Rain POV
Blood, Sweat, and Dirt
I could still feel the sting of yesterday's bruises clinging to my skin like old, bitter memories. Every step I took felt like my legs were filled with lead, and my throat was so dry it felt like I'd swallowed a handful of sand. The morning air was thick, humid, and heavy with the scent of sweat and blood.
This was the training ground.
A wide, ugly stretch of packed dirt behind the slave quarters. Broken swords and cracked shields littered the edges. Old stones and shattered logs served as makeshift obstacles. There were stains on the ground—dull brown patches I didn't have to guess at.
Blood.
And standing dead center in that hellish clearing was Mara.
