Chapter 74

The young warrior stepped into the sparring circle, rolling his shoulders as he took his stance. He was confident—eager, even. Maybe he thought I’d be an easy opponent. Maybe he believed the whispers that I was weak, untrained. I studied him for a moment, tilting my head slightly. He was fast, I could tell. A quick, agile fighter who relied more on speed than brute force. But that was fine. Speed was something I could counter. “Ready?” he asked, shifting his stance. I didn’t answer. I simply raised my hands, signaling I was prepared. He lunged. Fast. But not fast enough. I sidestepped his attack effortlessly, my movements fluid. He barely had time to react before I pivoted, sweeping his legs out from under him. He hit the ground hard, a grunt escaping his lips as dust kicked up around him. Murmurs spread through the crowd. He scrambled to his feet quickly, a flicker of determination in his eyes. He wasn’t going to let a single hit take him down. That was good. This time, he moved with