Blades and Bullets

14. Black and Blue

As I enter the classroom - which isn't really a classroom at all - I am greeted with the view of a huge training gymnasium. A set of punching bags line the right wall, a set of weighted ropes are laid against the opposite wall and a large array of lockers are against the back wall. In the centre a group of four considerably big arenas - much like the one used in the grading - stand, large elastic ropes connect each corner, isolating each ring.

"Welcome students, my name is Mr Matthews and today we will start the lesson by getting to know everyone's physical strength level. Please make your way to the back wall and find your appropriately labeled locker, your locker holds a pair of boxing gloves and a roll of wrist wrap." The class makes their way to the back as I follow closely behind. My hand brushes over a locker towards the end and I scan the name as I have with the others, Knox Romave. I roll my eyes and continue. I reach the last locker - Onyx Morana - Knox and I's locker are only separated by one miscellaneous locker. I thread my thumb through the start of the wrap and begin to carefully wrap both of my hands, around my wrists, then between each knuckle and finger and back around my palm and wrist. My boxing gloves are a dark onyx, how fitting.

Once everyone has finished adjusting their gloves we line up in a semi-circle around Mr Matthews awaiting for further instruction.

"Ok so to decide where everyone is at skill wise, we will do a 'King of the ring' type of thing. Basically someone will fight one person and the winner will verse the winner of another fight, that winner will verse the next winner and so on."

Mr Matthews had made Knox and I go first because we are reds and would be able to defeat other people easier, so he wanted to 'wear us out a bit' as he had put it. I am stretching over a bench beside the lockers when someone calls my name, "What?" I ask

"Wanna make a game out of this?" Knox uses a pole to swing around into my line of sight, I roll my eyes at him and scoff. He only grins wider.

"How do you suppose we do that?" I quirk my eyebrow at him.

"Whoever can win the most rounds wins."

"What will I get for winning?"I arch my brow.

"Woah, who said you were winning anything?" He continues, "When I win I get one of those shiny knives you hide around your thigh," he nods his head towards my thigh.

"When I win, I get to leave a pretty scar. Using the 'shiny knife' you are so interested in, right on your-" I pause to think about where exactly I would leave my mark, "-chest. I think it'll match the others nicely," I smirk.

His smirk drops at my request, but alas he still agrees. "Deal."

****

Currently my count of wins is seven, only one more to go till the final round. At this rate it seems Knox and I will be fighting in the final, he is tied with me at seven. He is currently fighting someone in a ring beside me, I catch his gaze and we both punch our opponents in sync. I'm so going to win this.

Knox POV

I make eye contact with Onyx as we both throw a punch. I'm so going to win this.

Onyx POV

My opponent is Aria, the with the girl with the long hair I watched during grading. I'll give credit where it's deserved, she's light and quick on her feet as she dodges my blows. I watch for her tell as she strikes me, interesting. This is the third time she has raised her eyebrow before attacking, I have her now. The next time she quirks up her brow I dodge her left arm, I leave her no time to prepare for defence as I roundhouse kick her in the jaw and she falls to the ground. I jump to hold her down as Mr Matthews counts, she taps out. And that makes eight.