The sights and sounds of Barcelona come to life as cars fill the streets and adults and children alike wander down the sidewalks and alleyways. Each attempting ro get to wherever it is that they are headed for their activities. Deep within the crowd of people of assorted ages and attire, is Katic. Wearing a snow-white t-shirt, black leggings and chocolate brown leather knee high boots as well as her hair tied up into a ponytail is commencing her own walk, bathing in the rays of the sun. Looking around at her surroundings, a smile crosses her violet lipstick covered lips as she notices a building with the words "Centro Fitness" written on a red billboard atop of it in Spanish. Heading in its direction, she is careful not to accidentally bump into anybody on her way into the gym. Reaching the glass double doors, she takes a deep breath before gently placing her right hand atop the cold steel of the handle, pushing it inward before stepping atop the cool tiled floor inside.
The interior of this fitness center looks to be modern in its design, with ceramic tiling lining the floors and the walls being painted in a mint green which provides a cool, soft backdrop to the pictures of various scenery in the area as well as white leather seats scattered in rows of three or four positioned in aisles between the entrance and the front of the lobby, with most of them currently occupied. About ten feet directly in front of where she presently stands, is a oaken table with a neon lighted sign above it reads "Reception" in both Spanish and English. Surveying the room, she gently nods to herself before walking up to the table, where a woman who looks to be around her age and wearing a black button-up t-shirt, denim jeans and black Nike sneakers turns to face her.
Receptionist: "Do you have an appointment here?"
Katic nods in response, having made sure to call ahead upon hearing from various sources that this was an appointment only location.
Katic: "Yes."
Receptionist: "Your name?"
Katic: "Katic Potočnik."
The receptionist turns on her faded grey swivel chair to turn and face the computer situated to her right and type in the name. Glancing back at the Slovene American with a soft, friendly smile upon confirming she does indeed have an appointment arranged.
Receptionist: "Alright, just head over to the seats and Diego will be ready soon."
Smiling, Katic turns and walks over to one of the empty seats in the direction the receptionist pointed out, sitting down and placing her left arm atop the armrest while resting her right hand atop her thigh. Casting a glance around, she lets out soft breaths as she immerses herself within her surroundings. Allowing everything to sink in.
Katic: "Remember, this will help you uphold your promises. Help you bring glory in the name of the Valkyrie."
Her voice almost a whisper so as not to bring attention to herself, she returns her stare forward, looking back at the reception desk. Around her, people are either listening to music or talking to others around them, with the two seats on either side of her remaining vacant.
Katic: "If you are to truly uphold their honor, you must be able to withstand whatever is thrown your way. That is what Freyja told me last night... that is why I am here."
She continues to wait, as the doors open again and another person enters the lobby, making their way toward the reception desk.
***20 Minutes Later***
Katic sits atop a snow-white chair, in front of an oaken table. On the other side of the table, sits a man who looks to be in his late twenties or early thirties, wearing a charcoal t-shirt, black shorts and red/black Adidas runners. A smile across the face, the man's curly chocolate brown hair is matted down, and his tanned skin appears to have a glazing of sweat atop it.
Diego: "So, you wanted me to help you prepare for your wrestling match?"
Katic nods, a smile crossing her own face.
Diego: "What sort of match was it?"
Katic: "A fatal-four-way. I'm against Sabrina Knight, Katherine Carroll and Unai Shingen."
Diego nods, his eyes narrowing as he raises his right hand, stroking his jawline as he ponders how best to help the woman sitting in front of him.
Diego: "Okay... So, the first thing we need to work on then is your ability to have eyes at the back of your head. Make sure you know that anybody can strike from anywhere. Do you know anything about your opponents?"
Katic nods, having studied them last night before she came.
Katic: "Yes. I know that Sabrina is a multi-millionaire who claims she is willing to get her hands dirty and that Unai is the daughter of samurais back in her homeland of Japan. I don't know much about Katherine, but she appears to come from an athletic background and was trained by a legend of the sport."
Diego laughs, gently shaking his head.
Diego: "I meant more in terms of their in-ring style. How are they inside of the ropes?"
Katic's head slightly droops before she glances up at the man, the corner of her lips turning downward.
Katic: "No. I thought I would need to have faced off against or at least seen them in the ring to know that."
Diego: "Don't worry. Most people do, but in reality... as long as you can find videos of them competing, you will at least have some sort of idea of what to expect."
He then gives her a warm smile.
Diego: "Don't worry though, we can work on that. We'll just have to prepare as if they are all aiming for you and go from there."
Katic: "Alright."
Diego: "If you were to go after one of the three others, which one do you have your sights on?"
Wrinkles begin to form on Katic's forehead as she lets out a low hum before running her right hand up and down her thigh and raising her left to her soft jawline. Her eyes narrow as she purses her lips, thinking deeply about how she wants to answer.
Katic: "I'm not sure. I don't know any of them well enough to say who I want to be the first to face their judgment and take the journey into Valhalla."
Diego's nod and gentle look manages to calm some of the nineteen-year old's nerves, enabling her to think more clearly about the question.
Diego: "It's usually easier if we begin our focus on one of them, so that you can manage them and let the others fight among themselves. Think of it like a battle... you don't want to take on the entire army at once, because you'll lose. You want to divide them and conquer that way."
Katic: "Just like they do in war?"
Diego nods.
Diego: "Exactly like that. Is there anyone in that match that rubs you up the wrong way?"
Katic ponders this for a moment, with only one name really coming to mind.
Katic: "She doesn't rub me up the wrong way, but Unai. I want to see for myself how the samurai conduct themselves in the field of battle. How their code of honor holds up to the one I hold myself by. How they stand in front of the Valkyrie."
Diego: "Alright. So, you want to see how two warriors will test themselves?"
Katic: "Yes."
Glancing across at his computer, Diego scrolls the mouse down until he finds a name of one of their trainers that best matches that description. Clicking on it, he sends through a quick message before turning back to Katic.
Diego: "I think I have the perfect opponent for you then. A test to see just how prepared you are for Unai."
Katic: "Okay. Thanks."
Diego: "My pleasure. What are your goals in this match? I know you want to win, but what are you truly hoping to achieve?"
The corners of her lips turning upward, Katic's eyes begin to light up.
Katic: "I want to show the world that I am the one who can bring light and salvation to the IIW. That I can lead them into the halls of Valhalla and feast alongside those who came before me. Give them the joy of being able to see a warrior. A woman who fights with honor and respect go out there and uphold everything that she believes in. Just as Freya did. This match is just my first step to doing so, with three others who I know all want the same thing and want to be the ones standing at the top of the mountain. I know they desire the glory and gold, but I want more than that. I want to bathe the sport in the light. To be the beacon people can look to and see that your dreams are possible. That you don't just have to see it as fantasy, if you are willing to follow the path that those who came before laid out and don't let anybody stand in your way Show them that you don't have to be scared. You don't have to fear anybody as long as you trust in the Valkyrie and allow it to lead you into the light."
Feeling her eyes beg to water up, Katic's emotion flows from her face as Diago simply looks at her. Feeling his body relax and a genuine expression of happiness begin to cross his face. He was not expecting such an impassioned response from Katic, having figured she would give him the same, generic answer everyone else does when he asks them that question. Glancing at him, Katic softly laughs to break the silence.
Katic: "I got carried away, didn't I?"
Diego shakes his head.
Diego: "No. No. That was the perfect answer. Wrestling needs more people like you, who set out to inspire and do the right thing. Lead by example."
Katic: "Thanks, but it is how I was raised. How I was taught. I was taught that if you lead with grace, then you will truly capture their minds. You will show them the true value of life and being yourself."
Diego: "You were taught well then."
He smiles, before noticing his phone vibrating out of the corner of his eyes. Picking it up, he sees that the message is from the woman he asked to help Katic in her training.
Diego: "Anyway, we should get this training started. Follow me and I'll take you down to our ring. Remember, focus on preparing for Unai, and then we'll work on the other two."
Katic nods as Diego rises, making his way around the table and toward the exit of the room, while Katic rises herself, preparing to follow him. Turning right, the two begin to make their way down the white walled hallway, Diego a few steps ahead of Katic.
Katic: "Unai. Sabrina. Katherine. I respect all three of you. I know what you will all give me a fight. A war worthy of Odin and Freyja themselves as they watch down from the sky. A battle worthy of being enshrined within the history books, just like the great wars the Nordic people fought. Warriors, all trying to make their names known. All trying to reach their own Valhalla. Fighting with all they have. That is what is needed if we are to be the light. If we are to shine on the grand stage that has been provided to us. I hope the three of you are as ready for this battle as I am, for I will be giving you all that I have inside of me. I plan on being the one to ride out on the chariot and uphold the name of the Valkyrie."
Continuing to follow Diego, the two finally reach their destination. The glass double doors that lead to the gym. Opening them, Diego turns to his student.
Diego: "Are you ready?"
Katic exhales deeply.
Katic: "Yes."
The two then walk into the gym, the doors closing behind them.