Holli sat in the mud, fists curled in rage. Unlike most children her age, she preferred to plot her revenge cautiously rather than lash out. The humiliation of being laughed at was feeding into her anger. She wanted nothing more than to deal out blows, unable to quell the seething hatred that the young girl had yet to learn the words for.

Still, she sat.

The Finisher boys had pushed her down. It was not their first offense against her; there were often days when they would call her names or exclude her from their games. This time, however, they soiled her dress. Holli's mother would be cross, dealing out a punishment that she knew would be unpleasant. This inspired her to ensure that whatever swift revenge she plotted would be just as bad, if not worse, than what she would face at home.

"Did ya see the look on her face?" One of the boys, a plump redhead with more freckles than hair, doubled over and pointed a chubby finger in her direction.

One of the ginger's greasy friends slumped over him as his laughter took hold of his body and made standing difficult. This one was slim, taller, and his long thin hair was worn in a bowl-cut that shook about his head like tassels as he erupted into another fit of giggles. "She screamed like a girl!" The blonde one, who Holli recognized as Guvon, guffawed.

"I am a girl, idiot!" Holli felt herself retorting despite the fact that she should have been plotting.

The third and final boy, built like Guvon but far shorter (perhaps even his sibling), clapped the shoulder of the redhead in solidarity. It looked forced, like a movement he had seen the elder Finishers perform with their comrades and wanted to imitate. "She's afraid of a little mud! No wonder girls aren't supposed to fight. Holli wouldn't last a second out there fighting!" The hatred burned deeper in her gut. These idiots had made the mistake that her previous decisions to not retaliate were due to weakness. She'd show them. Her careful planning unraveled as she attempted to get to her feet. Holli's mud-coated dress hem clung to her, however, and attached itself to the sole of her shoe. As she stepped on it, she face-planted into the mud. This time, it splattered all over her, getting in her face and mouth. The ends of her curly blonde hair were soaked in it.

More howling echoed in the garden as the boys witnessed her failure.

The Finisher compound capital building had the most beautiful and well-maintained garden. It was the only place in the entire city that wasn't stone. Most of the children who had yet to be shipped off to school played here. Several guards were patrolling it, as it was on the land of the most vital building in all of Itheirien. Yet, when Holli looked at them for help in a moment of failure and weakness, they did nothing.

"Hey!" Holli thought this was one of the boys finding a new thing to insult, but the voice was distant. It was unfamiliar. She glanced up to meet who was sure to be another tormented, sorry that he had missed all the fun.

The three aggressors, however, looked just as confused as she was. Their laughter petered out as they turned towards the fourth boy. Guvon, finally getting to his own two feet, nodded his head toward him. "What do you want? We're busy."

"You're welcome to join us, though." The redhead, now unencumbered by the tall blonde, bounced on his heels. "We're testin' how long it takes before she starts crying!"

Having heard their plan, Holli's flushed cheeks grew hot. Whether it was the utter humiliation or another bout of anger, she couldn't be sure. Still, it gave her energy. This new kid was the distraction she needed. Even if it was another tormentor for her to punish, she mentally thanked him. Gathering the sticky fabric of her dress this time, she made it to her feet. Her shoes squelched into the thick mud, alerting one of the boys; the smallest one. This didn't matter, however. Before he could get a single word out, Holli lunged at Guvon with a mighty roar using his height as his own disadvantage. This wasn't exactly the plan she had been concocting, but she'd be lying if she said that toppling the unsuspecting bully wasn't viciously satisfying.

She began delivering multiple tiny blows to the back of his back and head. Guvon had let out a yelp of surprise on his way down, one that Holli would have mocked him for had she been able to stop yelling, but the dirt and grass in his mouth muffled any further sound he might have been making as she pummeled whatever she could get her fists on. "Get off of him!" The smallest squealed, trying to yank Holli, who was roughly his size, away from her victim. Unable to get her wriggling body under control, he looked up toward the redhead. "Help me!"

Before the chubby ginger could register what was happening, the newest boy had finally caught up to the group. Without another word, he landed a punch straight to the ginger's speckled jaw. His knees locked, collapsing the boy to the ground from which he made no attempt to get back to his feet.

This stranger turned to the smaller blonde boy, giving an icy stare over Holli's hunched figure, still raining blows on the boy though with much less vigor.

Fear in his eyes, he stumbled backward and released his already loose grip on Holli's arm. In a moment of retribution, the small one's foot hit a separate patch of mud and sent him to his butt with a firm plop, splashing bits of dirt around him and onto his clothing.

This strange boy, not much bigger than the littlest of the three tormentors, knelt down beside Holli and grabbed her arms in succession. She wriggled harshly, unaware of what just happened around her. Guvon let out a groan from underneath her. Holli had had his arms pinned underneath her knees, forcing him to lay there and take her justice. Once her arms were unable to move, she allowed herself to look at the force that dared stop her.

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"Let me go." She heaved through malice.

"I'm sorry, milady, I'm afraid you might kill him." The new boy, who had pitch-black hair and deep green eyes, tugged lightly on her arms to try and get her to stand. Now that her focus had been broken, Holli's eyebrows scrunched up as her eyes scanned for the others. Still pinning Guvon, her arms being held up by this stranger, she sees the redhead curled on the grass and the smaller boy cowering, shocked and muddy, a few feet away.

Slowly, she let the darkly cladded stranger help her to her feet. When she got off of his body, Guvon rolled onto his side for air. The front of his clothes are dirt-streaked and grass-stained, adding to the smears of mud on his back from Holli's dress and hands. He let out a hiss as he coughed, pieces of the turf impressed into the skin on his cheek.

Confused, Holli gets defensive, straightening out her dress as if her dignity or hygiene were salvageable.

"I wasn't going to kill him," she lied, "I was merely tired of his stupid jests."

The new boy released her, containing a chuckle. "Of course. My apologies, milady." Turning on his heel, he looked at the defeated trio. "I'm sure they've learned to make better jokes."

As he spoke, the three boys began peeling themselves off of the ground. With much wincing and gasping, they eventually made it to their feet, refusing to turn their backs on the couple. The tallest one attempted to lean across the ginger for support again, but he swatted him away, his good mood soured by the ache in his jaw.

"Now," the unknown helper called out tilting his head toward Holli, "I think you owe her an apology."

The boys, both irritated and dumbfounded, begin to make their protests. Holli cuts them off. "Save your breath. Underestimate a woman again, and you'll pay for it." Though even she knew calling herself a woman was a stretch, finally standing up to her bullies had awakened a new sense of confidence in her. Holli may have been covered in mud and incredibly sore, but she was victorious. That feeling was enough for her.

As if her words weren't enough, the three looked wearily toward her accomplice. The black-haired boy, who was staring at Holli with a crooked smile, turned toward them. He seemed surprised that they were still standing and gave them a firm nod, wearing a far more sinister gaze. "You heard her." Having been given the official 'ok', they shuffled slowly toward the garden exit. Holli could hear their groans of pain and reveled in the feeling of accomplishment as the guards tried to stifle their laughs after watching the whole thing. Once they were out of sight, she turned to the stranger, arms crossed.

"Who are you, anyway? What do you want, helping me out like that?" Her eyes narrowed, wondering if this kid assisted her only to turn and torment her on his own.

"My name's Cro," he stuck his hand out, the other one slicking back his hair, "I don't really want anything. I just thought three against one was pretty unfair." Hesitantly, she gave her his hand. Cro took it and placed his lips on the top of it as if the dried mud was not even there. It was Finisher custom for a man to greet a lady this way, Holli knew, but she was too young for that. Nor had she ever seen a boy her age commit to it. Unsure how she felt about it, she retracted her hand quickly.

"How noble of you." She retorted, absently rubbing her hand where his lips had been.

If he was aware of her sarcasm, he did not make it known. "Thank you, milady. It is a Finisher's job to stand up for those who need it."

"Stop calling me that. That's what adults call each other," she said pointedly, "my name's Holli."

Cro nodded, pulling his hands behind his back much like that of a distinguished gentleman. "I can teach you how to fight, Holli. If you want, that is. Though clever, attacking a man with his back turned is hardly the Finisher thing to do."

Holli scoffed loudly, a laugh ripping through her throat. "Yeah, well, they were asking for it. Finishers don't prey on the weak like that, either. So I guess the only true Finisher in this situation is you." She began to walk away, not enjoying this boy's judgments, but stopped. Cro seemed strange but he did help her out. Not to mention whatever he had to say would still be better than facing her mother's wrath.

With a sigh, she turned back to him.

"What's in it for you? Teaching a girl how to fight?" She asked.

Cro smiled. Though it looked mischievous, Holli was beginning to think that it was just what joy looked like for him. "Nothing is in it for me. I just think you should be able to protect yourself."

"Because girls can't defend themselves?" Holli scoffed.

"No. You can obviously defend yourself. All I would be teaching you is how to do it better." He shrugged, moving his hands back to his front.

Though she sensed no lies or malintention, she was still wary. It wasn't until twenty years ago that women were even allowed to fight for the Finishers. Being allowed to choose education at the School of the Ring (or at least the subsection: the Sisters of the Ring) in place of their at-home domestic schooling. Of course, this meant giving up a life of family and love. It was a common belief that a woman could be soiled by magic and deliver magical offspring. If they risked their lives in the field, they were not allowed to have children or even find a husband.

Still, Holli wanted nothing more than to fight alongside other Finishers. To help her people in the great war against magic.

"...alright. But you better not be trying to make fun of me, Cro!" She pointed a finger in his face sternly. Holli hadn't seen his quick fight with the redhead and just how strong Cro had been. Had she, she might have been far less inclined to threaten him.

"I swear to you, milady, I genuinely would just like to help." He got to his knee, bowing as if he was making some kind of intense pact. Holli tried pulling him up by his shirt.

"Stop calling me that! Just, keep your word and everything will be alright, okay?" As he allowed her to help him up, he grinned devilishly. "My mom can't know, either."

Cro nodded his head slowly. "Meet me in the garden tomorrow and we can start training. I know a spot where the guards can't see us. And if nobody sees us, nobody can tell your mother."

She let out a breath, unsure if she'd show up as he instructed. Sure, right now this seemed like a great idea, but Holli might not be so sure by the time night falls. Her mom might not even let her out of the house tomorrow, anyway, depending on what punishment she decides for ruining another dress. But the fact that she wasn't committing relieved her, so she shook her head up and down.

"Great, Holli. I'll see you tomorrow!" Cro bowed to her and began walking off the way he came. Before his black hair left her view, he turned back to her and called out. "Oh, and wear something you can get muddy!"

Holli wanted to argue or yell, but she swallowed it. Even though Cro was weird, trying way too hard to act like an adult, she already knew that she wanted to be his friend. Any boy who wanted to teach her something at risk of getting in trouble was one that she wanted to keep around. Though she wasn't sure if she would make it, she was excited at the idea of tomorrow. At least Guvon and his goons wouldn't be there.

Once he's officially gone, Holli began making her way toward her home. Picking off as much mud from her golden locks as she could before she had to face her mother.