21. Ahmina
AHMINA
Combat was held outside in the Aurorian Battlegrounds, which the Slayers had lovingly nicknamed “the Bloodring.”
The afternoon was exceptionally hot, the sun radiating down on them as they gathered for their lesson.
They had been practicing solo and in small groups for the last week, trying out available weapons: daggers, swords, chakrams, archery, and trap-setting, or a combination of several.
Regardless of specialty, they would choose a signature weapon.
They were told to choose what they were most skilled at, but to her it seemed graduate Defenders were skilled at them all.
She had taken a keen interest in the chakrams. She liked the way the cold circular steel felt in her hands, and how smoothly they slid through the air, slicing their target.
Unlike other weapons, they required a more intuitive throw—less about a straight shot and more about how they would dance and flow with the wind.
Now it was time for them to practice their skills on real people.
Which, quite honestly, Ahmina had been dreading.
She had never been athletic and had no instinct for fighting.
Growing up, Rory was the quarrelsome one and would fight anyone who spoke ill of them.
Once, as they were walking through downtown Jarrah, a group of boys called them scraps, a derogatory term for orphans.
Rory threw rocks at their heads, nailing one directly in the eye, and they ran away screaming like small children.
She and Rory laughed about it for hours after, their stomachs cramping in humorous delight.
Rory rocked forward on her toes, practically vibrating with excitement, while Ahmina shifted uneasily beside her. Even though they had been doing drills for weeks now, she was still panting by the end; she felt nowhere near ready for direct combat.
“One at a time. We’ll evaluate where you’re at and everyone can learn from your mistakes.” Professor Barrow tucked a strand of hair behind his ear. “Remember, creatures will use their magic on you first but knowing how to fight can save your life.”
“If we’re going to be fighting creatures, why are we practicing on humans?” another first-year student asked.
Barrow frowned like it was the most ignorant question in the world. “To build strength and agility. This shouldn’t be news to you. Unless you prefer to be thrown straight in with a Firebringer because that can be arranged.”
The boy shook his head quickly, and Barrow looked around, assessing who to pick as his first victim. Once again, his eyes lingered on hers for a second longer than everyone else’s. She offered a weak smile, hoping he wouldn’t choose her.
“Maeleena and Omega, you’re up”
“Ready?” she asked Rory, who stretched beside her. “Am I ready to fight a man double my size who looks like he could crush my skull in between his hands? Hell yeah,” Rory said through a smile.
Rory faced Kit Omega in the ring with an unshakable confidence that Ahmina wished she could bottle and drink herself. Kit’s deep brown complexion glistened in the sun, highlighting his strong muscular frame. His thick dreads brushed the tops of his shoulders as he settled into his fighting stance.
They exchanged a few words, too quietly for Ahmina to hear, before Barrow’s voice carried over the crowd: “Begin!”
Rory was on her back in an instant, but not without managing to get a knee into Kit’s ribs, causing him to falter for a second.
As he pinned her to the ground, dust flew up around them, skewing Ahmina’s view of the fight.
It cleared just long enough for her to see Kit lock Rory’s arms in place before Rory managed to get her leg around his thigh, digging her heel into the soft part at the back of his leg.
He laughed and Ahmina’s stomach dropped. Rory was going to lose.
“Tap out,” he said calmly.
To everyone’s surprise, including Ahmina’s, Rory’s fist escaped his grasp and pounded into his nose. They both scrambled to stand as Kit clutched his bleeding nose, staring each other down.
“Alright, alright,” Barrow said, walking in between them. “Nice move, Mealeena.”
Rory smiled and Kit returned the gesture, nodding slightly in approval through his blood-soaked hand.
“Ror,” Ahmina said, high-fiving her as they returned to their spot in the crowd, “I can’t believe you just punched a six-foot-six, second-year Slayer in the nose.”
“What? You’d expect anything less? That’s my signature move,” she said, and they both giggled.
Barrow’s voice silenced their fun. “Ori, you’re up.”
Her stomach dropped.
As she made her way to the front, Barrow called for her opponent.
Tia Anaura was a woman with a perfectly symmetrical face and hazel almond eyes, framed by a jet black bob.
She was smaller than Ahmina, which gave Ahmina a little sliver of hope that she wouldn’t get absolutely demolished.
But as soon as she saw the way Tia settled into her fighting pose, she knew this was about to be very, very bad.
Trembling, she widened her stance, and Tia mirrored her movements while remaining relaxed. Not ready for what was to come, she sucked in a tight breath, acutely aware of all eyes on her. Suddenly the air in her lungs felt thin.
“Begin!” Barrow bellowed, and before she could even make a move, Tia had her on the ground, pinned like a pretzel.
“Tap out,” Tia growled into Ahmina’s ear.
“I surrender,” Ahmina said loud enough for Barrow to hear, and Tia released her.
“Well, that lasted all of two seconds,” she heard a student say. Her hip was on fire where it had hit the ground, and she rubbed where a sharp pain ripped up her thigh. Dusting the dirt off her hands and knees, she made her way through the crowd of students back to Rory.
An hour later, most of the first years had been sparred into submission, and there was only one student left to go: Loveleena. Barrow looked around for her pair and settled on Lennox.
Ahmina watched, a small flutter in her chest, as Lennox sauntered to the front of the crowd where he removed his weapons and tossed them on the ground. Loveleena stood across from him, fists positioned in front of her.
Lennox waited for her to attack, quickly dodging her punch. Unlike the others, he didn’t seem to be fighting back.
“What’s he doing?” Ahmina whispered to Rory, who responded with a frown and a head shake.
Loveleena attacked again, but this time Lennox used her attempt to restrain her, turning her own move against her. And he made it all look effortless.
“Damn, he really is good and he’s not even trying,” Ahmina said, amazed.
“That’s why people say he’s the best in his year. He’s barely putting in any effort with her.” Rory said, her mouth hung open. All the students watched in shock.
“Alright, that’s enough.” Barrow separated them. “Decent work, Alva.”
Loveleena nodded through tight lips, a flash of frustration in her eyes.
“You’ve got a good foundation for a first year,” Lennox said, encouraging her. “I’m just really that good,” he teased and walked off. Ahmina ignored the small sting of jealously their interaction awakened in her.
Loveleena and Rory were both completely new to this, just like Ahmina was. Yet, they held their own against their opponents while she barely even got one jab in. She pictured what it would be like to stand in front of the class and pin her opponent to the ground.
She wanted that.
She wanted to be good.
She wanted to win.