Uma stared down at the rope dart trying to figure out exactly how to hold it, let alone where to put it. She looped it awkwardly over her shoulder, the dart swinging uncomfortably close to her leg, and sighed heavily under her breath.
'Fuck my life'
She turned away from the table feeling like the world's most tragic circus act when Harin jogged up beside her, a sword in one hand and a sturdy round shield in the other, looking every bit like a storybook hero.
'Very hero's basic' she thought eyeing him up and down.
He gave her a confident grin, nodding approvingly at her weapon.
"Wow, little lady—I didn't peg you for the rope dart type. Now that's impressive, you must've had your eye on it the whole time huh?"
Uma gave him a flat look.
'No, no this is just my punishment for being a smartass'
But instead, she just nodded solemnly, deciding to let him believe she was some kind of secret martial genius. She'd fake it till she made it, or at least until someone noticed she had no idea what she was doing.
Harin chuckled oblivious to her internal dread and patted her on the shoulder, already walking towards the practice area.
"Can't wait to see you in action, little lady. Should be a hell of a show."
She rolled her eyes at his back, following slowly.
'Oh trust me, it'll be a show alright'
Uma walked off and stood off to the side spending about 30 minutes awkwardly coiling and uncoiling the rope dart, trying to convince it to cooperate even slightly
'This thing is definitely gonna kill me before anyone else does'
Silva stepped forward voice dry as sun-bleached parchment
"Sparring time first clear hit wins Harin Layla step up"
Harin moved forward smoothly sword and shield raised like he was posing for a statue—the picture of confidence and calm "Alright Layla don't hold back now"
Layla didn't answer just spun her daggers once and lunged
She came in quick blade cutting low then darting up high—testing angles, searching for gaps
Harin stepped back shield turning aside each strike like he knew exactly where she'd go next "Good try almost had me there"
Layla's brow twitched, annoyed and she struck again faster this time blades flashing in short quick movements aimed at Harin's exposed sides but he turned pivoting neatly each strike clanging harmlessly off his shield or blade
"Really close again" he smiled gently "Your speed is impressive"
Layla's face tightened further and she spun low slashing hard at his legs hoping to disrupt his balance
He jumped back with practiced ease "Nice move you've got good instincts"
She glared openly now frustration bleeding into every step as she attacked faster fiercer each compliment only adding fuel to her irritation
Uma watched closely
'He's good—really good—but gods he has no clue he's making her furious'
Layla feinted left and cut upward toward his neck determined to finally land a hit—only to have Harin smoothly catch her wrist with his shield arm and gently place his sword's edge lightly against her throat
He smiled apologetically "Gotcha that was close though—you almost had me a few times"
Layla's glare could've melted iron but Harin stepped back unfazed
Uma shook her head slightly
'He's either incredibly brave or just incredibly stupid—I really can't tell yet'
Silva stepped between Harin and Layla, her expression flat as she regarded them both with the enthusiasm of someone grading failed exams
"Harin," she said, voice monotone but cutting, "you fight exactly as expected—every move, every step is right out of a textbook you clearly memorized. Predictable is dead, remember that"
Harin nodded earnestly, not bothered even slightly, his friendly smile unwavering. "Understood, Instructor. I'll work on mixing it up"
Uma watched, genuinely impressed
'Gods, he doesn't even flinch when she calls him basic—now that's admirable'
Silva turned to Layla, who still looked ready to bite through steel
"And you," Silva continued, voice calm yet ruthless, "you're fast, good instincts, but easily baited. Anger clouds judgment—each compliment he gave you made you reckless. Don't let a few nice words turn you into a wild animal"
Layla's jaw clenched, but she nodded stiffly, eyes burning holes into the dirt at her feet
Silva stepped back, already losing interest in them both as she called out the next pair
Uma glanced at Harin, who still wore the same relaxed, cheerful smile as before, completely unfazed by Silva's blunt criticism
'Either he has the thickest skin in existence, or his optimism is genuinely unstoppable. Good luck staying mad at that, Layla'
Silva returned to her spot, face unreadable, voice as dull as an old knife
"Next pair," she said, eyes glancing to Uma with the briefest hint of something resembling pity, "Uma and Krent, step forward"
Uma's shoulders slumped slightly as she moved forward, the rope dart swinging at her hip like a dangerous decoration
'Of course,' she thought grimly, 'of all the opponents, I get the walking wall'
Krent stepped onto the field with a smug grin, dragging his hammer lazily behind him, looking down at Uma like she was barely worth his effort
Uma tightened her grip, trying not to look as hopeless as she felt
'Alright, let's just get this humiliation over with'
Krent drug his hammer behind him with that same cocky smile
"Be careful Ms don't wannna break you"
He said swinging down his hammer with exactly as much force as you'd think his firm was far from good but that didn't matter with the crater he left
'Great I got the walking meteor what's next maybe next time you'll just give me a giant huh life?'
Another wide swing crashed into the dirt a foot from her heels and Uma stumbled back gasping
'Alright think think think!'
The rope dragged again behind her foot and for a second she caught sight of it unfurling through the air—not like a whip not like a weapon
Like a ribbon
A long arcing ribbon
'Wait'
She held it looser let it move with her
When she stepped she turned
When she turned she twirled
The rope followed her like cloth in the wind
'It's like dancing'
'Ribbons dancing but just faster I can work with this'
She pivoted on her heel and spun her arm with her whole body behind it this time not aiming for power just motion just rhythm
The dart sang through the air
It whipped past his chest once—he swatted at it
Then it came around again caught the back of his shoulder
He roared spun—she ducked low
And flicked it again
This time with a step forward and a sharp wrist snap the dart caught him across the cheek
Just a graze
Not even enough to leave blood
But it counted
Silva from the sidelines gave a nod
"Point—Uma"
Krent paused his face frozen
He reached up
Touched the scratch like it was a mortal wound
Then
He sobbed
Loud ugly baby sobs
"My face—she cut my face—"
Uma stared
'What'
He dropped the hammer like it betrayed him and sat down hard in the dirt cupping his cheek
"She cut me—!"
Uma blinked
Looked to Silva
Looked back to Krent
'Bro it's a scratch I didn't take a arm'
But he didn't stop
He just kept bawling like a toddler whose cookie got taken
She let the rope fall slack and slowly stepped away like maybe if she was quiet enough she could escape the weird
'Yeah this training camp is gonna Suck'
"Someone get the baby off the arena next up Michele and Don"
Silva barked as two men stepped up and went at it as Uma walked off to a corner twirling the Rope between her fingers
'Maybe this thing isn't so bad'
"I knew it! I knew you were some secret genius"
A voice from behind Uma boomed out like sunshine on pavement as she turned around to face him
"Man that was something the way you moved I would've thought you were performing for the emperor himself"
Harin said as he walked up giving an big old grin
T H A N K S?
Uma quickly wrote on her board and looked up at him
"No thank you little lady that was quite the show you put on got me all fired up again and you should be proud Silva didn't even chew you out"
Uma gave a unsure smile and wrote in her board again
S H E
L O O K E D
L I K E
S H E
W A N T E D
ME
D E A D
Harin just let out a chuckle as he smiled and look over at Silvia observing the one on ones the turning back to face Uma
"Of course you'd think that but I can tell she was definitely impressed you pick up on things when you're as old as me"
Uma just gave a sly smirk and picked up her board again and drew a poor stick figure with a scar and a dinosaur off to the side and held it up
Y O U ?
Harin read it and just gave a loud laugh before swiftly grabbing Uma under his arm and putting her in a headlock and gave her a noogie
"You calling me old you little turd"
Uma just squirmed like a cat that's been caught and let out a silent laugh
'Noooo like the orphanage all over again'
As the sun set and Uma tugged her blanket tight she just let out a smile
'Maybe this place won't be all bad after all'