But Master Kangfu cleared his throat. Harry turned and bowed. "Master, I am ready for my fight with Andy."
Master Kangfu smiled, but the look in his eyes was sharp. "Are you ready for the fight, or you are ready to show how strong you have become."
Harry's smile drained at once. It felt like his thoughts had been pulled straight out of his chest. His fingers curled slightly at his sides.
Master Kangfu squatted until they were at the same height. The noise of the academy faded behind him. "Look here, kid. What you possess is not something to play with. Trust me, those who would envy you would be more than those who will applaud you. You must keep it a secret."
Harry swallowed. "I will do my best." "Good." Master Kangfu nodded. "Now, I have a gift for you."
He reached into his robe and brought out the rubber hand. It looked strange and stiff, nothing like flesh. Harry stared at it as Master Kangfu gently fixed it over his left hand.
"What will this do?" Harry asked, turning his wrist slowly. "It will prevent others from seeing the glowing hand in case it happens." Harry flexed his fingers. The rubber creaked softly. "Thank you."
Master Kangfu rubbed his head once, brief and careful. "Now, go on, kid."
Harry let out a small giggle and turned away. Behind him, Master Kangfu stayed where he was, already adjusting his own robe, eyes heavy with thoughts he did not share.
At the White Belt Arena, the level one students had gathered. The stone seats were packed. Voices overlapped, rising and falling like restless waves. Those whose names were on the board kept shifting, wiping their palms on their robes, staring at the sand as if it might give them answers.
All except Andy and Harry. When Harry stepped in, the Astania boys saw him and stiffened. A few of them went quiet at once. No one dared to hold his gaze for long. Their eyes slid away, then back again, uncertain.
Andy moved closer. His shadow stretched across the ground and touched Harry's feet. "I hope you are prepared to join your ancestors today."
Harry did not move back. He simply looked up and smiled. "We would see." Andy felt something twist inside him. The smile was too calm. It did not belong on a boy who was broken by a tiny little girl.
The seven supreme Masters arrived and took their seats above the arena. Their robes brushed against the stone, and the crowd slowly fell into a tense hush. Master Kangfu came in with them.
"May we begin today's fight," one of the Masters said. The first matches rolled on. Feet struck sand. Fists met flesh. Some fights ended quickly. Some dragged on until someone fell. The smell of sweat and blood thickened the air.
Then a voice rang out. "Tag sister two. Harry Jones of Astania, against Andy Cole of Rock Land." A ripple ran through the arena.
Andy stepped into the ring with pride. His shoulders were squared, his jaw set. Harry stepped in as well. The way he walked made a few heads turn. There was no limp. No hesitation.
The confidence in his eyes was clear for all to see. Some students whispered. "Is he even fully healed?" "It is foolish of him to have accepted to fight." "If I were him, I would just pack my bags and go to the monks' cave."
"What is that he is wearing? Does he think that rubber will suddenly help him win the fight?" Others shook their heads. "Andy is going to kill him." But the Astania boys did not share that pity. They watched Andy with something closer to fear. "Begin," Master Kangfu's voice boomed.
Andy gritted his teeth and lunged.
Harry dodged. Andy threw another punch again. But Harry dodged. Andy smiled. "No matter how long you run, you will end up like Floxy."
The words cracked through Harry like a whip. Floxy's face flashed in his mind. Blood on the floor. The way everyone had turned away. Harry's jaw tightened, but his feet kept moving, light and steady, sliding across the arena floor.
Andy lunged again. But he missed. "Why not face me, coward?" Andy barked. Harry let out a low laugh. It came out rough, almost strange to his own ears. "Why not get me instead?"
The crowd leaned forward. You could feel their breath change, like a storm about to break.
Andy's eyes twitched. He swung harder now, wild, fists cutting the air. Every strike whooshed past Harry's face, so close he felt the wind brush his skin. Still, Harry slipped away. Left. Right. Back. His body moved before his thoughts could catch up.
"You bastard!" Andy spat. "All your life you have been unwanted. Remain still so I can end your miserable life." The words didn't sound like insults. They sounded like memories. Things people had said before. Things Harry had tried to forget.
He stopped. The arena went quiet, the kind of quiet that feels heavy.
"Alright," Harry said softly. "I will remain put. Try to end me."
Andy blinked, surprised. Then a grin crawled over his face. He stepped forward. The punch came fast, straight and sharp. It slammed into Harry's nose. There was a wet crack. Harry's head snapped back and he hit the floor hard. Warm blood spilled down his lips.
For a moment everything spun. The ceiling looked wrong. Too far away. I thought I no longer felt pain.
Laughter erupted from the hall. It rolled over him, ugly and loud. Harry pushed himself up on one elbow. His fingers trembled. Andy turned toward the crowd. Kelly sat there, legs crossed, fingers resting on the arm of his chair. He lifted one finger.
"Finish him." Harry saw it. Something inside him shifted. It was small at first, like a spark catching dry grass. He bit down on his lip. The taste of blood filled his mouth. Heat poured through his veins, burning away the ache, burning away the doubt.
His eyes lifted. They glowed. Andy charged, pouring everything he had into one brutal strike. Muscles bulged. Teeth clenched. The punch came aimed at Harry's face, meant to shatter it.
Harry raised his left hand. The impact rang out like metal on stone. Andy froze. His eyes went wide. A sickening crack followed. His fingers bent the wrong way. His hand collapsed, useless.
"Ahhhhhh!" He screamed.