Raiko goes with Hadrian to the other side of the room to meditate on mandalas he’s brought from Saizakune. Silo observes from the sidelines, sitting cross-legged and with a bored expression. Shotobai and I bow to each other, and then the match begins.
Both of us start with our hands raised while we circle each other. Shoto steps and feints and then backs up when I don’t react. He steps and jabs straight, and the strike’s so quick that I’ve barely the time to move my head down and away. Shoto takes advantage of my broken guard by getting closer, and he comes around from the side with a solid punch! He strikes my ribcage with one fist and then aims for the bridge of my nose with the other. I block with my forearm before his second attack can reach my head, then I jab him in the face and for
