Practice Makes Perfect

Mandy landed on a soft mat, so the fall didn't hurt too much. Still, she felt a bit dazed; Lyra moved so quickly that Mandy couldn't react as their instructor had shown them.

"Are you okay?" Lyra reached out a hand, thinking she hadn't hit too hard, and why Mandy wasn't getting up.

Lyra had always been strong, even as a kid. Her mom would tell stories of how, at just two years old, she could punch her dad's nose hard enough to make it bleed. Even wooden toys didn't stand a chance and would break quickly; she had to stick with metal ones.

Although the Soul Spikes had weakened Lyra's body to almost normal human levels, her superpower still gave her bursts of intense energy. She hadn't sparred with a beginner like Mandy before and worried she might have overdone it.

"I'm... fine." Mandy grabbed her hand and stood up, hesitating as she glanced at Lyra. "Have you trained before?"

"Yes."