Indra wiped sweat from her brow and muttered, "Ugh… I hate this already."
Vorten didn't respond. He was pacing across the training mat, fists clenched, trying to adjust to a world without his eye ability.
"Come on," Indra said, stomping her foot. "We can't rely on magic this time. Not even a little. We have to get stronger physically."
Vorten groaned. "Easy for you to say. You're fast even without fire. I'm… I'm handicapped."
Indra rolled her eyes. "Handicapped? You've survived worse. Just… move faster. Watch your opponent's center of gravity, not their attack. That's all you need."
Vorten stared at her. She makes it sound so simple…
"Fine," he muttered, crouching into a fighting stance. His usual calm confidence was gone, replaced with frustration and tension.
Indra charged first, throwing a swift punch aimed at Vorten's side. He barely sidestepped, feeling the whoosh of air as her fist passed.
Okay… not bad, he thought.
Vorten countered with a low kick, aiming for her knee. Indra hopped back, smirking.
"You're slower than usual," she teased. "Gotta tighten up your footwork."
Vorten gritted his teeth. He lunged again, feinting left and striking right, forcing Indra to block. They circled each other like predators, muscles tense, sweat dripping.
"You know," Indra said between movements, "without magic, you actually have to think. Makes it… more fun."
Vorten's eyes narrowed. "I'll show you more fun in a second."
He shifted his stance, focusing on balance and timing, rather than speed. He read her breathing, her weight shifts—anything to anticipate her moves.
Indra adjusted too. She was forced to rely on speed, agility, and brute endurance. Her flaming punches were gone; she had only her fists, feet, and instincts.
Minutes passed. Neither landed a solid hit, but each movement made them sharper, faster, smarter. Vorten's counters grew cleaner, Indra's dodges more precise.
Finally, both paused, chests heaving.
"Not bad," Indra admitted, panting. "You've got potential. Maybe… you won't be completely useless without your eyes."
Vorten smirked, wiping sweat from his forehead. "And you… maybe fire wasn't carrying you this much, huh?"
They laughed, the tension easing, but both knew this training was only the beginning. No magic. No eyes. Only skill, endurance, and strategy.
And somehow, that made victory feel… harder—and more satisfying.
John walked into the training hall, stretching lazily. "Heard you two were trying to survive without magic," he said with a grin.
Indra shot him a glare. "Survive? We're training, John. And you're late."
Vorten merely sighed, rubbing his arms. "Great… now we've got a third person making this harder."
John smirked. "Harder? Or more fun?"
Indra muttered something under her breath and stepped forward into a fighting stance. Vorten mirrored her, crouching low. John bounced lightly on his feet, relaxed, but alert.
"Alright," John said. "Let's make this interesting. No magic. No tricks. Just skill, speed, and smarts."
Indra rolled her shoulders. "Fine by me."
Vorten frowned. "I… guess I can try."
The first round began.
John moved first, circling Indra, throwing subtle feints to gauge her reactions. She lunged forward, aiming a fast punch at his side, but John ducked, letting her momentum carry her past. Vorten tried to strike John from the other side, but John anticipated it and sidestepped, landing a gentle tap on Vorten's shoulder.
"Hey! Not fair!" Vorten exclaimed, surprised by how agile John had become without relying on wind clones.
"Fair is boring," John said, grinning. "Now try again."
Indra and Vorten exchanged quick glances, silently agreeing to coordinate. They approached together, forcing John to split his attention. Vorten feinted low while Indra went high, trying to corner him. John jumped back, barely avoiding a punch from Indra and a low sweep from Vorten.
He landed lightly on his feet, smirking. "Better. But predictable."
The three circled each other, tension building. Every move had to be calculated. Every feint, parry, and step counted. No magic. No special abilities. Only raw skill and quick thinking.
Indra gritted her teeth. "You're making me work too hard," she muttered.
John laughed. "Good. That's the point."
Vorten adjusted his stance, watching John carefully. "I… think I understand now," he muttered. Without his eye powers, he had to rely on timing, observation, and anticipation—just like John.
For the next several minutes, the trio pushed each other relentlessly. John's agility, Indra's raw speed, and Vorten's precision created a rhythm where every strike and dodge tested their limits.
Finally, they all stepped back, chests heaving, sweat dripping.
Indra smirked. "Okay… I'll admit it. This is actually… fun."
Vorten nodded slowly. "Yeah… I didn't think training without my eyes could be this… enlightening."
John grinned. "Told you. No magic, no excuses, just skill. And we all got better."
They stood there for a moment, catching their breath. It wasn't a win or loss—it was growth. And for all three of them, that made it feel like a victory.