Kane's fist collided with his opponent's jaw, the sharp crack reverberating through the humid air of the gym. Satisfaction flared in his chest, but lasted only a second before the trainer barked for them to reset.

His opponent stumbled back into the corner of the ring, shaking his head to clear the impact. Kane didn't offer him a second glance, his heated glare already fixed on the ropes as he turned toward his own corner.

"Good work so far," his coach said, clapping him on the back. "Solid hits, controlled footwork-"

"I'm still too slow," Kane cut him off, squeezing water into his mouth and tossing the bottle aside. "Some of the blows were weak. I was too slow on the dodge."

"Maybe. But you've got the momentum and power in your favor," his trainer began, causing Kane to scoff in a reluctant agreement. "Start as strong as you finish, and you'll be unstoppable."

Unstoppable. Kane let the word roll over in his mind. It wasn't the first time he heard it, and it wouldn't be the last. Every time he reached a new height, there was always something more. A higher expectation, a stronger opponent.

And he couldn't afford another misstep, not when everything depended on the rest of this tournament- even his training sessions- going perfectly.

The trainer patted his back with surprising strength before heading off to pep talk his other student.

Kane's chest rose and fell in ragged breaths as he wiped the sweat from his brow, pushing the drenched curls off his face. The gym reeked of sweat and blood, the rhythmic sound of gloves striking punching bags punctuated by grunts and shouted instructions.

It wasn't glamorous. It wasn't warm, or inviting. But the scene made him feel right at home- more than anywhere else.

Every hit he threw mattered. Every opponent he faced sharpened him into something stronger.

This was where Kane's pure talent and fiery, competitive nature had allowed him to make a name for himself. These tournaments, his accomplishments, had given him a sense of purpose, a driving force to accomplish something greater. It was a path paved with bruises, exhaustion, and broken bones, but it was the only one that made him feel like he could become something more.

"Alright boys, back to it. Let's go!" The trainer's voice cut through the ambient hum of the gym.

Kane pushed off the ropes, his muscles taut and ready, mirroring the determination in his opponent's eyes.

With fist raised and bodies light on their feet, they circled each other, searching for an opening.

Kane made the first move, snapping a sharp jab that forced his opponent to sway back. A quick hook followed, grazing Kane's ribs as he dodged to one side, keeping just out of reach.

Immediately, Kane had to duck under a wild swing of his opponent's leg, taking the opportunity to drive a punishing right hook to the midsection.

The force knocked the wind from the boy, sending him stumbling and gasping for air.

Kane pressed the advantage, feinting with his left hand to draw his opponent's guard high before landing a solid right punch that connected with his ear, sweat flying in a fine mist.

His opponent growled through gritted teeth, regaining his composure, and drove Kane toward the ropes with a manic flurry of punches. Kane blocked most of them, but one brutal uppercut slipped through, snapping his head back.

The world darkened for a moment. A metallic taste filled his mouth as his gums throbbed.

Blinking hard to clear his vision, Kane felt his restraint slip.

One hit was all it took for Kane to switch his strategy. For his controlled, calculated moves to turn into deliberate, deadlier blows.

He would not lose again.

He surged forward, sending a knee into his opponent's gut, a quick jab to his shoulder, and a powerful hook to the jaw.

Desperation furled the boy's next swings, but Kane sidestepped the frantic blows with ease. Pivoting with measured speed, Kane delivered a punishing blow of his heel to the side of his opponent's head, sending him crumpling to the mat.

"Enough!" The trainer's bark froze Kane mid-motion, his fist poised for another strike. "That's all for today."

Kane looked up, his mind still caught in the heat of the fight. The trainer nodded. "Well done. Now help your friend."

Kane stood shakily, heaving the boy up with one hand and guiding him to the edge of the ring. The boy muttered a reluctant 'thanks', but Kane barely registered it. His mind was already elsewhere, replaying the fight, dissecting every move, every mistake.

Well done wasn't enough. It never was.

He wondered if he would ever feel satisfied with any performance, any practice.

With a heavy sigh, he wiped the sweat from his brow and stepped out of the ring, the noise of the gym fading into the background.

The two made their way to the medical room to patch up their injuries and undergo the usual post-training health checks to rule out concussions, fractures, and other damage.

Afterward, they sank into two freshly prepped ice baths, the shock of the cold pulling identical grimaces from both of them. The room was lined with several large metal basins, neatly folded towels stacked beside each one, and the faint smell of antiseptic lingering in the air.

The boy was the first to break the silence. He lazily turned his head toward Kane. "You didn't have to go that hard, you know. It's just practice."

Kane leaned back against the edge of his basin, his eyes closed, his body still humming with residual adrenaline. "You want me to go easy on you?" He replied, his tone dry. "Maybe you should take up knitting instead."

The boy let out a short laugh, though it quickly turned into a strained cough. "Knitting would still be more useful than letting you rearrange my face for fun." He adjusted the ice pack on his jaw, wincing. "Guess that's what I get for trying to land a punch on Kane Hallow."

Kane's eyes remained closed, his expression unmoving. "If you're aiming for pity, you're barking up the wrong tree."

"Pity?" The boy shook his head, a faint grin tugging at his lips despite the pain. "Who said anything about pity? Just making sure you remember my name when I make it to the front lines. They'll probably tell stories about how I managed to survive you." He paused, and Kane's aching jaw tensed with the incessant flattery. The boy let out a small scoff. "You don't even know my name, do you? Not that it matters. I'm just the human punching bag of the day, right?"

Kane sighed, finally opening his eyes to glance at the boy. "Alright, kid. What's your name?"

The boy straightened slightly, pride flashing in his blue eyes now that he finally had Kane's attention. "Jaxon. Jaxon Stone."

Kane nodded, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He didn't really mean kid- the boy was only about a year younger than him. But the way he rambled might as well have made him a toddler. "Front lines, huh? That's your big plan? By the way you fight, I would've thought you were making headway at the Arcanum like everyone else."

Jaxon's grin faded, and averted his gaze. "Didn't make the cut. Turns out they care more about good marks and community service than anything." He shrugged, the motion sending ripples through the icy water. "Guess I'm not 'elite' enough to sip tea with the Icarra snobs and bask in the glory of unity."

Kane let out a quiet laugh, a rare sound that echoed softly in the room. "Unity's overrated." He muttered. "Besides, that junction is nowhere close to what it claims to be. Trust me. It really is all just-" he raised his hands, mimicking Jaxon's earlier words with mock wonder- "sipping tea with the Icarra snobs and basking in the glory of unity."

This time, Jaxon laughed outright, though the sound was quickly followed by a hiss of pain. "Maybe, but at least you get options. All I've got is the Legion. Don't get me wrong, I'll do my part, but I'm not about to pretend I don't want what you have."

Kane's smile faded, and he leaned his head back on the cold metal again. "What I have? You think this is some kind of privilege?"

Jaxon leaned forward, resting his arms on the side of the basin. "Please. You get to fight for glory. I'll be fighting to stay alive. So yeah, maybe it is."

The boy wasn't entirely wrong. It was two vastly different worlds. One a bit more grim than the other. But at least the very act of fighting and dying for his country would be met with esteemed honor. Kane had to work for that, and still, he hardly ever received any gratification. He was constantly pushed to do more, to be more, and maybe, just maybe, he could be someone of notable worth.

Do well in your training, then you'll be noticed. Do well in school so you can be recognized as top of the class, and go to the most pristine university. Do even better there, win these tournaments- the cycle had no end.

After a long pause, Kane muttered quietly, "You don't know the first thing about it."

Jaxon snorted, the water in his tub sloshing as he slumped back. "Right. Guess I don't. Just like you don't know what it's like to be left behind, watching everyone else get their shot while you're stuck waiting to be someone else's cannon fodder."

Kane's fists clenched under the water. Heat rose in his chest despite the iciness of the bath. "You're not stuck. You're just not pushing hard enough. Everyone's had to fight to get where they are. If you want something, you go out and take it. No one's gonna hand you anything, not even respect. You have to earn it, and keep earning it."

"Easy for you to say," Jaxon muttered bitterly. "You've already won."

"I haven't won anything yet. But when I do, I'll make sure no one forgets it."

"Yeah, well," Jaxon's voice softened, carrying a hint of admiration, "When you're famous, don't forget about us little guys who helped you get there."

Kane rolled his eyes, a faint grin tugging at his lips again. "If you can keep up, maybe I'll put in a good word for you."

"Don't go doing me any favors, Hallow."

"Wouldn't dream of it, Stone."

Kane let out a long, tired sigh as he stood from the ice bath, feeling the cold steep into his bones before quickly drying off with a towel. Jaxon, still in the tub, gave him a lazy salute.

With one last glance at the boy, Kane placed the towel around his shoulders and left the medical room, his body stiff from the cold. He was about to head to the locker room for a shower when he caught sight of someone waiting by the door- clearly out of place.

A tall woman, draped in the uniform of Carnis Arcanum's staff, stood near the entrance.

"Hallow! This lady here is looking for ya," a trainer half-hazardly gestured to the woman, who now had a look of mild annoyance on her face at the way she was addressed.

Kane hesitated for a moment, then straightened his posture and made his way over to the woman. "Kane Hallow, ma'am." He extended a hand to her, suddenly feeling exposed, his clammy hands and damp shorts in stark contrast to her polished appearance.

She gave him a brief nod of acknowledgement, shaking his hand but pulling away quickly, likely from the residual moisture of his skin. "Elara Gould. I've been sent from the Carnis Arcanum to discuss your future at the university." She gave a judgemental look around the dimly lit gym. "Is there somewhere we could have a word, in private?"

After excusing himself to shower and change into more presentable attire- a request the school's representative seemed to appreciate- Kane emerged in a pair of slim-fit black athletic pants and a deep purple hoodie, the university's emblem in gold thread stitched on the chest. They made their way into an empty office at the front of the gym, though neither of them bothered to sit at the desk.

Kane's stomach churned with nerves, his mind racing at the thought of his future possibly being ripped from his grasp.

The woman took a sharp breath before speaking. "Mr. Hallow. In light of recent events, the Arcanum is concerned that your conduct no longer aligns with the values we strive to uphold in our program," she began, her tone sharp and precise, "The university has received numerous uncomplimentary remarks following last week's match."

Kane's chest tightened, heat rising to his face as the memory of his outburst surfaced. At the time, his reaction had felt justified, even inevitable. But now, with his scholarship hanging by a thread, he couldn't ignore how reckless it had been to let his temper take over- especially after breaking his winning streak.

"Yes ma'am," Kane said, his voice steady despite the knot forming in his stomach. "I've already apologized to the arena's management and offered to assist with the repairs. I'm regretfully aware of the damage done, both to the Arcanum and my own reputation." He forced himself to meet her gaze with the same poise he mustered during his admissions interview years ago.

Mrs. Gould offered him a tight, professional smile. "I appreciate your efforts, Mr. Hallow. However, we have a strict policy regarding such incidents. If we do not see a marked improvement in your behavior- a reversion to the standards that earned you your scholarship- we will have no choice but to revoke it and release you from the school."

Kane's lips parted, but any retort or plea caught in his throat. His fists clenched in his pockets, and all he could manage was a nod.

Mrs. Gould reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a small business card, extending it toward him. "We will be monitoring your progress closely for the remainder of the semester," she said. Kane took the card, her gaze steady and unyielding. "A final decision will be made by then. And Mr. Hallow," she added, her tone softening slightly, "I sincerely hope that decision allows you to continue into your fourth-year assignment. Your potential is far too promising to be wasted."

Kane nodded again. "Yes ma'am. Thank you. You won't be disappointed," he assured her, though the slight rush of his words may have betrayed his unease.

She gave a curt nod before stepping out, her heels clicking sharply against the floor as she dismissed herself from the room.

Kane stood frozen, the business card still clenched in his hand. The weight of the situation pressed down on him like a heavy stone.

He exhaled slowly, a grim determination settling in his chest. There was no room for failure- there never had been.
-
[ hello, friends! I hope you enjoyed a new POV today, what do you think about Kane?]