"First, Rain against Linthorn, then Lilith against Florate, Lyra against Steve, Nex against Dodge, Shevan against..."
"Combating each other?" Lilith scoffed. "What a wonderful way to congratulate us for making it to the final level."
"Why are you so irritated, Lilith?" Florate's voice sounded a lot deeper than it was four years ago. He was now even taller with broader chest and shoulders, and he looked very handsome as well. He had his muscled arm hung over Rain's shoulder, and it seemed to be weighing her down, but she didn't complain. "Are you scared that I will beat you?" he smirked at her.
"Oh please," she snorted. "Get over yourself, Florate. How about you try the other way around?"
"Oh my, I am so scared," he mocked. "Just you wait, when it's the both of us within that circle I will make sure your tall body falls to the floor in the most painful way." He clenched his fists, with his green orbs glaring directly at her purple eyes and giving a message he was very sure she could understand: 'I will beat your ass to a pulp!'
They were still battling with their eyes before Rain suddenly pulled herself away from Florate's hold and gave him a peck on his cheeks. "Wish me luck," she smiled before leaving both of them to continue with whatever it was they were doing.
She was to begin the combat, a fight against Linthorn, and she really wished she would win even though she was certain that would be by serious luck. She was not actually ready for this now, and the last test they faced, the test of strength, really took a lot out of her and it was barely a week ago. She knew she had internal injuries and was sure they would hurt so much now that she was about to fight with a strong competitor like Linthorn.
He was very strong and had a high level of endurance, agility, and fighting skills. She could only overpower him by her fast thinking and smart instincts during battle, and she knew this from the few times she had watched him fight. She could tell that he would beat her if it were a fight of pure strength and fighting skills, but she could turn the tables around if it went beyond that.
She tightened her gi and stretched herself a bit in the middle splits, side splits both left and right, and the leg raises too. She swung her arms nervously as she looked at Linthorn, who stood a few steps away from her also warming up for the combat. She breathed through her mouth as she stretched, with her arms and feet getting cold from nervousness.
"Do you think she is fine?" Lilith asked Florate with concern as they both watched Rain while she warmed up for the match.
"I don't think so," he answered, shaking his head. "You know she had severe injuries during the last test, and I am not sure she is fully recovered. You know it has only been a few days." He sounded worried.
"Do you think we should tell the grand sensei to exclude her from the combat? She might cause more harm to herself, and Linthorn is very strong too. Removing her from the combat is the right thing to do now," she suggested.
"You know Rain, Lilith. She would never appreciate us giving her any special treatment. Let me talk to her first and get her consent on this. I would not like us having a fight," he said sensibly, and Lilith only nodded.
"OK." He walked away from her to meet with Rain, who was squeezing her palms together like she was getting rid of the sudden cold.
"Heyyy," he held her waist and kissed her hair.
"Are you okay?" he asked her, maintaining eye contact with her ocean blue eyes. She looked more beautiful now than four years ago. What could he expect? She was eighteen now and was more matured and beautiful, and he loved her more each day.
"I am fine, Florate." She kissed his chest, which was the height she could reach. He was now taller and his deep voice made her heart dance whenever she heard him speak. "Stop getting worried about me." She smiled sweetly at him.
"I don't know, Rain." He cupped her face. "You suffered from internal injury during the last test and I am sure your wounds are yet to heal. Don't you think you should let this combat pass and get well first? I don't want you getting yourself harmed, plus, Linthorn sure won't go easy on you."
"I said I am fine, Florate. I can do this, just trust me." She reassured him.
"Promise me you will quit once the pain becomes unbearable."
"I promise." She nodded to his words and hugged him tightly before walking into the circle…