The room buzzes with energy as the cousins, all skilled in various martial arts, circle each other in the spacious training room of their family estate. The polished wooden floor gleams under the soft lights and the air is charged with anticipation. It's an unspoken tradition among them—testing their skills against one another in friendly but fiercely competitive sparring matches.

As we warm up, we exchange light-hearted jabs and playful taunts. Jin's calm confidence contrasts Roan's playful energy, while my quiet determination adds a sense of seriousness to the room.

This would be my first spar since awakening and I am eager to test out my skills. I was always strong to begin with but now I felt like I could match them equally, especially Jin. I have never won against Jin.

Jin has always been undefeated among our cousins. Growing up, he dominated in mixed martial arts national competitions. As Kindred are to stay away from the limelight, he chose to retire after college despite the recruitments from many humans and Kindreds.

Roan, with his agile frame and sharp reflexes, takes a light stance, his eyes locked on Jace, who's bouncing on the balls of his feet, his quirky grin in place despite the intensity of the moment. The other cousins watch from the sidelines, some stretching, others analyzing the upcoming moves, each ready for their turn.

I signal for the match to begin.

Roan is the first to strike, moving in with a swift roundhouse kick aimed at Jace's midsection. Jace anticipates it, stepping back just enough to dodge and countering with a rapid series of jabs. Roan blocks, deflecting each punch with practiced ease, the sound of fists meeting forearms echoing in the room.

They break apart for a brief second, circling once more, the playful banter between them momentarily paused.

Leo calls out from the side, "Come on, Roan, don't let him show you up!" His teasing words are met with chuckles, but they only add to the competitive fire in Roan's eyes.

Jace moves in again, this time using a combination of Muay Thai and Taekwondo—knees, elbows, and high kicks flowing in rapid succession. Roan absorbs a few hits, but his training in Jiu-Jitsu and Krav Maga comes into play as he catches Jace's leg mid-kick, pulling him into a swift takedown. Jace hits the mat with a thud but is quick to roll away, springing back to his feet with a grin.

As they continue, the pace quickens. Roan attempts to sweep Jace's legs, but Jace flips backward, using the momentum to land a spinning kick that Roan narrowly dodges.  We all cheer on the sidelines, the sound of our voices mixing with the rhythmic thuds of fists and feet meeting flesh.

Roan feints a punch then pivots into a low, sweeping kick that catches Jace off guard, sending him tumbling again. This time, Jace doesn't get up immediately. Instead, he beckons Roan closer with a mischievous glint in his eye.

Roan approaches cautiously, knowing Jace's tricks. As soon as he's within range, Jace spins around on the ground, using a Capoeira move to sweep Roan's legs out from under him.

Oooooh, all of us bystanders vocalize in unison.

Roan lands hard but quickly rolls to his feet, both of them now breathing heavily, but their grins wide.

"Nice try,"Roan huffs, wiping sweat from his brow. "But you're gonna have to do better than that."

They go at it again, a flurry of techniques from various martial arts—Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu holds, Karate strikes, and Wing Chun deflections—all blending seamlessly in their sparring. The match has no clear winner; it's more about the thrill of testing each other's limits, of pushing and being pushed in return.

Finally, they break apart, both panting, with matching smirks on their faces. The rest of the cousins clap and cheer, some ribbing Roan and Jace about who had the upper hand.

Charles shakes his head with a laugh. He is thoroughly impressed, "You two are like watching a live-action martial arts movie. I've never seen anything like this. Can't wait to see who's up next."

The match ends with a mutual nod of respect, a handshake, and the promise of another round. Even in competition, the bond between them is undeniable—a mix of sibling rivalry and deep camaraderie, where each victory or loss only strengthens their connection.

The room quiets down as I step forward, my eyes narrowing in focus.

It's my turn to face Jin, who is known for his flawless technique and unshakeable composure. Jin, a master of precision, stands with a calm demeanor, his stance relaxed yet ready. He knows I am now much stronger after my awakening—perhaps even stronger than him, in fact—but he probably knows I lack the experience. That's usually where he wins.

I roll out my shoulders, feeling the tension there. I have always been the powerhouse of the family,  my raw strength making me a force to be reckoned with. But Jin, with his perfect form and years of training, usually finds a way to use my strength against myself.

Today, though, I am determined to surprise him.

Jin offers a small, confident smile as we circle each other. "Ready to give it a try, Rain?" he teases, but there's respect in his tone. He knows better than to underestimate me.

I make the first move, charging at Jin with a powerful punch aimed at his chest. Jin sidesteps easily, his movements fluid and almost effortless. He counters with a quick jab to my side, but I absorb the hit, barely flinching. I know I can't rely on brute strength alone, so I try to keep my approach unpredictable, mixing in high kicks with sudden feints.

Jin dodges and counters, his movements precise, as if he's reading my every move before I even make it. He's always been better at anticipating, at finding the flaws in his opponent's strategy. But I don't back down; I know I have to wear him out, get him to drop his guard, even if just for a second.

I notice Jin's pattern—his slight hesitation before each counter, the way he always moves to his left after I attack. I feint another powerful punch, and as expected, Jin shifts to dodge, preparing to counter. But this time, I don't pull back. Instead, I pivot and slam my elbow into his side with unexpected force.

The blow catches Jin off guard, and he stumbles back, surprised by the sheer power behind it.

Not wasting a moment, I follow up with a low sweep that sends Jin tumbling to the ground.

The cousins watching gasp in surprise—this isn't something they've seen before. Jin, the unbeatable, is momentarily on the defensive.

Jin quickly rolls to his feet, his eyes wide with shock but also with newfound respect. "Not bad, Rain," he says, the competitive edge in his voice replaced by something more serious. He readjusts his stance, now fully aware that this match is far from over.

I know this is my chance. I press my advantage, using my strength to drive Jin back, forcing him to stay on the defensive. My punches and kicks come faster, harder, each one designed to test his limits. I'm not as skilled, but I am relentless, and Jin is starting to feel the pressure.

Jin tries to regain control, attempting to trip me with a sweep of his leg, but I am ready this time. I grab his arm and, with a surge of strength, flip him over my shoulder. Jin lands on the mat with a heavy thud, completely caught off guard by my raw power.

Breathing heavily, I step back, giving Jin space to rise. He does, slower this time, clearly impressed.

The room is silent except for the sound of their breathing, the cousins on the sidelines watching in awe. They all know Jin's never been thrown like that before.

But I don't let myself get overconfident. I know Jin is still the better fighter, still more skilled. But I also know I managed to outsmart him, to surprise him in a way that few ever have.

Jin straightens up, a grin spreading across his face. "You've been holding back on me," he says, admiration in his voice.

I shrug, a smile tugging at my lips. "Just figured it was time to show you what I'm really made of."

With that, they both move back into their stances, the match far from over, but the dynamic between them irrevocably changes. I may not have the skill Jin does, but today I've proven that strength, coupled with a bit of cunning, can level the playing field. And for the first time, it's Jin who's on edge, wondering what I might do next.

"You're stronger, but strength isn't everything," Jin says, his voice steady, almost teasing

I grit my teeth and push harder, launching a series of rapid punches, each one fueled by the raw power that I knew he couldn't match.

Jin dodges and weaves, blocking what he can and letting the rest slide past him. His movements are so smooth, so fluid, it is like trying to hit smoke.

I shift my strategy, pretending to aim for his face but quickly dropping low to sweep his legs. For a second, I think I have him—he stumbles back, caught off balance by the surprise move.

That is my chance. I surge forward, using all my strength to knock him down. But just as I close in, Jin recovers faster than I expect. He twists away from my grasp, spinning out of my reach with a grace that makes my heart sink.

And then, before I could react, he was behind me. I barely have time to register his movement before he strikes--a sharp, precise jab to the back of my knee, forcing me down to one knee. My breath caught in my throat as I realized he has been leading me into this exact position the whole time.

"Not bad, Rain," he murmurs, his voice closer than I expected. "But you left yourself open."

Before I can twist away, he delivers a final blow—a quick, controlled strike to my shoulder, pushing me down to the mat. The impact knocks the wind out of me, and I feel the cold surface against my cheek, my body pinned under his.

Damn it. He got me again.

I lay there for a moment, catching my breath, my heart still racing. I hate losing, especially to Jin. But as frustrated as I am, I can't help but respect him. He is just too good.

"Yield?" Jin's voice is soft, not mocking, just matter-of-fact.

"Yeah," I mutter, pushing myself up as he releases me. My muscles burn, a reminder that I have given it my all, but it isn't enough.

He offers me a hand, and I take it, pulling myself to my feet. There is no shame in losing to Jin—he has been training for years longer than I had, and his skill is undeniable. But still, it stings.

"You almost had me there," Jin says, giving me a rare, approving nod. "If your fist had connected first, I wouldn't have been able to recover in time. You had the right idea, but you were just a split second too slow. You're getting better."

"Almost," I repeat, frustration still simmering in my chest. But his words take the edge off. If Jin thought I was improving, then maybe next time, I'd be the one standing over him.

As I walk back to the sidelines, the other cousins watch with a mix of admiration and sympathy. Roan gives me an encouraging nod, and I see Luca and Leo give me a supportive smile.

"You've gotten a lot better. Have you been training secretly on the side?" Jin teases, throwing me a towel to wipe off my sweat.

"I haven't actually had time. I was considering joining their fight club." I contemplate joining more activities at the university but did not want to do too many at once. With the constant side effects of the mark and lack of sleep, I was already struggling to focus on my academics. I sometimes pushed myself on my private workout sessions so I could pass out in sheer exhaustion.

"Rule number one, never talk about fight club." Roan shakes his finger towards me in admonishment.

I simply roll his eyes at his corny line. The university does have an official martial arts team for each of the big martial arts which competes against the other Kindred universities. It's quite a big deal as the winning school and team win money and fame. The winners and standouts are often recruited, but more on that later.

They also have intramural and club teams for hobbyists like me. I figure next quarter will be a good time to explore...like the art club.

I sit back and rest as I watch the twins start duking it out.