Tomorrow promised violence.
Tonight promised nerves.
The warehouse courtyard was quieter than usual. Lanterns swayed in the evening wind. Somewhere in the city, music and gambling roared for the tournament festival, but here only the sounds of sharpening steel, murmured bets, and distant laughter remained.
Sun sat alone on the training platform, elbows on knees, staring at the bronze token marked 34.
Tomorrow.
His first official fight.
Public.
Witnessed.
Judged.
He rolled the token between his fingers.
On Earth, he had spent years being measured by things he hated.
Salary.
Performance.
Reputation.
Rumors.
Now he would be measured by fists.
Strangely, that felt cleaner.
A soft sound behind him.
Nyra approached carrying two cups of hot tea.
She held one out awkwardly.
"I stole it."
Sun accepted it.
"That makes it taste honest."
She sat beside him, not too close, not far either.
For a while they drank in silence.
Then she asked quietly:
"Are you afraid?"
Sun looked at the steam rising from the cup.
"Yes."
Nyra blinked.
"You admitted that fast."
"I'm trying maturity."
She stared another second.
"It looks uncomfortable on you."
He laughed.
Real laughter this time.
"It is."
She curled her legs up, chin resting on knees.
"When I was in cages, I used to imagine fighting everyone who touched those bars."
Her voice was flat, but her fingers tightened around the cup.
"Then when I was free… I was still afraid."
Sun looked at her.
She wasn't looking at him.
"I know that feeling."
"You do?"
"Yes."
He swallowed.
"There are cages people can't see."
Nyra turned then.
Silver eyes soft for once.
"What held yours?"
He answered before he could protect himself.
"Responsibility. Shame. People's lies. My own weakness."
She listened seriously.
No joke.
No interruption.
No pity.
Just listening.
That alone nearly hurt.
Then she bumped her shoulder lightly against his.
"You are free now."
Sun looked ahead.
"Not yet."
Nyra frowned.
"Then fight tomorrow."
Simple.
Brutally simple.
He smiled.
"You should give speeches."
"You should talk less."
"Cruel woman."
"Slow man."
From above, Rhea's voice drifted down.
"If this becomes romantic, I'm charging tickets."
Sun threw the tea cup upward.
Nyra actually snorted.
Rhea caught the cup and landed lightly from the roof, handing it back.
"Wasteful."
She sat cross-legged opposite them.
"Good news."
"No," said Sun instantly.
"Yes," said Rhea cheerfully. "Lucan is terrified."
That improved everyone's mood.
Even Nyra's ears twitched.
Rhea leaned forward dramatically.
"I passed House Teryn's estate wall. Heard shouting."
"You were spying?"
"I was stealing."
"From nobles?"
"From kitchens. Same district."
She grinned.
"Lucan demanded private training all night."
Brin entered the courtyard carrying wooden swords.
"He'll need private miracles."
She tossed one to Sun.
"Up."
Sun groaned.
"I'm reflecting emotionally."
"You can reflect while bruised."
She tossed another sword to Nyra.
Nyra caught it cleanly.
Brin smiled slowly.
"Oh yes."
Nyra narrowed her eyes.
"What?"
"You're helping train him."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
Brin had already stepped back.
"Fight."
Sun rose immediately.
"Why am I punished whenever women enter my life?"
Rhea answered instantly.
"Because they compare notes."
The spar began messy.
Nyra moved faster than Brin but less formally.
Sun moved stronger but with worse instincts.
Wooden swords cracked together under lantern light.
He swung high.
She ducked.
He turned.
Too slow.
Tap.
Her sword struck his ribs.
"Dead," she said.
"That was rude."
"Truth often is."
He lunged again.
This time she slipped inside his reach and tapped his forehead.
"Dead twice."
Rhea applauded wildly.
"Do him emotionally next!"
Sun gritted his teeth.
"You're enjoying this."
Nyra tilted her head.
"Yes."
That honest answer made him grin despite himself.
He attacked harder.
She stepped back.
He anticipated.
Wolf Step.
Blur.
For the first time, he landed a clean strike on her shoulder.
They both froze.
Nyra looked at the mark.
Then at him.
A slow smile spread across her face.
Sharp and bright and alive.
"Good."
That one word filled his chest more than praise should have.
Then Brin ruined it.
"Now kiss or continue."
Both shouted, "CONTINUE!"
Rhea nearly died laughing.
Later, after everyone dispersed, Varen found Sun rewrapping bruised knuckles under the lantern.
"You're restless."
"I'm thinking."
"Same disease."
Sun tied the cloth tighter.
"What if I lose?"
Varen sat beside him.
Rare enough to matter.
"Then lose."
"That's terrible guidance."
"You ask childish questions."
Sun frowned.
Varen looked toward the city lights.
"You think tomorrow decides your worth."
He tapped Sun's chest once.
"It does not."
Then the old man's silver eyes shifted to him.
"It decides whether you can stand after being seen."
Sun went quiet.
Because that was the real fear.
Not pain.
Not Lucan.
Being watched.
Failing publicly.
Returning to that helpless feeling of another life.
Varen stood.
"Fight badly if needed. Fight wounded if needed. Fight angry if needed."
He began walking away.
"Just fight honestly."
Sun stared after him.
"That was almost kind."
"It was efficient."
Near midnight, Sun climbed to the warehouse roof alone.
Blackstone stretched around him in lantern glow and smoke.
Somewhere nobles drank to tomorrow.
Somewhere gamblers cursed odds.
Somewhere Lucan probably rehearsed victory speeches no one requested.
Sun laughed softly.
Then closed his eyes.
He thought of his parents.
Of the old house.
Of a younger version of himself who swallowed insult because survival required silence.
Tomorrow, that man would step into an arena too.
And he would not stand there alone.
A light weight landed beside him.
Nyra sat down without permission.
Again.
She held out something in her palm.
The cheap charm bracelet from the market.
"For victory," she said.
"You said it was robbery."
"It was."
"Then why give it back?"
She looked away.
"So you return after."
His throat tightened unexpectedly.
He took the bracelet carefully.
"I'll return."
She nodded once.
Then, very quietly:
"You should."
Neither spoke after that.
Below them, Blackstone dreamed of blood and spectacle.
Above them, dawn was still coming.
To be continued...