The punishment wasn't for losing. Slaves weren't allowed the dignity of losing.
The punishment was for being noticed.
Uchi Satire's wrists ached as the smith hammered the chains tighter. Sparks kissed her skin. The collar hummed again, angrier this time, as if it remembered she had broken it once already and wanted revenge.
But this time, the links didn't just bind her to the floor.
They bound her to someone else.
A boy. Fourteen at most, shoulders narrow as broomsticks, collar hanging loose like it had been fitted in a hurry. His hair was matted with dust, eyes too big for his face. His lips moved soundlessly, a prayer without sound, and Uchi knew it wasn't to any god. It was to luck.
The announcer raised his arms. "Two for one! The broken one and her new pet, chained together against the Blade Hounds!"
The terraces erupted. Nobles spilled wine over the rails. Bets exchanged hands. Jeers echoed like whips.
"Barely worth the meat!"
"Watch the boy die first!"
"She'll drag him down with her!"
The boy flinched at every word. His eyes darted to Uchi's. He saw no comfort there, only iron.
The gate screeched open. Growls crawled out before the beasts did.
The Blade Hounds were lean muscle and hunger stretched thin across bone. Ribs sharp as knives, jaws wired with spiked metal, collars bolted into flesh. Not pets. Not fighters. Punishments given legs.
The boy's knees buckled. The chain between them yanked Uchi's wrist as he staggered back.
She caught his weight with a twist. "Breathe."
"I—" His voice cracked. "I can't—"
"Breathe," she repeated, flat as a blade. "In. Out. Don't run."
His chest hitched. His body shook. But he did as told.
The System stirred.
[ LINK ESTABLISHED: STUDENT DETECTED. ]
[ SHARED XP ENABLED. ]
[ WARNING: INJURY TO STUDENT REDUCES MENTOR'S STATS. ]
Uchi's lips twitched. "Figures. Chains cut both ways."
The first hound lunged.
The boy screamed. His panic yanked her arm hard enough to almost unbalance her. Uchi pivoted with the pull, twisted the chain, and let the iron sing across the hound's snout. The impact cracked loud enough to echo. Blood sprayed. The beast yelped and rolled back.
The boy gaped. His chest heaved, eyes huge.
Another hound darted low. Uchi shoved him forward, used him as anchor, and stamped down on its spine. Something popped beneath her heel. The dog writhed.
"How—" the boy stammered.
"Move your feet," Uchi snapped. "Don't think. Copy."
He swallowed, nodded, legs trembling.
The third hound circled. It feinted right, then slashed left. The boy panicked again, stepping the wrong way. The chain yanked Uchi sideways. For one heartbeat, she felt the bite of failure.
No.
She shifted, rolled with the pull, dragged him with her. Their combined weight threw the beast off. It overshot. Uchi swung the boy into a messy kick. His shin smacked fur. She followed through with her palm, cracking ribs. The hound hit the sand hard.
[ STUDENT CONTRIBUTION DETECTED. ]
[ SHARED XP AWARDED. ]
The boy gasped. His body shook like he'd swallowed lightning. His eyes widened — he had seen the text too.
His next strike wasn't confident. But it was faster.
The last hound came full-speed, teeth wide, slobber flying.
The boy froze. Uchi didn't. She yanked him forward. His elbow collided with its jaw by accident. Her palm slammed into its chest on purpose. Bones splintered. The beast went limp in silence.
The arena stilled. Then it roared.
Not laughter. Not mockery. Something else.
The nobles shifted in their seats. Some clapped. Others whispered. A few frowned.
The announcer hesitated, words tripping. "Victory… to the broken one—" His voice cracked. Uchi's eyes flicked to him, cold and sharp. He swallowed. "To Uchi Satire."
The boy dropped to his knees, gasping. His hands shook as if his body didn't know it was alive.
"I thought—" His voice broke. "I thought I was dead."
Uchi tugged him up by the chain. "You're still chained. So stand. Standing is lesson two."
He staggered upright. His breath came shallow but steadier. His collar hummed faintly, mocking, but he didn't collapse.
Above them, nobles murmured louder now.
"She's teaching him."
"She's dangerous."
"Slaves aren't supposed to train each other."
Uchi ignored them. She looked only at the boy.
"You can't run," she said. "You'll want to. But you can't."
His voice wavered. "I… I'll try."
The System pulsed.
[ STUDENT ACCEPTED: NAME PENDING. ]
[ MENTORSHIP BOND STRENGTHENED. ]
[ NOTE: GREATER GROWTH REQUIRES GREATER RISK. ]
Uchi straightened, the chain still heavy on her wrist. The crowd's noise was shifting, tilting toward something dangerous. Curiosity.
For the first time, they were saying her name without spitting it.
But in the marrow of her bones, her shadow laughed.
[ SHADOW TRIAL: PENDING. ]