Hayden was perhaps the last thing Ciell wanted to see when she stepped out of her mech, but nonetheless there he was. Whatever haughty tone he held before over the comms was gone, replaced by some sudden and suspicious respect. There was no chance she was going to buy that, there were less gracious winners than there were losers. Her eyes went to his outstretched hand, and then briefly flicked down to her own hand, which had not yet ceased to bleed, and before she could decide whether or not to match his faux-sportsmanship her platform continued down. 

[color=92278f]"Do not get used to this,"[/color] she muttered, before descending away. 

A medic at the bottom was ready, but as soon as he began wrapping her arm she snatched the gauze and walked away. There wasn't time to stand around being seen to like some child, the bleeding wasn't awful and if she needed further treatment later she'd go and get it herself. For now, there was only one thing on her mind, training. Her reaction time hadn't been fast enough, she should have been able to swing faster, maneuver quicker. Her victory should not only have been assured, but it should have been flawless, every simulation and duel before pointed towards perfection, and yet here was a mark on her record. From a farm boy. A farm boy that was her squad leader now. That was [i]her[/i] position, dammit, everything had led up to her leading the team, her leadership skills, her tactical prowess, and now what was she? Another body in a unit? The sower of glory to be reaped by another? It was worse than insulting, it was humiliating. 

It was outside of the gym that she encountered her mother, standing with her arms crossed as though she'd expected to see her daughter there. No, not as if, that was exactly the case. As a mech Ciell was deadly, as a person, predictable, especially to her mother. Like a soldier she came to a stop before the taller woman, head cast down to avoid the cold, hard eyes observing her. 

[color=ed1c24]"I'm not going to explain why I'm disappointed with you. You'll be sparring with the volunteers I've gathered for the rest of the day. If you're going to bleed, you're going to get something out of it. Go."[/color]

Ciell only nodded, walking past and into the training room. Within the small boxing ring were a group of students, fellow classmen she only vaguely recognized, people she'd beaten previously or others who had challenged her and been declined. All of them looked to her like vultures would a carcass, grins spreading a few lips, grimaces others. She could not lie to herself and think that she had a chance sparring all of them one after the other, but Ciell was good with facades, and as long as she could still stand it would be her number one priority to remind her opponents why they held their grudges in the first place. 

As the feeling came back to her hand she clenched it into a fist. Pain sizzled in her veins, ached in her bones, and blood leaked between her fingers onto the floor. It was going to be a long day.