Mwana Jua leaned against the sturdy wooden post of the small pavilion, taking a breath after her brief rest from the Reikan Tournament. The hot sun cast shimmering patterns on the ground, but her mind was elsewhere. She had just come from a tense day of reflection, her muscles still humming from the rigorous sparring. She had been contemplating what it truly meant to be strong—tougher than others, capable of overcoming obstacles, or perhaps something more profound.
Suddenly, the familiar figure of Jua Umeme appeared, her lean frame strolling toward her with her characteristic calm confidence. The teacher from Thunderbull Martial School in Jua village, renowned for her unwavering discipline and formidable skills, looked at Mwana with a warm but serious expression.
Jua Umeme paused beside her and smiled gently, her eyes shimmering with an inner fire. "You look lost in thought, Mwana," she said softly.
