Lucen's wrist hit the mat first.
Not on purpose.
Not with grace.
It just happened, one second he was stepping in with a mid feint, next second he was staring at the ceiling with Varik pinning his shoulder to the floor like a lecture note under a paperweight.
"Where was your guard?"
Lucen wheezed. "It was right here until you turned my elbow into a lever."
Varik didn't release the hold yet.
Instead, he shifted slightly, just enough for Lucen to feel the twist pressure in his joint, not painful, just…potential.
"This is a wrist trap. Elbow break comes next. Then shoulder dislocate."
Lucen blinked. "Are you doing a how-to tutorial while threatening to detach my arm?"
Varik let go. "Learn it faster and I won't have to."
Lucen sat up slowly, rubbing the back of his neck.
'He teaches like he's training assassins. Or accountants. No difference.'
Varik stepped back. "Up. Again."
