The ground was still.
That was the first thing Amir noticed.
No shifting.
No resistance.
Just—
Waiting.
"…again," Siran said.
Amir exhaled slowly.
"…this time what?"
"…don't think."
"…that's not helpful."
"…you think too much."
Fair.
Amir rolled his shoulders.
Then stepped forward.
Tala was already there.
Standing at the center.
Calm.
Grounded.
Watching him.
"…we're doing this?" Amir asked.
"…you need to learn where you fail," Tala replied.
"…I already know."
"…not enough."
That sounded about right.
Amir stepped into position.
Feet planted.
Balanced.
Or at least—
Trying to be.
"…no wind," Tala said.
"…yeah, I figured."
"…no forcing movement."
"…that one's harder."
Tala didn't respond.
She moved.
No signal.
No warning.
Just—
A step.
And suddenly—
She was inside his range.
Amir reacted—
Too late—
Her hand struck his shoulder.
Sharp.
Precise.
Not strong—
But exact.
He staggered back.
"…too slow," she said.
"…you didn't even wind up."
"…I didn't need to."
Amir reset his stance.
"…again."
This time—
He watched more closely.
Not her hands.
Not her feet.
Her center.
The moment she shifted—
He moved.
Better.
Her strike came—
He redirected—
Barely.
Still felt the impact—
But less.
"…better," Tala said.
"…but you're still reacting."
"…isn't that the point?"
"…not here."
She stepped again.
Slower this time.
Deliberate.
Inviting.
Amir didn't take it.
He waited.
Watched.
Then—
Moved first.
A direct strike.
Controlled.
Tala shifted.
Minimal movement.
His strike passed her.
Like she wasn't there.
"…too direct," she said.
"…you're easy to read."
Amir exhaled.
"…then stop reading me."
"…then stop announcing your movement."
That stung.
Amir reset.
Lowered his stance slightly.
Less tension.
Less intent.
Then—
He moved.
Not fast.
Not strong.
Just—
Present.
Tala's eyes sharpened slightly.
She stepped in—
Their movements met—
This time—
Contact.
Clean.
Balanced.
Neither pushed back.
Neither forced anything.
For a moment—
They stayed there.
Still.
Connected.
Then—
Tala shifted.
A small turn—
Amir felt it—
Too late—
His balance broke—
He stepped back.
"…you felt it," she said.
"…but you didn't follow it."
Amir nodded slowly.
"…yeah."
"…you're still separate from it."
"…from what?"
"…everything."
Silence.
That made sense.
In a frustrating way.
Amir inhaled.
Then exhaled.
"…again."
Tala didn't hesitate.
She moved.
Faster this time.
Amir adjusted—
Not matching her speed—
Matching her rhythm.
The strike came—
He shifted—
Minimal.
Clean.
No wasted movement.
Their arms met—
Redirected—
He stepped inside—
A controlled strike—
Stopped just short of her shoulder.
Silence.
Tala looked at him.
Not surprised.
But—
Different.
"…that was better," she said.
Amir smirked slightly.
"…I'm learning."
"…slowly."
"…I'll take it."
A pause.
"…you stopped trying to win," she said.
"…yeah."
"…that's why it worked."
Amir exhaled.
"…I don't like that."
"…you don't have to."
"…good."
Siran stepped forward.
"…enough."
Amir lowered his hand.
Tala stepped back.
Returning to stillness.
Like nothing happened.
"…you see it now?" Siran asked.
Amir nodded.
"…I'm not fighting the opponent."
"…you're fighting yourself," Siran said.
"…yeah."
"…and losing."
Amir sighed.
"…working on it."
The wind stirred faintly.
Still distant.
Still watching.
But now—
It didn't feel necessary.
Not here.
Not like this.
Tala turned slightly.
"…you're improving," she said.
A pause.
"…don't waste it."
Not praise.
Not encouragement.
Just—
Expectation.
Amir nodded.
"…I won't."
But beyond the training ground—
Past the terraces—
Past the mountains—
Something moved.
Closer than before.