She quickly made her way to her room, even though every step made the pain in her thigh more pronounced. Blood was still flowing from the wound Selena had left, but she didn't care. For her, this wasn't the first time her body had been injured and not the last.
The hallway she walked through was quiet, with only the sound of her footsteps echoing faintly. A few people had glanced at her, seeing the blood staining her pants, but no one asked or offered to help. In this place, everyone knew the rule, 'if you're not strong enough to survive on your own, then you don't belong here.
At the front of the room, Isla opened the door quickly and went inside. She sighed slowly and walked to the bathroom. She tore off her ruined pants, revealing a wound that was still oozing fresh blood. It was deep, but not a major artery. She could take care of it herself.
She took a medical kit from a small drawer in the corner of the bathroom and then began to carefully clean the wound. It stung as the antiseptic liquid touched her skin, but she remained silent, not making a sound.
As she bandaged the wound, her mind kept working. Selena wasn't messing around. Isla knew the woman would continue to find ways to break her, not just physically but mentally as well. She was used to taking care of her wounds. No one would help her and she didn't expect anyone to.
***
Matteo noticed that Isla's walk was different from the usual day. However, he didn't ask either, but his sharp gaze was enough to tell her that he realized something was wrong.
Isla tried to stand up straight, hiding the pain in her thigh. However, Matteo was not one to be fooled easily.
"Do you have something to explain?" Matteo asked.
Isla did not answer and just stared at him, waiting for his next instruction. Matteo stepped forward, suddenly launching a quick attack at Isla. She immediately moved to dodge, but Matteo was expecting it. Her movements were not as fast as usual and Matteo saw it.
Matteo did not give Isla a chance to prepare. In one swift motion, he delivered a hard kick right to her injured thigh. Isla winced, her body almost falling to the floor. Sharp pain radiated from the wound and made her lose her balance for a moment.
"Isla, is this your only defense? You are so careless with the enemy." Matteo crossed his arms over his chest, looking at Isla expressionlessly.
"I don't need a lecture from you!"
"Don't need a lecture?" Matteo's voice sounded cynical. "Then prove it."
Isla clenched her fists, ignoring the pain that still throbbed in her thighs. She knew Matteo was acting this way on purpose. Not to insult her, but to force her to endure. Still, the man in front of her was annoying.
"If you do not learn how to fight even when injured, you will not survive in this world." There was no gentle treatment Matteo gave Isla.
Matteo took another step forward, this time slower, giving Isla time to react. When Matteo swung a punch, she dodged to the side, though her legs staggered slightly. The man wanted to strike downward and target the wound. She kept attacking and although Matteo could still parry, Isla knew one thing-she would not let herself lose, no matter how much her body hurt.
Suddenly, Rafael appeared and asked Isla to join the other members. There she would practice fighting with skilled opponents so that her skills would be honed.
"Come with me," Rafael ordered. "Starting today, you will not only train under Matteo. I want you to fight with others."
"What do you mean?" Isla frowned.
"You have trained enough individually with Matteo. I want you to be ready for the real threat."
"You will fight against some of the best fighters we have. They are faster, stronger, and will not hold back. If you cannot hold your own against them, then you do not deserve to be here," Matteo said without compassion.
Isla held her breath, trying to hide the tension that began to creep into her mind. She had known from the start that her training would not be easy, but now the challenge had increased. Fighting the best fighters meant she had to be prepared for merciless attacks that could kill her if she let her guard down.
"You want to survive in this world, Isla? Then prove that you can be more than just the student Matteo protects." Rafael's gaze snapped to Isla.
Isla bit her lip, her eyes meeting Matteo's expressionless silence. She knew this was not just a test. This was a warning that she could no longer rely on anyone.
"Fine," Isla replied. "I will face anyone."
"Good. Let's see if you deserve to be here."
Rafael turned around without waiting for an answer and walked out of the room. Isla and Matteo walked behind him. They immediately headed to the training ground, where Isla would meet Selena there as well.
When they arrived at the training arena, several fighters had already gathered, standing in a circle with expressions full of anticipation. Some of them Isla had seen before men with bulging muscles, and women with piercing gazes who looked like cold-blooded killers. However, among them all, there was one figure that made Isla stiffen instantly: Selena.
The woman stood proudly, her eyes narrowing as she saw Isla coming with Rafael and Matteo. The wound on Isla's thigh still throbbed, but she wasn't about to give Selena the satisfaction of seeing her weak.
"So, this is the new kid to be tested?" One of the burly men spoke in a mocking tone to Rafael. "Looks like she can't even stand up straight."
"Don't underestimate her too quickly." Rafael had noticed earlier that Isla was not in a good state, judging by the way she was walking.
"Isla, you're going up against one of the best-trained fighters here. You must prove your worth." Matteo tapped Isla on the shoulder.
"Alright, who wants to fight Isla?" Rafael asked.
"Me." Selena stepped forward with a sly grin.