The Nothing Trap
Zai
Zai jerked awake in the Nightraven's roost for the thousandth time since her training began.
Fighting Shenmi was frustrating beyond belief, not least because she never held back except to criticize her, often before dealing out a killing strike.
"Too fast." "Too slow." "Overcommitted." "Bring your instincts in line with your perception." "Gods, war has made you stupid, hasn't it?"
Shenmi seemed to have endless quips and complaints, and in between strikes she would riddle Zai with them as Zai perpetually failed to lay even a single blow on the woman. What had started as a rebellious act meant to punish Shenmi for what she'd done to Yue had turned into a form of self-flagellation.