Chapter 60: Frostbite and Shadows
The concrete floor of the Vanguard training hall was stained with fresh sweat.
Draven stood next to Lucien on the edge of the mat. He watched Instructor Stonehelm pace across the room.
"Next pair!" Stonehelm roared.
"Frost. Vespera. Step up."
Reina cracked her knuckles loudly. She rolled her shoulders and walked onto the concrete.
She instinctively reached behind her back out of habit, but her heavy double-sided axe was not there.
Nyx Vespera melted out of the shadows in the far corner of the room.
She wore tight dark clothes and a hood pulled low over her eyes. She moved across the floor without making a single sound.
"Begin!" Stonehelm barked.
Reina charged immediately. She wanted to overwhelm the smaller girl with pure aggression.
She threw a massive, sweeping right hook. It was a punch designed to shatter skulls.
SWISH!
