22. Mismatch
V ivienne and Harrison rushed to Serene and helped her to her feet. She was dazed and her right cheek was swollen, but aside from that, her injuries were not as bad as they could have been.
At least now Aeden and the others knew that they were able to yield when they’d had enough, and for some reason Master Storme seemed insistent on following the rules of combat to the letter.
Vivienne and Harrison brought Serene to stand beside Aeden, and he wrapped his arm around her to help hold her steady. She was trembling, and her pupils were large. She was most likely concussed, but it could have been a lot worse.
Next up were Harrison and Vivienne, who returned to the mat as Master Storme had told them.
Was he going to make them fight each other next?
“Blackthorn, Vignell, Dawson, you’re up.” The three all grinned as they stepped onto the mat as instructed .
“Three against two? That’s bullshit,” Serene said. Her speech was slightly slurred, most likely from her concussion. “What the hell are we meant to learn from this?”
“I’d hazard a guess not to cause any more trouble,” Aeden spoke quietly. “The director clearly wants us all to take a beating and learn to stay in line.”
“Bitch,” Serene said.
“Keep your defences up,” Aeden called out to Harrison and Vivienne, who already had their hands up in a defensive position. “I can’t speak for Dawson, but those other two are sneaky bastards. Don’t let your guard down.”
“Easier said than done,” Harrison said as Kael moved towards him.
“I can take him,” Kael said with a growl. “You two take her down. I’ll be with you soon.”
The other two started circling Vivienne like a pack of wild dogs, jabbing towards her without any hesitation, but she was able to slap away their strikes.
Out of the two of them, Vivienne was built more like a fighter, and Aeden would have been less concerned for her had she not been facing two opponents at the same time.
Most people would struggle with that. Given they were from the Offence class and attacking was their speciality, she didn’t stand a chance. This was about damage limitation.
Dawson threw another jab, testing Vivienne’s defensive stance. From the way she was holding herself, it was clear she knew how to fight. Maybe, just maybe she would be able to pull this off.
Dawson threw a quick left-right combo before Vignell stepped forward with a low kick to Vivienne’s thigh. She tried her best to block it, but it was enough to divert her attention, allowing Vignell and Dawson to get a couple of jabs on her face.
Vivienne stepped back to make some distance. She sniffed and wiped her nose with her hand, revealing a small streak of blood that had started trickling from her nose.
Vignell took a step forward, swinging a haymaker at her. This time Vivienne was quick to it and blocked the strike with her left arm before slamming a solid fist with her right hand straight into Vignell’s jaw. It gave a satisfying crunch.
“Yes!” Serene said, and Aeden held the same sentiment.
The small win was short lived, as Dawson took her chance to land another strike on Vivienne’s face from her unguarded side, then slammed a kick into her back, dropping her onto one knee and into a vulnerable position.
Behind Vivienne, Kael danced around Harrison, who had his guard up, as small testing jabs clashed against his forearms. Kael manoeuvred around him, his speed already impressive.
It was clear he had been training long before he arrived at the academy.
His parents had likely been preparing him for this his whole life.
Harrison didn’t try to strike, he just kept his guard up, which was the best he could do with Kael being so offensive with his strikes. He didn’t leave Harrison an opportunity to strike as he kept jabbing and jabbing until he feigned striking right before darting to the left.
He caught Harrison out, who left his righthand side completely open, and Kael didn’t miss the opportunity to strike.
He slammed a fist into Harrison’s ribs, whose guard dropped from the force straight away.
Kael then stepped into him and slammed his forearm straight into his face.
Harrison staggered back but somehow managed to stop himself from falling over.
He shook his head and tried to compose himself, rubbing his thumb against his lip. The tip-tap of dripping blood sounded as it splashed on the training mat, and Kael simply grinned at Harrison.
“Are you even going to try and strike me? I mean, I expected you to be weak as a Support, but a coward, too?”
“I’ll show you coward,” Harrison said. He swung a wild punch at Kael, his inexperience clearly getting the better of him.
“Don’t” – Aeden tried to warn him, but it was too late.
Kael stepped out of the way, dodging the strike with ease while showcasing his speed before unfurling a quick volley of blows – two to Harrison’s torso and a third across his face.
There was nothing Harrison could do to keep his balance.
He spun before slamming down into the mat face-first with a slap that made Aeden cringe.
Vivienne wasn’t holding up much better as Dawson and Vignell struck her while she was on her knee. Dawson grabbed the back of her head and jumped into her with a knee, smashing it into her face.
There was an audible crunch, and Serene gasped. “They have to stop, Aeden. They have to stop, this isn’t a lesson, it’s torture.”
Vivienne tried in vain to keep her composure, but she slipped forward face-first onto the floor and remained unmoving. She was unconscious.
“Well done, Offence team,” Master Storme said, “exploiting their weakness by targeting the stronger fighter with two of yours. That was a good strategy. ”
“How is that a good strategy?” Serene said, her voice breaking as she fought back tears. “We would beat any of them if it was three against one.”
“It’s not over yet,” Harrison said, his voice slow and broken.
Gods no , Aeden thought. “Shit, he needs to stay down,” he said, leaning into Serene.
“What is he doing?” Serene asked.
To Aeden’s surprise, Harrison was somehow still conscious as he slowly dragged himself back to his feet before facing the three other students. His right eye was completely swollen shut, his mouth and chin covered in blood.
Harrison raised his fists to defend himself again. “Is that all you’ve got?” he demanded.
“Harrison, you don’t have to do this,” Aeden called out, despite the stern gaze of Master Storme. “You can’t allow this fight to go on.”
“I suggest you hold your tongue, Harrington. Remember who is in charge here,” Master Storme snarled without giving Aeden a second glance as his focus remained on Harrison.
The others were circling him like a pack of wolves.
There was a wildness in Master Storme’s eyes that Aeden didn’t like one bit; the sick bastard was seemingly enjoying every second of this.
“You actually think you stand a chance?” Kael goaded. “You couldn’t match one of us, let alone all three of us.” He scoffed before stepping into Harrison’s space and slamming a forceful fist into his stomach.
Harrison laughed and staggered back, an audible wheeze on his breath. He smiled at Kael, raised a hand, and flipped him the finger .
Dawson and Vignell darted forward, grabbing hold of each of Harrison’s arms and holding him steady. He struggled, but their combined strength was too much for him, and despite his best efforts, he couldn’t do anything. He was defenceless.
Before Aeden had time to react, Kael threw a volley of punches at Harrison, with a combination of blows to the body and head.
Aeden went to step forward, but he felt a tug on his arm.
“Don’t,” a distraught-looking Serene said, her eyes welling with tears. “You’ll just make things worse.” There was a hint of resentment in her tone that Aeden instantly recognised.
Did she blame him for this? How could she? This was the academy’s fault. This was down to the sadistic fuck Master Storme who was allowing this.
Kael stepped back from Harrison, whose head lolled in a motion that Aeden was not comfortable with.
“To hell with this,” Aeden said. He couldn’t stand by and watch this go on for a moment longer.
“No!” Harrison said, raising a hand towards Aeden.
“I’m okay.” He spat a mouthful of blood at Kael’s feet.
“We all know who the coward in this situation is.” He tried to smile, but his face was two banged up to allow it.
He winced before laughing to himself. “I mean, even at three against one, you had to pin me. What’s the matter, Kael?
Worried that pretty face of yours might get damaged? ”
“I’ll have your tongue,” Kael snarled, lashing out at Harrison again. “Let him go,” he demanded from Dawson and Vignell, who reluctantly did as they were told .
It was as if Harrison had planned for the moment, because no sooner did they relinquish their grip on him than he pulled his arms free and drove forward, piling headfirst into Kael like a battering ram.
Aeden heard a satisfying crunch before Kael snapped his head back. Was that twice now he’d had his nose broken?
Harrison staggered forward, clearly dazed from the blows to his head. He had thrown himself forward with that much force that Kael quickly adjusted his standing position and held Harrison down.
“You’re going to pay for that,” he said, and then he raised his fists into the air and slammed them down onto Harrison’s back, sending him crashing to the mat.
Harrison let out a groan from the floor. He was done.
Kael, however, wasn’t.
“You will learn your place, fucking mongrel.” Kael stamped down on Harrison’s back and started to kick him over and over.
“That’s enough!” Serene cried out. “You’re going to kill him!”
“I’d be doing the academy a favour,” Kael snarled. A wildness seemed to take over as blood poured from his nose. He kept kicking Harrison over and over again.