HER KIND

Training and Tension

'Chapter 30'

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The soft patter of rain outside the barn resonates within its confines, the warmth trapped inside as Dria and Pierce trade blows. The echoes of their grunts reverberate against the wooden walls, creating a rhythmic soundtrack to their intense training session.

Watching from the sidelines, Jared and Nathaniel observed the movements, offering pointers to the two fighters whenever needed. Despite being a beginner, Nathan had instructed Pierce not to hold back, resulting in Dria landing on her back more times than she would like or count.

She landed on her back once again, grunting as she breathed out. The pain of being tossed to the floor was now minimal, as she had gotten used to it.

"Stand," Nathaniel's voice reached her ears, and she turned to look at her father. He was much better than yesterday. His once pale skin was now back to its tanned color, his lengthy hair brushed to the back and tied. He wore his brother's clothes, long khaki trousers, and a brown sweater adorned his chest. She could still see the slight exhaustion in his eyes, but he was moving around more than he did yesterday.

Dria had woken up to the sound of movement and grunts earlier today. She had slept in the armchair situated at the couch where her father slept, a blanket draped over her figure, as she watched her father get out of the couch and walk towards the kitchen, hearing the back door closing.

She had contemplated whether or not to follow behind him. For a moment, she convinced herself to go back to sleep, but her eyes opened once more, and she eyed the empty space on the couch. She stood and followed after him.

At the door, she hesitated to open it and instead walked toward the window. She watched her father sit on one of the logs circled around the makeshift pit. His hand was outstretched toward the pit, and she observed as a flame ignited in his hand but would die out sooner than later. He clenched and unclenched it, aiming again at the pit. The flame would rise from his palms, and it would soon die out.

Dria remembered the way his shoulders seemed to sag, and how he analyzed his hand before him. She watched him do this a few more times before deciding to go back to sleep, knowing her father wouldn't like the idea of his children seeing him in such a state.

It was only when it started raining about two hours later that Dria reminded Pierce about his promise to train her. Pierce thought it best to train in the barn, where there was hay to soften the blows, as she was a beginner after all, and also to shield themselves from the rain.

An hour later, Jared and Nathaniel walked into the barn and sat on the hay, watching the training.

"Stand, Dria," Jared echoed her father's words. She groaned and stood on her feet. With her feet spread apart, as her father suggested, and her hands pulled up to protect her chest, as Jared instructed, she faced Pierce who mimicked her stance, and she lunged at him.

However, Pierce effortlessly sidestepped, his movements fluid and precise. Dria's fist grazed the air as she tried to land a hit, but Pierce skillfully evaded each attempt, showcasing his experience in combat.

As the exchange continued, Dria's frustration grew, but she remained focused. She attempted a series of kicks and punches, each met with Pierce's agile evasion. Despite her relentless effort, Pierce seemed to be dancing effortlessly around her attacks. The rhythmic sound of rain hitting the barn roof accompanied the intense training session.

In a sudden turn of events, Pierce saw an opening. With a swift move, he dodged one of Dria's kicks, seized her outstretched leg, and expertly twisted, causing her to lose balance. Dria found herself falling to the ground, and before she could react, Pierce skillfully pinned her down.