Sparks Beneath the Surface.

ＦＯＵＲ- Uncertainly Imagining.

As I tie my hair up, the room hums with quiet energy, dim lights, padded floors, and the faint scent of sweat and adrenaline. The training chamber Elian told me to come to was buried deep below the Bureau, like, first elevator beneath reception I've ever had to take. The walls shimmer faintly with runes to dampen stray magic. Overhead lights cast sharp white beams onto the sparring mat, picking out motes of dust that hung in the charged air. Elian takes off his headphones when he sees me come in and greets me with a kind smile, "Dani! Hey, you're on time." He wraps his arms around me in a warm hug and I feel just how... I don't know, muscle-y? No, DEFINED he is. Yes. That's the word. God, he smells good. I wonder what cologne he uses or is that his natural scent- I need to shut up.

"Had to make a good impression, didn't want you to think I'm not serious about this." I shrug as I put my bag down.

"Smart. You stretched already?" When I nod he clasps his hands together, "Perfect. Now, how much fighting experience do you have?"

"Uh, just a few courses of female self-defense classes my Dad made me go to."

"Cool, were you any good?" He smirks.

I scoff, "I think I'll be just fine. I mean, it's not like you'll be herding buildings and shit at me, right?"

"Not yet!" He replies and I laugh, "Alright. First things first, we'll just be doing the basics, and I'll say a few things to try and rile you up, get you off focus. A lot of our enemies like talking shit to catch us off guard, so don't let me distract you, alright?"

I nod, "That makes sense, I think..."

Elian chuckles, "Don't think too much about it. In the sense that you shouldn't see me as me for this exercise, see me as one of them. When in battle, you can't let your emotions show or lead, you'll get sloppy. Just remember to seperate your feelings from the fight and I promise you, you'll do great," He rolls his shoulders, a cocky grin playing on his lips, "You sure you're ready for this? I wouldn't want to bruise your ego. What little ego you've got here, anyway."

Oh. So he's started already? Sure. I can play that game, too.

I scoff, stretching my arms, "My ego's flameproof. Yours, on the other hand..."

He snorts at that and we start circling each other, "Alright. Hands out, fingers tight, bend your knees. Yeah, just like that, that's your fighting stance. I'll let you come at me first, okay?" I nod and he resumes his stance, ""You sure you want to do this without a spell shield? I'd hate to bruise your ego and such a gorgeous face."

"And just how do you think you'll do that?" I ask. Wait. I'm sorry, did he just call me gorgeous?

He shrugs, as if it's obvious, "You're weak. I don't think you'll put up much of a fight."

That's what does it, I lunge and he dodges with ease that seems it like was effortless, "Point proven," I swing and he takes my arm, pushing me back with enough force I fall down with a groan, "Again. Come at me but actually try this time."

I dust myself off and get up with a huff. We start circling each other again. I narrow my eyes onto him, looking for the perfect moment, and he just looks back at me with a calm and collected expression on his face like this is just an average Tuesday for him. Shit, it probably is. I ball my hand into a fist and lunge for his core, he just takes it, twists it and spins me away from him.

"How many of those courses did you take? It doesn't show," He shrugs.

"The fuck?"

"You're getting angry, Danielle. Remember, seperate your feelings. Come at me with your leg?" I sigh and try to kick him but he catches my leg, "Your stance is too rigid. You're bracing for impact instead of flowing with it."