The ground behind the school remained quiet.
Dust still lingered faintly in the air from Kabir's last punch, slowly settling back onto the cracked surface. The atmosphere had changed, not just around them, but within them.
They were no longer just testing.
They were improving.
Kabir flexed his fingers, still staring at his hand.
"…Okay, that actually felt different."
He clenched his fist again, this time with more awareness.
"Like something's there now."
Aisha nodded.
"Because now you're actually using your power instead of hurting yourself."
Kabir smirked.
"Yeah yeah, don't act like you expected that from the start."
Anaya smiled faintly, her eyes shifting toward Ishaan.
"You should try again."
Ishaan stepped forward without saying anything.
His mind replayed the moment again.
The flow.
The instinct.
Not forcing.
Not thinking.
Just moving.
He closed his eyes.
A breath in.
A breath out.
Then he moved.
This time, there was no hesitation.
No sudden burst out of control.
His body accelerated smoothly, his steps light yet fast, cutting through the ground with precision instead of force.
He stopped.
Perfectly balanced.
Kabir blinked.
"…Bro, that looked like some movie scene."
Aisha nodded slightly.
"You're getting it."
Ishaan looked at his hand.
The energy felt clearer now.
Not chaotic.
Not distant.
Closer.
"…Still not enough."
Kabir sighed.
"You and your 'not enough' thing."
Aisha didn't interrupt this time.
Because she understood.
This wasn't just about power.
It was about surviving what came next.
Anaya spoke softly.
"Maybe we should practice together."
Kabir looked at her.
"What do you mean?"
She hesitated slightly before continuing.
"If we're going to fight someone like him again… we shouldn't just train alone."
A brief silence followed.
Aisha nodded.
"She's right."
Kabir grinned.
"Team training, huh? Now that sounds fun."
Ishaan looked at all of them.
Then gave a small nod.
"…Alright."
The air shifted again.
Kabir stepped forward.
"Come on then, speed boy. Let's see if you can dodge this."
Before Ishaan could respond, Kabir moved.
A punch.
Fast.
Ishaan reacted instantly.
His body moved without thinking.
He sidestepped.
Clean.
Kabir's fist passed right beside him.
"Not bad," Kabir said, turning quickly.
Another punch.
This time stronger.
Ishaan leaned back.
Dodged again.
His movements were smoother now.
More natural.
Aisha watched carefully.
Analyzing.
"Your reaction speed is increasing," she said. "But you still rely too much on direct movement."
Ishaan frowned slightly.
"What do you mean?"
"If someone restricts your movement again," she continued, "you'll lose that advantage."
That thought lingered.
Reyansh.
That control.
That helplessness.
Ishaan's fist tightened.
"…Then I'll find a way around it."
Kabir smirked.
"That's the spirit."
The training continued.
Back and forth.
Movement and reaction.
Mistakes and improvement.
Time passed without them noticing.
By the time they stopped, the sun had begun to lower.
They were tired.
But different.
Stronger.
As they started to leave, Ishaan paused for a moment.
Something felt strange.
Not danger.
Not exactly.
Just a feeling.
Like something had changed outside their small world.
He looked up at the sky.
Calm.
Normal.
But his instincts told him otherwise.
"…Something's coming."
Kabir looked back.
"What?"
Ishaan shook his head.
"…Nothing."
But deep inside, he knew.
This calm wouldn't last.
And soon—
They wouldn't just be training anymore.