Theea
Yla
“Okay, good,” I say with a small laugh of relief, following her to the punching bags. “Because I was about to pretend I knew what I was doing with at least one thing, and then immediately sprain something.”
I glance up at the bag, giving it a light push with my fingertips. It sways gently—heavier than it looks. It’s stitched from thick hide, seams rough under my fingers, and it smells faintly of old sweat and leather. Weirdly comforting.
“I’ve seen people do that too,” I nod, looking back at her with a spark of curiosity. “They always look really serious, though. Like the bag personally insulted their family or something.”
Grinning, I shake out my arms and step back. I feel loose, but a little unsure where to begin—not scared, I’ve sparred my whole life—just trying not to look like a complete fool. Still, with Sohalia it’s easy to laugh it off. I like that she doesn’t pretend to have all the answers either.
“I’ll punch first,” I decide, bouncing a little on my toes again. “But only if you promise not to let it fall and crush me.”
I lift my fists and shift my feet in a well-trained stance. I was raised by two assassins—it’d be a damn shame if I didn’t know how to hit something.
“How do I look? Intimidating? Terrifying?”
I pull my most serious face, then break into a grin a second later.
I glance up at the bag, giving it a light push with my fingertips. It sways gently—heavier than it looks. It’s stitched from thick hide, seams rough under my fingers, and it smells faintly of old sweat and leather. Weirdly comforting.
“I’ve seen people do that too,” I nod, looking back at her with a spark of curiosity. “They always look really serious, though. Like the bag personally insulted their family or something.”
Grinning, I shake out my arms and step back. I feel loose, but a little unsure where to begin—not scared, I’ve sparred my whole life—just trying not to look like a complete fool. Still, with Sohalia it’s easy to laugh it off. I like that she doesn’t pretend to have all the answers either.
“I’ll punch first,” I decide, bouncing a little on my toes again. “But only if you promise not to let it fall and crush me.”
I lift my fists and shift my feet in a well-trained stance. I was raised by two assassins—it’d be a damn shame if I didn’t know how to hit something.
“How do I look? Intimidating? Terrifying?”
I pull my most serious face, then break into a grin a second later.
let go of your fears, and jump into the river
as the starlight bleeds out, let it be your new route
as the starlight bleeds out, let it be your new route
