Mai was seven years old when she discovered knives.


Mai heard her father walking toward her and quickly hid behind a tapestry. She wasn't supposed to be out of bed this late, and he would punish her if he saw her.

After he'd passed, Mai resumed her wandering. She slipped into the kitchen, dark and empty at night.

Something caught her eye in the dim light from the window. Mai stretched to reach, and pulled it down.

A knife glinted in her hand. Mai examined it.

She had seen knife-throwers at the Solstice Festival.

She bet she could learn to do that.

Mai looked at the knife and smiled.