The air felt heavier.
Harder to breathe.
Juvy stood her ground.
Light surrounding her in perfect form.
Controlled.
Stable.
Across from her—
Lyra stood still.
Watching.
"…You're holding it together well," Lyra said softly.
Juvy didn't respond.
"…But I can see it."
A step forward.
"The strain."
Juvy attacked first.
Light constructs launched—
Blades from above—
Barriers closing in—
A perfect trap.
Lyra moved.
Not faster.
Better.
Every movement was minimal.
Efficient.
She slipped through everything.
Untouched.
Juvy's eyes narrowed.
"…Why can't I hit you?"
Lyra smiled.
"…Because you're still thinking."
She vanished.
Juvy reacted—
Barrier—
Too late.
A strike hit her shoulder.
The impact sent her crashing back.
Her light flickered.
For the first time—
Unstable.
Juvy forced herself up.
"…That's not it."
She raised her hand again—
Light surged—
Brighter—
Stronger—
More aggressive.
Lyra watched.
"…There it is."
A pause.
"Emotion."
Juvy lunged.
Faster now.
Less controlled—
But more powerful.
Lyra blocked—
But the force pushed her back slightly.
Juvy pressed forward.
Attacking relentlessly—
Trying to break through—
Trying to land something—
Anything.
But with every strike—
Her control slipped.
Barriers formed late.
Attacks misaligned.
Openings appeared.
Lyra stepped through one.
And struck.
Direct.
Juvy's guard shattered.
She crashed into the ground.
Hard.
Silence.
Rain falling lightly again.
Juvy didn't move.
Her light flickering—
Weak.
Broken.
Lyra approached slowly.
"…This is the problem."
A pause.
"You rely on control to stay strong."
She stopped in front of her.
"…But control breaks."
Juvy's fingers twitched.
Trying to gather light again.
But it scattered.
Unstable.
"…No…"
Lyra raised her hand.
Energy forming—
Not light.
Something else.
"…Let me show you."
A pause.
"What happens when you lose it."
Juvy's eyes widened.
She tried to move—
But her body didn't respond fast enough.
The attack came down.
Fast.
Precise.
And then—
Light exploded.
A barrier.
Perfect.
Stronger than before.
Lyra stopped.
Her attack blocked.
Juvy's eyes widened.
"…What…?"
The light around her had changed.
Not forced.
Not controlled.
Flowing.
Calm.
Her breathing slowed.
Her body relaxed.
The flickering stopped.
Everything stabilized.
Lyra stepped back slightly.
For the first time—
Her expression changed.
"…Interesting."
Juvy stood up slowly.
Looking at her hands.
"…I was doing it wrong."
She looked at Lyra.
Eyes clear now.
Focused.
"…I was forcing control."
A step forward.
Light moved with her.
Naturally.
"…I don't need to control it."
A pause.
"It's already part of me."
Lyra smiled again.
But this time—
Different.
"…Good."
Juvy raised her hand.
Light gathered.
Faster.
Smoother.
Stronger than before.
"…Now we can actually fight."
The battlefield shifted.
Once again.
And this time—
Juvy wasn't breaking.
She was evolving.