Jarek Thorn had been punched in the face many times in his life.
But never quite like this.
WHAM!
Jarek hit the ground, groaning. "Okay. Ow."
Lena stood over him, arms crossed. "Get up."
Jarek spat dirt from his mouth. "Little bit of warning next time?"
"No."
Jarek groaned and pushed himself up, wobbling slightly. They were in a secluded training ground outside the city, an abandoned courtyard surrounded by crumbling stone walls. Lena had dragged him here before sunrise, saying, 'If you're going to survive, you need to learn how to fight.'
He had expected basic drills. Maybe some encouragement.
Instead, Lena had immediately punched him in the face.
Multiple times.
Jarek rubbed his jaw. "So… this is how you teach?"
Lena cracked her knuckles. "Best way to learn is firsthand."
"Right. So, in other words, you just enjoy hitting me."
Lena smirked. "That too."
Jarek sighed. "Fine. What's lesson one?"
Lena stepped back and spread her arms. "Hit me."
Jarek blinked. "Uh. Sorry?"
"Hit me."
Jarek hesitated. "You sure? Because I feel like—"
"Do it."
"…Alright."
Jarek swung a punch—
—and Lena moved so fast she might as well have teleported.
Before he could even react, she grabbed his wrist, twisted, and flipped him over her shoulder.
WHAM!
Jarek hit the ground hard.
He groaned. "I… think I just met my ancestors."
Lena crossed her arms. "Pathetic."
Jarek wheezed. "Wow. Just what I needed—emotional pain too."
Lena crouched beside him. "You telegraph your attacks. You hesitate. And worst of all?" She flicked his forehead. "You think you can win with brute force."
Jarek grumbled. "Brute force has gotten me this far."
"Only because of dumb luck." Lena stood. "If you rely on luck, you'll die the moment it runs out."
Jarek sat up. "Okay. So what do you suggest?"
Lena pulled a wooden training sword from a pile of weapons and tossed it to him.
"You need to learn how to actually fight. Strength means nothing without skill."
Jarek caught the sword. "And what if I refuse?"
Lena smirked. "Then I keep beating you up until you change your mind."
Jarek sighed. "I hate everything about this."
"Good."
And so, Jarek's training from hell began.