No one moved.
But the air changed.
Not sharp.
Heavier.
The boy laughed first.
"…That's it?"
Silence.
Kabir frowned.
"…What?"
"…That was your best?" he continued.
Aarav stepped forward slightly.
"…Say it clearly."
The boy tilted his head.
Smiling wider.
"…You broke a zone core, right?"
A pause.
"…Expected more."
Silence dropped.
Not empty.
Tight.
Anaya's eyes narrowed.
"…You want a second round?"
"…No," the girl said calmly.
She stepped forward.
"…I want to understand how you survived."
Her gaze shifted—
To Arjun.
"…Because it doesn't match."
Aarav scoffed.
"…Then don't try to match it."
The tall one finally moved.
Slow.
Measured.
"…Your formation is unstable," he said.
"…Your defense is forced."
A glance at Kabir.
"…Support timing—late."
Kabir's expression hardened.
"…You done?"
"…Not yet."
His eyes shifted to Arjun.
"…And your leader—"
A pause.
"…is running on nothing."
Silence.
That one landed.
Anaya stepped forward—
"Don't."
Arjun's voice stopped her.
Calm.
But sharp.
The boy watched him carefully now.
"…So you do talk."
Arjun didn't respond.
"…You let them speak for you?"
Still nothing.
The boy's smile faded slightly.
"…Or you just don't have anything to say?"
A beat.
"…We're still standing," Arjun said.
Silence.
Short.
Controlled.
"…So are we," the girl replied.
"…Difference is—we didn't nearly die doing it."
Aarav stepped forward again.
"…You want to test that?"
The tall one shifted—
Just enough.
"…You won't like the result."
The tension spiked.
Not sudden.
Rising.
The wind—
Stopped again.
Kabir's voice dropped.
"…This isn't going to stay verbal."
"…Good," the boy said.
"…I was getting bored."
Anaya moved first this time.
No warning.
Fast.
Direct.
The girl reacted—
Just in time—
Their clash—
Sharper.
Cleaner.
No testing now.
Real.
Aarav stepped in—
Barrier up—
The tall one met him—
This time—
No restraint.
Impact—
The ground cracked.
Kabir activated pulse—
Stronger—
The boy broke through—
"…Better," he said.
Arjun still didn't move.
Watching.
Calculating.
The quiet one finally shifted—
His gaze—
Locked on Arjun.
"…You're not fighting."
Arjun met his eyes.
"…I don't need to."
A pause.
"…Yet."
Silence.
Then—
Everything accelerated.
The second clash—
Wasn't controlled anymore.
It wasn't a test.
It was—
Friction.
Two sides—
Pushing.
Not to win.
But to prove.
And neither side—
Stepped back.