Rubber knives and wooden staves clattered as half a dozen people fell flat on the dark folding mats. One loud thump after another, the training ground emptied, until there was only one man standing, face to face against Felix.
Out of breath, an auburn-haired man spoke, "Come on, man. Everyone knows what you can do, so take it easy on us."
"I was going easy, Lance. Any weaker would've been an insult to you as a fighter." Felix replied, trying to hide his smug grin.
"Heh, an insult is being repeatedly knocked down." Lance laughed, "Maybe I should apply for the Implementation, see how you like it."
"Survive it and we'll find out."
"Dick. You know if David were here, he'd give you a taste of your own medicine."
Felix's eye twitched, forcing out an irritated smile, "Who?"
"Don't be an ass, Felix." Lance grinned in annoyance as he wiped off his sweat and tried to calm his breathing.
"You're the one who tried to hit a low-blow." Felix shot back.
"Whatever it takes to win. Anyway, I'm gonna hit the showers."
"Good, you reek." The blue-eyed man gestured fanning his smell away.
"Clean up after us, blue boy." Lance waved.
As Felix's last sparring partner headed to the showers, he was left to clean up the training room alone. He strolled around, picking up the equipment. His eyes were drawn to the dents on the worn-out punching bag hanging in the center.
He picked up a wooden staff, twirled it in his hand, then struck the punching bag playfully like a spear. Yet without a hint or notice, a familiar voice called out.
"What's this? So you do know how to socialize!"
Sat atop a crate, Maria spoke while a strawberry was popped between her confident, smirking lips.
Her legs swung back and forth, dressed with a black sparring outfit with gold trim, with the Golden Lion's insignia on the top right corner.
"How long have you been there?"
"Long enough... I see the scratch on your face has healed up already." She commented as she pointed to her own cheek.
"Is your head okay?"
"You calling me crazy?"
"That's not what — Sigh. Never mind, you seem okay to me."
"You were shot so many times, every bone in your body should be broken. Yet here you are, already sparring."
"Right. Why are you here then? Weren't you mad at me?" Felix asked while putting back the weapons to the side of the room.
"Mhm… a little."
"Sorry about earlier, it's just… how my mentor used to wake me up, so I wasn't really thinking." He admitted.
"Apology not accepted, you really should start thinking for yourself."
Felix scratched his cheek, "Right. So what did the chief need you for?"
"Just tried to decrypt some files. It was a bit of a hassle. But enough about that, let's talk about you… talking."
"Lance is an old sparring buddy. And, well, I guess your silliness rubbed off on me."
"Hoh? The stoic and somewhat sassy Felix telling an aspiring agent inspiring yet gentle words. Pretty out of character if you ask me." She replied gleefully with wide gestures.
"Nobody asked you. Also, you're the only one who calls me those things." He retorted as he continued to wipe the sweat from the back of his head.
"Cause I'm the only one here who has the balls to do so."
She hopped off, and Felix's eye twitched, "You're wearing shoes…"
"What? This isn't a dojo, unless… that's what you're into? I'll happily oblige." She reached the back of her shoes.
"Never mind."
She picked up one of the plastic knives from the table, "I'm not particularly good at hand-to-hand combat. But how about we go for a round?"
He sighed deeply, "Why?"
"With your enhanced human potential, you're probably tired of knocking down normies. And since you've got no experience fighting other elites, thought you might wanna polish up a bit." Venom spewed from her words.
"Your wounds might reopen."
"Didn't you say you wanted to be the best?"
His eyebrows curled, "Don't twist my words to your favor."
Waving the rubber knife back and forth, she teased, "Was your first time really that scary for you? Don't worry~ I'll be gentle."
"You're still mad, aren't you?"
"Take a wild guess!" She lunged, head low — closing the distance in a single breath.
Maria struck to the right with the rubber knife, but he effortlessly grabbed her wrist. His mismatched eyes narrowed, remembering how she fought in that night of bloodshed.
She followed up with a palm to the face. He released his grip, ducking.
"What's the matter, chicken?"
His eye twitched, "Fine, show me the Vanguard that gave Harbinger so much trouble."
Smirking, her arms went up as her leg shot down with an axe kick.
Felix dodged with ease and prepared to counter, but his hand froze mid-swing, trembling in the space before her head. His fingers twitched, unable to push forward or pull back.
"Huh? I can't…" A cold sweat dripped down his face.
His eyes widened — Maria's foot had stomped on his. She hopped away, and only then could he move his arm again.
As soon as there was distance between them, he felt like he could move his arm again. Like he could breathe again.
With a light gasp, he muttered, "What was that?"
He looked at her, and she smirked. He brought back his guard, more cautious than before.
She once again sprung forward.
This time her strike was swift, direct and predictable. Felix blocked, but the moment they touched, an electric current ran through his palm.
Her second strike followed, twirling the knife unpredictably. Something about it just moved the way she wanted it to.
Swing, slice, thrust. Each attack forward, he stepped back, letting her take more ground.
But as his eyes fixated on the weapon, he caught noticed her attack from the edges of his gaze.
Felix instinctively blocked her kick with his shin, but the moment they came in contact, he stiffened to the point where even his fingers weighed a ton, "My muscles won't..." His voice small.
Both eyes widened with bright azure. With a burst of blue, he quickly bounced out of the way.
An excited grin formed on his lips, "It's working…"
But there was no time for relief. In the half-second he celebrated, Maria had once again closed the gap with a wide palm to his face.
He slipped under it, avoiding contact. She followed up by trying to kick his leg again, which he dodged.
"Touching her is—" Only for her to pull the mat from under him.
As soon as he staggered, she leapt at him. Before he even realized it, he was already on the floor.
Pinning him with all of her weight, she held the rubber knife against his throat, like a rat, caught by a serpent.
Underneath her small frame, a familiar sensation ran in his vein like an electric current. His mind exploded with rapid questions.
What is this feeling… Why can't I move?
Her first attacks were a diversions. Not bad, but… amateurish. Yet she knocked me down.
She knocked me down.
I knew she was strong… but strength isn't the right word for what she did… more like when Luna was training me… and the times I faced David.
The same power, but somehow different — It wasn't an external pressure, it felt like it was creeping under my skin, and my muscles just squeezed together. Like she was cheating.
Felix blinked, looking at the young lady on top of him.
What's going on today? First, the duo from before, with energy that's neither blue nor orange. And now Maria with…
Remembering earlier this morning, how he tried to lift up the broken mirror shard. The blue glow sparking from it. The red glow from the pillow.
"Where was the energy? The light? The…" His voice hoarse.
Thoroughly overwhelmed, Felix looked at her with a stunned expression.
Staring into her deep, dark eyes… only for her iris to shine, radiating white veins stretching outwardly on a black canvas.
"... the flower."
With a vibrant and satisfied smile, Maria poked the rubber knife's tip on his nose, "Boop."
Never mind, I was still facing Marie after all.