Master Anng's gaze swept the room, and after Danika's demonstration, he called out, "Raven—step forward."
Raven hesitated for a moment, then rose from his seat. As he walked toward the front, he murmured under his breath,
'Here goes nothing…'
He reached Master Anng's side, and with a respectful nod, asked, "Master, may I borrow one of your practice blades?"
Master Anng's eyes softened slightly. "Proceed, Raven. Show us what you have learned."
Raven retrieved a slender, well-balanced blade from a low table near the instructor's dais—a traditional steel practice sword that bore the marks of many training sessions. He took it with care, as though it were a sacred relic.
Standing in the center of the dojo, Raven assumed a fluid stance. The students fell silent as he closed his eyes and drew in a deep, measured breath. For a few heartbeats, all that could be heard was the quiet rustle of fabric and the soft hum of distant conversations outside the dojo.
