The bell had already sounded.
Everyone in the Iron Ridge Martial Arts Academy heard it.
Everyone except Noah Carter.
His opponent was on the mat beneath him, one arm trapped against her side.
Noah's breathing was heavy.
His heart hammered inside his chest.
The crowd around the training floor had gone strangely quiet.
"Release!"
Coach Miller's voice cut across the gym.
Noah didn't move.
The woman beneath him tried to shift.
"Time!"
Still nothing.
Miller stepped forward.
"Noah!"
This time Noah released the hold.
The woman rolled away immediately, coughing as she sat up.
Noah stood.
"What?"
Miller stared at him.
"You heard the bell."
"I was finishing."
"The round was over."
"I had control."
Miller walked toward him.
"No. You had a position."
Noah wiped sweat from his forehead.
"I knew exactly what I was doing."
The coach stopped several feet away.
"That's what worries me."
The students around the mat exchanged glances.
Noah noticed.
His jaw tightened.
"What?"
Miller looked at him.
"You want to know what?"
"Why is everyone looking at me?"
"Because they saw what happened."
Noah laughed bitterly.
"Nothing happened."
The female fighter slowly stood.
Her name was Maya Torres.
She had trained at Iron Ridge for six years.
She was one of the academy's most disciplined fighters.
Noah looked at her.
"You okay?"
Maya nodded.
"Yeah."
But her voice wasn't convincing.
Miller heard it.
Noah heard it too.
He turned away.
"Can we just move on?"
"No."
Noah stopped.
Miller pointed toward the center of the mat.
"Come back."
"I'm done."
"Noah."
"I said I'm done."
He grabbed his training bag.
The gym became silent again.
Miller didn't raise his voice.
"You can walk out."
Noah looked at him.
"But if you do, don't come back tomorrow expecting to be treated like a champion."
Noah's eyes narrowed.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means you aren't ready."
The words hit harder than Noah expected.
He turned.