Her Graceful War Song novel Chapter 1254

As the headmistress of Gracewood Women's Academy, Carissa couldn't teach much else, but she could teach martial arts. So, she asked the students if anyone would be interested in learning some basic self-defense techniques—something to both strengthen their bodies and help protect themselves.

When she proposed the idea, more than half of the students were eager to give it a try.

However, martial arts required a certain level of aptitude. Even if they were all willing to learn, not everyone would be suited for it.

Seeing the interest, Carissa thought it might be a good idea for an additional class, one focused on building strength and agility—both for defense and for physical health.

For those who truly wanted to learn the martial arts, she would need to carefully select the most capable students. Coincidentally, Cynthia had heard that Violet had been teaching the Mystic Army, so she insisted on coming to the women's academy to teach as well. Cynthia was insistent on having an official title as the female instructor, and Carissa relented, agreeing to give her the role.

The two of them took turns teaching. As for the regular lessons, Cynthia could handle those too since they weren't very difficult.

Ten students were selected to begin their martial arts training. Most of them came from farming families and had no ambitions beyond learning a skill that could help them support themselves. Some thought that if things didn't work out at home, they could become guards for noblewomen. That way, they wouldn't have to sell themselves and could still earn a decent monthly wage.

One of these students, Tiny Malone, came from a long line of farmers. Her family couldn't read, and she had only learned to write her name, which was given to her based on her position in the family. With seventeen cousins, she was the youngest, so they called her Tiny.

Her family hadn't planned on sending her to school. However, her mom had started selling goods in the market but had trouble with calculations and often got tricked. After it happened several times, she realized the importance of learning. When the opportunity came, she immediately sent Tiny to the academy.

Tiny was eleven years old, bright and eager to learn. She was also unusually strong—she claimed that since the age of four, she had helped her dad carry grain. Her brothers couldn't carry as much as she could.

She eagerly joined the martial arts class and told Carissa that when she returned home, she would teach her older siblings to read and practice martial arts as well. Even at a young age, she was already determined to break free from poverty. She believed that to succeed, one had to be skilled, and that the family had to stick together.

Tiny was a particularly bright and sunny girl, always wearing a smile on her face. No matter how bad one's day was, her cheerfulness lifted the spirits of everyone around her.