Broken by One, Desired by All
"Ten or more opponents might attack you at once. They will come at you from behind, throw dirt in your eyes, and try to tear your throat out while you're looking the other way. You must understand the difference between a sport and survival."
I swallowed the dry lump in my throat, my knuckles turning white as I clenched my fists again. The reality of his words sank into my bones, cold and unforgiving. My Academy training suddenly felt like child's play, a sanitized version of something far more brutal. "Okay. Okay, I get it. No rules."
"Second," he continued, his dark robes swirling as he folded his arms across his broad chest, "I'm going to teach you the absolute basics today. The foundatio