After the relentless grind of military life, the soldiers yearned for moments of respite from the perpetual state of alert. And so, they indulged in a secret pastime that danced on the edge of regulation – wagering and the primal spectacle of the boxing ring. The senior officers, wiser than to quash the morale-boosting tradition, turned a blind eye to the illicit gambling that took place within the ranks.
In a dimly lit training room, members of the operations team had gathered to witness an audacious bout within the squared circle. Officer Eli, a fiery lioness with a penchant for provocation, stepped into the ring. Eli was known for her clever, albeit ill-mannered, demeanor, her aversion to losing, and her uncanny ability to avoid it.
Two warriors faced off under the flickering lights: Eli, a slender and sinewy figure with long limbs, and her opponent, a bulkier adversary from the rival squad. Both combatants donned leather gloves, and the audience of their comrades roared in anticipation.
Before the referee could signal the start of the match, the hulking man launched an unsportsmanlike attack, swinging his fist at Eli's face. Expecting such trickery, Eli sidestepped with grace and precision. In a swift, retaliatory strike, she landed a bone-crushing blow beneath the opponent's chin, sending his mouthguard flying as he bellowed in agony.
The giant of a soldier let out a guttural cry, but Eli showed no mercy, immediately executing a nimble maneuver that sent him crashing to the canvas. Straddling him, she unleashed a barrage of savage punches, causing blood to splatter in all directions until the referee intervened, prying the battered adversary from her relentless onslaught.
A wave of cheers erupted among the spectators, and the training room officers declared Eli the victor. Exhausted but triumphant, Eli sprawled on the canvas and bellowed with fervor, "Who's next?"
However, no one dared to answer her challenge. The referee raised Eli's bloodied hand, affirming her victory, while those who had bet on her erupted in joy.
Outside the training room, Officer Kian sat on a bench, engrossed in his investigation. He wore a headset and continued reviewing the footage of the forest park incident, desperately searching for a lead. Sergeant Sarin entered the hall, prompting Kian to rise and salute.
Behind Sarin trailed a young girl, her clothes tattered, her hair disheveled, but her eyes radiant.
"Where are the others?" inquired Sarin, his tone cautious.
"As usual, they're at the boxing ring," Kian replied. "One of Sergeant Shaun’s team members teased Eli about being too scrawny, and, well, you can imagine the rest."
"I see," Sarin mused.
Nika, the young girl, remained silent but fixed her gaze on Officer Kian, who studied her closely.
"Who is the girl?" Kian asked cautiously.
- This is Nika! She is going to stay at my residence for a while under my supervision until I can find her proper guardianship.
Kian answered with uncertainty: “Well… Nice to meet you I suppose!
Sarin glanced at his watch and said, "We have a briefing this afternoon, right?"
"Yes, Sir, at 5:30," affirmed Kian.
"Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it. I need to get Nika settled first. Please send me the meeting report before 9 pm."
"Understood, Sir."
As Sergeant Sarin and Nika walked away, their voices grew heated.
"I could stay at an inn," Nika suggested.
"Nonsense! You're staying with me, and that's final! Let's go!"
Kian hurried to his tablet, donned his headset, and listened intently to the solitary sentence he had managed to recover, playing it over and over: "In an inn!" "In an inn!"...
P.S:
Hello everyone, I’m a writer and a manga artist, and this is a piece that I’m working on. Later on, I’m going to put my art as well, piece by piece, for everyone to enjoy. I’ll welcome critiques, but plz don’t be too harsh.
Here is the link to the picture comic (manga) I'm currently creating, feel free to visit and leave a comment, subscribe, etc.
