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Everyone was older than Kip, but still young Kip would guess hteen years old They each had a symbol affixed to their left breast in an old Parian script that Kip could ht It looked like they were lined up according to that nus to look at, the thing that stuck out to Kip was the look in his new classmates’ eyes They barely even noticed hiod The class’s teacher hardly looked less impressed than the rest of the a sleeveless black uniforestured and the class e circle in moments It wasn’t flawless, as a few jostled to move from one place to another, but it was pretty impressive for what Kip knew had to be a fairly new class

"Kip" Ironfist gestured that Kip was to step into the circle

Oh no

Kip stepped in

"This is Kip Guile He’s joining the class As you know, that uard is elite We’ve no roohts are five minutes or until one cos, inflicting pere on your opponent will result in your expulsion fro to lose He barely understood the rules The only fighting he’d done in his life had ainst Rareatest skill was taking punishment

"Do you have any questions, or are you ready to choose your place?" Ironfist asked

"So if you lose, do you swap places with the person who beat you, or do you just move down one spot?"

"It’s not an arithmetic problerimaced "You azed into the distance "I see pain in ers like pistols at the tall, slihed Maybe they’d laugh when Kip got his ass beat

The youngconcerned--for Kip "Match rules, Commander?" he asked

"No spectacles," Ironfist said

Kip and Nureen/blue bichrome

Ironfist cleared his throat "I mean that both ways, Cruxer"

Cruxer? His name was Cruxer?

"Of course, sir," Cruxer said "Sir, his bandaged hand? Can I block it?"

"Don’t target it But if it gets hurt, it gets hurt"

The taller youth nodded quickly and moved opposite of Kip Kip saw flashes of incredulity on the other students’ faces as they looked at hiure No one believed he could win Hell, he didn’t believe he could win Lose with dignity, Kip Lose in a way that willplucky

Plucky? I’le: thuer to forehead Then he touched the three to his mouth, heart, and hands The three and the four, perfect seven A religious young man Hopefully he’d remember the virtue ofover his heart and bowing slightly Kip returned the salute

"Begin," Ironfist said

The tall youth moved--fast He was on top of Kip before Kip could react He shot into Kip and locked a leg behind Kip’s, blocking Kip’s punch and throwing his hips into Kip’s Kip went down hard, grabbing to try to pull Cruxer with hi limbs wrapped around Kip Kip threw an elbow, but Cruxer was so close, he barely got any force into it