To Continue The Way, Sometimes You Need To Stop

So she meant a friendly conversation. Well, this was to be expected, so there was no point in feeling disappointed about this. But the fact that Alaina took the words about the title shot so literally was rather sad. Charlotte hoped that her friend would receive a portion of inspiration, but Alaina's serious face said otherwise. Was it worth the Frenchwoman to explain that she said this in order to cheer Alaina, and not in order to try to assert herself?

- Let's forget about it... - she said shortly, decided that her explanation would give nothing.

Charlotte turned and returned to her seat. The girl again sat on the parapet and rubbed the sweat on her hands. She seems to have lost her sense of tact during a conversation. Hoping for a completely different reaction, she apparently picked up the wrong words. The only people she usually talks to are her students. But for them she is only a master and a teacher, so they only hear instructions from her. Perhaps that’s why her attempt to cheer a familiar was so stupid.

Even if before that the Frenchwoman wanted to continue the conversation, now she decided keep silence so as not to say another stupid thing.

For a short time, Charlotte plunged into her own thoughts. Since she is a rather peculiar person, it is always difficult for her to make contact with new people. After all the events that happened in her life, she realized that it was easiest to live without approaching other people. However, this became her deep pit, in which she was drowning deeper and deeper. And only recently she realized that she needed to do something about it.

- M? - the girl turned her head to her interlocutor. - My students? In fact, yes, they are doing well. The boxing group is making great strides. The rest also try to keep up with my standards.

In fact, the Frenchwoman did not even expect her martial arts school to gain popularity. However, a variety of martial arts, fairly affordable prices and Charlotte's unique approach have added a raisin to this place. Therefore, she soon became known as the "master", and she realized her old dream.

- I’m teaching them not just martial arts, - she said, rising to her feet again, - I teach them philosophy. Martial arts should develop you as a person and support your best qualities, and not nourish your dark side. Therefore, each of my students should tell me the reason why he wants to study with me. If this reason is noble, then good. If not, then I try to show him a different point of view, which he most likely did not even suspect. If this is successful, then he becomes a student, if not, then he needs to look for another teacher. Therefore, all my students share my views. Well... almost.

Charlotte smoothly headed towards the center of the room, where there was the most steam and where the temperature was highest. Even she made exceptions. Sometimes not everyone was ready to follow her noble point of view about what a real fighter should be like. However, she is also a person. And so she is also able to understand the views of other people. Maybe the pink-haired girl is not always able to approve of these views, but she can understand them.

- My last two students are very outstanding girls, - she said in a measured voice, - and besides, they are our colleagues. You definitely heard about one of them. She took part in the Hell on Earth event, just like you. Karen Aoki-Justice, preferring everyone but her friends to call her Hawk Moth. She grew up on the street and, as she says about herself, “knocking shit out of people is the best I can do”. She is damn strong and it’s better not to make her angry.

A smile appeared on the face of the martial artist. Karen was somewhat similar to Charlotte, for this reason she took this Japanese girl to the ranks of her students.

- Therefore, I am teaching her to direct anger in the right direction, but, frankly, she doesn’t do it well, - Charlotte sighed, - she follows a fairly simple rule. She is cruel to the same extent as her rivals. However, if I can restrain my anger, despite the actions of rivals, then she prefers not to. Matches against Aisha Love and Jacob Masters is a great confirmation of this. Aisha used any tricks against Karen and provoked her all the time, so everything ended badly, although in the end she still showed nobility, not allowing her rival to be humiliated in front of the cameras.

Charlotte removed the sweat from her forehead before continuing. Her face was a bit dark.

- And when she came across a sexist who tried to humiliate her as a girl... even I was scared when I watched this match. Her cruelty was frightening, but fair. And I understand her perfectly. She is a strong girl and will not allow anyone to humiliate herself. Maybe even I would lose control if I came across a dirty man like this Jacob. But in the end, I try to teach her to restrain herself, if at all possible in her case.

 The Frenchwoman returned to her seat and sat on the parapet.

- And Margarita Jorgensen, the little Sea Star of our federation, - now there was a smile on Charlotte's face again, - she is incredible. She is young and energetic. A former actress with tremendous fortitude. Unfortunately, she lost her debut and her lost was enough... hmmm... shamefully from her point of view. Then she came to me to not allow that happen again. And her goal is very noble for me. Margarita is quite inexperienced, but she has potential and wants to realize it. She is a very unusual person and I can’t even imagine how she does what she does. She has a dream and I want her to achieve this dream. Maybe I will never become a champion, but someday she will definitely become because she deserves it.

Really. Charlotte saw in Margarita the best version of herself. If she had a chance to choose what kind of person she wants to become, she would certainly choose to become such as Margarita. Straightforwardness. Honesty. Brightness. Enthusiasm. And unshakable faith in your dream. Finally, the Frenchwoman fell silent, her throat was dry.

Charlotte glanced at the heat-resistant watch and was surprised to find that their time here was drawing to a close. However, she felt that the temperature had already done its job, now her body was like a piece of clay, which can be given any shape. And that was the purpose of visiting this sauna.

Alaina seemed interested only in Margarita. The Frenchwoman listened to the noble idea of ​​her interlocutor about a charity match and thought for a moment. She was a little surprised that Alaina did not offer her to act as her opponent, however, she could not agree this time. As for Margarita...

- Well, I’m flying to China for a few days to make a pilgrimage to the monastery where I studied, - she said, getting up, - so I'll see you in the ring another time.

The girl took several steps to Alaina to see her through all this steam. In her head, a martial artist pondered the essence of this proposal. Despite Margarita's talent and enthusiasm, she had some doubts.

- As far as I know, Margarita is now preparing for her debut in Tension. But I will give her your offer. I think she will agree. It will be a good experience for her.

If we estimate the chances, then Sea Star and the Amazon were at different levels. Margarita was a machine of inexhaustible energy, but still only a fool would deny the fact that she has little experience. She could compensate for this with her incredible talent for improvisation and adoption of non-standard decisions, but in the end, experience play a too significant role.

- Like me, she never breaks the rules, well, maybe she is not so serious about such trifles as hair, - said Charlotte, taking another step forward and crossing her arms over her chest, - but if you step over the line and because of you she gets injuries that were not necessary... warn, I will destroy you.

Perhaps because of the play of light, but for a moment it may seem that Charlotte's eyes turned red. The martial arts master was personally responsible for each of her students, so she was even ready cover them from bullets. Therefore, she wanted Alaina to understand the seriousness of the situation. Although the American girl did not look like such a person, one can never guess when a good person would decide to mock a weaker person. However, immediately after that, she extended her hand to Alaina and smiled softly.

- Now let's go, you will like the following treatment.

After leaving the sauna, the girls returned to the shower room, where they washed off their sweat. Now the Frenchwoman felt incredible lightness, her body was like a feather. She wrapped a towel around her hair and put on a bathrobe, waiting for Alaina to do the same. Then the girl took her friend to another room, she was wondering if Alaina would like what would happen next.

And then a spacious, but almost empty room in the classic Japanese style was waiting for them. Only in the middle was a small table on which there were cups and a teapot. Charlotte smiled broadly. And she went to the table, simultaneously taking off her slippers. The floor was surprisingly very soft, like mats, she had never seen such an interesting cover.

- A small tea break, - said Charlotte, sitting down in a lotus position, - many monks believe that good tea can help relax not only the body, but also the soul.

The girl took a teapot and filled two cups. The Frenchwoman took her cup and brought it to her nose, inhaling the aromas of herbs. It had an interesting smell, where she definitely smelled mint and thyme.

- Your health, Alaina, - Charlotte said, smiling a little, taking a short sip, it was unbelievable.

- I agree, - Charlotte said to Alaina.

In contrast to Alaina, the Frenchwoman got used to tea. Until a certain moment, she had no particular preferences at all, but after the Chinese monastery she really fell in love with this drink. Maybe this is not surprising, because the monks do not drink anything other than tea and water, and therefore Charlotte did not have much choice. But the fact remains, tea has become an integral part of her life.

Charlotte closed her eyes, now she was damn relaxed. Despite the fact that she was used to spending almost all her time in the gym, she liked such rare visits to such places. When your body is constantly in tension, that moment of relaxation is especially pleasant. However, the pause in their conversation seemed rather awkward to her, so the girl opened her eyes, glancing at Alaina.

- Do you have a boyfriend? - charlotte asked. - Or... a girlfriend?

Only a few seconds later she realized that she had just asked, but it was too late. She was not going to do this, since it was difficult for her to express her own feelings. But the deed has already been done. However, in order to smooth the corners, Charlotte's brain forced her to add:

- You may not answer if it is too personal...

Somewhere deep inside, the girl felt that something was squeezed. Was it her heart? However, this answer was to be expected. Therefore, now she had no choice but to accept, albeit with a bitter aftertaste. Yet Charlotte raised her left eyebrow slightly when she heard the name. Indeed, personally, she was not familiar with this guy. Even Victoria did not provide her with any information since Charlotte had no interests in the Tension unit. However, when Karen talked about her sexist opponent, she mentioned that Jacob has two brothers, one of whom is Trent.

“So this is how...” - she thought.

- An impressive list...

Charlotte looked down and took a sip of tea. Despite the sauna and a hot drink, now for some reason she was cold. Another sip of tea. No, that doesn't help. Being left exclusively to herself and only recently having stayed in one place for more than a year, the Frenchwoman was not going to change anything in her life. But as Sintharia told her, life is movement, and movement is changes. Only for some reason she forgot to mention that not always the desire to change something will be successful. Ironically.

The pink-haired girl slowly raised her eyes to her interlocutor when she heard her question.

- Not anymore, - she answered shortly, trying to smile.

She took the last sip of tea and set the seagull back on the table. The young girl rose from her seat, put on her slippers and headed for the door leading to their last treatment. The next room had two massage tables and two women. One of them spoke almost immediately:

- A body scrubbing and a massage with aroma oil are waiting for you, ladies. Do we need to separate the tables with a folding screen?

Charlotte nodded silently, and then headed for her desk, while the women began to lay out the screen. She took off her bathrobe and then a bathing suit to give full access to her body. The Frenchwoman is light on the massage table. Despite the fact that she never had skin problems, she knew that scrubbing the body with sea salt always gives a feeling of renewal, and the skin as a result becomes softer and more beautiful. Therefore, when the woman’s hands touched her skin, the girl closed her eyes, trying to stop thinking about what made her feel depressed.