleam in her eyes persisted, underlined by the way her tail kept slashing the air; he may be a friend, but that did not spare him from her temper if this turned out to be anything other than a spar. But she did not reject the chance. She was already warmed up and everything, with sweat beading on her skin and the threadbare tank top flecked with perspiration. It left her arms bare, and she had discarded her own shoes by the pile of rags that was her overcoat. The wide trousers had been rolled up to just below the knees, ballooning around her legs but offering ample amount of room to move. Just the way she liked things.

Picking up rolls of cloth on the way, Maea spared a moment to wrap her hands properly and tossed some for the king before ducking into the ring. "Why don't you come find out?" she challenged, her voice like the whisper of steel being drawn from its sheath. Finding her stance, she tucked her chin, brought her fists up and invited Hadama to make the first move with a 'come hither' wave of a hand.

The end is what you fear
The scent of embers lingers in the air