Rhian and Nia kept staring at each other, both breathing heavily, sweat glistening on their skin. Neither moved or spoke for a moment, each waiting to see if the other would say something first.
"Class dismissed," Mr. Callor said. His voice cut through the thick air.
The other students shuffled, a few grumbling quietly that they hadn't gotten enough practice today, but no one dared linger. They filed out quickly, leaving only the two in the center of the mat.
Mr. Callor let out a slow sigh as he watched them. He knew what he was seeing. It wasn't just a fight, it was a clash of wills.
A test of who could break the other, or who could force the other to push past their limits first.
Competition like that was good, but it could be dangerous if it wasn't managed. Still, he didn't say anything more. He simply nodded once, his eyes moving between them.
"Keep that fire, both of you," he said. "But don't lose yourselves to it. Dismissed."
