Afraid of her own self

"Against Aria?" Professor Iris was surprised. "Of course. I am the head teacher for water precision. I spar with all of my students during training sessions. And while Aria is . . . ." She was cut off by Professor Thomas, "Not a normal spar. I am talking about an actual full on fight. One where both of you went full on to a considerable extent."

"You haven't. That is why you don't understand what I am talking about." he went on when Professor Iris shook her head. "When you fight Aria, it's . . . . a one of a kind feeling. At first, she's giving it her all, but she thinks too much. You have to bait her into giving in to her instincts. That takes a lot of effort, but if she once stops thinking so much, it's all worth it."

Professor Iris noticed how Thomas's eyes shone and how little he looked like a teacher right now. "And once Aria starts to give in to her instincts, it is a real treat." Professor Thomas continued, "It is absolutely enthralling how she can anticipate each and every one of your attack, and even if she can't, she reacts and adapts to it so fast!! It's just nerve-racking!!!"

At this point, Professor Thomas looked like a child who was talking about his favorite game. But suddenly his expression changed and he looked very much like the principal who noticed each and everything that went on in and around the whole castle. "That is the level of ability Amber had when she graduated. She was on the verge of defeating me, but she was also on the verge of losing herself to her instincts. But Aria's case is too different. It isn't that she thinks too much. When you fight her, you get the feeling that her thinking is doing nothing but slowing her down. And it's almost like the child knows that, but she refuses to let her instincts take over. She has a lot of potential, that Aria, but she isn't willing to let it out."

"Of course, everyone knows she has potential." Professor Thomas spoke as he sat down, looking tired. "But it's almost like she's afraid of her own self, her own power. It's like she feels that there is someone sitting inside her, and she's so scared of losing herself to it, even for a second, that she would rather accept not fighting at her full potential in this power driven world, than be the strongest person she knows she could be."

There was silence in the office for a few minutes after Professor Thomas finished.

It was broken by Professor Iris's words as she said, "It looks like I am going to have to challenge this favorite student of yours and see it for myself." And she got up and began walking towards the door. "Are you going to do it right now?" Professor Thomas asked with a chuckle.

"Of course not." Professor Iris rolled her eyes. "I just thought I should go and she how she's doing. And maybe give her the good news we decided upon today." she said.

"I don't think not getting to fight will be a good news for her." Professor Thomas said with a smile. Hearing this, Professor Iris turned to reply.