In the common area of their dorm, Uuzhit sat on the narrow table near the door to his room, staring at the ceiling. On the opposite side, Asakay and Inyoninko sat on the floor, leaning back against the walls. A long silence had settled between them. Ever since Asakay and Inyoninko concluded their fight at a standstill, the three had returned to the dorm and sat down in their respective spots, not a word among them. Lowering his gaze, Uuzhit looked between Asakay and Inyoninko. He could not tell which of the two was more beat up or bruised. From what he had seen, Asakay was stronger and more skilled but Inyoninko. She was faster, more agile, making up for physical differences with rapid turns, pinpoint accuracy and so many fakes, and that look in her eyes as she fought, it sent chills down Uuzhit's spine. When she flipped Asakay on his back, the loud boom of a body striking ground reverberated against the walls of the tunnel. Having listened to the thuds, thumps, cracks and boom of their blows, the echoes of every impact, he could believe Asakay would accidentally kill someone and that Inyoninko could kill anyone.

"So." Asakay pushed himself up and looked over at Uuzhit who shifted his attention, showing that he was listening. "Still think she'll want another pet?"

Inyoninko peered over at Uuzhit. His expression was grave. Dark eyes shifted to her. "No doubt." He nodded. "If she wanted you before. She'll need you now."

"Fuck." Asakay breathed out and slumped against the wall.

"Why?" Inyoninko stared at Uuzhit, red eyes flashing in the light. "Clearly we don't agree with each other. Why would she want me so much?"

Uuzhit sighed and mulled it over. "I would think." He paused to consider it a bit more. "Eshuumina," he concluded, "Guess she's true to her name."

Asakay grimaced, brows low, knitting together. "She has an awful name."

Uuzhit looked between Asakay and Inyoninko. "Not sure how to respond to that." He glanced at Asakay, "Timeless use," then at Inyoninko, "Eternal diversity or rejection." Asakay chuckled.

They fell silent again, sitting around, the two fighters breathing out as they settled into their bruises, scratches and sore muscles. But Inyoninko was thinking. "She'll approach me."

Uuzhit looked over, then remembered the previous topic. "Yes."

"You never mentioned what tactics she might use."

"That bitch better not. Fucking. Do that to you."

Uuzhit scoffed and looked away. "She's hardly that incompetent." Looking back and finding the two watching him, he explained, "You saw her." He fixated on Inyoninko. "She knows how to control a crowd. But she doesn't do it often. Actually. It's very rare. Usually, she'll get to a person through their close relationships." He glanced at Asakay. "She'll appeal to your desires or dreams, belittle you for your insecurities, position herself to be your savior or confidant." He nodded to himself. "It depends. She doesn't just attack weaknesses. She looks for weaknesses in your character. Vulnerabilities that would expose you. Whatever you're interested in, whatever you want or hope for. She doesn't usually use force or even deception. She likes to use." He looked away, searching for the words. "Style. Grandeur."

"She sounds like the body of evil, not the body of power."

"That's. Exactly what power looks like here."

Asakay shook his head. "Evil." Leaning away, then thinking of something and glancing at Inyoninko, he muttered, "It's gonna be hard, huh."

Inyoninko peeked over at him. They smiled.

"It'll be hard," Uuzhit surmised, "that it?" They looked over at him, smiles on their faces. He nodded to himself and looked away. "Must you two be such a bother?" They laughed and bumped fists. With a shake of his head, Uuzhit pressed his hands together and pressed between his eyes. "Fuck my life."

"Aw, come on," Asakay called out, "It's the time of our lives."

Uuzhit looked between them. "A wimp who wants to sleep with middle-aged women and calls my girlfriend evil, thinking she's some kind of spider who steals chips. A bookworm who led hunter's challenge and just went up against this university's president's daughter in front of everyone. Bound to be pursued by said daughter at the very likely possibility of insane extremes." He looked between them for a comment. "Iejei. Eshuumina." He breathed out. "I wanna go home." He stood.

Inyoninko and Asakay cried out, joking, telling him to stay. He stepped into his bedroom. They continued to holler after him, even as he shut the door. Their laughter faded into silence as they leaned their heads back and breathed out.

"Hey Ninny?"

"Mm."

"Wasn't Eshuumina your type?" Inyoninko glanced over and smirked. Seeing it, Asakay smiled back. "Poor Uuzhit."